Evermore - Troy Otto

six

     No matter how many times Evelyn tried to shut her eyes and keep cool under these circumstances, her thoughts kept bringing her back to the true horror. Her worst nightmare was coming true. She was going back to the ranch, even after she vowed that she never would.

As Ethan silently drove past her old high school, everything became very real. Too real.

"Ethan, pull over," she slapped her hands over her mouth.

"What? Why?"

"Pull over!" He obeyed and pulled over.

The second the car came to a complete stop, Evelyn wasted no time in opening the door and emptying out everything that sat in her stomach. "Oh, Ev," Ethan sympathetically cooed from the drivers seat, running his calloused hand along her back.

"I'm okay Eth-" she cut herself off to continue vomiting whatever would come up. Ethan said nothing. He just continued to rub circles against her back, feeling the guilt run through his veins.

"I'm sorry, Ev. I'm so sorry."

"Don't be," she grunted once she finished throwing up. "You didn't do anything wrong."

"I'm bringing you back."

Evelyn allowed herself fall back against the carseat. Letting out a huff, she answered. "It's not your fault, E. I know you're just trying to keep us safe. If it wasn't for you, we'd be dead in a little hotel room in Palm Springs right now."

"I'm trying to keep you safe," his correction made the girl's head turn. She looked confused, but her silence let him know that he could continue. He grabbed her hand, running his fingers over the smooth skin before he resumed. "You know, you really mean everything to me, Evelyn. I mean it when I say you're my best friend. I've never loved someone the way I love you."

Evelyn's confused look softened at Ethan's sweet words. Of course, they've had conversations somewhat like this before, but she'd never heard him say something so personal and with so much care in his voice. She felt loved. "You're my best friend too, Ethan. I love you a lot, and I really don't know where I'd be today if you hadn't come into my life."

"We made it out of there once, we can do it again. I promise when this whole thing blows over, I'll get us back home," Ethan didn't really think it would blow over, but he held onto hope. For his best friend and the life they lived together. "I don't really care where we end up, as long as we're together. I know they've hurt you, Ev. Knowing all they've done to you, and the fact that your parents didn't even bother to call you as this was all going down upsets me more than you know."

"You didn't really have to bring that up, but I get what you're saying," she never realized her nerves went away, but it was obviously short-lived as the reminder sunk in.

Ethan softly chuckled and shook his head, knowing he made the wrong choice of words. "I really don't know what I'm trying to get at here. I guess I'm just trying to let you know that I don't mean to hurt you by bringing you back, Ev."

"I know, Ethan. Don't worry about it," she laughed and squeezed his hand.

"And I just- I don't want it to be too late for me to tell you that-"

The sudden noise made Ethan shut his mouth immediately. "Oh god," Evelyn shut her eyes. She knew good and well what this sound meant.

"Shut the door, Ev," Ethan demanded. The intimate tone of his voice was now gone, and he was in full survival mode. As soon as he heard the car door slam shut, he stepped on the gas pedal.

Evelyn looked backed at the lifeless bodies limping after them and growling. That's when she it really hit her. If she didn't want to turn into one of those, she had to suck it up and go back to that cursed ranch.

a/n
another midnight update a
day later who is sheee? anyways
i was going through and
editing book one and this
idea came to my mind
and i just had to write it.
this is a short one but i
really just wanted to show
some development in
evelyn and ethan's relationship
before they end up back at you
know where :')
wc: 734
02.13.23