Eva didn't know how long she had been unconscious for, but when she opened her heavy eyes, Zarek was gone.

She desperately hoped it was a bad dream and not a reality, but the throbbing bruises that escalated due to her fall from the stairs proved otherwise. She looked around her in confusion, the eerie silent cafeteria giving her the creeps, looking straight out of a haunted movie. When Eva glanced down, she found herself laying on the pile of her own hair. Like a frantic child searching for their mother in the crowd, Eva checked her red hair. Her hands went right through, it was so short that it hardly reached her neck.

Eva gasped, chocking on a throaty sob - why? Eva asked, grasping the thrown strands between her shaky fingers and crying her swollen eyelids out, god, why me? She never thought of hurting a soul, she never even cursed or sinned in any way, she didn't deserve this happening to her. Despite her miserable and broken state, Eva knew why she was going through this.

It was a test for her faith, and she was so afraid she was too fragile she might fail - god forbid.

Someone touched Eva's shoulder from behind, making Eva flinch. Zarek just couldn't leave her alone. After all what he put her through, he was still ruthless enough to stick by and enjoy the satisfaction of the aftermath. With a new found determination, Eva stood on her wobbly legs, steadying herself on the flipped chair that she was previously taped to.

The mere thought of that stirred more anger in Eva, rising her delicate hands and slapping the arrogant devil with all her might that his face turned to the side, the sound intensified in the silent room. Before he had anytime to react, Eva fisted her hands and hit his chest in pathetic attempts of punching, letting out her frustration in cries of agony. "I hate you. I hate you so much! Why? Why did you do this?"

"Hey, take it easy," He forced her in his embrace, burying her teary face in his arms. "I won't hurt you, Eva, just relax."

How dare he tell me to relax? Eva trashed her way out, pushing and even kicking him away, but his arms only wrapped themselves tighter. She was soon drained out of her energy, and what started like a fit of anger soon turned into a mental breakdown. I give up. She wanted for the pain to end, she didn't want to suffer anymore, she just wanted to live her life without the patronizing anguish and fear and hurt settled in her chest. She just wanted everything to be over. When will it all end?

"It's okay." Zarek stroked Eva's short hair. "Let it all out."

Eva's hazel eyes snapped open, soft jaw setting as she pushed Zarek with all her force away. Zarek was openly making fun of her short hair, provoking her, triggering her and Evangeline couldn't stand the last of it. Eva was going to slap him again, harder this time, but Zarek caught her arm midair.

Evangeline had a clear shot of his hair and, instead of seeing slicked, grayish blond hair, she was met with ruffled, ginger hair.

Evangeline blinked. She looked at his face - one of his cheeks extremely red with Eva's previous slap - and she froze. "A-Ashton?"

"Yeah..." He smiled in sympathy and pity, rubbing at his sore cheek.

"Oh my god - I slapped you!" Eva rushed to him, although she didn't know what to do once she reached him. "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean-... I thought you were-..."

He raised an eyebrow. "Zarek?"

Eva took a step back, shielding herself with cautiousness. "How do you know that?" Eva gasped, glaring at him in disbelief. "Did you plan this with him?"

"No," Ashton rushed, stopping Eva from jumping into dangerous conclusions. "Just take a seat, I will explain everything." He picked up the chair for her, motioning for her to sit.

Eva looked at him a moment longer, afraid to trust him. Once she made sure that the glint in Ashton's light blue eyes was nothing but sincerity, Eva sat with hesitance still.

Ashton was hovering over her. It felt too familiar for Eva, making her weak heart throb in caution. Ashton was smart enough to pick up on Eva's thoughts and squatted, being under Eva's eye level. Eva was looking down at him, which was comforting in a strange way.

"Zarek did this." Ashton said, "I found him leaving this place. He was... crying. Well, as close as he can get to that, anyways."

Eva choked. "Crying?" Eva used to believe that Zarek had another side of him, a softer misunderstood side, but Zarek made sure to convince her otherwise. Evangeline could see his real self now; he was heartless, selfish, and had no sympathy, so how could he feel?

