Paper Houses **N.H**

Chapter 4

Evelyn's POV-

The next day, as promised, I was ready to go by noon. I spent the morning working on my painting a little bit more, but I made sure I was at a good stopping place by the time I needed to get ready. Assuming I was probably going to end up starting on the actual painting project today, I had decided just to wear a pair of overalls and keep my long hair somewhat out of my face with a colorful headband, but I felt a little overdressed when my dad called me down and Niall was standing there waiting for me wearing all black. Like he wasn't wearing anything special, but I just felt mildly out of place.

"Nice overalls" he gestured to my outfit.

"Thanks, are you ready?" I brushed off the sarcastic compliment.

"Yeah, are you?" he joked.

"Come on" I walked passed him and out the door, leading the way to his car.

He was laughing a little bit as he pressed the button to unlock the vehicle.

I got in and shut the door feeling the hotness on my flushed cheeks.

"Sorry" he said, sliding into the driver's seat.

"Whatever" I crossed my arms and looked out the window.

"Did Dad tell you what we need?" he twisted the key and the car became alive.

"He wants the kitchen dark green and the living room grey. The upstairs is cream colored, and your room is whatever you want."

"Well, why don't we match the living room and go for grey?" he stretched his arm over the seat and craned his neck to see behind him as he backed out of the gravel driveway.

"I can't tell if you're being serious or not" i mumbled.

"Oh, no I'm serious" he moved the gear shift to drive and hit the gas, driving down the road like he was already used to the windiness in the rural neighborhood. "Do you know how to get there"

"Uhm, yeah, just keep going down this road, and you're going to make a left turn once you get to the first light and it'll be on the right."

"Make a left turn and then a right" he repeated. "Got it"

"So you write music" I said it more like a statement than a question.

"I do" he he moved one of his hands from the wheel, propping that elbow on the door below the window and letting his cheek rest in his palm.

"What are your songs about?" I wondered curiously.

"Uh, whatever I'm feeling" he said.

"Like what?"

"I don't...really discus my lyrics with people" his lips fell in sort of a straight line, like I'd asked about a subject he didn't want to talk about.

"Sorry" I looked out the window, not really knowing what else to say.

An awkward silence quickly stood stagnant between us. It was an uncomfortable silence, one that seemed nearly tangible.

Generally, I didn't mind when people weren't talking, but in the moment, it felt vexatious.

A heavy sigh blew through his lips, snapping my attention back to him. "Everybody's got somebody, I just wanna be alone"

I tilted my head, slightly confused. "I know how that feels"

He glanced at me and gave me a sideways smirk. "Well, I don't need no one, have too much fun out here on my own"

"I don't really go anywhere" I shrugged, still feeling weird about the subject change.