A girl named Evelyn had complicated love life. She dreamt of having a romantic relaationship without any lust, only love. The previous relationship, which lasted exactly two months, was with a boy named Alexander. He was quite inbteresting, defending himself against accusations of having multiple relationships behind Evelyn's back. Not only did he let her see on his Snapchat, but he was also greetes by multiple people while walking through the city. One particula excuse that caught Evelyn off the guard was that all the girls he had on Instagram was from his middle school. Not to mention his ex-girlfriend filed a complaint with the police about possible sexual assault, which resulted in the phone supposedly being taken away from his possession, alongside being dismissed from ever getting his social media back.
Alexander was sesventeen at the time, going between partying and going to his high school, while Evelyn was sixteen, being the opposite of Alexander. She was more likely to just stay at home rather than go to school which was easy enough since her father didn't really care. They met through his older sister, Lia, while she was working with Evelyn at a cafe bar during the summer. He frequently stopped by to drink his chocolate Nescafe with three little packets of sugar. He was often mistaken for a diabetic person, even though he was deaf.
While living her best life being single without any worry, her eyes caught on a guy who looke mature enoguh. Oh, how she was wrong...Kai was his name, and he was the opposite of what Evelyn thought; he was clingy, a cry-baby, and worst of all, mama's boy. One particula morning, Evelyn got up at six o'clock, thinking Kai would still be asleep and would not bother her. Wrong. Her mind was stuck in concentration on doing her make-up perfectly, so she did not hear the loud banging on the bathroom door. Screaming, scratching, whining, all the sounds coming fromm Kai outside. evelyn's nerves danced around at his behaviour. The relationship lasted six months, and, of course, Evelyn wasted no time breaking the relationship up. When midnight struck on the 28th of August, she decided to send a gigantic text to Kai telling him:
In these six months that we've been together, you said you don't want me to be alone with my best friend Lukas. Fine, I respected that and we don't hang out much anymore, except when he drives me home, but that's another thing. Unlike me, I told you not to hang out so much with Vanessa. And yes, I'm angry because I told you nicely and you still don't respect it. And no, you decide it would be a good idea to let Vanessa hug you first. I don't care about your 'big bro and lil sis' shit. Justify youself as much as you want. With her, you don't use your favourite sentence, 'Can we meet and talk somewhere alone,' because when you talk to her, you're typing on that stupid phone since it's 'a therapy time.'
Oh yeah, onen more thing. You don't want to talk to me in public about our probems, only in private. Thank you very much for fulfilling my wish. And an even better thing: thanks for the rose I still haven't received. Thanks for the depression I got from you. Thanks for the fact I didn't eat for three days in a row after that. Thanks for asking me how I was when I was crying because we fought for the first time. Thanks for making me jealous when Dominic mentioned that you walked past Jasmine, your ex-girlfriend. Thanks for telling me that I hate you. Thanks for hanging out with me so nicely. Thanks for giving Vanessa food and me nothing. And, good job, remembering that Vanessa wants some some perfume, so you came in the morning, but when I want you to come, you can't be bothered.
And, yes, one more thing. Thanks for moving away from me in the cinema just because I told you 'Love you' instead of 'I love you.' You'll get the gift that was supposed to be for our first anniversary, when I pick it up. Do whatever you want with it - burn it if you want to. I don't care.
I'm ending this story by saying that my last wish, since you didn't listen to any of the others, is that it would be best for us to go our separate ways.
