Chapter Text
🎶Players only love you
🎶when they're playing
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The draining sound of her alarm was the first thing Evangeline heard that morning. Dread sunk into her bones like water into a sponge. Fumbling for her phone, Evangeline was reminded that today was her last day in Valenda, and the adventures that awaited her. She was excited to begin her new University, in the Magnificent North, she really was, she believes her parents would be proud.
When Evangeline was a child, her mother was very sick. Yet the bad memories of her illness were overshadowed by the love and care of her parents. Her childhood was filled with carefree giggles and adventures. Liana Fox brought joy with her no matter where she went, emphasised by the kindness and loving nature of her husband, Maximilian. Evangeline’s mother introduced her to the beauty of literature: how books can unfold as worlds, universes inside the mind.
After Liana’s death, Evangeline found solace in books, especially the ones which her parents read to her as a child. The Ballad of the Archer and the Fox was one of Evangeline’s favourites, inspiring her love for romance and fate. She believed in true love, believed in love which could alter history, overcome curses.
This belief was challenged when her father revealed his plans to marry Agnes Tourmaline. Evangeline believed her parents love was awe inspiring and unstoppable, like the ones she read in her stories. So why did he marry another? If her parents love was so powerful, how did he move on? Her younger self’s questions were unfortunately answered when her father passed away six months into their marriage. He wished to protect Evangeline, knowing she would be alone after his death. That display of pure devotion, selflessness, in order to protect Evangeline, made her vow that she would find that kind of love, and accept nothing less.
Agnes was … difficult, to say the least. She was cruel to Evangeline, not outright, yet her snarky remarks hit their target. However, she did enjoy the company of Marisol, her step sister. She was shy yet kind, very much unlike her mother. When they met Evangeline welcomed her with open arms, truly seeing her as family. Marisol and Evangeline did lots together, they worked at her fathers shop, went to and from school, cooked dinner together. They were an inseparable team. She was absolutely distraught that she had to leave her behind, but Marisol promised to visit whenever she got the chance. Evangeline decided to give the keys to Maximilian’s Curiosities, Whimsies & Other Oddities to Marisol to manage during her absence, knowing she was perfect to look after it and keep it safe and running.
Her father’s shop was a place of wonder. It’s shelves are stocked with various trinkets and artefacts. When Evangeline was small, her father told her that every object was magical, and came to be put in the hands of those who will love and care for them. When he was still alive, she spent most of her time there, mostly watching her father stock and talk to customers, yet she soon took his place after his death. She didn’t believe the place could have the spark after his death. That was until Luc strolled in.
All charming smiles and sweet words, Evangeline fell hard and fast. He was the most handsome boy she had ever seen, and one of the kindest too. He came every day, same time, sometimes to buy a small trinket, yet mostly to talk to Evangeline. They spoke about anything and everything, each conversation made her day, filling the hole in her heart that her father left.
She was so sorry to leave him behind, but he understood. Their dreams were very different. She wished to excel in English Literature, whereas he wanted to become businessman, their dreams required different educations.
Shaking her head, Evangeline tried to diminish the sadness that accompanied the thoughts of leaving her loved ones behind. She knew that she wasn’t going far, for long or even forever! She just had to take each day with stride, and make her dreams come true.
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Plugging in her headphones, Evangeline began to make her way out the house, excitement building as she prepared to spend the whole day with her boyfriend. The warm weather from the summer was slowly rescinding, forcing Evangeline to wear a jumper over the adorable babydoll top she decided to wear. She hopped and skipped over puddles made from the previous drizzle, which left a slight smell of fresh rain in the air, trying yet failing to avoid getting her long, bootcut jeans from getting wet as Tom’s Diner blasted in her ears.
As she slowly approached Luc’s large, modern house, she somewhat recognised the car parked in the drive. With furrowed brows, Evangeline knocked softly on the door.
“Hello!, Luc?” She called “I’m here!”
Toeing off her Uggs, she began to remove her headphones as she quietly manoeuvred around his house. Confusion filled her mind as she recalled Luc saying how he would be home all day, wanting him to spend her last day together, and how they would go visit her father’s shop together, one last time. After climbing the stairs, she reached the final room, his bedroom. She heard odd rustling and sighs, suggesting a struggle. Alarmed, Evangeline pushed open the door, freezing at the sight that met her.
Marisol. Her sweet, kind sister Marisol was straddling her boyfriend. Her shirt was thrown haphazardly on the floor, along with her trousers, mouth red and puffy from use, yet her eyes were wide and glassy from guilt. Luc was in the same state of undress, as well as guilt.
The second Evangeline came back from her shocked state, gut wrenching sobs escaped her lips. This seemed to wake up the pair as they began to stammer and move for their clothes. Unable to face the truth which she just discovered, she backed away awkwardly, quickly slamming the door behind her. She ignored their cries as she stumbled down the stairs, shoving her on her shoes as she reached the door.
The carefree nature of her journey to the house was completely lost as she sprinted back, disregarding the attempt to keep her jeans dry. All of the memories she shared with Luc replayed rapidly through her mind, now tainted with the vision of her sister practically riding her boyfriend. The thought of all the times Luc came to visit her, and replayed the lingering glances between her sister and her boyfriend, the elongated touches which she ignored. She trusted them. Trusted them so much she shared all of her most vulnerable moments with them: opening her scholarship acceptance letter, her final moments with her father, all of it.
