Song: Strip That Down - Liam Payne ft Quavo

What Hannah said about Trudy was so insensitive and sad, making Eva question whether her mother was even sane.

Evangeline was so dissapointed with her mother that Eva considered locking herself in her room if that meant avoiding Hannah. But when Eva's stomach growled at her, she realized that there was no point in starving herself, especially since her mother seemed to not care either way.

With an angry frown that was plastered on her angelic, freckled face, Eva opened her bedroom door and made her way downstairs to the kitchen. She served herself the instant noodles and sat on the counter, the television in the living room facing her as it displayed Leo's handsome face in the movie Catch Me If You Can.

Evangeline wasn't really focused on the film, her mind zoning out as her mouth subconsciously chewed the tasteless noodles. She thought of how her date with Zarek tomorrow would be like. No, it wasn't a date, more like a meeting. Yeah, a meeting with Zarek didn't sound as menacing as a date with him.

As the camera zeroed on Leonardo DiCaprio's young face, Eva realized how his blond locks were similar to Zarek's. Except Zarek's hair was longer, and more blond, in a greyish unusual way.

Eva's mind screamed 'alert, alert, alert,' at her when she heard her mother's office door open. In an instant, Eva's face blushed with rage as she stuffed the tasteless noodles in her mouth to empty her plate and return to her room as soon as possible.

Just when Hannah reached downstairs and their eyes met, Eva choked on the food. She coughed, trying to swallow the mouthful without losing her life. Eva's eyes watered as she forced the food down her throat, reaching for a bottle of water on the counter and shrugging it down in an instant.

When Eva finally swallowed the dangerous noodles, she took a deep breath, hazel eyes glassy, and glanced at her mother. Hannah was seated on the sofa, with no care in the world, as she watched the movie. Eva's fragile heart thumped loudly against her chest, each hit a painful reminder that her mother didn't care about her. Eva could've choked herself to death, and Hannah wouldn't have moved a finger.

It wasn't always like this, Eva said to herself, disappointed, When did it all change?

Tears were on Eva's eyes, but they had nothing to do with the chocking incident. She bowed her head down, her red hair covering her wet cheeks, as she stared at the colorless noodles. A salty drop slipped its way down Eva's freckled face and fell on the bowl of food.

Despite Eva's sadness, she couldn't help but think; At least that'll give it some taste.

"Do you see this?" Her mother spoke so casually as if her own daughter wasn't on the verge of dying a few seconds ago, pointing at the screen.

Eva was hesitant at first, but she couldn't help the curiosity as her hazel eyes glanced at the television. Leonardo DiCaprio was speaking to the bank employee, feeding her with compliments to get what he wanted.

Hannah shook her head, her short, red hair moving along. "I can't believe this. How dumb she must be for falling for his tricks? And he's even worse. All men are disgusting monsters."

Her mother was so judgmental. Eva knotted her auburn eyebrows, hazel eyes angry. "Not all of them-"

Her mother turned around, her eyes so glaring that it made Eva want to shriek and cry. "Don't tell me you're as dumb as her."

"I'm not dumb!" Eva couldn't help but burst out, "And you're wrong."

"I'm what?" Hannah's body twisted around, facing her daughter.

Eva's breath accelerated as her cheeks reddened in shame. She didn't like confrontations, especially with her mother. "You heard me." Eva hated how shaky her voice was. "You're wrong. Not all men are horrible like you're saying. There's dad-"

"Men are nothing but manipulative, selfish creatures who will eat you alive when they are done with you." Hannah hissed, interrupting Eva whilst glaring at her, "Keep that in mind before you do something a dumb person would do, like loving one of those men." Hannah shuddered at the mention of the word 'love' before she stood up, making the sofa creek. She turned off the TV and retreated back to her room.

As Eva was left all alone, in utter silence, she decided not to believe her mother's words. She decided to have faith in people, something her mother should be doing since she was religious.

But sadly, her mother was a hypocrite.

Evangeline was wearing the black jeans and sweatshirt Trudy chose for her the day before.

As Eva stood in front of the Regular Ice Cream Shop, the most famous coffee shop in Dessertville, she couldn't help her mind but overthink. She knew that Trudy was hiding her desperation for Zarek. She also knew that if Trudy didn't intervene, Zarek would take her feelings for granted.

Evangeline found herself feeling grateful for having a best friend like Trudy, despite Hannah's opinion.

