Evelyn Wohl and the Way Back Home

Chapter 12- Deep Slumber

A/N
*Pic of the necklace Zara bought for Evelyn front and back*

Zara had been nervous about this. This was her first ever official date with Jeremy Wohl. He had suggested they go to a milkshake place sometime after the funeral so that it'd help ease somewhat of her pain. In a corner of her mind, it was really relaxing to go out on normal date with her lifelong crush like a normal teen.
"You okay sweetie?" Jeremy asked her driving his Mercedes with his eyes on the road, one hand on the wheel and another one clasped in Zara's.
"Yeah Jer. Doing good." She managed to fumble out.
He then kissed her knuckles which made her heart melt and a huge grin appeared on her face. She looked out of the car to realise that they had reached Central Park, where "New York's Best" a milkshake parlour was situated.
Jeremy parked and they both got down, walking to the parlour hand in hand. When they were on the gate of the parlour, he turned her by her shoulders towards himself and said "Remember Zara. I'm always there for you. NO MATTER WHAT."
Those green eyes of his looked so earnest and beautiful. He then leaned down and kissed her soft lips, moulding his mouth to hers. She hadn't felt this good in the last few days.
They continued to kiss as she put her hand on his face, drawing him closer. He held her by her waist, crushing his body to hers. A low pleasurable moan escaped Jeremy's mouth, wanting Zara to hope for something more. The muscles in her belly clenched In pleasure as they continued to kiss, fingers entwined.
"Well, that was good. Wasn't it?" Jeremy aksed, face flushed after they pulled back for something very important. Oxygen. "The best I bet." Zara whispered breathing heavily, still not have recovered from his divine and intoxicating scent.
They held hands again and walked in. Zara ordered what looked to her as the most colourful drink of the menu, a Galaxy Flurry and Jeremy ordered a Choco Devil Mocha. Zara's drink had glitters in it which lit up her face on its arrival.
She took a quick sip and spit it out as quick as she had taken the sip. "GROSS GROSS GROSS." She said. "You okay?" Asked Jeremy suppressing his smile. "Eww. I had gone for the color of it, but it tastes ridiculous. Can I share yours?" She asked with a funny expression on her face.
"Sure." He said and sacrificed his drink. After the first shake, they helped themselves to a couple more, laughing and talking all the time. Zara felt euphoric with joy. She loved her first date with Jeremy. After their drink, much to Jeremy's annoyance, Zara paid the bill that came to be of $20 with a $50 bill.
"Keep the change." She said to the cashier. "You a princess or what kid?" He aksed chewing a gum.
"You bet." She said and laughed. Zara had wanted an outing like this from a long time. A little happiness In times like these, made her a little cheerful.
Just when she stepped out of the store, she noticed an antique turquoise pendant with a silver chain with 'sœur' written on it, French word for sister, in the glass display of the next store. She asked Jeremy to wait ad quickly went in and bought it for $200 for Evelyn'sbirthday present. Zara was sure she'd love it.
It was finally the time to go home. Jeremy drove Zara to her house and after her assuring him after what seemed like the 100th time that she'll be okay alone, he let her go with a long reluctant glance when she climbed upstairs.

***
Evelyn entered her house with her car keys bouncing in her hands." Mom? Mom! Where's Jer?" She shouted. "Calm down honey. He has gone for a date with Zara." Tristis said with an approving smile. "OH MY GOD MOM! You Ship them too!" Evelyn said happily. "Who doesn't?" Tristis said and laughed going back into the kitchen.
Just then Jeremy entered the house.

"Howdy Eve?" He said beaming at her. "You were with Zara weren't you?" She teased him, poking his ribs. "Yes. And ouch that hurt. Where were you by the way?" He asked slyly. The question caught her off guard and she almost blurted out Astrotravelling but she composed herself and answered "Oh just at Chris Davins's place, doing some homework."
"That footaball player Davins? Man what a guy he is! Good choice Eve!" He said and poked Evelyn teasingly. She swat his hands and said "Shut up idiot. It was just a homework session." She replied hastily. "What homework sweetie? You're empty handed." Tristis said smugly and high-fived Jeremy.
"Ugh whatever. I am going to see Zara and you mister don't need to tag along." Evelyn said with a flushed face.

