Mirror Images

Chapter 4

Marie sticks around the rest of the day. By the time 7:30 rolls around, we're sitting on the couch watching television. I'm ready for my date in a flowy dress, light makeup, and my hair in a long french-braid trailing down my back. Marie is half-asleep laying in my lap. I gently pick her head up and put it on the couch as I stand up to leave my house. She wakes and just blankly stares at me. I smile. She gives me a smile back.

I pull my purse on and kiss my mom goodbye before heading outside. The night is cold and slightly chilly. The warmth seeping through my chest is no match for the cold outside.

When I reach the theater, I see Evan standing in front, waiting for me. When he notices me, his eyes seem to light up. My heart starts beating faster and I walk to him quicker than before; less leisurely. I start running and I jump into his arms without even thinking.

I'm laughing and he's laughing and all I want to do is stay like this, with him. Forever. Instead, I pull away. Not too far, but just close enough where we can still talk and look each other in the eyes.

"Hey~" I say, blowing my breath out lightly.

"Hi," his eyes are wild. "You look beautiful, Evelin." I giggle and wrap my arms around his neck.

"Let's go in, shall we?" I say as I pull him towards the front door. He stumbles a bit, as I'm still holding his neck, before regaining his balance and carefully unwrapping my hands. Evan nods and we walk into the theater.

Evan walks me home. We hold hands the whole time, talking about the movie. We'd watched some horror-romance flick that I can't remember the name of because I was too busy staring at Evan's reactions.

"So, you liked the movie?" I ask.

"God, yes. It was amazing. The cinematography? The acting? All perfect." He's shaking from excitement. I can feel it through my palm. Then, he stops. I continue walking until I notice that he isn't moving anymore.

"What's wrong?"

"I- um, it was also ten times better because you were there with me. I'm glad I got to be with you these last few hours. Thank you." He's blushing.

"Can I kiss you?" I ask. Evan nods and I lean in, pressing my lips against his. It's a bit awkward and I don't know where to put my hands, but Evan grabs my waist and pulls me into him. I didn't know kissing someone could feel so good. It's like being one with someone else. Then, his hand slides into my shirt and I jerk away from him.

"I'm sorry," I say, "but that feels a bit too fast and I– I'm– um, could you please give me a bit of space. I'll see you later." I walk away without hearing a response from him. I'm on fire. I can't feel the ground beneath me. I'm a bit lightheaded. When I get to my house, Marie is still there for some reason. She's just sitting at my dining table. There aren't any lights on.

"Marie? What's wrong? Are you okay?" I freak out, kicking my shoes off and run to her side. I flip a lightswitch on as I pass it. I kneel on the ground and pull Marie's hands from her face. She's crying.

"Marie," is all I say. She's sobbing quietly.

"My mom..." and that's when I notice the bruises on her legs.

"Did you go home?"

She shakes her head.

"I'm too scared to, but she texted me while you were gone saying that I had to come home or she would kill herself. I don't know what to do and I didn't want to ruin your date by texting you and I'm sorry for staying too long and I–"

I cut her off, "You haven't stayed too long. I'll be here for whatever. I just wish you'd told me sooner. I wouldn't have left you here. I'm sorry. C'mere," I pull her up out of the chair and to the couch. We sit down and I pull her head onto my shoulder. The blanket we were using a few hours ago is still there and I pull it over us.

"Let's just stay here. Together. I promise it'll get better."

"Mmm..." is all she says and I can tell that she's nodding off already.

"I love you, Marie, okay?" She grabs my hand and holds it, folding her fingers around mine. I feel my pulse pick up a bit. Her face is so close to mine.

"Hey, Evalie?"

"Yes?"

"Can I kiss you?" My stomach twists. Is this cheating? Instead, I lean my face into hers and press my lips against hers. It feels different. Exciting. Lovely. She moans a bit and wraps her arms around my neck, pulling me on top of her. This felt... Good. Better. My legs wrapped in hers, a mess of limbs. Her tongue slips into my mouth and I push against her, opening my mouth to receive it.

I slowly trail my hands over her body, before stopping at her neck. I lean it up and push my body between her legs. She grabs my hair and shoves me into her, pressing my lips harder against hers. And then, I hear footsteps upstairs. I slip out of Marie's grasp. She makes a pouty face. I sit up on the couch, hoping my mom doesn't come downstairs and is only using the bathroom or something.

Marie crawls over to me and turns my chin, kissing me again. Warmth spreads through my chest again and all I want to do is fall into this, but I stop her.

"Marie, my mom is awake. We can't do this and– and you're not feeling good. That's probably why you're in this-this mood."

"What?! Evalie... Do you really not know or are you just pretending?"

"Pretending?"

"Oh my God. Really? You're an asshole, you know that?"

Marie gets up and walks toward the door.

"Marie! Wait, I swear, I'm sorry that I don't know what you're talking about, but can we please just talk about this?"

"Talk about what?!" She turns around sharply, I hadn't realized that she was crying. I hear my mom walking down the steps and I push Marie and I outside. "What, now you can just push me around as you like?" She shoves me. "I'm not just some plaything for you to mess around with before realizing that you might actually be gay!"

"What are you talking about, Marie?!"

Marie grabs my shirt and kisses me. Hard. She lets go and yells, "I'm in love with you! I was hoping you'd notice, but then you go and get a boyfriend and then you come home from a date with him and you kiss me! And I– I'm so upset..."

"Marie..." I say, reaching out to her.

"I'm gonna go home. Don't text me." She walks away and I don't try to stop her.

I head back inside after a few minutes of sitting on the porch dumbfounded. Mom is sitting at the dining table. She probably heard the whole thing.

"Hi, Mom."

"Good night, sweetie," is all she says, not looking at me. I resist the urge to ask her if she heard anything or if something was wrong and walk up the stairs to my room. How had I ruined one of my most prized relationships in just a few minutes? I feel empty and cold as I get ready for bed. I splash water on my face to no avail before getting into my bed. Marie had slept here not that long ago. I remember waking up, holding her and my heart hurts. I groan and curl into a ball.

The day had started out so well, I had even had my first kiss with my first boyfriend, but at the cost of what? To lose my best friend of 13 years? Tears drip down my face and melt into my pillow.