11

Chapter eleven: tension

I huddled my body in the shower cubicle and let my tears fall from my eyes. Evan meant so much to me and now he looked at me differently, he had never talked to me so cruel before. I never meant to upset him, I just wanted him to see I could be happy without him. That I didn't have to rely on him- and perhaps if he had any feelings for me that he could show me.

Admittedly I was starting to fall in love with this boy, everything about him made me feel like I was on cloud nine. The way he smiled cheekily in my direction and would laugh at my poor jokes only sent ecstasy through my veins. I missed when he would cuddle me on my bed and watch movies, stroke my hair and kiss my head. Maybe I was reading it all wrong, maybe he thought of me as a sister now.

Groaning to myself I continued washing my body, I used coconut scented body wash and lavender smelling shampoo and conditioner in my hair.

Everything was going to be okay I kept trying to reassure myself. "You've got this Maeve" I mumbled out loud.

Grabbing a towel that was hung on the towel rack I wrapped it around my small frame and trailed into my bedroom. I grabbed myself some black ripped skinny jeans and a chocolate brown coloured bodysuit.

Thoughts began to resurface of my past; how my dad would beat me and blame me for my mother. I missed my mother terribly, I saw her die in-front of my eyes slowly. The cancer took her hostage and turned her into a paled, sick woman.

"Sissy, you're up early" my brother said softly as he walked in which unravelled my from my thoughts.

Thankful of his appearance I smiled and picked him up and gave him a massive cuddle, sobbing into his shoulder.

"What's the matter?" He asked with a puzzled expression. Feeling guilty for being so emotional around him I wiped away my tears and kissed his cheek "nothing baby. Just so happy to see you"

Dylan smiled "I love you"

Pinching his chubby cheek I chuckled "I love you most. Have you had breakfast ?"

He nodded "Julie made me pancakes"

Pouting my lips I jokingly acted hurt "did you save any for me?"

Dylan smirked "no! I ate them all"

Ruffling his hair I put him on the floor "right, well let me get ready and I'll meet you downstairs. Okay?"

He nodded and walked away with a bounce in his step. Since moving he has turned into such a happy child and that warmed my heart- it was lovely to see.

**

Making myself some peanut butter on toast I saw a groggy figure walk past me with messy hair. My heart instantly sunk, normally in the mornings no matter how tired he is he would say good morning or give me a hug.

Things had changed.

"M-morning" I said just above a whisper. Evan looked at me sheepishly and didn't respond, instead he ignored me and sat down with everyone else in the lounge.

Swallowing thickly I felt the familiar feeling of loneliness surround me like a heavy blanket; I just wanted to run away.

"Maeve there is someone at the door for you" Julie exclaimed to me. Frowning I walked to the door only to see Henry stood there with a wide smile.

"Oh-Henry. Morning" I breathed with shock. why was he here?

"I got your address off Lily. I thought I would grab your car for you" he replied whilst handing me my car keys "I knew you would need them"

Smiling I took the keys "thank you so much, you didn't have to"

Henry shrugged "I wanted to. How are you feeling?"

I shuffled on the spot and sighed "I could be better. You?"

Henry grabbed my hands and squeezed them "I'm okay... did you want to go grab lunch maybe ?"

I nodded with a grin "that would be really sweet of you. What time?"

"I'll come here at one, does that sound okay?" He asked politely

"Sounds perfect. I'll see you then"

Giving him a kiss on the cheek we said our goodbyes and I shut the door smiling to myself like an idiot. I didn't have feelings for Henry but he was just such a sweetheart and I truly appreciated him.

"Was that your lover boy?" Evan jeered as I walked into the living area.

I furrowed my eyebrows and looked at him with disbelief "wow.. that's the first thing you have to say to me after last night ?"

Luckily Julie and everyone had began getting themselves ready for the day so they couldn't hear me and Evan. So it meant an awkward tension now laid across us- the sort of tension you could cut a knife with.

Evan chuckled sarcastically and scrunched up his eyebrows "I have nothing to say to you. You're just well and truly embarrassing yourself"

Gobsmacked I just stood there shaking my head, I couldn't believe Evan didn't have the decency to apologise to me after all the hurtful things he said.

"Whatever Evan. Just don't bother trying to talk to me again if you're going to be an asshole" I spat "you're acting like a child"

"Me a child ? That's really rich coming from you who decided to jump into a relationship. That's childish"

"Evan stop this!" I exclaimed with tears building in my eyes "you really hurt me and are continuing to do so. Why are you being like this?"

Evan didn't reply this time and instead lowered his gaze to his hands in his lap.

"That's what I thought. So just leave me alone until you sort your shit out" I stated with firmness to my tone. "You can't just talk to people like shit and expect them to run back to you"

Running up the stairs I wrapped myself in my duvet and quietly sobbed into my pillow; I just wanted this to all be over.