Painted Hearts | ✔️

XXVII

CHAPTER 27

You’re a teenager.
It’s all complicated.
-Jenny B. Jones

My brother wanted me to invite Evans myself to the Christmas dinner he was hosting. And I would've. Except I'd been avoiding him for the past few days, literally ducking every time he waved to me. Zoey wanted to kill me by now for my stupidity. But luckily for me, Zoey didn't have to slap me since by the end of the day I actually bumped right in to Evans. 

"May I use the washroom?" I asked, putting my hand up, and left the class as I got permission. The halls were pretty empty, since classes were in session, and I felt like I was going on an adventure, so I twirled around in the empty green hall.  And then I heard a bang. Startled by the noise (or by the fact that someone caught me twirling around in an empty hall like a weirdo), I stopped to look around. From an empty class, emerged Evans and Tom. 

Shit!

They walked towards me while I recollected my cool. They're t-shirts looked soaked and sort of ashy, like something blew up on them. I looked at the door they walked out of, it was the lab. Of course. I raised my eyebrows at them.

"Ay, it's brownie girl," smiled Tom. 

"Tom," I replied, cringing at the memory of me punching Tom. 

"Evans," Evans said, smirking. I could tell he was a little angry from his stance. 

"Will you two ever stop running around causing," I waved my hand towards the lab, "whatever it is you cause."

"Can't Devereaux, we like causing... havoc," Evans replied.

"Havoc's my middle name," Tom added seriously.

"No, it's not Tom. Maybe it's liar," I said.

Tom gasped, "Rude." From the corner of my eye I could see Evans was staring at me.

I cleared my throat, "Speaking of rude, my brother Logan thinks it's rude if I wouldn't personally invite people to his Christmas dinner that  he's hosting with a friend of his. Thus, I'd like to invite you both to dinner on the 24th, and I'll text you the address later." 

"Why thank you, Scarlett, for the invitation. But, I can't make it. Going to London for the break, visiting my uncle there," Tom said. 

"Alright, well I've got to go back to class before my teacher thinks I ran away," I waved as I started walking away from them.

"Wait," yelled Evans. He said something to Tom, who nodded and left. Then jogged up to me. 

"Are you avoiding me?" He asked, crossing his arms.

"What? No." 

"You are. Did I do something wrong, because if you need to talk-"

"No, you didn't do anything wrong. Can we talk later, I'm going to get in trouble," I said

"I don't care, Scarlett! Tell me what's wrong? What did I do, I don't understand..."

"You don't get it, Evans. You didn't do anything wrong. That's the point. You were perfect, you are perfect. And I was stupid to think my life would let me have something as good as you," I said, almost in tears. Then I took a deep breath and started walking away, leaving Evans looking as baffled as ever. 

♡♡♡

Afterschool, Evans texted me seven times. And called thrice. I texted him back.

I know you want to talk. So do I. Come to the dinner? 22 Yonge St, M24 5L3.

The 'seen' sign came up a few minutes later. But no reply.

♡♡♡