Destined

Twenty

Evelyn

The past few weeks have been a constant annoyance and hiding like a hermit whenever Maria would show up. I keep asking myself why Alexander can't just go over to her place instead of insisting her to be over here 24/7 but I haven't been able to come up with an answer just quite yet. It would've been even better for me if Lia hadn't been completely booked up since this fling started.
"Still here I see." She says when alone with me. Be the bigger person. Be the bigger person.
"Still taking the prostitute style to heart, I see." Okay, what happened to 'be the bigger person'? She wasn't shocked or left speechless, this was how we spoke to each other. Definitely unhealthy but so is her love for Cheetos. How is it possible for her to dress the way she does when all she ever does is eat those orange puffy snacks? Maria raised her thinner than cheap toilet paper eyebrows my way, opening her mouth to retaliate but was unable to complete the action before Alexander walked in the kitchen. He placed his hand on her back and watched me carefully.
"What are you two girls talking about?" He asked.
"I wanted to know what was for supper." Maria lies but even he knows it's just that by the way he glanced at her before turning back to me.
"And she said?" He continues.
"Little Evelyn here-"
"Do not call me that." I roll my eyes in irritation with my mutter.
"She hadn't given me an answer." Maria continues.
"Well, Evelyn, what's for supper?"
"I don't know what's for dinner until mom and I talk about it and we haven't done that yet. Not that I want to help tonight anyway but there's your answer." I say, grabbing myself a cup of water. I didn't want to get caught up with either of them but somehow that's exactly what happened.
"Maria, baby, I'll see you in my room, I just want to ask Evelyn something real quick."
"Okay sexy." I watch her purr the words in his ear, biting his lobe lightly and finally leaving my sight. She is taking this trying to make me jealous thing way too far. I wouldn't mind as much if she could just dial it down.
"Thank God," I mumble. I sigh with a barely noticeable shake of my head.
"Don't mumble, you know how I feel about the mumbling."
"Whatever." I lip along with a look that I hope read right. I wanted to show that I didn't really care but I wish this conversation was over already. Whenever I say or think the word, my mind always brought me back to the one scene in Clueless where Cher said it almost in a sad kind of way. When everyone began to shift their focus on her creation, no longer giving her the time of day. Everything she had built and known was changing and she didn't know how to stop it. I guess that's how I felt just now but I guzzled down my water waiting for him to continue.
"You haven't helped with dinner since the first night Maria came over so what's going on?"
"I'm just not in the mood to cook lately. That shouldn't be a crime."
"Why are both of you lying to me? I mean I get why maybe she would be but you of all people don't need to lie to me."
"I'm afraid I don't know what you mean."
"Evie, I know she wasn't asking about food and I know that you're not 'just not in the mood'. There's a reason, what is it?"
"I don't want to cook for someone like her."
"Someone like her, what's that supposed to mean?"
"You won't believe me if I say, so this is why I haven't brought it up."
"Evelyn, why don't you like her?"
"You'll just think I'm making shit up to try to get rid of her."
"You know what, Maria did nothing to you to deserve this treatment. I'm over this avoiding the questions so fine, you don't want to have this conversation, it's over." He turns on his heel walking his way up to his more than likely naked sex toy in his room.
Unlike the first time we were joined by a fifth for dinner I actually ate my food but, like then, left without a word. Like then, I went into my room and heard the two go to his later on. Unlike then, it was movie night so we all crowded into the living room and piled on the couches. Alexander and Maria sat on the loveseat whereas I sat on the opposite side of my daddy than my mom. I couldn't focus on the film though because I made the mistake of looking over at the loveseat and saw the way Maria was sprawled over Alexander, giving him no room to sit and actually enjoy what was playing. She noticed me watching them and smirked, giving him a lingering kiss. Her hands rubbing his chest afterward, pulling at his shirt. His hands were resting above her bottom, lips smirking her way while she bit her lip bringing it in.
It should be illegal to roll my eyes so much and when I did it caught the attention of my daddy who looked at me and whispered, "you don't like the movie?"
"No, the movie's fine," I reply, not giving any more to it than that. He nodded and watched the screen, bringing my mom into him by placing his arm around her. Cute, they always have been.
It's one thirty and I just got back into my room from the movie. Alexander wanted to talk to daddy about something before everyone went to bed. I wish I was given more time to fall asleep before the two lovers stomped their way to the room across the hall, laughing and definitely in the mood. Because apparently, this chick is always in the mood to screw him. The door basically slammed shut and somehow the laughter and noises echoed. I took my pillow below my head and put it over my face and ears, groaning. This is awful. Do they have to fuck seemingly every night, especially the nights where I could possibly actually sleep? This is getting old way too quickly.
