Lacuna(1)

Chapter 2

EVELYN HASTINGS

Evelyn reluctantly knocked on the Fitz-Amobi's door, wishing James would just answer her texts.

The door opened, revealing a small brown boy.

"Hey, Josh." Evelyn smiled.

"Hi! Do you want to come in?" Josh asked.

"Josh, no," someone called from inside.

"It's fine, Pip. It's just Evelyn!"

"Exactly," Pippa said while Evelyn crossed the threshold into the Fitz-Amobi's house.

"I'm just getting James." Evelyn put her hands up. "I'm not gonna steal anything. Or snoop around."

"Can I come home with you?" Josh said.

"But you just hung out with James?"

"I know, but you're fun to hang out with too! And Pip doesn't let you here anymore."

"Wow," Ravi said, poking Pippa. "So mean."

"Shush, she's the one suing me."

"You're suing my sister?" Josh screeched.

"No, Josh," Evelyn assured. "My parents and Max are. I had literally no idea until I was in a room with a mediator, two lawyers, Pippa, and my brother."

"Why are you calling her Pippa? Everyone calls her Pip if you didn't know," Josh added. He cupped his hand beside his mouth, whispering, "Even people who don't like her do."

"I do know that, I just... feel like it." Evelyn shrugged, knowing it was way deeper than that; but she'll spare him the details. "Where is James?"

"Upstairs doing something."

"You didn't think to tell him to come down here?" Ravi laughed.

"No? I never do, he just knows," Josh said.

"That's because James usually checks his phone, that's how he knows I'm here." Evelyn tousled Josh's hair.

Josh shook this head, narrowing his eyes at Pippa.

"When do I get to get a phone?" Josh asked, looking up at Evelyn.  "Pip looks like she has a lot of fun on her phone."

Ravi turned to Pippa, scrunching his brows.

"What kind of fun?" Evelyn and Ravi asked.

"I don't know." Josh shrugged. "Oh, I have to ask you something." Josh's eyes light up at Evelyn. "What does perv mean? Someone called me it on Fortnite but I don't know what it means."

"Why do you think I would know that answer?" Evelyn frowned.

"Because you know everything basically."

"Maybe ask those two, they're also smart, they'll know." Evelyn waved over to Pippa and Ravi.

Ravi shot up, his eyes widening. "No. Do not ask-"

"Ravi, what's a perv?" Josh chirped. "If Evelyn won't explain it, it must be bad. Is it worse than the f-word?" Josh's face dropped in worry.

"No, it's not that bad," Ravi explained nervously. "Just, maybe don't say that, okay? Or we'll tell your parents Evelyn taught you it."

"They won't believe that," Josh laughed. "They like Evelyn. What do pervs do?"

"They, they're like Pip, sort of." Pippa swiveled her head to Ravi. "They watch people, creepily."

"Like the guy who's been watching our house? Me and James noticed him a while ago."

"That is a point of concern," Evelyn chimed in.