Chapter 3

I sat on the plastic chair of the cafeteria table as I stared down at my food, the standard school lunch that was rather gross and not very appetizing. By the time you’re a senior, high school hits that boring patch. The sounds of the other Christian schoolchildren chatting buzzed around me, in one ear and out the other. My friends flanked either side of me, reaching over the table to grab at the other girls and giggle.

When my gaze finally did move from my food, my eyes met those of a green shade, like leaves of a forest with a hint of brown like dying grass. Pink lips quirked up at the very ends but not quite a smirk-

“Eve!” Snapped me out of my haze. I jumped, directing my eyes away and looking over to my friend Annabel, but she told everyone to call her Bel because Annabel was too long and Anna was weird – according to her, anyway.

“Who are you staring at?” Bel giggled into my ear. I feigned a confused look at her question. She looked at me incredulously and rolled her eyes.

“C’mon, you’ve been quiet alllll lunch,” she dragged out the ‘l’ as she waved her hands. “Who’s caught your eye?” She asked.

“No one has caught my eye, Bel. I don’t like anyone, you know. Dad would never allow that.” I laughed. However, it came out rather awkward and breathless.

“You don’t ever like anyone!” She complained. Which was true. Every guy Bel had tried to set me up with I had refused. The truth was, I did like someone but I would never let that slip. Ever. That was buried under vines of my heart that I wouldn’t let break or dwindle.

“Who likes what?” Emma cut in from across the table in her high, soprano voice.
“No, Eve doesn’t like anyone!” Bel huffed as she rolled her eyes. Emma laughed softly and nodded in agreement while she pointed a finger towards me.

“You’re a rare girl who’s not boy-crazy,” Emma said playfully.

“Your dad would be proud!” Jada beside me tried to make the mood a little brighter. “Preacher’s daughter.” She added like it was a compliment

“I’m not proud,” Bel scoffed. I simply rolled my eyes and smiled as I brushed their comments off. We had this conversation at least once a week. When they talked about their known crushes and boy toys, my ears immediately blocked it. When they asked if I was listening, I’d nod and be polite, but I wasn’t really. Maybe I was rare, crazy, and cursed by the devil….or maybe I was me.

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I sat alone on the bus since my older sister, Kaylee, left school early for a doctor’s appointment, forcing me to ride the bus. I stared out at the passing trees, blurred together into a mush of brown and green that reminded me of someone. I laid my head against the cold glass, my eyes weary from the long day. I nearly fell asleep but the bumpy back roads kept me awake long enough, always jolting me back to reality.

The bus stopped with a hard break on the pedal from the bus driver. It jerked me around, and I subtly gripped the seat in front of me to stabalize myself with a huff. I grabbed my backpack from beside me, where I’d put it so hopefully nobody would join me. I was too tired to socialize.

I stood up along with the five other kids who got off at my stop and skipped down the old steps. I landed on the sidewalk with a light thump from my black flats on the concrete, my dress swishing around my ankles. One of my hands ran over the material of my backpack strap as I walked back towards my house, fiddling with the fabric.

“Eve!” I heard someone call my name for the umpteenth time today. I didn’t mind, though, no matter how annoying it may get. The day would soon be over, I reminded myself. “Can I walk with you?” They asked.

I looked back to see Tyler Moore. He lived a few houses down from me where his little siblings constantly ran up and down the block, screaming their little heads off.

“Sure,” I said casually, motioning with a hand for him to come closer. I didn’t necessarily want him to walk with me but I wouldn’t complain. “The more the merrier,” my mother’s words rang in my head in her voice. I looked him up and down, taking note of his alluring green eyes that contrasted with his darker toned skin.

Tyler smiled as his long legs carried him to stand beside me and follow my shorter stride. He was quiet for a moment, looking down at me as his curly brown hair whipped in the cold wind. He spoke up after the short, awkward silence.

“So, how was your day?” He asked. His voice was casual and laid back and a little too monotone to make it seem like he cared. That was just Tyler, though, a social guy who seemed like he was completely unconcerned with anything about you when he really did just want to talk.

“It was good,” I sighed softly. I looked up at him momentarily before my gaze found the grey concrete of the sidewalk again.. “Yours?” I questioned.

“Good,” He sighed in the same manner. “Pretty boring, though. It’s a lot of work. Ya know, I never understood why teachers assign everything for the weekends. I’ve got it piling up by now.”

“Yeah… it’s annoying.” I agreed as I nodded, subtly smiling up at the taller boy. I think every kid in school could resonate with that. Teachers were always interesting to me, I wonder what they think. I never particularly liked school, but I also never complained much, and I never skipped, not even once, and I was near graduating.

Just as Tyler was about to respond, a chuckle of his own leaving his throat, I heard my name called again. This time, however, it was unmistakably my father and he didn’t sound necessarily happy.