I was downstairs in the kitchen around four a.m. to grab a snack hoping everyone else was asleep since I haven't heard any noises for a little while. I hate being right across the hall from the two. I hate being able to hear everything they do. I am truly disgusted by it but something within me tells me, his toy is loud on purpose. If I'm even able to look at him the same way or at least at all after all this is over, I'll be shocked but yet proud of myself in a way.
The only light was coming from the fridge glowing up the entire room. I was rummaging through the cupboards when I heard footsteps enter. It must be because I had hoped terribly that it wasn't her that it turned out to be. "Do you think I could get a cup of water." She didn't ask, she spoke it like a question but achieved sounding more irritated overall. I'd be irritated too if I had just spent more than five minutes near Alexander.
I grab her a glass and place it in front of her. "There's a tap, go get your water."
"Wow, and you say he's grumpy? Try again."
"I don't like strangers in my house, especially lying scumbag strangers who after weeks still haven't learned that clothes are supposed to cover your body."
"I wear clothes."
"Not nearly enough." I listen to the tap water spill into the cup then suddenly stop.
"I hope you enjoyed our little - oh sorry, definitely not little - play time. I know you could hear." She was referring to his size, no doubt.
"Was that your goal, for me to hear you having sex with Alexander? It was disgusting, kind of like you but I guess his taste in women really is tramps."
"Well honey, you better start getting used to me. I'm going to be around for a while and I know how to make that happen so word of advice, don't try to soften him on you and make me out to be the bad guy. He will never believe you."
"Honey," I quote her, "you've only been with him for about three weeks - if that. Don't count your blessings."
"You're so sure of yourself that he and I won't last long. That's quite interesting."
"I know you won't."
"And how is it you figure that?"
"He's only in it for the fuck, he doesn't actually care about you. Once he's tired of your body, you'll be gone. He doesn't respect you and if he did he would've made sure not to nail you on the first date."
"It's almost like you know this from experience." She gasps, "is our little Evelyn more slutty than she appears? Does your daddy know what you've been up to with our dear sweet Alex?"
"Okay I don't know what you're on but in case you haven't noticed, Alexander and I don't get along. There is no way that anything would be going on between us, surely he's told you that himself."
"And even if you wanted to, he's all mine. He wouldn't even look your way, God he'd have to be deranged to like you."
"I don't need him to like me, I have a boyfriend." I misinform. She doesn't need to know about my personal problems. A snicker came from her in the lowest she could accomplish as she took steps towards me to get in my face. I raised my eyebrow, waiting for her next move.
"Yeah, 'cause that's not a white lie."
"I'm done with this conversation."
"Because I'm right." She states.
"No, because you're a bitch and I'm getting exhausted just talking to you." And with that, I walked out of the kitchen without the one thing I went in there to get and found my way to my bedroom door. When I heard the door across the hall open I tried to scurry into my room but was too late as my name was called from his lips.
"Evelyn, what are you still doing up?" I looked at him in the glare of the light coming through the cracked open door then only sigh in response. "What, what's going on?"
"Why don't you just go back to bed and wait for Maria so you can leave me alone?"
"There's obviously something going on. Come on, tell me."
"I... It's nothing."
"Is it about Maria?" His first guess was correct.
"No, why would you think that?" I continue to lie to him, I should really quit but I can't seem to.
"Because that's the first time you've actually called her by her name. You have a thing with names." He tells me which I don't understand what he means by it.
"I'm tired of her. I'm tired of this, can I just go back into my room." I didn't let him answer, I just walked in my room and closed the door quietly with my head against the back of it for a moment too long.
It was around noon when we were all sitting in the backyard having a conversation about the weather when I look over at Maria. She snuggles into Alexander, even more, when she sees me staring leaving me to scoff. It's pathetic, she's pathetic. "Alexander please calm her PDA, it's gross."
"Evelyn." He warns me.
"I'm just saying, she's seriously territorial and it's only been what three weeks?" I point out to him.
"You seem to think I care. You need to be a little less rude."
"Oh please, Alexander, we both know that's impossible when it comes to you," I tell him with a small smirk playing on my lips.
"Alexander, can we leave?" She asks, playing the victim but he stops all movements and just stares at her. I felt my entire body stiffen when she calls him that, she's not allowed to call him that. Only I can. "What?" She asks, seeing everyone around her with a messed up look on all faces.
"Don't call me Alexander, it's just Alex." Seems like he didn't like it either. I bite my lips closed, compressing a laugh.
