Above All Else, Evie

II

The hot water of the shower cascading down over Evie felt as if it had washed away all the stress of the previous twelve hours. After waking up that morning she was more than relieved to have gotten replies from both Artemis and Max. Forty-three missed calls in all, their worry filled her heart with warmth while simultaneously making her internally smirk, their affection was something else. Both were on their way over, Evie begged them to stay home with their families, both adamantly refused, claiming Evie's small family was their family as well. After last night no one thought that the news could get anymore grave. They had never been so wrong in their lives. California all the way to Northern Texas was gone. Evie and her family counted themselves lucky, that the entire state hadn't been wiped out. It felt like pure luck that the entire state of Texas hadn't been wiped out. Then it was Florida following the coast up and ending in New York. Most of the country was gone, so many people were dead. Entire states had been annihilated. Katherine and Evie cried together all morning mourning the loss of life for so many and being thankful that they were still there and still had each other.

Evie dried herself off and quickly threw on a soft green turtleneck dress. The sound of voices downstairs in the kitchen grabbed at her attention, Artemis's high pitch voice drew her attention right to her. She clumsily rushed down the stairs barely making it down without tripping over her own feet.

"I'm so glad you're okay," Evie exclaimed pulling her best friend into a hug. Artemis could barely get any words out to answer.

"Me too," She said sorrowfully, she was hurting, and afraid. Artemis liked to pretend she was the tough girl, however it was all an exact, her exterior shell was easy to shatter. Evie pulled back enough to be able to look at her face long and hard trying to calculate exactly what she was thinking. Her grey blue eyes were filled with unshed tears. A knock on the door pulled them out of their hug, she ran to the door and swung it open to find Max. His blond hair was ruffled and his big brown eyes were filled to the brim with concern.

"Ev," He breathed out before grabbing her into a crushing hug. "I lo—, I was so worried," He stuttered out in a whisper to her ear. Heat rose to Huxley's face, they hadn't gotten to the "L" word in their relationship yet and she knew that it almost slipped out. She just hugged him tighter.

"After seeing your text last night and watching the news this morning I could only think of the worst." He said trying to choke back tears. Max was a man of empathy, entirely in touch with his sensitive side. Sometimes it really pissed Evie off, it was like dating a five year old girl, most of the time she found his gentle sweetness endearing. He gently kissed her on the forehead and rested his chin on the top of her head. Evie could visibly see the tension leave his body. They broke away almost at the exact moment that Jack came running into the room.

"Max-a-Million!" He screamed exuberantly.

"Jack-in-a-box!" Max responded with just as much enthusiasm, pushing back his worry as to not upset Danny knowing that it would only fluster Huxley.

"You have to see my new village on Minecraft! It's so awesome dude!" Jack rushed on. He loved Max, the feeling was mutual. The two were like peas in a pod, Evie couldn't help but smile at it, even in a time like this.

After Jack dragged Max away into the living room. It was just Artemis and Evie standing in the little entrance way.

"It's not over yet," She whispered, fear written across her face in big red flashing letters.

"What do you mean Artie?" Evie asked fully confused. Knowing that all over the news it said they were done with the attack.

"I can feel it," she trembled, "We have to rebuild now, and it's not going to be easy."

___________________________________________________

Artemis and Max stayed all of the day. Both of them had to check in with their parents all day. Max had to call hourly to let them know he was okay and Artemis had to text every half hour, if not right on time, her phone would go off in alarm mode as her mother tracked her. It made Max and Evie laugh but it only pissed Artemis off.

"I don't get it. I'm nineteen years old, can't she just back off!" Artemis exclaimed as she tried to shut the alarm off on her phone for the sixth time today.

"Artie, the world is ending, cut your mom some slack," Max laughed.

"I'm an adult Maxwell," Artemis announced haughtily as if this were new news.

"Anyway, where else would I be? Everything is closed and the country is in complete and utter chaos."

Evie watched her two companions bicker back and forth for a while and thanked god or whatever was out there that she didn't lose this and them last night. Despite everything her Artie and her Max still fought like brother and sister. They perfectly balanced each other in Evie's life. Artemis was outspoken and danced to her own beat on her own path. Max was quiet and gentle, he hadn't quite yet found his path or his beat, but he was more than happy to accompany his friends on their paths.

"Does anyone even know what happened? Why were we even attacked so aggressively?" Max asked. Evie shuddered knowing she didn't actually want to hear or talk about the attack before Artemis began her explanation.

"Well Mr. Mccluskey," Artemis started, calling Max by his last name because she was feeling studious knowing she knew something he didn't, "The United States has had this long coming, if you look at the history books..." Evie blocked her best friend's voice out of her head as she gave her boyfriend a history lesson. It happened and it hurt and she didn't want to dwell on it, she didn't even want to hear about it. She would never understand why so many innocent people lost their lives, she wanted to forget it, and hope that the pain would subside.

"Okay, so when do you think life will go back to normal?" Max sarcastically questioned Artemis, she had her 'know it all' voice going and nothing pissed Max off more.

"It won't." Evie answered with a dooming finality. Both of her friends gave her incredulous looks.

"You alright Ev?" Max asked with true concern.

"I'm fine," she sighed, "But let's face it. Life isn't going to go back to normal. Can't you feel it?"

"She's right." Artemis joined in glumly.

"What are you two going on about? Of course we will go back to normal, we have to. If not what the hell is supposed to happen?" Max's voice was tinged with anxiety. He didn't like change. He felt as though his life right now suited him perfectly. Perfect girl, perfect job, and on the right path. He wanted nothing more than for life to go back to normal.

"Max, literally over half the population is gone. Over half the country is in ruins!" Huffed Artemis.

"How is that going to change anything? We still have lives! We still have to work, go to classes, get groceries! Life doesn't stop for catastrophe, Artemis." Max was starting to get pissed, the idea of change was really getting to him.

"Something's coming I can feel it. Whatever comes next is going to be big and I have a feeling we aren't going to like it." Evie told her comrades with dejection clear in her voice. Artemis just nodded, Max clenched his jaw and looked the other way. Nobody wanted to accept the fact that the uneasy feeling hadn't left the pit of anyone's stomach.