Illuminate

Chapter 27- Eva

THREE WEEKS LATER

After a couple of days, my dad did come home from the hospital. He was in a lot of pain and it was taking longer than I thought it would for him to get back to normal. Colton and Austin had to help him get on and off of the couch and he could barely eat. 

We still hadn't talked about any of it. It was just different between us, he wasn't checking in on me like he usually did and his signs of affection were just not there. My mom seemed to be fine with me, but with Dad, it was awful. He was never mean, he was just passive. 

I had been going to therapy and felt like I was getting over what had happened to me. School was alright, people were weird at first, especially since Blake was in prison. He had been convicted of first-degree kidnapping, just like the Emersons, with more trials to come. At least everything seemed okay. My friends were decently supportive, but I found myself keeping my emotions inside for the most part. I wasn't even talking much to Colton about them. Things were just different, to say the least, I wasn't caring as much about school and I would even admit my choices had changed. Parties became a regular thing and I didn't say no to alcohol like I used to. I hid everything from my parents and brothers, whereas I used to tell them everything. It just felt like they were all secretly judging me and the only way for me to get over that was to try and forget.

I was upstairs, working on some last-minute homework when I felt my phone buzz.

From Lacey:

Hey Evs, Liv's having a huge pool party tonight and Emma's sister is giving us a ride, you're in right?

A Liv party? Liv always threw the craziest, most memorable parties. I had been to one or two, but usually ended up leaving because things were out of hand. Somehow though, I felt myself responding all too quickly.

From me:

Hell yeah.

From Lacey:

Perfect, see you around 8.

From me:

Thanks, see you then.

I knew this probably wasn't the best idea, but I just didn't care. Everything I cared about had fallen apart already, so what was the point of trying anymore. I scrambled down the stairs to see my mom. She was working on some paperwork in her office.

"Hi, Sweets, what's up?" she asked, setting down her pen.

"Hey, I was just wondering if I could go with Emma and Lacey to the movies," I asked.

"You three have been spending a lot of time together, huh?" she commented, taking off her reading glasses.

"We always have," I defended.

"Just seems like a lot more lately," she said.

"Look, it's helping me get through all of this. They're a good distraction," I lied.

"It's fine with me, make good choices, okay?" she clarified.

"Always," I ensured.

"Are you guys having a sleepover or are you coming home?" she asked.

"It'll be a sleepover, Liv's house," I said.

"I thought it was just Emma and Lacey?" she asked.

"Yeah, at the movies. We're meeting up with Liv after," I explained, nervously.

"Okay, then. When are you leaving?" she asked.

"Emma's sister is picking us up around 8," I confirmed.