So baby pull me closer in the backseat of your Rover
That I know you can't afford
Bite that tattoo on your shoulder
Pull the sheets right off the corner
Of the mattress that you stole
From your roommate back in Boulder
We ain't ever getting older

-Closer, The Chainsmokers, Halsey

40| Evelyn

Evelyn had fallen asleep again in the car. She remembered having Raine on her left and James on her right. She remembered being in motion with the car moving. Now somehow it had stopped. Evelyn yawned and opened her eyes. All she could see was dark. She looked around and found herself in the shotgun, her seat belt buckled up.

Evelyn yawned loudly stretching her arms and unbuckled her seatbelt. She was supposed to be in the backseat. Then she remembered someone moving her while she had groaned and went back to sleep. It must be Mason. He was not in the car.

Evelyn opened the car door and stepped outside. She blinked a few times to adjust her eyes. She looked around and recognized the place. She was up in the hill where she and Mason used to go all the time. She spotted Mason sitting by with his hands on knees, his jacket lay on the grass.

As Evelyn stepped closer, she could see the view. From up there, the houses had vanished in the dark but the lights of the town were twinkling like stars.

"It's beautiful," Evelyn said sitting beside him.

"I thought you won't wake up. I was considering splashing water in your face," Mason commented looking at the view. He looked peaceful. All the city lights illuminated his face. Evelyn's breath turned unsteady looking at him.

"I thought you were taking me home," Evelyn said.

"Oh yes, your dad had threatened me if I don't return you home before 12, I will be five feet under the ground," Mason said smiling.

"What can I say," Evelyn shrugged.

"You are your dad's little Cinderella," Mason said.

"And what are you? That mice who were in the carriage or Cinderella's chaffeur?"

"Mean," Mason nudged her shoulder with his. Evelyn laughed.

Mason was looking at her face still with that smile. Evelyn swallowed. He started leaning towards her a little. Evelyn did the same.

It's happening. It's happening.
Evelyn's inner voice squealed.

There were merely any distance left between when Mason stood up abruptly. "I have forgotten something in the car," He said.

Evelyn sat straight in a fraction of second, "Oh."

Mason had walked towards the car. Evelyn closed her fist. Inside her mind the cussing started.

Jerk, asshole, asswipe, son of a nice woman. Argh! I would kill him!

Evelyn looked behind. It was hard to see what he was doing in the car. She turned straight and frowned. She started brainstorming how she would torture him to death.

101 Ways to kill a jerk. Evelyn thought. That would be the name of my self written guide for people.

She sighed. Mason seemed to have totally vanish in his car. It had been at least 10 minutes. She yawned and waited.

First, I'd hit him with the biggest stone I can find. Then I'd deep fry him like a french fry in hot oil. Then I'd parboil him. Then I'd whip his brain with a big whisk. Maybe I could use a food producer. Then I'll microwave him. I'll shoot him with a laser tag. I'd flat him down with a big rolling ball. Then I'd ..

"Evelyn, Evelyn, do you hear me?" Evelyn snapped his way.

"What?" She asked.

Mason smiled. "Happy birthday."

"What?!" Evelyn blinked. She noticed the cake in his hands with candles lit in it. It was a chocolate cake, Mady's chocolate cake.

"You!" Evelyn hit him in the nose. She would've tackled him to the ground if he wasn't the one holding the cake.

Mason laughed. "You wanna blow the candles or the wind will do it for you."

Evelyn was shocked beyond. How did he even know? Evelyn never told him.

"Blow the candles. Or I'll do it," Mason said.

Evelyn blew the candles. She didn't forget to make a wish. Mason had a torch beside him which he turned on and cut the cake.

"How did you even-" Before she could finish a piece of cake was stuffed inside her mouth. Mason poked on the tip her nose with the cream.

"I vabe vou," Evelyn said with a mouthful and after finishing her piece she cut the biggest piece. She was ready to dump it on his face but he wouldn't let her.

"This is unfair!" Evelyn complained as he managed to take it all inside his mouth in one bite. Then he smiled with a mouthful.

Evelyn was quick to poke some cream in his dimples. She felt like she had won a war.

"Yassss!" She threw her arms up in air.

"You're so gonna regret this," Is all Mason said. Evelyn was grabbed by the face and Mason wiped his cheeks on hers.

"You're manhandling me!" Evelyn replied. The rest of the cake was finished the same way. The cake went into their mouth but the cream ended up in their faces.

In the end, Evelyn was laughing so hard that her stomach hurt. Mason looked like a clown with cream all over his face. "You should look at your face," Evelyn said laughing.

"So should you," Mason said.

"You ruined my makeup," Evelyn complained.

