Silver High

Cal

"Babe are you even listening to me?" Evangeline waves her hand in front of my face and I blink quickly.

"Sorry, I was just thinking-"

"Whatever it was it can't be more important than what I'm telling you" she sighs, "look if we're going to make this work then you need to start listening to me"

It takes everything I have not to roll my eyes. Evangeline has never listened to me a day in her life. It's times like this that I really have to rack my brain to think of why we're together.

"You're right, I'm sorry. What were you saying?" I put my hand over hers

She smiles and it all makes sense again. She's beautiful and when she wants to be she's kind too. Adventurous, sporty, brave. My mother would have hated her. Or something close to hate, I don't think she was capable of such things.

"Its ok babe, we'll talk later" she kisses me on the cheek and disappears out of the car to join up with her best friend Elane.

——

"Hey, is this the literature classroom?" I turn to see a tall guy with dark brown hair.

"Uhm yeah it's just in there" I point to the door behind me "You new here?"

He nods "yeah, Im Shade"

I almost laugh but one look at his face says he's not joking, "Cal"

He smiles and goes into the room "nice to meet you"

——
Evangeline finds me at lunch with Elane.

"Have you seen Maven today?" I ask

Evangeline's mouth twists slightly, my brother is not her favorite person. "Nope, is he even here"

"No Eve, I asked you if you've seen him even though he's been home all day" I roll my eyes and suddenly regret it

Luckily before I'm demolished alive for my idiocy, the new kid Shade walks past the table.

"Hey! Shade!"

He turns around confused, "Hey?"

"Do you want to sit with us?"

Evangeline's eyes weigh down on me and I try not to look at her. Instead I look at Shade, hoping he'll say yes and put me out of my misery.

"I'm actually waiting for my sister"

Even better. "That's fine, she can join us too" I clear the chair across from me, "take a seat"

Shade sits down hesitantly, I don't blame him. Evangeline is no longer burning a hole through my skin with her eyes, she's doing it to Shade.

"Shade, this is my girlfriend Evangeline and her friend Elane" I practically spit that last part, god I hate Elane.

"So where are you from?" I'm shocked, Evangeline never asks about anyone else. I'm even a little impressed.

"Uhm-" if he answers I don't hear it because st that moment the most beautiful girl I have ever seen walks into the cafeteria. Her brown hair long and wavy, the ends fading to grey. Her skin is the perfect tanned shade and her eyes-. I stop myself and realise I'm staring. Shade looks towards her and smiles.

"Mare!" He waves her over and butterflies erupt in my stomach. Cal stop, you have a girlfriend. You love Evangeline.

Mare walks over slowly, not shy but skeptical. On edge. I try not to look like I've been star struck.

"Mare this is Elane, Evangeline, and Cal" Shade says pointing each of us out.

"Hi" she says quietly, even her voice is perfect.