✧

"I'm surprised you're not at the football game. It's Friday night."

Evelyn lifted her head from her computer as she heard the voice of her father's and watched as he peeked his head into her room. She gave him a shrug while she tended back to her homework not in the mood to explain why she didn't go.

Her father entered her room and sat on her bed as he awaited an answer. "Evelyn, I'm waiting for an answer."

"Why aren't you at the game?" she asked, closing the lid of her computer. "Shouldn't you be there supporting Ricky?"

Enrique had surprisingly gotten the okay from Coach Montes. She was finally letting up and allowing him to play in the game that was occurring that night. But, only because their backup runningback was injured so she didn't have much of a choice.

"Your mom and Ale are there," he answered. "I'm on Evelyn watch."

Her eyebrow lifted up at his response. "Evelyn watch?"

"I need to make sure you don't throw yourself off of your balcony," he chuckled, pointing at her balcony doors. "You've been moping around and you're making everyone else around you depressed. I got an email from your coach telling me how miserable you've been looking at practice."

"If I told you I was fine. Would you believe that?" she asked.

He shook his head. "Nope."

Evelyn closed her eyes debating on whether to tell her father the truth or not. Compared to her last relationship, Asher and her dad had a pretty good bond with one another, and if she was just overreacting she didn't want things to change between them. Her father's approval of her boyfriend meant everything to her.

"It's about, Asher," she confessed.

"I figured," Joaquin said. "Continue."

"Um, there's this new girl at school. She's actually Coach Montes' daughter but, Asher met her before she came to Beverly," she sighed, fiddling with her comforter. "He said they met on some beach in Mexico and apparently, they became like besties or something stupid like that."

"You sure do know how to pick 'em. Huh, Evie?" he joked.

"Dad, this isn't funny," she grumbled.

"It was a joke," he chuckled, raising his hands defensively. "Look, I don't usually like to give my opinion on your love life because I'd rather not fight with you. But, I hated Jordan as your boyfriend—"

"What?" she cut him off. "Dad! I dated Jordan for a year and you wait until now to tell me you hated him."

"You didn't let me finish," Joaquin held his hand up to her face. "I didn't like him as your boyfriend, I thought he was a bad guy, and clearly, I was right. You were always unhappy in that relationship. Arguing, making up, arguing, it was just an endless cycle. You know, Asher came to me and your brother before you guys started dating and asked if we were okay with him asking you out. I see you and Asher together and he makes you happier than I've seen you in years."

She rolled her eyes. "I'm not seeing the point. Why are you telling me this?"

"What I'm trying to tell you, is that Asher is a good guy. If he's telling you that all he did was be friends with that girl then you should believe him," Joaquin said. "But, if that's not the case, then dump him and if you're working your way through Ricky's friends, I've always liked JJ."

"I feel like you just indirectly called me a homie hopper," she furrowed her eyebrows, picking one of her pillows up and aiming it at her dad.

"Because you are," Enrique shrugged as he walked through his sister's room and overheard their conversation. "Hah! Nice to see you didn't throw yourself off of the balcony."

"Did everyone think I was mentally unstable?" she questioned.

"Yes," he responded as if it was one of the most obvious answers in the world.

"This family is dramatic as hell," she groaned.

"How was the game?" Joaquin asked.

"Great. It felt so good to be back on the field," Enrique grinned. "We won, JJ had to step in as QB1, and Jordan is on concussion watch."

"Is he okay?" Evelyn asked.

"JJ was great," Enrique stupidly answered. "Wasn't bad for his first game as QB1."

"Jordan!" she emphasized. "I don't care about JJ and how he played as quarterback. You just told us that Jordan's on concussion watch. How did that happen?"

"Oh," he realized. "He got tackled pretty hard during one of the plays. But, he'll be fine."

"Wow, the concern you show for your friend is outstanding," Evelyn scoffed. "Can you two leave? I have to get some rest before my game tomorrow."

"Take my advice," Joaquin pointed his finger at her before exiting her room.

Enrique gave his sister a grin. "Me and JJ will be front row waving our pom-poms."