"Yes," Ashton said, licking his lips and avoiding eye contact, his cheeks flaming red not only from the slap but from the embarrassment of it, "Zarek wasn't alright. He puked. I think he was under the influence of drugs. I asked him what was wrong, and he said: 'she won't forgive me now.'" Ashton said, "I connected the dots."

Eva shook her head, a silent tear leaving her eye and rolling down her sticky cheeks. "Look at what he'd done to me."

"Honestly, I'm glad it's just your hair." Ashton's light blue eyes were serious and intense. "After all, it can grow back, right? I was afraid he did something much worse, I mean who knows what that guy is capable of?"

Eva gasped. "Are you saying that he could've-"

"Hey," Ashton interrupted, "He didn't, so don't think about that, okay?"

Eva's thoughts were such a mess, and she couldn't organize them. All what she knew was that Zarek was the most ruthless human being she ever knew, and her shameful feelings for him were bound to die. Just like Ashton pointed out, if someone basically kidnapped and stole kisses from others, then who would guarantee that something even worse wouldn't happen?

Eva's guts clenched at the memory of Zarek stealing her first kiss. A sob was strangled in her throat, Zarek forced her to kiss him with the promise of letting her go unharmed, but like the rest of Zarek's promises, he broke it. Another sob stole the breath from Eva's lungs at the possibility of him taking the only precious thing she had - my innocence!

"Look at me." Ashton gripped Eva's shoulders, forcing her to face him. Eva swallowed down her tears, sniffing her nose as she pouted her trembling lips not to cry. "You're gonna get through this, okay? You're strong, Eva, I believe in you."

"Strong?" Eva wasn't strong. If anything, she was the weakest person there was - she was so vulnerable and fragile, so naive and gullible. She wasn't a good daughter since she couldn't maintain a healthy relationship with her own mother, she wasn't a good friend either since she couldn't be a good comfort to Trudy, nor was she smart judging by her faith and trust in all the wrong places, Zarek was a solid proof of that. She truly thought-...

What's the point in thinking anyways? That was another wrong thing about her - overthinking till her brain cells overheated.

Ashton helped her stand up. "Yes, that's what you are." Ashton was so sure and confident of his statement, if only he knew Evangeline a little better. "I want you to come with me to my car, I'll drive you home."

"N-no," Eva pushed at him, glaring at him, "What if you hurt me?"

"I will never," Ashton's voice was laced with hurt at the accusation.

Eva sighed. "I'm sorry," She could see herself resembling a hostile Trudy, and Ashton didn't deserve that. Eva followed him to his beige Jeep, thankful for the deserted parking lot since no one would witness her horrific emotional and physical state. She was tempted to glance at her reflection on the shiny glass of the windows, but she didn't dare.

Eva had a little trouble climbing up the high car. Once she was inside with her seatbelt clipped, Ashton drove off. This was Eva's first time in Ashton's car - no, this was Eva's first time in a car with a boy other than Ryan. A few moments of awkward silence later, Eva spoke.

"I can't go home," she said, "Not while looking like this."

"I know," Ashton barely glanced at her, his hand resting on the gearshift and the other on the steering wheel. "That's why we're stopping by my house first to get you one of my beanies."

Another moment of silence that was too heavy for Eva. "Ashton," Eva said, looking at the passing trees and the empty sidewalk. No wonder the citizens are all on vacation. "It's a holiday, so what brought you to school today?"

"I'm working on a project with Mrs. West - your mom - and a couple of other student for extra credit." Ashton glanced at her briefly before taking a turn. "We will clean the school during the holidays and hang a few posters about pollution and drug awareness and stuff like that."

Ashton cleared his throat once he parked in front of a house that looked similar to Eva's home except it was two-story. He turned off the engine, directing his full attention at her. His pale cheeks were a bit pink, the previous slap still having its aftermath on his skin. "What about you? How did you end up in that cafeteria?"

"Zarek texted me." Eva fiddled with the hem of her sweatshirt, feeling exposed and stupid. "That was how he lured me in."

