Evelyn

Evelyn - Chapter Six

That night I had spent with Evelyn was slowly but surely being erased from my highly dysfunctional brain, after she had sworn me to secrecy about the whole affair. 'Perhaps to keep up this 'bad ass' persona she clings onto.' I thought that night. Laying in my bed imagining how difficult it must be to be Evelyn Baudilare.

Currently me and Jonah were sat in his Clio. Him in the drivers seat, me calling shot gun. We could see very faintly Mitch, Chloe, Liam an Ev hiding behind some large trees and bushes slightly behind Puma Steve's house. Jonah started the ignition and beeped the horn loudly, exactly 7 times, the last one holding for a while before Steve burst out of his front door wearing only pyjama bottoms and no t shirt, yet he didn't care. As Jonah drove away from campus I could see Steve grab a pair of keys from beside his door and dash towards his car. Soon enough he was hot on our tail. We drove in circles, trying not to lose him as that would only lead him back, right back to the little crime scene. So we drove and drove, all the way into town, past the little Mc Donald's and the little shop that sold trinkets. We drove along the sea front and watched the street lights pass, the tide high against the concrete wall. Most of the ships were closed, with the exception of wine bars and fish and chip shops, trying to grasp the last stragglers of customers. And the arcades, bursting with drunk adults, all the girls wearing short dresses, obviously setting out to impress. And right there and then I realised that life isn't about sitting in your room, wishing for better. The things you long won't always be handed to you on a plate. You have to get it for yourself. Grab those things you desire by the horns and tackle your fears. Rebel, enjoy, live.

"When I shout get outta the car and follow me. Run..." Jonah ordered, authority running in his tone.

I nodded in response and clenched my fist around the seat belt, preparing to release the it's grip around my chest.

"GO, GO, GO!"

I un belted the strap restricting my upper body and torso, and bolted front the car, slamming the door behind me. I followed Jonah slowly fading silhouette into the distance before I urged my wimpy figure to run faster, and soon enough I caught up with the Aussie. Soon after the sound of a car engine coming to a halt erupted in the air. The sounds of Steve shouting soon became distorted in the fog. Jonah lead us both to a small cave near the ocean, where upon reaching a rock which seemed almost comfortable, headlights were soon visible, causing us to assume the campus guard had retrieved from the area.

"Nice, ain't it." He concluded. "the way the water reflects of the walls, it's pretty sweet, don't ya think?"

I mumbled whilst heavy breathing, still lacking breath from our little jog.

"Look, mate. If ya gonna be gettin' outta breath after a measly jog like that, ya need to start workin' out."

I sniggered and nodded towards my friend, knowing that his words were true.

"Its nice to get away sometimes ya know." He said quietly, crossing his skinny legs on the large rock. "To get away from her, even just for a second. Ya know if I could have it my way, she wouldn't be so selfish and ruthless. She wouldn't pull these stupid pranks, or get drunk near enough every night. And she'd certainly stop smoking." he paused for a second looking out of the caves entrance to the ocean. "But it's not my decision what she does, and I can't stop her. D'ya know how hard it is, to watch someone you love throw their life away, like nothing, like all they will ever amount to, is just sitting in a tree on damp days, smoking and necking a bottle of whisky?"

"If that's what she wants, I can't blame her. I just want her to be happy." I replied looking straight at him.

He laughed quietly and shook his head. "That's you in a nutshell isn't it Charlie? All you ever want is for everyone else to be happy. But don't you ever think of yourself?"

I paused, carefully thinking of an answer. "As long as the people I love are happy, then I am content."

He nodded, leaving the conversation at an end. "Look Charlie, there's somethin' I need to tell someone. And I can trust you. God I can't believe I've been so stupid!"

"What, what is it? Are you okay?"

"Look, no one knows about us but. Me and Mitch, we've been seeing each other for about a month now. He wanted to keep it a secret, and I totally understand."

"Is he?"

"No, I don't think he's gay Charlie. That's what I mean, I, think he's confused or something, like, I was his guinea pig. His... 'experiment'" He started, gesturing with his hands towards himself. "Remember last week when we were planning this prank and I left after him? Well I followed him, n' of course he went straight to another room so, I waited, and I waited. And he never came out so, I knocked and there wasn't an answer. And I was so stupid and I just walked in. Then I found Mitch with this blonde girl, in bed. I trusted him and he just used me." Now he was shaking his head and holding back tears.

"I can't believe how that must've felt, I'm sorry Jonah. Did you leave?" I sympathised.

"Oh hell yeah I left. I ran. And ran, I just got away, it didn't matter where I just had to leave. That's when I found this little place." He looked at me, tears now gliding down his cheeks, falling to the floor.

In one swift motion he leant towards me and cupped his hands around my face before bringing his lips to my own. I just sat there, letting Jonah control me. Letting him be happy. He pulled away and a look a horror occupied his tanned face.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to Charlie I just-" he burst out into tears. I pulled him towards me and held him.

"Don't worry about it, It's fine." I ushered whilst embracing his larger frame.

We got back to the car after minutes later, my phone started vibrating in my pocket, and Evelyn rang us to tell us the coast was clear and everything had been seen to. We drove a different way back, which was a lot more scenic. There was this long road surrounded by trees either side, the odd street lamp lighting the way. Jonah turned on the radio and Best Day Of My Life by American Authors sounded through the vehicle. I smiled and looked out of the window. A small sun roof on the very top of the car caught my attention. It was too small for the average teenager, but big enough for me. I climbed through the hatch and watched the lights fly past. Jonah accelerated quickly and turned up the music. I held up my arms and allowed my jacket to go crazy in the wind. 'I am alive, we, are alive.' I thought to myself. 'And we will drive down a long lane, surrounded by the trees and the lights, with the music blaring out of the windows, and we know we will return to the people we love. And this won't just be a story forgotten, hidden and subject to the back of our minds, and these moments will not all just be stories someday. They will be alive, just like ourselves. And it will be a constant memory flooding our minds. One we will tell our children, and our grandchildren. Who will tell there children, of how feeling alive can suddenly make you invincible. And we are. We are invincible in so many ways. It just takes that little aliveness to trigger it, to make it all happen.'