Evelyn sightted in relief when the message was sent and threw her phone on her bed, focusing further on her work rather than the problems she was having. Her phone rang through the silent room. The voice of the Bixby assistant on her phone said the name aloud 'Amelia calling.' She turned her head silently staring at the lit screen with the picture of Evelyn and Amelia in dresses from their birthday parties. A small smile formed over her lips, and her hand reached over to take the phone to answer the call. 'Hey girly,' evelyn said, greeting the other party on the phone while starin at her laptop. A couple of seconds ticked by, and the person on the other side immediately responded, 'Heyyyyyyyy, guess what I jsut found out,' said Amelia happily and with too much energy. 'Let me guess, hmmmmm. Did Leo get a new victim for his shenaningans?' Evelyn said chuckling to herself. Amelia yelled and exclaimed, 'We're getting a new intern, supposedly it is the boss's younger brother. I think his name is Lloyd or something like that.' Evelyn sighted and leaned into her chair in disappointment, and she said to her: 'Great, super great. When is he supposed to arrive?' 'I thinink he will be here at 10 o'clock. That is how much I know. Oh, yeah, one more thing, you should probably search him on IStagram or Facebook,' Amelia said with a smirk taht Evelyn couldn't see. 'Wait, wha-' the call suddenly ended leaving Eveyln confused about the situation.
Her confused state was abruptly cut short when Kai called, and when Evelyn's tumb moved across the phone to answer it, she didn't have time to say a word to him before he yelled desperately over the phone, 'Those are lies! You manipulative woman! I didn't do any of taht. I gave you all my attention! And leave Vanessa out of this!' Evelyn rolled her eyes in annoyance. 'Kai, I told you like in the message. I am breaking up with you because <I don't need a man.child in my life. I've been more of a man than you could've ever been,' she said to him, her voice calm and steady. 'YOU ARE LYING! YOU AREN'T ALLOWED TO LEAVE ME! YOU USELESS WOMA-'' Evelyn ended the call not letting him finish the stupid sentence. Once again, she threw her phone across the room into the wall, dropping it on the ground near the bed.
The days that followed became extremely insufferable, Kai constantly calling apologising for his mistakes and yet, none of it changed. Evelyn, however, was getting better, and after blocking that maniac, she felt finally free.
The new intern, Lloyd, walked in with his older brother, Jonathan, side by side; by the looks of it, Jaonathan was probably showing him around the company. Lloyd's vision was rather focused on the women in the room than listening to the boss's words and where he was pointing to specific things regarding where he was supposed to work. Evelyn wished she had not heard what he was saying to Lloyd because she caught the words, 'You will work with Evelyn over there.' Her eyes were stuck on Jonathan in disappointment, looking between the two. A nudge from Evelyn's left side caught her off the guard, noticing it was just Amelia to tell her something. 'Lyn, you alright, girl?' she said quietly so the boss would not hear her. 'Yeah, just great...' Evelyn said back in the same tone as Amelia and sighted 'Lloyd is going to work with me,' unforutante Amelia's eyes widened at that, as she looked over at him before whispering in a somewhat high tone, 'You're kidding! I wish he worked with me instead!' She stopped for a second before adding to her sentence, 'You are so lucky!' Lucky? Evelyn thought to herself. How am I lucky? evelyn shook her head, trying to stop thinking about it, and just didn't mind her.
While the time passed quckly, Lloyd was already being insufferable by thinking all the women here fell for his looks and charm. Soon he turned to Evelyn and asked, 'Why don't you give me your number, sweetheart?' The arrogant smirk appeared on his lips, making Evelyn rolled her eyes in irritation. Lloyd scoffed at her expression and asked again in a humorous way, 'Your phone digits Can I havve them' No. Focus on the work, idiot.' She said back, the coldness in her words displaying the hidden dislike for this guy that began to get impossibly hard to keep hidden anymore.
Amelia soon hopped by Evelyn's desk just to ask about the lunch. 'Lynnnnnnnn, are we getting the lunch today?' she said with a high-pitched voice which grossed Lloyd out, but he was indeed interested in where aretwo going for lunch. He leaned towards the two girls using his broad shoulders to indicate that he is indeed interested in something. Amelia asked him curiously 'Do you want swing by with us?' evelyn looked at her immediately after hearing that, shaking her head left to right, desperately trying to make Amelia realise that she does not want him there. 'Too bad!' Amelia grabbed the hands of both, Evelyn and Lloyd, dragging them to a place with delicious noodles, spaghetti, oysters, sushi, ad other sea food, as well as food from other countries.
