Fireflies at Midnight

TEN 10

It would be a lie if Evelyn said she didn't remember every detail the second she woke up, because she did. It would be an even bigger lie if she said those random spurts in her chest weren't due to excitement.

Her feet slip easy onto the floor below her, Aaron is still asleep. In all honesty, he'd probably sleep the majority of his life away if she let him. She never understood how he could do that.

She's as quiet as possible when cracking the door open, slipping between the small crack it presented. The house was cold, warranting Evelyn to wrap her blanket even tighter around her frame.

From what she could see, no one had been awake. The coffee pot that would normally be clicked on had still yet to be moved from the corner. It was odd.

The clock read 10:30. Faintly, the birds would chirp from outside the windows and the fog had been replaced by rays of sunshine. Her feet shuffled across the floor as she made her way to the coffee pot.

Tears form in her eyes as the yawn she creates stretches on. She was so tired from last night. The intensity of their actions carried over to the next day, making Evelyn fill with urgency. What brought her here?

Was it the fact that her and Aaron had become so mundane? There was love, but that was all that they had. No excitement filled her when they'd wake up together, feet intertwined in the bed. Her hands wouldn't get sweaty when she'd receive one of 'those' messages from him.

Before, when they first began dating, it was every day. She would smile and blush as he kissed her forehead or ran a hand through her hair. They would find any and all excuses to accompany one another everywhere. Grocery stores, shopping, running errands. Anything that they could do.

Almost daily, Evelyn asked where the spark had gone. She asked why it had left and tried so desperately to pinpoint when it had left. Was it before the fights or after? They never fought a lot, but when they did, it wasn't easy.

There were always problems in the relationship, like any other couple around. However with Aaron so quick to temper and Evelyn so stubborn, it could be a recipe for disaster at times. From the name calling to throwing things, she could try and guess where it started with no avail.

It would be a lie if she said she never missed it. In truth she did, a lot. But maybe that's why she stood there, hot coffee in hand with a smile stretched pleasantly across her face.

She was shitty, that much was obvious. In no way should she be smiling at the actions she had done, the situation she played a part in. But it was much easier to lie to others than it was herself.

Like any other morning, Evelyn steps out onto the porch. The sun was already high in the sky and the warmth had blanketed her nicely. She looks at the porch swing, making her way slowly as her thoughts drift off.

Not even ten minutes pass, half a cigarette burnt down, before Eric is stepping outside. He's in ball shorts and a gray cotton t-shirt. Evelyn was convinced aluminum foil would look good on him had he placed it just right.

"Goodmorning, Eve." It wasn't a smile he offered; gentle and kind as he tried to be respectful to his sons girlfriend.

It was simpering, cockiness not hidden well by the darkening of his eyes. Evelyn could cry with how much ego the man oozed from each individual pore of his body. It was intoxicating and convincing, begging her to take bite after bite.

"Good morning Mr. Carter." Evelyn will match that energy every time it is given. She's smiling back and it's then that Eric realized just how conniving the girl could be.

"Shut up with that." He laughs, joining her in the seat. Eric reaches over and leans the two chairs to the side of them over.

Evelyn raises a brow, confused at his actions.