Evangeline (Unedited)

18

W H A T   T H E   H E C K   I S   H A P P E N I N G ?
(I am so sorry for the lack of updates lately, I cannot stress that enough. I love writing but sometimes the writers block kicks me down and makes me eat my words, so I have been SO slow lately. I have so much planned though, and a new book in the works... Chapters won't be published for a while though. Also, this and the last chapter do not make sense yet, or at least the attitude. It will eventually. And it will go back to normal, don't worry ;). )

Yesterday—for the rest of it, anyway—was weird. Every word the boys said to me was calculated and forced. I didn't understand what had changed so quickly, and I didn't understand what Alessandro was upset about. Leo and Noah avoided me even more than before, and the rest of them barely spoke when I did run into them, which wasn't often since, to be fair, I had kept in the bedroom when I first noticed the shift in behaviour.

I had reluctantly walked downstairs after the heartfelt conversation with Leo. Leo wasn't on the porch with the others, neither was Alessandro or Noah. The rest of the boys were sitting around a variety of little desserts, steam rising off of them, fresh out the oven.

Andreas welcomed me to sit with him when he noticed me standing there, observing the best place to sit. He didn't speak much, which wasn't new, but I appreciated the quietness, even if my head was spiralling in replacement. Theodore and Wilbur were having a hushed conversation to the side, Tommy silently listening. His being silent was very new to me, and that's when I started to worry more.

I quickly ate the chocolate chip cookie—perfectly round and squishy but a bit saltier than I'm sure the recipe called for—and chugged a tiny glass of orange juice, wanting to escape to the room again. I pushed my chair out from under me, feeling the wind rip through my clothes, goosebumps jumping on my skin. The sun was practically gone, but the remnants of light it sent out still seemed to peel its way through the dark blue skies full of clouds and awakening stars. The trees were still even with the wind, the animals having gone to bed. I heard crickets and other insects as I walked up to the back door, feeling brand new mosquito bites poking my bare arms, sleeves rolled up. Nobody said goodnight. Nobody spoke to me. But the boys watched me leave. I swung open the door, face to face with Noah and Leo.

Leo had red eyes. I opened my mouth to ask if he was okay, but before anything left my mouth, Noah looked behind him and pushed his brother out the door. I didn't miss the glare he sent my way. I looked at my feet, eyebrows furrowed.

"Heading to bed, Evie?" Alessandro stood in front of me, the light behind his head causing a shadow to cover his face.

"Oh, um, yeah..." I manage to breathe out, cracking my fingers in my pant pockets. "Is... is Leo okay?" My voice raises a pitch, and Alessandro nods.

"We had to have a conversation about something. He will be okay, don't worry about it." He assured me. I hesitantly smiled, my eyes not matching the expression whatsoever. I felt his gaze move across my facial features to my pockets, where my hands were aching from the constant tense movements. "Did you enjoy the treats? Theo baked, so I'm not sure how his following of our nana's recipe went."

He chuckles at his words, and I nod, forcing a grin.

"Yeah. It was good, even if it was a bit salty." I shrug. "I don't eat cookies much though so I liked it either way."

"I'm glad." He looks at me in silence once more, before sighing and walking past me, turning when he reaches the doorway I had moved forward from slowly. "Sleep well, Evie. Don't forget to come to one of us if you need anything."

I nod, thanking him, and he leaves, shutting the door behind him. I stare at it.

The hallway was dark, the house creaking in the wind. I heard muffled talking outside, seemingly louder than it was when I was out there. I didn't move. I felt glued to that place in the hallway, watching through the frosted obscured window, yellow porch light illuminating the figures sitting at the table, passing things to each other and pulling seats closer to one another.