A life without meaning isn't a life worth living

A sharp pain shot through 18 year old Eve Morningstars' left cheek, still feeling it as her vision slowly cleared minutes later. Eve had planned to go to her neighbours place but her mother refused because of Eves' responsibilities. The forecasthad told that the temperatures would sink below - 10 degrees so her mother wanted to be prepared for the worst kind of weather. This was mostly the time of year where Paige, Eves' mum, would stay inside and not leave the house, especially because it was the coldest time of the year, so Eve had to go buy supplise.

Paige was flushed red in anger, her body casting a shadow over her daughter who was backed up aghenst the kitchen wall. Her knees shaking and her teath chattering. "...but Mum I-", "Didn't I tell you to stop talking back?! Apologize!"

Eve drooped her head, unable to look at her own mother. She didn't understand her mothers motives for hitting her, especially this hard. The impact had made her face go deep red, feeling her heart beat in her swelling cheek. Her head was spinning, unable to focus.

"I'm sorry, Mum. It won't happen again." Eves' voice trembling in fear trying to hold back her tears, biting down on her lip to ease the pain. Her entire body was shivering as she tried to stand up.

"Stick to that promise this time. Now, take that brat you call a brother and yourself to the supermarket. I don't want to run out of food when the weather is the worst...and don't forget the rum and wiskey. I've got a guest coming over. You got that!?"

Mrs. Morningstar turned her back on her daughter and grabbed the half empty wine bottle off the counter, taking a couple gulps then turn back to Eve in discust.

"And ...uuch, wear something more ... colourful, blue hair is no excuse! That new outfit I bought for you recently should do the trick."

Paige spun around, flinging a £500 note infront of Eve as she staggered into the kitchen while taking another gulp of her overly expencive wine.

Eve sighed at the sight of her mother letting the held back tears blur her vision, Paige had no control of doing anything els but drink and spend money on drugs.

Her young daughter had gotten used to her mothers behaviour the past couple of years since her father had left, leaving Eve and Kage to their alcoholic mother. The newspapers had written an article about their father cheeting on his wife and the drugs he sold which made Mr. Morningstar go on a rant, leading the neighbours to call the police. Eves' father hadn't called to see them in the last couple of years, nor have they heard their mother talk to him. He had packed his bags and left the night before they got officially divorce. Paige stayed calm throughout the situation but when she couldn't handle the presure anymore, her alcohol adiction got the best of her.

Eves' wealthy family never had many problems handling the Press and other difficult situations they needed to get out of. Even Eves' pocket money could last her for three life times. She didn't have any cousins, aunties, or unkles and her grandparents didn't visit often. So her family was mostly quiet and left alone by everyone, only occasionally they'd get visitors. Paige occasionally had guests coming over to drink alcohol or generally just party and lounge around. This would happening once a month just to show everyone that she was still one of the richest families in the area, showing off all the things that they could afford to the other wealthy, and popular families. Image and popularity was Paiges main priority, that's why Eve was sent upstairs while the party was going on. Her mother didn't like the way Eve dressed or, in general, her behaved. Paige even disapproved Eves' best friend who was their neighbour, so she forced Eve into hanging out with other wealthy families children that went to her school.

The supermarket was packet with mothers shopping, running and screaming kids, and teens scanning the alkohol aisles. Kage was a very quiet kid and didn't like loud noises of any kind so he cluched Eves' hand as they headed for the fruit and veg section. They found the groseries they needed and went to get the alcohol fro their mother. Kage had bought some crayons and Eve bought herself some more paper and aquarelle pencils. They packed the boot of her jeep and set off back home.

The sound of the door triggered Mrs Morningstar to dash into the hallway and snatch the red wine and sushi out of the paper bag Eve was carrying. Kage carried a small bag with the fruit and light waight groceries in it. "Unpack everything in the kitchen and then get lost. Don't show your face down here 'till morning!"

Eve gave a quick nod, took her 6 year old brother by the hand and walked into the kitchen.

