Staring down at my mug filled with coffee, I released a heavy sigh as I bit my lip, trying to get my head cleared out. Never would I have thought that this situation will turn out like this. I thought everything would have stopped with Gray.

But nope, there comes Evan.

There are far worse things that could happen, but I'm pretty sure I would like all those to stop now. I've reached my maximum quota.

Like, seriously, if another surprise appears, I'm going to punch it back into its hell hole.

"Can't sleep?" a voice behind me asked. Not even turning around, I hummed in confirmation as I took a sip of my hot drink.

Evan breezed past me and went to the coffee machine, pouring himself his own mug with the pot that I made. Looking up at the clock perched at the wall, he clicked his tongue at the time being shown. Waking up at four in the morning right before you have to go to a five hour drive isn't really a good thing.

He leaned over the kitchen island, facing me as this piece of furniture separated us. He stared at me, drinking his caffeine filled beverage before he spoke, "What is it this time?"

"What?" I questioned.

"Your dad? Your cousin? Family? Gray? Erin?" he listed off all of the possible reasons for this problematic expression, "Or is it me?"

Is there an 'all of the above' option?

When I didn't he answered, he exhaled loudly, "I'm not apologizing you know, but I will empathize you for everything else."

"How?" I suddenly asked out of the blue, keeping my voice hushed so I wouldn't wake up my dad, "How can you figure me out? Even Gray, who has been with me for two years, can't figure me out of just single glance."

He blinked at my sudden inquiry but his composure didn't shake. He just kept on drinking from his mug as he made me wait in agony for his answer.

"You're an open book, Clara," he stated smoothly, "All anyone really has to do is look."

I paused at his reply and he nodded at me before placing his mug into the sink, walking around the counter and towards the staircase, "Get some sleep, we still have to go home in a few hours."

How long has he been looking at me? When did the turn of events happen?

That single statement also was a slap of reality of the fact that even though I had Gray, he wasn't really looking at me. I may be under his arm, he may have his hands on me, but for all I know, his mind could have been somewhere far away.

Evan is not supposed to fall for the blonde cheerleader, just as Erin is not supposed to fall for the bad boy. Those siblings are just breaking every rule in the book.

Deciding to ditch my half-empty mug of coffee, I decided to go back up and sleep until my alarm rings at the original time that I wanted to wake up.

That morning, we packed up all our bags and placed our rooms back into their sheet-covered state. Dad prepared breakfast for us and soon enough, it was time for us to drive back home.

"Thank you for the hospitality, sir," Evan said as I leaned against my car, waiting for him.

"Come back anytime," dad grinned, patting his back, "The whole family liked you."

Just saying dad, you're not making things any easier.

Evan smile brightly and nodded, saying one more goodbye before rounding the car and getting into the passenger side. Pushing myself off, I wrapped my arms around my dad as he embraced me, "See you soon, Clara."

Although it felt awkward and somehow forced, I managed to open my mouth, "Bye dad."

He reached out and smoothed my forehead, "Come to me anytime, you've done nothing but worry over the weekend."

"Even you noticed," I mumbled before nodding, "Thanks dad."

Giving him one last tight lipped smile after he released me, I slid into the car and fastened my seatbelt. As I was checking my purse to see if I forgot anything, Evan started talking, "That was kind of fun."

"Yeah," I muttered under my breath with a sarcastic tone, "My family loves you and probably thinks you're going to visit again as my boyfriend."

When the words escaped my lips, I instantly regretted it. It was not Evan's fault and it was not my family's fault, I'm just being temperamental for everything piling up. Slowly looking back at him, I was so ready to apologize.

I'm outmost flattered to receive this guy's affection, but he was right to suggest that we should wait. I was expecting him to explode at my sudden side comment, but just like the usual Evan fashion, he lifted a hand and did the light chop on top of my head.

"I told you stop that," he told me, "Drop the awkwardness, Clara. You still piss me off half of the time and I'm pretty sure you want to slap me during some situations."

What felt like the first time since the confession last night, I allowed myself to let out a small laugh. Turning to the front, I switched to Drive and stepped on the pedal, "I'm not going to deny that."

It was a good thing that this guy was easy to get along with or else, I would have no idea what to do.

Halfway through the drive, we switched places because at some point, I was starting to droop. The only thing missing was for me to drop my head onto the steering wheel due to the pure lack of sleep.

I don't know how many hours he was on the road, but soon enough, Evan was shaking me awake. As I slowly opened my eyes, I realized that I had managed to curl up into a ball on the passenger side and we arrived at Evan's house.

