CHAPTER 23

Once I had her hand,
I never wanted to let go of her.
Ottilie Weber

"Holy shit. Holy shit, I didn't expect this." I believe best friends always over react to everything. I guess it's their way of expressing love.

"It's not that big of deal, Zo." I sighed. It was a huge deal.

"Uh, excuse me." She raised her high voice and paused to give me a dramatic eyebrow raise. "My best friend finally gets a guy after a whole year of wallowing and following me like everywhere- no offense, I love you honey, but I think Sam would be pissed if I devoted my time to you only. Oh and not just any guy, by the way, Alexander freaking Evans."

"Oh that's real nice, you make me sound like a loser who won't leave her best friend and boyfriend alone."

"Hon, I didnt call you a third wheel. I totally saw this coming, for the record." Zoey threw her binder on her desk loudly, earning annoyed looks from the people around us. Unaffected by it, Zoey just flipped her hair and plopped in to her chair, continuing her chatter. "OMG, we could totally go on a double date now."

"Uh- sure. I guess. But we haven't exactly went on a date on our own yet." I said chewing my lip.

"Oh my goodness, there he is, there he is!" Evans walked in, with his perfect face and perfect hair and damn perfect body and his perfect outfit put together by the men's modelling department at Armani.

"Holy hell, Zoey stop smacking me."

He walked up to the occupied seat beside me and glared at the scrawny boy with glasses. The boy raised an eyebrow. Well, that's a great way to ask someone for your seat Evans, good job.

"Want something brah?" Malcolm asked throwing his hands out.

"How about your seat, brah?"

"I don't think so, plus Scarlett doesn't mind. Do you?" I cringed at him, he was trying so hard to look unaffected by Evans towering over him.

"Not a bit." I lied. Bothering Evans is fun.

Evans banged his fist on the desk with extreme force, and I swear the scrawny boy jumped up and squeaked in fear. Grumbling a little, he quickly picked his things up and walked away in a rush.

Evans threw me a smug look.

"Hey, Hazel." Evans said and beside me, Zoey nudged me with her elbows to let me know she caught that. Apparently Evans caught her as well. "Zoey, how are you?"

"Alex. I'm great, but I never pegged you for the shy type." Zoey smiled.

"I'm not..."

"I mean shy when it comes to people you've been totally in love with for 3 years."

Evans just gave Zoey a weird look and a little embarrassed too. Then looked back at Malcolm, who looked pretty upset.

"Evans." I gave him a pointed look.

"What?"

"Pat yourself on the back, because that was just so polite, wasn't it?"

"All for you, my queen."

"Awww, what a cutie! Alex, I knew you liked her but this is-"

"Zoey please." I silenced her and she just rolled her eyes. Mr. Felton walked in to class but starting talking to a student individually. "Apologize for being a bully."

"Sure Scarlett, maybe I'll go give Eric a hug too and then lick Scott M-"

"Alright, fine! I get it!"

"Pull out you're essay outlines students!" Mr. Felton announced, grabbing a piece of chalk. And Evans poked his pencil at me. Over and over.

♡♡♡

Evans and I walked out of class toether, in which he had bothered me all period. But eventually gave Malcolm a friendly pat on the back, who replied with a slight smile. Zoey decided to give us space, which was unnecessary, and told us to meet at our usual table.

"What do you think about PDA?" He asked as we weaved through the crowd.

"What?"

"Public display of affection. What do you think of it? "

"I know what PDA is, why do you ask?"

"Because I want to do this." He grabbed my hand and interwined his fingers with mine.

And I didn't pull away, I just grinned wildly and kept my eyes on my shoes as we walked off to lunch.

♡♡♡

Logan brought me to the small café, reassuring me that we'd solve everything. That he'd fix everything. He was reassuring himself more. Bree was already waiting at a table, sipping her coffee, frowning. I pulled my mittens off and rubbed my hands together trying to heat them up as we walked towards her.

"Brianna. Hello." Logan said, his voice deep and serious. I'd forgotten he'd soon be twenty, he never acted it. At least not when he's with me.

"Hi Logan." She greeted and gestures for us to sit. Then she looked at me and licked her lips, eyes glossy. "Hey, sweetie."

"Hi." I simply nodded.

"So, Brianna and I have been talking, and obviously, I'll be taking over your guardianship with the help of her lawyers." Logan explained. "Hey, I'm getting drinks. French Vanilla?"

I nodded in reply, then I continued staring at the table.

"Scarlett, dear. Just know that the past year has never been a burden on me. It was my choice to keep you. I can't say the same about my husb-" She cleared her throat. "David."

"You believe me?" I asked, looking up at her.

"I'd just arrived home and I didn't know what was going on. But I never expected you to leave."

"I wasn't lying. And I'd had enough of Dave."

"I know that now. Um- the tramp came back to retrieve her purse, she got that and a few scratches before she left." Bree laughed dryly, and she glanced at my bruise. "And as for David. I'm leaving him."

"Sorry, Bree." I whispered. Logan approached us with drinks in his hands.

"No, don't be. You're the reason I'm free of a dirty and lying pig. I really didn't know, Scarlett."

Logan took his seat, then as we drank up the warm sugary liquid, Logan discussed legal issues. I found out he called Bree more than a few times to check up on me and to send money. Logan got in to law enforcement and he had a bright future and a stable financial background to support the both of us.

I couldn't imagine Logan in uniform, and I cracked up while he explained how he'd 'totally wrecked a sonovabitch in a car chase' on his temporary internship. I'm sure he was lying, no intern gets to be in a car chase.

Bree looked a little lightened up when she'd said good bye to us, making us promise to visit her again. Things were going good. They were getting better.

"Scarlett, I want you to come live with me." I felt a but or an and coming.

"Okay... and?"

"And I've been thinking about setting up somewhere new. My university offers internships and career opportunities in New York, and I want you to come."

♡♡♡

A/N I just now realize Evans isn't much of a bad boy is he? He's too nice for that 😂😂