Eve lay awake most of that night, thinking about what to do in the upcoming holiday. She didn't want to spend much time at home. Kage had a couple friends that were sons and daughters of Mrs Morningtars' friends, so he may not want to go very far away. Now the only problem she had was to avoid her school mates, they were all just rich snobs who didn't care much about other peoples feelings and only cared about expencive clothes, money and popularity.

These thoughts ran through the young girls mind all night, unfortunately, her mum and her guest were also very loud so lack of sleep was easy to forsee.

The last day of school was exhausting for Eve. Her 'friends', Rose, Zeek and Jake (he was more the quiet one), had brought small shot bottles into school and had gotten drunk from them in the bathroom. They had always asked her to go out partying or go to pubs to get wasted, the three just kept her company because she had a welthy family. Her other class mates were polite but still ignored her as much as possible. They would get in real big trouble if they were to bully her like the other kids in their school.

The day ended early for her so Eve had enough time to go to the craft store before picking up her brother. She was that sort of artist who got most of her insperation from creative writing she found on instergram and, obviously, the most insperation came from music. Eve got home and unpacked her new pencils and skeching paper, swiched on her bed side lamp, put on her favourite music and started skeching. Kage sat next to her, drawing colourful rainbows and action men. A tap on her window made her jump. A young man with a cheeky smile was standing infront of her bedroom window, his faced pressing up aghenst it making it fog up slitely. Eve ran over to open it, letting him in and giving him a tight hug.

"Hey Mark. Need to escape the house again? And can you please take your shoes off in my room!"

Chuckling, he loosened his grip, looking down on his snowy shoes. He knelt down to untie them, putting then carefuly on a small floor matt Eve had placed there and his coat on the door hanger.

"You know I can't help it if it snows.", "Mark!! Mark!!!" Kage came running up to the snowing man, streching his arms out towards him. "Hey, there's my boy!!"

Mark gave Kage a big hug, swinging him around as Eve got another block of paper. The boys laughed, Mark booping Kages' nose and making the little boy giggle.

"So how's my favourite superhero?", "Good!! Look look! I drew you in a superhero outfit. Do you like it?"

Marks' eyes scanned the picture with a smile, "Like it? I love it! You're so talented."

Mark sat Kage next to the table, then sat next to Eve who was skeching away on the bed. "You taught him well, Master" Mark says, bowing infront of the blue haired girl as she giggles in delight, lifting up her pencil like a trophey. "Of course I did, I'm the art-master!!"

Mark Sturling was Eves' childhood friend, they'd been neighbours for as long as she could remember and had pretty much been best friends from then on. Mark had very nice parents that loved him dearly but they were very stricked with him. They worried about the smallest things, even if he just got a paper cut. So he visited Eve when he needed to cool down. Unfortunately, this was happening more often than usual so his visits had becoming more frequently, nearly every night.

Kage fell asleep soon after and they both tucked him into bed. They spent that night binge watching Netflix series and chewing popcorn, occasionally thowing it at the screen and complaning how bad the actors/script/effects were. That was their usual Friday night. They spent the first holiday weekend chilling a lot at the park while Kage played with the other kids or drawing and listening to music in Eves' room (her room is huge).

Marks' phone rang and he stepped away to answer it, coming back only a few minutes after.

"Sorry about that. It was another decline call. They always say the same thing, -at bla bla bla we do things a little difderent around here- and then they literally tell you that you suck and should go somewhere els. Obviously in a nicer matter but still it sucks." He complains, "not even an internship is avalable. I mean seriously, you need some more work experiance to work at any place but you can't if they won't let you WORK ANYWHERE!!"

Eve put her hand on his shoulder as Mark bent over to hold his head in his hands.

"My parents want me to work either at a pub or a food restaurante for a while so I can save up some money to start my driving lessons this summer." Marks' eyes wondered around the park watching Kage have fun swinging on the swings and laughing with a couple kids. "What about you?"

Eve sighed, even the thought of spending her holiday at home with her mother was exausting enough. "My mum hates me being around so I was planing to rent a cottage for a couple days, obviously Kage will be coming. It's a shame you won't be able to join us due to you working this entire holiday." Smirking, Eve playfully slapped Marks' back making him jump.

"Hey-hey-hey I never said when I'm going to start working. I'm down if you are willing to have me."

