Lacuna(1)

Chapter 19

Evelyn had started to regret not taking a jacket with her. Her fingers were freezing from holding her phone. Evelyn heard a group of footsteps on the other side of the street, far back from her. She turned and saw a group of kids, chattering away. She turned a corner, crossing her arms to try and protect her hands from the wind.

Now, in this dark alley, she was alone with minimal light. But no one would attack her, right? There are children, no one would do anything, she reassured herself. The reassuring feeling faded as she heard a pair of footsteps behind her. Evelyn quickened her pace; the person behind her did as well. Evelyn could see this person's shadow on the pavement in front of her, an orange glow surrounding them.

Evelyn's feet moved faster against the pavement. It was dark. She was freezing and had minimal defense tactics. No one would hear her screams. The shadow gained more on her; their walk turned to a jog. Before Evelyn could blink, the shadow wasn't there anymore and she left a very heavy weight on her back, almost knocking her over.

"What the fuck!" she screamed, squirming out of the man's grip and turning to get ready to fight. Her eyes were met with familiar green eyes, familiar brown, curly hair, and a smug grin.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" she panted, placing a hand on her chest.

"Hey," he said, clouds coming from his mouth. Evelyn turned around, starting to walk away as Jameson caught right back up with her.

"Sometimes I think you're actually stalking me," Evelyn said.

"I'm just looking out for my friend." Evelyn could hear the grin in his voice.

"The only person I have to look out for is you."

"That's how this is gonna be?" he asked. Evelyn looked over at him. He didn't look half bad. His hair was messy, per usual, and his cheeks and nose were rosy. Evelyn could only imagine that her whole face was red from the cold. Jameson looked over at her, studying her face.

"Here." He stopped Evelyn, unzipping and taking off his jacket and gloves to give to Evelyn.

"No, you don't have to," Evelyn smiled, pushing his hands away.

"Come on, please?" He pouted, pushing his hands closer to her. She sat, thinking of the warmth she craved, and took the jacket.

"Thanks," she whispered, smiling at him and then looking at the ground. They continued to walk in comfortable silence, she actually felt safer with him.

"Maybe you should come over," Evelyn said, shimmying closer to Jameson.

"No, I've got places to be," he laughed.

"But you do have time to take a trip to visit little old me?" Evelyn batted her eyes at Jameson. "What even brings you to town?"

"Xan has yet another science exhibit that he makes our whole bloodline go to," Jameson chuckled.

"In Connecticut?" Nothing ever happened in Connecticut. Well, the majority.

"It's at Yale University."

"Oh," Evelyn said. "That makes a lot more sense."

Evelyn looked around, taking in the Halloween scene.

"Guys!" A kid in the distance screeched. "We have to go to the rich neighborhood! James' house is there." Evelyn chuckled a little watching the kids scramble up to Courtland.

"Someone's excited." Jameson also watched the kids, his eyes catching on James and Josh. "Hey, those are the kids who took Nash's hat."

Evelyn stopped in the middle of walking, slowly turning to look at him.

"That was your brother?" Her eyes widened as Jameson nodded.

"Evelyn!" A boy's voice called. Soon James and Josh appeared beside her. "All the kids are saying that we're in the rich neighborhood! How much candy do you think I can get out of Mom and Dad?"

"None. They're gonna tell you to scram and give Josh extra candy." James gapped at Evelyn, looking over to Jameson.

"Hey there, partner." Jameson winked at James and Josh who looked at each other in realization.

"Are you dating Evelyn?" Josh asked, tilting his head. Jameson's cheeks blew up as he tried to hold in a laugh but he burst like a balloon.

"Josh, you really think that Evelyn would date him?" James asked, crossing his arms at Josh.

"Pip's dating Ravi so I don't know how low someone might go." Josh shrugged.

"My sister still has standards, Joshua," James remarked.

"I'm gonna tell Pip about this one," Evelyn said, grinning like a little kid.

"I will too. And I'll tell Ravi," James added, sticking out his tongue at Josh. Josh stuck his tongue out further in retaliation.

While James and Josh bickered more, Evelyn went into her own world, one where things stayed like this forever. No one ever left or could make a wrong decision. Just a happy, little, perfect Connecticut town. Everyone and everything was perfect; even Max! Well, if everything was perfect, Evelyn thought. What would I be doing right now? Would Maverick be between the bickering Josh and James? Would he join them? If the world was perfect, would Evelyn be here at all?

They all thought we were perfect, Andie's voice said., her distant laugh following after. Evelyn's memory went back to sitting on a wall with Andie, talking about whatever. No one else knew what was really going on; only you.

Evelyn tried to brush that memory away, focusing back on the scene in front of her. James looked ready to tackle Josh who was taking off this wizard cloak that Evelyn had just noticed.

"It's not fighting dirty if you win," Josh remarked. Evelyn had zero background knowledge. Instead of actually trying to get some, she just jumped in the middle of it. Similar to how you would get sent to the middle of a random Friends episode.

"Well, to clear the air: no, I'm not dating Evelyn. We're just friends," he assured.

Evelyn clapped, trying to steer the conversation away from her love life. "What's Eli going as?"

"Mom and Dad do the same exact first costume for everyone Evelyn, you know this." James rolled his eyes.

"They're gonna have to retire that costume sometime soon. It's 25 years old."

Jameson looked down at the invisible watch on his wrist. "Well, I've got to go. So you soon, Evelyn," Jameson called, walking away.

"Hopefully not soon!" Evelyn called back at him.

"He forgot his jacket," Josh pointed out.