Growing up.

 (Unedited version) 

Unusual long chapter to make up for the long wait!

Chapter Four

You know you're in love when you're facing that person and everything around you seems to disappear. It's like nothing else matters anymore, only you and that person. The entire world becomes an accessory. You just feel complete, like you don't need anything else to survive. You are whole after spending your life being a half. That feeling of completion makes you excited and happy. That's the only way I can explain how I was feeling in that moment: Complete. Usually, I would have felt uncomfortable because there was a third person in the room. I would probably felt shy and insecure but at the moment, it was quite the opposite.

Evan was there and that was all I cared about. I didn't care about braless Jane staring at us. I forgot she was living with my boyfriend, I forgot she was the best friend he had never mentioned before. Everything was right again and my heart refused to spoil our moment with jealousy and immaturity.

I was on my tip toes, kissing him, feeling his plump lips against mine. I realized I was always going to feel that way when he was in the room. My heart was always going to be at unhealthy rates, my breath was going to become heavy and difficult. My stomach was going to be filled with enraged dragons. That was the reaction he got out of me and I could do nothing about it. Evan pulled away, only to look right into my eyes. His hands were holding my face tightly as if he was afraid I would vanish.

"God, I miss you," he whispered, giving me one last peck. His warm hands caressed my flushed cheeks.

"I-"

"Wow," Jane's voice broke in, interrupting me "that was..." she trailed off, clapping. Evan and I pulled away awkwardly. I pretended to be fixing my dress. Evan smiled at her.

"I suppose you two know each other already," he stated, reaching out to hold my hand. Jane gave us a closed mouth smile.

"Yeah, we're besties, aren't we, Jules?' she grinned at me. Her eyes glowed with something I couldn't decipher.

I glanced at Evan then back at her, "Yes, sure."

Evan let go of my hand and walked towards the door. I watched him as he picked up the bag of cupcakes. He walked back to us and offered it to Jane, "Sorry for dropping this."

"It's cool." Jane assured smiling at him. I squinted my eyes. Was that admiration in her eyes? Did she like him? The jealous tiger in me came to the surface. I didn't even know I was the jealous type. Jane looked at me and instinctively, I gave her the look. That look that says 'Be careful. He is mine, ok?' I didn't even know I was capable of giving that look.

Love makes us monsters, people. Watch out.

Jane stared at us for a moment before getting her hands inside her pockets, "So, I'll leave you two alone. I bet you have a lot to catch up. It was nice meeting you, Jules," she winked at me "I'll be in my room eating these," she gestured the bag "Thanks, E."

"No problem," Evan replied, chuckling.

Wait... wait... hold up the horses right there. 'Thanks, E.' E? He let her call him by his initial? That is such a... best friends things to do! They were actually best friends, weren't they? She probably knew him better than I did. I watched Jane going up the stairs. Her ridiculously short sweatpants clung tightly to her ass. Why did she have to wear these type of clothes? She was living with a guy, a full grown-up guy. Wasn't she embarrassed? Apparently, she was really proud of her body since she liked displaying it around like that. I mentally groaned.  She was going to be the death of me. I just knew it. And the worst part was that I would have to deal with it because she was his best friend.

"Jules?" Evan's deep voice brought me back to reality "Are you okay?" I looked up to see him frowning at me. His thick cute eyebrows were almost touching each other. Why was everything about him so perfect?

"Yep, I'm fine and dandy," I twitched my lips up in a semblance of a smile.

"You were groaning," he pointed out.

"I was?"

Crap! Crap! I need to stop thinking out loud!

"Yes," he folded his arms across his chest "Something you want to tell me?"

"Nope, definitely, absolutely and obviously no,"

Verbal diarrhea...

Evan laughed out loud. The sound echoed around the living room. Even his laugh was huskily sexy. He stopped laughing and stared at me amused.

He sucked his lower lip into his mouth "you really can't lie, can you?"

I sighed in frustration, "I'm a lost cause,"

He approached me slowly "That's one of the things I love about you." He tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear, "I hate liars." He pinched my nose. I shrieked, stepping back "So you're going to tell me what's bothering you or will I have to get out of you myself?"

I cocked an eyebrow, "Excuse me?"

"You heard me right, peachy girl." A shiver ran down my spine. Hearing his nicknames aloud felt so much intense and personal than reading it in a message. Evan was giving me an evil smirk. He was in a whole playful mode. I kept backing away until I was shielded by the big couch "Why are you backing away, coward?"

"I'm not a coward," I retorted.

He raised an eyebrow, playing with a ring he had around his index finger, "Then stay still," we were both circling the couch by now.

