Eve and Lexie

chapter 1

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah, fifty-five-eight.” The pastor starts, then drones on. Alexandra feels a vibration from her pants. She is currently in church with her parents on both sides of her. She takes her phone out, seeing it’s a text from her best friend, Evelyn. “This service can’t be anymore boring” the text says. Lexie, the nickname her friends have given her and it just stuck throughout the years, tries not to laugh. It’s true. The service today is going by way too slow for her liking. “Wanna go to the mall after? Kai is coming too.” Lexie responds, following it up with, “I forgot, have you done the homework for Mrs. Jones class?”

No response was needed as Eve would have agreed and Lexie should have known Eve didn’t do the homework as she too forgot about it. Kai, Eve and Lexie are all best friends. Currently, Eve is sitting in front of Lexie. In true fashion in these church services, the pastor ends the service with another line from the bible which may or may not be discussed in the next service. “To end this today, a line from Romans thirteen-ten should be enough. Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”

Eve automatically looks behind her, right at Lexie as everyone starts to stand up and leave. As soon as Lexie leaves the pew, Eve puts her arm around Lexies’ and drags her out of the church. “That had to be the most boring service he has ever done. Maybe he’s just getting old?” Lexie laughs, shaking her head. “Maybe. Isn’t he close to retirement?” Eve just shrugs as they get into Lexies’ car and head towards the mall.

As soon as they park, Eve runs out of the car, straight towards Kai. Kai hugs Eve while looking at Lexie and he smiles. “Hey you two. Want to have lunch before we start shopping?” Kai asks the two girls. They both nod, expressing how hungry they are as they head inside the mall. The trio go straight upstairs where the food court is and order food. Eve and Lexie both got a burger and fries while Kai got a pepperoni pizza.

“You know,” Kai started, getting the girl's attention. “I don’t know why people like pineapple on pizza. Tried it once, but I wasn't a big fan of eating it.” Lexie gasps at her friend, not believing her ears. “How dare you, Kai. Pineapple on pizza is an amazing combo. You probably just haven’t found a pizza place who can make it good enough.” Kai just shrugs at Lexies’ words, not wanting to start an argument.

After they ate, they went to several stores but ended up buying nothing. Nothing caught their eye today. This didn’t phase them though as they had a fun time just hanging out and talking. They caught up with each other from what happened during the week. They were just busy with school and Kai with both school and work, so not much to catch up on.

A few hours went by and they parted ways. Kai went to his car and left while the girls went to Lexies’ car and left too. Lexie dropped Eve off at her house and went home. “Honey, is that you?” Lexies’ mom called out from the kitchen. “Yea, it’s me, mom!” Lexie screams back, heading towards the sound of her mothers voice.

“Well set the table, sweetie. Dinner is almost done.” Lexie just grunts in response as she grabs the plates, silverware and cups for drinks. She then goes and grabs a bottle of wine for her parents while she just fills her glass with grape juice since she’s not of the drinking age yet. That doesn’t stop her from occasionally drinking with her friends though. Kai usually takes alcohol from his parents stash and they don’t notice it missing. Those are the days she sleeps over Eve’s house and Eve sleeps over Lexie’s place, though they’re actually sleeping at Kai’s.

“Lexie, go tell your dad to come down. Dinner is basically done now,” Mrs. Collins tells her daughter. Lexie runs to the stairs, “Dad! Mom says to come down for dinner! It’s almost done! Hurry before I eat your portion too!” She yells up the stairs to her father. “Don’t you dare, Lexie! I’m coming!” Her father teases her, knowing she wouldn’t eat his food. As Lexie goes into the dining room and sits down, she hears the steps of her father. The footsteps she knows too well as he walks, she also knows the sounds of her mothers.

Years of emotional abuse and looking like the perfect family in front of others made her memorize whose footsteps are whose and how to act around them to play nice. She only does that and puts up with everything because she’s still a minor and can’t move out yet. She’s only sixteen years old, she has two more years til she can move out. She’s saving the money she gets from her birthdays and holidays from family so she can have something to live off of.

At dinner, the family prays over their food and digs in. They ate a casserole that Mrs. Collins put together with pulled pork, noodles, mixed vegetables and cheese, topped with bread crumbs. A casual but strained conversation happens during dinner. Mrs. and Mr. Collins asked their daughter how her day was as Sundays were the only day the family ate together, such as how school has been and how church study was going since she goes on wednesdays. Her only reply to the questioning was, “It was fine.”

After Lexie ate, she excused herself, put her plate in the dishwasher and went upstairs. She took a shower and got in her pajamas, getting ready for school the next day. Lexie grabs her phone off the charger, hearing a low toned ‘ding’ sound, smiling as she sees Eve’s name popping up in the midst of the other random, useless notifications. The message only said ‘goodnight, Lexie,’ something they’ve been doing ever since they became friends. This time though, it felt different to Lexie, as if it held a different meaning. It was at this moment, Lexie knew. She knew she had feelings towards her best friend she’s known for a couple years.