Eva was uncomfortable.

It wasn't her fear of what Zarek might do to her to get back at her - well yes - but mostly it was the pound of makeup that was suffocating her pores, the white crop top that clung to her body in ways no top ever did before, and the extremely revealing jean shorts. The crop top was thrifted - something Trudy didn't need to know or else she would've burnt it - but when it was paired with the luxurious lower garment, it actually looked fancy and high-quality. The jean shorts weren't all-out-in-the-open since they reached her mid-thigh, but that was the most skin Eva showed probably ever. Eva really liked those Ksubi Rise N Hi, but now that she was wearing them and was actually cat-called by a couple of guys at the party, Eva wasn't so sure she still wanted them.

Eva had a reputation of being shy, respectful, and a bit blunt, so she didn't get hit on as much as the other girls. People knew her standards and her backgrounds, so they treated Eva with care which made Eva feel a bit belittled at times, but it also made her feel so much proud that people were influenced by her politeness and ethics to offer her the mutual respect. Now, Eva had a new haircut, was wearing questionable fashion and makeup, and was in a party - she was unrecognizable by her peers, which resulted in awkward staring, unwanted checking-out, and receiving the most attention she ever had from males.

Eva hated it.

She wanted her jean jacket to cover herself but she left it in Trudy's car and Trudy was too lost among the crowd to be found. Trudy just dropped them off, parking her precious yellow Lamborghini - Eva made an extra effort to read the brand correctly - and entering the party. Eva wanted to join her best friend inside and possibly fix her relationship with Ryan back to normal, but she couldn't because she promised Ashton she'd wait for him in front of the house.

She was about to call him when a text popped on her cracked screen. Eva cringed at the contact name - My Boyfriend - that Ashton chose for himself before she read what he sent.

"So sorry I'm late. Promise you I'll be there soon."

A dramatic sigh leaving her matt-pink lips, Evangeline wrapped her arms around herself for some sort of coverage. The air wasn't cold or hot or humid, it was cool - the perfect temperature. It might have something to do with Ryan and Raven being lucky in their birthday night, or maybe it was the calm before the storm. Either way, Eva just wanted to have fun for once and stop worrying, so she pushed all her negative thoughts aside.

A few minutes later, a beige Jeep parked and a ginger guy hopped out of it. Ashton stuffed his multiple keys in his pockets and jogged toward Eva, the metal of his keys clinking with each hurried step. Even in Trudy's dramatic high-heels - that were chunky enough Eva was able to walk in them without tripping - Ashton was at least a few centimeters taller than her.

Eva was so glad Ashton had the decency not to comment on her new appearance which reminded her that he was a gentleman unlike most males in his age. "Why did you take so long? Aren't you and Ryan neighbors?" Eva was too distracted to unknot the frown between her neatly traced eyebrows that she didn't pay attention to her rude tone. "I've been waiting for you for over ten minutes."

"Yes, I know, I'm sorry," Ashton surprised Eva when he leaned forward and kissed away her frown in her forehead, his soft lips lingering a little too long before he retreated back. "It's just that I had to drop my brother and his date - Violet Something - to the party down the street. It was last minute, I know I should've told you before so you didn't have to wait for me outside."

Eva was still baffled due to the quick kiss that it took her a second to reply. "A party down the street?" Eva questioned out loud. "I'm not sure but I think that's where Celene is going tonight."

"Oh, really?" Ashton grinned, holding Eva's hand and tugging her towards the house. "Imagine if they somehow end up together like us, wouldn't that be ironic?"

Eva couldn't find the humor in his statement. "Didn't you say your brother has a date already?"

Ashton cast her a quick glance, flashing his adorable dimple. "Yes, but anything can happen." Ashton opened the unlocked door of Ryan's house and entered with his hand still intertwined with Eva's. Immediately, the loud DJ music hit her, deafening her in the intoxication of the party. Ryan and Raven must've had more friends than Eva thought because their house - which wasn't as fancy as Trudy's or Hunter's or even her own but was still welcoming just like Ryan's old car - was filled to the roof with people. Either that or the bored teens had nothing better to do in their holidays than be in there.

Eva must be really slow that night because it took her some time to realize that Ashton stopped guiding her and was dancing next to her. Eva had this weird feeling of being watched, the negative thoughts from yesterday returning to her - this is all so wrong - but she pushed those aside. For once in her life, Eva wouldn't let her doubts, hesitation, and cautiousness control her. She was determined to keeping her promise of standing up for herself and acing God's test like every other subject in school.

