Home Sweet Home

Chapter one

  The slanting rays of the setting sun gave a warm orange tinge to the sky as Evelyn Hayes stepped out of her small apartment into the driveway.

  The cold air of December in Lakewood, California swept past her face as she sauntered to her car—A New Sedan comfortably parked in the driveway.

  Though she was twenty minutes late for Greta's birthday party (a close friend of hers she met in college) she ensured to do the needful before leaving. She flipped the switch controlling the lights to her house and locked the doors.

  She entered her car simply dressed in a long denim jacket worn over a white tank top and slim-fitting blue jeans, to match with white sneakers, black-and-white stripped muffler wrapped around her neck and a blue beanie to keep her head warm.

  The twenty-two-year-old was naturally beautiful starting with her Cognac wavy hair that cascaded down her back to her brown eyes and a small mole situated at the left side of her straight nose to her small lips and to round it up with her curvy figure.

  She pulled out of the driveway and into the city. Greta's house wasn't too far from hers and with several twists and turns she arrived at Greta's Villa, where she lived with her parents.

  She drove into the gigantic front yard which had an enormous swimming pool and fountain surrounded with different varieties of flowers. Evelyn parked in her car in the large parking space and retrieved a mirror from her bag, casting one last look at herself. She applied more lip balm and adorned herself with jewelries before stepping out with her handbag that contained nothing more than her cellphone and Greta's birthday gift.

  It was a complete set of jewelry Greta had her eye on when they went shopping for her birthday, but couldn't purchase it because she ran out of cash.

  She could hear one of Greta's favorite songs blaring from the speakers while she knocked on the silver door and just as she was about to doubt anyone would hear it, the door flung open revealing the queen herself.

  Before Evelyn could react, Greta squealed and grabbed her roughly for a bear hug. Greta's long black braids that looked like thick black rope, rested on her back and she was elegantly dressed in a blue spaghetti-strap gown that stopped just above her knees, matching with silver heels and some jewelries. It looked like Greta cared more about looking good today than the weather at hand. The most fascinating thing about Greta was how her shiny ebony skin just blended with her attire.

  "I'm so mad at you! You're so late!" Greta playfully said, releasing Evelyn.

  "Happy birthday princess, I'm so sorry about that. I didn't keep track of time." Evelyn looked down. "And by the way, you look stunning," She complimented Greta.

  "Aww thanks. I forgive you now. C'mon in." Greta ushered her inside as she placed one hand over Eve's shoulders.

  The living room contained several people dancing and chatting. Everywhere was so loud that Evelyn couldn't even hear her own voice. There were balloons and Christmas decorations all over the living room and a big banner which had 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRETA SHANNON!' inscribed on it.

  Evelyn recognized few of her college friends that rounded a glass table at corner of the room, holding glasses of different colored liquids.

  Evelyn turned to talk to Greta but soon realized that she had disappeared in the crowd. Evelyn heaved a sigh making her towards her college mates to say hello.

  As soon as they noticed Evelyn approaching their table, they mouthed several greetings.

  "Hi!"

   "Looking good Eve."