Taking a deep breath, Eva entered the coffee shop. The bell indicated her arrival, which made Zarek spot her immediately. His electric green eyes weren't glaring, but glinting to see her. His lips weren't pressed in a scowl, but stretched in a smile. And most importantly, his defined jaw wasn't tense - if anything, Zarek was more relaxed than ever before.

Eva expected him to stand up or pull something mean at her - perhaps making fun of her for accepting his invitation and laughing at her lack of standards. But Zarek did none of that. Instead, his bored, grimaced face seemed to get brighter with each heavy step she took toward him.

It was just then that Eva aknowledged the reality of the situation.

Eva sat, not saying a word. Her voice was gone along with her courage. At the sight of his electric green eyes and blond hair, the butterflies in her stomach were awakened from their slumber. And like a flood, all her feelings for him rushed to her, overwhelming her. She remembered all the things that made her fall in love with him. Her mind reminded her of all the genuine smiles he offered her, of all the winks he sent her, and all the kisses she wished she tasted.

However, she just couldn't shake off all the moments she desperately stalked him, all the nights she spent crying over his many hookups, and all the insults and threats he threw at her. All these horrible memories were engraved in her soul, taunting her everytime she tried to live her life to the fullest.

Eva hated herself for her contradicted feelings, fearing that her love for Zarek would forever haunt her.

Zarek's blond, grayish hair was longer than usual, some of the hair was falling over his forehead in a messy way. He ran his hand over his jaw, a flash of insecurity passing in his electric green eyes. "Hey," Zarek said, "You're a half an hour late. I was afraid you wouldn't show up."

What? Eva had a mental freak-out, Half an hour?

Eva panicked, her soft, hazel eyes widening as her freckled cheeks reddened. She could swear she was there on time. She didn't know what to say or how to justify herself, so she stated what was in front of her.

"You need a haircut." Eva blurted.

As if on instinct, Zarek's hand flew to his blond hair. His pale fingers brushed through his long, soft hair and pushed it back. "Never fail to surprise me, Angel."

Evangeline blushed at the nickname. For her nickname to be said again after months, and with his husky, deep voice - it was surreal. For Eva, it was too good to be true.

Eva tossed her red hair back, focusing his attention on her hair instead of her blush. "I didn't even try."

Zarek smiled, flashing her his teeth. Even though the smile didn't reach his eyes, it managed to do wonders to Eva's heart. Still, she couldn't just turn a blind eye to how absurd and awkward this situation was. She wanted to believe that this was real, that Zarek was actually about to ask for another chance, but she couldn't live in illusions anymore.

She loved Zarek, she really did, and she wanted to give him a chance, god only knew how bad. But she couldn't do that to herself. How came someone like Zarek; dangerous, rich, and experienced, be with someone like Evangeline; innocent, nerdy, and a virgin?

Her and him would never work, because people like Eva would never mingle with people like Zarek, and people like Zarek would never be genuinely interested in people like Eva. It was just the way it was, unfortunately.

As the reason won over her emotions, Eva felt like a firm grip was squeezing her heart, trying to console all the feelings out of its vessels, only to flush the concentrated love syrup down the toilet afterwards.

So, despite the increasing heat that rose Eva's freckled cheeks, Eva stared right at Zarek's electric green eyes. "What do you want from me?"

Zarek leaned forward, his lean arms on the table supporting him. "Okay. I'll cut to the chase." he said, turning dead serious, "Whatever bad things I've done, you'll forget them. I'm planning on changing; I'll stop skipping, smoking, and sleeping around - all for you." he said, reaching for her hand and gracing it.

Eva fought the urge to pull her hand away. She was overwhelmed. Zarek was flaunting a lot of good things at her face that Eva couldn't keep up. It was too much at once.

Zarek put both hands on her own. "I was never good with rejection, and I just realized how bad I've been treating you. For all these past months, I thought I was the victim. I thought I had the right to treat you that bad, just because you turned me down. I didn't realize soon enough that I was becoming your enemy - your bully...."

The way he spat it, as if he was disgusted by himself. "Why now? What changed?"

"I had some time to think, and I observed you. I found out that I was pushing you away 'cause I wanted you close. And it was my first time feeling like that. I didn't realize until now that they were the feelings of attraction." Zarek admitted.

Eva frowned, "I-"

Zarek squeezed harder on her hands. "Here's the thing, Angel, I've always been so attracted to you. You got my attention from the start. But just when I thought things were getting somewhere, everything fell down. I don't know what went wrong last year for you to push me out of your life and not go to the dance with me; even though I don't really do dances. But that's the past. We will never bring up the past again."

