Chapter seven

The moment Evelyn got home, she was bombarded by a flurry of questions by an excited Ellete. 

"How was school? Did you meet anyone? How was the classes? Did you-" 

The sound of throat clearing interrupted her and Atler stepped in, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Ellete, maybe we should let Evelyn clean up and change before attacking her with your never-ending questions?" There was a teasing tone in his voice. 

Ellete smiled sheepishly as Evelyn slipped off her sneakers and walked towards the shoe racking, placing her pair of sneakers on the top of the rack. 

"You're right- Sorry, I didn't mean to overwhelm you." she apologised. 

Evelyn gave her an assuring smile. "It's fine. I would be more than happy to answer your questions, but maybe after I clean up?" 

Ellete nodded, stepping a few steps back to make way for Evelyn to exit the hallway. Evelyn ducked out of the hallway, looking back and giving Ellete a grateful glance before heading to her room. 

Once in her room, she plopped her bag onto the desk and started bathing, changing into a comfortable shift before heading down stairs, certain Ellete would be waiting for her with a truckload of questions. 

Sure enough, when she entered the living room, Ellete was seated on one of the three plushy couches. Ellete sat her down, flinging questions at her as soon as Evelyn took a seat. 

After half an hour, Evelyn felt like she was about to go crazy. Atler had stopped by a few times to save Evelyn by trying to get Ellete to go with him on errands but Ellete had stayed put, refusing to get up until her question frenzy was over, so Evelyn answered question after question patiently, making sure Ellete got all the details she wanted. 

Eventually, Ellete ran out of questions and headed to the kitchen to make dinner. Evelyn took this chance to head to her room to finish up some schoolwork Mr. Harrington, her social studies mentor, had assigned. 

A groan slipped out of her lips as she flipped through the four-page paper Mr. Harrington had handed out. The education here was so different from the humans' education, and Evelyn's brain hurt trying to believe all the things that were called 'fantasies', 'myths' and 'legends' in the human world but was real here. 

She was on her third page when Ellete called her down for dinner and she slammed her pencil on the desk, grateful to be freed from the shackles of schoolwork. 

She headed down and entered the dining room, where Atler and Ellete were waiting. There was a steaming bowl of delicious-looking stew waiting for her at the chair beside Ellete and she took a seat there, taking the spoon Ellete offered and dipping it in, hungrily devouring the stew. 

When she was done, she excused herself from the table and left her plate in the sink in the kitchen before heading to her room, finishing up the last of her schoolwork. 

Evelyn was filling out the second last question on the fourth paper when her door slammed open and a springy figure jumped in. 

Evelyn's lips curled into a smile- she was facing one of her favourite people, but she still had to ask: "Zak? What are you doing here?" 

The grimmy had a smug grin on his face. "Yes, hello to you too." 

Evelyn cleared her throat. "Right, sorry-Hi." 

Zak broke into a chuckle. "Just kidding, but look at you! How was your first day at the S.O.M?" 

Evelyn grinned. "It was a little overwhelming, but overall it was awesome." 

Zak grinned even wider, like they were in a grinning competition. "Well, good thing I'm here to help with the overwhelming part. I got you a gift!" 

He held out his hands, which Evelyn hadn't noticed was clasped behind his hands. In his palms was a sack and he shoved it into Evelyn's hands.

Evelyn untied the ribbon wrapped around the top of the sack and peeked inside to find.... 

Bottles. Lots and lots of bottles filled with colored and funny-looking liquid. 

"These are pranking elixirs- and pretty epic ones at that." Zak said when he noticed Evelyn's confused expression. 

"....Thank you?" 

"No prob. Anyway, I gotta run now. I just happened to stop by to discuss something with Atler and remembered I had your gift in my bag." 

"Okay. Thanks again for the gift." Evelyn said.

Zak gave her a smile and waved goodbye before pulling out a teleball from his pocket and flicking it up in the air, disappearing in a flash of white light. 

Evelyn placed the sack onto the desk, certain she wasn't going to use them anytime soon. She finished up the paper and tucked it neatly into her bag, cleaning up and changing into a pair of soft pyjamas afterwards. 

She was tucked in bed and was staring up the ceiling when a knock rose from the door. Evelyn threw back her covers and opened the door, finding Atler and Ellete here for their nightly check-in. After exchanging goodnights, Evelyn shut the door, flopping on the bed and diving under the covers once again. 