"Do you want me to lick it off?" Mason asked with a glint in his eyes. "That's a big waste of cream. I should totally do it."

He started coming down at Evelyn. Evelyn backed down laughing, "No, yikes!" She cried.

Mason was laughing. He checked his watch.

"It's almost 1. Your dad's gonna kill me." Mason said. He helped Evelyn up in her feet.

They reached home soon enough. Mason opened the door for her.

"You still didn't tell me how do you know today's my birthday," Evelyn said getting out of the car.

"I have some amazing skills," Mason winked.

Evelyn gave him a look." Actually, it was on your Facebook."

"I have a Facebook?" Evelyn said in surprise. Mason rolled his eyes.

"Oh yeah, I opened one while I was a freshman. Never used it that much."

"Thought so. The last post was from two years ago," Mason commented.

"Stalker," Evelyn hit him on his shoulder. He smiled.

"Did you have fun tonight?" Mason asked.

"Yes! Of course. I had so much fun. Thank you so much for taking me there," Evelyn said. He smiled. "And no thanks for making me wait for the cake."

"The clock had to strike 12," Mason replied. He closed his arms around her waist.

"Thank you too," Mason said and leaned down. Evelyn closed her eyes. This time she wouldn't do anything.

"Kids!" Mason jumped back hearing Dad's voice. Evelyn had never groaned so loud seeing her dad.

"What happened to your faces?" Her father was coming down the curb.

"Great timing, Dad," Evelyn said. Beside her, Mason pressed his lips together hiding back a smile. Evelyn elbowed him in the stomach.

"Huh? What time is it? Do you guys have any idea? And what is wrong with your faces," Dad asked scrutinizing at their faces.

"Buttercream," Mason said." It's 10 minute past One."

Evelyn blew air through her nose and walked inside her house leaving her father and Mason behind. All men are jerks, Evelyn concluded.

• • •

It had taken her two washes, scrubs and many water splashes to get all of those creams off her face along with her makeup. She was secretly hoping Mason would come through the window to end what he started but he didn't. Evelyn was extremely disappointed.

She groaned and closed her math books. It was her birthday and the school was closed. None of her friend knew about the birthday. The only person knew was Mason and Evelyn hadn't seen him all day.

Evelyn looked at her phone. She double checked her inbox, hoping to see Cecily and Gus's message. They always called at least texted Evelyn on her birthday. How could they forget it?

Dad was acting like always. Maybe he had forgotten. Evelyn might tell him later. He would probably be sad about it. But Evelyn hadn't gotten anything from her mom.

Her mood seemed to go down. So she tried for Mason. He didn't pick up his phone.

"What's wrong with him now? He had given me a big surprise. Now he's avoiding me," Evelyn frowned at her phone. Evelyn actually thought of it as suspicious. She was starting to link up her thoughts when her phone rang.

It was Rita Jenkins, Evelyn's sworn best friend.

"Evelyn, help!" Rita said from the other side.

"What happened?!" Evelyn said being alarmed.

"I have an emergency. Can you come to the mall real quick?" Rita asked.

"Why, what, what happened?" Evelyn said leaving her study table.

"I ran out of money. Do you have anything on you? And also," Rita paused.

"Yah, I am coming and what?"

"I think I just saw my crush," Rita whispered.

Evelyn almost dropped her phone. "You what? You have a crush?"

"Seriously? Are you gonna come help me or not?" She asked in a voice with emergency.

"I am on my way! I am gonna save your day," Evelyn replied, she collected her purse, put on her shoes, waving at dad, she got out.

It was time to see Rita Jenkins' lover boy.

• • •

"That's him?" Evelyn said from behind the mannequin. Both of them were hiding behind the mannequins. Rita was squealing as low as possible.

"Hide properly, will you? He will see you." Rita whispered while crouching behind.

"Ugh," Evelyn crouched a little more.

Evelyn could hardly push down her excitement about this. Rita Jenkins had never confessed she had had a real life crush. All her crushes were fictional characters, from Tobias to Percy. Rita always used to say, her standard was so high that none of the real life guys could ever meet it. Besides the guys in school was assholes.

The guy that Rita had pointed out had cute curly hair, freckles dotted on his face. He was wearing a loose hoodie, a pair of broken jeans. He was groaning at his friends, they were busy shopping.

"He is not from our school," Evelyn stated.

"Of course not," Rita commented.

"Actually he's kinda cute," Evelyn said smiling.

"I know." Rita said blushing.

"Aww," Evelyn replied. Rita slapped on her back.

"How long are we gonna hide here?" Evelyn asked.

"I don't know." Rita said.

