Beep

Chapter Four

Now I was stuck on thinking about him. I could completely understand Iris's reasoning for proposing that idea, but I was the one who actually knew Evans. I was the one who knew he was too genuine to be guilty, it was like a gut feeling deep down inside me. There was just no way that was possible. Not that it hurt to... just make sure.

"I'm starting to think I'd be better off eating the chip." Evans joked at the start of our next call. I laughed at first, but then an awkward silence consumed us. I had to bring it up.
"Have you ever considered that maybe you don't want to know what happened?" I asked, staying strategically vague for the moment.
"Are you nuts? Of course I want to know."
"But... what if you don't like what you see?"
"Andy, are you saying what I think you're saying?"
"Depends on what you think I'm saying." I replied nervously.
"You think I did this, don't you?" He accused, his eyes going wide.
"Evans, no."
"How could you think such a thing? Why would... how could I? To my own friends? No. I don't care what you believe, I didn't do it, I know that." There were tears streaming down his face.
"Evans, I'm sorry."
"I don't want you to be sorry I want you to trust me. I'm not some kind of monster."
"I never said you are."
"You know what, I think I need a minute; or maybe a couple minutes." He angrily ended the call then. 
"No, please-" But it was too late. What an idiot, I should've just gone with my instincts. At least I knew now more than ever that Iris was definitely wrong.

The next morning I rushed out of bed hoping for Evans to be back, but he wasn't. I considered calling him myself, but he probably wouldn't even answer.

Feeling deflated, I headed into the kitchen where the rest of the group was already halfway through breakfast. "Well someone looks gloomy today." Iris commented when she saw me. "Oh wait, is this about what I said yesterday because if it is-"
"No, no, I mean... kinda, I guess." I told her sadly.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"Well, I talked to him about. I didn't accuse, I just brought up the idea that maybe he wouldn't want to know the truth about what happened. He wasn't happy, to say the least."
"So now what's happening with you two?"
"He's not talking to me at the moment."
"Aww, Andy, I'm so sorry." She got up and hugged me tightly.
"Do you have any idea what's going on? Because I have no idea what's going on." Turner said to Raymond.
"Andy's space man is mad at her." Iris explained.
"Aww..." The boys said in unison. They got up too and joined the hug.
"Thanks guys." I said.
"Want else can we do to make you feel better?" Iris inquired.
"I'd actually just like to be alone for awhile. So I think I'll just grab some cereal and then go work in my room. But seriously, thanks." With that, I made myself a bowl of Granola Chocolate Crunch and headed off to my bedroom.

After a mind-numbingly tedious three hours of working I heard laughter coming from down the hall. Curious as to what was so funny, I went into the main room to see what was up. I gasped when I saw the scene in front of me. Iris, Raymond and Turner were all crowded around the mainframe computer, which had Evans smiling face on the screen. That's when Turner turned around and saw me. "Oops, the jig is up, guys." He said to the others. They all turned to face me, smiling.
"Uh, what's going on here?" I inquired.
"Your space man called about twenty minutes ago and since you weren't around we took the opportunity to talk to him for the first time." Iris explained.
"Why didn't you ever tell me about these people, Andy? They're awesome." Evans remarked. It was so nice to hear him talk to me and not be mad.
"And I can definitely see why you wanted to keep him to yourself." Iris remarked.
"They really are the best." I said, mystified and overjoyed.
"But now that you're here, we'll give you two some alone time." Turner said with a smirk. The three of them left the room and then it was just Evans and I, consumed in silence.

"I'm sorry, Andy." He said.
"Evans, it wasn't..."
"No, I overreacted, you can't deny that; and that's not the way I wanted to start this friendship."
"Friendship?" I questioned, instantly caught off guard.
"Well, you're the only one I've got. Not to mention that you're just a really awesome person."
"Aww, thanks."
"Your friends are pretty cool too. But they're making me think, I haven't really gotten to know you. Like, the simple stuff, you know? Your favourite colour, your hobbies, what you're even doing in space."
"Then why don't you start asking." I suggested with a smirk.
"Or we can play that game we all learned in elementary school."
"Two truths and a lie?"
"Yeah, that one."
"Okay, I'll go first. Uh, I'm obsessed with vintage board games, I have two dads and I've never been on an airplane."
"Ooh, all three of those sound super interesting. But I don't think you have two dads... you have two moms." He said it as if he'd cracked the code to all the secrets of the universe.
"I like your thinking, but no."
"Okay, the board games then."
"Man you're bad at this."
"It's the plane?"
"It's the plane."
"Damn."
"I've actually been on 23 planes."
"Holy crap!"
"Now, that doesn't mean I've been to 23 places, mind you. That number is planes total, sometimes it takes like four planes to get to and from one place."
"True. Okay, my turn." I was really starting to get into this, I was genuinely interested in getting to know Evans better. "I had a pet snake as a kid, I hate video games with a passion and my birthday is on New Year's Eve."
"The snake is the lie." I guessed without hesitation.
"Ooh, I'm Andy. Look at me, I'm so good at schoolyard guessing games." He teased jokingly as I laughed.
"I'm just that good." I taunted.
"The funny thing is, I'm actually extremely terrified of snakes."
"Ha ha, that's me with spiders. But seriously, a New Year's Eve birthday, I'll remember that."
"All right, go again. I'm having too much fun now." I grinned at his excitement.
"So, my middle name is Amanda, I suck at science and my favourite food is any kind of cereal."
"Ooh, ooh, I know! It's the science thing, I bet you're great at that."
"You got me."
"Yes!" He cheered. "I'll do one more and then I'll start just rattling off questions for us both to answer."
"Go for it."
"My hair was girlishly long when I was a kid, I find 'grimy' to be the most annoying word ever and my sister's name is Jeremiah."
"That last fact is so made up."
"Yeah, it is." He admitted, sounding disappointed in himself. "I don't even have a sister, I have three brothers."
"Is one of them Jeremiah?"
"Yes." I don't know why that made me laugh so much.
"Now it's time for the speed round..."
"Ooh."
"Favourite colour?"
"Neon blue." I spat out.
"Orange. Biggest pet peeve?"
"Poor grammar."
"Mine is that word, 'grimy'."
"Can I do the next one?" I asked hopefully.
"Sure."
"Real name."
"Hey! I caught that." I laughed at his reaction. "Sorry Andy, but you have to work a little harder or be a little trickier to find that out."
"Dang."
"Besides, you can't answer that question because I already know the answer."
"I don't think you do. Unless you somehow know my full name is Andromeda."
"Woah, okay, I did not know that. Andromeda, what a beautiful name."
"I bet your name is just as nice."
"Well I'd win that bet." Then the energy calmed and we both just sat there for a moment, smiling.
"This was a really good idea. I commend you, Evans."
"Why thank you."
"All right, I've got some work to do so if you don't need anything else..."
"Yeah, I'll talk to you later. Bye, Andromeda."