Eva stared at the repressed longing in his darkened pupils, the lust in his demeanor, and the painful insecurity when he asked her about Ashton, and all what Eva wanted to do was kiss it away but Eva knew better.

She didn't know what Zarek's intentions were, nor did she care to find out. God knew how bad she wanted him to kiss her but it wouldn't be just for herself. Zarek already suspected that she was a disgusting 'female' so what would it say about her if she were to return his lust and desire?

Zarek's body was twisted to face her in a way that made must be uncomfortable to stay in that position for that long. Zarek didn't seem to mind, waiting on needles for an answer to his question - 'why him and not me?' Eva never thought Zarek would have that train of thought. She wanted to get him worked up over her relationship, she wanted him jealous, and she wanted him to stay away from her. However, she never thought that plan would actually work and that her wishes would come true.

Instead of feeling satisfied or victorious, she felt awful. She couldn't live with herself while knowing that she caused so much discomfort to another human being. Besides, she had no right to punish anyone, only God could which was yet another reason that made her want to drop out of this stupid immature plan and hide away in her tiny bedroom.

Eva avoided eye-contact, aware that she might give in and tell Zarek that her relationship with Ashton was all fake, that he still had a chance to make it up to her, and that she had been in love with him for two years - god forbid. No matter how hard Eva tried, her hazel eyes kept drifting back to Zarek.

Despite the darkness surrounding them, Eva noticed the desperate crease in his pale forehead, the tousled blond almost grey hair, the petrifying electric green eyes, the defined jaw, his slumped shoulders, his parted legs, and even his slight bulge - still don't know how to feel about that in particular - and took in Zarek's fancy cologne mixed with his cigarettes' smell, the sleek interior of his outrageous car and sighed. Those things were all purely Zarek, and she would miss them once all of this would be over.

"I'm sorry," Eva dropped her gaze to her bare thighs, placing her hands to cover as much skin as she could. Despite her feelings, she couldn't put her trust issues aside. She didn't before, she wasn't about to now, and she might never will in the future. She still couldn't figure out what Zarek's intentions were and she wouldn't be foolish enough to find out - again. "You know why, Zarek, not after everything-"

"I know," Zarek cut her off, pressing his lips in a tight line and facing away. He resumed his comfortable position on the leather seats, probably sick of her and her uptightness. "You don't have to remind me of what I do, I'm well aware, trust me."

His words would have provoked her to say something along the lines of 'and yet you still expect something from me, I can't believe you, Zarek' but as Eva took a closer look, past the surface and past the barriers, she didn't see a ruthless bully but a broken soul instead. She knew Zarek had masks, but what she didn't contemplate before was the possibility of wearing them to hide his pain. She reflected on Trudy's words a while ago - Zarek won't come to your face and states something. No, he'll imply it. You should look between the words he said, that's where you'll find what he wants to say - and she knew what he really meant; I know I'm horrible to you but you don't have to remind me because I'm already guilty enough.

Eva knew Zarek was a troubled kid in his childhood - his mother died when he was only five years-old, his dad was too busy with his media company to take care of him, and he had a stepmother that Eva was sure he hated because he was Zarek so he must feel like she took his mother's place - and Eva really wanted to help him. She would have done that a long time ago if Zarek just let her, if he stopped thinking so superficial about her, if he didn't treat her horribly.

Eva wanted to connect with Zarek on a deeper level and be there for him - just like she did with Trudy - but all what Zarek wanted from her was a lust-based romance. The only kind of romance Eva was interested in was the one after marriage. However, Eva would be considered a liar if she said she wasn't tempted to be with Zarek in that way, but she knew he would cross her name on his hump-and-dump list and move on to the next target.

Evangeline would never allow herself to step that low.

Eva closed her eyes, taking a deep breath and facing Zarek. "Please," Even though the only light was a nearby streetlamp, Eva could detect the trembling of his lush lips that had once made contact with her own - stop it! "U-unlock the car, Zarek. I need to go."

Zarek was looking straight ahead, his body slumped in his seat and his fingers threading through his blond locks of hair. "Right," His pale fingers pressed on one of the buttons which made the car beep before all the locks opened. Eva was about to hop out and run for her life to her house down the street when Zarek's voice made her stop.

"Are you going home looking like that?" Zarek's electric green eyes dropped at her white crop top and jean shorts in half a glance before he looked straight ahead. "You're half-naked, what will your mom say?"

Eva groaned. "I had my jacket but I left it in Trudy's car."

Zarek twisted around too fast, making Eva flinch at the sudden movement. He payed no attention to her as he reached for something in the backseat and threw it on her lap. "Here," Zarek looked ahead, his defined jaw ticking as if he already regretted what he just offered.

Eva glanced down and she couldn't stifle her gasp - did he just give me his leather jacket? "Zarek-"

Zarek held his hand up, shutting her up. "Don't even start," Zarek retorted, "Believe it or not, Eva, I can actually do something nice without any hidden intentions. Just accept the goddamn jacket and help me feel less of an asshole."

Blushing intensely because Zarek actually caught on on her train of thought, Eva nodded and slung the bomber jacket over her shoulders, it reached a little down her butt. Immediately, the sweet intoxication of his smell engulfed Eva into a shameful heaven, marveling over how close Zarek had been to this exact fabric, and it felt intimate. The jacket would cause more questions with Hannah but Eva still accepted and allowed herself to be swamped by what belonged to Zarek because that was, sadly, the closest he could ever get to her.

