With Friends Like These. . .

This week hit Evie like waves roughly crashing against the shoreline. Just as she scraped herself back off the ground, something else made sure to lay her on her back. The same day her fish died, so did her promising career with the local Cafe. They texted to fire her. Like Evie was some two bit ex lover who didn't deserve the time of day. On top of that, some asshole keyed her car, she'd gotten a ticket for blowing a red light--Something she knew for a FACT she didn't do--and her favorite show just announced its cancelation! At least she has movie night with Trev to look forward to. Every day fell into the next like some depressing domino line, leaving Evie with a lackluster sense that something was. . . Missing. There was a spice to life she craved, and yet, never tasted. In essence, Evie just waited for life to happen around her. Never bold enough to go out and grab the horns, stare the beast in the eye. She watched from the beautiful bay window in her room, the seasons changing, people passing on the street. Always watching, never engaging. That would change. Tonight! She was going to go all the way with Trevor. He'd been begging and begging her, but she never felt ready. Well, tonight, on their two year anniversary? She felt ready. Well, as ready as she could feel. Some nagging voice in the back if her mind kept screaming that she shouldn't give Trevor something so precious, and yet. . .if she didn't? She was sure she would loose him. Trevor was a good guy. She didn't w a n t to lose him. Evie rolled over, pulling out her phone. Typing out a quick message since he hadn't responded to the last one. [We still on for tonight? I've got a surprise for you. ;)] Not bothering to wait for a response, Evie threw herself into action. Some shower karaoke to bolster her confidence while she ran the razor marathon. A little exfoliating, a little moisturizer, and she would feel softer than a dream. Her heart fluttered nervously at the thought that their heavy petting might get. . . Heavier. Tonight, she could kiss the virgin club goodbye. She couldn't wait to rub it in Karli's face that she was the first to seal the deal. The first Non-Virgin of their friend group. This thought sustained Evie all through washing her hair, and scrubbing her body with a light perfumey body wash. Something flowery, something sensual. Only half the battle was fought by the time she stepped dripping foot out of the bathtub. Now she had to do the tangle tango with her hair, force it into something dusky and elegant. Something that quietly whispered "ravish me" into her lovers ear. With manic speed, she put on a full face of makeup, careful not to overdo it, and especially careful to use the stuff that might run. She knew that Trevor had a bit of a thing for girls with runny makeup. "Girl, you're a femme fatale!" She whistled appreciatively to the sexy young minx who winked at her from the mirror. Perhaps the punchline of some cosmic joke, when Evie scooped her phone to receive Trev's reply, only to be smacked with bitter disappointment. [Not tonight babe. Gonna be working late. Somebody called out.] Discomfort squirmed in her gut. Working late. Again? On a Saturday? Since when? No, she was all dolled up! She wasn't just going to sit at home and let her anxiety pull one over on her. [Okay. Well, text me when you can okay? I love you lots.] [You too babes.] Evie felt irritation roiling under her skin. She'd been planning this movie night for ages! He promised he wouldn't flake this time! "Promises, promises." Evie bitterly spat. Furious to feel tears welling up in the corners of her deep blue eyes, she blinked rapidly, willing her tears back. "N-No. T-this make up is too pretty to cry off. H-he isn't worth it." She couldn't handle another night of aching disappointment, waiting for her stupid boyfriend to flick her crumbs of a conversation. She needed to reclaim her night before he destroyed any more of it. A weak, burning flame of hope sprung up in her chest as she texted her best friend and sole confidant, Karli. [Hey b***h, do you wanna come over? Have a little gathering? I got vodka for vodka sodas!] [Can't darl, me and the Mr are gonna be going the distance tonight. Raincheck for tomorrow and tell you all about it?] Reliable as always, Karli responded almost instantly. And yet, Evie felt no better. That sinking feeling of disappointment moved back in. Her phone buzzed in her hand as another Karli-text came in, but she dropped her phone before she could glance at the contents. Hot tears flowed like a relentless river current down her soft cheeks. "C-C'mon Evie, d-dont do it. He i-isnt worth the tears. . ." But she couldn't talk herself out of it. No, instead, she grabbed her pillow and clutched it like a life preserver to float the slowly expanding blackness of her evening. Or some gentle bandaid to hold her aching core. Feeling fevered, she leaned her overwarm cheek against the cool glass of her window, staring blankly into the oncoming evening. Jealousy stirred in her heart like a coiled snake. Karli would be out there, having the most perfect evening--The evening she planned with her own boyfriend, and yet, she'd be alone. Thinking of him while he's late at work. For all you know, whispered that malicious, sneaky part of her brain. Maybe he's out at the bar. She railed weakly against the thought. He may have been a little absent, but he would never cheat on her. Never. Her eyes focused on a beetle-shell black Crown Vic as it pulled into her neighbors driveway. Liam, the young father of her best friend, got out of his car. He spotted her in the window, and offered her a warm smile and a friendly wave. Evie raised a hand and meekly waved back. Karli's dad was hot in that intimidating business man kinda way, and she never could get comfortable around him. He lingered in the driveway for a moment, waved again, and walked back into his house. She barely noticed the completely out of character black duffel bag he was toting in his free hand. Getting up and walking into the small, lonely house she shared with no one, her only inheritance from two absentee parents. It wasn't so bad, with Karlis dad next door, he ways invited her in on their family traditions, but. . . Nights like these, Evie would do anything to have a warm and tender mom to cry all her boy troubles to. Or a tough but good hearted dad to playfully threaten the life of whoever hurt his precious daughter. But no, instead, she would look forward to another night of cereal and YouTube at her desolate table of one. Suddenly feeling like she'd put on too much makeup, she'd jumped up to wash it all from her face. She'd tease the definition out of her hair, she'd strip off her fancy clothes in preference of the comfortable siren song of sweat pants and holey old t shirt. Downstairs in the kitchen, Evie sat at her table, mindlessly scrolling Tiktoks. She didn't even taste the pure sugar she chowed down on in her beloved cat print breakfast bowl. It definitely wasn't the evening she imagined. Hope flared in her chest. Trev's number flashed across the screen. She dropped her spoon, splashing milk across the table and fumbling her phone like an i***t as she frantically moved to answer the call. Maybe he'd changed his mind! Her night wasn't ruined! But, as she out the speaker to her ear, she felt sick. "Mmmmmm f**k. You feel so good baby. I love it when you touch me like that." Unmistakably, Trevor's voice filtered through the phone. She couldn't make out the response. Bile bubbled in her throat. Evie hung up. He was cheating on her. He wasn't "late at work." It was the worst case scenario. A storm of emotions began to thunder in her chest. That absolute ASSHOLE! Lightning crackled in her chest, and the storm of tears began again. She couldn't tell if she felt more betrayed, or angry. Or heart broken. Or sick. f**k, she was gonna be sick. No, she was gonna text him. Typing out her vitriol, Evie hovered just above the send button. Knock knock. She heard the door. Evie stopped, gently putting her phone down. Numbly, she got up, chair scraping wood floor with a dull squeak, and walked to her front door, seeing a dark figure through the frosted glass. Knock knock.