“Eve,” He grumbled sternly, my wrist being grabbed in his iron grip. My dad yanked me closer and tugged me away from Tyler. I gasped softly from surprise, a choked noise leaving my throat. He pulled me against his chest and escorted me to the house, slamming open the gate of the fence as I gave Tyler a sympathetic look with my eyes. Tyler gave me an understanding nod with his lips pulled to the side in a slight frown. I looked to my father with a subtle glare, trying to jerk my arm away and getting absolutely nowhere.

“What have I told you? About talking to boys?” My father muttered as he pushed me inside the house with a hand on the middle of my back. I caught myself on the chair in the doorway as I stumbled inside, turning to face my dad. His face was downturned with an irate expression for no good reason. It was always something with him, I could not catch a break.

My blue eyes were wide like a deer in headlights, staring as I waited for him to speak. We both stared silently for a long moment with nothing but the sounds of my sisters upstairs and my mother in the kitchen.

“What’d I tell you, huh?” He pressed, moving forward to grasp my shoulder. His hand was cold from previously being outside though it was burning hot in here. “That talking to boys and being alone with boys only leads to temptation and sin.” Father spat as we stared each other down again, my chest rising and falling.

“Are you listening?” He roared in my face, baring his teeth and grabbing me by my auburn hair. I mewled in my throat as tears welled in my eyes.

“Yes,” I croaked and said no more as we stared some more. “We were just walkin-,”
“I don’t want to see you alone with a boy ever again,” He demanded. His grip on my hair lessened and his hand brushed down my pale cheek. “Go to your room.” He instructed.

In a split second, I was turned around and on my way up the stairs. My black flats padded along the wood as I made my way to the top, huffing and puffing to myself in tightly contained frustration. I opened my door and walked inside, sinking to my knees by the window. The built-up tears in my eyes spilled, flowing down my cheeks and blurring my vision, the colors and shades outside blurring together. I sobbed gently, hanging my head and gripping the wood of my windowsill.

I clasped my hands together and sat my elbows on the windowsill. The guilt of going against my father and possibly God was eating me up. I could feel the dark, empty pit in my stomach and the hot, gentle streams down my pale cheeks as I cried. I inhaled sharply, my face twisted up in distress.

A knock caused me to jump and sniffle softly, wiping my eyes quickly, smearing my tears across my skin. The door creaked at the hinges as it was slowly pushed open. My sister Kaylee walked inside. She was the middle of us three, Ivy being the oldest and me the youngest.

  “Eve….you ok?” She spoke softly as we’d been taught, like a lady. “I saw Dad drag you into the house…”

“Yeah…I’m fine,” I murmured as I leaned my cheek against my palm. “I was talking to a boy….Dad didn’t like it.” I mumbled.

“Ah…I see. He can be quite strict about that, huh?” Kaylee sympathized. She took a seat beside me, her long dress, similar to my own, splaying out around her in an elegant circle. I nodded and sniffled softly as I stared out the window to the darkening sky.

“It’ll be alright,” She whispered. With a gentle touch, she wiped the wet tears from my face. I leaned into her a bit, letting out a long breath of relief. She smiled, the corners of her mouth turning up.

Another knock came on my door, and my name was spoken again, ‘Eve?’ In my eldest sister’s voice.

“Come in, Ivy,” Kaylee replied. We each looked back at the door as it creaked open again, Ivy slipping inside. She gently pushed closed it into place again with a click, glancing between Kaylee and me.

  “Hey, I knew I thought I heard you crying,” Ivy said casually. Her feet shuffled against the carpeted floor as she approached and took a seat alongside us.. Her long, red hair that matched mine and Kaylee’s flowed as she tossed it over her shoulder and tucked her knees to her chest. “What’s wrong?” She questioned, brushing my hair behind my ear.

“Nothing,” I sighed, chest deflating. “Just – I got yelled at by Dad.” I shook my head. Her expression turned sour as she scrunched her nose and pursed her lips.

  “He can be a real bitch, hm?” She huffed.

“Ivy!” Kaylee scolded, her voice going up an octave.

“What?” Ivy chuckled in amusement. “It’s true, isn’t it?” She grinned.

  “No, it is not,” Kaylee grumbled, letting out a breath through her nose as she looked away. Ivy giggled in amusement, showing off her perfectly white teeth. Ivy had always been the most rebellious of the three of us. She and our father constantly fought. I couldn’t tell you how many “I’ll spank you”s from Dad and “Do it!”s from Ivy. Maybe it’s the eldest daughter thing.

I heard the front door creaking open downstairs, presumably Dad leaving to cool down. Ivy turned to me, shaking her head at Kaylee, clearly proud of herself for riling up her sister.

“You are such a goody-two-shoes. Some things never change,” Ivy nagged Kaylee. Kaylee reached over, her lips drawn in a tight line as she shoved Ivory’s shoulders. My eldest sister growled, instantly lurching over me as they brawled on the floor. I couldn’t help myself, giggling gently and placing a hand over my mouth as Ivory treated a squabble like a professional wrestling match, even now, completely grown.

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