"That was fast," I mumbled, stretching my limbs.

"Easy for you to say," he scoffed as he unfastened his seatbelt, "You were snoring the whole time."

"I was not snoring!" I protested and he chuckled as he got out, going to get his bags from the back. Rushing to follow, I wobbled a bit as my shoes met the ground. Since I was in such an awkward position, my feet fell asleep and I now I feel like a thousand needles are poking through them right now.

With his overnight bag in his hand, he walked to the front door and I trailed obediently behind him, "Thank you for coming with me."

He looked up from his attempt to slot the key into the keyhole and showed me a smile, "You're welcome, I'm glad to help a damsel in distress."

"I think we both know I'm no fair damsel," I laughed as he unlocked the door and clicked it open.

"Honey, can you grab the bowl from the living room," we heard Evan's mom say.

We turned to each other before he shrugged. Did she have some kind of ultrasonic hearing? Because I'm pretty sure she couldn't have heard us coming in if she was standing inside the kitchen. It wasn't like we rang the doorbell to signal her that her son was home.

As we walked into the room so that Evan could do his chore, we halted in our steps to see the figure holding the dirty dish Mrs. Matthews wanted.

"Holy," Evan muttered at the same time I said, "Shit."

Will stopped his movements when he saw the both of us standing there. Evan's bag dropped onto the floor as he gaped in shock at the scene.

Somehow, whenever I'm in this house, I always find a surprise guest.

"It's just one bowl, honey," Mrs. Matthews emerged from the kitchen, her tone light as if she wasn't doing something completely wrong.

Ma'am, with all due respect, this is so fucking wrong!

When she noticed the two of us there, she gasped, "You're early!"

And Evan was having none of this.

"What the fuck mom?" he yelled, gesturing to my step-father.

The woman opened her mouth, trying to explain herself, but it was obvious she was too shell-shocked to speak. Evan was mad and at the same time, I could literally see the sadness forming on his features. He bent down and grabbed his bag before turning around and walking back out.

"Evan!" I called out after him, but it was useless, he just kept going.

Glaring at Will, my anger at him doubled. Looking at around that's within reach, I grabbed one of the picture frames and chucked it towards his direction, "You sick bastard!"

"Clara, let me explain," he said.

I've heard that line too many times to know that nothing good will happen after.

Grabbing another picture frame, I threw it at him before running after Evan. He was sitting on the sidewalk, his head in his hands.

Oh gosh.

Bending in front of him so I was at his level, I tried to pry his hands away, "Evan, look at me."

This is giving me huge sense of déjà vu, it was like I've done this before.

"Erin took the car!" he groaned.

"I'll drive you," I declared, trying to calm him down. To be honest, I'm not really in the position to do this since I'm freaking pissed at Will, but I know he's hurting more than me.

He's already part of an estranged family, seeing that ordeal with his mom just adds more fuel to the fire. I felt the pain he was going through when I found out that my mom was having an affair with Will and I want to do nothing but to give him comfort.

Also to kick Will where the sun doesn't shine.

"I just want to get out of here," he muttered.

Rubbing soothing circles on his cheek, I nodded, "Okay, where do you want to go?"

He took out his phone and showed a text message from his friend. The one sent by him was asking permission if he could stay over there with him and his friend saying yes.

"Get in the car," I said to him, "I'll take you there."

Honestly, the women in his family are starting to get into my bad side.

He pointed the directions towards his friend's house. Thankfully, he still had some fresh clothes that he didn't manage to use in that overnight bag of his so he was good for another day. If he didn't, he would have no choice but to go up to his room and that would give his mother enough time to corner him and I'm sure he wouldn't like that.

"Evan!" Mrs. Matthews called out just as I was about to drive away. I could see Will right behind her, looking over her to see us inside the vehicle.

Evan turned the direction of his mother before telling me, "Drive."

When we arrived at the house, Evan silently took off his seatbelt and opened his door, "Hey."

Turning his head to me, I tried to show him a gentle smile, "I'm here okay?"

"I know," he said, "Thank you, Clara."

I waited for him to reach the front door and to ring the doorbell. When it opened, his friend looked past him and was obviously surprised to find out that I was the one who drove him.

I didn't stay for the rest, I simply stared forward again and started my journey towards my house. If Will thinks that he can easily get away with this then he's goddamn wrong.

Nobody's safe from this queen's wrath, even the dear step-father. You're not a fucking catch and you will never be one as long as that useless junior of yours keep parading out as if it's god's gift to man. News flash, it isn't and I'm pretty sure it's as small as a needle.

But then again, how would I know? I can't even see it.

