The Chemistry of Us

Chapter 7: Rumors and Realities

Monday morning arrived far too quickly for Evelyn's liking. She stood in front of the bathroom mirror, brushing out her hair, her mind racing as memories of Friday night replayed in her head on an endless loop. Derek's kiss—the way his lips had felt against hers, soft yet deliberate—lingered with her like a dream she couldn't shake. She had replayed the moment over and over, analyzing every second, wondering what it all meant.

The weekend had come and gone in a blur of emotions. She hadn't seen Derek after that night, and they hadn't texted either, which left her in a whirlwind of confusion. Was he waiting for her to make the first move? Had she imagined the connection between them? Was it just a fleeting moment, a mistake, or had it meant something real?

"Evelyn!" Her mother's voice rang through the house, pulling her out of her thoughts. "You're going to be late for school if you don't hurry."

"I'm coming," she called back, shaking her head as she tied her hair into a ponytail. She grabbed her backpack and headed downstairs, trying to push the kiss to the back of her mind. There were bigger things to focus on, like surviving another week of school.

As she walked into the kitchen, her dad was sitting at the table, drinking coffee and reading the newspaper, while her mom hurried around, making breakfast. The tension that had been there last week seemed to have eased a little, though the strain was still palpable. They were both trying, Evelyn could see that, but the problems with money hung over the house like a storm cloud.

"Morning," Evelyn said quietly, grabbing a piece of toast and slipping it into her backpack. She wasn't in the mood for a full breakfast.

"Morning, sweetheart," her dad said, glancing up from his paper. "You ready for school?"

"Yeah, I guess," she muttered, already thinking about how awkward it would be to see Derek. She wondered if he'd act differently around her, or if things would go back to how they were before. Maybe he hadn't meant anything by it. Maybe she was overthinking everything.

Evelyn slipped out the door before either of her parents could ask any more questions, grateful for the chilly fall air that greeted her as she walked to school. The leaves had turned shades of gold and red, and the crisp scent of autumn filled the air. Normally, it was her favorite time of year, but today, the usual thrill of the season couldn't shake the nervous knot in her stomach.

As she walked down the school hallway, she noticed people glancing at her. Some whispered to each other as she passed, while others gave her lingering looks. Evelyn's pulse quickened, and she lowered her head, wondering if her anxiety was making her paranoid. But when she reached her locker, the knot in her stomach tightened even further.

Britney was waiting for her, a wide smile on her face, her eyes practically sparkling with excitement.

"Hey!" Britney chirped, leaning against the locker next to Evelyn's. "How was your weekend? I've been dying to ask how things went after the party."

Evelyn sighed, opening her locker and stalling before answering. She still wasn't sure how to talk about the kiss. Part of her wanted to spill everything to Britney, but another part wanted to keep it to herself, savoring the moment before anyone else could taint it.

"It was... good," Evelyn said, trying to sound nonchalant. "Derek walked me home, and... we talked."

Britney's eyebrows shot up. "Talked, huh? Is that what they're calling it these days?"

Evelyn rolled her eyes, but a blush crept up her cheeks. "We kissed. Just once. It wasn't a big deal."

Britney gasped, her hands flying to her mouth in mock shock. "Are you kidding me? Not a big deal? Evelyn, that's huge! You've had a crush on him for months! This is, like, the start of something."