Oh baby
Why don't you just meet me in the middle
I'm losing my mind just a little
So why don't you just meet me in the middle
In the middle
Baby
Why don't you just meet me in the middle
I'm losing my mind just a little
So why don't you just meet me in the middle
In the middle

- The Middle, Maren Morris, Zedd

31| Evelyn

After lunch, the day was event less. Mallory didn't do anything suspicious. Evelyn went to a coffee shop with Rita. They did their homework together, checked out some e-books and then Evelyn headed for home.

Evelyn climbed up the stairs to her room and opened her bedroom door. Getting in, she took a deep breathe and closed it. Turning around, she almost had a heart attack.

Mason lay sleeping on his stomach in her bed, wrapped up in her cover, with his legs askew. Evelyn tip toed forward to get a better look. His hair was covering his forehead, even in his sleep, his mouth was etched into a deep frown.

Evelyn sighed. He cared a little too much, but it was his family after all.

Evelyn jumped again when the front door shut. Maybe Dad just got home. Evelyn looked at her bed.

Shit.

There was no way Evelyn could hide his body now. He was big enough to cover the whole bed all on his own and Evelyn wouldn't be able to pretend it was just covers there. Besides, moving him was impossible, as she remembered from past, he was quite heavy.

Evelyn groaned silently. It was always her dad and Mason. Evelyn somehow got in trouble every time.

She sat on her study table summarizing how much she would tell Mason about today and the school works he would need to catch up on. She silently prayed Dad didn't come upstairs like the good dad he had become recently.

Not long after, Evelyn's bedroom's door opened.

I am dead.

Dad peeked in from behind a door, "Already home?"

Evelyn gulped and nodded yes.

Please don't look at my bed. Don't look at my bed.

Dad then noticed the body in the bed. He raised a questioning eye brow and glanced at Evelyn. Evelyn gulped.

She set towards her door without making any sound and swiftly closed the door, ushered her dad downstairs.

"Let me explain." Evelyn said.

"I didn't say anything," Dad shrugged.

"Still, you should know."

Evelyn wanted the communication between her and her father clear. She needed him to know.

"He's having a slight bit problem at home. So he came down here." Evelyn said.

Dad crossed his arms over his chest, "Doesn't he live with his foster mom?"

Dad remembered that. "Yes, he does."

Dad's face didn't give away anything he was thinking at that moment. He walked away saying nothing and opened the fridge.

"I am making dinner at home tonight," He said.

"I will help you," Evelyn replied quickly.

Dad gave Evelyn a look. Evelyn flashed a nervous smile.

"Fine. Chop this carrots. I will make some rice and vegetables." Dad said. "It's time we start eating healthy. I am getting old."

"Dad, you are getting younger everyday. You look dashing, cool." Evelyn said enthusiastically.

"Enough buttering." Dad said smiling.

"No, I meant it dad." Evelyn said.

"Careful with the knife." Dad said as he washed the rice.

"Can we have chicken?" Evelyn said.

"Okay. We might need help of YouTube then." Dad replied.

"We'll make it, don't worry. " Evelyn replied.

Both of them worked and chatted away. Dad shared things he had never said before. He said Evelyn about his school life. It's not like they could fill up the spaces that had been made in years. But they could still get better.

Gordon Ramsay was on YouTube teaching dad.

The chopping and washing was done. The chicken was on the pot.

Evelyn thought over the question that was in her mind.

"Dad?" She asked.

"Hmm?"

"There's a kid, you know, in our school," Evelyn said leaning in the kitchen counter.

"He was found taking drugs. So he was sent to rehabilitation center. But he came back unaffected and as he was before. He probably ran away from there. Now that he's back, he acts like nothing like that ever happened."

Dad was listening with rapt attention.

"Now his friends think he is still addicted. But he didn't show any symptoms. So they are keeping an eye on him." Evelyn said.

"Do you have any suggestions what else they can do?" Evelyn asked.

Dad placed his hand on his chin. "Who is this kid we are talking about?"

"Just some random kid. I am kind of friends with one of his friends. And that friend is really stressed. It's bothering me too." Evelyn said.

"What about his parents?" Dad asked. "Do they know?"

"His parents-" Evelyn gulped. "His parents are not here. He lives with his grandmother. A really old grandmother."

Evelyn took a deep breathe. Dad was narrowing his eyes at her.

"Do I know this kid?" Dad asked.

"No." Evelyn replied.

Dad shook his head. He paced around the kitchen island. "Drugs are very dangerous thing, Evelyn. You should stay far away from it."

"Trust me dad, I have no interest." Evelyn replied.

"You shouldn't even be with the people who's had a connection with drug addicted."

"So we'd just abandon them?" Evelyn asked.

"No, of course not." Dad replied. "This kid really is problematic, huh?"

Evelyn nodded.

