Chapter Text
Evangeline could not believe what was happening right in front of her.
His hands on her waist. Her hands on his shoulders. Their bodies pressed close together. Faces less than a breath away. His hand crept up from her waist and cupped her cheek, and ever so slowly he leaned in, their lips brushed, and…
Evangeline’s heart was a sunken ship in her chest, even though it was still beating faster than she ever ran. Her knees wanted to give up. Her fingers trembled while digging into her arms, leaving little crescent shapes on her skin. Sweat began to slide down the side of her face, and not too late afterwards, tears spilled as well. Her eyes became a waterfall, hot and unrelenting. She was paralyzed.
Evangeline was not feeling the touch of him holding her waist, or his hand– gentle and calloused– cupping her cheek. She was not hearing his gentle whispers and sweet nothings. She was not about to experience a beautiful, heart-healing moment.
No.
It was her.
Marisol.
The waves of “ohh”s and “oh my god!”s rushed back to Evangeline’s ears. She stared at the big crowd of students gawking. She could taste her salty tears on her tongue. Her hands only gripped her arms tighter, as though to break her own bones. In contrast, she could smell the freshly baked, sweet cookies from the cafeteria, which was exactly how she was feeling before she witnessed a terrible crime to her own emotions.
How could she?
“Luc?” She cried.
It seems he could not hear her over all the commotion and kissing his new girlfriend, Marisol.
Why would he do this? Evangeline and Luc had always been together. They used to always meet in secret, away from the expectations, prying eyes, Agnes– it was perfect. It was true love, it had to be. He had held her, kissed her, brought her gifts, but all of that almost meant nothing to Evangeline as she watched in horror.
Luc and Marisol pulled apart. His hands still lingered on her waist as her hands fell off his shoulders, their eyes half-lidded. Marisol was smiling. An undeserving, wicked, guilt-free smile. That was, until she turned her gaze to see Evangeline, curled into herself and trembling with every breath. Marisol’s eyes widened and her brows furrowed, her hands now stuck at her sides as if she was trying to decide whether or not she should run away like a coward. Marisol was no longer smiling. That had faded completely.
Evangeline quickly stood, forcing her knees to straighten. She tugged at the sleeve of her sweater and used it to rub her eyes, leaving stains of mascara on it. Evangeline plastered the sweetest smile she could possibly muster.
Marisol pushed through the crowd of people, Luc trailing after her. Marisol tried to approach Evangeline like she was an injured animal.
“Eva- I…” Marisol trailed off.
Evangeline stared back at her so-called sister. Hurt bloomed through her chest, but she was determined to keep it at bay– or make it seem like it.
“No, it’s okay. You guys already make an amazing couple.” Evangeline tried to exclaim, but really, it just sounded like a wet cry.
“Wait, Eva-” Luc tried to add.
“No! It’s fine, I get it.” She did not get it. At all.
How, after everything they’ve been and done together, after all she sacrificed for him, would he even think to do this? Least of all with her own step-sister. No, Marisol and Evangeline were never too close, even after she moved in with Agnes and her daughter, but it still made Evangeline’s heart crumble into pieces.
Marisol’s hand brushed her arm. It took everything in Evangeline not to flinch away from her.
“Well, if that’s the case… Can you be happy for us? I mean, I know-” Marisol started, almost as if she forgot she shattered her step-sister’s heart into a million pieces.
“Of course. I hope you’re as happy with him as I was.” Evangeline interrupted, trying her best not to sound bitter and heart-broken.
“Oh. Okay.” Marisol replied, hopelessly clueless.
Evangeline turned stiffly towards the door. Her steps felt slow and heavy, as if boulders were weighing on her feet. Tears dared to well up in her eyes once more, but she couldn’t let them fall.
Not yet.
Not here.
As soon as she was out of eyeshot, Evangeline bolted home.
…
The door shut with a quiet click. Even after all the events that had happened, Evangeline was not one to slam doors. She dropped her bag to the floor with a loud thud, and quickly threw herself onto her bed. Right now, she couldn’t care less about Agnes coming upstairs to scold her.
Why?
Because Evangeline had enough. Enough of the heart break, enough of the lies, enough of Marisol, enough of Luc.
She was done.
