The Chemistry of Us

Chapter 5: An Argument at Home

The tension in the Parker household had been building for weeks. It started subtly—little disagreements here and there between her parents, short remarks about bills, groceries, and Evelyn's upcoming college applications. But tonight, it erupted into a full-blown argument that echoed through the thin walls of their small house.

Evelyn sat at the kitchen table, her half-eaten dinner growing cold as her parents' voices carried down the hallway from their bedroom.

"I told you, Gary, we can't keep spending like this!" her mom's voice was sharp, cutting through the air like a knife. "We barely made rent this month, and you want to talk about getting a new car?"

"We need the car, Anna! The one we have barely runs!" her dad fired back, his voice louder and angrier than she'd heard in a while. "I'm doing everything I can at the garage, but I can't fix the damn car forever!"

Evelyn clenched her fists under the table, staring down at her plate. She didn't want to listen, but their argument was unavoidable. Every word hit her like a blow, each accusation, each frustrated sigh, making her feel like the walls were closing in.

It wasn't the first time her parents had fought about money, but it had gotten worse lately. Her dad's auto repair shop had been struggling for months, and her mom's hours at the hospital had been cut. The strain was evident in everything they did—in the way they avoided looking at each other at dinner, in the clipped tone her mom used when talking about the budget, in the way her dad spent more and more nights at the shop, coming home later and later.

And then there was college.

Evelyn was supposed to be applying to schools, supposed to be thinking about her future. But every time the subject came up, she could see the stress flicker across her parents' faces, hear the tension in their voices. College meant more expenses, and the last thing they needed was another financial burden.

But how could Evelyn not go? She had worked so hard for this, maintained her grades, been responsible—everything to ensure she'd get into a good school. But the guilt gnawed at her. How could she even consider asking them to help pay for college when they were barely getting by as it was?

Another shout from the bedroom broke through her thoughts, and she couldn't take it anymore.

Pushing her chair back with a scrape, Evelyn grabbed her backpack and headed upstairs to her room, her footsteps heavy as she climbed the stairs. The noise of her parents' fight faded slightly as she shut the door behind her, but she could still hear them, muffled but persistent. It felt like no matter where she went, she couldn't escape the weight of their stress.

Evelyn sat down at her desk, opening her chemistry textbook as if it could offer her an escape from the reality pressing down on her. She flipped through the pages, her eyes scanning equations and formulas, but none of it was sticking. She couldn't focus.

A familiar buzzing sound interrupted her thoughts, and she glanced down at her phone to see a message from Britney:

Britney: Guess what?! Jason's throwing a huge Halloween party this weekend! You HAVE to come with me.

Evelyn let out a small sigh, typing out a quick response.

Evelyn: Not really in the mood for a party, Brit.

She set the phone down, hoping that would be the end of it, but Britney wasn't one to give up easily.

Britney: Seriously? It's HALLOWEEN, Evelyn! You can't miss this one. Come on, it'll be fun! We can even wear matching costumes. Maybe we'll even see Derek there ;)

Evelyn stared at the screen, biting her lip. Halloween was just a few days away, and usually, she loved it. Growing up, her mom used to go all out decorating the house with pumpkins, skeletons, and fake cobwebs. She and Britney had spent countless Halloweens together, dressing up in ridiculous costumes and eating way too much candy.