She turned on her left, eyelids feeling heavy. After a few minutes, she drifted peacefully off to sleep. 

"Hi," Leia chirped as she showed up beside Evelyn. 

Evelyn had woken up bright and early for her next day at S.O.M and it was currently recess. 

"Where are you going?" Leia asked as she followed Evelyn's lead to a corner in the cafeteria.

"Oh, I...um...didn't know whether I could sit with you guys, so...." 

"Don't be silly! You're always welcome to sit with us." Leia said, hooking her arm through Evelyn's and steering her the other way. 

They reached the familiar table in the middle of the crowded cafeteria and Asher, Brooke, Camilia and Amelia were waiting there. 

They exchanged both smiles and waves as Evelyn slid her tray next to Leia's on the table and took a seat.

"Right," Leia said. "I forgot to ask you yesterday: Can I have your contact?" She fished out a holopod from her pocket and unlatched the lid, pressing on a few spots on the hologram screen that popped out of the pod. "What's your username?" 

"Evelyn Ambrose." Evelyn smiled.

"Oooo- beautiful surname you got there." Leia said, pressing on a few more spots on the screen. 

Evelyn dug out her pod from her pocket too, unlatching the lid. The familiar hologram screen popped out with a speech on it.

{Leia Jezebel has sent you a friend request} 

Evelyn hit the accept button and was about to latch the lid back to close off the hologram screen when yet another speech popped up.

{Brooke Lennon has sent you a friend request}

Evelyn glanced on Brooke-who had a sheepish and shy smile curling her lips-and smiled, hitting the accept button on that too.

{Asher Lennon has sent you a friend request}

"Don't mind if I friend you too," Asher said.

{Camila Beryl has sent you a friend request}

"Don't mind if I do too," Camila added.

{Amelia Casseline has sent you a friend request}

"And me," Amelia peeped.

Evelyn grinned and accepted all of the requests.

Leia squealed. "We're officially best buddies!"

Evelyn raised an eyebrow. Best buddies on day two? Maybe going to school wouldn't be bad. 

"Now that we're best buddies, I was wondering if we could, like, crash at your place?" Leia asked. "If you don't mind, of course," she added. "I'm just dying to see your home." 

Camila rolled her eyes. "You die to see anyone's home." 

"Yeah, I actually do. But I'm exceptionally keen on seeing Evelyn's home though." Leia admitted.

"Why?"

Leia shrugged. "Just because."

"Well," Evelyn nudged her way into the conversation. "I'd be delighted for you to crash at my place, but.....I think I'll have to ask my paren-" she stopped, the word a little sour on her tongue. "Guardians." 

Leia's expression softened. "Are you okay?" 

"I am, why?" 

"Nothing. I just...you keep referring your parents-" 

Evelyn winced.

"As your guardians." Leia finished. 

Evelyn bit her lip, remembering guardians meant replacements for dead parents. "Well, I guess you can say I was sorta adopted two times and my first family was....." Evelyn took a few deep breaths before continuing. "Killed in a fire. So in a way, yeah, yes and no- My parents are dead and they're not. I guess. It's a little confusing and complicated."

Her newfound friends went speechless, staring at Evelyn.

"I think....we'll need a little more information than that. We need to whole story." Leia finally said. 

The rest of her newfound friends nodded in agreement. 

"And what better place to tell us this story than at your house? Assuming your-" Leia winced. "Can I say guardian? Is that okay for you?" 

Evelyn nodded. 

"Assuming your guardians are okay with us coming over." Leia continued. "But if they do accept, is it okay if we come over, like....in the afternoon? Your explanation about your guardians got me even more eager to see who they are and hear your complete story." 

"You guys can of course come over in the afternoon- assuming my guardians approve of you guys coming. And if you want to find out who my guardians are, I could tell you now." Evelyn offered.

"Nah, it's okay. I'd rather find out by myself." 

With that, the matter seemed to be settled and the group started on their food, heading to their separate classes-or fields- when they were done with their food. 

Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock. 

The gentle chimes of the timeteller taunted Evelyn as seconds ticked by.

She had just asked Atler and Ellete- who agreed excitedly and maybe even agreed too fast- and had just called Leia to update her, told her that she could gather and bring the group together at her house half an hour later and gave Leia her address.

