Love Eventually

Preface

All of my hard work doesn't matter anymore. I have entered this depression of eating ice cream and watching TV for hours on end. I put my whole life into that art scholarship and I didn't even make it to the final rounds. I am a complete and utter failure in the art world. The judges said my portfolio was missing a 'spark.' What does that even mean? It's like the scholarship board doesn't even want us to succeed in life. Be more specific with your freaking comments and I'll be able to make my portfolio better, but no. They hate children. My grip on my spoon tightens. I huff and shovel another bite of mint chip in my mouth. I'm currently watching To All the Boys I loved Before while grieving my lost art career.

"Stop being so dramatic Evelyn." Gabe, my older brother said. "All you've done is mope around and feel sorry for yourself. It's been a month." He walks over to me on the couch and rips the ice cream from my hands.

"How could you?!" I screech. "That's my emotional support ice cream!" I try to grab it back but he's already making his way to the kitchen.

"This is sad, Evie, really sad." Gabe gives me a pitying look. "Just because you didn't get the scholarship-"

I groan at that word.

"-doesn't mean that you can become a slob who licks the ice cream stains off her sweatshirt."

I cringe at that statement. Because I did lick ice cream off my sweatshirt, but it was only one time. Cut me some slack! I say as much to Gabe. He opens the freezer and locks my ice cream away forever. Rude. I sidle up to the kitchen island and take a seat fully intending to defend myself, when I actually start to pay attention to what he's doing. Big bags of fun sized chips, soda, and other snack items are scattered across the island. He takes a pack of solo cups out of the cupboard.

"Are you feeding a pack of wolves?" I say instead. "Or do you have a major case of the munchies because if you can eat a whole bag of potato chips but you won't let me eat ice cream then that seems extremely unfair-"

"The lacrosse team is coming over." He continues to get food out of the cupboard. "And can you please stop with the ice cream? You'll live without it."

My mouth drops open. The lacrosse team is coming over and I look like a crazy cat lady without the cats?! And my parents are out of town and made it a point to say no parties. Specifically, to Gabe. He knows a bajillion people, so I know for a fact that this is not just a party with his lacrosse team. It's going to be a party for their girlfriends, and their girlfriends' friends, and their friends' boyfriends, and eventually the whole school will be partying in our miniature Italian Villa. My mom made modifications to the two-story house when we first moved in. Now the house looks like it belongs in the Italian countryside in the middle of Florida. It's eclectic.

"A party?! Mom and dad said no parties while they're away!" He just shrugs his shoulders and sits down next to me, pulls his phone out and sends a text. Probably to his friends.

"Don't worry your head little sis." He grins and ruffles my hair. I huff and smack his hand away. "Besides," he continues. "It'll be good for you, it's about time for you to interact with human beings other than our family."

My eyes widen in fear. He is not going to make me go to this thing. I refuse. I will hole up in my bedroom and study for my history final before I go to that party. "I'm a mess," I say.

"Really? I didn't notice." My brother's sarcastic voice says.

"I'm not going, I'm putting my foot down." I cross my arms so he knows I mean business. "If you don't make me go, I swear not to tell mom and dad about it."

"You won't tell if you do go to the party."

I slide to the floor and massage my temples. He's right, we don't snitch on each other. I slowly rise from the tile and try my last attempt at getting out of this. I might even have to break out the water works for this. Taking a deep breath, I prepare myself for the acting job of a lifetime.