Letting that sink in her mind, Eva danced with Ashton - or attempted to. Eva didn't need to make an effort since everyone around her was drunk and sloppy with their moves, but she appreciated Ashton enough because unlike Hunter, Ashton didn't use this situation as a chance to 'grind' against Eva and kept a fair distance between their bodies.

Eva stepped in closer and wrapped her pale arms around his neck, surprising even herself. She didn't regret it since it was settled that Ashton would never hurt her because he was a nice guy, and she was glad he didn't flinch away because that would've been awkward. "Please," Eva shouted in his ear over the random music, "Stay near me, don't leave me." Truth was, she feared if she was left alone then Zarek would somehow corner her and finish what he started. Eva internally shook at that.

"My pleasure." Ashton smiled, his hand snaking around her waist but not really touching her. "I've been dreaming to be close with you for so long I can't believe it actually came true, so I'm glad for how things turned out."

"Yeah, right." Eva muttered, taking a step back. "I need to go to the bathroom really quick. I'll be right back."

"You sure? You don't want me to go with you?" Ashton frowned, worry crossing his crystal blue eyes. "I thought you didn't want to be left alone?"

Eva nodded, not offering an answer and just retreating away. Eva was certain Ashton had good intentions, meaning for them to be friends. However, something about his words implied more which made Eva uneasy, allowing the repressed doubts and thoughts to flood her. What if he was taking this too seriously? Eva truly hoped not, because Ashton was the only decent guy she didn't have any awkwardness with so she'd hate it if she lost him too.

She didn't want to have a romantic relationship, she just wanted a friendly, stress-free one, but it seemed like every other male in her life couldn't understand and she truly wished Ashton was different.

This was Eva's first time in Ryan's home - the restrictions of an uptight mother not to go to a male's house - but it wasn't hard to navigate through. It was easy to distinguish that the isolated door down the hall was the bathroom so she made her way towards it. She expected a line in front of it, but it seemed like the party just started and no one drank enough to Eva's good luck. She didn't even reach the door when it swung open, an angry Janie storming out.

Janie's curly hair was messy - not in the effortless done-on-purpose kind of way - her lips were swollen, her shirt was misplaced, and her unique yellow eyes were swelling with tears. The second the angry Janie spotted Eva, Janie ran away, exploding into sobs in the process. Eva was about to go after her and try to brighten her mood when Ryan walked out of that bathroom. Eva gasped at his attire - his prefect hair was tangled for once and his lips were just as swollen.

Ryan gasped as well at Eva's new haircut - he hadn't seen her in a week so he had no idea what went on in her life. In the nude heels, Eva was too tall compared to Ryan and Eva could tell that that fact broke Ryan. His forest green eyes were so sad and apologetic before he jogged after Janie, leaving Eva behind in the hallway without even a word her way.

"Happy Birthday, Ray," Eva muttered to herself, stepping at the pang of hurt from his ignoring and entering the bathroom.

It seemed like Ryan already moved on, finding something special with Janie. Eva was genuinely happy for him because this way they could both ignore his confession and go on with their friendship normally. Besides, Eva shipped Ryan and Janie before. It didn't take Eva long to figure out what the two had been doing in the bathroom, although she had no idea why Janie left like that.

Eva didn't want to be in that bathroom since unwanted pictures of her best friend making out with Janie kept popping in her head, but she needed to wash all of that makeup off. All those products were literally suffocating her sensitive skin, her mascara-covered lashes were stiff against her lid, not to mention that the makeup had such power that it enhanced Eva's features to the point of not recognizing her own self. Eva would much rather the soft, natural makeup anyways.

Eva closed the tap, eyeing the makeup residues as she swiped some toilet paper on her to dry the water. "Much better," she muttered.

Her eyebrows were still 'on fleek' - Trudy's words - because the gel was waterproof, and the highlight was still on her skin because what else did she expect from glitter, but at least Eva could tell it was her staring back in Ryan's small bathroom mirror and not someone else.

Eva turned around, ready to leave, when she noticed Hunter leaning on the door. Eva's heartbeats quickened, freezing in her spot.

Hunter closed the door, his signature smirk playing around his lips as his grey eyes glistened at her. "Finally," he said, "I have you all for myself."

probably the first ever serious cliffhanger??