Chapter 2 Then
“Zoe, don't argue with me today alright. I get it, your sixteen, not six, but you cannot wear that dress to school today.” I said for the third time this morning, and also for the third time this morning, I was flipped the bird. Our parents had been gone for six months, and while Zoe and I had gotten into a new sense of normalcy, I wasn't exactly what you would call a father figure. I was eighteen, and had no idea what to do with my life. I'd graduated high school, and my only goal now was to make sure that Zoe did the same. Letting Zoe go into foster care wasn't an option. I obtained legal guardianship of her, and the rest was history.
I knew she was still mourning our parents, as was I, but the attitude from a sixteen year old girl wasn't something I was prepared to deal with. The eight hours a day that she was in school was the only time I felt at peace. And then there was Evangeline. We had been friends since we were kids, and she was the only person who stuck around after my parents died. She brought over food, and even taught me to cook a few simple meals. I was grateful to have a friend, and she was grateful to get out of her house. Evie was the main reason I didn't want Zoe in foster care. I'd seen the bruises, and the dark circles under her eyes. It broke my heart seeing her that way.
“Happy now?” Zoe asked, when she came bounding down the stairs in a pair of jean shorts.
“Open your backpack.” I said, crossing my arms over my chest.
“Seriously!” She said, stomping her foot and rolling her eyes, before removing her backpack and tossing it at me.
I caught it with an umph, and checked inside. It wouldn't be the first time she tried to sneak a different outfit inside only to change once she got to school. Satisfied that I'd won this round I tossed the bag back to her. “You better get going, or you're going to be late.” I said tossing her the keys to our mother's car.
“Thanks.” She said, before letting me hug her goodbye.
We were close, and even more so now that we'd lost our parents. You never knew how much time you truly had in life, and for that reason, we decided to never let each other feel alone. It was a silly promise, but one that I held onto. I was terrified, but I couldn't let her know that. For her, I was steel, and kryptonite, all at once. I watched her pull out of the long driveway, and let out a slow, deliberate breath before reaching into my back pocket to dial Evie.
She answered on the second ring, and I smiled. “Morning.”
“Morning stranger.”
“You wanna meet for breakfast?”
“Could I just come over there?”
“Yeah, sure.”
“See you soon.”
“See you soon.”
Looking around the kitchen, I quickly realized what a mess it was and began tossing all the dirty dishes into the dish washer. I ran through the house grabbing dirty laundry off the floor, and shoving random things into the hall closet. I don't know why I was nervous, it was only Evie. When I was sure the house was somewhat presentable, I ran upstairs to jump in the shower.
I had just made it to the bottom of the stairs when the door bell rang, and I half jogged to answer it, still pulling my tee shirt over my head. “Sorry.” I laughed, taking in Evie's expression. “I needed a quick- what's wrong?” I asked, studying her face more carefully this time. Before she could answer, tears began to fall from her eyes, and I pulled her inside, and into my arms in an attempt to comfort her. “Evie.. talk to me.” I whispered.
Pulling away, she slid her sweater from her shoulders, and let it fall to the floor. Arms trembling, she turned them over to reveal small round burns on her upper forearms.
“What happened? Who did this to you?” I asked with more anger than I intended.
“I forgot to wash his work clothes, so.. he punished me. A burn for every pair of pants I'd forgotten. He said next time, it will be worse. Jake, I didn't know where else to go, I just I needed to talk to someone.”
“I'll fucking kill him.” I said, reaching around her for the door. “Stay here.” I said with bite.
“Jake no!” She all but screamed, blocking my way. “Think about Zoe! They'd take her away.” She sobbed.
“Alright. Alright.” I said, pulling her into my embrace in an attempt to comfort her. “What can I do?”
“Just.. this.” She whispered.
I nodded against her head, kissing the top of it, before leading us both to the couch to sit down. I held her there while she cried, her body shaking against mine, wanting nothing more than to bust out of that door, and over to her foster family's house, but knowing this is where she needed me. “One more month right?” I asked, in a soothing tone. “You'll be eighteen, and you'll be out.”
“I'm sorry.” She said easing away from me, and sitting up. “You're my only friend Jake.”
“And you're mine.” I said with a small shrug. “You want to eat?”
She laughed, nodding enthusiastically. Evie loved food, and I loved watching her. She had a passion for cooking, and even her grilled cheese sandwiches tasted better than anything I ever could have made. We sat across from one another eating our impromptu breakfast and laughing like we always did. Everything was so easy Evie, and I wished that the rest of my life could be that way.
“How's Zoe?” She asked, around a bite of her toast.
“Pushing every limit known to man kind. I'll tell you one thing, I'm never having kids.” I joked.
“Never?” Evie asked, arching a brow. “I'm sure having your own kids would be entirely different. I want at least four.” She smiled, laughing at my facial expression. “I never had a mom and dad growing up, I'd like to think that I could give that to someone else.”
I nodded in understanding. “You will.” I said, reaching across the table to grip her hand. “Have you thought about what you want to do when you move out?”
“I got accepted to USC, and with my poor girl scholarship I should cover all expenses including the dorm room.”
“Don't call it a poor girl scholarship Evie, you've worked hard to get where you are. How you mange a 4.0 every year with everything that goes on at home is beyond me.”
“What about you?” She asked shrugging her shoulders, and changing the subject.
“I'm going to keep working at the supermarket until Zoe's eighteen, and then I've been thinking about enlisting. I just need to get away you know, clear my head. Find something to keep busy. I think it will be good for me.”
“The army? Wow.” She said, pulling her hand away.
“Hey it isn't for another two years, and besides I'll be home all the time to visit.” I assured her.
“It's a big step. But I can see you doing it. It suits you.” She smiled.
“What about you? You'll be doctor Evangeline Perez.”
“Yea in about seven years.” She joked, taking a sip from her Pepsi.
“It'll be worth it.” I said, sincerely. “It will all be. Everything we've gone through will eventually be worth it. Right?”
“I have to believe that it will be.”