Aaaand now she was starting to regret not thinking this through. She was clearly daydreaming when she agreed to let her newfound friends come over, because the Evelyn she knew would never have agreed.

This would be the very first time friends from school would visit her at her house. 

She wasn't the talkative type in her human school, choosing to blend in the shadows with her favourite novels and read in her free time.

So this 'friend' business was a first for her, never mind having her friends come over her house. 

Ugh, why was she so dumb?! She should've thought it through!

Maybe she would do something wrong. Maybe she would say something wrong or maybe she wouldn't even manage to utter a word out of nervousness. Maybe she'd just randomly trip- hey, you never know. Or maybe it would just be pure awkwardness. Or maybe-

She took a few deep breaths to calm herself down.

It's okay, Evelyn- you can do this. She thought. You need to stop panicking over this and get it together. 

She glanced at the timeteller clutched in her sweaty palm. 

There were still twenty-five minutes left- and Evelyn was sure she could make use of the time, so she headed to her room and stood in front of her mirror and practiced different ways to greet her friends when they arrived.

"Hello. Welcome to my humble abode." Evelyn said to her reflection in the clear mirror.

She frowned. That was way too formal, so she tried again. 

"Hey! What's up?" 

Okay, now it was too casual.

"Hi-"

The doorbell rang, the sound reverberating through the house.

Evelyn rushed out of the room, dashing down the stairs and stumbling into the hall. She reached for the handle to open the door but stopped, closing her eyes and taking a deep breathe before laying her hand on the handle and opening the door.

"Hi!" she exclaimed, forcing a smile to the familiar nyxes outside.

Leia, Brooke, Asher, Camila and Amelia- the whole group- were standing there, eyes darting around, examining the house.

Leia's eyes darted back and her eyes landed on Evelyn's. "Hi! Thanks for having us over."

Camila stepped in next to Leia. "FYI, your house is awesome." 

"Thanks," Evelyn said, feeling her cheeks go a little red, but in a good way. "Oh, right- please come in."

She stepped aside, giving way for the group to enter the house.

"Thanks," Leia said as she peeked her head in the house and stepped into the hallway. 

Camila followed next, then the rest all shuffled in.

"Hello!" Evelyn heard a familiar voice say- Ellete's.

The all turned their heads to where the voice came from. Both Ellete and Atler were standing in the hallways' exit and entrance. 

"Welcome to our home! It's lovely to meet all of you." Ellete greeted her friends.

Evelyn had expected her newfound friends to greet Atler and Ellete back, but they got expressions Evelyn hadn't plan to see.

Camila gasped.

Asher froze and stared in shock.

Leia's jaw dropped open.

Brooke's eyes widened.

Amelia froze for a moment then dipped her head in a graceful bow.

"Oh, please don't do that." Ellete made her way over to Amelia. "Please, you don't have to bow- we're not royalty, but even if we were I don't think I'd like you doing that. Treat us like how you'd treat other parents. Same goes for all of you."

"Of course, Lady Elsher." Leia said, getting out of her shock.

Evelyn raised an eyebrow- Lady Elsher?

"No need for fancy titles- please, call me Ellete. And he call him Atler." Ellete told Leia, gesturing to Atler.

"Y-yes, of course.....Ellete." Leia stammered.

Atler grinned. "Well, I guess we'll let you kids hang out. We'll be close by if you need us and we'[ve prepared tea for you in the living room, which I trust Evelyn will show you to."

Ellete and Atler gave everyone friendly smiles before leaving the hall.

Silence filled the air after they left.

"What-how-why?!" Asher finally stammered.

Camila closed in on Evelyn. "Your parents are Lord and Lady Elsher and you never told us?!"

"Dude, this is awesome! I can't believe it- your parents are Lord and Lady Elsher!" Asher exclaimed. 

"Can somebody please tell me why you keep calling Atler and Ellete Lord and Lady Elsher?" Evelyn asked.

"They never told you?! You never knew?!" Asher said. "How do you not know?!"

"Well....I kinda got....um....how do I say this? They are my biological parents but they abandoned me to save me, then adopted me back- which is crazy and confusing, I know- so technically, I've been living with them for lesser than three months and they're not telling me a lot about them because they don't want to overwhelm me. So please, can someone explain why you're calling them Lord and Lady Elsher and why you guys froze when you saw them? And why you're freaking out because you know they're my guardians?" Evelyn blurted out.