I shook my head, "No,"

"Why not? You're afraid of the shark?" he teased, grinning at me "I don't bite," he raised his hands in a peaceful sign "at least not hard," he winked at me, making my knees go weak.

I aimed my finger at him "Stay back, dangerous dark poet!"

"Then tell me what's bothering you and I may consider not tickling you to death," he shrugged, looking careless and disvelhelved.  His dark tousled hair was pointing different directions.

"There's nothing bothering me. I'm fine." I lied, pretending my billion dollars smile.

"Wrong answer," he jumped at me, making me shriek and moved backwards fast. I dodged his hand by a centimeter "you're fast." He complimented, giving me a devilish smile. I felt like a small deer being hunted by a big lion. He was a predator and I had no chance against him. But I couldn't tell him the truth, right?

"I'm not lying," I assured him, still circling the couch. Evan looked down, smirking evilly. He lifted his gaze, his dark eyes burned into my blue ones making me swallow. My throat was dry. He began rolling up the sleeves of his shirt.

"You're leaving me no choice," he commented bemusedly.

"What are you-ah!" he jumped at me once again. This time his hand reached me but I bent backwards dodging it merely by luck. He tried again and again until we were practically running around the couch. We stopped when we were both breathing heavily.

"This was fun but it's about time I catch you, don't you think?" he glanced down at the couch between us and I saw his intentions clear in his eyes. He was going to jump it and I would be doomed. He was getting ready to jump and I turned around.

Run!

I ran for the stairs as fast as I could. I heard him cuss behind me. To be a clumsy person, I sure ran up those stairs fast enough.

Adrenaline is a blessing. It can do miracles, really.

"Jules!" I heard his shout from behind, dangerously close. I entered the hallway, not caring about the noise I was making. Jane could kiss my ass for all I cared. I was a prey, running for her life. I spotted Evan's door and pushed it opened quite of roughly if you ask me. I closed it behind me, leaning my back against it. Darkness surrounded me, swallowing me completely. I had forgotten Evan's room was pitch black. I couldn't see anything, not even my own hands if I raised them to my face.

What now?

There had to be a switch somewhere but where? I heard his footsteps entering the hallway. He didn't seem in a rush. Of course, he was sure he would catch me. The arrogant bastard! I wasn't going to give up without fighting. I was going to be a hard-to-catch deer for that lion. Julie Ann Jones was not an easy prey.

I seriously need to stop watching Animal planet.

I moved away from the door, walking blindly forwards. I was waiting for my eyes to adjust and maybe, I would be able to see something here. Where the hell were the windows when you needed them? The sun was setting at the other side of the house therefore no sunlight from the black curtains.

My phone...

Yes! I looked in my non-existent pockets forgetting I was wearing a dress. I felt like slapping myself. I'd left my small hippie purse downstairs along my cellphone.

I am doomed.

I'm sorry for letting you down, Animal Planet but I seem to be another easy prey of the bunch.

I heard the footsteps getting closer and I panicked like really panicked. I was running around the black room desperately until I banged my head against something. I touched it: wood. It was door. I pushed it opened and got inside just when Evan was pushing his room's door opened. Feeling the clothes behind me, I realized I was in the closet.  

Evan walked inside, closing the door behind him. I could barely see him through the small gap in the closet door. I lost sight of him as soon as the room door was closed. Could he see in this darkness? Was he like a vampire or something? My heavy breathing and pumping heart sounded like they were echoing through the whole room.

"I know you're here," his voice was coming from the center of the room "you left your sweet scent all behind, Mrs. Strawberry." I buried myself deeper in the closet "I could switch the light up and find you but this way is more interesting. I'd let your scent guide me,"

My scent?

Again, was he a freaking vampire? I honestly hoped it wasn't. Not that he wouldn't make a much hotter and sexier Edward Cullen but I and blood didn't really get along. I usually felt sick at the sight of it.  Therefore, having a vampire boyfriend wasn't something I was really into. I heard him sniff in the air and then up-coming steps. God! He was going to find me! I pressed myself harder against the hanging clothes behind me which was a mistake. Why? Have you ever watched final destination? If you haven't, it's a movie where the smallest simplest events combine together and cause people to die. This was a typical final destination scene. When I moved, the hanging clothes moved with me, causing a small box of powder that was up the closet to fall off. The box landed on the floor next to me, making a thud noise. And of course, the force of the fall caused the cover to crack opened and bam powder filled the closet. When it reached my nose, I knew I was lost.

Don't sneeze! Don't sneeze!