"I can't help you on this much. But I might know someone who can help with it. I'll let you know." Dad said.

"Thanks." Evelyn said. The chicken was done by then.

"Go wake him up. Come down for dinner." Dad said.

Evelyn climbed upstairs just in time to see Mason stretching his arms and yawning.

"Had a good sleep?" Evelyn asked pointedly.

"Yep, Vanilla is my favorite," Mason said with a wicked smile. Something warm spread through Evelyn's stomach.

"Where's Mal?" Mason asked untangling the covers from his legs and standing up.

"In Willy's, Having a dinner party with her friends, probably. That's what I heard from the hallway," Evelyn said.

Mason nodded. Evelyn sat beside him. "You know, this is not the way to solve this."

"I know," Mason sighed. "But she left me with no choice."

Evelyn took his hand and gave a gentle squeeze. Smiling slightly to reassure him, she said, "I'm sure you'll figure something out. Don't stress over it so much."

Mason didn't say anything in reply.

"Honestly, she doesn't look like a drug addict to me." Evelyn commented after a while.

Mason laughed in reply. "Doesn't make a difference."

"Hmm, let's go downstairs, Dad's waiting for us." Evelyn said.

Mason almost jumped. "What?"

"We're going to have dinner." Evelyn said.

"I'm pretty sure you dad wants to have me as dinner." Mason said. Evelyn laughed.

"Did you forget he's a dragon?" Mason said. "The moment I'll get downstairs, he'll grill and char me alive." He said in horror.

"Nah, he won't. I promise." Evelyn said smiling. "He's a good dad now."

"More reasons to grill me alive," Mason said. "I need to turn on my fire protection suit."

Evelyn laughed. "How old are you?"

"Why, turned eighteen last July." Mason replied.

Evelyn pinched his cheek. "Sometimes I think you are 14."

Mason's expression changed. His pupil dilated. "We're gonna need to solve that, won't we?'

His voice was low. Evelyn breathed sharply.

"Evelyn!" Dad said. "The foods getting cold!"

Evelyn jumped to her feet. She was followed downstairs by Mason.

"There you are," Dad said spotting Evelyn. Eyeing Mason, he added, "And your friend."

Dad said practically air quoting friend. Evelyn's cheeks heated up.

Evelyn and Mason took seat. Evelyn served herself dinner, so did Mason.

"How are you doing Mason?" Dad asked after a while.

"I am fine, sir," Mason said and stuffed his mouth with food.

"Glad to hear that. We wouldn't want you to fall off the ladder and break some bones, now would we?"

Mason coughed. Evelyn poured him a glass of water.

"I am happy the ladders coming handy. Wasn't a waste of my money."

Mason was chugging down the water and he coughed again. Dad patted on his shoulder.

"Slow down, my dear. You'll choke." Dad said.

Evelyn felt sorry for Mason. At the same time it was hard not to laugh.

After Mason had recoverd from his fits of cough, Dad started, "I am happy that Evelyn found herself such a nice friend who takes care of her even checks up on her daily."

Dad turned towards Evelyn, "Such a nice friend is rare these days."

It was Evelyn's turn to choke.

The rest of the dinner went away with small talks. Dad asked them about school. They answered. Dad engaged Mason asking about his interests.

And they found a common ground. Old cars.

Evelyn gruffed taking her dishes to the sink. When she came back, Dad and Mason was arguing like long lost friend.

Moments later, they changed their subject to football.

Sadly none of those was Evelyn's forte.

After twenty very long minutes, Evelyn grumbled, "Are you guys done?"

Mason looked at the wall clock and stood up. "I should head home, Martin. Thanks for the dinner."

Martin. Evelyn jolted up at the mention of her father's name. So it took Mason twenty minutes to befriend her father and drop to first name.

"Yeah, we will start from right where you left off. I still think Ford's are the best."

"We'll have to see about that, don't we?" Mason said with a smile.

Evelyn walked with him out of the house.

"I was thinking about what you said earlier." Mason said as the got to the street. "And I think you are right."

"I am always right."

"I don't think following Mallory is enough. I have to figure out something." Mason said running a hand through his hair.

"Hey," Evelyn said softly.

"You don't know how much I have blamed myself for what she did to herself. If only I was with her, when she needed me, maybe she wouldn't have-"

"You tried."

"No, it wasn't enough. This time, I won't let anything happen. I would do whatever I have to. I have to stop her. I have to do something." Mason said.

Evelyn pressed her palm on his cheek and turned his face towards her.

"Look, you tried. You are still trying. It would be fine."

Mason sighed. "I hope so."

"Do get some sleep and take care of yourself. This stress is eating you up. You looked terrible in the morning."

Mason stared at her, "Are you worried about me?"

Evelyn rolled her eyes, "No, your invisible dog."

Mason didn't listen to that. He kept his gaze on her. A few breathes later he said, "Thank you. I will see you later."