Then, Jeremy did the mistake of laughing which made Evelyn jump at him and dishevell his carefully made hair. "Get of me! Mom! There's an Evelyn on me!" Jeremy exclaimed in vain as she successfully ruined all his hair.
"That'll teach you a lesson Jeremiah William Wohl." Said Evelyn with a satisfied grin on her face and went to her car to drive to Zara's.
***
When she stepped out of her car, she noticed a new car next to Andromeda's Porsche. It wasn't Zara's Ford Mustang, it was sold long time back. Suddenly realisation hit her as she examined the car. OH MY GOD. It was a Mercedes Convertible!
"Cara is a beauty, isnt she?" Came Zara's voice from behind. "Mom had ordered it for my 16th birthday. Just came today." Said Zara sniffing. She wasn't still over Andromeda's death. One can ease pain, not erase it. But she had sworn to herself to find her mother's killer. Only then she'd be at peace. But she couldn't tell his to Evelyn or it'd worry her.
"God I'm lost for words. It's the coolest car ever!" Said Evelyn delightfully. "Close your mouth Eve. You're drooling." Zara continued and laughed.
"Let's go upstairs." Evelyn said. While climbing up, Evelyn remembered what had happened the last time she had climbed these stairs and shuddered at the thought of it.

Evelyn noticed that the floor was clean. "Blood once covered this floor." Evelyn cringed at this thought. The house still smelt of Mandarin but with a tinge of bleach which was used in excessive quantity to clean the house.
Evelyn noticed that 'A Thousand Splendid Suns', a book written by the veteran author Khaled Hosseini was lying on the table. Zara followed Evelyn's gaze and replied "Yeah I have been reading this again. Just going through how Mariam coped with her mother Nana's death."
"One thing that this book taught me that running from pain will just hurt you more. Embracing it hurts less." Zara said with a sad smile on her beautiful face. Little that Evelyn didn't notice that there was an astrotravel guide kept beneath the Thousand Splendid Suns.
"Hey there by the way, I bought this birthday gift for you." Zara continued and dashed to a room to bring out a small designer bag with 'Forever Mark' written on it.
"Open it!" Zara said excitedly. Evelyn opened the bag to find a big brown jewellery box which contained a turquoise blue pendant.

"Oh my god Zara! This is beautiful! And has sister in French written on it!" Evelyn said delightedly and then pulled in Zara for a hug. "You didn't have to give it to me right now sweetie." Evelyn continued.
"Oh forget it you never know about the future. I knew you'd love it!" Zara squealed in happiness.
"Hell yes. By the way, feel like some coffee? I'm gonna go make." Evelyn said and went to the huge kitchen.
A few minutes later, she heard a loud thud, as if something meaty had fallen down. She rushed to the living room to find Zara playing dead just as they used to in doctor-doctor game when they were kids.
"Ha ha very funny Zara. Get up." Evelyn said but Zara didn't budge an inch.

"Okay Zara. I'm freaked out. Happy?" Evelyn continued in an exasperated tone. Now it really scared Evelyn. She started shaking Zara by her shoulders. And then it hit her that though Zara was unconscious and wasn't breathing, her pulse was healthy.
She quickly supported Zara's weight on her and rushed to her car to get Zara to the nearest hospital. Evelyn was so freaked out that she honked at every red light, receiving dirty looks from other drivers.
On reaching the hospital, she quickly got Zara admitted and then called her parents and Jeremy.
When they reached the hospital, their faces resembled as defeated as if they were at a funeral. Jeremy ran directly towards the ward where Zara was kept.
Her parents caught up with her and calmed her by saying "Sweetie, you did the right thing by bringing her directly to the hospital. It's probably nothing. Now describe the incident to us." With an anxious expression on their faces.
"Da.. Dadd she was unconcious. Pu.. pul.. pulse but no breathing." Evelyn stumbled. Tristis's face went white.

Just then Jeremy rushed out of the ward, with a tear strained face, his beautiful green eyes bloodshot. "She's in coma. They're saying if she doesn't react to the treatment soon, they'll have to put her off the life support." He said and broke down. He wept and wept while Tristis hugged him and tried to comfort him.

"Yeah but she will respond right?" Evelyn asked with a brave face but visible uncertainty in her voice.
"Oh sweetie. Her symptoms to something other than coma. She's stuck in the nowhere while trying to travel. She tried to reach Hinderland through a door other than the Crestwood Door. She won't get up." Felix said wiping his tears.
Jeremy became stone faced and pale on hearing this, while Evelyn tried to absorb all the information.
"She was trying to astrotravel." Evelyn whispered to no one's surprise.

A/N
I'm so sorry guys for not having written earlier. I was stuck in the endless Blizzard of exams. Hope you like this chapter. Keep thinking what will happen ahead. Do give feedback and hit the vote button!
Ps- do recommend us to your friends. Happy reading!