friends on the other side

chapter three

Evelyn sat on the edge of her narrow bed, a notebook open across her knees and a pencil tucked behind her ear. Sunlight streamed in through the small, cracked window, casting a warm glow over the scattered pages where she'd been scribbling lines, rhymes, and fragments of melodies. All her words seemed to flow back to one person, and now, more than ever, she was determined to make them perfect.

Her heart ached with excitement and urgency. She'd given away part of her soul to Oscar in that smoky, magic-filled shop. If there was one thing she couldn't bear, it was losing something so precious only to end up with nothing. Her fingers absentmindedly traced the lines on the page, her mind drifting through memories of every glance, every moment that she'd crossed paths with Lucy. All those days of Lucy walking by without a second look were finally behind her—Evelyn was sure of it. Oscar's potion was bound to work. She just needed Lucy's interest to spark.

As she left her cramped room, guitar in hand, Evelyn felt a kind of exhilaration. She walked to the usual corner where she played, the familiar backdrop of cobblestone streets and bustling townsfolk greeting her. But today, something was different. Her song felt alive, the notes blossoming out of her with new meaning. She strummed the guitar lightly, her voice finding the words she had written, then shifting to the places where the lyrics hadn't settled yet.

"Her smile lights up a room; her eyes, they steal my breath,
With every step she takes, I feel alive as never left..."

Evelyn spotted Lucy in the crowd, and her heart raced as she caught her gaze for just a second. Lucy looked on, her expression softening, curiosity filling her usually impassive eyes. Evelyn kept going, her fingers flowing over the strings, her voice shaping the unpolished verses into something that sounded whole and complete.

"Oh, if I could make her see, the way her laughter moves the air,
I'd give my soul to be the one—"

The words poured out of her, improvised yet sure, as if some unseen force guided her voice and lyrics. And suddenly, Evelyn realized Lucy was watching her—really watching. Her heart skipped a beat. Lucy's eyes had a warmth Evelyn had never seen before. She was smiling, and it wasn't just a polite, passing smile, but one that reached her eyes, lingering like a spark.

As Evelyn's song drew to a close, Lucy made her way over, stepping through the small crowd that had gathered. "That was beautiful," she said, her voice as soft as velvet. "You have a gift."

Evelyn's cheeks flushed. "Thank you. I... I wasn't even finished with it yet."

"Well, I couldn't tell," Lucy replied, her eyes lighting up. "My father's hosting a ball tonight—a formal charity event. Would you... would you be interested in performing there?"

Evelyn's heart raced as if it would leap from her chest. She nodded quickly, unable to hide her excitement. "Yes! Absolutely, I would love to."

Lucy beamed, her smile lingering for a moment longer than Evelyn could have ever hoped. "Wonderful! We'll see you tonight, then." And with a graceful turn, Lucy disappeared back into the throng, leaving Evelyn standing there, nearly breathless with joy.

As Evelyn watched her go, she put her hand in her pocket and wrapped it around the vile of liquid she was going to have Lucy drink, her resolve even stronger. This was her chance. The sacrifice she had made, the deal with Oscar, had already set something incredible into motion. Tonight, she'd be stepping into Lucy's world for the first time, her song resonating in a place she'd never dreamed of. And for the first time, Evelyn felt the first, fragile strands of hope winding their way into her heart.