"Of course." She giggled as her friend gave her a soft hug.

"I was hpoing you'd say that..."

Curiously, Mark looked around the park then seeing Kage sitting all alone on the top of the biggest slide.

"Kage seems alone right now. Wonna go down the slide with him?" Eve jumped off her seet. "I'll race you there!"

The cottage was amazing, Eve and Mark had a brilliant time with Kage. Going to parks, chilling at the cottage, eating a lot of fruit and junk food and just doing whatever they felt like. Mark had received several phone calls during the entire week, making concerned expressions and having an extreem panic tone in his voice. But after the calls, he relaxed and seemed to be himself again. Eve suspected his parents were worried about him and were calling ever so often to check up on him.

They were sitting on the sofa watching 'Avengers, Infinity War' when Mark turned towards Eve, clearing his throat.

"Hey, do you think we can expand the stay here? I think we need a little more time away." Her eyes were still glued to the TV. "You mean you! I can ask but I don't know if it's possible. Wait here and don't you dare press play!"

Eve walked to the other side of the room to find her phone, coming back only a few mintutes later.

"The lady at the desk said that a lot of people like to rent out cottages around this time of year and there is already a family who booked this one out for next week." She plunged herself onto the sofa and put her arm around his shoulder. "I'm guessing you still haven't found a job yet." Mark leaned his head on her as their eyes glued back to the film but Eve could still sence her friend being tenced. In the middle of the film Eves' mind had wondered off into a deep sleep.

Mark switched off the TV as he saw his friend doze off, covering her up like a burrito in a fluffy duvet and stoking her soft cheek. The features in her face were stunningly gorgeaus; her loose lips slightly open, exposing her snow white teeth and her eyes and browns were relaxed. But even with her eyes closed, he could see her pain through them. Pain a girl of her age should not know of. He could not tell what kind of suffering she had gone through, only through the scar across her shoulder and neck could he know that she had gone through terror to make her brother happy. But he could see her kindness, her love, and her strength. Someone so magnificent shouldn't feel something so painful.

"Eve? Good morning. Do you want breakfast?"

Eve woke up to the sound of Marks' voice, he was crouching on the floor next to the sofa she was lying on.

"Huh? Oh, mornin'. Yeah sure, did you make something?" The smell of bacon and eggs was lying in the air, she streched her arms as she sat herself up, yawning and looking around to see Kage sitting at the dining table eating his breakfast.

"Yeah. Bacon, backed beans, and scrambled eggs." Mark said as he got up to go over to the kettle. "The usual (black tea with milk and sweetner)?", "You know me so well!"

It had been a few days after they returned from their trip, and Eve hadn't heared anything from Mark yet and even she was getting suspicious. Her phone started ringing, an unknown number appeared on her screen.

"Hello? This is Evelyn"

"Hi, it's Marks dad. I was wondering if I could speak with Mark for a minute. I know he's avoiding us but we're worried about him." Mr Sturling voice trembled, concerned about his son.

"Oh hello. No he's not here. Are you looking for him?"

"Well...actually he's not been home for a couple days. I thought he was at your place and he won't answer his phone."

Mark was reported missing after the instident. Eve called Mark and his parents several times a week, only to find out that they hadn't gotten any new reports on their sons disappearance. Eve hadn't slept very well and obviously Paige didn't give a damn about the situation and state her daughter was in.

Mark would usually come over and tap on the window beside her bed, and this thought made her miss him dearly.

Her phone lit up, another message from Mr Sturling.

Mr.Sturling: Hi Eve, has Mark contacted you yet? My wife isn't handling this very well.

Eve: Good evening, no he hasn't. But if he does, you'll be the first to know.

Mr. Sturling: Thanks for the help, Eve. You're a great friend to Mark, I'm sure he'll turn up soon.

Her vision went blurry as tears splashed on her phone screen. Through her watery eyes she searched for Marks' phone number.

"...leave a message after the tone. *beep*"

" *sigh* Hi, Mark. It's me again. I'm really worried about you, your parents-"

"Eve?"

A deep voice had cut her off on the phone.

