Evelyn

Every part of me was begging to leave Zack’s house after I arrived. I didn't understand him. One moment he hated my guts and then the next he's talking about being friends. I don't know what his deal is or why he can't make up his mind. I don’t know if he's trying to hurt me or if he's actually trying to be sincere. Every part of me wants to run so I don't get hurt but then I remember why I was here in the first place and I know I need to stay.

After my date with Jeff, we went back to his place and I couldn't get my mind off Zack. I thought I was just being stupid because of the fight Jeff and I had so when Jeff began to take my clothes off I let him. Jeff had always been very, very good in bed but I still couldn't get my mind off Zack. I even caught myself thinking about how much better Zack was in bed. So the next morning since I had the next couple of days off from work, I threw some essentials in my purse and got on the first plane to Los Angeles.

My dad was at work when I arrived so I stopped by and said a brief hello and then headed to Huntington Beach. My mother called me on the way to Huntington and asked why I didn't tell her I was coming and then insisted I stay the night with her instead of getting a hotel.

"I wanted to surprise you," I lied. No one really knew the reason why I was in town and no one besides Zack could ever know.

Once I got to Huntington Beach however and realized I didn't even know where Zack lived, I had to make another phone call.

"Why do you want to know?" Matt asked me.

I groaned. "Matt, please just tell me."

So now I'm here. After an hour of chitchatting in the couch, Zack decided he felt well enough to go eat. It was after lunchtime so we decided on a burger joint that we used to go to all the time when we were in high school.

"Hey, Zack! How's it going, dude?" A man that I assumed to be a manger asked when we walked in.

"Good, dude." Zack walked to a table and sat down. I followed him and say a roll from him. "How are Jessica and the baby?"

The manager beamed. "Oh, amazing. I have some photos," He starts digging in his pant pocket.

"Dusty, this is my – uh - friend, Evelyn." Zack introduced. "Evelyn, Dusty bought the place a few years after we graduated high school."

I nodded. "It's nice to meet you," I smile.

"You too," Dusty smiles. He's an older man, maybe in his late fifties. "She's a pretty girl, Zack. Are you sure she's just a friend?" Dusty winked. Zack and I both laughed but didn't say anything, Dusty handed Zack his phone.

"Oh, wow, she's beautiful," Zack compliments.

"My pride and joy." Dusty takes his phone back and stares at it for a moment before shoving the phone back into his pocket. "Well, you two enjoy your meal. Julie will be right with you."

"Oh," Zack shot me a quick look. "Actually, Dusty, can you have someone else wait on us? And, please, don't mention anything to Julie?"

Dusty nodded. "Anything for you, dude." He says and walks away.

I'm curious as to why Zack felt the need to change servers but I decide not to ask. I look down at my menu and decide on what I wasn't while Zack plays on his phone.

"What are you getting?" Zack asked.

I opened my mouth to reply as a dark headed woman walked up. "Hi, guys! My name is Carley, I'll be taking care of you today. What can I start you off to drink?"

"I'll have a coke," Zack smiled. Carley nodded and then looked at me.

"Same, please." I tell her.

"Awesome! Are you guys ready to order or do you need more time?" Carley asked.

"I’m ready, are you...?" Zack asked me. I nodded. "I'd like the double cheeseburger with everything except onion and with mustard, please." Zack ordered.

"And for you ma'am?" Carley asked.

"I’ll have the same except with mayonnaise," I tell her with a smile.

"Okay, I'll have your drinks out and I'll put your order in," she picks up our menus and walks off. Zack and I didn't speak until she dropped our drinks off.

"So, are you seeing anyone?" Zack asked. The question catches me off guard and I have to focus on not choking on my coke for a moment.

I remind myself that he's probably just making conversation as I open my mouth to reply. "It's complicated." I tell him. After all, what was I supposed to say - 'I'm kinda seeing someone but last night when I was having sex with him I realized I wanted you?’

"How so?" Zack asked me.

I shrugged. "It's nothing serious."

