On My Way • Why Don't We | ✓

thirty eight

August 4, 2017 ; Los Angelos, California
Evelyn

I awake to the sound of laughter in the kitchen. Knowing who it belongs to, I pull my head up from the awkward position it was in, wincing in slight pain.

Sunlight streams through the window to my left, and my legs are tangled in a mess of blankets. My laptop is shut and on the nightstand, which I assume was Daniel's doing considering I fell asleep halfway through Spiderman Homecoming.

I roll over again, refusing to leave my refuge and grab my book off the nightstand. Pulling out the worn plane ticket—my bookmark—from the hardcover copy of Red Queen, I begin at chapter seven.

My peace is broken thirty minutes later when the door creaks open, the sound of laughter and banter still coming from the kitchen. I look up to see Daniel peeking in through the small crack.

"Thanks for ruining my peace," I say sarcastically, marking my place and sitting up.

"Geez, you're leaving in like two days. I'm a greedy best friend," He leans against my doorway, "Besides, Nova and Zach are heading out, and Jonah and River are practically burning down the house, so I needed someone to bother."

"Jack?"

"Video games with Corbyn. Too much competition to want to be near their screaming."

"Hey, they're quite entertaining," I point out with a smile.

"Whatever you say," He laughs, "C'mon, let's go do something."

"That doesn't sound too promising," I respond warily.

"Oh shush, Ev. As if I would drag you to something boring."

"Well, there was that one time that . . ."

"I'm not listening," He hollers as he starts away from the door, "Just be ready in fifteen."

. . .

Fifteen minutes later, I finally exit my room to be greeted by the smell of burnt food and the sound of shouting. I sigh, realizing that the chaos that Daniel described is true and that I somehow need to make it across the house.

"Daniel, Evelyn's up," A shout echoes from my right.

I turn to see Jack, who's eyes are fixed on the screen before him. Corbyn, just as concentrated, tips his chin up in greeting before returning back to their game. A few seconds later, Jack begins to scream as Corbyn laughs.

"I know, Jack," Daniel responds upon entering the living room.

He raises his eyebrow at the sight of his two band members screaming.

"You should be glad you can leave whenever you want," Daniel mutters to me with a sigh, "Sometimes, Zach's playing too."

The game ends as Corbyn jumps up grinning. He strikes a pose before Jack rolls his eyes, turning his attention to the two of us.

"Are you actually leaving in two days?" He asks for the tenth time in the past 24 hours.

"Yeah. I'm not happy about it, but there's not much I can do," I shrug.