Everly’s POV

Minutes ticked to hours, hours blending into days, days moving to weeks…
And still it didn’t feel any different, the betrayal still there, nothing changed, time healing wounds? Who said that? He must have never been hurt like I had been.

I thought without having contact to anyone of the Avenged Crew or Val, I would slowly go back to normal, go back to something or at least to move on, forget about Chris and Brian, but… somehow it didn’t work out.
Everything reminded me of him… Brian… and then a fresh wave of hurt and self pity would consume me.

I sighed, holding the coffee cup up to my lips and taking a small sip. How could I ever move forward?

My phone rang and I flinched at the sound, hoping it wouldn’t be Val or Brian. I couldn’t stand seeing their happy faces laughing and smiling at me. Sometimes I wished to go back, to not know, but then… was it better not knowing or going through the hurt?

The first days they had respected my wish for not being contacted, after a week Val had tried to call, I declined every one of them, she had stopped. Had knocked on my door then, while I pretended to be not there.
She even tried it from Matt’s phone, still I wouldn’t pick up, I needed time, time to think and time away from them.

Couldn’t they see what they did?! See how hurt I was?! Couldn’t they just let me be, for gods sake.
Brian hadn’t called, or texted or came over, for about a week or two. I thought he would finally stay true to his words and give up, find something else to do, but then he did call.

I had my phone in hand, looking at his number, at the picture that blinked on the display of him that I had taken at some of our happy days. I swallowed thickly and had buried the phone underneath the pillow so I wouldn’t pick up.

What would I tell him anyway, and what was he supposed to tell me? That he was sorry? He had done that, and it still hurt and didn’t change, how could I trust him? I couldn’t, easy as that.

My whole life was falling apart, again… Just when I had thought it couldn’t get worse with Chris leaving me, while we were engaged, it was just the preparation to this…betrayal by boyfriend, best friend and lover… There was nothing I was looking forward to, not a fucking thing.

I had to start anew… again. Why had this happen to me? Why?

My phone started to ring again, and this time I took it, seeing it was my friend and co-worker/boss.

“Hey Melinda” I answered finally.
“What took you so long?” Her annoyed but chirpy voice sounded.
“I-I was lost in thoughts” I said after a moment and she chuckled. “You checked if I wasn’t Mr. Fakemance, right?” She asked and I heard the laugh in her voice.
Melinda knew everything, she was my only friend left for now and she gave me time.

I had taken some time of off work and she had no problem with that, I was glad to have her.
“Was it?” She asked again when only silence greeted her from my side.
“I might have checked, yes” I said finally giving in. “You know, maybe it would do you some good to go out again, we could-” She started but I would stop her right there “I don’t want to… Mel, is it really okay for you if I stay out of business for a little? I need to… I need to regroup and-”

“I told you it’s not a problem. Your job will still be there when you are ready. But-” She stopped and I closed my eyes, this couldn’t be good.
“He was there, wasn’t he?” I asked and even though I couldn’t see Melinda I knew she must be nodding.

“We had a deal, he fulfilled the arrangement we had settled cause of the ex-wedding trip. He asked for you, of course” She added quickly and I closed my eyes. I didn’t want to hear that, did I?

“What did you say?” I finally gave in to my curious self.

“Well, that you aren’t there. Took some days off to forget the assholes in her life.” Even though I didn’t feel like laughing it made me bark out a small laugh.

“What did he say?”

“That he was sorry, and that I should tell you that he won’t give up.” That’s not what I wanted to hear. Why didn’t he give up, why didn’t he just let it go… like he used to do…

“You talked to him longer, didn’t you?” I asked and again silence on the other side.I rolled my eyes, of course she had.

“He told you his side?” Again silence.

“You know, Evie. I think you are right, I mean it. You have every right to be hurt, and feel this way, really I do. But…”

“I don’t wanna hear it, Mel. I can’t. Everything that meant something to me left me or broke me in a certain way. It had been a fake, a fucking fake, and I was the only one not knowing! Don’t your get that? All my friends, my fiancé, my boyfriend… I have nothing left.”

“Oh Evie, you do. You won’t see it now. But you do… and I know you don’t wanna hear it. And you only see the dark side now, but let me just ask you something, maybe it will get you into thinking. Please, sweetie, just listen, alright?” I sighed loudly.

“Fine, just because you are the only person left I have to talk to, go ahead” I mumbled and heard Melinda say shut up or something.

“So… you remember at the beginning when you started working here, just a couple of months, we became closer, right?” She asked and I frowned what had that to do with anything?

“Yeah, sure, I remember, why?” I frowned thinking back to those days, I had respect for Melinda, she was fun and friendly, but still my boss.

“Okay, so you remember this beautiful red dress I wore a couple of times?” She asked and my frown became deeper, yeah, I did remember. It was low cut, going to the knees. It was indeed a beautiful dress, but it wasn’t fitting to Melinda.

“You do? The one I wore like three times? Until you told me it wouldn’t look good on me?” She pressed on and I sighed.

“Yes, I do. I-I … you know, I didn’t-” I started feeling a little guilty but Mel interrupted again.

“Don’t, you were right, so don’t worry okay. Just answer me this question. Why didn’t you tell me that I looked ugly in it the first time, or the second time?!”

“You didn’t look ugly, I just thought-” I started again but I heard Melinda tsk-ing.

I thought about the question, why didn’t I tell her at first… well…

“Because I didn’t wanna hurt your feelings, you were so happy you loved that freaking dress.” I said finally and Melinda cut in right away.

“Exactly.” She said sounding happy.

“Exactly?” I echoed apparently not getting it.

“Evie, its instinct. You could tell I loved that dress, you thought I was happier not knowing. It’s human instinct, I guess. When you like someone you don’t want to see them hurt. Simple as that.”

Finally it sank in “I get it. You mean, I was protecting you from the truth, instinct, huh?”

“Exactly. Maybe… you know, think about it, Evie… It applies to many situations, don’t you think? I mean really think…” With that Mel just hung up letting me think about her words and let them sink in.

Notes

Sooo a new chapter and it didnt take me months to get it done :P
It's not as spectacular as u might have hoped for but it's damn important as u might have noticed ;)
And so the end is coming closer :O