"Texted you?"

"Yeah, through my mom's phone." Eva said, "I don't know how he got his hands on it, but it must be him because mom would never text in lowercase."

"That bastard," Ashton bumped the steering wheel, grunting. "It all makes sense now."

Eva frowned. "How?"

"Zarek was with us." Ashton breathed out, running his hand along his ginger hair. "He came and offered his help even though Mrs. West doesn't teach him. He picked a few tables and then left just like that. I knew something was off but I didn't put much thought into it."

Evangeline was appalled at the extent Zarek would go just to hurt her. Just yesterday he dedicated a song to her and things were looking up, so why did he snap all of a sudden?

Ashton opened his door, slipping outside. "I'll bring you the beanie, be right back."

Evangeline was left alone in Ashton's Jeep. She was a bit uneasy - after all, she was in an unfamiliar car on a new street with a boy she wasn't that close with. The uncomfortable feelings crept up on her again along with an annoying blush. She gulped, reaching out to tuck her hair behind her flushed ears. An ice bucket of disappointment poured over her when she was met with the lack of it.

Her hair was her protection shield, it always saved her from so many awkward situations and uncomfortable encounters. She loved its length, its dark red color that could've been brown in certain lighting, and its soft and silky texture. Her red her was her thing, so in what way was Zarek aloud to snatch it away from her?

Evangeline had a feeling of being watched, she searched around her to find what seemed like a fourteen year-old boy looking at her through one of the windows of Ashton's home. The little boy was an identical version of Ashton - ginger hair, blue eyes, and a few faint freckles sprawled on his face - but something about him pulled her attention. It was something about the way he looked at her - no, analyzed her with those petrifying blue eyes of his that gave off the feel of having the ability of reading her mind and understanding her soul.

She was so focused on the child that she didn't even notice Ashton walking out, a grey beanie in his hands. He sat inside his car, looking over at the wondering Evangeline. "Here," He gave her the grey beanie. "I was gonna bring you one of my own beanies, but my brother had a new one so here it is."

Eva pulled the beanie over her head, mentally thanking Ashton for being there and having her back. She pointed at the kid who hid away behind the curtains. "Is that your brother?"

"Yup," Ashton smiled, running the car. "He sure is something else."

A few moments of hesitance and uncomfortable silence later - that fed Eva's mind with unnecessary negative thoughts and increased her self-consciousness about the lack of her hair - Ashton parked his beige Jeep on Eva's street. Eva wondered how he knew where she lived despite not giving him any directions but brushed it off. She was about to sprint out of the vehicle into her room and cry like there was no tomorrow again when Ashton caught her arm.

"Eva," Ashton grunted, stretching his long legs and shifting in his seat, crystal blue eyes sincere and somewhat accusative. "Don't let Zarek get away with this. He's what - eighteen or nineteen now? He's a legal adult, I'm sure if you make a complain about him he'll get what he deserves."

Eva winced - does he think I'm heartless? Despite all what Zarek made her go through she would never purposely cause him trouble. She wasn't driven by revenge like most cold-hearted people. Even if she tried to get back at him and made things even, her guilt of destroying someone's life would be more painful than any act that someone might've done to her. Evangeline was mature, she definitely wouldn't step that low.

"No," Eva pushed Ashton's hand away from her shoulder, building up some courage to speak her mind. "We already had this conversation before-"

"And look where that led you," Ashton fired back. He took a deep breath, looking away and containing himself. "I know that we don't know each other that well, but I don't want you hurt. I actually care about you."

Eva chuckled. "You care? Yeah, right." If there was one thing Zarek taught her was that nobody just cared unless they had ulterior motives. She didn't know what those were for Ashton but she wouldn't be naive again to find out.

Ashton was about to defend himself when Eva beat him to it. "Look, you said it yourself, you don't know me." Eva sighed, adjusting his beanie and regretting her harsh words. Zarek was changing her in bad way, and she refused to give him that on her. "Just let me handle this myself, okay? If I need any help I'll come to you."