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 Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2017 2:47 pm
Evan had told her she could come over or call him if she ever needed anything…and this was one of those times where she needed something. It wasn’t even a big something…she just…needed a friend. Really…really badly.
The text had been short, sent about ten minutes before she showed up at his house.
Quote: I’m coming over. I’m sorry, but I don’t want to be alone
When she made it to the house, she was almost crying. Almost. She was doing her best to keep the tears at bay, trying to keep herself together, arms folded tightly across her chest.
Gale knocked on the door as loudly as she could and bit her lip, trying to swallow back a sob that was trying its best to get out. It was going to be okay. She would be okay. Evan would fix this. He knew what to do, what to say…he would know how to make her feel better about all of this…
He had done it before, hadn’t he?
She knocked again, hoping that he was home…because if he wasn’t…she wasn’t sure what she would do.
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Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2017 3:10 pm
Evan had originally thought it was Tobias or Cambria texting his phone; he had been just about to get in the shower and figured they could have waited a few mintues but something—for whatever reason—made him go check his phone before getting in.
He was glad that he did.
He and Gale had talked before and he had made sure she knew that if she ever needed anything, she should come over. His shower could wait. He didn't know if she'd get it in time, but he texted her back a quick message:
Quote: I’m here, you don’t have to be.
He would have asked what was wrong or if she was okay if she wasn’t on her way over; he abandoned the idea of a shower and tried to straighten up a little. The house wasn’t messy, not ex except for his papers on the table. Whenever things were bad, he needed his comfort food; he put a pan of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese on the stove—just in time, apparently, because as soon as he’d finished getting everything ready, he hear her knock. He moved to the door quickly, pulling it open without even checking through the peephole or the window.
It hadn’t even occurred to him until afterwards; instead, he reached to take her hand and moved aside so she could come in.
“Gale, hi. I put on some macaroni and cheese but I didn’t know if you liked it. If you want me to make you something, let me know. But, uhm,” he gestured to the couch. “Do you want a seat? Do you want to talk about whatever’s going on?”
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Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2018 7:40 pm
When he opened the door, Gale felt her shoulders sag in relief. She hadn’t felt her phone vibrate in her pocket, but she was just so happy to see him, and hearing how calm his voice sounded made everything just burst at once and with a small nod, the brunette walked into the house and made her way to the couch, reaching up with both hands to try to stem the flow of tears from her eyes.
“I…I’m sorry to barge in like this I just…Zach and I were texting and I just don’t know what to do…he’s so…he’s just…”
She trembled slightly and pulled the phone from her pocket, giving the smallest of smiles as she saw Evan’s text and with a loud sniff, held the device out, open to the text messages she had just been sending. “I just don’t know what to do. He won’t listen to me…he’s so…so involved with himself that he doesn’t give a damn about what I’m feeling or what I’m thinking or the fact that I still want…”
Breaking off she shook her head. “I came to you…I figured that you would know what to do, Evan…you…you made me macaroni and cheese…? That…sounds really good right now…”
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Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2018 7:50 am
Evan hesitantly took the phone with careful hands. He sank into the couch and began to skim the text messages out of duty rather than nosiness. “I love Mac and Cheese,” he said, glancing up for a second. “Whenever I had a bad day, when I was younger, my mom used to make it for me. Only, she hasn’t done anything like that in a long time, so I do it myself. But, it makes me feel better, and I want to make you feel better. But if you have any comfort food that you would prefer, just let me know, okay?”
His eyes went back to the text messages and he hastily finished skimming before he held the phone back out to her.
“I dated a Zack once,” he said after a few seconds. “…They’re kind of oblivious, huh? I mean, he was sort of a jerk. He liked to push my buttons. But he did it on purpose, and I was too stuck on the idea of how much I thought I loved him to think that maybe he wasn’t so good for me. I mean, we only even broke up because he dumped me. But…”
He glanced up at Gale. “I don’t know so much about this guy. What’s he like? Or, what is it that you like about him? Why do you want to be with him? –I’m not being a jerk,” he added hastily. “I promise there’s a point to this. I want to understand. And I want you to know that it’s gonna be okay, all right? I’ll do anything I can to help out.”
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Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2018 8:08 am
Gale curled closer as Evan read, hiding her face against his shoulder, not wanting to see the words go by once more. “He…I don’t know. We met by chance and he was really flattering…and it turned into something…really great for a little while but…”
She tried to think of the best way to word things without sounding too…strange or wild, and finally, with a sigh she began to talk. “I was…I was getting mixed up with the wrong crowd. Before I met Zach, I was really getting mixed up with them…I was almost…but not quite dating a girl who I know was horrible for me, and there was another guy…but…I broke things off with the girl when Zach and I started dating and…and I was happy…until the girl’s friend found me and began issuing threats…if I didn’t do things for him he was going to hurt people…k-kill people.”
Gale swallowed hard, keeping her face buried so Evan wouldn’t be able to see the guilt there…and so she couldn’t see the horror on his face. “Zach found out or something…I don’t know. He tried to take this guy on and because of that…my…my stalker I guess? He killed two people right in front of me…and then Zach came over and I just…I was scared? You know? I was so scared…And what if he had followed Zach? Why had he done that? I was just so sure that he was putting me in danger and I freaked out…I yelled at him but I was so scared.”