Zack raised his brows. "Were you dating him the night we..." He trailed off, leaving the question in the air.

"What?" I asked him, blushing. "No!"

Zack laughed. "I'm just asking."

"Well, have you spoken to Gena?" I asked.

Zack looked at me for a moment before clearing his throat. "This morning," he replied. "You just missed her when you arrived."

"But you looked like you had just rolled out of bed," I started. Did that mean...was he and Gena...were they back together? Did she stay with him last night?

"I did," he admitted. My heart sank. I was being stupid. It's not like I had a chance with him again anyways. "She stopped by, she wanted to talk. I think she wants to get back together. I guess her and her boyfriend split. I don't know, I didn't let her stick around long enough to explain."

I'm surprised at his words and also relieved. They weren't together. I still had a chance - a very, very, very, small, almost nonexistent chance, but a chance nevertheless.

"Oh," was all I said and then after a moment I continued. "You deserve better than her anyways." I don't know why I said it. The air around us felt heavy as soon as the words escaped my lips. Zack didn't say anything and I was grateful when out burgers arrived.

"Alright, can I get you two anything?" Carley asked.

"No, I think we're good," Zack tells her.

"Alright, well just holler if you guys need anything," she smiles before walking off again.

I take a bite of my burger. "Oh, my god, these are better than they were in high school," I say.

Zack nods his head in agreement. "And they were damn good back then!"

"So, do you come here a lot?" I asked him, popping a french fry in my mouth.

Zack nodded. "Yeah, dusty is a great guy and the food is great."

"He just had a baby?" I ask.

Zack laughed. "No, no, no, no. His daughter, Jessica, just had a baby. So the baby he was talking about is his granddaughter."

"That's awesome," I say. Zack nodded again.

After a few more minutes, Carley walked back up to us. "Can I offer you guys some desert?" She asked.

"Oh, no," Zack and I both said

"Okay, will it be one check or two today?" She asked.

I replied, "Two, please."

"I'll have that right out," she smiled before disappearing once more.

"I will pay for you, Evelyn. I don't mind." Zack told me.

"Nah, I can pay for myself," I told him.

He opened his mouth to reply but we were interrupted. "Carley asked me to drop your checks off. Is she the reason why you haven't called me?" I look up to see a red headed woman standing at it table. She had her arms crossed across her breasts which were abnormally large for her petite frame.

"Julie..." Zack started.

"Are you sleeping with him? Because I had him first." Julie directed her words to me. My mouth fell open slightly and I failed to find the words to respond. Was this chick serious?

"Julie, stop." Zack warned.

"Why didn't you call me? Was I not good enough for you?" Julie lowered her voice, "The sex was really good for me!"

"Okay!" I jump out of my seat. "I change my mind, you can buy my lunch, I'm going to go." I turn and start to walk out.

I hear a scrape of a chair being pushed against the floor followed by, "Evelyn, no." I ignored it, however and pushed my way out of the doors.

"Fuck," I groaned. I forgot Zack drove me here. I sighed. There was no way I was going to go back in there. Zack’s house wasn't far from here, I would just have to walk.

Zack slept with that woman and didn't call her, that's why he didn't want her to serve us. I knew I had no right to be jealous. We weren't together, he was allowed to do whatever and whoever he wanted. But I was I was jealous...and angry.

There was the sound of a tap on a car horn and an "Evelyn," I turned, pulling myself away from my thoughts. Zack was driving slowly beside me, the window down.

"Leave me alone, Zack." I said.

"Listen, I'm sorry about that." Zack said. "She's supposed to be off on Wednesdays."

I turned to him, "Do you make it a habit to sleep with women and then not call them?"

"If you get in, I'll explain but I'm not having this conversation with you like this."

"You don't owe me and explanation and I don't need one," I tell him.

"Well, at least let me take you to go get your car," he offers.

I think about it for a moment. "Fine," I say. Zack smiled as I yanked the passenger side door open and climbed in.

Notes

Title credit: Good Charlotte "The Outfield"