If Evan had been a character in a book, things like this wouldn't happen.

When snags came up, there was always some way to fix it. All these complicated plans just seemed to work out for the main characters. If they messed up, it was never permanent. Just a trip, a fall, before getting back up and running again, not allow such minor details to slip you up.

If this was a novel, tiny plot holes like this could be overlooked, not even given a second glance. The readers wouldn't notice, so why would the storyteller bother fixing it? But this isn't a novel, Evan wasn't some main character, and he had fumbled over his words too much.

Evan looked like a deer caught in headlights, and I could already see him thinking of all the ways to tell her; to let her know the truth. Jordan looked confused, worry clouding her eyes as she slowly sat forward more, examining Evan. She probably knew him well, and if I could tell that he was off, then surely she could. She knew him.

But she didn't know me.

"Marlin's sick," I said quickly, moving forward on my feet. The moment I spoke, I regretted it. I should have stayed quiet, I shouldn't have gotten involved. But I'd seen what Marlin's death had done to Noah, and subsequently the disaster that had followed. I didn't know the relation to Marlin, but it was clear they were close.

Although knowing felt powerful, it was far more simple to live in a lie. To be ignorant. When you lived like that, you didn't need to question things, didn't need to stress. You could take everything at face value. Just like innocence, it was delicate, and once broken cannot be retained. It was a novel. Easier to spin a story rather than face the truth.

But one plot hole, even small, and it would unravel. The illusion would break.

"Evan didn't want to tell you because he felt bad... because he didn't want you to stress," I continued, creating the excuse with every word I spoke, "But he's recovering... so we took on the jobs, for now, to make sure it got done in time,"

My heart was racing. The more details I added on, the more guilty I felt for spinning the story of lies. Jordan's eyes scanned over me, running the story through her head, before she sat up, smiling. I felt a wave of relief. Even if it was only postponing the inevitable, for now, she would be able to live her life just a little bit better.

"I'm glad he's recovering!" Jordan said, before standing up and beginning to scavenge through the mountain of files. Even looked at me, and there was appreciation in his eyes. For continuing the story, continuing to lie. Jordan was muttering to herself as she pushed another heap of piles to the side before exclaiming, "Found them! Now what were you saying about Jack's boy?"

"Jack's son, Scott, he's another newbie, though he doesn't really get a mentor. He's pretty independent," Evan said, and I wasn't sure whether he meant that as an insult or a compliment. Hearing Scott's name made my heart beat faster, although I wasn't exactly sure why. Evan continued as Jordan handed him the files, "Seems to work better alone that kid,"

"He's always been like that," Jordan said, crossing her legs on her chair again. Had she known Scott? She continued, "Even when he was a small kid, when Marlin took me to Hardware engineering he'd just stare at me. He looked just like Jack, only smaller. I swear I thought that kid's eyes could read my thoughts. Sometimes I'd even think of swearwords to see if he repeated them, but he just stared at me,"

"But you'd never believe it," Evan said, glancing at me with a smile. He crossed his right leg over his left, leaning forward, "Rebecca here seems to warm him up. Those two are already close friends. It was just like when you and Noah came I swear, it's like watching history in front of my eyes,"

"Noah was so quiet when I first joined," Jordan said, and I wondered how many times she had told this story. She seemed to transition into the beginning of the story as if she'd began it this way a thousand times. Jordan continued, "Marlin was our mentor. I swear Noah saw him as his new father. I didn't really know him in school, I only saw him as the shy kid in a few of my classes. And then I just saw this whole new side of him. He really warmed up after that. I remember when I was assigned computer technology I was praying to whatever I could that I'd recognize someone. Who knew how loud the quiet kid would be?"