All she wanted to do was go back in time, and sob in her mother’s arms. Unfortunately, that's not possible, as Liana died a long time ago. Agnes never failed to remind her. Evangeline longed for her mother’s voice and warm embrace, when everything was peaceful and warm instead of heavy and hurtful. When she lived with her father.
Ever since the divorce between Maximilian and Agnes, he decided to go live on his own in a nice, small coastal town. Evangeline had wanted to move in with her father as well, but she had a life back at home. She was with Luc, she had many friends, she was familiar with the area, so she never had much of a reason to move in with her father.
Until now.
Because now, she had lost her friends, her own boyfriend, and was living with the very person who took him away from her.
This was not “home” anymore.
This felt like drowning.
Why should she even stay here? There isn’t anything to lose, as she already lost everything dear to her here. It would even be worse if she stayed. Staying meant watching Luc and Marisol be a couple together, which was something Evangeline didn’t feel like doing.
Staying meant everything would sting for what would feel like the longest time.
But… What about leaving?
What if she could just escape. Start fresh. Have a new everything.
Go back to her father.
A thought had crossed her mind.
She could be with her father again.
She was going to move in with her father.
…
It had only been a few days since Evangeline’s heart break.
The house still carried the same routines, but it was noticeably more quiet, as the tension in the air was palpable. Evangeline wanted to ignore Marisol. Forget she existed. Forget all the heartbreak. But, it wasn’t as simple as that. Agnes was still as insufferable as ever, and Evangeline felt so relieved she was finally leaving Agnes behind, but as for Marisol… Evangeline didn’t know how to feel.
“Hello..? Eva?” Marisol called out cautiously.
The door to Evangeline’s room let out a small creak as Marisol gently pushed only a peek open. Evangeline turned to her door, the sound of clothes rustling taking a pause. Evangeline didn’t respond. Marisol pushed the door open further as if she was about to explore a haunted mansion, her gaze quickly fell on Evangeline. Her bed was a mess, full of clothes– some folded and some crumpled– and a big fat pink suitcase that was already half-full.
“Look… Evangeline, I know it was the last day of school… and, well he was your boyfriend– but really, we found more love together, Luc even said that himself.” Marisol explained.
That one stung.
But Evangeline refused to be consumed by sadness.
Evangeline took a deep breath and forced her fingers to still, but her heart was already doing the opposite. She stood straight and looked Marisol straight in the eye.
“It’s okay, Marisol.” Evangeline breathed.
Marisol’s eyes widened as her eyebrows rose, her mouth parted slightly as her hands just fell to her sides.
“Wait- really?” She whispered.
“You found true love in Luc, and I didn’t. Although I tried, some people just aren’t the best match for each other.” Evangeline softened. “Luc was meant to match you, it seems.”
Marisol’s shoulders drooped in relief, letting out a big sigh, her brows no longer furrowed in worry.
“You really are a good sister.” Marisol smiled.
Evangeline smiled back, but her feelings were still complex. She still loved Luc. She really did believe him and her were true love. She wished they were true love. But it stung to know that she wasn’t his, and he wasn’t hers anymore. He was Marisol’s. And that still burns more than ever.
Evangeline opened her arms, offering a hug to Marisol, but really it was an excuse to hide the fact tears were welling up in her eyes again. Marisol took her embrace with a happier face than Evangeline wished. Evangeline fought back the urge to let her tears fall, hidden away from the eyes of her step-sister, until Marisol interrupted her thoughts.
“Woah, why do you have such a big suitcase?” Marisol asked, changing the subject “It’s only been a few days since summer started and you already have plans?”
They broke apart as Evangeline turned back to the massive mess across her bed.
“Oh, Agnes didn’t tell you yet?” Evangeline gasped.
“No? What do you mean?” Marisol pushed on.
Evangeline took a deep inhale as her lips pressed into a thin line, her hands clasped together behind her back. She didn’t want to be the one to explain this to Marisol, but here she goes.
“...I’m moving back with my father.” Evangeline let out, her voice quivering slightly.
Marisol stepped back, her eyes wide again and her mouth clamped shut in complete shock, until,
“Really? You’re going to leave us?” She uttered.
A big wave of guilt washed over Evangeline. Even after all that went down with Marisol, she still felt guilty for leaving her with such a terrible mother. Agnes was manipulative and cruel, she never went as far as to go to physical abuse, but she was never good at caring for Marisol nor Evangeline. Evangeline looked to the ground, her hands now clenching at her sides as she continued to explain before she could stop herself and regret it.
