The Chance

38 || Ruin Me

Waiting Room - Pheobe Bridgers
𓆩♡𓆪
Evie

"Hey."

There's a million things I wanted to do once I got home. Being faced with my worst nightmare, bottled up into one person, wasn't one of them.

I still have to unpack, lay down on my bed that's been empty for months, talk with my friends who I haven't seen in a while.

"Evie, hey." The same voice repeats. I did not need to deal with this the second I opened the front door of my home.

Pulling myself out of my internal trance I finally make eye contact with him. Vincent's sporting a gray Cambridge crewneck, dark jeans, and a newly forming length of scruff along his jaw.

I'll give it to him. He was smart. Academically.

He still looks the same, just grown up a bit. Appearance wise, personality wise is still for me to figure out.

"Hi," I finally respond but don't keep eye contact for long. My eyes drift towards the dining room to our left which opens up to the kitchen in the back.

A mane of red hair whips around the corner the second the door closes behind me. "Evie! Holy shit!" Julie places her glass of water on the table before running up to me and almost taking me out with the hug she gives me.

"Hi Jules," I breathe out and avoid Vincent's continued staring at the two of us.

Julianna Walters: bestfriend, built-in sister, and my number one girl. I don't remember a day in my life, as a conscious being, where she wasn't there. We met at the beginning of kindergarten, her cubby was under mine and the only one assigned in the bottom row.

I guess that's just how it went alphabetically with her last name. I was always the first cubby or locker in school. She was almost always last in our grade, despite being third or fourth last because of the few kids with Z beginning their last name.

I remember clearly that day she got upset because she was alone at the bottom row of cubbies, which is understandable for a five year old and probably bad on the teacher's part.

I didn't like seeing her upset so I offered to share my cubby with her, so she'd be up top with me.

Her smile practically filled her entire face.

We've been inseparable ever since.

She thankfully ushers me past Vincent and into the kitchen where my mom and the rest of our guests stand. "Look who's here!" Julie announces my presence.

My mom is the first to turn around, her eyes drawing to my face, then my knee. She's been worrisome ever since I left the house after my initial recovery.

I can't blame her though, I was rotting in bed and didn't want to do anything but cry the entire time.

"Hi mom,"

When her eyes come back to my face her expression doesn't have the slightest hint of concern on it. "Eva," she walks over with open arms, calling me by the name only her and dad use. "I'm so glad you're home."

"Me too," I hug her and immediately welcome the comfort that comes with it. Can't go wrong with a hug from mom am I right?

"You look better than the last time you were here." she whispers over my shoulder so only I can hear before she pulls back. "Happier." she tugs on my cheek.

I smile at her. "I definitely feel better Mom, thanks for noticing."

"Where's my girl?" Another motherly voice hollers in the kitchen.