When I was arriving at my house, I groaned when I saw the familiar vehicle that belonged to Gray parked right outside. I seriously don't want to deal with him right now or ever.

Noticing me, I watched him as he unbuckled his seatbelt and turned off his car, giving me sufficient time to pull into the usual spot. As I got out, Gray also exited his vehicle before jogging up to me with a single flower.

Are we really going to replay this scene?

"Clara," he called out and as he got nearer, I rushed to the front door.

Judging by the length of our legs, I'll let you guess who won in this chase.

"Can we please not repeat this?" he questioned as he caught my arm, gently making me turn to him, "The last time didn't go so well so I don't want this to be the complete replica of that."

Difference right now? He's no longer my priority.

He lifted up the flower – a single pink carnation. It wasn't like the last one that looked like it was pulled out from the side of road, but this one was gently cared for, its petals still hydrated and well.

This was strange, wasn't the classic choice for men a red rose? Also, I predicted that Gray would most likely go with the cliché ones instead of this flower.

Nonetheless, when he presented it to me, I took it from his hand and observed it. Brushing my fingers on the petals, I felt that it wasn't just rough handled as a form of a half-assed apology.

"I feel like if I attempt to say a speech, you would just knee me in the balls and go inside your house," he deadpanned.

Oh would you look at that, he's learning.

He waited for me to laugh, but when I didn't, he exhaled loudly before continuing, "But I didn't like it when you walked away last Friday."

"Boo hoo," I muttered in a sarcastic tone, "You done now?"

"And you were right, I neglected you."

I know I'm right and I'm also right when I say that if he doesn't go, I would be dragging him by the ear away.

"You're just thinking of ways to murder me, aren't you?" he said.

Give this man a medal.

I showed him a tight lipped smile and he nodded, turning around without a single word. Giving his retreating figure a dirty look, I reached for the doorknob behind me and got in.

"Clara?" mom emerged from the living room, "Welcome back home, I was starting to get lonely without anyone making any kind of noise in here."

My hands balled up into fists at the sudden reminder of Will's infidelity. I could always just tell me mom, but the chances of her believing me is zero to none. Does she deserve to feel completely heartbroken when she finds out by herself?

After what she did to dad, hell yes.

"So how was the wedding?" she asked, trying to spark up a conversation, "How are Hallie and Michael?"

She knows my cousin and her long-term boyfriend, they met before the divorce. Were they close? Nope. Actually, I felt like dad's side of the family always had this resentment over my mother – even when they were still married – yet they welcome me with open arms.

I'll never understand family ties.

"Good," I replied shortly.

After that, she quickly got that I was in no mood to talk, "I see that you're tired, go on and rest."

Climbing up the stairs, I went straight to my room and dumped my bag on the floor next to my bed as I crashed down on the soft mattress. Glancing towards the flower, I pulled out my phone and searched the meaning of a pink carnation.

Carnations are said to hold many meanings with its different colors. A pink one, is something appropriate when you missed out on a dinner date or simply were too tied up. Its meaning can be summarized with the phrase, "I'll never forget you."

Shooting up, I dropped my phone on the bed and tugged on my hair in complete frustration. This is bullshit, Gray Martyn, bullshit!

Don't just suddenly break my heart then come back with this flower. You're giving me false hope again.

-------------------

Did this chapter make any sense? My brain, in simple terms, is mush right now. For two weeks, I didn't have a single decent sleep, even on the weekends, and that's going to be the routine for the whole month since my finals is at the last week of May. Tomorrow, I have to leave the house at 4:30 for a field trip and to be honest, I'm just tired.

I even forgot that it was update day. I was lying on bed when I suddenly realized that shit, I need to update. Don't worry, writing is the most relaxing thing that I do and I love updating for you guys.

Dedicated to Mondemazing for the cover above. Check him out, he's one of the friendliest readers out there.

Question: Should she tell her mom or just let her mom know on her own? Why?

Now if you'll excuse me, I'll go back to my darling bed and get as much rest as I can before my stupid alarm decides to wake me up. Don't forget to vote, comment, and follow. I love you and I shall see you all next chapter.

P.S. heylilstalker I'm sorry but I was a little too late when I read your comment. I was literally in Capiz (Roxas City to answer your question) for less than 28 hours before I went to the bustling Manila again, maybe when I come back with a little more time. 

By the way guys, be proud because this city mouse was able to climb the rocky cliffs by the sea without dying. Although it included me screaming at my cousins for even convincing me to do it, it was totally out of the blue and I was wearing a dress. RIP to my shoe that got ruined during it.