As Evalena approached I pulled out a cigarette and lit it. I wasn’t a heavy chain smoker; I just enjoyed a good puff from time to time. I remember clearly Evalena never looked up. Even though her head was prompted in a way that she should have seen everything straight ahead of her, she only saw the snow covered ground and her boots treading over it.
I stared at Evalena as she passed by and watched as her down casted eyes never rose to look at me. Her face was frozen in a sorrowful state, like she was never anything but sad. I sighed and called out hello but she continued walking, making me believe she really was deaf. I went after her and tapped her on the shoulder. “Hello?” She spun around, about ready to cuss at me until her eyes widened in recognition and with a confused look on her face she said “George?”
“That would be me.” I replied. She stood there, her brows furrowing and her head tilting a little to the side, trying to make out something within that thick skull of hers.
“George from the café right?” At this point in time I had conjured up about a 100 different sarcastic remarks for this one stupid question. One was as follows, no, no, no you mistake me I’m Clooney, you know the movie star? Another went along the lines, Café? My dear we met at Seductions, don’t you remember? I slipped that twenty into your –. And of course the typical insults.
“Yeah from the café.” I muttered.
“Well what do you want?” She demanded, her voice filled to the brim with annoyance, no giddy curiosity as to why I had stopped her from passing me by.
“Well I can see you are overjoyed to see me.” I said with malice.
“I am. Why? Can’t you see it? I’m practically melting the snow around me with my happiness, just like back at the café over 2 and half hours ago.” Evalena stared me down and I became lost in her eyes. This was a girl who could match me for wits, and I was surprised. She looked like the type fascinated by good-looking guys and love stories yet here she was shutting me down and any attempt I was about to make as her knight in shinning armor.
“You’re annoying.” My best come back so far and I said it with as much malice, annoyance and disgust as possible. “And you are a pompous ass, but that doesn’t affect our daily lives now does it?” I saw it! I told myself, I saw her falter for just a second, she can’t cover that up. Ha! “No I suppose not. But it doesn’t stop you from being annoying.”
Evalena raise one eyebrow and looked at me questionably. “Let me get this straight,” She said closing the few feet between us, “you stopped your car; heck went out of YOUR way, to wait for me to walk by and announce to me I’m annoying?” No I wanted to offer you a ride home but you were being difficult and side tracked THAT whole plan. Stupid girl. “What are you getting at?” Evalena just turned and walked away, calling over her shoulder, “Just wanted to know what kind of weird freakish complex you have. So I suppose this is your past time when you’re not chasing around imported plastic dolls?”
Maybe I should have stopped her and explained everything outright but by this time I was beyond pissed that this thing they call pretty was as arrogant and full of herself when she hasn’t even had so much as one boyfriend. I only later learned she had never been kissed. Fuming, I got back into my car and drove home as fast as I possibly could.
Our first meeting was a sour one. I was glad I didn’t see her for the next few months, it gave me time to forget about her and how angry I was. The next time I saw her was 2 months after that night, it was by accident and by no means intentional. I was with a girl from my history class; her name was Diana, one of the prettiest girls in our high school. She had long light brown hair, natural curls, and flawless skin.
She agreed to go out on a date with me the second week into class. Shortly after that first date we had become a steady couple. We looked good together. She could speak Dutch and loved most of the things I did, whereas I could speak French and loved to learn of other European cultures. We were the hottest couple in school. The thing I liked about Diana was she never pursued me. She was confident in herself, but she didn’t overdo it with outward boasts or something along that line. She liked me and I liked her. She was shy about it at first and I was the same. It was only when we were paired as partners for a class assignment that second week that I asked her if she would like to go see a movie that weekend. So we were out on a date when I saw Evalena again. She looked different, her hair was dark brown now, almost burnt, and she was dressed up, with her hair up and what not. We were a few meters away from each other, but she never noticed.
Diana had noticed my eyes focusing on something so she asked who I was staring at. I couldn’t lie to her, something I could never figure out, so I pointed Evalena out to her and said I knew her. “Hmmm, she’s a beauty isn’t she?” That’s all Diana said and she stared with me. I didn’t know how to take that statement so I turned to Diana and saw her face frozen with no particular emotion on her face. Diana wasn’t the jealous type so I had to ask what she meant buy that. Diana smiled and looked up at me, and in a entrancing voice said, “she’s beautiful, that’s all. Why? You don’t think so?”
I looked back at Evalena and then said in a dry tone. “You’re much prettier than she is.” Diana broke out laughing. “Makeup helps that.” Diana pointed out.
“Well how do you know she’s not wearing a thick layer of makeup?”
