There's Nothing Holding Me Back

Chapter 11

"Deal?" Levi looked at Evelyn in the eyes.

"Yeah. I mean- Of course!" Evelyn nodded with sincerity.

"Great... so from now on, no asking for advice from each other. Understood?" Levi repeated himself for the second time that night.

Evelyn swallowed raising her eyebrows at him, "One hundred percent."

Levi stared at her, as he turned away, "Good night."

"Night.." Evelyn whispered after him, watching him go.

***

A few days after Evelyn sent Danny the birthday letter, the mailman came over and stuffed the mailbox with envelopes. Evelyn had been watching through the window and when the mailman left she stepped out and took the mail. She dropped the envelopes onto the couch and rummaged through the many letters to find the letter that said Danny Evans. Her eyes became spellbound when she saw Danny's small handwriting addressing the letter to Steven, Erika and Evelyn. Her smile faded a little, because there was not another letter just for herself to gush over. It was just the letter before her eyes. Nothing that said Evelyn only.

Evelyn tore the envelope to read what Danny had to say.

"Any interesting letters?" Erika called from the kitchen, as Evelyn walked in.

"Um.. wedding invitations and bills." Evelyn sighed, "and a letter from Danny..."

"What does he say?" Her mother said while tasting the soup she was making.

"Thank you for the warm birthday wishes." She read quietly, her eyes moving to the bottom of the paper.

Dear Niece, Thanks for your thoughtfulness.

Evelyn bit her lip. That was all he wrote to her. She felt her heart sadden and her stomach do a flip. She'd never feel so disappointed in her life.

"Did you lose something?" Erika took notice of Evelyn searching deeper into the envelope.

"Uh- no.." Evelyn placed the envelope and card on the counter and disappeared upstairs. She was really upset. She was expecting a love letter from her Danny. Maybe he was writing the card under his friends eyes and didn't want to arouse suspicion. Evelyn chewed on her lip, and made herself believe it. Something didn't sound right, though. She shook her thoughts away and just hoped that Danny come soon.

***

Levi watched Evelyn through the gate. It's impossible....

He found himself approaching Evelyn. It was like three days already since they'd made an agreement to never turn to each other for advice, because Evelyn was in love with Danny and he- well was dating someone. What a bad lie. He approached her anyways, she was looking so down.

Levi hovered over her, "Evelyn, I can't see you like that-"

Evelyn raised her eyes and glared at him, "I don't care. You can't be around me, remember?"

Levi stared at Evelyn with those resentful eyes. She gave in and pushed an envelope in his hands and got up, "just go... I don't want to see you again."

"Whoa, can you explain yourself maybe?" Levi looked down at the envelope in his hands.

Evelyn looked down, "I'm just upset.. All the answers are in that letter."

Levi watched her go inside. He looked down at the ripped envelope and took the letter out. He read the 'Thank you' card and Evelyn's part. It was short. He put the letter back into the envelope and his heart smiled, he wished to laugh out loud. He never saw what Evelyn wrote to her uncle, but his reply was short and sort of meaningless. Poor Evelyn, Levi thought chuckling to himself.

An uncle will always be an uncle.

"Oh hello er- Liam?"

Levi froze, raising his eyes to meet Steven's, Evelyn's father. He was standing before him with a friendly smile but his eyes were shooting questions.

"You lose something?" Steven asked as he watched Levi push an envelope behind his back.

"Yeah.. uh- my basketball." he lied, scratching his neck nervously.

"Should I help you find it?"

"No, no.. I already looked and- I didn't find it. Thanks uh- sorry I'm on your property." Levi started walking backwards.

"Okay.." Steven eyed Levi up and down. "Your name is Liam, right?"

"Levi." He corrected with a sheepish smile.

"Alright Levi..?"

"Reed."

"Uh huh- Right.. g'bye son." Steven waved and watched as Levi ran away. There was something about that guy he liked he just couldn't put his finger on it.

***

"I don't get why you come looking for me when you were mad at me earlier." Levi said that night on top of the roof.

Evelyn met his eyes, "we came to an agreement.. can't believe we broke it."

"Sometimes its hard to ignore someone.." Levi said turning his eyes to stare ahead.

"We said we wouldn't come to lay problems on each other's backs.."

Levi faced her and held her eyes in his, watching as a smile sparked on her face. This was the first time she was smiling at him since he'd met her again. She lowered her eyes, while he continued to stare at her.

"Was my father mad you were around?" She asked pulling her hair to the side.

"He looked confused." Levi replied simply, staring at her still.

"You know he knows you're after me." She told him.

He remained silent.

Evelyn raised her eyebrows, "So.. you read the letter?"

He placed the envelope on her lap, not taking his eyes off her, "I did."

"And?" Evelyn swallowed, immediately feeling tense that Levi was laying eyes on her for too long.

Levi's eyes slowly moved down but quickly went back up to her. He sighed and rested his head against the chimney, "I think he's forgetting you."

Evelyn frowned but controlled herself, "Y-You think so? I thought maybe Danny was just trying to keep things low-key between us." Her voice faded, as she bit her lip. "I guess everything I do o-or say is always forgotten..."

"That's not true." Levi's eyes dropped to her lips.

Evelyn noticed and looked away.

After a few minutes of silence, Evelyn looked down from the night sky and randomly asked, "Levi.. You've never told me what happened to you in those six years we weren't together.."

Levi sat up turning to look at Evelyn in the eyes, "You don't need to know that.. It's not cool." He shook his head.

"Why not? I told you all of my retarded feelings and-"

"First of all, we have an agreement of not being friends."

Evelyn rolled her eyes, "And second?"

"I'm just a sh*tty person." Levi smirked.

Evelyn almost gasped, a smile breaking out on her lips, "Whoa kid.. who taught your lips to say such a thing?"

For Evelyn it seemed like Levi had leaned in closer to her face and had his eyes on her lips, "Definitely not yours." he said softly.

Somehow her eyes were attracted to his eyes, she searched for something in those familiar eyes. She wouldn't dare look down at his lips.

"Yours taught me something beautiful. They taught me to never forget you-"

"Levi." Evelyn looked down, lightly pushing him away. She didn't know what to say but, "I-I must go." She stood up unsteadily and left him there alone.

One lonely boy upon the roof below the moon.