While they were waiting for a waiter, a figure of a man appeared behind Evelyn's back and gently hugged her from behind, hooking their arms around her shoulders. She froze at the close contact before she smelled the familiar cologne. Her body rose from her seat, leaving Amelia and Lloyd confused, but Evelyn didn't mind. Her arms swung and she immediately responded to the hug from the person. 'You are back...' she said in relief and looked at him. 'I missed you, Aiden.' He smiled towards her, and she returned one to him, too. 'How are you doing, Evey?' he asked, calmly, clearly missing her so much to obviously ask. 'Haven't seen you since prom.' 'I could say the same to you,' Aiden chuckled at that and pulled the chair for her to sit back down. 'Two failed relationshps got me and now I work with this idiot and my best friend Amelia,' she said pointing at Lloyd.
The waitress named Barbara soon came over to their table, holding a block with a black pen with her name written in old, cursive English. 'Good afternoon, here are some menus for you guys. I'll come back in ten minutes to see if you decided, for the time being, what can I get you guys to drink?' the waitress said confidently and professionally. Everyone at the table either got a Coca-Cola, mineral water or a Fanta. They were talking about the menu, thinking about what to order. 'I think I'll take Fettuccine Alfredo. I don't know about you guys,' Amelia said calmly, looking between Lloyd, Amelia and the new guy, Aiden. 'Good idea, honestly,' Evelyn replied thinking of getting the same dish for herself, too. The waitress walked over to their table, listening to the discussion of the food, writing it all down with a polite smile plastered on her face. 'Any allergies I shoud be aware of?' she calmly asked, looking around the little group at the table. They all denied it and thanked her.
The food was bought soon, and everyone dug into their own dish, complimentig it for being to their liking. Especially the Alfredo, being the right temperature and the amount of chicken and cream, making it delicious all over. Evelyn sipped on her drink after finishing her dish of grilled ribs, making a satisfied sight, after finishing the food. After they paid for the group, the for of them decided it would be best to leave a tip to Barbara.
Days, weeks, and months passed by in an instant, and Evelyn was in a good mood after noticing that Lloyd actually paid more attention to the work instead of the women around the office. Aden, however, was suspiciously more involved in Evelyn's life, always finding ways to find her; the gym, restaurants, bar, work, or even her friends' birthday parties. It was quite disturbing because of his behaviour. Sometimes she would catch him looking at a house that had a basement with a strong lock, practically trapping a person down there.
While she was working from home, Aiden called Evelyn, and, of course, she answered the call without any thought. Evelyn looked at the clock on her laptop, noticing it was already ten minutes till midnigh. She placed the phone on her right shoulder while typing an important document on the computer. 'Evey, why aren't you at work?' That sentence left Evelyn speechless. 'How do you now I am not at work?' A moment of silence washed over both of the before the line disconnected and suddenly hung up on its own. Evelyn wished it were a dream or a nightmare. She hoped to wake up from it because it definitely wasn't funny.
When she finally went over it, she immediately called Amelia to tell her about it, and all she said was 'Well, that's interesting. Maybe he is the stalker from the high school. You know the one who placed seven black roses in your locker.' Evelyn froze for a second, turning her head to look at the roses that were in a vase next to her bed. ' You do realise the meaning of seven black roses, Lyn? It's considere3d a love so deep that it becomes overwhelming, or, in other words, an obsession towards the person.' Amelia spoke, explaining the meaning to Evelyn.
That's interesing,' Evelyn said to her ina low whisper, disbelief washing over her mind, occupying it with disturbing facts. 'Lyn, you there?' Amelia asked in concern. 'Yeah, just... Why didn't I realise it sooner?' Evelyn replied, her eyes staring at the lit screen with an important document she's been writing for hours. 'I need some time, sorry Eli.' She apologised to her, and Amelia noticed the change in Evelyn's tone, especially using her nickname, knowing full well that she only uses it when she's not herself in the moment. She hung up and placed the phone carefully on her desk, her mind swirling with thousand emotions.
'That changes some things.' Evelyn said to herself.