Unheard

Chapter 6

Elijah's POV

"No, you guys didn't notice, her eyes were swollen. I bet she was crying earlier that day." I shot at Marcus.

"Well I didn't see her swollen eyes." Bryan put in the discussion.

"Neither did I, bro."

"How could you miss it. I just did when her eyes looked into mine, man." That last glance she gave me. Her lips did smile, but her eyes did not.

How could I have missed it? I knew that look so well. I knew the pain behind it. Not Evangaline's definitely but I knew my mom's pain. When dad passed away, her life had gone. Her only motive to live was to grow me into an independent and reliable man. I was trying hard to be the man my father was, to be what my mom wanted me to be. But somehow, I never could never be the reason for the twinkle in my mother's eyes. A part of her had gone, my father was gone.

So I knew that Evangaline was probably going through the same sea of despair and perils as my mom. I intended to find out what exactly was it. And I was reluctant to take long with that.

It was the first day of hockey training today so naturally, all the hockey players will come for training today including Evangaline.

***

The hockey players started coming in to the ground wearing the sport jerseys. All except one wore the sports jersey. It was that girl who came in mid term. It was Evangaline.

"Hi." I stammered as she walked towards me with a bright smile.

"Hey, Eli." Woah, nobody had called me Eli. Everybody either called me Elijah and Lijah but no nicknames like that.

"First day of training," I remarked, "are you ready?"

"As I'll ever be," she smirked and ran off to Nina. Her body was toned and athletic. Her curves looked so right. I wouldn't mind saying that she had a really nice butt. Like really. 

The hockey players started with the warm up stretching before they hit the track to work on the speed. I couldn't help but stare of Evangaline as she did her stretches. Her waist was well defined and hips well rounded. 

I led the track with my squad at the back. After the training, as Evangaline headed out the field to the change room, I spun my back pack over my shoulders and ran to Evangaline.

"Hey girls, can you give Eva and I sometime? Alone?" I asked Mauryn and Nina. 

"Hmhmm," Nina winked. This girl could really wink at and intimidate boys, including me.

"Eva.." Mauryn smiled, "You've got a new nickname, aye?"

Both the girls giggled, making a shade of red flush over my cheeks. I grabbed Eva by her arm and walked away from the girls. Her skin was so soft and electrifying. Her bronze skin was even more sun kissed by the day's training.  Sweat trickled over her perfectly shaped brows..OK, I know I am getting a bit too far with this but God, I swear she's beautiful!

"Eva - Evangaline," I started, trying to make eye contact with her, I was sweating. No denying that. 

"Eva is good." She smiled.

"Eva, I noticed something sad yesterday."

"What?"

"You."

"What?" 

"What's with what, you know what I mean." I was getting heated up. I was tensed about her. I was feeling overprotective, more like a wolf guarding his territory. Being territorial was the word. 

She adjusted her weight and looked at me with round eyes. 

"OK, look. I noticed your eyes swollen yesterday. I know that look. You were sad and it disturbed me."

Evangaline's face was suddenly filled with dread. "Look, I am sorry if I hurt you by saying this," I continued. 

Eva bit her lower lip. Her lips looked so inviting. Damn. Elijah, back to earth.  I can not possibly think of her lips at such a crucial point. But this girl has something in her.

"Hey, just don't. Why do you even care?" Evangaline stepped back and started walking away. 

"Eva, just stop!" 

She halted and look back over her shoulder. Her eyes were red with tears. 

"I understand, I know that pain." My own voice cracked as I saw the sorrow within her. 

"No, you don't!" She spat her words in fury as she ran off with not even one look back. 

***

It was haunting. My dad's death. And so loss of my mother's smile was also as equally haunting. The ramification of my dad's death was painful. I hated seeing her hate life. Maybe that's the reason I was curious about Evangaline, maybe that's the reason she attracted me. Maybe it was her pain. 

The end to the evening was not what I wanted. Hell, it was the least to what I wanted. I wanted to ease her pain and maybe I ended up reopening her old wounds. I was filled with remorse. I should have taken things slowly. I barely knew her. And vice versa. How the hell did I fail to understand that she won't open up to a complete stranger so soon. 

My curiosity had taken its toll and I ended up hurting Eva. I realized that I need to befriend her in order to help her fight off her pain and sorrow. Maybe a companion will help forget her grief. Maybe.  

I closed my eyes with one of my pillows wrapped around my arms. I cuddled with it as I thought of Evangaline. If only she was here with me, wrapped around my arms. Then at least I would know that she is safe. I imagined playing with her dark curly hair, stroking her arms and kissing her forehead. She aroused my desires. My desires to be with someone whom I truly wanted to be with, someone whom I loved. 

I don't believe love at first sight, but I doubted this was any different from it. Maybe it was love at first sight, or maybe I had developed an infatuation for her. Well whatever it was, I loved it. 

My thoughts were interrupted by the vibration of my phone. I grabbed my phone and looked at the illuminated screen. Tiahli.