“I… I know Agnes is not particularly the, uh- best mother…” She paused, looking for words. “But, it really is the best for me. I have nothing left in this town.”
Marisol looked aside, her face tainted in sadness as she fidgeted with her hands.
“Well, I hope you have a good time there.” Marisol replied, her voice quiet.
Evangeline didn’t want to feel as much guilt as she did, but she could never be immune to it. She twisted her soft rose-gold locks, frantically looking for a topic to change the subject.
“I’m sure you and Luc will be fine without me.” Evangeline mentally slapped herself on her forehead.
Marisol’s face lit up, which helped with the overwhelming amount of guilt settled in Evangeline’s chest, but unfortunately it was quickly replaced with unbearable hurt. She felt as though her step-sister didn't really have consideration for her feelings, while Evangeline had a lot for hers.
“Yeah, I guess it’s only fair for you to leave.” Marisol smiled.
Evangeline did not want to smile back. But she did it anyway.
Marisol turned and began to walk out of Evangeline’s bedroom with a wave. She paused at the door and looked back at Evangeline, soft happiness lingering in her eyes.
“I’ll miss you, Eva.” Marisol said.
“I’ll miss you too, Mari.” Evangeline replied, but she couldn’t tell whether or not she was lying.
…
Evangeline heaved her giant pink suitcase out of the trunk of the taxi car. She went up to the driver’s window and tipped the taxi driver generously, leaving him a smile so sweet it could probably give someone diabetes. The amount of freedom she felt was unexplainable. She couldn’t stop smiling, even while dragging her heavy suitcase filled up with whatever monster she packed. A giddy, hyper feeling was all that bubbled in her chest as she went through the traveling process. After what felt like the longest time, her mind was no longer on Luc nor Marisol. Even on the plane, when all she could hear was a baby crying and an old grandma snoring on her shoulder, the excitement never faded away.
All Evangeline could think about was the fact she could start fresh all over again. She would meet new people, have new relationships, be familiar with new places, everything was new. Except one thing, and that one thing was the best of all. She was going to be reunited with her father again.
Before her father moved to the coastal town, he owned a silly book shop across the street from school. It was full of fairytales, fantasy books, mystery books, and a whole bunch of wacky ideas, more than Evangeline could even fathom. Ever since she was young, her favorite had always been fairytales. For whatever reason, nothing could top the whimsy and joy that fairytales held.
But, there was one fairytale that stuck with her, even after the wonderful years of childhood.
The Ballad Of The Archer And The Fox.
Out of the many fairytales her mom read to her, this one was the one that had convinced her that true love really did exist the most. It made her believe to fight for true love, even when it seemed like all hope was lost.
And it was exactly why Evangeline tried her best to keep her mind off of Luc. Luc had happened, sure, but another one will come to Evangeline, and he will be hers forever and ever and happily ever after. It still hurt, yes, but new beginnings were still new beginnings to be happening.
…
As soon as Evangeline had gotten her suitcase, she rushed to get out of the stuffy, humid airport, despite the fact her luggage was not helping at all whatsoever. She continued to heave it over with gasps for air until she saw a tall figure in the distance. There, stood a tall man with curly, tousled brown hair, a stubble, and round glasses, waving a big sign that said:
EVANGELINE FOX, WELCOME HOME :)
It was him
It was really him.
He was Evangeline’s father.
All the giddiness rushed back into Evangeline’s chest as she nearly jumped for joy. She shook her hands out of pure excitement, a big smile plastered across her face as if she was just given the best birthday gift ever. His father bent his knees down slightly and opened his arms, welcoming an embrace. Evangeline practically crashed into him as she wrapped her arms tightly around his neck.
“Father!” She exclaimed. “It’s been so long!”
He chuckled as his arms lifted her slightly off her feet, making her let out a small squeal.
“I miss you too.” He replied warmly. “Now, let’s get you back home.”
Evangeline hadn’t even realized how much her old town tore her apart. All that had happened there like her mother’s death, her father moving, and the cherry on top, Luc leaving her for Marisol, left her feeling guilty, unwanted, and utterly shattered. Finally, a new emotion washed over her.
Curiosity.
Curiosity of what would be next in her fairytale.