Destined

Thirty Three

Alex

The front two windows of my car were rolled down, Evelyn's arm ready to hang out of it after she finishes syncing her phone to the car's Bluetooth. The mood for today seems good and upbeat so that's a plus all around. I pull away from the house and begin for the high school much to Evelyn's distaste and from all incidents - mine too, I'd prefer she stay home and be schooled there but that was always a no go and out of the question.
We reached the highway when a familiar song plays through my speakers, Wild Heart by Daughtry. It's beat was always the thing that caught me and prepared me to throw all my being into whatever was being sung. I know it's not particularly an older song but I must say I'm shocked by her taste in music, ranging from metal to folk and everywhere in between. I sing along to the beginning of the song and can sense Evelyn stealing looks at me while she sings along to it as well and dances away in the seat beside me. My left hand holds the steering wheel so my right could move with the feeling of the song, fitting her dancing rather perfectly. The wind blew around us in the vehicle, her hand grabs mine when the chorus hits and turns her body away from mine to lay her head on my shoulder in pure bliss as the words rang from her lips. The bridge had Evelyn removing herself from it's previous place to be in my face instead and the final time the chorus fills the car, we're at a red light staring at each other while the lyrics flows over to the other. "Take me back to that fire in your eyes, 'cause I know it ain't gone too far. Take me back to you and to your wild heart." I'm being honked at when it registers that the light had turned green and the song had ended but Evelyn and I sat there smiling at each other. Pressing down on the gas pedal, I look from her shaking my grinning face listening to a giggle leave her while she sits back in her seat properly. The next song was country, one I had heard before once or twice in passing with Evelyn taking over my Bluetooth; Yours by Russell Dickerson, it was one I always enjoyed and clearly she did as well. Whenever I get the opportunity I'm glancing in the least discreet way, her head is against the headrest and her eyes stay mostly shut when I'm looking but I caught her eye once or twice which made her smile. I think she likes me looking at her but I don't mind because I enjoy doing so. Her like this is something that I, in this moment, deem endearing, my face has softened from this morning's activities and it's such a heartwarming feeling. To be totally aware she's caused this sets slight confusion in me but I know what it all means. I know where this might be heading and although I could beg it to stop, I don't think I want to.
Eventually, we make it to the school safe and sound, I pull up in front of the doors and let my eyes follow her while she gets all her things together. She strolls over to my side of the car and stops at me instead of immediately rushing inside, she bends as best as she can so she can connect our eyes all while resting her hand on my arm that's almost falling out the window. "Thank you... for this morning and the weekend." I want to grab the back of her neck and pull her in to kiss her, to let her know I would do it over thousands of times and would never be bothered. I can't do that as much as I may want to though. I have to know better than that, I can't go that far and expect it to go anything less than poorly.
"Always." Her eyes shut momentarily when looking down in a shy way but I see the corners of her lips curl upwards, it goes nowhere when she looks back at me. I have no idea if she knows what I truly mean by what I say but I'd like to imagine she does based on her reaction. "Your dad's off work early so he said he'd come to pick you up after school." I call out to her when she retracts her hand and walks off.
"See you at home, Alexander." It's playful if I've ever heard anything she's ever said.
"Learn something," I joke in a higher range so she can hear me and her laugh rings back at me like a school bell before I watch her disappear into the building.
When I get home in the evening, my first stop inside was going to be my room but the laughter I hear from the kitchen draws me in and before I can even change my course, my feet are already taking me to the frame of the room. I stand quiet, observing what's happening ahead of me. Jolene and Evelyn are covered in flour and my god, what a sight it was, I don't think I've ever seen the two or the room quite this messy before but instead of rushing to clean themselves their laughter continues to radiate throughout the house walls. That's when Evelyn's eyes fall to the counter and she bites down on her lip, dragging it between her teeth for a moment of thought. It's Jolene's wedding ring - Evelyn reaches for the silver band that's taken over by a medium sized diamond - she was never one to fawn over massive jewels and this ring definitely isn't the one that she had her wedding day, it's larger. What happened to the original ring, I have no idea since it must've been replaced during my years away but, I probably won't ask. Jolene turns to the sink to rinse her hands but keeps an eye on her daughter who holds it close to her face. "Mom," Evelyn glances over, "can I try on your ring?" I should've seen that coming but it was the farthest thought from my brain.
