'Can you believe your daughter?!' I huff at Evelyn's mom who's sleeping on the couch again. And Evelyn was asleep in her room so that just left me as the only person that was awake. 'I mean, how can she not like someone?! Is she a fucking robot or something??!" I paused and then looked down at her 'Sorry for swearing... my mom didn't like it when I swore.'

She still lay motionless on the sofa. The way she looked relaxed made me feel the same too. 'Anyway...' I continued to talk in a low voice 'Next Friday evening I'm gonna take Evelyn to the beach. There's a fair going on in the pier and I thought I could take her there as my birthday gift. You guys went there too, remember?' I looked down at her 'When she was about 5. I saw it in your photo album. You were still with your husband then; what was he like?' Obviously, there was no response 'Was he nice to you? And Evelyn? Or was he the busy-at-work type?'

I think for a second, recalling some memories 'My dad was always busy... He didn't have time for me or my sister or my mom. But it was his way of caring- kinda like you, I guess. I mean you're always at work so that you can earn money and stuff.'

Sitting down on the floor near the foot of the sofa, my hands start to fidget around a bit, my hands peeling at any scabs I spotted. 'By the looks of the photos, I guess Evelyn's dad did have time for you guys. I mean, you went lots of places together.' I turn and look at her 'Why'd it stop?' I breathe out in a sigh 'Oh right. You guys split up, didn't you? When was that?' Obviously no answer. 'Alright, we'll call it a night then,' I get up from the floor and start to head upstairs. For some reason, I stop halfway and go back down. 

I stood at the foot of the sofa, looking down at her again and then beginning to whisper. 'Can I tell you a secret? Promise you won't tell anyone?' I sit down on the floor, cross-legged. 'Back when I was a kid, maybe about 4 or 5, my mom was pregnant with my sister. I haven't really told Evelyn about her yet. I bet she doesn't even know I had a sister. She'd be about Evelyn's age...If she was still alive. She died when she was 10. I haven't told anyone about how she died. How she really died. My mom thought it was an accident and for a time, I did too but-'

'Ash, you're still up?' Evelyn's voice asked from up the stair. She climbed down, rubbing at her tired eyes 'What are you doing?' she gave me a freaked out expression.

'We're talking.' I reply to her, bitterly. I was still pissed off at her after what we talked about today. 'What are you doing, then?'

'I came here to get a glass of water.' she informed me 'Ash, you do realise my mom is sleeping, right? That she can't hear you?'

I respond 'You don't have to be awake to have a good conversation with someone. God, Ev, you're actually being really rude right now, interrupting us like this.'

'Whatever,' she rolled her eyes, carrying her glass of water up the stairs. Halfway there, she turned around 'Aren't you coming?'

'I'm perfectly fine here.' I crossed my arms but found myself getting up and climbing up the stairs anyway. I walked into her room and found her sitting up on her bed, slouching. Her face was turned away from me and she fiddled with her hands awkwardly until I sat down on her floor in my usual space. 

She was quiet for a second and I doubt she was going to say anything anymore until finally, she did 'You know when I said today about not liking anyone?' I nodded my head. So that wasn't the truth, was it? She's finally confessing. 'Well, there was someone I liked. Before, anyway.'

'Who was this special someone?' I asked curiously, smirking.

'He was in my old school. before my mom and I moved town and came here last year.'

'Was he hot?' I asked jokingly and she started blushing. She scrunched up the legs of her pyjama shorts in her fists and she looked away for a second before she continued.

She nodded 'He was pretty handsome, I suppose...'

'Let me guess, he was way out of your league and your crush on him grew?'

This time she shook her head 'No. He liked me back. We went out.'

'Oh,' I just said, my smirk disappearing. That scenario had never really occurred to me what with Evelyn being who she was. 'How long for?'

'Not that long' she rubbed the back of her neck and said 'He found someone better and broke up with me.' This sounded more like Evelyn. 'I'm sorry I didn't tell you about this when you asked. I was just...embarrassed. That's why I didn't tell Leigh either.'

'Hey, that's fine. Whatever man. Relationships aren't meant to be an easy topic. And they aren't meant to be that long either, especially when you're both young.' She eased a bit as she straightened up her posture a little more to actually look at me now. I add quickly 'And also, you shouldn't feel bad about yourself just because some guy left you. It was his loss. And in my opinion, he missed out big time.' I wink at her and she giggles a bit, but still stays solemn. There's a pause and then she smiles at me and starts to talk.

'You excited about tomorrow?' Ugh, why would I be? I have to see Sharon's bitchy, snobby, fucked-up face. I swallow sourly and shake my head at her. She frowns a bit 'Why not?'

'What do you mean why not? What's so special about tomorrow?!'

She puts a hand on her hip like she's sick of my shit 'It's your birthday tomorrow, Ash!'

I snort a little too loud and that kind of makes her move back a bit. 'My birthday's not this Friday, you dummy! It's next Friday!'

'Oh!'She suddenly exclaims, her cheeks flushing red a bit 'Ohhhh..... I'm sorry, I forgot it wasn't tomorrow. I even cancelled my plans with Leigh because of it. It's okay though, she said we can meet up on Saturday instead.'

'Which reminds me,' I continue 'What is your deal with this Leigh character anyway? I didn't expect you to be the open sort and have even one friend. No offence.'

She sighs, but she doesn't seem offended. It's more of a 'don't get me started' sigh and she folds her legs to her chest before she starts again 'Well, Leigh's always hovering around me in school for some reason, even more so than she did last year. I don't even know why but I think it's because she doesn't like the fact that I have no friends and she feels like she's doing me a favour or something.'

I  think for a while. People can't be that nice. 'Has it ever occurred to you that maybe she doesn't have any friends either? Maybe she's starting to hang out with you because you're her only option. if not then maybe that girl is just a fucking walking charity.'

'I never thought of that,' she admits, nibbling at the nail on her thumb. Then she stops and reminds herself 'That can't be true, though. leigh has and makes friends everywhere she goes. Even some teachers. Everyone, really. Well, except for that 'Bitch Squad' or whatever the others call them. they probably think she's too perky.'

I sit up a bit, suddenly interested. 'Oooh, who're they? Your school's very own Mean Girls?'

'Pretty much.' She nods. Then she stretches her arms up while yawning and collapses on her back 'I still have school tomorrow so I'm gonna sleep now.'

'Okey Dokey,' I tell her, lying flat on the floor myself. 

'And Ash?' 

'Yeah?' My voice is muffled through the pillow I've rolled over to face.

'If Leigh asked that question again and I had to answer properly, then I'd say I like you.' 

I don't respond as if it isn't a big deal but I can feel the corners of my both crawling up m face into a grin. Thank god my face is on the pillow or she would have seen it. This is a big deal to me. And I can't lie to myself anymore and tell myself it isn't.

(A/N For certain reasons, I'm very hyped about updating again. Okay, it's because right before I sat down on Wattpad to finish off this chapter and publish it, I wrote an entire plan for how I want this story to progress and end. Giving away no spoilers, I'm just gonna say I was an emotional wreck after finishing that plan. Thank you and good luck)