“Ah,” he nodded, a slow grin forming, “that must be where I almost recognize you from. I went to BHU as well. I imagine I’d seen your face around at some point. It wasn’t all that big a campus.” He smiled widely, inviting her share in the joke, before continuing. “What was your major?”
Biting back another giggle, Evangeline twirled a strand of hair around her index finger. “I double-majored in religious studies and astrology. What about you?”
Nyx took a beat to recognize the woman next to her but she nearly lost it when she realized it was Evangeline. “Nice to see you haven’t changed much either. Always easy on the eye, you know?” The shorter woman said with a fond little smirk, remembering the constant arguments they had. “I ordered myself some fire water. My own creation of course— It’s just a little bit of everything in a glass.” Nyx got her glass and took a sip, feeling the harshness and the burn in her throat. “Still as good as I remember. What have you been doing with yourself?”
Years ago, Evangeline would have been defensive over that sort of comment from Nyx, but she just smiled now, setting her glass of wine down for a moment. “You’re not so bad-looking yourself,” she teased, returning Nyx’s smirk with one of her own. “Sounds adventurous,” she laughed, raising the glass back to her lips and sipping. “Me? Nothing exciting, really. Just lots of painting. What you’ve been doing is what I want to know.”
Furiously texting on her phone, Victoria strutted down the street, her curly hair bouncing with each step. With each movement of her fingers she became more engrossed in her phone and less aware of her surroundings. It was only when someone brushed into her that Victoria looked up. Turning to face them sharply, the dark look on her face was soon replaced by an amused one upon recognizing whom she was looking at. “Well, I would hope so—” She paused, a devilish smile crossing her features as she tilted her head to the side. “Evan.”
At the wicked smile on Victoria’s face, Evangeline wavered for a moment, unsure if it was teasing or truly wicked. Then again, she had no idea what had become of Victoria. Tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, she stated carefully, “Victoria. Good to see you again.”
Ariel subtlety blushed, she no longer showed it though Evangeline could know that without even looking at her, or so Ariel thought sometimes. At first, it was a surprise until she got used to the complicity that came with friendship. “Don’t say that—-but thank you!” she said covering her cheeks lightly “Aw, but you’re such a cute girl.” she mocked her, taking the cupcake. Her eyes practically shining “You know what? This is great, cupcakes are ridiculously great.”
“Aww, you think I’m cute?” she questioned, holding two hands to her heart and making an appreciative expression. “I’m flattered, Ariel. You’re just as cute.” Grinning widely, she tossed her hair over one shoulder. “I’m honored you think that. I picked them out just for you.” Setting the cupcakes down on the table, she took one, taking a small bite of it. “You really like them?”
Ariel closed her eyes and chuckled while shaking her head lightly “You should have stopped me.” She liked when the times when Evangeline was hyper, when she was happy even her hair was happy. Not that Ariel liked her any less when she was sad or angry, but she preferred things to be okay with her. “It’s Tchaikovsky, as usual…Thank you!” she said smiling “It’s a waltz, a little more complex than that but similar. I insist why didn’t you stop me? You know how I am when i’m here. Anyway…” she stopped playing, and stood up “That’s not a fair game and you know it! Look at you, bribing your best friend with cupcakes.” the girl gave her friend a disapproving look in a joking manner “You should be ashamed of yourself.”
Beaming widely, Evangeline leaned against the wall, shaking her head. “I wanted to hear you play. You’re amazing, Ariel,” she praised, practically bouncing on the balls of her feet. Biting back laughter, she quipped, “I really am a horrible person.” Rolling her eyes, she held out the cupcakes to Ariel. “Take some,” she offered.
There was more to see, it felt; Barton Hollow had to have been the same size, still, but Peter couldn’t imagine that it was so full of everything the way it was now. It couldn’t have been…or perhaps Peter just hadn’t been looking for it, all those years ago? He shrugged off the almost-melancholy thought and continued his stride. It wasn’t so graceful a return to the waking world as he might’ve hoped, though, since Peter promptly knocked shoulders with a dark haired woman who said…something unexpected. “I do? Well, thank you, though I’m not sure if that’s a compliment or something else. You look…almost familiar. Where did you go to school?”
Evangeline let out a musical laugh, running a hand through her chestnut waves and glancing up at him with a cheerful grin. “It’s in-between, I supposed,” she mused. “Barton Hollow University. And you?”
“I’ve been very fulfilled by my studies. English has helped me think in an analytical way. It’s helped me see the world from new perspectives. Diving into these stories and characters has given richness to my own life. And now, when I read scripts or look at stories, I have these references for a larger understanding of humanity. I’m sure it will make my job as an actress more interesting.”
The fuck am I supposed to tell you? Sorry I guess, for not getting to say goodbye, but that wasn’t my fault. I tell you now, goodbye. And thanks, I guess, for the rich life you gave me. Whatever.” Jake really believed he is crazy, talking to two graves, of the two people that never even tried to show him love how it was supposed to be shown. When he finished talking, he took out a cigarette and lit it.
Evangeline stood before the graves of her parents, feeling a strange mixture of pain and resentment. They had been nothing but cruel to her throughout her entire life, yet she stood there, staring down at the tombstones with flowers held in her hands. Noticing a distant voice, she raised her head from the graves, happy for a distraction. “You okay there?” she questioned with a raised eyebrow.
“Fuck—” That was the only word that seemed appropriate of the affect ten years had had on her old work place and once favorite watering hole. Ten years did little to change her tendency to swear. The fury nodded over at her old manager, they’d never really spoken much but the unspoken nature of their friendship was something she appreciated. He didn’t tell her much she’d cost them in damages and she kept the riffraff out. She sat herself at the bar and ordered properly for the first ever time in her history with the Anti-Hero. “Well I don’t know about you, but I’m staying here all fucking night.”
“Nice to see you haven’t changed that much,” Evangeline noted with a laugh, lifting her glass of red wine to her lips and taking a small sip. Crossing her legs and meeting Nyx’s eyes, she questioned with a raised eyebrow, “What did you order?”
Hoisting her purse over her shoulder, Evangeline strolled down the street, her smile surprisingly bright. She had been in an uncharacteristically wonderful mood for the past few days, and even knocking into the shoulder of another person barely diminished that. Smiling apologetically, she backed away, starting to say her apologies when she noticed the other person’s familiar face. “You look familiar,” she stated bluntly, pushing dark hair out of her eyes.