"I remember," Evan said, leaning back on his chair, "Quiet kid. Henry was still around back then too. They'd have years where no new people would be assigned to computer technology, then every ten years or so, two of them would show up. Always came in pairs. Other jobs usually get one every year or so, and even then it's staggered numbers. This had been the longest wait since you and Noah joined,"

"And a girl too!" Jordan beamed, using her hand to spin her chair around to face me. She was addressing me now, "The first year is always the worst. Your whole world gets flipped upside down and you just have to sit there and wonder why. You question the system, your friends, your match, yourself. You wonder if you'll even manage to make it to the next day. I used to go to sleep and have the worst nightmares... do you get nightmares Becca? Sorry- can I call you Becca?"

"Sure," I said, giving a small smile. It was a relief to hear these things. To hear that I wasn't losing my mind. I nodded, "Yeah I got a therapy appointment for my nightmares and hugging my Dad... he works here and I saw him,"

I didn't know why I was telling her these things, but talking to her just felt so easy.

"I feel you sister," she said, shaking her head. She wheeled her chair closer to me as Evan began to flip through the files, "I almost didn't make it. I felt like I had to confirm into this person, be this certain way. To fake it and hope that I wouldn't be caught. But that's just dumb. Life isn't worth living like that. You need to live your life how you want; follow your heart and let that guide you. Sometimes you'll do things where you wonder if it's worth it. But life was made for taking risks,"

She handed me a card, a number printed on it. I didn't know why, but hearing her words sent a rush of emotions for me. It was like she could read my thoughts, understand it, and empathize. That I wasn't actually alone in this dark world. Jordan stood up, throwing her arms around me, gently whispering, "I'm here if you ever need me,"

I took the card, and she winked at me, before sitting down on her seat and wheeling back. I went to place the card in my pocket, having to remember to text her later. But as I did so, I noticed there was a small bit of text that lined the top. It was so microscopic that you might miss it. I took a small glance at the lettering before I stashed it away.

White Fox

What White Fox meant was beyond me. Having an animal name printed on a card seemed odd, but it was deliberate. The ink was near white, but just visible enough to see. It was strange; perhaps it was the manufacturing company of the card? But then why brand it? I tried to shrug it off.

"I actually think they bring them in as pairs on purpose," Jordan said, her eyes focused on Evan. Evan closed the files he had been looking through and looked up. She continued, "Computer technology is just so overwhelming... it's easier to get through it with someone there. I don't think I would have made it this far without Noah. Assignment basically sends your world into chaos, it would make sense they always have pairs,"

"But why so spread apart? Why not every year?" Evan said, collecting all the files into a neat pile now. Jordan shrugged, gently spinning back and forth on her chair, "It's a really sketchy place too, falling apart. It's been a bit better ever since you had set up that garden,"

"Oh yes! My garden in the courtyard!" Jordan said, and I remembered the forget me not's. Although I could never enjoy the smell of the flowers again, it was hard to ignore the fact that it was definitely an improvement to the dimly lit interior. She continued, "Marlin and Noah have been keeping care of it since I've gone? Those flowers will die if they're not watered,"

"Don't worry, we've been taking care of it," Evan said, standing to his feet. He looked to me, and I found myself standing as well. Was it time to leave already? Jordan almost fell from her chair as she stumbled to her feet. Evan continued, "Sorry Jordy, we should probably get going. I'll give Marlin and Noah your best wishes,"

"You should tell them to come around sometime!" she exclaimed, bouncing on her heels, "I haven't seen Marlin in ages too. I might take a quick visit to the hospital to give him a visit,"

"They aren't letting visitors in," Evan said blankly, his smile dropping. There was a moment of awkward silence as Jordan's happy attitude faded slightly. With a cough, he continued, "It was great seeing you again. I'll bring the boy next time,"

Jordan threw her arms around Evan, squeezing him tightly. She definitely seemed to have a love for hugs. Evan looked as if he was trying to pry her away, but it didn't seem to achieve much. When she pulled away, I didn't have time to react as she threw her arms around me as well, pulling me tighter.

"It was so nice meeting you Becca!" she exclaimed as she moved back, extending her hand for me to shake it again. It was now, however, that I noticed a silver ring around her finger. It was an odd shape, slightly organic. And as I shook her hand again, I realized what it was.

Wrapped around her ring, was a silver fox.