Rejection Hurts On Both Sides

Chapter 16: To Be Honest...

Chapter 16: To Be Honest…

After getting no visible reaction from me, Evan decides to repeat his question. This time, his tone is tinged with caution. “Is it just me, or do you sound pretty eager for me to date Laura?”

I just look at him, and innocently smile. “Why so accusing?”

“Agatha…”

“Fine, fine,” I say, placing my glass on the table. “Look- if I can’t succeed in my love life, someone else has to.” I look at him seriously. Then I grin. “Besides, I’m already shipping Levan in my mind.”

“Levan?”

“Laura’s and your ship name. I mean,” I shrug. “Evaura works, too.”

He stares at me for a full minute. “I always wonder how I ever became friends with you.”

I send him a pointed look. “You told me you knew who I was at Maria’s party, and you somehow used that to get me to meet you again.” I hide my smile as I remember pelting some kids with eggs and paint.

Ah… good times.

He says, “Oh yeah... Why the heck did I do that?”

I shrug. “Probably because you’re an idiot?”

He nods, knowing I have a point. Then I add, “You never told me how you knew it was me, by the way.”

I remember him promising he was going to tell me, but our next meeting consisted of me ranting about Evangeline, him eating the breakfast that I bought (still can’t get over that), and during the course of our conversation, we sorta forgot about our deal.

Evan hesitates. “Do I really have to tell you?”

I tilt my head, surprised at his resistance. “Okay, now I really want to know. How did you know it was me?”

“Psychic powers,” he says with a straight face, his eyes cutting into me. I roll mine.

“Evan, seriously. How’d you know it was me?”

He sighs, and then admits, “Before you arrived, I saw some pictures of you in Maria’s room. Even with the wig and glasses on, it wasn’t hard to figure out it was you.”

I frown, but not for the reason he’d suspect.

He was in Maria’s room?

I smell jealousy, my inner voice sings out, and I mentally facepalm myself.

Even my own conscience is against denying what I’m feeling.

I focus my attention on his last sentence. “If it was so easy to just identify me, then why didn’t the others realize it?”

Evan shrugs. “I think their drinks got in the way. And besides,” his brown eyes pierce my own, and he smiles. “No one would believe you ever went to the party. If they ever recognized you, they’d think the alcohol was messing with their heads, since you’ve never attended one of Maria’s parties since 8th grade.”

I pause. “You know that?”

Another shrug. “I do have to know a bit about the girl I’m trying to flirt with.”

His nonchalance leaves me wondering at whether that was a joke or a declaration. I decide on the former.

I shake my head. “Wow. And I thought Nate was the smooth one.”

“Nate?” He raises a brow and I realize: he doesn’t know. “You actually interact with him?”

I nod. “He’s in my Math class.”