Flashback

"Eva, remember when we first met?" Lily asked me, a small smile on her face.

We were seated on our couch watching the latest episode of Bachelorette, a glass of wine in hand. It was one of those nights where Lily had gotten home a little later and we both wanted to enjoy each other's company.

"Of course I do!" I replied, eyes still on the screen. I had to know what would happen.

"Remember how popular you were…you never cared what anyone thought about you. You still don't."

"I cared what you thought about me." I paused and turned to give her a small peck. "I still do."

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It was officially the second week of school and I'd already made it big in the halls. I wasn't sure why but it seemed like everyone wanted to be my friend, and I welcomed them all with open arms! People would talk to me between classes in the hallways, at lunch my table was always full, even at break I was surrounded by people.

My best friend, Lenny, was the only person I was really interested in talking to. He was tall, had a swimmer's build, that charming intelligence anyone could fall for. But he was mostly a jock and his the nerdy stuff away. His black hair constantly a mess and his eyes a light brown, he seemed like the perfect pretty basketball player. Nobody else truly knew me, they didn't know who I was. They weren't aware of my writing obsession or the way I had to read books based on their titles because my eyes never wandered to a boring covered book. And maybe it broke the entire "don't judge a book by its cover" rule but I couldn't help it.

Today it was a little different. Lenny was seated beside me as usual and our table was filled. Everyone was eating their lunch and talking, asking me for advice or just about my day. It was nice, sure, but I loved my quiet time. I would have to escape later to get away from all this mess.

Or at least, I would have. Just as I was preparing to say my excuse and leave the cafeteria, a blonde girl walked up behind me. I turned to meet her eyes, a brilliant and almost baby blue. Her eyes seemed to trail me lightly, and she never seemed to hesitate as she did this. Then, swiftly, she grabbed my arm and pulled me into her.

"Hey!" I yelped, trying to keep my balance. I could tell Lenny had gotten up to help me.

"Cool it, I'm just trying to get a better view." The girl spoke in such a playful tone. I stepped back and took a glance at her.

She wore a black hoodie that said 'I burn the bridges I walk upon.' And some black jeans. Her hair was tied back and she was smiling. Evergreen couldn't help but think she was pretty…not pretty like cheerleader pretty though. She was naturally pretty.

"Do I know you?" I asked, and yet, I knew the answer. She was in at least three of my classes.

"Yep. The names Lily, as I'm sure you forgot. Just wanted to ask if you'd like to work on our project tomorrow or today."

Lily. Lily Hule. We were partners on a creative writing project and we needed to get it done by next week. How had I completely forgotten? I quickly gave her nod and then realized she hadn't asked me a yes or no question.

"Uh, right, let's work on it at my house today!" I offered. She nodded and gave me a smile.

"K, I'll see you after school." She then turned and walked right out of the cafeteria, leaving me to think.

Was it wrong that I hadn't even noticed what my partner had looked like? I suppose I was too busy writing my story while she was talking. I barely knew what the project was about. Hopefully I could make that up to her though, even if she hadn't noticed. It felt wrong to treat someone like that. Acting as if they don't exist just because you were caught up in your own things. Lily seemed nice enough to at least have her name he remembered.

I ended up staying inside the cafeteria for the next twenty minutes, the bell signaling it was time to go. Lenny promised to pick me up for his basketball game on Saturday and I agreed right back. It was Friday and they were already on there way to a mini game. It wasn't as important but more to get a feel for the rest of their season. But to the guys, it was always a great competition.

Evergreen didn't care too much for sports or the guys that played them, but she also loved Lenny and was willing to support him. Her type, although, was cuties in glasses or were able to nerd out about things they were passionate for. Things that weren't getting buff and partying twenty-four seven…but a good party never really hurt either. Maybe she was just indecisive. That made sense.

I finished my last classes up quickly, heading outside. My mom had just called and mentioned she couldn't make it due to work things so I'd have to walk. I didn't understand why Angel couldn't just pick me up. It's not like she was busy. Ever.

With a sigh I started walking, almost forgetting about my agreement with Lily. Then I saw the confident blonde standing with some delinquents, laughing and looking like the world was an entire blessing. Which, it was in the nature aspect of things. I couldn't help the feeling in my chest when I saw her peck one of the guys on the cheek. Why did that give me a pang? I shrugged it off and walked over to her, my heels clicking against the pavement and my hair falling out of the loose low bun I had secured during my last class.

"Lily!" I called, grabbing her attention quickly. She grinned lazily and half waved.

"Evergreen. Such an interesting name, don't you think, boys?" She turned her head to which all the guys nodded.

"These your friends?" I asked, ignoring the few that were eyeing me like free candy. Gross.

"Yeah. That's Ian, Kendall, Sam, Lois, and Emmet." She named, pointing at each of them. I knew Kendall from one of my classes and Ian from Spanish. I didn't care though, I wasn't here for them.