She was trembling now, and the spot where her head was buried was quickly growing damp from her tears. “I wanted comfort…but all he did was say he was an idiot…and…and he left me on the floor…I can’t remember if I told you this or not…you found me the next day in the park…I…” Gale stopped for a moment. “I think I had convinced myself that it would just be better if I were to die…I wouldn’t have to feel guilt or fear and…and then there was you…and you stopped me…and I’m thankful for that…but then this happened, and I’m just…I’m so ready to just go back to that bridge and end it. I’m tired of feeling this way. I’m tired of all of it, Evan…I’m just tired.”
She felt a little better once all of this was off her chest, and finally Gale slumped against the boy, not bothering to even try to stop the tears now. He knew…pretty much everything…now he would either kick her out or really be what she needed…she expected him to kick her out though…any sane person would.
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Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2018 9:22 am
Evan seemed a little alarmed at her story, but this was Destiny City and he had to remind himself that bad things happened all the time, and she could have easily wound up being tricked by someone from the Negaverse. If you weren’t powered, how were you supposed to know that they were evil? Not all of them even looked nefarious.
He swallowed and drew her a little closer, trying to give her a reassuring squeeze. He wasn’t sure if he got the message across, but he listened quietly and considered all that she’d said before he answered, “You can’t be strong all the time, that’s why you’re so tired. You’ve probably spent a lot of energy keeping all this bottled up, yeah? That’s exhausting. Trying to pretend like everything’s normal when you’re dealing with all of that? It sounds really scary, and really dangerous.”
He didn’t care that his shirt was damp, or that she was resting against him; all he could think about was all the times when he was alone and needed someone and had to deal with things by himself. Things would have been different if he’d had Cambria with him back then, and all he wanted to do was be for Gale what he needed back then.
It wasn’t the same situation, but she was hurting, and he knew how that felt well enough.
“I don’t think you and Zach aren’t on the same wavelength. And if you guys haven’t been able to get on the same length so far, I don’t know if it’s something that’s going to happen. And I’m not telling you that to hurt your feelings, I promise, but I know what it’s like to be fixated on one thing, on one person, and try to do everything you can to make them like you, but…Gale, you have to remember that you’re the most important person in your life, and if he’s making you upset like this, it’s okay to be mad, and to cry, but you aren’t going to hurt forever—unless you let it hurt forever. And if I have my way about it, that’s not going to happen at all. And you can stay all day, all night, all week, if you need to, but I can show you a lot of things I learned how to do, when you’re feeling down like this. I mean—you’re a great girl! You’re really nice, and really sweet, and gentle. And I’m really sorry he couldn’t be there for you like you needed, because you really deserve it, and I’m not him, but I’ll be here and we can talk about all of these things, and try to figure out what we can do to make you feel better. We can cry and eat Mac and Cheese and watch bad movies, and go to the pet store and pet cute little animals, if you want. I mean, I know lots of things, and I want to help you. I want to make things okay.”
He wanted her to know she was important, and she could pull through this.
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Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2018 2:34 pm
She had been right to come over. Evan knew just what to say, just as Gale had hoped that he would. The relief that coursed through her was a little overwhelming and she suddenly felt even more exhausted. He was right. She was tired from holding all of this in…and honestly, she wanted to come clean about everything with him…for a moment, she almost spilled her real secrets…if he was part of the Negaverse…well then she would just end up as part of them, wouldn’t she? Did it really matter now?
If that was the case, at least she’d be safe from Epidote…
Some reservoir of strength surfaced though and the words died in her throat as Evan continued.
She could stay here…he would help take care of her…maybe one day she wouldn’t feel like a smile didn’t belong on her face…maybe one day she would actually start to feel better.
It wouldn’t be today…she knew that…and it seemed that Evan did too…which…which was more comforting than she could truly say.
“I think you’re honestly an Angel, Evan…I would be dead if you hadn’t found me…and…as much as it bothered me then…I think I’m…happy you distracted me…I’m happy that out of all of this…I got you as my friend…and I hope that…one day I’ll be able to see that you’re a better friend than anything…or anyone. I hope.”
She went quiet for a few moments, snuggling against his chest, the sound of his heartbeat like a comforting lullaby. “…I like cute animals.”
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Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2018 8:27 pm
Evan didn’t know how to respond to Gale—at least, being called an angel. The very concept seemed to surprise him, or maybe it was just the gravity of her words. She might have been dead.
He wanted to tell himself that someone else would have found her, or that she would have talked herself out of it; he wasn’t sure how he was supposed to feel about his own role in this.
Though Evan wasn’t sure he knew what he was doing, or even thought he was qualified to be doing anything, he wrapped an arm around her and tried to stroke her back reassuringly. He didn’t want to tell Gale that he was terrified of animals these days, even cute ones, but he suggested, “Then, why don’t we eat some Mac and Cheese and put on a dumb movie or something for a bit, and then we can go to the pet store and borrow their sweetest, cutest animals? No pressure, no stress. Just you and me, having a good time. Doing things friends should do. Because,” he gave her one more squeeze.
“You really sound like you could use a break—and some time to relax and unwind.”
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Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2018 8:58 pm
The arm around her was so comforting, that it actually brought a small smile to her face. It was short lived…but it existed. Wasn’t that the goal? Existing?
With a nod, Gale let her eyes close once again. They would eat Mac and Cheese and watch a dumb movie…and just be friends. She needed friends. Wanted friends…perhaps that was what she had really been missing was that one central….person who actually cared.
“That sounds…really nice, Evan. Thank you.” She went quiet after that, content to sit there with her friend…and determined to feel better. Or at least…determined to try.
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