Evelyn Vine Be Mine (14 page)

“Shh,” Donny said, putting an arm around me and leading us away from the river bed, “Don’t you worry your pretty head, sugar. Let’s go find the others.”

***

We found the others pretty easily. They were sitting on the cars, waiting for us to join them. Chloe had joined the group, also wearing a fan T-shirt of her own making.

“Oh hi Evie,” she greeted me with false sweetness, “I thought you would have left with your date.”

“No,” I muttered awkwardly, looking down at the ground, “I’m riding with Mason and Candy.”

“Oh honey,” Chloe cooed with insincere sympathy, “Did he ditch you? What an asshole!”

Stone pushed her away when she tried to wrap a leg over his.

“He wasn’t her date,” Briar snapped, “We just ran into him and then he had to go to work.”

Chloe glared at Briar and opened her mouth to say something nasty back.

“Don’t,” Stone growled softly from beside her. Chloe’s eyes widened, as if only just realising she was about to have a fight with Stone’s best friend. She shut her mouth and sat quietly.

“Let’s go,” Briar said, grabbing my hand and moving toward Mason’s car. As usual, my phone chose the very worst moment to ring. It beeped first with a message from Cooper, warning me that Harvey was mad. Then my phone rang and I knew I had to answer it. If I delayed it, Harvey’s anger would be allowed to stew and the explosion would be worse.

“Sorry,” I mumbled to Briar, “I have to take this. It’s important.”

“I’m sorry Harvey,” I whispered frantically into the phone as I started to walk away from the group. I must have hit ‘talk’ twice though, because his angry voice came through loud and clear on speaker phone.

“Fucking hell Evelyn!” he shouted at me, “What the fuck did you think you were doing?”

I started in surprise and dropped the phone. I hurried to pick it up and turn off loud speaker. Tears of distress started to flow down my cheeks as I listened to him rant.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered again, my voice cracking and wobbling as my lower lip trembled uncontrollably. I hated it when my siblings were mad at me.

“Whatever Eve,” he growled, “Just keep your mouth shut in future.”

“And you better call Mum and distract her! You owe me!” he shouted, before hanging up on me.

I knew that he was just grumpy from having to sit on his ass all week and take pain medication, whilst being bombarded with annoying phone calls from Mum, but it still upset me. I was sobbing into my hands when Briar wrapped me in a hug. Candy and the rest of the group were right behind her.

“Who the fuck is this Harvey guy?” Fredi demanded angrily. Stone’s eyes narrowed on me and Alec and Jamie cracked their knuckles as if spoiling for a fight.

I didn’t answer her. I just passed the phone to Candy. Her face softened and she started flicking through my phone book.

“Cooper?” she asked me.

I nodded.

“Hey Coop,” she said a few moments later, “It’s Candy.”

“Yes,” she said stiffly, “Harvey did just call.”

“Who’s Harvey?!” Alec demanded. Briar shushed him and Candy handed me the phone.

“Hey Coop,” I whispered on a sob.

“Evie,” he said in a low voice, “What did he say to you? I’ll go around and break his good leg if you want.”

I shook my head, even though I know he couldn’t see. “Don’t,” I mumbled, “I deserved it.”

“No you didn’t Evie. Don’t worry about it. Charlie has been here all week and he’s been just as snarky to her. She took time off and flew down here to look after him. He’s been acting like a child.”

“It’s fine Coop,” I said.

“Are you alright now?” he asked stiffly and I knew he was still going to rip into Harv when he hung up.

“Yes,” I answered honestly, “I just needed to hear your voice…Don’t tell Zane.”

Cooper snorted. “Are you kidding?” he said with a low laugh, “If Zane knew Harv had made his baby sister cry, he’d get on the next plane home and shoot him again.”

I sighed with relief. “Thanks,” I whispered.

“Bye, Evie,” Cooper said quickly.

“Bye,” I mumbled, “Go easy on Harv.”

“No promises,” Cooper said, before hanging up.

“Let’s go,” I said to Briar immediately, ignoring the stares from everyone else.

“Okay,” she agreed, ushering me towards the car.

“Wait on!” Alec protested.

“Who’s Harvey?” Fredi demanded again.

“None of your business,” Briar snapped at them, “Leave it be.”

“Let’s go,” Stone growled, storming towards his car.

“I call shot gun!” Chloe giggled moving toward the passenger side.

“No room,” Stone told her shortly, thrusting a twenty dollar note in her hand, “Get a cab.”

Chloe’s jaw practically hit the dirt and Briar fell into a fit of laughter as we climbed into Mason’s car with Candy. I couldn’t hold back the tiny vindictive giggle that slipped past my lips. I really didn’t like her. I cast a worried look at Stone’s angry face and wondered whether he’d still come to my room that night.

He did…and again the night after.

nine

Harvey sent me a text two days later, apologising for the way he had yelled at me. I was almost tempted to give him the silent treatment, but sent him back a message to let him know he was forgiven. I couldn’t stay mad at any of my brothers.

I’d told Briar about Harvey on the drive home and then, after she’d demanded just how many siblings I had, I had to spend the next thirty minutes giving her an in-depth description of my family. What my siblings looked like, where they lived, how old they were, were they single…etc. I also admitted that I’d told Donny about them as well. She’d immediately left to go hunt him down.

