Chapter 1- Simple Evee

Chapter 3- Drifting

                The dial tone drones in my ear as I try to comprehend what just happened. Quickly, I dial Dad's number. Riiiiiiiing. Riiiiiiing. Riiiiiing. "Come on, Dad," I plead with the endless ringing, "please pick up."

                 "Hello?"

                 "Dad," I nearly shout when he answers.

                 "Yes, Evelyn?"

                  I roll my eyes and take a deep breath. I hate when he uses says my name so officially. Like I'm a business partner he's about to close a deal with. "Dad, did you sign on Alley with the talent agency? You know, my friend from high school, Alley? The one who is Philip obsessed? That Alley?"

                  "Yes, Evelyn, I got Alley signed on with Hot Star Records. I'm very busy right now is there anything else you need?"

                   I hear the impatience in his voice and instantly feel guilty for calling in the first place, "No, um, I guess not. I guess I'll see you tonight. I'm going to cook some spaghetti." I feel anticipation rising in my chest for his answer.

                   "I'm sorry but I am having dinner with the producers of Hot Star Records to discuss Alley's first song." The silence after he says that stretches between us.

                  "Oh, ok. Tell Alley I said 'Congratulations'," I think carefully before uttering my next choice of words, "I love you Dad."

                  I hear him cough and then, "Love you, too." Click. The dial tone returns leaving me feeling more empty than ever. I sigh, wondering what I could do to get my mind off of this hectic afternoon. I could do my homework now. Math usually keeps my mind pretty occupied and I could use with some distraction right now.

                I grab my backpack and head upstairs to my room. My footsteps echo throughout the empty house emphasizing how alone I feel. I reach the top of the stairs and head towards my room, when I enter I look around and see all the posters of bands and video games I have loved over the years. My bed is covered in college applications. I have still yet to decide where I'm headed after graduation. Alright, Evee, let's not start the 'Who am I and what is the meaning of the life' questions. I take my math textbook out of my backpack and head to my desk in the corner of my room. An hour into the work and I can't stop thinking about how both of my best friends are rising stars, one new to the scene but soon-to-be famous nonetheless. 

                  "I can't concentrate," I groan to the four walls waiting for them to give me answers to what I should do now, I see my bible collecting dust on the corner of the desk. It's been awhile since I've spoken to God. Since the day my mom left to be exact. I scoff, if He wasn't listening then why would He be listening now? I lay my head on my open textbook and close my eyes allowing the silence to lull me to sleep.

                   Knock, knock, knock.

                 My head snaps up picking up a page with it that's plastered to my cheek. I glance at my clock and see 8:45 glowing on the small screen. The knocking continues and I slap my face a couple of times before walking over to answer the tapping on my window. I already know who it is before pulling back the curtain. Philip waves through the glass and gives me a awkward grin. 

                    "You know we haven't moved our front door since you left a few hours ago," I joke as I slide the window up to allow him inside.

                    He gives a nervous laugh as he tumbles in and I close the window behind him, "Yeah, but we gotta keep some traditions alive, Evee." He stands but doesn't face me. He looks around my room taking in all the memorabilia as if it were a museum on display in my honor. I twiddle my thumbs waiting for him to talk to me. The occurrences of this afternoon cause a noticeable tension between us that I wish wasn't there. I feel like everyone is drifting farther from me. I can't stand if Philip leaves me, too. 

                           "So....," I say breaking the suffocating silence, "what did you come to talk about?"

                           He stops looking around and turns to me, "I just wanted to come and talk about what happened," he's looking into my eyes pleading me to not make him explain which situation he's referring to any further, "I'm really sorry. I must have got caught up in the moment and I completely didn't mean to." He closes his eyes and runs his fingers through his hair letting out a long breath. I've never seen Philip so agitated. It's kind of unnerving.

                      "It's ok, Phil," I cut in, "Even if you would have done  it we both know it would have been because you were acting," I give him a nervous laugh, but hope he doesn't notice. It apparently works because in a split second the mask drops from his face and in it's place returns that stupid lopsided grin that the paparazzi would give their left arm to snap a picture of. "Well, now that that's all clear I guess you can go to climbing out of window," I say as I walk over to my desk to return to the homework I so elegantly fell asleep on.

                         "Really, Evee," Philip gives me a pained look as he places his hand on his chest feigning a stab to the heart, "that's really shallow of you to put your best friend out so quickly."

                          I roll my eyes but laugh and sit at the desk, "Yeah, but this best friend has to do peasant things like homework and go to public school." When he doesn't retort I look back and see him holding a ribbon I got for winning a spelling bee contest back in 8th grade. He looks so forlorn it causes my heart to ache, "Do you ever miss it?"

                         "Miss what," he replies not tearing his gaze away from the many trophies and ribbons I've won over the years in various sports and competitions.

                          "You know. Going to school and having a normal, boring life like the rest of us?"

                          He stares at my collection a moment more before answering, "Going to school, no. Having a boring life, again, no. What I do miss," he turns and looks me square in the eye, "is being able to go to school and see you everyday and spending my boring life coming to see you whenever I wanted to."