With Friends Like These. . .

Empty

Evie didn’t let herself stick around much the next few days. On pure chance, she happened to be out at the grocery store when Trevor stopped by unannounced. He seemed agitated lately, like he was stood on a live wire. He had to know that Evie knew, and that’s why she was avoiding him. Shrodinger’s relationship, not quite dead, not quite alive.

If it hadn’t been for Mr. Alinac stopping by and asking if she were having any issues with Trevor, she wouldn’t have known he visited at all!

“And you’re sure. . .You’re sure he’s not bothering you kiddo? I could play the Ol’ Grouchy Dad and sit on your porch with my prop shotgun.”

“I’m pretty sure he knows you’re Karli’s dad--And that's a reenactment shotgun.” Evie teased playfully, feeling sunny for the first time in almost a week.

“Mae-Mae! You wound me!” He said with mock hurt. “But you know I mean it, don’t you? And I won’t even ask you to give me my jacket back.”

Evie ’s cheeks flushed, and she scowled. “Sorry, that was an accident--”

“Yeah, I know Mae-Mae, I’m teasing you. We kinda ambushed you first thing. I wouldn’t be surprised if you didn’t even notice the toilet paper stuck to your foot you sped out with.”

“THE WHAT--?”

“Jesus, can the puppy eyes! I was joking!” He clutched his chest, a look of real emotional distress on his face. “God, those things are lethal. You’re no fun to tease if you make me actually feel bad about it.”

A weak smile stretched across her face, but it was the first in days. Her cheeks ached. “I’ll make sure to act a little more in on the joke--Next time, when you let me in on the joke.”

Mr. Alinac roared with laughter. The sound erupting out of him startled Evie , who’d been existing pretty quietly as of late. “When did you get to be such a clever smartass, kiddo?” he asked, voice dripping with so much warmth, Evie started to cry. “H-Hey wait, I’m sorry, I take it back--”

Evie didn’t know her body moved for her until she found her face pressed into his chest. Beneath all the wool and cotton, his abdomen was surprisingly. . . Firm. She wouldn’t expect that from a desk jockey.

“Ahhhh, so this is crying because I said The Good Thing, not The Bad Thing. Good good.” He awkwardly petted her on the head, and after a soft sob, she broke away from him. They stood a little less than two feet apart, the space between them alive with an awkward sort of energy.

“Sorry, Mr. Alinac. I’ve been a little stressed out.” Was her weak reply. Her gaze dropped to the floor, a million miles away.

“Hey--Can I come in for a few minutes? I’ve got to be heading out, there’s a real mess at the office right now, but I’ve been worried about you, Mae-Mae.”

“You can come in, but please--I’m not a kid anymore, Mr. Alinac.” She replied, turning and waving him inside. He didn’t immediately follow her, though, hovering in the doorway.

“I’m not treating you like a kid--I’d be worried if you were older than me. I just wanted to--”

“It’s not that.”

“Oh. What is it then?”

“I don’t like being called Mae-Mae. I’m not a six year old anymore. It makes me feel like you don’t see me as an adult.”

He chuckled warmly. “It’s hard seeing you as more than a cute little kid. But--You hate Maeve. What else do I call you?”

“Evie. My friends all call me Evie.”

“I guess I’d better modernize. Get hip with it. And you know--I will. But; only if you agree to call me Liam. I don't like being called Mr. Alinac. It makes me feel old.”

With a snort of laughter, she nodded. “Sure. Liam.” She said it with a silly tone of voice, screwing her face up. It felt weird to call him Liam. Like he was just another one of her friends, and not Karli’s dad. The irony was indeed lost on ber.

She led him into the living room, just beside her door. He looked around, a sad expression on his face. “It’s so empty here. Don’t you ever feel. . .?”

“All the time.” She answered in a voice aged with pain beyond her years.

“Maybe I should make a point to come help you with the decorations?” He offered warmly, putting a hand on her shoulder. “Look, kiddo, I know how much it hurts. Losing family like that. My door is always open. Well, not always. Knock first.”

Evie couldn’t manage to smile at that joke. It just hurt to think about. “Is that what you wanted to say?”

Mr Alinac looked hurt by her lack of reaction, but pushed through. “No. I got sidetracked is all. I did want to tell you--You don’t have to stay with Trevor. I know it feels like that, but. . .”

She felt her stomach churn. She’d have to start chugging pepto with all the stomach upset these men put her through! “I. . . I know. . . But how do I even. . . ? I pretended I didn’t hear anything, and now I’ve just been avoiding him. I don’t know what to do? How do I even broach the subject?”

Mr. Alinac was quiet for a really long time. He seemed to measure every word meticulously before he did finally speak. “Sometimes. . .” He said, knowingly, “Problems like that. . . Well, sometimes they take care of themselves. Who knows. Maybe you won’t have to do anything. Sleep on it. See how you feel.”

He turned, starting for the door without even saying goodbye. She felt like maybe she’d hurt his feelings. He was only trying to be helpful after all.

“Hey, Liam?” She spoke up, just as his fingers clasped around the doorknob. He turned to glance over his shoulder at Evie. “Do you think if you get home early enough, maybe I could come over and watch some more VHS cartoons with you?”

He turned to face her, a smile stretching across his face. “Raincheck for tomorrow, Kiddo? You’d think we’re hiding bodies, the amount of paper work I’m gonna have to correct.” His answer did disappoint her, but it didn’t feel like that same sense of lead that weighed down her belly every time Trevor said no.

She felt like he was genuinely remorseful to have to tell her no. Like he wanted nothing more than to call out. Something about that was a great comfort to her. That anybody at all would spare her the time of day, let alone such a great man.

“O-Okay. . . I’ll see you later then, Liam.”

“See you later, Evie.”

He left, taking the warmth of his spiced scent with him, and leaving her home feeling lackluster. Like he said. Empty.

With a heavy sigh, she glanced at her phone. A new missed text from Trevor. Great. So much for situations resolving on their own.

[Hey babe, I feel like we’ve been drifting, and I don’t like it.]

[Do you think we could meet up tomorrow? I called out of work and I have a plan to devote the whole day to you.]

The idea that he was remorseful crept up from that shadowed corner of her mind, and took hold of her. She couldn’t ignore him. And what if he really did just make one mistake? What if she really did have it all wrong?

In her heart of hearts, Evie knew what she heard. Hesitant, she thumbed up a quick response.

[Yeah, sounds good, what time?]

Much to Evie’s surprise, his response came mere seconds after. He’d adopted a policy of not texting back too quickly to ‘discourage codependency’, but he must have been worried. He threw that rule out the window.

[Perfect. I can’t wait to see you.]

[Do you think we could watch that movie again? That cult animated one you showed me?]

[The Yellow Submarine? Yeah, sure.]

[Awesome pawesome.]

[I’ll wear those jeans you like.]

[;)]

[;) ;) ;)]

[Haha.]