A-choo!

So much for not sneezing. Since my location was no longer a secret. I opened the closet door and ran for the room's door or at least that's what I thought I was doing.

A strong arm was wrapped around my waist, "Got you!" Evan whispered victoriously, pulling back to his chest.

"No!" I squirmed in his arms savagely. I wasn't going to give up without a fight. Evan pulled me tighter against his body, chuckling darkly in my ear.

"You didn't really think I would let you escape, did you?" his voice tickled my neck, making me giggle.

I struggled, "Let me go! This isn't fair!" he chuckled, pulling backwards with him. 

"Why isn't it fair?"

"There was a box of powder in your closet! It made me sneeze! I-"

"You really think I didn't know you were in the closet?" he turned me around. I supposed we were facing each other but I could barely distinguish his silhouette in front of me "You were breathing really loud,"

"You couldn't possibly have heard my breathing,"

He pushed me backwards, "Why not?" the back of my knees made contact with his bed. He had me cornered against it. I raised my hands, and stupidly tried to push him away. Obviously, he didn't move a muscle "I'll give you one last chance to tell me what's bothering you."

"I'm fine. Nothing is bother-" he pushed me fully backwards. I landed on my back, feeling the soft bed behind me. I was about to sit up when he crawled on top of me. He held my hands above my head, pressing them against the bed with one of his hands.

"Any last words?" he said, coming closer. His breath was blowing on my lips, tempting them.

"Don't do this?" I asked/pleaded. I heard him chuckle.

"You better start talking," his free hand moved down to my stomach. Anticipation was killing me. He had great tickling skills. I didn't have the chance to say anything when his fingers started pressing against my ribs. I shrieked and burst out laughing.

"No!" Evan was tickling me mercilessly. He wasn't even giving me time to catch my breath "Please! No!" I squirmed underneath him "Evan! Please!" he stopped for a second. Our heavy breathing was mixing through the dark.

"Are you ready to confess, peachy girl?" his voice was huskier than usual. I waved through my options. I could lie again but it wasn't really going to take me anywhere, was it? Evan took my silence as no because he started tickling harder than ever.

"Ah! No! Okay! Okay! I'll confess!" I pleaded, struggling beneath him like a wild anaconda. He stopped, my chest was moving up and down fast. We were both panting now. I realized my dress had rolled up to my thighs and Evan's legs were prying mine opened. I felt exposed and somehow excited. The warmth of his body was seeping into mine slowly. What was wrong me?

It's called hormones, darling.

I could hear my mother's voice in my head.

"Dear God," Evan exclaimed, his nose was touching mine "Can you feel that?" I knew he was referring to the electric pull between us.

"Yes," I nodded eagerly. Somehow I knew he was holding himself back "Evan?"

"Yes?" he brushed his lips against mine.

"Kiss me," I hadn't quite of finished the sentence when he smashed his lips against mine. The kiss was rough, passion driven. He tasted sweet and tangy. He sucked my lower lip and I opened my mouth for him to shove his tongue in. Let me tell you something, the guy was a great kisser. The best I ever had not that I'd had many anyway. Our tongues mingled causing shivers of delight to go up from my tip toes to my head. He pressed his body harder against mine, burying me in the bed. His soft lips left my mouth to kiss down my neck. The sensation was absolutely luscious.

"You smell so good," he rustled against my neck. I felt something hard on my thigh and I was sure I was a red as a tomato. It was a good thing the lights were off. I let out a sigh when his tongue darted out to lick my neck. God that felt good. I arched my body towards him yearning for his touch. Mom was right. Hormones turned us into non-thinking creatures. All I could think was how our clothes were on the way. I wanted to feel his skin against mine. I wanted more. I needed more. When his mouth returned to mine, the kiss was more aggressive and possessive. His free hand slid down to the hem of my dress. His fingers caressed my thigh gently which was contradictory to the aggressive way he was kissing me. And that was when I felt it. I pulled away from his lips.

"Evan, you're vibrating," I said out of breath.

"I know. I'm sorry! You just feel so good," he whispered, trying to kiss me again.

"No," I moved my head aside, "You're like really vibrating, literally," I emphasized the last word. Evan stopped moving.  We both felt the vibration coming from the down department.

"Oh, that's my phone," he explained, rolling to the side. I couldn't help it. I burst out to laughing. Evan seemed to be trying to get the phone out of his pockets. By the time he got it out, it had stopped vibrating. The light from the screen blinded us from a moment "It's Helen," I pushed myself up by my elbows "Sorry, I gotta call her back."

