Back home, I tried calling Belle several times after leaving her a series of texts but she never picked up.

Where was she? Why did she disappear when I needed her? I thought she would always be there.

For all the past few hours I had been haunted by the thought that I did something wrong. That maybe now Amber was upset with me because I put her on the spot or whatever.

I thought I had finally found a friend but apparently I managed to screw it up once again.

"God, why does life have to be so difficult?" I moaned as I lightly punched the wall.

After nervously scrolling the (very short) contact's list, I called my cousin Tyler.

"Hello, Pete?" thankfully, he picked up.

"Hey, Tyler. Yeah, it's me."

"Hey, what's up?"

"I was wondering if you'd come by," I said in one breath, "you know, to talk."

"Sorry, Pete," he said, "it's really not a good time. I'm in over my head with exams. I have no time."

"Oh," I mumbled, "I understand."

"What is it?" He then asked me. "Is something wrong?"

"No, don't worry." I lied. "I just wanted to hear from you."

"I see. Well, sorry again. I'll try to be there in two weeks, when I'll be done with exams, alright?"

"Yeah. Cool. See you then." I hung up.

Two weeks. I couldn't wait two weeks just to talk with someone.

I found myself walking back and forth the room in frustration, until I saw the laptop on my desk. What if? I thought to myself, What if I have this damn talk with Evelyn?

Problem was that I had told Evelyn the craziest of stories about me. I couldn't just go from 'cool new kid on the block' to 'loser of the year'.

Why did I even tell her all those lies anyway? Was I just trying to look cool? Or was I, like, flirting with her?

I didn't care about any of that, for I took the laptop, sat on my bed, and opened Facebook.

She was online. She seemed to spend a lot of time on the internet.

– Hey, Evelyn.

I impatiently waited a few minutes.

– if it isn't prince charming himself!

I smiled.

– Yeah, the one and only.

And there I was again with that fake badass attitude. I couldn't help myself, could I?

– what's poppin

– Wanna Skype?

I didn't really think before asking her that. It was a very rushed and unusual decision, but it was probably the only thing that could make me feel better in that moment.

– of course. I'm already there.

And she was. She seemed to be online pretty much everywhere. I took a deep breath and called her, webcam deactivated.

"Heya," she answered the call after a few seconds, "Peter Charming!"

"Yeah," I said with a bit less enthusiasm than her, "here I am."

"What's up?" That lisp she had always made me think that she talked like that on purpose.

"Well..." I started to elaborate.

"Awesome day as always, right?" She suggested.

"Yeah..." I mumbled, as I couldn't help but giggle when she talked. "No, actually. I'm afraid I might have eluded some details about myself from you."

"Well, what do you mean?" She sounded perplexed.

"You see, Evelyn," I sighed, as I realized that was the first time I called her by her name and it felt strange, "I'm afraid I might have created a character around my persona that does not quite resemble my actual essence."

"Oh, I see," she noted, "and is this bizarre way of talking part of this character of yours?"

I laughed as I realized that I acted all kinds of fake around her. "You're right. I don't really talk like that. I don't even know why I'm doing it."

"Tell me about you, Peter." She said, and it was the first time I heard her calling me by my first name too. Strange, again. "The real you."

"Alright," I sighed, "I'm not really narcissistic. I don't think I'm awesome. My life is definitely not that 'sun always shines/living the dream' crap. Today was worse than yesterday. And yesterday was pretty bad too. I am the furthest thing from an awesome person. I'm what cool guys call a 'loser'. I go around and make people think that I'm vain to distract myself from the constant pressing thought that my life sucks. I guess I try to make myself believe that I'm awesome too, this way. So that I could stop wishing to kill myself."

"Oh, wow..." she commented, "that was unexpected."

"Yeah," I snorted, "this'll probably scare you away. But it felt good to let it out, nonetheless."

"It won't scare me away, Peter," she assured, "after all you told me, I would be a big jerk if I were to leave you."

"Everyone did," I breathed, "I wouldn't be surprised if you did too."

"Then that means that everyone's been a jerk to you," she pursued, "and it's probably for your best if they left you. Don't need to have assholes around."

"You're probably right," I agreed, "yet it's not really cool. Being alone all the time. I'm not a big fan of that, you know. Even though my mom assumes that I'm antisocial."

"Whoever likes being alone?" she railed, "Your mom thinks you're antisocial, why? Because some days you prefer to stay home instead of going out? Well, that doesn't mean a thing. It just means you like your own company. I like that too. It's actually even better than those who can't live without being around other people."

I was shocked by how empathic and understanding she actually was. I agreed with what she was saying and then I began to explain her about everything.

I told her about Andrew and what he did to me. I told her about Josh. About Amber. Erasmus. Even about Belle and Tyler. When I talked to her I felt like I was finally breaking free of the chains I had tied myself to. And, in that moment, I was glad I spoke to her. For I found a friend where it wasn't supposed to be.

Evelyn Tiger brought the light in my darkest days. She gave life a whole new meaning. She redefined happiness and sadness and company and loneliness for me. She made me realize that you don't have to be a cool dude to be awesome. You just need to be yourself.

"Might I add, Peter," she stated after a long time of chatter, "I like the real you way better than the fake one."

I blushed and was so glad she couldn't see me. "Thanks. But, you know. I'd like to be that way for real. I don't like the way I look. And I wish that I could be okay with it. But every time I see myself in a picture, I just see every defect I have and I wish to change them all."

"Well, Peter, we can't change that," she explained, "we all have defects. What we have to do is learn to accept them. For instance, I have a word for you. Eccedentesiast."

"And what kind of disease is that?" I joked.

"It's someone who hides behind a smile." She explained. "Someone who tries to repress pain by putting on a fake smile. And I believe that's you."

"You're right," I breathed, "that I am. I didn't think there was a word for it."

"That should tell you, you're not the only one. There are so many people like that, so they made a word for it."

"Thank you, Evelyn." I said, "You're an amazing person. I wish I would have talked to you earlier."

"Doesn't matter," she assured, "I'm glad you did now. I still believe you're awesome. Now more than ever."

I blushed again and chuckled. "Say that again," I implored her.

"What?"

"Awesome."

"You're awesome, Peter Charming."

And it didn't end there. We talked some more. I swear we could have talked all night long. But, eventually, my parents started yelling and I had to quit the call.

It was amazing. A real friendship was born in one conversation. Without even looking at each other. I couldn't help but send her a quick chat message after the call, too.

– Thanks again, Evelyn Tiger. You're Avsam.

– and what is that supposed to mean?

I giggled.

– It's what "Awesome" sounds like when said by you. Avsam.

– lol. that's lol. ok. u're Avsam too then, Peter Charming.

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Finally some happiness in this chapter! Did you like it? Let me know with a VOTE and a COMMENT!

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I'll see you all next week! Thanks for sticking around. You all are Avsam!

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