"But she -" he cuts her off.
"Yes, well she's the only one allowed to call me that. I've told her to cut it out and she refuses so I know she won't ever stop. I don't like other people calling me Alexander. Respect that." I look her dead in the eyes and smirk, raising an eyebrow as my arms crossed over my chest. Yes, bitch, that's right, I have leverage. Maria meets my eyes not seeming too pleased and I can't believe how much I love it. I'm winning.
What felt like an hour after that, they leave together and neither enter the house again until it's nightfall. I could tell how pissed off she was when they disappeared so that gave me the feeling she wasn't going to let him get away with the 'Alexander' thing. There was going to be a fight and sadly, I had to miss out on it. I was almost taken aback to see Maria not leeched to Alexander's arm or his whole body for that matter but he was shocked to see me still awake as well. I thought he'd learn by now, I don't exactly sleep like a regular person.
We crossed paths in our hall when I was coming out of the bathroom and he was stumbling into his room. Up until now, I never noticed how close the two rooms are. "What are you, drunk?" I direct to him and he instantly responds.
"What are you, jealous?" I know he's referring to the first night Maria brought the idea up but I couldn't let him know.
"Why would I be jealous of you being drunk when you can't even stand straight up and down." I point out him leaning up against the wall, holding onto the small table beside him for stability.
"Not of me being drunk, brat."
"Then what would I possibly be jealous of?" I was afraid of the answer.
"Maria."
"You've got to be shitting me. No, I am not jealous of your sex toy."
"I think you are." He slurs, without correcting my terminology.
"Maybe you are deranged but for other reasons..."
"Who said I was deranged?" His eyes snapped to me, brows almost becoming one.
"No one." I turn, walking into my room but as I close the door he stops it, barging in then closing it behind him.
"Who said I was deranged? Was it your friend, Lana... Lexi, no... Lily? It starts with an 'L', I definitely know that much." He asks again, trying to figure out things he should wait to do until sobriety hits.
"Lia," I help him out. "No, it wasn't her. Maria and I had a little conversation last night."
"Oh, I know all about that. I came down the stairs and heard you two talking so I didn't interfere because I wanted to see how it would play out." He confesses.
"So then you know what she said." I rest my back against the adjacent wall to the door.
"And I know what you said."
"I didn't say much." Alexander closes the gap between us like usual, his left hand on the wall by my head and right hand playing with my spaghetti strap. I could feel the distance between our faces the way you can feel when someone is about to poke you but keeping that distance that drives you crazy. He was thinking about putting our foreheads together by the closer his face got to mine, I know it. He made eye contact with me and I couldn't look away no matter how much I wanted to.
"You said you have a boyfriend. Now that better be a lie because if it's not I'll be very upset and if it turns out to be that asshole Daniel, baby girl I'll be pissed." His voice lowered when he nicknamed me and let me say, the word made me feel things. Things I know I shouldn't feel. "I don't want to be pissed and especially not at you." He broke eye contact to watch his thumb touch and graze over my parted lips, holding my bottom lip for longer than needed. His breathing shallowed as lip tongue wet his lips.
"I wish you would..." I muttered without realization but when his eyes caught mine again I knew he had heard my body's words. Once he looked at my lips again, his hand dropped from my lip grabbing my hand so lightly I could barely feel it. He smiled where his eyes were before reaching my eyes once more.
"You know she said I'd have to be deranged to like you." He reminds me of my conversation.
"Yes, I was there." I struggle to get out. There's so much heat, that it feels hard to breathe.
"I don't feel insane." His expression seemed worried but I didn't understand why.
"Well, you don't like me so I guess it works out." His eyebrows furrow at my words.
"You're wrong." He mumbles, eyes looking to his hand on the wall.
"Don't mumble, you hate mumbling." I saw something I don't think I've ever seen on him before; there was pain written all over him. His head is beside mine, cheek touching cheek. My eyes shut and I wonder if his do as well. Our connected faces move with light pressure against each other, the hand on the wall rests on my neck, gliding down over my collarbone with his thumb between the two. His hand stays there, feeling my breathing deep and slow from how we are.
"But I don't hate you," he expresses, lips touching my ear. I bite my lip, hoping he's telling me the truth but there's no way for me to know. I have to force tears to not come out of my tear ducts.
"You're drunk, you don't know what you're saying," I tell him, knowing he won't remember this in the morning and hoping God I won't either. I open my eyes just in time for him to pull away from me with sad eyes.
"I know a lot more than what you think but you wouldn't know that since you refuse to get to know me. I'll see you in the morning." He left me standing in my room, alone and confused.