"Of course, it's cool," I stated honestly. He got out of bed, dialing her number "Could you please turn the lights on?" I pleaded, disoriented. This room had that effect. A few seconds later the lights were on. They blinded me for a moment. Sitting up, I rubbed my eyes. I felt like I just woke up from a dream, an amazing steamy dream. I smiled like a fool, watching Evan walk around the room as he spoke on the phone. To say he looked sexy was an understatement. He looked even more disheveled and his cheeks were slightly tinted. His lips were swollen, looking appetizingly red. And that tattoo... it really looked good with the messy shirt he was wearing. It seemed like the conversation with Helen was going to take a while. They were arguing about something. I glanced around the satin purple sheets beneath me. Evan's laptop was there.

Feeling curious, I picked it up and pushed it opened. Immediately, the screen was on. He had a nice black theme on his desktop which was so like him. I didn't expect any less. I got in the documents, looking for some of his writing. My eyes widened when I spotted a file that read 'Poems for Jules' I clicked it opened. Wow... a large number of documents displayed in front of my eyes. He had written more than a dozen poems about me. I clutched my chest, scrolling down them. I tried to open one but it said the document was locked. They were all locked. I looked up at Evan. He had his back to me, fully concentrated in his phone call. I got out and moved to the images. There were pictures of him and his mother everywhere. She looked so young and full of life. Again, there was a folder that read 'Jules' he had pictures of me?

I clicked it opened, to find lots of screenshots from our Skype call. There was me smiling shyly, there was me flushing, and there was me covering my face. There were many but what warmed my heart were the names of the pictures: Her beautiful smile. Her sweet blushing. In another circumstances, I would have found this creepy but I was in love with the guy. And to know he was actually so much into me before we even got together was really getting my heart beating for him. He had been as crazy about me as I'd been about him.

"What are you doing?" Evan's voice made me jump in my skin. I lifted my gaze to find him staring at me quizzically.

I closed the laptop, "I was just..." I licked my lips, "I was just admiring the design. It's a nice laptop." I placed it back on the bed.

"Right." He said not seeming to buy it but he let it slide. He sat next to me, "Helen wants me to go to this family thing. I've lost count how many times I've refused but she's insistent."

"Your mother's family?" I asked, staring at him.

His expression turned cold "My father's family,"

"Oh," I said understanding the change of mood. He wasn't playful Evan anymore, "What's this family thing about?"

"It's my grandparents' golden wedding anniversary," he passed an arm over my shoulder, pulling me to him. I rested my head in the curve of his neck.

"When was the last time you saw them?"

"Six months ago,"

"That's a long time," I commented as he rubbed my arm.

"Yeah, I don't like keeping in touch with them. I reject their checks, calls and e-mails. They have sent each one of my aunts to try talking me into visiting them every week. I have refused each time."

I swallowed, "Were you close to them before... what happened?"

"Yes, I was their favorite," the nostalgia in his tone was breaking my heart.

"Evan..."

"Don't."

I leaned back to look at his face. I hated seeing that heart-breaking look in his eyes. They were just too beautiful to hold that much sadness.  

"What happened wasn't their fault," Evan averted his gaze and smiled sadly.

"Don't you think I know that? That's what everyone keeps saying: Helen, my aunts, even my therapist. I can't stand being around them. I know they are not responsible for what my dad did but I can't do it. It's like an unconscious part of me is blaming them. I can't help it. And my grandpa looks so much like him. You have no idea. There are many things I think I won't be able to get over and that's one of them," he sighed deeply. 

"Hey," I held his face, forcing him to look at me, "You can do it. I have faith in you and I'm here. You're not alone anymore. You don't have to deal with everything by yourself. You have me. I'm not going anywhere, okay?"

Evan moved closer, "Jules, There are parts of me you don't know about and they will probably scare you away,"

"Nothing is going to scare me away. I'm stubborn, remember?" we both smiled like fools staring into each other's eyes.

"You're too good for me,"

"Don't say that. It's not true. We complement each other. You're the dark poet and I'm the cheesy writer."

He chuckled, "A very cheesy one." I rolled my eyes.

Evan sighed, resting his forehead against mine "What should I do?"

"You should go," I said honestly.

"The thought makes me uneasy,"

"Would it be more bearable if I go with you?"

Evan seemed shocked, "would you do that for me?"

"Of course,"

"You'll have to deal with questionnaires from my aunts and my grandparents' evaluation,"

I grimaced, "When you put it like that, it sounds pretty bad."

"You don't have to-"

"I'll go with you and that's final," I hushed him, pecking his lips. He gave me a genuine smile.

