lemonade stand // c.h.

[07]

            Eyes open to a bright ray of sunlight shining through the window of the un-curtained bedroom, blinding brown eyes and forcing them to shut tightly. Calum forces his body to roll over, nearly falling off the bed in the process, and tugging the sheet over his head to shield his face from the burning light and cover his naked-clad torso. He's been repeating this process for the last few hours, rolling over, opening eyes, shutting eyes, rolling over, cover up. As if the sun is going to grow any darker in the early afternoon sky, not a single cloud present and leaving people at risk for bad sunburns.

The Evelyn situation is so exhausting for Calum and after last night, he doesn't want to even attempt to get out of bed. He's trying so damn hard to get her to notice him, something he's never really had to experience before, and maybe that's why he finds it so fun. He's considered just leaving her be – that appears that's what she wants after all – but he can't shake the feeling that there's something deeper going on and he's determined to find out. She's just, not the same Evelyn he used to know, and he would like to find out why. When he went away, from what he had seen, she was fine – she was herself. What changed in the year and a half he was gone?

Apparently a lot.

He makes a loud groan from the back of his throat, fisting at his sheets as the images of the night before replay in his mind. Evelyn screaming at him to pull over, before getting out and kicking him where it hurts with his words (also known as his balls). He almost feels embarrassed. Was offering her money going too far? Obviously, she didn't like it very much.

He blindly reaches over to his night stand, retrieving his phone, and tapping the name of the guy who will know exactly what to do. The phone rings twice before the deep voice of his band mate answers.

"Luke, bro, I really need your help with something."

-

Calum and Luke both cradle beers in their hands, facing each other as they sit at Calum's dining room table. They're not speaking, just staring at each other. Calum doesn't know where to begin and Luke is at a loss as to what exactly Calum wanted to talk about, so here they sit. Wondering why they are just there. Luke moves to take a sip, Calum following shortly after as if to acknowledge Luke's presence. Silence is a weird concept between the two of them. A weird concept is basically equivalent to the idea that it doesn't exist. They don't know how to approach it.

"So what is it you need help with it, exactly?" Luke asks cautiously. He studies Calum's facial expression. There seems to be none.

"Evelyn."

"Evelyn..." Luke repeats, narrowing his eyes at his best friend suspiciously. The name rings a bell, but he can't quite put his finger on it.

"Evelyn," Calum says again, confirming. Still, Luke is confused. He gives Calum an unimpressed look.

"Mind refreshing my memory? Who is Evelyn?"

Calum blinks, "Evelyn Webb." As if saying her full name would completely refresh Luke's memory. He stares at Calum blankly.

"What? Is she related to Charlotte? Did she help create her web? You gotta be more specific, dude, I can't read your mind."

"We were best friends when we were kids," Calum informs him. "Like when we were little. She was super upbeat and I was probably in love with her, but she didn't notice. She was so oblivious to everything around her. She lived in her bathing suit on the beach, and she never shut up. Evelyn Webb."

"Ah right, you've mentioned her. It's been a while though," Luke admits, rubbing his scruff. "Why are you suddenly so interested in her, exactly?"