Mason walked away and disappeared into the night.

He didn't know how much warmth he took away with him. It felt all cold without him. Evelyn thought.

• • •

Damn and blast Mason. That bastard was avoiding Evelyn. After Mason confirmed Evelyn that he would figure out something about Mallory's case, he had turned quiet. He was forming a plan.

A plan that didn't include Evelyn.

At school, he behaved completely in control and composed. Not for once he looked angry or agitated seeing her sister with Bryan. Even when Bryan and Mallory intentionally had a tongue wrestling in front of Evelyn's and Mason's locker, Mason shrugged and walked away.

Evelyn was the one who wanted to punch them.

Mason sat quietly in the cafeteria at their table. Right beside them, Bryan and Mallory did everything to piss him off. Mason on the other hand joked with Jack and of course stole Evelyn's lunch.

There was surely something going on Mason's brain and he wasn't sharing. How dare he.

"Did you figure something out?" Evelyn asked Mason as he drove towards her home.

"Huh?"

"Did you plan anything about Mallory?" Evelyn asked again hoping he would answer.

"Nah, I need time." Mason replied and opened the door for her.

Evelyn called him afterwards. He didn't pick up. When Evelyn texted, he said he was busy with homework.

Homework my foot. Evelyn huffed.

The next day Mason was absent from school. Nobody could tell where he was.

Evelyn had had enough. She enquired him later and he shrugged it off, saying he had to run some errands.

Evelyn was breathing fire by then.

"Where is he?!" Evelyn said marching down the stairs from his room. He wasn't at home.

Jasmine didn't reply. Instead she looked over the window, glanced at the house across the street.

"Thank you," Evelyn muttered and rolled up her sleeve.

She went there straightaway. Louise opened the door.

"Welcome to our house, Evelyn. I am so glad to see you," Louis hugged Evelyn.

Evelyn wasn't in the mood for pleasantries. "Where is that bastard?"

"What did he do this time?" Louise asked.

"He had been avoiding me and hiding away from me. Is he upstairs?"

Louise led the way to Jack's room.

The door opened to reveal Jack playing in his computer and screaming. Mason was scribbling something to a notebook.

"You!" Evelyn screamed.

Mason and Jack both looked at her way.

"Jack, Out!Now!" Evelyn said glaring at him. Jack paused his game and put his hands up in surrender. Mouthing a best of luck to Mason, he chickened away.

Evelyn cracked her knuckles.

"Should I be scared?" Mason asked, amused.

"No," Evelyn said with her voice low, "You should be very scared."

Evelyn charged at him. A few punches on his arm and chest and a wrestling match later, Evelyn huffed, "How dare you to avoid me? You.. you.."

"Son of a nice woman?" Mason chimed.

"Shut up!"

"Who said I'm avoiding you?"

"Don't give me that nonchalant face. Don't you dare."

Mason took the hint and sighed. Evelyn calmed down a notch.

"You are hiding something from me," Evelyn accused sadly.

Mason didn't object. He ran a hand through his hair.

"What you have been up to?" Evelyn asked.

Mason didn't reply.

"If you think by giving me silent treatment you can get away. Then think again." Evelyn threatened grabbing his collar.

"It's.." Mason wet his lips and gulped, "It's good for you to stay out of it."

"Wrong choice of words. Now you have to tell me everything."

Mason groaned in frustration. "There's reason why I'm keeping you out of it."

"Take your reasons and shove them up where the sun doesn't shine."

"I knew it," Mason said gruffly. "You would say something like that."

"Great. So I guess you are ready to tell me this."

After a moment of silence, Mason opened his mouth again.

"I am trying to figure out where's the supply of drugs come from. Bryan has to have connection with some kind of drug dealer. He doesn't get them out of thin air. So I dug around for information."

"And?"

"And I found nothing. Whatever Bryan's doing, he hides it well. I think he has connection with a gang of the town. I won't be surprised if he works for them."

"Now why didn't you tell me this clearly before? Why this drama?" Evelyn said.

"Drugs, gangs," Mason said, "Not something I'd talk about happily. It's dangerous. You should stay out of it."

"Oh," Evelyn said, "So when you do it, it's not dangerous?"

"I didn't mean it that way." Mason said.

"Good then. What are we gonna do next?" Evelyn asked him.

"We?" Mason asked. "There's no we."

Evelyn studied him for a moment. She stood up.

"If there's no we now," She said pining him down with her gaze. "There's no we ever. Mark my words, Mason."

Evelyn turned on her heels.

He will call me back in

Five

Four

Three

"Wait, Evelyn."

Evelyn stopped in her tracks but didn't turn around. The trick worked.

"I am going to Ethan's tomorrow. He had mad connections. I think he had tattooed many of them. So he might know things."

"When are we leaving?"

"After school."

"Fine then. See you tomorrow." With that, Evelyn walked out.

• • •