Everything

Chapter 5

Everything ~

EVELYN

Pain can kill.

And I'm not talking about physical pain but emotional pain.

I almost died years ago, and when I survived that heart-wrenching moment, I promised myself never to get involved with anything that would put me in that state again.

That's why when my father wanted to buy me a beautiful British cat, I declined it.

What if it died? Or one day abandon me for someone else?

Pets were cute and loving, but they could go and never come back, or they might get hit by a car.

I thought of every possible scenario that would make me cry and decided against it.

"Eat slowly and drink water," Vee says, putting more rice on my plate.

"Will you tell me why you're in my small apartment? Sulking?"

"I just felt...disturbed and sad today. Nothing happened; I just felt sad, and I decided to come see you." I say—lie to her face and watch her smile.

"Eat more; I'll get you more stew. You can eat to your heart's desire; we're not in Albion where you eat less and exercise more. Tueh!" She rolls her eyes, and I laugh.

We Albion women were trained to eat less and exercise more to keep our bodies fit for a capable suitor.

"You make it sound so bad." I laugh.

"Oh please, didn't you see Athena last year, during the Fay dance? She looked so skinny, I honestly thought she would break when she was called to dance for the night."

"And she looked very happy." I remind her.

"Oh please, she can never look displeased. Feed her poop and ask her how she is, and she'll tell you her day is going well." I burst into another laugh.

Coughing and laughing, as tears run down my eyes.

"Oh, my God." Vee joins me in laughing, and I sigh, grateful I have a good cover to cry.

I clean my eyes and take the plates to the kitchen.

"Have you painted anything recently?" Vee asks.

"No. Why?"

"I need to hang a painting in this apartment; it feels soulless."

I look around the room. It does feel soulless, as though it doesn't house a human.

"I will have a painting sent out to you, Milady." I bow slightly, and she does the same.

~•~

I stretch my arms and heave a deep sigh of relief as I hear a crack.

I break my neck gently, and I suddenly feel more relaxed than I have been these past few days.

Exams are fast approaching, and Vee and I were planning to have our holiday in Florida, enjoying sunlight and freedom.

"Ms Evelyn?" I looked up from my mat.

I was in yoga class with a few females from my class and other seniors.

"Hello, Sir, good morning." I greet.

"They weren't lying when they said Lady Evelyn was the prettiest of them all." He says, and I laugh, thanking him.

Mr Shaw directs me to his office, and when I was done and rightly clothed, I waited for him to tell me why he brought me to his office.

"So, we're having a mural painting of the Hockey team. You know CrownFord University has exceeded many Universities in the past years in Hockey and many other things, so we want a mural of our stars somewhere fancy for the whole world to see, but first, we want it in our school Wall of Fame." He explains.

I nod; that's actually a good one for publicity, but he is yet to tell me why I'm here.

"So we want you to paint the boys." He says.

"I heard from Ms Seth that you are a great artist. I hope you help us with this. An artistry student of CrownFord University painting CrownFord University and New York Hockey stars. Imagine the influence." He continues.

Painting the hockey players means I'll have to paint him too. Stay within an inch close to him, talking to him and—

Definitely not.

"I don't think I can pull this off. It's too much of a task." I say.

"We talked to your parents about it first, Ms Evelyn, and they were so delighted. And we would be grateful, and of course we'll pay you for the trouble."

It's been so long since I last held a paintbrush. How long? Six months? Nine? Or more?

"I'll think about it," I assure him.

••

I leave Mr Shaw’s office with my head spinning.

"How can you tell everyone you never had a first love? I thought I was your first love; you wound me, Alex." I hear the familiar voice say as I round the corner and step out of the lounge of the teacher's block.

"Don't you have class, Tiffany? I've been indulging your bullshit for so long, and you think we're romantically together?" Alexander picks up his phone and scrolls through, not batting an eyelash in her direction.

She rolls her eyes and turns to me, and I look away instantly.

Students sit at each table, writing and chatting away.

"Evelyn." I hiss and turn to the voice. I didn't want them to acknowledge me.

It is a classmate. Her name is Rose, and we share the same table. She's sweet and a nerd.

"I'm so sorry for taking your notebook yesterday without permission. I was so tired and didn't have it in me to find you. Are you okay though?" She asks.

I nod, confused.

"Yeah, why?"

"Kieran said he saw you crying yesterday. Outside the interview hall." She drops, and I swear the whole room stops talking, and I wish the ground could open and let me fall inside, peacefully.

TBC