Eva recoiled. "But why?" she demanded, "I can't just magically forget you bullied me for a year!"

"I already told you, I was attracted-"

"I don't understand," she cut him off, cheeks as red as her hair. Her embarrassment didn't stop her from speaking her mind, well aware that she might not get Zarek's attention like this again. "If you liked me so much, why did you bully me? Why were you so mean to me?"

Zarek sighed, clearly swallowing his dirty words that were about to spill. He conflicted with his tongue, battling on what answer was the right one. He breathed through his nose, electric green eyes soft. "I only hurt the closest to me." he muttered.

Zarek must've enjoyed making Evangeline confused, because that was all what he did recently. She cocked her head to the side, hazel eyes inquisitive. "What do you mean?"

"It doesn't matter." Zarek's smile erupted butterflies in Eva's stomach, tinting her cheeks rosy. "What matters is that I'm here now. And it's the dance again. A year later, I'm here, and I'm asking you for the second time to let me take you to the dance."

Eva was hesitant. She didn't know what to say. "I thought you don't do dances."

Zarek tightened his grip on her hands so hard that it hurt. "I will, if it means going with you." he said, "It's okay though, I know it's a lot to take in. But would you give me a second chance? Would you let me take you to the dance?"

"That rhythms." she dodged his question, pulling her hand with difficulty and tucking her red hair behind her hot ears.

Zarek took a deep breath, staring directly at Evangeline. A hint of insecurity was evident in his electric green eyes. "I'm serious." He sighed. "Answer me."

Eva thought about it for a moment, debating whether she should accept or not. Her gaze was darting from his pleading eyes to both of his hands capturing hers. His hands were cold and rough, probably like his heart. As Eva stared at it, she couldn't help but remember what Zarek had done to her.

After she rejected his invitation to the Spring Ball last year, Zarek showed her a completely different side of him. She never understood how someone could change so drastically so fast, going from gentle and caring to cruel and evil.

Her mother's words flashed in her mind, taunting her and telling her that all men were the same and that they would throw her away when they were done with her. After all, that was exactly what Zarek did to her after she rejected him.

No, Evangeline thought, I need to have faith.

She couldn't be judgemental like her mother. Zarek did become worse, but she had to believe that he would become better too. Besides, Zarek stopped the intense bullying, going from verbal abuse and degrading to ignorance in the past two mouths. Zarek was trying.

Eva's hazel eyes shifted from Zarek's clutch on her hand to his determined eyes that were waiting for a reply. She had to have faith and believe in him.

"So?" Zarek breathed, electric green eyes so determined to have her, "What do you say?"

Eva looked back at his eyes, mirroring his determination. "I want you as my friend,"

"What?"

Zarek snatched his hands away and jumped back, almost knocking the table behind him. A few heads in the coffee shop turned around, wanting to see what the commotion was all about. Zarek's electric green eyes struck a lightening, burning with rage. He looked ready to hurt someone.

Eva prepared herself for Zarek's blow up. She closed her eyes, the blush consuming her face, as she waited for his threats and insults. It felt like a deja vu since she just rejected him for the Spring Ball again and he was about to scar her heart another time. She waited, and waited, but nothing happened.

Eva peaked her hazel eyes open with difficulty, afraid of what she might see. Considering how quiet it was, she suspected that Zarek left the coffee shop altogether. But what she didn't expect however, was Zarek looking right at her, his electric green eyes... guilty?

"I deserve it," Zarek ran his hands through his long, blond hair and took a deep breath. He shook his head, a sad smile tugging at his lips, as he sat back down. "I deserve your rejection. Don't beat yourself over it, I understand."

Wait, what? No seriously, why hasn't he lashed out on me yet?

"Don't be so surprised," Zarek said, intensifying Eva's blush, "I'm a changed man." He casted her a quick glance, his electric green eyes apologetic. "I just realized I didn't offer you anything, even though I asked you to this coffee shop. What do you wanna drink, friend?"

Eva's smile was undeniable. Even though she just rejected Zarek again, he didn't hurt her and accepted it. If Zarek was manipulating her and had hidden intentions, wanting something else from her, he would've left the second Eva mentioned the word 'friend'. By staying, Zarek proved that he did change for the better and that he genuinely cared about her.

Having faith was right, contrary to her mother's opinion.

hello, readers. this chapter is the beginning of the actual story - the turning point, if you wanna call it like that.

don't forget, we're still playing hide and seek with that mother-effing motivation. help me win by voting and commenting. remember, we can beat it together.

enjoy.

Did Zarek really change?