"Nice to meet you." I forced out, giving them a smile. "Lily, my place. Preferably while ma and pa aren't home and the kids are too tired to care."

"The kids?" She slung her bag across her shoulder and we started walking to the exit.

"My siblings. Follow me."

We continued our walk, silence overtaking most of the way. It wasn't until we rounded the corner of my neighborhood that we began to talk. Lily explained the project to me, giving her opinion on what we should write about. I wasn't expecting her to mention romance, but I was all for it. Romance was my main writing style besides fantasy and adventure. As well as the occasional gay love story! Those were always fun.

Soon enough we made it to my house, entering and going straight to my bedroom. Which was actually just a shared bunk for the eldest kids. I sat on my bed and immediately pulled my computer out, not bothering to glance up at Lily. The girl had taken it upon herself to sit at the little desk and have her own work set up anyway.

We got to work easily, choosing a plot and theme before figuring out the title. It wasn't long before we were taking turn writing lines for the first chapter, editing each other's work and creating something pretty good. And getting to know Lily was oddly fun. She was sweet and checked in on me, admitting she wasn't really into writing as much as she wanted to be. She was actually only in that class because of her friend. She drew the book covers in her free time as well as anything she found pretty.

It wasn't long before she pulled out her sketchbook and showed off an extremely detailed drawing of me. That was oddly flattering and I felt my face heat up. She thought I was pretty. And for some reason, they mattered. I didn't care who thought I was sexy or hot. But knowing Lily found me somewhat attention grabbing? It made my heart swell. And I wasn't into girls.

"That's amazing, Lily." I whispered, erasing the thought from my mind.

"Thanks. I always found you attractive, figured I'd keep a little note of that for myself." She laughed. It was charming the way she spoke.

"You are quite pretty yourself, honestly. Better than those powdered up cheerleaders-" I caught myself before I could finish that last sentence. I loved those girls but they were faker than my aunt's boobs. And they were hard as rocks.

"I thought you were friends with those chicks? Aren't you a cheerleader?"

"A cheerleader? No way, I am way too afraid of those stunts they do. As flexible as I am, I'd rather sit in my room and write all day than talk about boys and swoon at basketball games." I almost stuck my tongue out at the thought. Lily burst out laughing, and I couldn't help smiling a bit too.

"That's awesome! I so thought you were a stuck up snake." She made a hissing noise and had her eyes go big. I was laughing now too.

"They aren't so bad, but the gossip! I swear they could kill each other in minutes if we stuck em in a room alone."

We were both laughing hard. It was such a light and beautiful feeling going through the room that I couldn't help the feeling in my chest. Lily was actually really fun to be around, and she was super funny. Her jokes were to die for and she seemed to really like flirting.

We talked like that for maybe an hour, finishing up another chapter. That's when we realized it was getting late and my parents didn't even know she was here. That was not good. I quickly dragged her out of my room and to the kitchen where ma was cooking her fried chicken. I loved her fried chicken and rice.

She looked at us, smiling and greeting Lily with open arms. I explained she was here for the project and Lily mentioned she would have to leave soon. Mom insisted on her staying for dinner, which she did, and then she packed up and left. I was almost sad to see her go…that was a lot of almost huh?

This went on for the rest of the week. She would come over, we'd write and talk and she'd even draw some things for me, then we'd have dinner and she'd sometimes bring stuff for my siblings she had bought on her way over, and then she would leave after hugging everyone. My family was big on hugs. My pops mentioned she was the kinda girl he wanted his boys to marry, which made me kinda upset. I didn't want my brothers to marry her. She had quickly become my best friend besides Lenny.

Sometimes when I went to school I'd actively look for her, telling Lenny all about our hangouts. He made me promise to go to our treehouse at his place and tell him everything in detail and read his latest comic book. It had become our little thing when he wasn't doing basketball practice or I wasn't with my family. I honestly loved hanging out with Lenny in our little treehouse, it was our safe space.

Lenny was invested in my relationship with the delinquent girl. Lily was apparently their leader and she hung with them often. He had given me most of the gossip around her. Like how she had a single dad who worked twenty-four seven and she barely saw him. Or how she had A's in all her classes despite never attending them. She was the typical scary girl with a mysterious backstory.

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I smiled, remembering our time in high school fondly. It had taken some time but we eventually started hanging out more often during school, she introduced me to her friends and I let her meet Lenny. We were still all pretty close to this day, those guys had all gotten some jobs and good families. Lenny was a CEO of this really big comic book company actually, which he put a few of my novels in as well.

And, funny enough, as I was thinking about that my phone began to ring. A picked it up and grinned, showing Lily the name on the screen.

"I was just thinking about him!" She laughed, sitting up straight.

"Really? Me too! And the rest of the guys." I quickly tapped the green button, listening to the voice on the other end of the line say hello. "Leonard! I missed you, what's up?"