I sat down to dinner on Monday night, crossing my fingers beneath the table and hoping that none of my family would call. I wanted to fade into the background tonight. I didn’t need anyone bringing any attention to me. I ate my dinner quietly, content to just listen to the conversations going on around me. Our table number was smaller tonight. Only the band, Briar and I were sitting at it. Usually, a number of other people joined us, but tonight they’d stayed away. It was nice, especially since I didn’t have to endure Chloe’s glares. Chloe often sat with us, much to Briar’s visible disgust. I usually just ignored her.

Alec, Jamie and Fredi seemed to be having an argument of some sort, but I wasn’t really listening. I played with my food and became lost in thought, concentrating on one of my photography assignments.

“What do you think Evie?” Alec asked me.

“Huh?” I asked, shaking my head to clear my thoughts.

“Which version of ‘Brick in the Wall’ do you like better?” Fredi demanded, “One, two or three?”

“Oh!” I said, furrowing my brow, “I’m not sure.”

“Two is the best,” Jamie insisted.

“No, three is!” Fredi shot back.

“I say the first one is,” Alec contributed, “The first version is always the best.”

“No, the last is,” Fredi said firmly, “It just keeps getting better.”

“Stone, man, back me up,” Jamie said with a grin.

Stone shook his head and held up one finger.

Alec laughed, “That’s two votes for one!”

“Briar,” Fredi snapped, “Which one is better?”

“Oh…who sings it?” Briar asked with a small frown.

“Pink Floyd,” Fredi supplied, “The third one is the best.”

“Hey!” Alec growled, “Don’t put words in her mouth. Briar’s vote can’t count because she doesn’t know what we are talking about.”

Briar smiled mysteriously and went back to her food. I’m pretty sure she knew exactly who Pink Floyd were. Stone’s quiet snort from across the table confirmed it. Mason and Candy chose that moment to join our table, sitting down next to Jamie.

“Mase, you’re a DJ. Which version of ‘Brick in the wall’ is better: one, two or three?” Jamie asked.

“Two,” he answered immediately.

“Yes!” Jamie shouted holding up a hand for Mason to high five, “That’s two for me and two for Alec.”

“Candy?” Fredi prompted.

“Three,” Candy replied after a slight pause to think, “Definitely three.”

Jamie growled. “Chicks,” he said roughly, shaking his head, “Now we’re back at the start, tied on two apiece.”

“Evie,” Alec said firmly, “You have the deciding vote.”

Everyone looked at me. I didn’t know what to say.

“It’s alright Evie,” Candy said with a smile, “Just be honest. The losers will get over it.”

“Well…” I started hesitantly, my voice barely above a whisper, “To be honest, I prefer Korn’s version of the song.”

Mouths dropped around the table.

“Blasphemy!” Fredi cried out.

“What the hell?!” Jamie exploded.

“Wrong, Evie. That’s wrong!” Alec muttered.

Candy, Briar and Mason all laughed and I cautiously looked over at Stone. His bottom lip was twitching and his silver eyes were sparkling. It was clear that he was amused…I just wasn’t sure whether he was laughing with me…or at me.

“Sorry guys,” I whispered.

“Don’t worry about it Evie,” Briar said with a grin, “C’mon, I’m going to have an early night. Walk upstairs with me.”

“Sure,” I mumbled, “Night everyone.”

“Night,” Fredi and Alec grumbled.

“Night,” Candy said cheerfully, glancing between Stone and I indiscreetly.

Stone didn’t say anything, but rose from the table too. He clapped Jamie and Alec hard on the back in farewell and I suddenly realised Donny was missing.

“Where’s Donny?” I asked with a frown.

Briar scowled and Fredi laughed airily. “Off screwing some first year dance major,” Fredi told me.

“Man, she is so hot,” Jamie said wistfully.

“I’ve been with hotter,” Fredi said with a laugh.

“I’d like to see that,” Jamie whistled.

“You wish,” Fredi snorted.

Alec remained silent, his eyes constantly checking Briar’s unhappy face.

Briar put on a bright, fake smile and dragged me towards the stairs.

“You know,” she said thoughtfully, “You’re starting to fill out those clothes a little better. You should let me take you shopping this weekend and buy you some nice, new things.”

I shook my head briskly. I hated shopping. All those people. All that trying on of clothes too baggy for me. All that standing in line. No thanks.

“No arguments,” she insisted, and with one look at her still unhappy face, I caved.

Stupid Donny! It’s all your fault!

I sighed and wearily reached for my doorknob.

“I can’t wait!” Briar said excitedly, giving me a kiss on the cheek and racing down the hall to her own room. I pushed my door open, quickly used the shower, then turned the light off and crawled into bed. I pushed play on my CD player and snuggled under the covers as Metallica began to play the slow beginning of one of their S & M songs. I closed my eyes, relaxing as I waited for Stone to join me. I must have fallen asleep, because I started awake when two strong arms lifted me off the bed to shift me over.

“Shh,” a deep, scary voice said, “It’s me.”

I relaxed a fraction as I realised it was just Stone trying to make room on the bed. He slid in behind me, his front only a breath away from my back as we lay on our sides. In fact, I could feel his hot breath tickling the back of my neck. He placed one hand firmly on my hip, before slowly sliding it around to my stomach and curling his knees up behind mine. Little tingles of pleasure shimmied down my stomach and prickled over my arms. I waited nervously for him to move his hand either upward or down, but he didn’t. He simply spooned me. I breathed a sigh of relief and slowly let my body relax.