"Thank you." The sincerity in his tone stole a smile from my lips, "So," he started after a while "You were about to tell me what's bothering you,"

"Oh no!" I let myself fall backwards on the bed.

"Oh yes, speak up,"

"It's not really important,"

"Jules," Evan warned seriously. I groaned, sitting up once again.

"I'm just... why haven't you told me about Jane before?" I let it out shyly.

Evan rubbed his face, "It just slipped my mind. Besides, I didn't know how you would react to her. I didn't want to make you feel uncomfortable,"

"She's living in your house," I pointed out seriously "When did you plan on telling me?"

"Eventually,"

"Eventually? Are there any other friends I don't know about?" he nodded, "I thought you didn't have friends at all,"

"There are some high schools fellows and then there's Jane,"

"For how long has she been your friend?"

"3 years. I met her on my therapy group,"

"Therapy group?"

Evan glanced at me from the corner of his eye, "Yes, I was in one after what happened,"

"Oh, I see. Why was Jane there?"

"She had a rough past."

"What happened to her?"

"That's not my story to tell, Jules," he rubbed his temples, "Anyway, she won't be here for long. It's a temporary thing." I hoped so.

"Okay,"

Evan looked at me questionably, "Okay?"

"I trust you on this," I spoke from the bottom of my heart "but you have to promise there won't be more surprises like this, please,"

"I promise." He leant forward and kissed my forehead.

We spent the rest of the time chatting and speaking about anything random. I was resting my head on his chest as he told me some stuff about his job. I enjoyed being with him so much. After some time, I got out of bed and told him I was going to clean his closet. There was powder everywhere. He said he was going to the bathroom but before leaving, his cellphone started vibrating again.

He took a look at the screen and frowned, "It's Jason," that was weird.  I was shaking the dust from closet's carpet. Evan answered and then passed the phone over to me "It's for you," I picked it up watching Evan leave the room.

"Yes?"

There was a pause and then Lau's voice was at the other side of the line, "Jules?" something was wrong.

"Hey, what's wrong?"

"I'm so sorry for interrupting you but you weren't answering your phone and Jason had Evan's number so-"

"Lau, shut up!" I stopped her babbling, she tended to do that a lot "Focus!" I shook the carpet trying to get the powder off the fabric. I sneezed loudly. Lau said something I didn't catch.

"Are you listening to me?"

"Wait up! Let me get out of the closet first,"

"Oh great! You're gay now?" she huffed.

"What? No! I didn't mean it like that. I just... Never mind! What's going on?"

"We have a situation," she whispered secretly.

"A situation?"

"Yes, it's code H or whatever is it you and Jason describe emergencies,"

"We don't have an H code," Did we?

Lau sighed in frustration, "Can we focus?"

"You're the one babbling. Just tell me what's going? Are you alright?" I asked concerned.

"Okay! It's Jason and Shane,"

"What about them?"

"They're drunk."

"What? It's like 6 pm or something,"

"Tell me about it. They are wasted,"

"It's been three hours since the last time I saw you guys. Who gets wasted in 3 hours?"

"Apparently, them."

"Is that even possible?"

"It is. They combined tequila, vodka and Jack Daniels."

"What the hell were they thinking? We're in the middle of the week."

"I don't know! But they can't drive like this. Can you ask Evan if we can come over so they sleep it off?"

"Okay, I will. Where's Jordan?"

"Who do you think is dealing with them right now?"

"Lau!" I could hear Jordan's voice in the distance.

"Right. You know what? Just bring them over. I'm sure Evan will say yes,"

"Ok. I have to go. Shane is about to get into a fight."

"What? Oh God!" I held my forehead dramatically. "Ok, see you soon!"

Were these guys for real? Getting drunk in the middle of week, seriously? As I walked down the stairs, realization hit me with force.

Jason was drunk. He was wasted and he was with Lau and Jordan. Dear God! What if he spill the bins? What if he told them how he feels about Lau? That wouldn't be awkward at all. And Shane... last time I saw him drunk he told me he loved me. I couldn't have a break, could I? I had expected this day to be as cool and normal as possible.

But of course, that was too much to ask for. My idiotic best friend had to get drunk today along with the other arrogant jerk.

Only God knows what awaits me when they arrive. I just got a feeling it wasn't going to be any good.

"Jules? Is that you? I'm in the kitchen. I'm making coffee," Evan shouted from the kitchen. I sighed, stopping in the doorway.

"You better make a strong coffee. We've got two drunkies on the way here."

Two heart-broken drunkies. 

Oh the joy!