EJ

Chapter 9: Eva's story

Eva decided it was time to 'open-up' to me. We went for a walk.

"My father is a nice bloke, but clueless when it comes to child-rearing. I've been manipulating him since I was about two years old. He is just unworldly and doesn't know what's going on. I have always been able to get him on my side, and the two of us would stand up to Mum."

"But, Mum's a different story. She can be a hard-nosed bitch; businesswoman of the year stuff. She and I have had a fiery, off and on relationship all my life. I've always used Dad to get around her, mostly with success. I'm here because I had one of my few failures."

"It's not so bad, is it, Eva?" I put it in softly as we reached the other side of the oval.

"No, it's not," she replied laughing and pushing my shoulder.

Did she say under her breath, 'because you're here'? Oh, I hope so.

"Of course," Eva continued pulling me back next to her, "I'm not going to tell my bitch mother that."

"Maybe I will," I teased.

"Ha," she laughed, "my best friend would never do that to me."

Oh, stop it please, Eva, I can barely stand it. Aloud I said, "No, you're right. Of course, I wouldn't."

Eva became serious again, "Until I reached high school, my playing up was mostly of a scallywag nature, but that started to change. Slowly at first, but by the time I was fifteen I was on the verge of becoming a real party girl."

"Mum managed to get me back into line for a while, but, by using Dad and lots of sneaky stuff, I slowly got back into the swing of it."

"The people I was hanging with were all older than me and pretty wild. I was drinking, smoking, screwing around and experimenting with all sorts of drugs."

"For the last few months before I came here, I was getting into tattoos and body piercings. I think that they were the final straw for my mother. She overrode any objections from my father and myself, and . . . here I am."

Eva was tentative, I'd not seen her that way before, "I've told you the worst of me, Jodie, cause I wanted you to know. It's all behind me, love. I hope you can . . . well, accept me . . . forgive me . . ."

"Eva, there's nothing to forgive," I responded dismissively, "I think you're terrific, you're the best friend I've ever had. (I took a breath as I prepared myself to tell Eva my secret). It's me that needs to ask you for . . ."

"EJ, what's wrong with you two? Didn't you hear the bell? Come on." Yelled by two of our classmates as they rushed towards the main building.

After that, I lost my courage. I couldn't tell her. Oh, Eva, I can't lose you, I can't. I just can't. Damn, damn, damn.