Chapter Eight
Even seeing her name on my screen made my stomach churn. It had been years since I'd last spoken to her, but her voice still haunted my memories like a song I couldn't forget.
I sat down on the couch, the phone still in my hand, as Ethan stood nearby, his arms crossed and his eyes filled with concern.
"Aria," he said softly, "who is she?"
I hesitated, my fingers tightening around the phone. How could I explain Evelyn to him? How could I explain what she represented—who I used to be?
"She's someone from my past," I finally said, my voice low.
Ethan didn't look satisfied with that answer, and I couldn't blame him. He sat down across from me, leaning forward with an expression that was equal parts patient and insistent.
"Tell me the truth," he said gently. "Whatever it is, I can handle it."
I let out a shaky breath, my fingers tracing the edge of the phone. "Evelyn was my best friend. We grew up together, moved to the city together, did everything together. She was like a sister to me."
Ethan nodded slowly, waiting for me to continue.
"But then things... changed," I said, my voice faltering. "We got into some trouble—nothing illegal, but dangerous enough. We were reckless, chasing highs and thrills, living like there was no tomorrow. And then one day, it went too far."
I paused, the memory flooding back like a wave I couldn't stop.
"We were at a party," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "Things got out of control. Someone got hurt. Badly. Evelyn and I made a pact that night—we'd never speak of it again. We'd leave that part of our lives behind and start over. And we did. But I didn't realize starting over meant leaving her behind too."
Ethan frowned. "You cut her off?"
"I had to," I said, my tone firmer now. "Being around her was a constant reminder of everything I was trying to forget. I couldn't move on if I stayed in her orbit."
"And now she's back," Ethan said, piecing it together.
I nodded. "And if she's reaching out, it means she wants something. Evelyn doesn't just call for no reason."
Ethan leaned back, processing what I'd told him. "Do you think this has anything to do with what happened that night?"
"I don't know," I admitted. "But I can't ignore her. If she's desperate enough to track me down after all this time, it has to be serious."
Ethan's expression shifted, concern etched into his features. "Do you want me to be there when you talk to her?"
The offer surprised me, and for a moment, I didn't know what to say.
"No," I said finally. "This is something I have to deal with on my own."
Ethan didn't look happy about it, but he nodded. "If you change your mind, I'm here."
I gave him a faint smile, appreciating his support more than I could put into words.
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Later that night, I found myself sitting in a quiet café, my nerves on edge as I waited for Evelyn to show up.
When she finally walked in, it was like a punch to the gut.
She looked almost the same as she had back then—tall, confident, her auburn hair cascading over her shoulders. But there was something different about her now. A hardness in her eyes that hadn't been there before.
"Aria," she said, sliding into the seat across from me. Her voice was smooth, but there was an undercurrent of tension I couldn't ignore.
"Evelyn," I replied, my tone guarded.
She gave me a small, humorless smile. "It's been a while."
"It has," I said. "What do you want?"
She raised an eyebrow. "Straight to the point. I guess I shouldn't be surprised."
I didn't respond, and after a moment, she sighed.
"I need your help," she said, her voice softening.
"With what?"
Evelyn hesitated, glancing around the café as if to make sure no one was listening. Then she leaned in closer.
"Do you remember that night?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
My stomach dropped. "What about it?"
"I think someone's digging into it," she said. "Someone who knows what happened."
My heart started pounding in my chest. "That's impossible. No one else was there."
Evelyn shook her head. "I don't know how, but they know something. And they've been asking questions about us—about you."
The blood drained from my face.
"What do they want?" I asked, my voice shaking.
"I don't know," Evelyn said, her expression grim. "But whatever it is, it's not good."
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