"Sure, you can." Jolene responds smiling when turning off the sink and fully facing her. I focus on Evelyn who holds the ring up in her right hand while holding out her left, preparing herself I would assume, then sliding the ring on her ring finger at an even pace. She stares at her finger for a few lingering moments then looks up right at me and something felt different, looking at her was different. I had hoped it wasn't true but everything flashes in front of my eyes when I see her with that ring on her finger and her eyes on mine, she's what I need. My future is her no matter how ridiculous it may seem, all I can see is her and I being together and I have no idea what I'm going to do about it and I have no one to talk it through with.
"How does it look, do I look any different - older and more mature maybe?" She asks me, doing poses showing off the ring as if it was hers. There are so many things I'd love to say but I know it'd be inappropriate and it'd be even more entirely unacceptable because of Jolene being in the room with us. I know that if it was just the two of us I could get away with saying whatever but that's always just been our relationship - we allow each other to get away with certain things that to anyone else would be improper  to say the least.
"You look well taken care of." I respond because I know I could take take of her so well. I'd make sure she was warm, sheltered and loved in every beautiful way that she's never been given the shot to experience properly. I want nothing more than to be able to give this to her.
"Don't I, my man sure knows how to keep me happy and put together."
"But keep in mind, it's okay to fall with him as long as he's there to help you put yourself back together again." I'm starting to think she loves smiling at me with a shaking head, she does it so often but I could admire her toothy grin forever and a day.
They made rhubarb pie, and my god was it the most amazing rhubarb pie I've ever had and I wish I was exaggerating. We waited a few minutes for it to cool after it was pulled out of the oven but even by the smell filling the room I knew I didn't want to wait and I wanted to shove it in my face. Instead of Evelyn having any, she cleaned up the mess on the counters while Jolene sliced up the pie so that she could bring some over to Bonnie and Wayne next door later which I could see the hesitation when thinking about asking Evelyn to do it for her before shaking her head so slightly that I was the only one who saw. Evelyn disappeared before anyone could say anything to her. Her mood has for some reason shifted and the idea doesn't settle well with me so I now sit at the table with my empty plate where the pie slice once was, thinking about what I could do to help her. And when Andrew comes in the room commenting on the wonderful aroma and asking about dinner, it hits me - I'll take her out for dinner. I run my idea over with them and I must say, the confused screwed up looks they wore took me a minute to stop myself from laughing.
"This way you guys get a date night, Evelyn gets a breather, and I get some good food, however after that pie, I'm not sure I need anything else." Jolene chuckles, hand on my forearm and eyes squinting so much I'm unsure if she can see. They agree.
Walking up the stairs, I notice light pooling out of Evelyn's room and the thought is unsettling. "Lets go out for dinner tonight, just you and me; I know a really good place." I chime, swinging in her room, hanging by her doorframe because for the first time in weeks her door is actually fully open. I don't know if I want to know why.
"Oh goodness, hi." She's changed into a baggy hoodie, a beanie and sweats, no longer covered in flour. In her hands, a journal with polaroids sitting under her thumbs, what was she doing?
"What do you say, you and me, dinner?"
She sets down her journal and photos on the end of her bed, not looking at me. "That sounds nice, what time?"
"Eight." She nods to herself, finally looking up at me and coming closer.
"Okay, I'll see you then." She moves me out into the hall, closing her door between us and I can't help but smile at the wood where her face was.
