BIG TROUBLE [I]

Tori frowned as she heard the verdict of the court. She looked away from the television at Evie worriedly but unlike her, Evie had a calm expression on her face. It made her more anxious because her brother's killer has just been let loose.

It was five years ago when David was finally convicted and sentenced to twenty one years in prison. No one expected him to file for an appeal but he did. He had got the best lawyer in the country to work his case and she succeeded in minimising his offence reducing his sentence. The twenty one years he was supposed to serve had been spontaneously reduced to five. And that five years were due in a few weeks. And David would be free again to perpetuate his nefarious activities.

Therefore, Tori expected Evie to be enraged but she wasn't. She didn't even seem like she was displeased. She voiced out her discontentment in an attempt to get a reaction from her.

"This judge is making a big mistake by letting David go. David needs to be punished for his crimes or he'll commit more."

"He will be punished. Both he and Joanna. The best part is.. I'll do it myself." Evie's lips curled up in a mischievous smile as she muttered the last sentence.

"No you won't. You shouldn't turn into a monster just like them. Caleb wouldn't want you to kill anyone. Not even David." Tori panicked as she whispered. She didn't want anyone to hear them and she couldn't let her best friend kill someone.

Evie chuckled briefly before assuring her calmly. "Relax Tori, I'm not killing anyone. I can't become them to fight them. I have my plans."

"What exactly are your plans?" Tori asked, still anxious over Evie.

"For Joanna, I will shatter her life like she did mine. I will take away her most beloved things. I will bring down her company and turn her family against her. Especially Mike. Once I get him to hate her, every other thing will be easy. As for David, he'll go back to jail on his own and he'll stay there for good."

"You've changed. A lot." Tori couldn't help but notice.

"Of course. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. David, Joanna, Eloisa, Veron, Eva and every other person that hurt me and Caleb made me stronger."

Tori felt a chill run down her spine as she looked at Evie's calm demeanor. That sweet, warmhearted and innocent young girl was gone. The person in front of her was completely different.

But she had decided to be the friend Evie needed in good times and in bad. If getting justice for Caleb was what she needed to do, then she would do it gladly.

"I'll help you. It's not an offer, it's a statement. We do this together or I walk out this room and tell your family that you have gone rogue." She said and slowly stretched out her hand. "Deal?"

Evie looked worriedly at Tori's hand. She had chosen to go down a rough path and her best friend had decided to follow her. She didn't know whether she would succeed or not but she knew she couldn't do it on her own.

"Deal." She said as she took her hand. She would only involve her in things that didn't include any danger.

***** ***** *****

Evie held her smile as she watched Hope take out from the rack everything that caught her eye and put them in the trolley. She had promised herself earlier that morning not to get angry no matter what the little girl did. But when she showed up at her house with Mike on the day they were supposed to go shopping, Evie found that difficult.

Her eyes strayed to the counter where he was sitting, watching them intently. She looked away furiously. Isabel didn't trust her enough to let her go out with Hope alone and Mike was here acting like if he looked away, she would harm Hope. It was annoying.

After Hope had filled the trolley with one of almost every toy in the rack, she announced to Evie that she had gotten enough. Evie pushed the trolley to the counter and watched every item was calculated and packaged. She put her bank card in the machine and typed in her password but her bank had some issues and wasn't ready to serve any customer at the time.

She bit hard on her lip and reached into her purse for another card. Just immediately, Mike gave his card to the cashier with the intention to pay. Evie took it from her and gave it back to Mike while giving hers to the lady. She was slightly amazed at the drama but she overlooked it. She withdrew the money from Evie's card and returned it to her with a smile.

"Come again, next time." She said as they were preparing to leave and when they had almost reached the door, she faced her coworker. "Cute family, don't you think? Handsome and caring husband, beautiful wife and an adorable daughter." Her coworker disagreed with her statement but Hope was glad that somebody felt that Evie and Mike looked good together.

Hope kept smiling about it in the car as she ate her ice cream. From the day her mother had mentioned Evie to her, she had liked her. She imagined how great it would be if she got married to Mike and became part of their family. Without thinking of Evie's reaction, she blurted out her thoughts.

"The lady at the mall said we're a cute family. She felt that you both looked good together. Will both of you get married someday? Then we can all be one big happy family."

"That's it! Mike stop the car." Evie demanded angrily and descended from the car as soon as he stopped. She walked away from the car as she tried to wave down a taxi. She succeeded in stopping one and was about to enter when Mike pulled her out and apologized to the taxi driver. He tipped him and he drove away happily.

"Are you out of your mind? I needed that taxi to get home." Evie said angrily.

"No you don't. And I really am out of my mind. Because you left a four year old girl crying in my car."

"She deserves it." Evie pressed her lips together as she glared at Mike.

"I need you to apologise to her. Please." Mike pleaded. He couldn't bear to see Hope cry but the only person she ever listened to was Evie.

"I refuse to. She talks too much."

"She's just a kid and kids speak their minds. How is she to know that you would get mad?" Mike tried to reason with her.

"Well now she knows. That would teach her a lesson." Evie replied pettily.

"Look, she is sorry and has promised not to repeat it. Just tell her you've forgiven her so she'll stop crying."

"What if I refuse?" Evie said as she folded her arms.

"Then I have no choice..." Mike lifted her up and put her on his shoulders. "But to carry you there." He completed as he held her legs to stop her kicking and carried her to the car while she struggled to get down.

"Put me down, Mike. Put me down, you psychopath." She cussed as she struggled to get down. He soon put her in the car and locked the door, making Evie more enraged. She had decided to call the police but seeing Hope cry changed her mind. She had vowed to protect this child from getting hurt but she was the one hurting her. What different was she from Joanna?

She softened up and pulled her into her arms as she muttered every comforting word she could think of. She apologised for her behavior and promised to never repeat it. She was an adult and knew better not to take everything children said to heart. She urged Hope not to stop asking questions when the kid blamed herself for that.

Children were inquisitive and always spoke their mind. She couldn't take that away from her. No matter what Hope asked her, she wouldn't get angry again.

Mike smiled as he looked at Evie and Hope through the rearview mirror. Evie had stopped Hope from crying in less than a minute - something even Isabel found difficult. Evie was surely going to be a great mother.