As she finally reached her house, she threw off her shoes and stomped up the stairs, ignoring the angry shouts from Agnes. Slamming shut her door and twisting the lock behind her, she ripped off her jeans, tossing them on the radiator and stripping off the rest of her over clothes, untill she was left with just her underwear and bra. Seeing herself in the mirror made her feel even worse than she already felt. Her rose gold hair was windswept and tangled, the loose curls she had careful styled completely ruined. Her mascara ran like a river down her red cheeks, smudged around her grey eyes. She furiously rubbed her eyes, willing the tears to stop, but they wouldn’t. Like the breaking of a dam, new tears streamed down her face.
Furious, she shot up and rushed towards her CD collection. She was glad she decided to pack her CDs last, they were her comfort. Music gave her a way to relate and feel validated, as did books. Yet music has a special way of letting her expressing and understanding these feelings, whereas books were an escape from reality. Skimming through the stack of CDs, she found her intended target and shoving it her bright pink CD player.
She flopped down on her polka dot duvet, tucking herself in her blanket as Scott Street blasted from the record player. Evangeline eyes drifted closed in exhaustion, and she tried and failed to erase the memory of her sister and boyfriend.
Her inner turmoil was interrupted by a banging on her bedroom door. Evangeline’s heart froze in her chest as she heard the pleas on the other side.
“Eva! I’m so sorry”, Marisol snivelled, “It was a misunderstanding… A mistake!”.
Evangeline flinched at the sorrow in her voice, but she was unable to face it. She couldn’t bear to even think about the betrayal, the heart break, how they could do this to her. Her future flashed before her eyes, her imagined future: them spending every holiday together, travelling the world together, her becoming an English Literature teacher, him overtaking his father’s business. She used to dream of them marrying, moving to the beach. She thought Marisol could be her Maid of Honour.
These thoughts brought her further despair, as fresh tears poured from her eyes, and a helpless whimper escaped her lips. Frustrated, she flipped over in bed she increased the volume of her CD player even louder, completely blocking out the desperate sounds of her step sister, as well as her own sobs, as Motion Sickness began to fill the air. As her began to fall closed, stray tears slipping free, she heard her step sister’s retreating footsteps.
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Blinking open her sore eyes, Evangeline felt a raging headache seep into her head, and the wet of her pillow beneath her. Rising slowly, to avoid further aggravating her head, Evangeline slowly reached for phone.
She was blinded by the too-bright screen, increasing her already pounding headache. Squinting through the brightness, Evangeline was assaulted by the missed calls from both Luc and Marisol, hundreds of texts pouring into her inbox.
Misery filled her heart yet again. Evangeline realised she had to face her new reality, yet she wasn’t ready. 10 minutes she told herself, just a shower.
With a new found determination, Evangeline collected her stuff, and shuffled into the bathroom, taking out her CD along the way. Relief, sweet relief hit her entire body as the refreshing heat of the shower reached her skin. She scrubbed and scrubbed her body, trying rid the pain of her discoveries, like getting ink out of sheets.
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Dressed, in what could be described as a mid life crisis, ‘wtf is going on’ outfit (joggers, a matching hoodie, half brushed hair and very puffy eyes), Evangeline made her way down stairs. She crept down the stairs, avoiding the steps which creaking, praying that she will manage to avoid the reason why her life came crashing down.
Tip toeing down the hallway, she reached the kitchen, crossing her fingers as she pushed open the door. Stepping across the doorframe, Evangeline saw scattered dishes, the smell of eggs and fresh toast filled her senses. Two dirty plates were piled into the sink, along with the matching cutlery. Evangeline audibly sighed in relief, she missed them.
“Ahem”.
Evangeline twisted around to see Marisol sat on the island, cradling a cup of tea in her hands. Evangeline jumped out her skin, yelping in displeasure and holding her heart.
“Omg!”, Evangeline screeched at Marisol, searching her face. She looked terrible. Dark circles were under her puffy eyes, and her hair seemed just as unbrushed as Evangeline’s. She looked like she hadn’t slept.
They both stared at each other, waiting for the other to crack. Steeling herself with strength she didn’t know she had, Evangeline sat down across from her step sister, placed her hands intertwined in front of her and raised a singular, well kept eyebrow.
“Go on then”, she said, as coldly as she could manage. Marisol’s strong facade finally broke and she began pouring her heaps of apologies and guilt. Evangeline sat there staring at her progressively deteriorating sister, feeling sadness she never felt before. She never had to say goodbye to someone who could stay. Yet she had one burning questions on the tip of her tongue.
“Why”, Evangeline asked, barely maintaining composure.
“Because- because, we love each other!”, Marisol blurted, “We love each other, but we love you as well, w-we didn’t want to hurt you.”
“You did hurt me”, Evangeline stated, crying once more, “but if you two truly do love one another, I wish you the b-best”.
At that, Evangeline stood up and raced upstairs, not wishing to cry in front of her anymore.
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After packing up the final parts of her room, Evangeline began to put her belongings into her car. By the end of her multiple trips, Evangeline was worn out and just wanted to fall back into her depression-cacoon.
No, she thought, I won’t let this ruin my new beginning. Shaking her head with a new found resolve, she stormed into the house and towards Marisol’s room. She barged in, ignoring the surprised exclamation, and hugged her. When Evangeline pulled back, Marisol looked like a fish pulled out of water, the thought pulling a giggle from Evangeline.
“I do not wish ill on you, Marisol,” Evangeline coaxed, “I couldn’t leave with us being on such bad terms.”
“Evangeline,” Marisol whimpered, brows furrowed in bewilderment.
“I’m leaving now, and I just wanted to say goodbye, and wish you well in your new adventures” Evangeline said with a tearful smile, “Good luck.”
And with that, Evangeline fled the house without one final glance.
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