Goes On // Dead Poets Society

fourteen.

Ridge Academy, NY
4/15/60

The day before spring break. One of Evelyn's favorite days of the year. It was the start of the first break since Christmas and the last break she'll get before finals. It was much needed after the chaos of the semester. Yet for the first time she was sad about it. Sad because for a whole week she'd go without seeing Charlie when not so long ago she didn't even know the boy existed. So she was determined to make every second count the minute she got out of class.

"Oh God" Violet groaned, eyes cast on Alice Higgins being approached by Allen Fenway. Students none of them had really gotten close to but their friendship proceeded them.

"What?" Evelyn inquires, wearing a confused look as she glances at the pair as well. Seeing nothing different within their interaction than usual.

"He's in love with her and she doesn't even know it" Laurie whispers, glancing at the pair as well. Evelyn is only confused further, eyeing Allen just to see there is a shine in his eyes. A far off hopeful look interwoven within his heart as he looks at the girl who can't even seem to spare him a glance.

"That's so sad" Evelyn said and Violet turned to her, an amused look on her face. When Laurie does the same Evelyn can't help but find herself confused all over again.

"What?" she asks them and the girls laugh lightly, sharing a look Evelyn couldn't translate. For the first time all day her mind isn't on finding Charlie after this study hall. It's on whatever they've been hiding from her.

"You really don't know?" Laurie asked, curious if Evelyn ever got a hint. Ever noticed one moment where maybe she questioned it and never felt the need to share it with the girls. Yet based on the way her furrowed brow doesn't ease, Laurie knows the answer is no.

"I have no idea what you guys are talking about, can someone please fill me in?" Evelyn asks, a little exasperated and nervous. She didn't find herself to be an oblivious person but maybe she was.

"You and Nate, come on" Violet suggests, searching Evelyn's eyes for any falter but Evelyn is still taking a moment to catch up. Eyes darting to the pair to try and comprehend the innuendo.

"Nate and me are not like that" she finally says and Violet snorts, shaking her head at her very blind friend. The poor boy had been in love with her forever and the whole school knew but her.

"Now that you're with Charlie we can talk about it. No way you didn't notice Nate has been obsessed with you since the 6th grade" Laurie says, shaking her head softly and brushing golden locks out of her face.

"He was?" Evelyn questions and the girls quickly realize how they have to spell this out for her. Explain in grave detail that Nate had been in love with her for years.

"Was, still is. He's been in love with you forever. We figured if you didn't know then you at least knew when he asked you to the dance" Laurie tells her and Evelyn feels the world around her collapsing. Everything she ever knew was not exactly as it seemed. She recalled his face that day when she denied his invitation. The devastation that she didn't understand.

"Don't forget the night he sat outside our room for hours with roses and you never showed. Poor guy looked like a kicked puppy" Violet adds in and the two girls laugh, finding amusement in a past Nate had left behind. For Evelyn though, years of deeper meanings are finally coming to light and the realization is hitting her too hard.

"Nate loves me" she repeats again, as if only to confirm to herself. When Violet and Laurie turn back to her they realize Evelyn isn't taking this news as expected. In fact they had turned her entire world upside down without even knowing it.