Better Off With Whom?

Chapter-4: HAILEY

Finally, it was Sunday! The day she waited for! Finally after a whole week they will meet. She texted him about when he would arrive at hers so she prepared the food beforehand. And he texted her,

GABRIEL: By any chance.. can we meet outside? I have to show you something!
EVELYN: 'kay! Works for me. Send me the location and time!"

Evelyn reached the designated location. And saw Gabriel from a distance. He was already with someone. Maybe it was a college friend he bumped into. Evelyn didn't pay much attention but as she walked forward she realised, it was a girl he was sitting with. Gabriel spotted her and waved at her. Evelyn forced a smile and reached them. Gabriel and Evelyn hugged each other and the girl stood up to greet her.

"So let me introduce you both to each other! Evelyn, meet Hailey. Hailey, meet Evelyn, she has been my best friend since we were kids."
They greeted each other and exchanged smiles.
Evelyn thought to herself, "Oh! So SHE IS HAILEY."

Hailey is a very talented and amazing artist. She also excels in technological tasks.
Personality wise, she is a brilliant girl and sweet. She demands respect and loyalty towards everyone and is never seen behaving rudely towards anyone. She has a great temperament.
Basically, she is one of the kind that somehow represents the word 'PERFECT'!

They seated themselves and ordered food and chatted while the food arrived.

Gabriel looked at Evelyn with urgent eyes that pointed towards Hailey. Evelyn furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. Gabriel mouthed to her, "I LIKE HER!", in secret. Evelyn's eyes and mouth opened wide that represented her disbelief.

Hailey asked, "What happened, Evelyn? Did you not like the food?"
Evelyn looked at Gabriel whose face screamed, 'DO NOT TELL HER!' and so she responded, "O-Oh it-it's nothing like that. I am just too amazed at the taste of the food! I really like it."
"I am glad. Enjoy the food!", Hailey said.

It was finally the time that they were leaving, Evelyn was hoping Gabriel would drop her after bidding goodbye to Hailey. But as they were headed outside the restaurant,

he moved to Evelyn's side and whispered,
"Hey! Listen! Could you go alone? I want to drop Hailey home. It would be rude to leave her stranded like this because I invited her! Or else, you could sit in the backseat and let her sit in the passenger seat?"

Evelyn felt disappointed but said, "Oh! No worries! I can go alone. I also have somewhere I need to stop by too so don't worry!"
They bid goodbyes to each other and left.

As Evelyn reached home she felt very upset and laid down on the couch as her phone buzzed. It was a text from Gabriel, she opened it,
GABRIEL: Hi! Did you like Hailey?

Evelyn felt bitter. Still, she texted..

EVELYN: YES! I found her to be sweet and nice. She is perfect!

GABRIEL: I know right! She's too perfect! I thought about how we cling to each other. So I thought I would find someone else to cling to so you could also be at peace and not be annoyed by me all the time HAHA!

EVELYN: Huff! Thankgod. Little less of you, menace in my life. Hehe!

GABRIEL: YOU WISH! I'M STILL YOUR BEST FRIEND!

EVELYN: No doubts on that! I'd love to meet her more! She seems to be so amiable!

GABRIEL: I'll arrange a new meeting soon then! Maybe we could include her to 'Friday nights, Movie nights' haha.

As soon as Evelyn read that text, she felt displeased.

EVELYN: We'll see about that. I'm certain you're gonna abandon the Friday nights for her!

GABRIEL: If u allow.. I might!

Evelyn was surely upset and felt neglected with the unexpected arrival of Hailey in Gabriel's life and replied with a laugh emoji and bid him goodnight through text and tossed her phone on the other side of the bed and went to sleep.

The next morning, Evelyn went to the university alone. As soon as she entered she saw Gabriel and Hailey talking to each other. It felt like her heart was being crushed and felt infuriated. She overcame her anger and walked towards them.

They exchanged greetings and Gabriel attaining Evelyn's attention asked her to talk in private.

They went to the corner and Gabriel said,
"I think I am going to confess my feelings to Hailey tonight!"

"WHAT?", Evelyn exclaimed as her eyes opened widely.
"YES! It feels right.. what do you think?", he said.

"I- I think you should do it if it really feels like you should..", she said hiding her displeasure.

In the night, Evelyn was eagerly waiting for Gabriel's text. She really hoped that Hailey responded negatively. As much as it would hurt Gabriel, she wanted Hailey to reject him.
She impatiently texted him first,

EVELYN: HI! HOW'D IT GO? DID YOU DO IT?
GABRIEL: YES! SHE SAID YES!

Upon seeing this message, she felt horrible and dejected. She felt that now, that Gabriel's dating Hailey, the attention and attentiveness of Gabriel would get lesser. Feeling this way, she still responded,

EVELYN: I am so happy for y'all!
GABRIEL: I knew you'd be haha. 'kay I gtg! Hailey's waiting in the car! Have a good sleep. Good night.
EVELYN: Yes you too. Good night.

Gabriel felt that what he had done was good. This way he did not let the friendship between him and Evelyn go displeasing and on the other hand, he could also connect with such a sweet soul like Hailey.
He considered himself in a happy place as him, Evelyn and Hailey, were all joyous in life.
Evelyn was not really, but how could Gabriel know without being told of that.

A few months passed, Gabriel and Hailey's connection became stronger. They were still learning about each other but it was the effort both had put in to make their relationship wholesome and worthwhile.

As time passed, the interaction between Gabriel and Evelyn decreased. They could now go a week or even more without talking to each other. Gabriel seemed unfazed by this as he realised that he felt restricted from doing basic activities without anyone putting restrictions on him for Evelyn's sake. He used to restrain himself for Evelyn while Evelyn never held him back.  

Evelyn on the other side, preferred to avoid situations where she had to interact and communicate with Gabriel. She distanced them more than anyone. She felt that the distance and no communication was better than the closeness and her unreasonable feelings.
Evelyn found herself hurting again even though she was never involved with Gabriel romantically. But nevertheless, it was crystal clear that she liked him more than a friend.

She began to feel as if she was again putting herself into a state from which she had not yet fully emerged out of.