Evangeline Channing

At the start of the night, I thought I knew how it'd all go. 

The night would be utterly perfect. 

Dancing until the sun comes up with my girls, partying hard; playing Twister 'til we could Twist no longer. At worst, I thought, maybe it would get too crowded. Maybe Isaac from Philosophy would be a pain in the backside and follow around all night.

Running up a hill in soaking wet socks with my heels and phone in hand was not one of the eventualities I'd imagined.

But here I am, rain mixing with the tears streaming down my face as I do my best to charge uphill, with no idea of where I'm headed. It's like my feet are taking me without the cooperation of my mind, and I'm running on shock, anger, betrayal; it's all welling up inside, becoming my midnight fuel.

I don't even know what to think. Babe says she's in love with me. Babe. The girl I've known since before I could walk. The person I trust with my life, my secrets. My best friend. Does that even matter? All 'best friend' is is a word, and if someone I call my best friend would try and destroy what I have with the person I love, then 'best friend' doesn't mean shit. Her confession doesn't mean shit.

Not that I would feel differently if she hadn't confessed to telling Mum about me and Eric. Would I?

I can't think. My mind's too noisy; the street's too quiet. I don't even know what to think, or how to feel, or where I'm going. All I know is that I need to leave; my body knows that too, as it carries me away from Babe's, faster than I knew I could go. I'm running up the hill homeward – at first, that's where I think I'm headed to. But what would I say? If I could hold back my tears for even a minute, how would I begin to explain to Mum what I'm feeling? Hell, I don't even know what I'm feeling.

My heart keeps pounding, and the ground beneath my feet keeps moving, pulling me up the eternal hill, until the harsh pounding won't let me think. Except now, the banging isn't in my chest. It's against a familiar red door as my hand thumps against it.

"Eric? Eric, are you home?"