CHAPTER FOUR
"promise"

Evelyn follows behind Kiara as they make their way into The Wreck, all of the Pogues seemingly blissfully happy with what they'd achieved today. Evelyn on the other hand is still a little worried that somebody is going bust them for what they did — even if she technically wasn't involved. They hadn't exactly done much to soothe her anxiety on the way over considering they kept talking about some 'gold' and how they're going to search for it.

Pope's words about John B wanting to stay connected to his father suddenly makes a lot more sense to Evelyn, this whole thing is to do with John Routledge and his search for The Royal Merchant. Admittedly she'd thought it was a bit of a joke at first, like a treasure hunt? But none of the Pogues looked as if they were joking.

"Hey, you okay?"

Evelyn looks over at Pope is already looking, a twinge of concern evident in his eyes. She can't exactly tell whether it's because he's worried she'll rat them out or if he's genuinely worried for her. There's something about the second option that makes her feel warm, liked, accepted. It's weird to her because she hardly knows the boy, they hardly know each other.

"Yeah, I'm okay," Evelyn says quietly, fiddling with the bracelet on her wrist. Pope sees the movement but does question it, instead nodding his head as if saying he believes her — she doesn't know whether he does or not. "Do you really think it's real?"

"I-i well I'm not sure but I'd like to think it is. You know, for John B?" Pope replies, the duo watching as Kiara hugs her father.

"Yeah,"

Evelyn and Pope stand beside one another in relative quiet after that. Kiara's father returns with some food after not long after, even if he doesn't look too happy about it, his eyes surveying them before stopping on the girl whom he'd never seen with them before.

"Evelyn?" He asks, shock clearly evident in his tone of voice.

"Hi Mr Carrera," Evelyn greets with a small smile.

"Kiara didn't tell me the two of you were friends,"

The two girls exchange glances. Evelyn can't exactly say they're friends, probably more so acquaintances.

"It's a new thing," Kiara speaks, walking over to stand beside her. Mr Carrera looks as if he's happy with that, throwing one last scathing glance at the boys before leaving them alone.

"Well at least he likes somebody," Kiara mumbles.

Evelyn laughs softly, shaking her head. It's a little odd to her that Kiara's parents so openly dislike her friends, anytime Evelyn made a new friend her mother was ecstatic. The first time she'd met Sarah, her mum was already planning their first sleepover.

Kiara gestures for the other girl to follow after her, inviting her to sit down and eat some of the food that's been brought out for them. Evelyn takes a seat beside John B, rather awkwardly too. John B sends her a reassuring smile, patting her shoulder before leaning over and grabbing something to eat.

The brunette smiles warmly at Kiara when she hands her a glass of water, sipping the liquid to try and keep herself from feeling incredibly out of place. She does, however, watch rather fondly as Kiara and John B begin to dance to the music playing around them. They look so carefree, so happy, it causes her heart to flutter a little.

Her eyes stray to Pope, the boy watching the duo with what appears to be a rather downtrodden expression, her mind instantly putting everything together. Rubbing her sweaty palms on her shirt, Evelyn stands up and walks over to him. His gaze moves to her as he notices the way she comes towards him, the girl holding her hand out for him.

Pope's eyes move by her when he sees JJ, the boy gesturing for him to take her hand — so he does. Evelyn leads the boy over to where JJ is sitting as well, holding her free hand out to him so that he's not left on his lonesome. Unlike Pope, he doesn't even hesitate, allowing the girl to pull him up and joining his friends.

A startled giggle falls from her lips as the blonde haired pogue spins her around and catches her rather clumsily. Then he grabs Pope and does the same, effectively dragging his attention away from John B and Kiara, Pope rolling his eyes as they continue to dance to the music — Evelyn feeling a little more accepted with each passing second.

"There you are! You've been M.I.A for the last day!"

