He sharpened it frequently. That way, since he wasn't an especially muscular man in any part of his body, he could still rip through the flesh of tomatoes, apples, or even some small melons.

"Yes?" Cody urged, hoping his suspicions weren't true. That she wasn't going to say a boy's name. "Who is it?" The man asked. The blade audibly struck the counter through the apple. "Well, there's this uh, guy. His name is Trevor, can I please please please invite him, dad?" Evelyn asked, eyes bright and pleading. Her upper teeth drove anxiously into her bottom lip, smearing the gloss.

Cody sighed, and took a large chunk out of the apple-half. His eyes narrowed in focus. "Princess, who is this boy, again?" The man asked, tapping a finger against his lip. "Uh..." Evelyn's eyes trailed away from him. "He's just a cool guy in my grade. He's smart, he can skateboard, and he's the son of my old volleyball coach!" Evelyn explained quickly. Her mouth spread in a nervous grin. Asking to invite a boy over? Bold move. Especially when she already knew how protective her father was. He always used to say that boys had freakish thoughts about girls who looked like her, and she shouldn't be so naïve whenever she hung around any guys her age.

"Mm... okay, okay. You can bring him to the party. I'll meet him and we can all have a fun, controlled evening." The man finished off half the apple. Evelyn gasped and ran to hug him. "But," He frowned at his daughter. "It means we have to have the party here at home." Evelyn's smile just grew. "Thanks dad! I love you!" Evelyn quickly backed away from the man. She ran up the stairs to grab her phone. It was time to tell her best friend all about it!

'Ooh Evie, girl, we're going to make this the best party ever! I'll text Trevor, I have his number. Now get over here for practice with my brothers! Garden party's in an hour. See you soon! :) '

That was the last text between Evelyn and her friend Amelia before Evelyn left the room. "Whoo, I'm so excited." Evelyn dashed down the stairs, to find her father had disappeared. On the front door was a note that said "Off to get P A R T Y supplies. Be home later!" With a smiley-face at the end.

"Perfect." Evelyn grinned, then stepped out the front door. Not like she could've asked permission to leave when her father was gone.

He was gone a lot, actually. Their family wasn't huge, of course. Just the two of them. But he had an important job. He was an anesthesiologist, something Evelyn liked to brag about. She was proud of her father. He was accomplished, and for the most part, he'd raised a good kid.

Evelyn snuck around the house, and hopped on her scooter. She strapped her helmet on her head- safety first- and soared down the road.

The wind kissed her cheeks, and Evelyn smiled, only dreaming that a boy would eventually do the same.

Only a few streets down, she reached her destination. She dragged her heel on the ground, and smiled up at the house, smaller than her own. "Hey hey hey!" She called at another girl, and a boy, both in the driveway.

"Evie!" Amelia, a very petite, dainty, fragile-looking girl, ran over to hug Evelyn. She had long black hair. The raven's wing stretched down to her rear, and her side-swept bangs almost reached her hazel eyes. Her skin was fair, not as tanned as that of her brother Viktor or Evelyn. Amelia was about ¾ of a head shorter than Evelyn, and even thinner. Unlike Evelyn, she really was as weak as she looked. Though, she could be feisty when she wanted to. Little-person syndrome, after all, bred an attitude. So did being the youngest sibling. Amelia was fifteen, like Evelyn. The youngest of three. Her older brother was Viktor, and above him, the eldest, Camilo.

"Welcome back to your second home, Chickee." The boy side-smiled at his sister's friend. He was taller than both of the girls. And older. Seventeen. He had black hair like his sister. It was neatly arranged in a brush-up hairstyle. He clearly worked out in his free time. That, and he played water polo. He was fit for someone his age, but not large. That "teen boy's metabolism" was still in effect, after all. That meant his muscles were well-defined, but it was difficult for him to bulk up.

"Yeah, hey Viktor." Evelyn barely regarded him, not looking his way when she spoke. Sure, she'd grown up with him, too. Sure they were friendly with one another. Sure she considered him to be her friend. But she wasn't here for him. She instead smiled at Amelia. "You look so pretty today!" Evelyn noted, then started leading the way into the house. "So do you, Evie." Amelia replied politely. "Ey, what about me? Aren't I pretty?" Viktor snorted from behind the girls. Evelyn rolled her eyes, annoyed.

"Boys are stupid." She whispered to Amelia. "Totes." The girls giggled, and disappeared into the house. Viktor just smiled and brought Evelyn's scooter inside the house. He tried to be a good kid, but it was still fun to tease the girls every once in a while.

Once they were inside, they both made a beeline for the kitchen. "Garden party time. Evie, go get the bread, we're making PB&J's for everyone." Amelia announced toward her friend. She was already mixing together Jell-o in a bowl. Together, the girls worked in the kitchen. When Amelia's arms grew tired, Evelyn took over with the mixing. Then Evelyn smeared peanut butter, Amelia spread jelly, and they smacked their sandwiches together. Amelia tediously sliced the crusts off the sandwiches, and Evelyn cut them into triangles. They were a functional squad, here!

"Yeesh, and here I was going to come ask if one of you could make me a sandwich. You've got like, twenty!" A voice from behind startled Evelyn, and she frowned back at Viktor. "Sexist, much?" She hissed, and licked the peanut butter off of her butter knife. "Wha- Chickee, you were already making the sandwiches." Viktor rolled his eyes. He leaned against the doorframe, and glanced back toward the stairs. They led directly from the top floor to the kitchen and dining room area.

Viktor's attention had been swiped by the sound of footsteps. Twenty year-old Camilo, the oldest sibling, walked into the kitchen. "Oh, hellooo ladies. Do either of you mind me taking a sandwich, or do I have to go to the party first?" He asked, and reached toward the neat plate of triangles. His sister Amelia smacked his wrist with a wooden mixing spoon, and shook her head. "Party first. Him too." She gestured with the spoon toward Viktor.

Viktor sighed, and kicked at the ground. Though, he did secretly want to go. It was a common secret that nobody spoke about. Sometimes guys enjoyed doing girlie things, like going to a spa or taking part in garden parties. Though, he'd eternally deny it if he were asked that. He'd say the girls forced him or they would've let him starve. How else was one to keep up his masculine charms?