Camila glanced around nervously. "I don't know.....should we tell her? If even Lord and Lady Elsher themselves haven't told her, which clearly means they don't want to tell her, and I don't think I want to upset Lord and Lady Elsher if I told Evelyn, although I really want to tell you too, Evelyn." 

"Well...if that's what you think, you don't have to tell me. I never thought of that- sorry. Forget I asked." Evelyn said sheepishly.

Camila shook her head. "You know what? I've changed my mind. You're our friend, and you're way more important than being on Lord and Lady's bad side. I think. And I'm pretty sure all of you are thinking the same, right?" she turned to the rest of the group, who all nodded.

Camila turned back to Evelyn. "Your parents are, like, two of some of the most famous people in our world. And not just any famous- insanely famous."

"Famous for what?" Evelyn had to ask.

"For their power. You're dad-" Camila started to explain but stopped when Evelyn flinched.

"Sorry, Atler is insanely strong. Red dragons- fire dragons- are super strong and are way stronger than any nyxes, elves, fairies and elfens, but Atler managed to defeat five at the same time, setting a N.E.E.F record and becoming famous. And for Ellete, she's crazy strong too. Gem users are supposed to control gems only but she can control rock and-if she really concentrates-dirt as well, meaning she can literally lift a whole city off the ground if she concentrated enough. And of course it wasn't surprising when they- two of some of the most famous people in the world- got together."

Evelyn was speechless and sucked in a breath.

But at least that explained all the bowing and stares and whispers and pointing when the trio went out together. Evelyn had long wondered why people were oftenly bowing and greeting Atler and Ellete, and when she asked, they'd always found a way to not answer.

"Wow." Leia breathed. "That's gotta be a lot of information to process, especially in such a short time."

"It is," Evelyn agreed, pulling herself together. "Sorry- I know I'm not doing a very good job being a host right now." 

She took in one more deep breathe and led them to the living room, where plates and plates of delicious pastries lay on the sturdy table which sat in the middle of the three couches of the living room. A huge porcelain, china teapot sat in the middle of the plates of pastries and there were six teacups, one for each of them.

As soon as they settled down, the group digged into the pastries and by a matter of minutes, the plates were all left with only crumbs.

"So..." Evelyn dragged out the word. "What do you guys want to do?"

Leia shrugged. "It's up to you. You're the host, after all."

"I have Fairyopoly if you guys are up for it," Evelyn offered.

Leia glanced at Brooke, Asher, Camila and Amelia before nodding. "Fairyopoly sounds good."

With that, Evelyn got to her feet and was about to rush to her room to receive the boardgame when she felt fingers wrap around her wrist.

Camila, who was sitting beside her, gently pulled her down onto a seating position. "But maybe we could play after you tell us the story that we've all been dying to hear?"

"What story?"

"The one about you getting adopted two times."

"Oh." Evelyn felt the blood in her face rush down. She hated that story and hated it even more telling it, because it meant she'd have to live through it again.

"You don't have to tell us if you don't want to." Leia told her and Camila peeled her fingers off Evelyn wrist. "We completely understand if you don't want to tell us."

"No, it's fine." Evelyn said, shutting her eyes and giving herself a few seconds to find the courage she needed to blurt the story out.

She took in several deep breaths before blurting the whole story out, he stomach twisting a little with every word said.

She blew out a breath when she was done narrating the stories and studied her friends' speechless expressions.

"So in a nutshell, Ellete and Atler abandoned me in the human world to save me but Bently and Delaney adopted me and Ellete and Atler saw how happy I was and decided to let me be. But then there was the fire and my human family...." she paused for a second, taking another breathe. "Died and they Ellete and Atler adopted me. Actually, I don't really know if that's counted as adopted. To be honest, I can't really make sense of anything in this. It's just a big mess." she summed in up for them.

Leia gave Evelyn a pitiful look. "I'm sorry," she whispered.

"Don't be. It's not your fault any of this happened." Evelyn assured her.

"Still, I'm sorry."

"Anyway," Evelyn said, deciding it was high time for a subject change. "Anyone up for Fairyopoly?"