☆☆☆

"Is Asher coming? He hasn't been around and I want to sit with him when we watch you play."

Evelyn held her younger brother's hand in a tight grip as they walked down the school hallways. His older sister let out a sigh, not realizing the effect her boyfriend had on her family, and if she was being honest she missed him too. But, she couldn't shake the thought of him and Vanessa frolicking on a beach in Mexico and although he swore it was innocent, she simply needed more time to process things.

"I don't know, Ale," she sighed, stopping in front of the girl's locker room while Enrique stood quietly beside the two. "But, JJ will be there. You like him."

"He smells weird," the four-year-old scrunched his face up in protest. "I miss Asher. He said he was gonna play that new game I got for my switch."

"Evelyn has to get ready for her game," Enrique spoke up, sparing his sister a pitiful look. "Come on, Ale, let's find some hot girls."

"Stop corrupting him!" Evelyn grumbled.

After, Evelyn had basically kicked her dad and brother out of her room last night. She ended up walking into Enrique's room and spilling the truth about Asher. He was obviously not too fond of Asher after hearing what happened. Plus, he didn't like seeing his sister cry.

Alejandro let go of his sister's hand reaching up on his tiptoes and puckering his lips to give her a kiss on the cheek. "Okay, good luck, hermana."

"Thanks," she hummed, giving her brothers a hug and entering the locker room.

Once it was game time, Evelyn turned her head up towards the stands. It was almost like Deja Vu, her hoping her boyfriend would show up to her volleyball game but, just like before he was not. But, she gave a wave to the people who showed. Layla was sitting with Spencer, who she hadn't talked to since he had transferred which she thought was pretty sad, Spencer was definitely one of her closest friends last year and things drastically changed once he left. Her parents were sitting with her grandma and her younger brother. And as promised, JJ and Enrique were in the front row, waving around pom-poms for support. Even Simone, Liv, and Jordan had shown.

"Evelyn!" Coach Jackson waved the girl over after the game was finished.

Beverly High's volleyball team had gotten yet another win, strengthening the team's reputation as an undefeated team once again. This was their fourth game and so far they were 4-0, which was a great way to start their season.

"Yes, Coach?" Evelyn turned her head, furrowing her eyebrows at the woman beside her coach.

"This is a recruiter. Emily Walker," her coach introduced the two. "From Coastal California...I'll let you two talk, yeah?"

"Oh, my God," Evelyn gasped, holding her hand out. "It's so nice to meet you."

"And it's nice to meet Beverly's star volleyball player," the recruiter chuckled as she reciprocated the gesture. "We've had our eye on you since your freshman year. If you keep playing like that, you can expect an offer from us very soon. Here's my card."

She took the card from her hand as the recruiter walked off. "Thank you."

As soon as the recruiter walked off, Evelyn ran into the locker room with a grin that was pretty hard to wipe off. She grabbed her duffle bag out of her locker and headed straight for the exit running right into her boyfriend.

Asher held out a bouquet of flowers. "Hey."

She plucked the flowers from his hand and threw him a wary expression. "I didn't see you out there."

"I didn't think you wanted to see me," Asher sighed. "I was there. Right by the bleachers...I just didn't want you to see me. Couldn't risk you getting distracted or messing up because of me."

"Oh, that was probably smart," she mumbled. "Thanks for the flowers."

"Well, you deserve them," he smiled. "You were amazing as always. Plus, it's the least I could do."

"You got that right," she scoffed. "Sorry. That was uncalled for."

Asher let out a laugh, glad that his girlfriend was still able to joke around with him. He missed her more than anything but, he also respected her and if she wanted space he'd give her all the space in the world even if it meant him being unhappy.

"Don't apologize," he shrugged. "I'm sure there are worse things in the world you could've said to me."

"Look, I should probably go be with my family," she sighed, slowly making her way past him.

Asher tugged lightly on her hand as the girl attempted to pass by him. "Evie, I'm really sorry that I didn't tell you."

"I know you are," Evelyn shrugged, removing her hand from his grasp. "I'll see you later, Ash."

3x05