Evangeline frowned at the text she received from her mother, appalled at the audacity.

"meet me at the schools' parking lot. i need your help to carry a few things for the volunteer work at school. i'm waiting."

Hannah didn't even ask her how she was doing, whether she slept alright over at Trudy's house, or anything. Eva could bet with her red hair that Hannah wouldn't have texted her if she didn't need her. For a second, Eva contemplated pretending she hadn't seen the message and letting her mother on her own - it was only fair after all - but Evangeline could never do such a thing.

Trudy walked out of the bathroom then, water dripping from her yellow face as if her luxurious bathroom didn't have cotton towels that were imported from god knew where, her wet hands rubbed at her loose t-shirt to dry them, leaving a wet stamp on the thin material.

Evangeline could never picture herself living the superficial lifestyle - making deposits longer than phone numbers, having the things she wanted whenever she felt like it, and not having to worry about a budget when she went shopping. Despite Eva's persona of not caring about the superficiality of it all, there was a small, tiny part of her that wished to live that luxury for just a day.

Surely, it was a heaven on earth, yet it wasn't prefect like the one in the sky but cursed. Like the glory it came with, it also came with a dark side - backstabbing acquaintances, gold-digging friends, and the pressure of being under the spotlight all the time.

Trudy sat next to Eva and, like the great psychologist she was, Trudy was able to detect Eva's off vibes. "What?" Trudy hoarsed, her voice strained and flat, "What happened to you? Did you miss me that much?"

Eva didn't know whether her friend was sarcastic or not since Trudy was in her guarded mode. "I got a weird text from mom." Eva outstretched her hand with her phone. "Look."

Trudy's bored eyes barely glanced at the lit screen. "Yeah, so? What does it have to do with me?"

Eva collected her hand back to herself, feeling rejected since her friend was being rude to her again. Just five minutes ago, Trudy was trying to be a better friend, but after she went to the bathroom and came out, something changed. It was as if a devil appeared in the bathroom with her and sucked all the energy and effort out of her.

Eva cleared her throat, standing up and going for her previous clothes in Trudy's walk-in closet to change. "She said that she needed me to come help her with some volunteer work at school."

Trudy glared through the window at the exotic garden, pressing her plump lips in a hard line. "Well, it looks like you already decided to leave me, so please do, you'd be doing me a favor."

Trudy was pushing Eva again, acting as if she wasn't the one who begged Eva to sleep over the night. Diciding that staying would be more harmful than useful, Evangeline silently agreed to the mutual-space agreement and left. What pained Eva more than saying goodbye to her best friend was her best friend not saying it back.

Since Trudy was being salty, Eva chose to walk than to ask a lift from Trudy. In her way, Eva passed by her house and her familiar neighborhood. It was around 10 am and a holiday, yet none of her neighbors were out for a walk - all except for Wendy.

Wendy was one of Eva's friends and next-door neighbors yet they didn't meet as often recently, and Wendy being homeschooled didn't help. Wendy and Eva used to have morning runs together, even all-day-long exercises and workout in the summer. Considering all the drama in Eva's life that seemed to intensify the past while, Eva didn't have the chance take care of her body properly.

Wendy was in her sweatpants and sneakers, her untamed hair in a gigantic, loose bun up her head that threatened to fall apart any second. Once she noticed Eva, she removed her headphones and was about to hug Eva but stopped herself. "Oh my god, Eva, how are you?" she squealed, reminding Eva of how bubbly she really was, "Excuse me, I would've hugged you but I'm so sweaty."

"Don't be ridiculous." Eva hugged Wendy still. "Or did you forget how much sweat I would reproduce after one run?"

Wendy chuckled, her thick braces covering most of her teeth. "That's true." Despite her physical effort, Wendy wasn't out of breath. She was such a ball of energy. "Are you in a hurry? Can we chat for a bit?"

Eva's lip twitched. "Yeah, I suppose I have a minute." Hannah can wait.

The two girls sat on one of the benches that nobody occupied most of the time. After a few moments of catching up together, Wendy suddenly turned serious.

Wendy supported her elbows on her knees, a hand twisting the white thread of her headphones. "Did you know that Ashton is going to Oxford University after highschool?" She sighed, running a hand over her tangled hair. "That's in Britain. It's another freaking country, man."

Wendy had the biggest crush on Ashton, so the idea of him being away even if it was for education was painful to her. "You still haven't told him?" Eva asked, "You're running out of time, Wendy."

"Aah, I know." Wendy whined. "But it's so hard to do it when you know he doesn't feel the same way for you. I mean, I asked him to the Spring Ball and he rejected me. It was the worst night in my life. I even swallowed an entire box of painkillers to sooth my pain, man."

"You did what?" Eva's eyes widened. "You're joking, right? You have to be."

"I heard he talked to you in the Spring Ball." Wendy ignored Eva's question, her vague tone gave nothing away. She exhaled, closing her eyes for a second. "God there were so many rumors about you two - still are. People ship you; The Golden Couple, and it's breaking me to keep hearing about them all the time."

Evangeline was uncomfortable due to the awkward turn of the conversation. She didn't know what to say, and being her, she ended up blurting her honesty. "I won't take him away from you if that's what you're worried about."