“George, I’m a girl and as a girl I can tell when a girl wears makeup and how much she wears. THAT girl looks like she barely applies cover-up on a daily basis.” I couldn’t disagree there so I changed the subject. Diana was good at grabbing attention and holding it and she used this technique flawlessly when it was needed. She saw I didn’t want to think of Evalena for whatever reason so she turned on her charm and I was lost. We started talking about the spring and coming up birthdays, and prom dates. I thought it was a little early for it but I went along none the less. She had ideas and plans and wanted my feedback. The first think I told her, “I am not wearing a pink rose.” She laughed and said we’d have to come back to that.
“Your friend is staring at you.” Diana smirked. I looked over and sure enough Evalena was looking directly at me. She looked confused for the most part until the knobs in her head turned and a light bulb flicked on. She looked surprised then mouthed ‘hi’, gave me a small wave and turned her attention back to her date.
“What was that about?” I asked.
“Is she a bad person? An ex?” Diana questioned.
“Nothing like that. She’s just a girl a friend tried to set me up with. She’s boring and cocky.”
“Ah, what’s her name? Maybe I’ve heard of her.”
“She’s not very popular. She only associates with kids at her school. I didn’t think she ever went out, but it looks like she does.”
“Just tell me her name.” Diana said.
“Evalena something. I don’t remember her last name.”
“Oh I think John and Trey were talking about her the other day.” Diana said thoughtfully. She turned her attention on Evalena again and smiled. “She’d make a good girlfriend for Trey. John wouldn’t hold her.”
“You’re playing matchmaker with my friends?”
“Our friends. And I’m not playing anything. From what Trey and John have told me about her I feel like I already know her myself.”
“Oh.” I said. Then looking back at Diana I asked her why John wouldn’t be able to hold her but Trey would.
“That’s simple,” Diana sipped at her drink, no doubt preparing her speech she had thought up some time ago. “John is a great guy. He’s creative in the computer area as well as in the studio, not to mention he’s got great fashion sense,” this was a reference that John should have been gay, but was somehow born straight. “But when it comes to girls he’s a poor judge as well as a dud. He’d whoo her at first, that’s no doubt, but afterwards he wouldn’t know what to do. She sounds like a bright girl from what Trey and John said so it would only be reasonable that she’d lose interest right away with John. Personally from what I’ve heard him say about her, and from what Trey has said about the way they act when they are around each other, I’m positive John likes her. But he won’t acknowledge that and is instead chasing Andy around like a dog in heat. Andy is a pretty girl as well as a good friend but now that I’ve seen this girl Evalena, I’d say Eva would be the prettier more interesting one.”
“You’re talking against your friend.” I said in disgust.
“My opinion is my opinion. I can’t help it if you don’t like it.” Diana snapped back. She took another sip before she continued on. I was sick of the topic already. I couldn’t care less that Trey was better with Evalena or Trey’s good points. But I couldn’t tell Diana that because she was into the topic now and wouldn’t stop talking about it till she had said all she wanted too.
“Trey is smart, not just in books but in conversation. He can hold someone and knows how to peak the interest in his listeners. He also is generous and would always want to hear about her day and her thoughts on different topics. Did I mention he’s pretty mature for his age? What I mean by that is he already knows what’s beautiful and what’s not. For example he doesn’t think Andy is beautiful, he thinks she’s attractive somewhat, but he told me straight out that he’d never date that toothpick even if I bribed him. Yet he talks about that girl over there like she is some model. She’s cute and curvy, that’s what is beautiful. She must know that too since she dresses so nicely. I just think Trey would make a better partner for her, and John will lose out in the end.”
I nodded and then Diana took that hint as a good time to change the topic. She worked in an instant and we started talking about our interests, places we’ve heard of and wanted to see, things we’d do if we had millions of dollars, and the occasional random question of who are favorite character from a movie was. We both agreed our least favorite character from The Lord of The Rings was Frodo. The night ended with her getting into her car and leaving me with a goodnight kiss on the cheek.
As I approached my car in the parking lot Evalena came outside with her date who looked sour and like he was about to hit something. Evalena had her arms across her chest looking just as disappointed with the exception of hitting something. She looked up as they crossed the parking lot and she noticed me instantly. Her features brightened and a huge smile came across her face. “George!” She called in a sweet voice. She waved and her date shot a look at me. I was stunned and didn’t know how to reply. I smiled and nodded my head and Evalena came right over. Her eyes were bright with excitement and she gave me a hug. As she pulled away she whispered, “play along” and then called her date over. His name was Denver and he was on the boys Rugby team.
