Evan Farrington's Confession | ✔️

fourteen

Just wanted to hop in at the start and put a little TW for this chapter. There's nothing super graphic  but there is the suggestion of SH here so if reading that is not going to be supportive for whatever journey you're on, feel free to skip this one or drop me a message for a (trigger free) recap.

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Marcus's chair scraped out from underneath him and he speed walked to the door, combing a hand through his dirty-blonde hair. Suzanne let out a tight exclamation of frustration. Evan pinched her lip for a moment then removed her hand and shovelled in another spoonful of Fruit Loops. She wiped the milk that dribbled down her chin with the back of her hand. Weekends meant no porridge. But the cereals here weren't as good as home. She missed Frosted Shreddies. Marcus sighed and put his empty bowl in the dishwasher. He had Coco Puffs. His white cereal bowl was tarnished with a brown rim where his milk had sat, infused with the chocolate cereal. Evan couldn't stand chocolate cereal but understood the appeal. Basically a chocolate milkshake with crispy bits. Marcus started out of the room again. Evan forced down the rest of her mouthful without chewing.

"Mark," she said. Her brother turned around and raised his eyebrows at her.

"What do you want?"

Evan smiled as sweetly as she could. She suspected that there was a piece of brightly coloured cereal in her teeth. "Can I borrow Agnes today?" Agnes being Evan's brother's car.

"Not a fucking-"

"Marcus!" Suzanne snapped. George's head slowly lifted up from his cornflakes to survey the scene. He didn't look sad but his face was slightly limp.

"Please?" Evan said. "I'll be careful. I just wanna go out driving then I'll bring it back."

The only good thing that had happened since they had moved was that Evan learned how to drive. The age limit was way lower here than at home which, ultimately, Evan thought wasn't the best idea but that wasn't going to stop her from learning. And she was a careful driver. More careful than her brother, that was for certain.

"Did you not hear? I said not a fuck-"

"Marcus. Farrington," said Suzanne. Her voice was coolly measured and Evan knew he was in for it. She smirked. She loved nothing more than when her brother got surnamed. "I think you need to let Evan borrow the car. And I think you need to watch your language!"

Evan grinned and ate another spoonful of cereal. "Thanks Mark," she said, without stopping chewing. This earned a glance of disapproval from her mother. Her brother scoffed and went downstairs. Suzanne turned to Evan.

"You will be careful though, won't you, Ev?"

Evan nodded, finishing her breakfast and loading her bowl into the still open dishwasher. She closed it gently. "I will, Mum."

"I mean, you know how Mark can get. Especially about the car."

"I know." Evan was itching to get out and get on the road.

"And just because you can drive here, doesn't mean you should."

"Bye Mum. Bye Grandad."

Suzanne huffed out an exasperated breath but George aimed a sunny smile at Evan, looking up from his bowl as if just remembering where he was. "Bye, love," he said and his voice was pale.

Evan left the kitchen.

(what was wrong with him is he ill is he dying is he going to die?)

She closed her eyes. She knew that her grandad was fine. He was just spending a little time in one of the low points he sometimes finds. He was missing his wife. Evan swallowed, her nose stinging. Then she unhooked Marcus's keys from the hooks by the door and left the house. The keys jangled at her side as she walked. The mist was light and chilly, saturated with minute raindrops.