After a long day of pointless schoolwork and a tearful rant in the cafeteria bathroom, Evelyn was finally able to go home. As she had expected, she spotted troy's truck in its "usual" spot. Sighing, she remembered what her younger sister had told her numerous times. She wasn't going to keep being so paranoid.

"Hi Troy," she greeted quietly as she shut the car door.

"Hey," he replied very carefully. He took note of the sheepish look on her face and the way she avoided eye contact. "Long day?"

"You have no idea," Evelyn's eyes widened. There was no way the ignore the topic that'd been plaguing her mind all day.

Troy chuckled, grabbing her thigh just like he did not too long ago and started driving. Evelyn shut her eyes and let her head fall back against the head rest. Troy decided against saying anything, not yet at least. He instead stared at the road ahead of him, wondering what Evelyn had on her mind. She was acting different.

Troy listened as she let out a deep sigh from beside him. He decided to just take the easy approach and ask her what was on her mind. "What's going on with you, Ev?" he chuckled. "You're acting weird."

"I'm just tired," she muttered, eyes still shut.

"Ev, don't give me that," he pinched the skin on her leg. Evelyn's body jerked and she looked at him with an annoyed scowl. Her expression abruptly changed, though. It was like she'd remembered something, and was quick to correct herself. Troy tilted his head in curiosity. "What's going on?" he sneered.

"Nothing, Troy," she said while rubbing her face. "I just didn't get enough sleep, I swear."

"Stop it," he groaned, "you're lying."

"No I'm not. You woke me up at one in the morning. How am I not supposed to be tired?" the annoyed and snappy tone she would typically use while saying something like this to him wasn't there, and it was very apparent and out of the ordinary.

Troy rolled his eyes. "You slept like a baby. I would know, I had you in my arms all night," he bragged as if it was an accomplishment. Evelyn stared at him a blank, nearly emotionless expression.

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why was I in your arms last night?" she laughed a bit awkwardly.

"Why not?" Troy shrugged.

"Maybe because it's weird!" Evelyn replied with a know-it-all sounding tone.

"You're weird, Evelyn," he nudged her. "You make things that don't need to be a big deal, a big deal."

"Sorry, I guess," she shrugged. She picked at her fingernails to occupy herself.

"I think we should sleep like that more often," he looked over at Evelyn with an unreadable look in his eyes. "Your room is really cold, you know."

"It's almost like that's what my blanket is for."

"Don't get sassy," he playfully pointed his finger in her face, and Evelyn lightly smacked it away, "and that's not enough."

"Well then," she dragged out her words, "I don't know what else to tell you."

"How about 'You're right Troy! We should do that more often. You're my best friend and I love you so much!'" he reached back down to grip her thigh once again. Evelyn bit back a sigh.

She made a noise of uncertainty. "I'm not really sure about all that, Troy."

"Ugh!" he scoffed dramatically. "Why not?"

"We are not there yet!" Evelyn almost facepalmed, realizing what Troy could've thought she had implied. She quickly elaborated. "We aren't friends like that yet," this really didn't sound much better.

"What do you mean?" he looked over at her with confused, playfully frustrated eyes as he squeezed her leg. "We've been best friends for practically forever now!"

"Yeah, okay Troy," she nodded dismissively.

He sighed. "You know, I'm getting real sick of you and your attitude! I miss the nice Evelyn."

"What? This is the nice Evelyn!" she exclaimed. "I'm never not nice."

"Don't lie! You say the coldest things sometimes. It makes me wonder if this is just a one-sided friendship," he removed his hand from her thigh once again to cover his heart in pretend sadness. "I'm kidding," his hand returned to its previous spot. "I know you love me just as much as I love you."

Evelyn didn't know how to answer, so she just nodded and patted the hand that rested on her leg. She realized that this was probably the most civilized conversation they'd ever had. She felt queasy.

a/n
short chapter....
quick question everyone, do you
want more little filler chapters
like this that kind of go in depth
a little bit or are y'all just like
ugh get to the point already!!!
let me know thanks
wc: 800
03.02.22