"Mark??!!! You're answered? How are you and what happened? Where have you been!!?? Do you even know how worried your parents are??!!!" Mark gave a deep sigh before continuing. "Meet me at the park in 45 minutes. I'll explain everything then.*beep-beep-beep-*", "Mark I-...Mark? ...Hello? ...Did he just hang up on me?? Why does he have to be so dramatic?"

Throwing her huge winter jacket on Eve ran out the house door to her jeep.

She drove to the park just a few blocks away and spoted him on a bench wearing the lit up dragon headphones she gave him for his birthday that year.

Eve parked her car on the other side of the road as a group of motorbikes wized past her.

Mark didn't modify his expresion nor his position as they skidded infront of him, making sand and dirt cover his black ripped jeans and shoes. Eve reconised of the bikers, the famous neon motor bike was the obvious give-away. *Zeek!? I thought he was out with his parents tonight...*

"You're finally back! Hope you had a nice trip!"

Zeek got off of his bike, cheekishly grinning at Mark. Mark took off his headphones letting them rest on his neck.

"I did actually. Look, dude. I've done everything your boss required so I want what was promised to me."

Zeek grinned, handing his helmet to one of his gang members. "You'll get your end of the bargain soon enough. Now, I came here to discuss the problem I have been informed about." He steps closer to the bench where Mark still sat, standing a little over a meter away from him.

"Part of the deal was that you would stay away from Evelyn. I happen to know that you are meeting her here and I want to make sure you keep your end of the bargain."

A chuckle escaped Marks' lips. "Seriously, you're threatnin' me?", "Do I have to?", "Listen, Zeek. I can't avoid her for the rest of my life, you'll just have to accept that. The deal was that I would step back, not avoid her completely."

Zeek turns his back to Mark. "This is your last warning, boy. If I see any sign of you two getting all affectionate, your head will be blown off!!" He grinned as he made his way to his bike, making the decapitation motion as one of his members gave him his helmet.

"As I said. Last warning." Mark hessitated before getting up off his seat. "You can't chose who she wants to hang out with! She has a mind and soul of our own!!". Zeeks' head wizzed around, staring his rival down, "Oh really??!! Watch me."

Eve saw the whole fight between the two. Mark covered his eye with his hand, nearly falling from the impact from Zeeks' fist. He tackeled Zeek to the ground, nocking him and his bike over and breaking one of the side mirrors.

"You gonna pay for that, basted!!!"

They slamed their heads together as the gang tried to seperate the two but nothing helped, blood streeming out of both their mouths and skin cracking open. Eve stared at Mark, his eyes wide open, gritting his teeth, punching his fists in his opponents face and stomock, loud cracks and screaming sounds coming from Zeek. She couldn't bare it anymore. She jumped out of her car, running towards the scene but got held back by someones grip. *Rose??* Her eyes were sharply locked into Eves', shoulders loose, her hair covering half her face, very sturn look in her eyes. A smirck creeped across her face.

"Let them be," she smirked, "they need to figger this out themselves."

"Are you serious?!" Eve shoved Roses' hand off of her shoulder. "They're gonna kill eachother!! We have to stop this!" Eve dodged Roses grip and crossed paths between Zeek and Mark, streching her arms towards them.

"You two have to stop-!!"

Her screem was unbearable, her body shivering from the pain in her left arm. The fight stopped amidiatly, the gang staring at the scene that folded out infront of them.

Eves' arm went numb, the shock had kep her screaming and crying to the point were her voice broke.

"Zeek, we need to get out of here!" Rose urged, Zeek staring in horror at his love crying in dreadful pain on the ground, dropping his baseball bat as he took a step back.

"E-Evelyn, I...I-"

"What have you done?!!" Marks' furious voice shook as he ran over to his best friend, finally being able to move.

'I..oh my god...Eve...I-" Zeeks' voice trembles, cracking a few sobs inbetween words. The sound of sirins gragualy got louder. The gang, including Zeek, jumped on their bikes and drove off to the other direction, him watching his love being comforted by his enemy. Marks' arms around Eve trying to calm her down. Zeek wanted to be in his place, being able to hold Eve and confort her without being pushed away or disturbingly stared at.

