i hate it here

Chapter 5 - Gaydar

Today was... a lot to say in the least. Evelyn's only job was to keep a low profile and she did anything but that. All she wants to do is fall face first into a pillow and sleep through the rest of the day. But of course, she has homework for math.

When she gets to her locker, River is already at theirs. They stand from their crouched position and sees Eve approaching from the corner of their eye. She sees a teasing smile spread across her face and Eve knows what's coming but lets them have.

She walks past them as they say "So as your guide, I feel it's my duty to ask how your day was."

She freezes in place and slowly turns to River. She expected a tease with a 'two shoes' or 'little miss perfect' thrown in there. But what they said sounded so... genuine.

"...Huh" Eve asks, still a little dazed and shocked. But not enough for River's slight tint of red to go unnoticed.

"I- I just mean, how were your classes?" and ducks their hear back into their lockers and grabs some books that Eve's sure they don't need.

"Um... they were fine. Science was gross. Geography was boring but at least it was somewhat interesting. Art was..." She catches River's eye and decides not to bring it up "Right. Gym was absolutely disgusting and so was our teacher"

"Oh, thanks goddesses I wasn't the only one. I literally caught him staring at me during ropes"

"Ew, I think I saw that actually" Eve says as she pulls out her bag.

River decides to leave the conversation there as the two continue to pack their bags. They both accidentally exit the same way, walking side by side. As she's walking, Eve hears soft music coming from somewhere. She finds the sound when she turns to River and realizes they listening to music and can hear it, almost clearly, through their earphones.

"Oh my god, are your ears okay?" Eve teases. She's a little sad when River doesn't reply but realizes it's because the music is so loud. She takes out an AirPod and their head immediately swivels

"Evelyn to River, you need to get your ears checked" She goes to take their hand to give her the once stolen AirPod back as she notices how unbelievably warm and soft their hand is. She hears them clear their throat which snaps her out of her reverie. When she looks up, Eve notices the slightest flush of red across their cheeks and their pupils looking a little bigger than normal. Also, the fact that she still hasn't returned her earbud.

While Eve is still trying to gain control of her body and the brain cells to speak, River has already bounced back and taken the earbud out of Eve's open palm. When their fingers brush over her palm she gasps. Jeez, she's never been this reactive. She's usually pretty good at masking her feelings.

When Eve finally fully snaps back, it's because her phone rings. She realizes they're both standing in the middle of the almost empty hallway. She retracts her hand from River's fingers and laughs awkwardly when she gets her phone. Her sister.

"Where are you?!"

"Still in the school" Eve tries to say in an even tone. She feels like she's being pulled in a hundred different directions and she feels like she's about to have another breakdown.

"Still in the- get here now. You have 5 minutes.

"Whate-" The other line clicks off.

"So" River starts. "How are you getting home?"

"What you worried about me or something." Eve says as she starts walking to the main foyer.

"Or something. Just curious" Eve hears footsteps quicken to catch up to her.