Under the Grit

Down in a Hole

Evangeline stood in front of her mirror, eyes carefully tracing her reflection as she adjusted the last detail of her outfit. The room's warm light glinted off the silver hoops in her ears, while her dark hair, freshly curled, fell in loose waves just past her shoulders. She had chosen a deep burgundy dress, one that clung in all the right places without being too showy, its hem brushing just above her knees. The color complemented her skin, making her eyes, a striking shade of green, stand out even more. Her makeup was flawless—soft golds and browns that highlighted her sharp cheekbones, and a red lipstick that matched the confident energy she was trying to embody.

Her fingers lingered on her necklace—a delicate chain that Ben had given her before he left for his trip. She let out a small sigh, taking one last glance at herself before the voices from the living room interrupted her thoughts.

"Evie, come on! We don't wanna miss the first set!" Tilly called out, her voice playful but insistent.

"I'm coming!" Evangeline responded, grabbing her purse and giving herself one final once-over. With a deep breath, she stepped out of the bedroom and into the living room where her friends waited.

Tilly Jackson, as usual, looked effortlessly cool. Her dark skin shimmered in the dim light of the room, a bright smile lighting up her features. She wore a sleek black leather jacket over a low-cut top, paired with ripped jeans and heeled boots that gave her petite frame an extra inch or two. Her curls bounced with every movement, and her eyes sparkled with excitement.

Mary-Beth Gaskill, in contrast, was the picture of delicate elegance. Her long, blonde hair was pinned back in soft waves, and she wore a light pink dress that flared at the waist, paired with ballet flats. Her blue eyes were wide and curious, as if she was always waiting for something magical to happen. She had a quiet charm, a kind of sweetness that made her seem approachable yet mysterious.

And then there was Karen Jones, who leaned against the doorframe with a mischievous grin playing on her lips. Her strawberry-blonde hair was piled up messily atop her head, and she wore a bold red crop top with denim shorts that showed off her long legs. Karen had a carefree, almost reckless energy about her, the kind of girl who was always the life of the party—and sometimes the cause of its chaos.

"All set?" Karen asked, raising a brow as Evangeline stepped into view.

Evangeline nodded with a smile. "Yeah, let's go."

"You look stunning, by the way," Mary-Beth chimed in sweetly.

"Thanks," Evangeline replied with a small grin. "You all look amazing too. I think we're more than ready for whatever the night throws at us."

Tilly grinned and looped an arm around Evangeline's shoulders. "We better be. One of my brothers just texted—they're already setting up at the bar."

"What kind of music do they play, anyway?" Evangeline asked, her curiosity piqued.

Tilly released Evangeline's shoulder and replied, "they mainly do covers of rock or indie rock songs, but they're also working on some original stuff."

As they headed toward the door, Evangeline felt a familiar flutter of nerves in her chest. Tilly's world seemed effortless, full of family and warmth, something Evangeline admired but hadn't quite experienced herself. She knew Tilly had adopted brothers, but she'd never met them, only heard the stories. And though the thought of meeting new people made her a little uneasy, she told herself it would be fun. After all, it wasn't every night they went out to hear live music and break free from their usual routines.

Still, as they walked out of the apartment, Evangeline couldn't help but wonder how the night would go. There was a comfort in her day-to-day life with Benjamin, her fiancé. He was steady, always there to rely on. But with him out of town, she had the freedom to step out of her usual bubble, and maybe, just maybe, that wouldn't be such a bad thing.