Wendy smiled in relief but also shame. "That's not what I meant - well, kind of - but thank you, Eva." Her sweaty body relaxed, leaning back on the bench. "Speaking of rumors, I heard that Ryan has, like, the biggest crush on you. You're literally all what he talks about all the time."

If Evangeline didn't know better, she would have thought Wendy was being hostile or even envious. "Yes, right." Eva stood up, wiping her hair away from her face. "It was nice talking to you, but I need to go."

"Yes, of course, sorry for holding you back." Wendy stood as well, her headphones already covering her ears as she continued her run around the neighborhood.

A few minutes later, Eva was standing in Dessertville High's parking lot. The place was empty and deserted since it was the Spring Break, and only crazy people like Hannah would still lurk in the school in a period she was supposed to rest and bond with her family.

Taking a deep, calming breath, Eva scanned the area only to find no one in sight. Did Hannah drag her all the way here for nothing? Pulling out her phone to call Hannah, she saw a text that she must've missed while talking to Wendy.

"you took too long. i'm in the old cafeteria now. hurry."

Eva rolled her hazel eyes at the lack of the word 'please' and did as her mother requested. As far as Eva knew, that cafeteria had been abandoned for years now. It was a standalone from the highschool and since students had to walk all the way from the school's building to the cafeteria, the authorities concluded that it was a waste of time and after a few architectural changes, a new canteen was built within the school.

Eva had no idea what her mother was doing in such a shady place, but she was about to find out.

Opening the rusty door with the loudest creak that indicated that no one opened it often enough in years, Eva took a step into the dusty darkness. She never stepped a foot inside that building, so she was surprised to find a set of stairs facing her instead of a corridor. Was this cafeteria underground?

Eva didn't get to wonder on it for long since someone pushed her against the grey wall and buried their face in the crook of her neck, slamming the metal door shut in the process.

Eva's heartbeats fastened, pushing the stranger away but to no avail. Once her tearful, hazel eyes adjusted to the darkness, she saw that the predator was no one other than Zarek Black.

"What are you doing?" Eva's fearful voice bounced in the empty cafeteria, "Let me go, you can't do this. Mom is expecting me-"

At that, Zarek laughed. His laughter wasn't light or cheerful, but menacing and belittling. "How gullible," He pulled his face from her neck and watched her, he was so close that his eyelashes were tickling Eva's forehead and his cigarette breath fanning her face. "You smell like candies," he sniffed her again, his hollow eyes fluttering shut. His nostrils flared all of a sudden, defined jaw setting. His sharp eyes were filled with so much hatred as he glared her down, his panting chest pressing her against the wall. "I hate it."

Zarek wasn't in his normal state of mind. He was sweating, his breaths were fast and uneven. His blond, almost grey hair was the messiest yet, his eyes bloodshot with dark bags heaving them down, and the dark pools of his spaced pupils were so deep and intense.

Eva couldn't handle Zarek, averting her gaze away. An uncomfortable blush covered her face as she looked to the side, hoping that would grant her some distance from his very close face. "What are you doing?" Eva's tone was blaming and a bit whiny despite her trying to remain calm. She knew it wouldn't be smart of her if she reacted the wrong way. She was alone with someone impulsive, she had no idea what he had in store for her - although her overthinking mind was running with various horrible scenarios - and if she learned anything from her past experiences with Zarek it was to remain calm and in her senses or else a disaster was bound to happen. Remember the Spring Ball?

Zarek's hand captured both of Eva's wrists, his other hand used Eva's head angle and caressed her neck, making her sensitive skin prickle with goosebumps. His green eyes showed lust for a short second before they darkened. "You're so weak," His finger pressed at a throbbing vain, paralyzing her and making Eva's body like putty in his hands. "Look at you now. Who would've thought you're the hard-to-get bitch?"

Eva's breaths were edgier, fear leaping into her soul. "Leave me alone," She mumbled the words on her stiff tongue, her smooth jaw shaking. "Please?"

Zarek's lips stretched in an villainous smile, his hateful eyes turning sinister. He finally took a step back, allowing some distance between their bodies. Eva stared at him - is this a trap? Nonetheless, Eva proceeded to head for the door before Zarek could change his mind.

She took one step when Zarek pushed her down the stairs.

Her fragile body was sent down the dozen steps, pain echoing through her bones with each painful contact against the sharp edges of the stairs. She finally landed, her butt taking most of the shock, making her spine shake in pain. A few tears left her horrified eyes, a wail escaping her delicate lips.

There was a small, innocent part in Evangeline that was naive enough to hope that Zarek would apologize greatly, claiming the entire thing as an accident or maybe a prank gone wrong, but as Zarek stared down at her, not the least bit fazed by her pain, Evangeline knew that she was very mistaken.

With each menacing step Zarek took down the stairs, Eva's heartbeats accelerated. She could've stood up and tried to save herself, but she was in deep pain. Besides, she knew that there was only one door out, the very same one she had to go through Zarek to reach. So she stared up, horror stricken, waiting for a miracle to happen and save her.

Zarek whisked her up, dragged her with ease to the middle of the abandoned cafeteria, and pinned her down on an old chair. Before Eva could even take a proper inhale, Zarek already taped her in place.

He bent down to face her, mock sympathy in his abnormal eyes. "Are you afraid?" Being satisfied at Eva's frantic nod, Zarek chuckled. "Just wait - I'm not even done."