Quick A/N: I just want to say thank you to everyone who's been reading the story this far. I'm so appreciative of each and every amazing person who decided to read a chapter of this story, and I can't believe it's past 10,000 reads! Thank you so much!
“Evelyn, come in here!” I called out. I’d placed three newly washed shirts by Mom on my bed, and two pairs of jeans. Tonight was either going to be the greatest night of my life, or one of my worst experiences ever. Either way, I had a date.
“What could you possibly need right now?” Evelyn complained, slamming my bedroom door behind her. I looked up to find her in what I’m assuming her dress would be. It was a periwinkle color with dark blue flowers complementing the bottom of it. Her hair must’ve still been wet because she’d pulled it up into a towel with another one on the back - Dad only rented the dress for her. My sister typically never wears anything else but mascara and chapstick, so to see her cheeks covered in glitter was new. “I’m busy.”
“And I don’t know what to wear.”
My sister huffed. “That sounds like a you problem.”
I raised an eyebrow. “You look stupid,” I told her.
“Yeah? Well, there’s a process to looking amazing Ezie,” My sister placed a hand on her waist. “And I’m in the middle of it.”
I smiled. “I don’t think the end result will be too good.”
Teasing always works on Evelyn. After she became worried about joining larger and more advanced volleyball clubs, I joined Eric in teasing her, stating she’d always be weaker than men anyways and that she’d become a housewife. Within that week, she was the top player at clubs and the most desired player on our school team. This year, she’ll be playing games with the senior team. “Go with the darker blue,” Evelyn huffed. “It brings more attention to your eyes.”
Glancing down at the button up, I considered the other two options - a regular white button-up shirt and the plain T-shirt I’d worn to a pep rally. “Thanks.”613Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjTwSpd6p8a
My sister rolled her eyes, slamming my bedroom door behind her. Outside, I heard Dad yell at her to stop. I took the shirt I’d been wearing off and began buttoning up my new shirt. From my room, I could hear Eric’s girlfriend on FaceTime judging his outfits with laughter.
A sense of excitement took over me. I’m intent on keeping my own promises, which means I’ll be dancing with Delcan tonight. No matter how many eyes watch us, it’ll make some statements about me. Maybe for weeks, rumors will fly around about our relationship, or for months, I’ll get bullied. I might even be taken off most sports teams.
But none of that really seemed to matter. Tonight, I could let everything go for three minutes and dance with Delcan.
After I’d pulled on a pair of black jeans, I received a text from Evvie.613Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpl61awT1L4
Evvie:
No warning, but I’m here.
I just HAVE to see the damage we’ve done, lol. 613Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7enreLGLjr
I opened up my bedroom door, careful to check if Dad was anywhere around. Mom was fully down the hallway, helping Emmanuel with the toy he’d broken. I gave Emmanuel a raised eyebrow before making my way downstairs. The minute I opened the door, Evvie covered her hand over her mouth, smiling.
“The...hair,” she laughed. I pulled her off me as she reached up to fix my unbrushed hair. “You look so stupid!”
I fixed the part of my hair Evvie messed up as she pushed past me into the house. “You don’t look any better, really.”
Evvie rolled her eyes, knowing I was lying. She was wearing a white sweater dress with a jean jacket over her waist. Instead of wearing heels like I knew Evelyn had to, she’d put on a fresh pair of black converse. It was probably her way of telling her mother she wouldn’t listen to what they wanted her to do - however her hair was curled. “I look better than you do.”
“Everyone looks better than he does,” Evelyn responded, walking downstairs. Still, her hair was above her head in a towel, but the expensive white heels Dad had rented for her were on her feet. My sister’s eyes went to Evvie’s dress. “No fair! I’d love to be wearing that.”
I looked over to Evvie, who watched my sister in confusion. “Then you should,” she said. “Just say you need to bring a purse and then sneak clothes in there. Seriously...I can’t remember a time when you wore a dress for the fun of it.”
My sister smiled. “Brilliant idea.” With that, she rushed up the stairs, one of her heels twisting behind her.
“I thought she looked fine,” I told Evvie.
“She always looks fine,” Evvie responded, shrugging. “But it’s not like she’s dying to wear heels and curl her hair.” She paused for a moment, observing my clothes. “Please do me a favor and change into some lighter jeans. You’re not gothic and you never will be.”
I looked down at the dark colors on my pale skin. Maybe she was right. “Excuse me for a moment, then,” I said, making my way upstairs again. Down the hallway, Mom was helping Evelyn with the silver necklace she was supposed to wear.
After I’d changed, my sister (with a purse in her arms), Eric, and a friend of his were all waiting downstairs. Like me, I’m guessing Eric decided to wait until the dance for his girlfriend. His friend, Stepanie Lucas, however, clung to him like they’d been together for years. Wherever Adam had gone, he wasn’t with Evelyn. Evvie, meanwhile, sat far away from my parents, giving me a nod of approval when she saw my change.
“Ezra, took you long enough,” Dad said, guiding me over to the rest of my siblings. Mom stood, watching her children as Emmanuel held onto her leg. “Let’s take a few pictures for your mother, alright?”
I gave him a nod, standing next to Eric as Evelyn scooted over to the end. I felt the unease in Evelyn as she took my hand, putting a fake smile on her face. Eric decided to keep his face neutral, so I went somewhere in between both of them. Dad took a few pictures of all of us before allowing Emmanuel to go into one frame, then he told my siblings to go away so it could just be me. I went with it, allowing Dad to take more pictures of me than he did of us all together.
After the photos, Evvie locked her arm with me, ignoring the look of disgust displayed on Dad’s face. Evelyn still had her hair behind her back, messing with the side closest to our parents like she was afraid of something. Dad wished all of us a good night (and good luck with our women to Eric and me) before handing me my new car keys and closing the door behind him. Behind it, I heard Emmanuel burst into tears because he wasn’t able to hug any of us.
“Alright,” Eric announced, letting Stephanie go back down to her house. “I’ll take a car, and Ezra will.” He turned to look at me, raising his eyebrows. “Do you need to pick someone up?”
I nodded, fighting my smile.
“I truly don’t want to see that awkwardness, so I’ll go with you,” Evvie said, following my brother to his car. She gave me a small smile before the car door closed behind her.
Evelyn shook her head. “Well,” she said. “Let’s go Callie and your man.”
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