Run Away

Epilogue

Evie was placing her books back into her locker after class, finding the things she needed to go study in the library, when Harley came bounding up beside her.

"Are you coming to Simon's on Saturday night?" Harley asked for the third time that week.

Evie knew that Harley was excited about the party more so because it was being hosted by Harley's new boyfriend. It seemed that in the two months Evie had been away, Harley had moved on from her obsession with Owen and started dating Simon.

It had been two weeks since Evie had returned to school. At first Evie was reserved towards hanging out with Harley and her friends, she had heard some of the rumours that were going around about her disappearance from school. Some were the standard, her mum had returned early, taking Evie back home. Other rumours ranged from teen pregnancy to being in jail for drugs to armed robbery.

Harley had been surprised and excited to see Evie when she walked into their first shared class of Biology on her first day back at school. She had waved Evie over eagerly asking her a thousand questions. Evie simply told Harley she had needed to go home to sort out some family things and was back to finish off the senior year.

Evie made sure to explain to Harley that Owen wasn't actually her cousin, but a family friend. Evie didn't know why she had to clarify that part of the story, but she felt it was important. It didn't take long for Evie's excuses to spread through the school like wildfire. It probably helped that Owen told his friends the same thing and being one of the most popular people in school, everyone wanted to know everything about him.

"Yes Harley, I'm coming," Evie smiled at her, closing her locker door.

"You're not going to pull out last minute, are you?" Harley looked at her concerned. It was obvious she was remembering how Evie had been previously in regards to parties.

"I'll be there," Evie assured her.

"Great," Harley squealed, "Got to run. See you in class."

Before Evie could speak another word, Harley had rushed off down the hall.

"Did I just hear right? Evie Harrison is actually accepting a party invite without having to be coerced?" Zane's voice teased from behind Evie.

Turning around, Evie found Zane leaning with one arm against the locker beside Evie's.

"Yes, you heard correctly," Evie stuck her tongue out at him.

"Is this a new Evie or something?" Zane asked her.

"More like the old me," Evie winked at him.

Evie turned on her heel and started to walk away from him.

"Where are you going?" Zane called after her. "It's lunch time."

Evie walked backwards as she called back to him, "Library, I need to catch up on my studies. That part of me has never changed."

* * * * *

Saturday morning, Owen staggered sleepily out of his bedroom towards the bathroom. As he reached for the door handle, the door opened on its own.

"Oh, sorry," Evie apologised looking up at him, "It's all yours, I just finished."

Owen's eyes opened, suddenly no longer tired.

"No, you're alright, sorry I should have knocked," Owen stuttered, he was still getting used to Evie being in the house again.

"Lucky your dad fixed the lock," Evie smiled shyly at him, her cheeks blushing slightly.

Owen laughed, remembering the time Evie had walked in on him in the bathroom.

She stepped past Owen towards her bedroom, "I guess I'll see you tonight at the party."