Mark had called an abulance while he slowly calmed the girl screaming on the ground, holding her in his arms, hoping that she'll be okay. The ambulance was gonna be their soon. She had slowly stopped screaming, gradgualy passing out as her face relaxed and her grib loosened.

A dimm light made her drousy eyes flutter open. The surfice she lay on was hard and unconfterble, the pillow felt flat aghenst her head. A strong, relaxed hand was holding hers as she woke. She turned her head slightly and saw that Mark was sleeping on an unconfterble chair, her brother was sleeping next to her on the bed..

Her lips creesed into a smile as she closed her eyes and rested her head back into the pillow.

A quiet grunt came from Mark as he awakened from his slumber, Eve kep her eyes closed as if she were sleeping. He lifted his heavy head turing to look at the sleeping beauty laying gently on the hospitel bed, her left arm in a thick cast. His eyes drifted towards the thick scar across her neck and right shoulder, tracing his finger across it stoping at her neck and then his hand slowly swifted up to her jaw. Eves' legs tingled as his fingers gently stroked her left cheek, trying not to shudder or make if visible that she was awake. She heared his loud heart beating faster and sencing his quiet breath, then his soft lips touched her cheek. It was only for a moment, pulling back he reliesed his hand to nudge Kage.

The sleeping boy opened his eyes, streching his tired arms out to Mark. He picked him up and they left the hospitel room, quietly closing the door. Eve opened her eyes and sat up, gazing outside the tilted window, the full moon shining brightly into her room. She turned her head towards the door where the two boys had just left, confused about what had just happened.

Mark and Kage visited Eve the next day, bringing her some fresh clothes, fruity sweets, and flowers that were from Marks' parents, she was brought home soon later.

Paige hadn't cared enough to visit her the days she was uncontious and had stayed at home filling herself up with expensive, tastless wine.

She was lying on the couch slurping down another bottle when Eve got home. "Hey Mum..", "Where have you been for the last week???!!!! No exuses or lies!", Eve gave a sigh, "I was in the hospitel, I had passed out from pain when my arm-", "You WERE WHERE??!!!" Paige shouted at Eve as she pointed at her cast around her arm, screaming that she shouldn't have gotten in this situation if she wasn't friends with that boy, Mark. Paige shouted at her for hours into the night, slapping her face a couple time and pointing at her casted arm. Eve stayed still, not a single sound came for her mouth, taking in all the pain and screams her mother gave her. Nothing was holding the furious mother back, no limets.

Slaps, screams, pain, Eve took it all in.

Eve finaly was sent up to her room, closing her bedroom door behind her as tears came flouding out.

She had layed on her bed for hours, her crying wasn't going to stop any time soon. Her chest filled with pain and sorrow, her left wrist felt the same pain as her chest. Looking at it, her mind filled with suicidle thoughts them only stopping at the thought of her brother. *I can't do this to Kage, no, no. I can't.* She heared a light tapping sound. "Mark!" Her eyes shot into the direction of her window, seeing her best friend showing a worrying smile. She sat up but then she hesitated to open the window. The scene of the kiss in the hospitel shot into her mind. *It never happened...It never happened!! Just...open the window.* Her fingers shivered as she clutched the handle of the window and opened it.

They sat silently on her bed drinking tea and watching an Anime series. Eve clutch the remote and paused the episode, looking down on the floor as she spoke. "So... aren't you gonna tell me?" Mark sat there confused, not knowing what to say. "Uh...tell you what?"

She sighed, "You know, where you were...what happened and stuff. I heard part of your conversation with Zeek. Seems like you had quite an adventure while you were gone."

Mark turned to look away from her, sighing as he rested his head on his hand. "Before I tell you anything, I need you to promise something for me." Eve looked over to Mark, worried of what he might ask of her. "Well, that depends. Is it a 'don't tell anyone' or a 'don't freek out' promise?"

His hand reached for hers, his head turned slightly. "Well...it's a little bit of both." He paused, Eve nodding her head in agreement as he turned to sit cross-legged across her on the bed. "Do you know the saying: 'A life without meaning isn't a life worth living'?"