Evan Farrington's Confession | ✔️

twenty-two

Before what felt like much less than a day had passed, Evan was putting on a long-sleeved dress and homemade crotchet cardigan to wait for William to arrive. The night outside her bedroom window was clear and deep, deep blue. Suzanne was making pizzas and the doughy smell drifted lazily through her open door. William's name flashed up on the phone screen in front of her. She stood and hurried downstairs, her boots thumping dully on the carpet.

"Evan," Suzanne sighed. "What have I told you about wearing your shoes in the house?"

"I'm going out, don't save me a plate." Evan pulled open the front door and left the warmth of the house. The air was freezing and she pulled her cardigan tightly around her body, already wishing she'd worn a jacket. A shiny blue Mini sat on the curb, trundling impatiently. The headlights glow was cool and icy. Evan climbed into the passenger side. She had just about gotten used to the backward cars.

"Hi," William said, not quite looking at her but smiling all across his face.

Evan smiled back. "I'm a little jealous of your car," she said. "You see that Saab? That's Agnes. She's the closest thing I've got."

"Susie isn't mine, she's my mom's," William said, pulling into the road . "If she's going to drive she takes my dad's old Range Rover."

Evan tried not to look too impressed. "Agnes is my brother's. And I don't think I'm ever going to be allowed to drive her again."

"Was the headlight..."

"Yep."

"Did the Emperors..."

"Yep."

William whistled. Evan twisted in her seat to look out of the window. There wasn't much to see. Various dark shapes sliding past, orange lampposts flashing slowly.

"So what's the occasion?" Evan asked, not turning back to face William.

"Haven't the foggiest."

Evan said nothing. She hadn't really been interested.

"When do they... come?" William said. Evan turned to look at him but he had his eyes fixed on the coolly lit road ahead.

"When?" Evan asked. "They're not here now if that's what you're wondering."

"No, I knew that, somehow."

Evan's heart began to feel hollow. It certainly sounded that way in her chest. She had been so sure he had forgotten.

(stupid)

(how could he forget?)

True. It wasn't like she had told him that her brother's favourite soup was pea and ham. The Emperors were pretty much the opposite of forgettable. William swallowed but didn't speak until the car was safely parked by the lake. She stretched her fingers and the barely healed skin of her knuckle tingled.

"They said they'd be by the lake. I'll catch you up, okay?" he said, getting out and walking round to her side. Evan got out of the car and was buttoning her cardigan against the night chill before she realised that William had meant to open the door for her.

"Sorry," Evan said, attempting a smile. He didn't seem to have heard her.

"The fire's just over there, you can smell it. I'll find you in a minute," William said. His voice sounded uncharacteristically stiff.

Evan took a small breath and nodded, arranging her face into a mild, unsuspecting smile. "Sure."

She turned and began to make her way towards the thick and musky bonfire smell. He must be getting whatever Lee wanted him to bring. Evan didn't really want to think about what it might be. She hadn't been dumb enough to believe him when he said he didn't know. She just hoped it was nothing too illegal. Nothing that was illegal for adults as well as teens. But she wasn't going to think about it too hard.