Burnt (book1)

knock, knock

     Knock, knock.

"He's early, how punctual" Liz said as she moved to the door.

"Wait" Scarlett said grabbing Liz's thin arm and pulling her back, "let me answer the door. You wait here and look stylish." Liz smiled and moved to the kitchen, posing like a model. Scarlett had been freaking out since the whole ordeal had been arranged, she tried to read, play guitar, write a suicide letter because this dinner might possible be the death of her, but she couldn't do anything, not really. She sat and flicked her wrist back and forth moving a laser light, absent mindedly watching Skippy chase it while she went through every sincere that could happen, but she didn't think of what would actually happen. As Scarlett opened the door, Evan had a bouquet of flowers and a box of chocolates.

"I had to make a good impression." He said lowering the flowers revealing his face. "Have you told her about..."

"No" Scarlett wasn't ashamed to be friends with him or how he looked, she just didn't want Liz to scare him away because Liz didn't understand what Evan meant to her. Scarlett didn't care what Evan looked like but Liz would. "I thought it would be easier if... I thought that-" he pulled a single white rose out and handed it to Scarlett.

"So dive right in then"

"I'm sorry, I should have told her but I didn't think it was my place to tell." She held the rose in between her fingers, smiling down at it. Scarlett was basic and loved roses, which he knew. He seemed to know everything about her.

"No, really it's fine that you didn't, I don't like people to know obviously but, Liz is important to you right?"

"Yeah"

"Then this would happen eventually."

"I suppose."

"I'm waiting love birds." Liz called impatiently sitting on the counter swinging her legs. Scarlett opened the door further allowing Evan in. Liz jumped off the counter and moved to him, all smiles.

"For you" Evan said handing Liz the flowers and chocolates. As she took the presents Evans face was revealed, and Liz dropped everything and jumped back. "Yeah I get that a lot." Evan started and Scarlett looped her arm in his, he wasn't going to be alone in this.

"You are... much more handsome then Scarlett said"

"Nice save" Scarlett said as she pulled Evan away from Liz. Liz's mouth gaped unable to say anything that wouldn't be considered rude and inappropriate. But Liz being the straight forward, nosey, need to know personality couldn't hide her curiosity.

"I have questions... lots of questions."

"I figured this much" Evan said as she examined him. Liz went through the insultingly obvious questions then once over the initial shock she let the information set in. Liz didn't know what to say, Evan had been so open and honest and Scarlett sat arm in his the whole time.

"Are you sure you two are not dating?" She blurted out.

"Well Scarlett keeps rejecting me, I think she put me in the friend zone." Evan said looking to Scarlett but she averted her eyes to the floor. "Any tips on how to make her love me?"

"A personality or compatibility test? Or ooh a Liz questionnaire" Scarlett looked up afraid of what was to come. "First question, let's see..." Liz looked to the sky searching for questions. "Let's start with something easy favorite color, food, and animal."

"Blue, ice cream, dogs."

"Solid answers" Liz looked to Scarlett but she was still focused on the ground. Liz went through a lot of mundane questions some which made them all laugh, some which took the conversation for a turn. "What about work, college, and religion?"

"I'm a medical transcription editor,"

"Fancy" Liz interrupted.

"Not really I just type what the doctors say and send it in for them to review at a later date. And I never went to college, went right into the army."

"Bet you regret that now."
"Liz!" Scarlett yelled

"You are wrong" Evan said matter of factly.
"Really?" Liz questioned as she sat on the edge of her chair, elbows on thighs leaning in examining for truth in his words.

"I did good work over there and I served my country, saved some lives, killed some bad guys and I will never regret that. I'm not too happy with the outcome of my last day but I would have never met Scarlett,"
"Awww" Liz moaned out "You have to marry him, he's too cute."

"You hear that, you have to marry me now." Scarlett just shook her head, blushing madly. "And for religion, well"

"That is not a good start, I changed my mind, keep him friend zoned."

"I used to be a Christian. I used to pray every day and I even did a lot of volunteer work at church as well... but, after my injury I just sort of just lost hope."

"Scarlett, he is you, in male form." Evan looked to Scarlet who was still focused on the ground. "She lost faith and I've been trying to get her back on track." Evan gripped Scarlett's hand urging her to look up. "I decided that we are all going to church tomorrow." Neither of them objected but she didn't give them much time to speak, "great so I'm going to pick both of you up. Evan be here by 8:30 Sunday morning and dress nicely."

From that moment on Liz knew that she was going weasel her way into both of their lives. She was going to help her friend find happiness again and bring her back to God, no matter how much Scarlett objected. Liz had tried and tried again to get Scarlett back to church but Scarlett kept busy and stalled just enough to make Liz give up, also the fact that her symptoms flared up at church. But now that Evan was going to be going, Scarlett couldn't squirm out of it.

It had been three hours, three hours that Scarlett didn't suspect. Scarlet had been through what she thought was every scenario where the majority of her possible outcomes ended with Liz screaming (which she sort of did), or Evan leaving and never coming back. But Liz actually liked him, Scarlet thought again as Liz shimmed on her north face purple rain coat. Why wouldn't she have loved him, he was great. And why would Evan want to leave and never come back, Liz was also great. Scarlett let out a breath as she hugged Liz goodbye.

"I like him" Liz whispered to Scarlett as she left, leaving Evan and Scarlett to ponder their evening.

"So..." Scarlett started as Evan slid on his Adidas. "About Sunday-"

"Don't worry, it will be nice to get back to church..." As Evan thought back to the blinding spotlights and darkened auditorium, he felt strength in thinking he could easily go unseen for the majority of the sermon. Evan grabbed his bike lock key and turned towards the door but stopped head just barely touching the door knob. "Will you go out with me? On a real date?" Scarlett started to blush and shook her head no. "Why not? Liz even said we are perfect together..." Evan had more to say but Scarlett cut him off.

"I don't want to lose you, and if we started dating I would screw something up and you would leave." Or Jack would find you and kill you and then... "I can't lose you." Evan wanted to say he didn't care about the risk because he wanted her forever but, she was obviously scared and didn't think that a relationship, more than a friendship was worth losing him. It would be worth the risk Evan thought as he pecked her cheek but, instead he just said,

"Alright, but I'm still going to keep trying."

Scarlett slid into her pajamas and fell into the best sleep of her life. Meanwhile, Evan rode home he put in his ear buds and listened to some Welshy Arms, a band Scarlett had got him hooked on and couldn't get the smile to leave his face. His bike was his transportation and he had never been more grateful for the time to breathe in the air and relax against the cool breeze. He let his hood fall down and his face was hit by the street lights and cars. He didn't care who saw him tonight because nothing and no one would kill his vibe. He had a shot. A real shot, at being with Scarlett.