Surfboards and Sandwiches

Chapter Two

JAMES'S POV

"C'mon Eve, it'll be fun," I whine to my best friend. We've known each other since we were in diapers, and we still do everything with each other. Well, not everything, but you get what I mean. We're pretty freaking close, and I love every moment spent in her presence, or even just thinking about her. But, the thing is, I want more. The whole... I don't know... like, eighty-seven years I've known her, she has never once made me feel unloved. Evangeline has always, and I mean always, made me feel like I matter in the world, like I have the potential to do something great. It's what she does. And I love her for it. Yeah, I said love. It's been a solid love for five years, and she has no idea. It kills me.

She'll change in front of me, that's how comfortable we are around each other. She's actually doing it right now, since I'm making her go clubbing with me. Evangeline is probably the most oblivious person I've met. She has no clue I'm in love with her, she has no clue that I'm following her to college, and she has no clue that she's absolutely gorgeous. She's not your model type, seeing as all of those models are rail-thin and fake-looking, even without Photoshop. She's really insecure about her weight, but I think her chubbiness is adorable. I tell her that every time I get the chance, but she never believes me. "You're just saying that," she'll say. Sigh. But back to the present.

We're on our way to a club that just opened a couple weeks ago. The Verdant. A bunch of guys from school say it's great. You have to be careful with the IDs, but they have a great setup, supposedly.

"Are you going to be okay?" I ask her. Our last time clubbing was not so great. We were dancing together when some lightweight threw up all over us. We left an hour after coming.

Evangeline just nods. She's staring out the window of my car at the rain. It's pouring down in sheets. Gray. Her favorite color.

I wrap my arm around her. "You'll be alright. I promise." Little does she know, I'll leave her in a short while to find another girl. One who looks nothing like her. Is in no way comparable to her. It's one of my methods. Find a new girl to take my mind off of Eve. I mean, it's not like it's ever worked, but what's the worst that could happen, right?

We're here. I park the car in the spot closest to the entrance so she won't walk any more than she has to in those hellish contraptions she calls heels. Whenever she wears them, she complains about sore feet, but you won't catch me complaining. Man, do you know what heels can do for a girl's legs? It shows off her toned thighs and rounded calves, but I don't think she sees it that way. If she did, she could be very, very dangerous. Beauty can be pleasant, but it is a weapon used in the most ruthless of ways.

I push open my door. While I'm walking around the side of the car to open Evangeline's door for her, she grabs her stuff and pushes it open. I frown, and she notices.

"What is it?"

I sigh. "Nothing. Just thinking."

A mischievous grin appears on her face. "About what?" She asks.

I gesture with one hand at nothing. "Stuff."

Her smile fades. Apparently she was expecting something she could tease me about, or at least something. "Okay. Let's get this over with."

And with that, we've moved past the bouncers and are in the club. Whoa. It really is fancy. Sleek and modern, nothing like the outside. The club is located in an old warehouse that isn't used for anything anymore. It creates a cool effect.

I see Eve glancing nervously around the place and nudge her arm. "Hey, it'll be fine. Go have fun." I gently push her towards the dance floor. My heart aches as a guy who is obviously better-looking than I am taps her shoulder and asks her to dance. She smiles at him, and I force myself to look for a new girl when she starts to turn back to look at me.