3–Having Doubts

“Hey, honey. You back?” Evy’s mom called out as she closed the door.      

“Yes, Mom,” Evy replied and made her way toward the kitchen.      

“How was your school?”      

“Usual,” she answered innocently.       

But as they say, nothing can be hidden from a mother. Her mom instantly knew that school had gone better than usual.

     

“Of course,” her mom said knowingly. “Your gleaming eyes say that school was fantastic.”      

Evy stuck her tongue out playfully. 

“Uh, Mom… I invited Hailey and Owen over to hang out. You don’t mind, do you?”

“Of course not,”      

“Love you, Mom,” she said, grabbing an apple before running upstairs to her room.

     

Evy’s room was her favorite place in the house. It wasn’t too big, nor too small—just perfect. It was covered with beautiful lavender colored wallpaper with delicate white floral prints covering the wall. In the center sat her comfy bed. On one side was her study table attached to a bookshelf, and on the other, her dressing table. Unlike most girls’, it wasn’t cluttered with makeup—just the basics.       

To the left was a large window. Unfortunately, the view wasn’t of a beach, sunset, or sunrise. It faced the house of the infamous Edward Loraine.      

Shaking off the thought, Evy sat on her bed with her laptop resting on her thighs and a pillow supporting her back. She opened the most popular social networking site—the one that connected the world.       

When she left Woodstock, Evy had deleted her account out of insecurity. But after rebuilding herself and starting a new life, she’d reactivated it.      

Her screen instantly flooded with notifications, messages, and friend requests.      

She checked notifications first, then messages. Most were from friends asking about her first day at Woodstock and telling her how much they missed her. She replied to each of them, sharing bits and pieces of her day.

      

Last but definitely not least, she opened her friend requests.

      

Hundreds.

She wasn’t exaggerating. A year ago, she barely had ten or fifteen friends. Now, it felt like the entire school wanted to add her.    

Interesting.      

Evy accepted every request. It took nearly an hour and a half, but she didn’t mind. She was actually enjoying it.

Knock knock.      

“Come in!” Evy called.      

“Heya,” Owen greeted.      

“Gentleman as always,” she smirked.       

Owen, however, was looking around her room as if he were searching for something, or rather, someone.

    

“Hailey will be here in half an hour,” Evy said knowingly. “She had to pick up her little sister.”

“Okay… well, I didn’t ask about her,” he said, scratching the back of his neck.      

“Oh, come on, Owen,” Evy teased. “You don’t need to lie to me. I know you like her.”      

His eyes widened. “I just met her today,” he tried to defend himself, forgetting, as usual, that he could never win an argument with Evy.      

“Yeah, right. That’s why you were giving her your famous hugs,” she rolled her eyes.      

“Well… I don’t know why I did that,” he admitted. “And anyway, she’s too good for me.”      

“I think you two are perfect for each other,” Evy said confidently. “You’d make a cute couple, and you’re both single.”     

 “She’s single?” Shock flashed across his face.      

“Yes,” Evy smiled. “She’s never had a boyfriend. Remember I told you? You should go for her. You’re waiting for the right girl, and she’s waiting for the right guy. Maybe you both are right for each other.”

“Maybe you’re right,” he sighed, rubbing his temple. “I should finally start looking for a girlfriend.”      

“You don’t have a girlfriend?” Hailey suddenly asked from the doorway.     

“Oh yeah, never had one,” Owen replied. “What about you?”      

“Same here,” she shrugged. “Well… I can’t have a girlfriend, you know.” She raised an eyebrow.      

“Well, you could if you were—” Owen mimicked her expression.      

“Ha-ha. Very funny,” Hailey said flatly. “I’m very much straight.”     

“I was just suggesting.” He shrugged.       

“By the way, Evy,” Hailey added, “your mom asked you to come down in five minutes for snacks.”      

“Well, I'd better get going,” Evy said and hurried downstairs. But before she could reach the kitchen, the doorbell rang.

Unlike last year, Eddy went straight home after school instead of hanging out with his friends. He locked himself in his room and glanced toward Evy’s window. But the curtains were drawn. She never closed them.

      

The message was clear. She needed space. 

From him.

He opened his social media account and hesitated before searching her name. When she’d left Woodstock, she’d deleted her account. But now that she is back… He sent her a friend request.

Minutes passed. Then more. Just as he was about to give up, a notification popped up: Evelyn Brook accepted your friend request.      

He released a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding.      

That’s a start… right?      

About fifteen minutes later, his mom called him downstairs and asked him to deliver cupcakes to Mrs. Brook.      

He carried them across the street.      

Their moms were good friends. So were he and Evy, once. Well, they were before he goofed everything up.    

He pressed the bell and waited for the door to open. He secretly wished for Evy to open it, and luckily, it was her.       

Evy stood there in shorts and a loose T-shirt, frowning slightly. She looked… adorable.      

“Mom asked me to give these cupcakes to your mom,” he said.       

Her eyes flickered to the box. There was a small sparkle. She always had a soft spot for sweets.      

“Mom,” she called over her shoulder, “Edward’s here.”      

Without another glance, she turned and rushed upstairs. She didn’t even speak to him, just ignored him.      

“Oh, it’s you, Eddy.” Mrs. Brook said warmly.      

He handed her the cupcakes and turned to leave, but she stopped him. “Edward, why don’t you come and join Evelyn, Owen, and Hailey for their movie marathon?”      

“Uh, no. Thank you, Mrs. Brook,” he said quickly, making an excuse. “I have some work to finish.”

“Alright,” she smiled. “And call me Nova. Mrs. Brook makes me feel old.”    

 “Okay, Nova,”    

Eddy left and walked to the nearby park, sinking onto a bench.       

He was speechless.       

Every year, on the first day of school, it had always been him, Evy, and Hailey—movie marathons and laughter. But instead of him, Owen was continuing their tradition. He had broken it last to last year as he ditched them for his new friends, but never once thought that his action might hurt them.

He didn’t like the way Evy acknowledged him. He felt like a stranger. He remembers once when he treated her the same way when she came to his home to pass a message from her mom. Eddy didn’t want his friends to tease him or know about the fact that he cared about the beautiful nerd standing in front of him. But to his dismay, all his pals started laughing at her. Well, he did want them to take it as a joke, but he never thought it would have hurt her so much.      

The situation was the same, but the only difference was that now the tables have turned.

For the first time, Eddy truly wondered—Is Karma real?