I gave her an hour and a half before we have to leave and I can only imagine how she's going to look when she comes down those stairs as if it's a scene straight out of a movie. I don't know how she manages it but that's how it goes every single time and it's truly astonishing. You turn your head to the stairs and there she is, in the most unplanned way, so becoming that you just have to stop and give her all your attention or else you may miss it. That's just how it is.
What'd I say, it's exactly what happened when the clock began to near eight and I stood at the bottom of the steps waiting for her exclusive to come. Her bedroom door shuts, by the shadow caused at the top of the steps, and she stands before me, watching me watch her. My jaw falls centimetres from its original spot, she's honestly the brightest person I've ever laid eyes on. Her dress, terribly similar yet so completely different to the one she wore to the benefit, yet somehow louder in its red color, straps the size of spaghetti partnered with a deep v neckline. It clung to her figure, unlike the compared dress, following every curve of her body perfectly as if it was made specifically for her - I think my breathing may have stopped - and my eyes soak in as much as they can when moving down her body to where it stops just above the floor and all the way back up. She's gorgeous. Our eyes lock as she descends the staircase and they stay that way until she stands in front of me so I can get a better look, and oh is it a ravishing sight.
"Dieu a la miséricorde," I whisper down to her as if she has any clue to what I'm saying. The corners of her mouth twitch like she was about to smile but stop thinking better of it. "M'lady." I hold out my arm for her to grab and she does just that when I open the front door for us.
We've been seated for an enjoyable near two hours full of dining, conversing and laughter and everything felt aligned as perfectly as the stars and their constellations. Until we reached a moment of silence that I thought was comforting but she took as an opportunity to think for a moment, shifting in her seat before settling her head in her one hand and elbow propped up on the table. "Okay," she drags out the word, "so, show me how you do it then." Evelyn requests.
"Do what?" I search her face for any further explanation but she only looks at me as if it's an obvious answer.
"Your thing," her head shakes on her hand, "where you get the girl."
"You want to see that?" God, please don't be serious, please don't make me do this.
"Yeah, I think it could be interesting to see just how you manage to bed all those women." She can't be serious, this is so not something I thought she'd ever want. I want to remove this part of me for her and she wants to see it? Yeah, no thank you.
"Evelyn, I don't know if that's such a good idea."
"Why not?"
"I don't think it's overly appropriate."
"Oh, come on, as if you and I know how to be appropriate. I won't tell."
"You're sure you want to see it?" She won't leave me alone if I don't get it over with so, the quicker I get this done, the sooner I can throw it all away to give her everything. Her hand falls to the table and she nods her head at me. I sigh, shaking my head and adjusting myself to put on that side of me like it was my favorite jacket. "Watch and learn, young grasshopper."
"Oh, see, now you're being weird," she says giggling at me. I get up, smirking at her, and head over to a lady sitting alone at the bar, quickly checking to see if Evelyn was watching. I wish she wasn't.
The lady turns to me when I make my presence known and smiles my way. "Hello." I start, clearly off my game. "Do you see that girl over there, blonde in the red dress watching us?" She nods when she sees Evelyn and eyes coming back to me. "I don't want to do this but I need you to do something for me."
"And what would that be?"
"I need you to act like I'm being charming and keep a smile on that pretty face of yours." At this point, I'm desperate and I am so not hiding it well.
"Why?" She's intrigued. Her chin raises with a confident head tilt and an arched eyebrow.
"She wants me to show her how I get women but I don't want to do this in front of her. Or at all anymore, if I'm to be quite honest with you. I fear this is my only option so this way she never asks again and I can completely let go of this man."
"A little young for you, don't you think?"
"It would seem that I don't care about the repercussions. I just need you to give me your number or better yet, a fake one so I can show her and she leaves it be." She shows me a sweet smile and writes down a number on the napkin on the counter a single elbow rests on, handing it to me.
"Go get her." And damn if I say strangers in this city seem to be way too for the idea of us being together and I am all for it.
"Thank you." I turn, heading back to Evelyn and toss the number down in front of her.
