Popularity War

Some People Change

Popularity War

Chapter 6

Eragon exited the house for the cool evening air. He was staying at Horst’s and decided upon a stroll before Horst’s wife, Elain, had dinner ready. Alongside him were Albriech and Baldor, Horst’s two sons who were both around Eragon’s age. They passed by many men and women who were out either finishing up their business or enjoying the nice weather as well.

As he walked, Eragon ignored the two young men accompanying him to think upon Eva as he wondered how her evening was going at Cassandra’s birthday celebration. He wished that she would not try so hard to fit in with someone who clearly was not her friend, though, he still understood why she went through so much trouble. He, too, had to struggle to be be accepted within Carvahall. Shaking off his thoughts of his childhood, he was about to head back to Horst’s, but stopped in his tracks when he saw a young woman in elegant attire dart across the market square.

“Oh no!” Eragon exclaimed before running after Eva.  He had to shove through a few people in order to intercept her, shouting his apologies as he flew past.

“Eragon, what is the matter?” Albriech asked. Baldor nudged his brother and pointed at Eva. “Oh, I see.” They remained behind as they watched Eragon run after the girl.

“He is completely smitten.” Baldor said in a low voice. Albriech nodded.

“Eva!” Eragon shouted to gain her attention as he grew near.

Eva stopped running when she reached the fountain and turned towards Eragon. “Please, do not say, ‘I told you so,’” she managed to say through her violent sobs. “I know I should have listened to you.” As she spoke, she kept her eyes to the ground to further express her shame.

Silently, Eragon walked closer to place a comforting hand upon her shoulder. With his other hand, he gently lifted up her chin so that he could look her in the eyes. “Well, I’m here now, so you are going to be alright—I promise,” he uttered softly when their eyes locked.

Her hope of remaining friends with Cassandra was shattered, but Eragon’s friendship had seemingly meant more to her as she felt her mood lighten when he spoke those words. Deep down she knew Cassandra was never a true friend; she only wanted to be accepted within her class, and Cassandra had given her a means to achieve that goal and she had took it. For many years she was very popular, and now, Cassandra had taken her place. As she came to her petty conclusion, she felt sick and pulled herself away from Eragon.

“What is really bothering you, Eva?” Eragon asked.

“I don’t deserve a friend like you.” Eragon wanted to make a rebuttal, but she cut him off when she said, “You have always been kind to me even after I had treated you like dirt. I was only concerned with my popularity status and that meant that I could not associate with someone like you, no matter how kind you have been to me. I can apologize all I want for my behavior, but that does not mean I deserve to be your friend.”

Eragon was about to try to cheer her up with a joke, but her tone was much too serious for that, so he settled upon a different approach. “Eva, you have been mean to me and I have been kind to you in return, and that is because you are not like the other girls in the upper class. You have the potential to be like the girl you used to be before your mother died. Her death was hard on you, I know, and you made some poor decisions afterward, but you already apologized for them. There is no need to feel unworthy of my friendship when I know you are being sincere.”

Eva sighed. After, she said, “You are making this difficult for me, Eragon.”

“Do you want to be friendless?”