Everly’s POV

I had to admit that it wasn’t as bad as I had expected it to be. I honestly was even feeling pretty good right now.

I had missed my friends, and just because Chris wasn’t around in my life anymore, I didn’t have to lose my friends as well, right?
Even though that was what had been on my mind during my depression phase.

Where I thought I had nothing left, that when Chris was gone, what would I do?! But in the end, I was the one having to do the best out of my life, with or without Chris by my side.

And if he chose to go a different path, that was his choice and now, that he was gone and I was slowly coming back to myself, I realized, I could design the future myself. I didn’t need Chris for that.

“You look amazing, Everly.” I heard a voice behind me and turned around “I mean, who would have thought after all the trouble that you would come out even stronger…” I knew it sounded like a compliment but I heard the snippy tone and the double meaning in the statement, but I swallowed it down.

“Thank you. I feel good too” I replied with a smile, turning away and trying to find Brian with my eyes, where the hell had he vanished to? Wasn’t he supposed to be here and play the loving boyfriend, great job disappearing on me like that?!

“Have you talked to Chris, since he left you? I mean, he must have said something” She continued and I sighed, turning back around plastering another fake smile on my face. As good as I just felt a couple of hours long, this talk still was hard for me. It had been just a few weeks that my life got flipped upside down and I had to start all over again, so why did everyone have to poke into the wound, no that wasn’t right actually…

My real friends weren’t doing that, but the ones I knew only wanted the gossip and wanted to be part of the success and failure of others and not caring for anyone’s feelings they were still trying to break you apart.

“No, I haven’t. That seems for the best anyway, since we both moved on.” I gave her a satisfied smile and had to secretly thank Brian for giving me the easy way out on talks like this, cause I could rely to him as being my new boyfriend and that I didn’t give a shit on what Chris was doing or with whom he was doing it with.

“You know I met Tyler this week. She told me all about your little rebounding act with Brian. Nice of him to entertain you like that, I bet you needed some distraction, right? But choosing the best friend of your ex, isn’t really classy, huh? But you wouldn’t know, right?” She laughed and I balled my hands to fists, trying to keep my temper in check.

“Oh and I know you never believed in all the rumors that were spread… but maybe you were just too naïve about that, maybe you will realize that your relationship was over way sooner than-”

“Hey love, I was searching for you” Brian appeared by my side and pulled me into his body. He ignored everyone around us completely and touched his lips to mine, carefully at first, but when I opened up to him he swept me of my feet.

When he slowly pulled away to get air he whispered in my ear “I’m sorry, when I saw you I came over right away” He slowly pulled away and looked honest and apologetic at me. I nodded “It’s okay”

When he turned around “You were saying, what again?” Brian asked but Katy was long gone.
I chuckled “I think your little show was enough to send her away” Brian looked at me for a moment and then smiled “I guess”

For the rest of the evening I was pretty safe and stayed close to the people I really liked… well and Brian. I grinned to myself thinking that and chanced a glance at him, standing near a table playing beer pong or something.

The words of Katy wouldn’t leave my mind, and Tyler telling me the same earlier. I tried to shake it off but I couldn’t.
I remember the time where Chris and I were having some troubles, especially that fateful night about a year ago, but we made up, everything was fine afterwards, right?

I pushed the thoughts away and concentrated on the here and now, I couldn’t and shouldn’t think about the past, or it would ruin what I just gained. I couldn’t think about the words that were exchanged that night, about the people involved.

My eyes moved over to Brian, the words still clearly ringing in my ears and I when his eyes met mine, I quickly looked away.

“Eve, are you alright?” Val touched my hand and I looked up “Yes, I’m fine. I need a refill, do you need anything?” I asked Val and she shook her head.

“I’m good. You looked a little sick, are you sure you are fine? You can use one of the guestrooms if you want to rest a little?” She asked and I smiled “No, really. I’m good. Thank you.”

I got up on wobbly feet and realized I must have drunken more than I thought, but I managed my way into the kitchen and opened the fridge.

I pulled out a cold water bottle and held it to my forehead, trying to calm myself down. I was feeling so good, why did I let anyone talk to me like that and bring those ghosts from the past back up. It wouldn’t make a different now anyway, it wouldn’t change anything…

“Eve?” Brian’s voice roused me from my thoughts “Yeah?” I looked up and saw him standing before me.

“Do you wanna leave?” Nothing from his normal playfulness or cocky attitude was showing right now, all I could see on his face was concern, and that was hard to comprehend right now.

“Would you be mad, if I said yes? I mean, you don’t have to leave with me.” I quickly added the last part, but Brian just smiled at me.

“Let me find Matt and tell him we go. I’ll be right back” Brian kissed my forehead and then disappeared outside. I heard some booing and some comments about him leaving first, but Brian gallantly came back at them, “Jealousy, I hear only jealousy speaking. Guys, green doesn’t suit you” With that he closed the terrace door and smiled at me.

“We can go now”

Brian’s POV

It felt confusing normal to be at a party with Eve, I mean… Of course we were at party’s before but, yesterday was special.

Not only that I had claimed her as mine in front of all our friends, I was able to touch and treat her as mine as well.

It had felt way better than I thought and was starting to confuse me. I knew why I was doing this, knew how Eve felt about all this, she was very clear right from the beginning but those boundaries and those rules, they began to swim and get blurry.