"Thank you," Eva mumbled, to which Zarek heaved a sigh and shook his head at as if to say 'please, I've done worse', and got out of the car. Just like Violet - who must've looked like her passing mother because she looked nothing like Zarek or Theodore Black - Zarek waited till Eva was inside the house before he drove off his Mustang.

Eva tried to be as silent as she could as she closed the front door, despite wanting to rush to her room and call Trudy to vent about the load that just happened with Zarek in the car. Eva didn't know what to make out of it, but she hoped Zarek wouldn't pull anything else at her because she couldn't take any more. If Zarek done something else after his apprehension tonight, then he would officially be kicked out of Eva's cracked heart.

Eva bent down, taking off the chunky nude heels and appreciating the flat ground beneath her feet. She immediately felt smaller, surprising her how fast she got used to her new hight. She held the chunky heels, an annoying smile playing across her face at the feel of Zarek's leather jacket as well as his smell, and made her way towards the staircase.

However, someone cleared their throat.

Eva froze in her spot, her hazel eyes widened. Like a criminal with the shining light and the guns aimed at her, she turned around slowly, fear clenching her chest.

Hannah was glaring two holes at her, any trace of previous understanding or love when Celene and Joseph were around was gone. "What are you wearing?" Hannah hissed, taking a step towards her. Hannah immediately flinched once she got close enough, going backwards. "It smells of men!" she horrified, pointing a trembling finger at Eva, "Whose is it? Did you go on a-a date behind my back? You said you're going to a party, why did you lie to me?"

"No, I didn't go to any date." Eva rolled her eyes at her mother's dramatic behavior, although it wasn't any different than her own antics. "I went to the birthday party like I told you I would, and I even got back early. Shouldn't you be proud?"

"You're wearing a male jacket," Hannah exasperated, sounding like the child in this situation when it should've been vice-versa.

"Yes, so?" Eva had to contain her blush and stick to the act. "I forgot my jacket, so Ryan - Raven's twin brother - offered his jacket. I thanked him, and even told him how my mom will be grateful for covering her daughter up."

Hannah's eyes trailed over Eva's outfit and she internally winced. "You're right," Hannah nodded, visibly relaxing. "Did Trudy buy a new car?"

"Huh?"

Hannah's suspicions resurfaced. "Trudy has a yellow car but I saw a red one outside."

"Oh, yes, that was her car, totally." Eva chirped with a little too much enthusiasm. Thank god for tinted glass.

"Just to make sure," Hannah's stern voice vibrated in the empty house. "You don't have a boyfriend, right?"

Eva shook her head, rolling her eyes at her mother's persistence. "No, mom, I don't."

"And if I go through your phone, I'm not gonna find anything?"

"No-" Eva's eyes bulged - Ashton named himself my boyfriend in my phone. Eva cleared her throat, falling back into the act because her mom was speaking hypothetically, no way she would actually go through Eva's phone, right? "No, of course you won't."

"Oh really?" Hannah was unconvinced, her honey colored eyes two holes of judgment. "Not even anything to do with Zarek Black?"

Eva panicked. She had a couple phone calls and texts with Zarek - I knew I should've deleted them when I got them.

Hannah saw right through her daughter. "Oh my god, it's true." Hannah whimpered despite her anger. "I knew I should've listened to your father and changed your highschool. I thought it was better if you stayed under my watch, but it turns out House was right."

Hannah was using House - the one who loved her - against her, and Eva refused to give that to her. "Change my highschool?" Eva conquered, "The only other highschool in town is Prich High and it's not like you can afford that private education. Well, you can, but not for me, right?"

"Are you jealous?" Hannah gasped, "And from your own siblings? What gotten into you?"

"I'm not jealous," Eva seethed, "A little upset, maybe. I don't mind them having the education of their lives. I'm happy for them. I just can't believe you'd neglect me in the process."

Hannah shook her head, short red hair - that was now a relatively long compared to Eva - bouncing around her face, weaving her mask of ignorance back on. "We're not talking about that. We're talking about Zarek Black."

All what Hannah knew about Zarek was that the kid was her daughter's bully and nothing else, so Eva had no idea why Hannah was particularly suspicious over him. Eva cringed back at Alisha's threat - I see you've been wandering the nights, lately? I don't think Aunt Hannah would like that, would she? Alisha must've fed Hannah with the lies and fueled her with the suspicion. Eva had to handle this situation, even if it meant using her mother's vulnerability again.

"Alisha told you about the fight I had with Zarek in the alley, didn't she?" Eva spat, "Well, if you're angry about that then you'd be glad to know that Alisha is not even a virgin."

"Wait, what alley?" Hannah grimaced, "It was Celene that told me about an angry blond boy in the mall-..." Hannah's honey colored eyes were stricken, catching on to Eva's words. "What? Alisha is not a virgin? Oh my god, Chelsea will die when she hears about this." Hannah rushed to her phone and pressed it against her ear, her sister-in-law's number already dialed.

Eva watched in horror - what did I just do?

Eva ran upstairs to her room, locking the door on herself. She just ruined yet another life. She was plotting revenge plans. She was manipulating people and using their vulnerability for her favor.

Eva's biggest fear was realizing in front of her; she was becoming the worst version of herself.

i just wanted to showcase that people change, and it doesn't always happen for the better. what do you think?