Escape | Updated Weekly

4

The next day I lay awake in bed with the covers over my head. I'd barely slept the night before. After Mac's fight with the random man the night got pretty awkward. When I went back inside I made an excuse and said I wasn't feeling very well so I could leave before Mac got back with the drinks. I think Chloe could see through my bull shit but the others were still on the 'high' of having such a good performance they didn't seem to notice anything. Tom offered to take me home but I declined and said I'd already booked the taxi. 

I just felt confused and defeated. I finally thought I was breaking through the ice between me and Mac but instead I had hit a nerve. I just couldn't stand by and say nothing whilst he hurt someone in my defence. Even if what the guy was doing was wrong. I didn't even think Mac would be the fighter type, Tom had never mentioned it if it were a regular occurrence.  

I slowly got dressed. The longer I took the more likely Mac wouldn't be there by the time I actually got downstairs but luck was not on my side today. In fact I almost sent him flying with how quickly I nearly walked into him. "Woah '' he said trying to save his bowl of cereal from dropping onto the floor. "Sorry" I said, holding out my hands as if that was going to do anything. He sat down at the table and began shoveling food into his mouth.

The silence between us made it clear to me that it was definitely still awkward. At least for me it was anyway. Mac didn't seem to bothered as he stared down at his phone whilst eating. Maybe it was a heat of the moment thing. Forgotten about now that it was a new day, but I just couldn't leave it like that and I had to clear the air. For my sake more than anyone's.

 "Where is everyone?" I asked realising I hadn't heard a peep put of anyone else this morning. I'd heard them all come back very late last night, I was expecting everyone to be having a well deserved lie in today. Mac briefly looked up. "Erm. Tom went to see his parents, Dani is shopping and Brandon is with his girlfriend". I was surprised that Tom had gone back for a home visit already, but then again I didn't quite know how close families worked so I just shook it of.

Mac put his bowl in the sink. "I guess we should talk about it, '' he said whilst running the tap. "We don't have to". Mac washed his bowl up and then turned around leaning against the side whilst drying his hands. "I don't know what came over me" Oh God. Here it comes, I thought. "I'm not usually like that, he just wound me up. So many bad things happen when someone gets drunk like that... I'm sorry". I was actually lost for words. I figured it should have been me apologising for not thanking him or appreciating the fact that he was genuinely looking out for me. 

"I just thought I was handling it. You kinda shocked me that's all" He nodded but it didn't seem like he agreed with anything that I was saying. "I gotta go" he muttered and then left the room.

I was left alone and processing what had happened. I figured I probably needed someone reasonable around to talk it through with.

Chloe was there an hour later. Probably not the best choice if I wanted 'reasonable'  but my only choice. "Are you gonna tell me what happened with you and Mac?" she asked. My head shot up. Did people already know something? That was impossible. No one they knew saw what happened. Unless Mac had told them after she had left. "What?" Chloe asked, then she realised. "Oh my God something happened didn't it?". I looked at the floor trying to avoid the question. "Eve tell me '' Chloe persisted. "You're eager" Chloe scoffed at me as she tapped away at my shoulder "I would just prefer not to say anything" I finally blurted . Chloe rolled her eyes. "Grow up. You know I won't spread it around". So I told her what happened. 

"What was your issue? If a handsome man came along and protected me like that I'd be swooning not getting angry". I raised my eyebrows at her giving her a curious look. "You think he's good looking?".

 Chloe looked mischievous like she had secrets going on in her mind. "Of course! Don't you?" I thought about it. Maybe a little too long because then she quickly said "Don't worry Eve, Tom is still number one on my list. You can keep your man". I threw a teddy at her. "He's not my man! I just want to be on the good side of my housemates". She laughed and flung the teddy back at me. "I know a way or two that you could do that" she did an over enthusiastic wink at me, I burst out laughing, she did too. It took a few minutes before we were able to finally manage to pull ourselves together. 

Chloe's phone dinged as a message came through on it. She picked it up to read it and her eyes widened. "Okay" she said slowly holding up her hand. "If Mac isn't your guy then I might have found someone else for you".  I rolled my eyes "Chloe... Uni started one week ago. I'm not here for dating". She typed a message on her phone and then looked at me. "Oh come on Eve. Uni is all about the parties and dating, yeah you get the degree too but have some fun for God sake." she showed me her phone. The text was from someone called Lyle and their conversation went like this. 

Chloe: Are you going to the gym today?

Lyle: Yeah. See you in 10?

Chloe: Okay :D

Lyle: Who's that girl you was with last night?

Chloe: Eve? She's in my writing class. 

Lyle: She's cute. Ask her if she wants to go on a date.

I handed Chloe's phone back to her. "Okay 1. I don't know this guy or what he looks like and 2. If he saw me yesterday and was interested then why didn't he speak to me himself". Chloe was still tapping on her phone before she responded. "You did leave pretty early. Anyways. It doesn't matter now because I just said you'd go out with him". 

WHAT

I didn't wanna go on a date with someone I didn't even know. How could she just set that up without even officially asking me first. I tried to grab her phone to text Lyle that it was a joke and I wasn't really going, but Chloe's gym days clearly paid of because I was far too weak to take her on.

"He's fit. I promise. Just go for dinner if you don't like him then you never have to see him again" She clearly wasn't gonna let up so I agreed, but promised to resent her for the rest of our lives. She agreed that was a fair compromise. Just then Tom came through the door and sat the other side Chloe with a cheery hello. Chloe's eyes lit up. Tom didn't even notice that she was staring at him all wide eyed and in a dream like state. "Eve's got a date tomorrow" Chloe said. Tom's head perked up. He was just as bad as Chloe. She sat and told him all about it. He would glance at me every now and then, I couldn't tell if he thought Chloe was over the top or if he was this genuinely interested. 

"I don't plan to stay the entire date" I said. She was honestly telling Tom about this date as if we were destined to get married to each other. In reality I just wanted one drink and then to go home. 

"Oh Eve" started Chloe. "You really need to get out more"