I shook myself and tried to focus on the plan and not dwell on things that weren’t real. At least not real real… ah fuck it.

I had to concentrate on Chris, and trying to figure out what had gotten into that guy.

“Haner! Play that again, that was fucking perfect” Matt yelled and I nodded. It was the first time I was at their band practice as their official member.

Normally we just fucked around with the guitars and Zacky played almost all the guitar parts officially, Jimmy had told me about the band of his friends Matt and Zack, so I joined in on the fun.

Chris was around as well, he was a decent guitar player, but if I had to pinpoint it, then I would say his heart wasn’t completely in it. That’s how we all met, I guess, how the friendship between us guys started.

It moved on and on, we met more often, we played together, starting with cover songs, the big ones and had a blast. It became more and more serious during the time and the band formed to a serious project.

I still remember the talk I overhead just before we made the big move. I recall it was a talk between Matt, Jimmy and Chris. I didn’t think much into it, honestly, never did before… “You know we gonna leave tomorrow. We have a few small shows across the country.” Matt announced and I smiled, we would finally play outside of California, I was excited as fuck.

“That’s great” Chris didn’t sound too happy. Jimmy spoke up next “You still coming along, right?!” Jimmy asked and I heard silence.

“I don’t think so, Jimbo. You chose the new guy, what am I supposed to do?” Chris asked full of disdain and I frowned, what was this about?!

“Because we are friends, we would love to have you around together with the Berry’s” Matt said and I heard a long sigh. “I’ll think about it” I think that was the first time when our friendship got a little bump along the road...

My phone started to buzz and I looked down, an invite to a party at a fancy restaurant arrived. I thought about that for a moment.

Then dialed Zack’s number “What’s up?” He answered pretty quickly.

“You got the invite for the dinner tomorrow?” I asked and Zack sighed “Yeah, got it. Not really feeling like going? What about you?” He asked and I waited a moment before answering.

Our friends knew about me and Eve, but that had been a private party, with not that many outsiders, maybe it was time to take it up a notch, a statement to the world, and especially to Chris.

“I think we are going” I said finally and Zack chuckled “We? Huh? You are pretty serious about this, right?” He asked a little uncertain and I narrowed my eyes, was he in doubt?

“Why shouldn’t I be?” I asked and he chuckled “Don’t know. Because you were always the one saying the ex is taboo. And look at you, all over our little Eve.”

“We all know the bro code. The ex is taboo, under normal circumstances.” I smirk and Zack chuckled “You are the worst of the worst. But let me tell you this, don’t hurt her, man. I always liked her and… she is through enough.”

I sighed, why does everyone think I would hurt her? Yes, I have a reputation, and yes I had a lot of fun with the females, but Everly had always been also my friend, so why do they think I would hurt her.

“I just mean… She is vulnerable right now, and maybe she thinks this is good for her but… it isn’t, you know?!” Zacky continued when I stayed silent.

“I get that” I said finally, and realized probably I was the one at the end of this, who had more to lose than her…

“So? You will be there or not?” I went back to the main topic and Zack sighed “I guess we will. Can’t let you running around there alone… Who knows what crazy thoughts will enter your mind.” He chuckled and I rolled my eyes, as if I was the crazy one.

“Fuck you. See you there” I hung up and decided it was time for a day visit of my fake girlfriend and inform her about the great news of us going big tomorrow night.

I took a quick shower, grabbed a set of fresh clothes and put a beanie on my head and sunglasses on.

I climbed into my car and parked before Eve’s apartment. I never understood why she agreed to live here. The house looked nice, yes, but it was more a bachelor loft apartment and not a home for a family, if she ever wanted one.

I rang the doorbell and waited for her to open up, footsteps were slowly coming closer to the door. “Who is it?” Eve asked and I smiled.

“Your man, open up.” I replied with a smirk and heard the heavy sigh through the door already.

She opened up and looked at me annoyed “What is it?” She asked without stepping aside and letting me in.

“Can’t I just stop by and look how you are doing?” I asked and pushed my way past her into the apartment.

“Every day?” She questioned and I chuckled “Well, I also have information for you and wanted to see your face while I am telling you this, okay?” I asked and noticed while saying it, that it was the truth.

“Oh no” She fall down onto her couch, covering her face with her hands. “I don’t want to hear it. I bet I don’t want it” She mumbled into her hands and I just noticed what she was wearing, shorts and an oversized shirt with our logo on it, making me smile. Her hair was high on her head in a ponytail and her face, as far as I had seen it was completely without make up, and still she looked just as beautiful, if not even more so.

I bit my tongue not to say anything about that, because as always she would take it the wrong way, with Eve I had to act like I was stepping on thin ice.

I walked to the kitchen where the delicious smell was coming from “Hmm… what is this smell?”

I walked closer and Eve got up from the couch and followed after me “Do you want some? I made too much. It needs a little getting used to cooking just for one and not two” She shrugged and handed me a plate.

I sat down opposite of her on the kitchen table and dug into the food. It tasted fucking delicious and couldn’t get it down fast enough.

“Will you tell me, what information you got?” She asked when I drank the water she handed me.

“Oh, right… We will go out tomorrow. A dinner party in a fancy restaurant and club. We gonna make this official, for the whole world, Eve. Be ready”

Notes

Surprise chapter!

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