heartstrings

Chapter 24

Nicholas
November 23th 2017

We lay together in her bed, the room bathed in the soft, warm glow of the bedside lamp. Eve's head rested comfortably on my chest, her breaths deep and even, signaling that she had drifted into a peaceful sleep.

I lay there, my arm wrapped protectively around her, staring at the ceiling, my mind still buzzing from the kisses we had just shared. The air between us was thick with unspoken words and the lingering scent of her perfume.

Suddenly, the serenity of the moment was shattered by the sound of the front door opening with a bang. Her dad's voice rang out, unmistakable and loud. "We're home! I just picked up Alex!"

I am so fucked.

My heart leapt into my throat. The shock of it made me jump up, jolting Eve awake. "Eve, your dad is home," I whispered urgently, trying to keep the panic out of my voice.

Her eyes flew open, wide with alarm. She sat up abruptly, her hair a wild halo around her head. "Oh no," she gasped, her voice barely above a whisper. "You're not supposed to be here. He can't see you."

"What? What do I do?" I asked, confusion and fear mingling in my voice.

"Quick, get dressed!" she hissed, her eyes darting around the room as if searching for a solution. "My dad doesn't allow me to have boys over."

I scrambled to put on my shoes and T-shirt labeled with my school's logo, my hands shaking. "What the fuck am I supposed to do now?" I asked, my voice rising in panic.

Eve's eyes flickered to the window, a spark of desperation in them. "The window," she said, her tone urgent.

I stared at her, incredulous. "What the fuck do you mean, the window?"

"You have to go out the window," she said, pushing me gently but firmly towards it. "You're big, you should be able to handle the fall."

"What the fuck, Eve?" I exclaimed, but there was no time to argue. I could hear her dad's footsteps coming up the stairs, each step echoing louder in the tense silence.

"Go, go, go!" she urged, her voice a giggling whisper now.

Without another word, I climbed through the window, my heart racing as the cold night air hit me. I landed on the ground below with a soft thud, surprisingly unscathed.

The shock of the fall was quickly replaced by the rush of adrenaline. Maybe being sporty was actually useful for something, I thought to myself, shaking off the initial shock.

As I straightened up, I heard Eve's dad's voice, now closer and more distinct. "Evangeline? Are you up there?" His voice was gruff, filled with confusion.

A second later, my hoodie flew out of the window. I caught it with one hand, pulling it on quickly, the fabric warm against the cool night air. I glanced back at the house, the lights from inside casting eerie shadows on the walls.

With a final look at the window, I made a run for my car, the sound of footsteps pounding behind me. I slid into the driver's seat, slamming the door shut and taking a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart.

My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I pulled it out, seeing a text from Eve

My Queen: Sorry about that Smoker Boy. Meet me at that breakfast bar from Halloween, Saturday 10 am.

A grin spread across my face despite everything.
It took me about twenty minutes today when I texted her, to find her number. At first I thought she changed her mind and didn't end up putting her number into my phone.

When I found a contact called "My Queen" though -i knew it was her.

I quickly typed back, my fingers moving over the screen with a newfound sense of calm.

Nic: No problem Blondie. See you there.

I slipped the phone back into my pocket, leaning back in the seat, letting out a deep breath. Despite the chaos and the fear, there was something about Eve that made every moment, even the crazy ones, feel worth it.

The night had taken a wild turn, but as I sat there, the thought of seeing her again soon was enough to chase away the tension.

I started the engine, the car's rumble a reassuring sound in the quiet night. As I drove away, the lights of Eve's house growing smaller in the rearview mirror, I couldn't help but smile. Maybe this unexpected adventure was just the beginning.