Sarah is standing on the other side of her front door the following morning, seemingly relieved that she'd actually managed to locate her best friend. Evelyn had left her phone at home yesterday, meaning that she had no way of getting in contact with anybody — Sarah included.

"Sorry, left my phone here," Evelyn shrugs, moving out of the way to invite Sarah in. The blonde doesn't need a second invitation, walking into her friend's home. "What's the matter?"

"You missed a party last night," Sarah responds, sitting down on the couch. Evelyn sits down beside her, tilting her head as if to ask why that was such a big deal. "I-uh I told Topper I was ready,"

Evelyn is still confused. "Ready?"

Sarah gives her a look that causes Evelyn to breathe out an 'oh'.

"But then I couldn't go through with it," Sarah adds, a frown on her face.

"You don't have to go through with anything, Sarah. If you're not ready, you're not ready. It doesn't matter how long you've been together for," Evelyn reaches over and squeezes her friend's hand.

"I know," Sarah replies quietly. She then shakes her head. "Where were you last night?"

Evelyn bites her lip lightly as if she's trying to figure out what to say, causing her best friend to sit up a little straighter curiously. Evelyn can almost guarantee that Sarah's mind is going towards a secret boyfriend or something, which she doesn't have.

"A boy?" Sarah asks, eyes lighting up.

"Well yes but no..." Evelyn is cut off by an excited noise leaving Sarah's lips. "No, Sar, not like that. I was uh, hanging out with the Pogues,"

There's no judgment on Sarah's face but there is a flicker of surprise. Thankfully, Sarah isn't anywhere near as 'kooky' as her older brother who would probably hit the roof at the information. Topper would likely give her some lecture about how they're no good. There's no shortage of people on this side of the island who would tell her that she's stupid to hang out with them.

"Huh," is all the blonde says after a few moments. "I mean you were hanging around with them at the kegger the other night,"

"Drunk me has a mind of her own," Evelyn replies.

"Don't I know it,"

Evelyn opens her mouth to speak again when there's a knock on her front door. She isn't expecting anybody, so the noise startles her a little. Frowning slightly she makes her way to the front door with an equally curious Sarah behind her, eager to see what is going on.

When she opens it up, the teenager is met with a man who has a parcel in his hands. It's a little odd that it wasn't just left on her doorstep like most parcels are but she smiles and thanks him, taking it inside. Evelyn shares a glance with Sarah who shrugs her shoulders.

"Not expecting anything?" Sarah asks.

"No. It's addressed to me too. Maybe Alex is sending something from wherever he's filming this week," Evelyn responds.

The two girls take it to the kitchen counter, opening it up as quickly as they possibly can. Evelyn sticks her hand inside and brings out what appears to be a normal piece of jewelry. It's beautiful, a bracelet which is rose gold in colour and has tiny silver stones along the surface.

Sarah's hand then also goes inside the box, pulling out a card that has writing scribbled across the front of it. "Um yeah so this is a little creepy,"

"Creepy?" Evelyn asks the blonde, peering over at what she's reading.

"Dear Evelyn,
you're looking more and more like your mother with each passing day. I don't know whether that's a good thing or not, let's hope you don't turn out like her.

Please take this gift as a sign of good will and a promise that one day we will meet again,"

"Uh yeah so you were right about creepy," Evelyn breathes out, tossing the bracelet away as if it had burnt her skin. "Does it say who it's from?"

"Nope. That's all that's written on it," Sarah says as she turns the card to double check. "Maybe we should tell my dad,"

Evelyn shakes her head. "I'm sure it's just some stupid little prank,"

"Evie—"

"Look, if I get anymore then we can tell him, okay?"

Sarah looks at her for a few moments before nodding her head. "Okay. Promise?"

"Promise,"

Then they link their pinkie fingers like they've done since they were children, blissfully unaware of the presence looming outside the kitchen window.

NOTE!

Sorry this one was kind of short and boring, it'll pick back up in the next few chapters! Thank you so much for reading, hope to see you next time!

made by fireandbloods