"How did you do it?" It's safe to say that she believed the charade because what she's displaying to me now is complete and utter shock. She reaches for the napkin on the table, bringing it up to her face, eyes going back and forth between me and the number.
"I spoke the truth," I shrug once sitting back in my chair across from her.
"Oh please, that can't be it," she says in disbelief, flinging the napkin back to the table.
"You have no idea." And truth be told, she really didn't. "However, now that you've seen me work my magic, I will have to ask that be the first and final time you request such things of me. Although I did get the number, I think she could sense a small human staring us down and that may not be so positive in my future endeavour with her." As if there would be one. When I said this, something on Evelyn's features dropped in a similar look of regret. "I don't think I'll call her though." I say, hoping it turns that frown upside down.
"Oh, why not?" It stays the same, so it is settled, it's time to bring out the humor.
"She seems like the type of girl who sleeps with socks on," I joke, throwing my cloth napkin onto my plate, pushing it over to the edge.
"I wear socks when I sleep." She challenges, acting as if she's offended by my words.
"No you don't, the only time you wear socks when you sleep is when you're too tired and crash or your feet are too cold so you bring out the fuzzy socks - which by the way is when you should be turning off that bloody fan of yours but you refuse. You don't wear them otherwise."
"Do you really hate my fan that much?" An amused look crosses over her stunning face and I can't help but smile at her.
"It's not that I hate it, per say, it's just that sometimes it doesn't make sense to have it on and you seem to fight for it to be on especially in those moments. It's absolutely ridiculous, my darling." My arms lay on the arm rests, hands coming together and interlacing my fingers.
"You're ridiculous," she says above a whisper, soft fond over her body language and a dazzling grin.
My eyes fall to my hands, my top thumb rubs the other twice then taps it three times. "You've got me there." I lick my lips, bringing in my bottom lip just as I look up to see her still grinning at me.
Opening the door of the restaurant for Evelyn, I notice her immediately begin to shiver and I don't blame her, it's cooled off big time since we showed up. We walk over to the car and I bring her to the trunk, opening it and rummaging around until I find what I'm searching for and am able to reef it out from the far back. "Here, put this on." I hand her the hoodie that I swear I've had since I was a teenager and close the trunk. She gladly takes it from me, rushing to get it on, her head pops through the neck hole and it makes her look so small with her hair tucked inside the material. We stand face to face, I smile at her with a short laugh, "Here," I say, bringing my hands up and rounding her neck, grazing the skin as my fingers get beneath her hair and I'm able to pull her hair out from the hoodie.
She keeps her eyes on mine with her hands hold each other in front of her chest. "Thank you." She whispers to me, her teeth begin to chatter and I rub her arms to try to keep her warm while walking her to the passenger side and opening her door for her, my hand on her lower back. She stands to look at me before getting in, she wants to say something but she doesn't; instead she grins breathing out from her nose and sits herself in the vehicle, allowing me to close the door for her and heading to my side so we can go home.
When reaching the house, I let her walk in alone first just so I can put the stuff in my backseat into the trunk. It took me a few minutes and so when I had gotten inside I was stopped by Andrew who stands at the bottom of the stairs as if he was waiting for me.
"You gave her the hoodie you used to give to Hailey."
"Good evening to you too." I respond, closing the door behind me.
"Why that hoodie?"
"I didn't choose that one with anything in mind if that's what you're thinking. She was cold, it was in my trunk. Why is this a problem?"
"I thought you got rid of that thing years ago. I haven't seen you wear it since the breakup but suddenly it reappears on my daughter?"
"Okay, Andrew, is there a problem or are you just being weirdly observant for no reason?"
"It just doesn't make any sense is all. Of all the hoodies you could've lent her, it was that one."
"Andy, I don't have hundreds of hoodies in my car, it was luck that it was the only one I had. So if you would like to continue overthinking about a stupid piece of material, go right ahead but, I'm going to my room. Good night, bud."