A plan was forming inside Evelyn's head. Although she was not sure Rita's gonna love it. She would hate it. But Evelyn would do it anyways. That would be Rita's punishment for making Evelyn walk around the mall for two hours. When Evelyn arrived, she got to know Rita needed change. Then they started going around the shops. Rita checked a lot of items taking her time. She had only bought of a pair of leggings in these two hours.

"He's coming this way," Evelyn said.

"Then we need to move," Rita whispered.

"Aha, absolutely," Evelyn said and closed her hands around Rita's shoulder from the back.

"What are you doing?"Rita said being confused.

"Helping you out."

The guy was in front of the mannequin now. Rita was trying to wrestle out of Evelyn's grip. Rita was pushed at the side of mannequin exposed, the guy noticed her and arched his eyebrow. Rita went still. Evelyn took the queue to push her forward.

Completely unaware of the situation, Rita stumbled forward. The guy's eyes went wide. They went to the floor with a thud, the guy on the floor, Rita on top of him.

"Yasss!" Evelyn hissed from behind the mannequin, she threw a fist bump in the air. Mission complete.

Both the guy and Rita was absolutely frozen on the floor. Rita had hoisted herself up resting on her elbow. The guy was staring at her unblinking, his hands fastened around Rita's hips.

"I am so going to take a picture!" Evelyn cried taking out her phone, "Best birthday gift ever!"

After a few paparazzi shots, Rita seemed to have broke off from her daze, she stood up suddenly and muttered sorry. She offered the guy her hand, which he took still looking dazed.

"I uhm, I am sorry. It's just my friend," She pointed at the mannequin, behind it Evelyn was hiding.

"Huh?" The guy asked.

"I mean, she is hiding behind the mannequin. The mannequin's not my friend, of course," Rita stuttered. She laughed nervously. The guys laughed as well.

"Yeah, Right," He said awkwardly. Evelyn noticed he still hadn't go off Rita's hand.

"What were you doing behind it with your friend?" He asked stepping forward.

"I uh we were fighting," Rita replied.

"You fight behind a mannequin?" He asked being confused. Evelyn was trying so hard not to laugh.

"No, of course not," Rita said with a nervous chuckle. "We just ugh this is confusing."

"Yeah, it is." The guy replied. He hadn't still let go of Rita.

"I I gotta go," Rita said.

"Right, yeah, sure." The guy said all at once.

"You hadn't let go of my hand," Rita said swallowing.

"Oh, right." The guy let go immediately. Rita turned around. She peeked at the side.

"Hey, wait," The guy said. Evelyn winked at Rita from behind the mannequin. She was blushing furiously.

Rita turned abruptly. "Damn, you're beautiful."

Evelyn had to cover her mouth to drown the sound of her squeal. If Rita was blushing before, she was absolutely flushing red now. She gaped at him. The guy cleared his throat.

"I mean, ugh," The guy ran a hand through his hair, "I am so bad at this." He murmured. Although they could hear it.

"Umm umm can I get your number?" He said finally. Rita was biting her lips the whole time.

"Oh okay," She replied. The guy fished out his phone in a fraction of second and gave it to Rita. He seemed to forget to unlock his phone. So he took it back and then again returned it to her. She typed it away.

"Rita," The guy said looking at his phone.

"Yeah, and you?" Rita asked.

Wait, wait, wait. Wasn't this guy Rita's crush? She didn't even know his name.

"I am Gabriel."He said.

"Okay, Gabriel. I guess I will see you around," Rita said and stepped back.

"Yeah, you will." Gabriel replied. "I will make sure of it."

Rita turned and let out a breathe. She marched behind the mannequin and dragged Evelyn out. Gabriel noticed Evelyn and smiled. Evelyn waved at him. He already probably thought Evelyn was a lunatic.

"Please do make sure to see her everyday!" Evelyn said over her shoulder. Gabriel nodded laughing.

Rita dragged Evelyn all the way out of the shop. Then she stopped at the pavement and fumed. Pointing her index at Evelyn, she yelled, "You!"

"Yes, I know. Me! I am awesome." Evelyn batted her eyelashes.

"I can't believe this, I can't believe this." Rita paced around the pavement. "I just gave a guy my number. A guy I don't even know."

"Huh?" Evelyn said. "What do you mean you don't even know him?"

"I have never even seen him before." Rita said absentmindedly.

"But you said, he's your crush." Evelyn asked with eye brows wiggled.

"Yes, because I needed to distract you," Rita said. She looked at the watch. Then she got her phone out and typed something.

"Distract me? From what?" Rita didn't seem to listen.

"Ugh, it's time." She said and looked up at Evelyn from her phone. "Let's go and you will see."

Rita steered a clueless Evelyn forward while murmuring under her breathe, "The things I have to do for you."

• • •