heartstrings

Chapter 12

Nicholas
November 1st 2017

We pulled into the parking lot of a random breakfast bar, the sun just beginning to cast its warmth over the sleepy town. I glanced at Eve, who looked effortlessly stunning in my oversized navy shirt. She somehow made it look chic. Her hair was a messy halo around her head, evidence of a night well spent, and despite her groggy expression, she radiated a certain kind of beauty that was hard to ignore.

Eve slid out of the car with a groan, pressing a hand to her forehead. "God, I'm so hungover," she moaned as we walked toward the entrance. I couldn't help but smile.

Inside, we settled into a cozy booth by the window. The morning light filtered through the blinds, casting a soft glow on the checkered tablecloth. Eve, always the chatterbox, launched into a tirade about the previous night's escapades.

The waitress came by to take our order. Eve opted for pancakes with berries and cream, a decadent choice that made her eyes light up in anticipation. I kept it simple with a black coffee, needing the caffeine more than anything else.

"Why don't you drink, Nic?" Eve asked, her eyes narrowing in curiosity. "You were so stone-cold sober last night. I don't get it."

I shrugged, taking a sip of my black coffee. "I'm just not a big drinker. I don't enjoy anything about it," I replied. "I don't get what people like about alcohol."

Eve laughed, shaking her head. "You must be crazy. Drinking is fun! It's social, it's... liberating."

"Liberating?" I echoed, raising an eyebrow. "Last night you were liberating the contents of your stomach into my bathroom."

"Details," she said, waving her hand dismissively. "That was just one little hiccup."

"I think the term you're looking for is 'spew session,' not 'hiccup.'"

"Fine, but think about it: drinking makes you relax, helps you have a good time. You should try it."

"I do have a good time," I said, leaning back in the booth. "Without the hangover, without the embarrassing moments, and without getting lost in the forest."

"You're such a party pooper," she pouted, taking a bite of her pancakes. "Alcohol brings people together. It's like social glue."

"Social glue?" I snorted. "More like a social solvent. You remember dancing in those woods all alone?"

She rolled her eyes. "Okay, maybe I went a little overboard. But it's all part of the experience."

"And the experience includes getting lost in a forest, me having to save you, and crying over a spilled drink?"

Eve burst out laughing. "Alright, alright, maybe it's not perfect. But it's fun, and you get to let loose. You could stand to loosen up a bit."

"I'm plenty loose," I said, pretending to be offended. "I just prefer to keep my dignity intact."

"Dignity is overrated," she said, pointing her fork at me. "You're missing out on the shared laughs, the stories, the memories."

"I remember everything just fine without alcohol, thank you very much."

She rolled her eyes again but smiled. "Fine, Mr. Sober. But one day, I'm going to get you drunk with me. Mark my words.
And i won't just be some wine, we will be going all out."

"I'll mark them," I said with a grin. "And then promptly forget them, because I'll be sober."

Eve laughed, shaking her head. "You're impossible."

"And you're incorrigible," I replied. "But at least you're entertaining."

"Cheers to that," she said, lifting her glass of orange juice in a mock toast.

"Cheers," I said, clinking my coffee cup against her glass. For all our differences, I wouldn't trade this banter for anything.

As we ate our food, Eve spotted a girl from her school. Her face lit up with recognition. "Oh my God, you see that girl over there?" she said, nodding subtly toward a table across the room. "That's Julia. We went to school together."

I glanced over, seeing a girl with dark hair chatting animatedly with a group of friends. "What about her?" I asked, intrigued by the glint in Eve's eyes.

Eve took a sip of her Orange Juice, setting the stage for what was clearly a juicy story. "Well, Julia got pregnant. Can you believe it? She always seemed so... put together."

I raised an eyebrow, leaning in slightly. "Pregnant? When did this happen?"

"Not too long ago. It was the talk of the school for weeks," Eve said, her voice low but animated. "Apparently, she kept it a secret for months. No one had any idea until she started showing."

"Wow," I said, genuinely surprised. "How did she manage to keep it quiet for that long?"

"She wore a lot of baggy clothes, said she was gaining a bit of weight from stress," Eve explained. "It worked for a while, but eventually, people started noticing."

"What did she do when people found out?" I asked, sipping my coffee, fully invested in the tale now.

"She tried to play it off like it wasn't a big deal," Eve said, rolling her eyes. "But then the rumors started flying. Everyone had their theories about who the father was. It was a mess."

"Did she ever tell anyone who the father is?" I asked, curious.

Eve shook her head. "Nope. She's kept that part a mystery. Some people think it's this guy she was seeing from another school, but no one knows for sure."

"Must have been tough for her," I said, thinking about the pressure and judgment she must have faced.

"Yeah, it was," Eve agreed, her tone softening. "But she handled it better than most people would. She took a break from school for a while, but now she's back and seems to be doing okay."

"Good for her," I said, genuinely impressed.

Eventually, I glanced at my watch. "We should probably get going," I said, signaling the end of our delightful breakfast. I paid for both meals, much to Eve's half-hearted protests, and we headed back to the car.

On the drive to Eve's house, she talked about how embarrassed she was about last night. "I can't believe i drank that nasty drink last night" she said, covering her face with her hands.

I couldn't resist a smirk. "Yeah, you really were... something last night"

She peeked at me through her fingers, laughing despite herself. "You're terrible."

We pulled up in front of her house, the laughter still lingering between us. As she reached for the door handle, she turned to me, her eyes softening. "Thanks, Nic. For breakfast, for last night, for... everything."

I nodded, my usual stoic self, but inside, I felt a warmth that had nothing to do with the coffee. "Anytime, Eve."

She smiled, a little shyly, and stepped out of the car. I watched her walk to her front door, a feeling of contentment settling over me. For once, everything felt right.

As she fumbled with her keys, I found myself replaying the morning in my mind. Her laughter, her stories, the way she looked in my shirt—all of it seemed to etch itself into my memory. Eve turned to give me a final wave when she suddenly walked over to my car again.

Did she forget something?

I looked around my messy car but nothing seemed to be hers.

She stopped in front of my car, opened the door and looked me in my eyes with a bright smile.

"You aren't gonna come in?"