Re: Streets of Manhattan

[Tiger-Lily]

They were still standing twenty feet away from each other. Evelyn's hand slid down Jake's arm, leaving potentially bleeding marks, and she decidedly entwined her fingers with his, biting her lower lip. She wasn't going to wonder why James had prolonged his stay in New York.

She looked up at Jake. "As of this second, you're my boyfriend. Got it?" If he argued, she was going to kill him. Her defense mechanism was kicking in, along with a dire need to prove James wrong.

She could clearly remember their conversation from that evening.

***

Evelyn was walking over. Luke glanced at James and guiltily looked away. "Um...she's always been here...she told me, us, last summer that she got into NYU." He didn't want to lie to James' face again. He couldn't.

[Guest]

Jake figured he did owe her, so he decided to just link his hands with her and looked down at her, "Okay fine if that's what you want."

***

James swallowed hard, his breath hitched in his throat, he did remember Evelyn saying she got into NYU, but she also mentioned how she would probably just go to Seattle to be near her family.

The worst part about all of this wasn't really running into her, although it was just his luck to run into her, after the string of events only with him being in the city barely two days, what made him upset along with this was that Luke knew and he lied to him, which probably meant the others knew as well.

That Ashlee, Alexis, and Luke were all trying to keep them from running into each other, and lying to his face. James looked at Evelyn and she had her hand intertwined with the dark haired guy she was walking with and his heart sank.

He remembered even saying to her earlier that day, Good luck finding someone, because you will never find someone to replace me.

[Tiger-Lily]

Evelyn flashed Jake the first true smile she'd given a stranger in New York. She led the way toward the two other boys. Luke had his hands in his pockets and his head lowered.

Yeah, you better be ashamed, she thought irritably. But she still felt oddly emotionless as she reached James and Luke.

James looked floored. She wasn't sure if it was because he'd run into her or because she'd somehow managed to get along with a guy enough for him to hold hands with her.

"Hi," she said, fixing a fake smile to her face as she turned her gaze from James'. Luke didn't deserve a genuine one. James most certainly didn't. She studied Luke so she didn't have to look at the brunet. "What're you doing out at this time of night?"

Luke lifted his head, wondering why she wasn't even acknowledging James. "Um...got caught in rain. Who's this?" He glanced at the boy with Evelyn, wondering when the hell she'd started sneaking out past dorm curfews to hook up with random guys.

[Guest]

"Hey I'm Jacob, I'm her boyfriend." Jacob lied to the two boys.

Boyfriend...

The words echoed in James' ear, just a few hours ago he was yelling at her, and she already had moved on, she had a boyfriend and he was standing in front of them.

James opened his mouth to speak, and closed it. For one of the few times in his life, he really didn't have anything to say to her, except just look back and forth between them.

[Tiger-Lily]

Evelyn watched Luke's jaw drop. She still wasn't about to acknowledge James' existence until she absolutely had to. After that whole messed up conversation, she really had nothing to say to him.

And honestly, she was glad she didn't feel anything except severe panic when he showed up. James might not have realized it, but his commentary just a few hours ago had been what had completely pushed her over. She was done with it, him and the rest of their stupid tension.

***

Luke stared at Evelyn, bewildered. "When the hell...?" he began, confused. Evelyn didn't have a boyfriend when he'd last checked. She hadn't even mentioned meeting anyone but Trevor.

What the hell happened to Frogger? Luke thought. She moved on fast.

Evelyn smiled briefly at him, looking almost guilty. She still wasn't acknowledging James. "I was going to tell you," she explained like she knew what was going through Luke's head. "But then you and Lex went off somewhere."

Luke's face reddened slightly, remembering his lie to James. Who was now not looking at him at all.

"Nice to meet you," Luke said to Jake, half-truthfully.

[Guest]

"You too." Jake said, although he still had no clue who he was just that his name was Lucas, and his friend was looking like he was about to be sick, he had to know why Evelyn suddenly wanted him to be her boyfriend, well fake boyfriend.

The Luke kid looked genuinely in shock when he saw them together, and the kid next to him just looked... unless.

That must be her ex...

He thought about how stunned and ... heartbroken he looked. Jake knew that look anywhere, cause he was unfortunately on the other end of something like this once.

No wonder... she's using me.

He figured that they must have had some history together, or something must have gone down real bad, and judging by how they were both reacting neither of them knew that the other was here, and now Jake had managed to get himself involved with this insanity.

I knew it, I should have just gone home, what did my mother say about talking to strangers... Well Evelyn isn't a stranger but now I'm her fake boyfriend. Talk about unexpected... this is really gonna put a damper on my social life. Damn I should have just let Seth's dumb cat jump off the ledge of the building... actually I should have never hit on her. PERIOD.

[Tiger-Lily]

Evelyn swallowed, feeling the tension in the air. She still didn't bring herself to meet James' eyes. Instead, she glanced at Luke, shifting a little so she was somewhat leaning against Jake.

"So, I heard about your little date," she teased the blond. Luke didn't look like he'd heard because he glanced at James then back at her, brown eyes icy, and said coldly,

"We need to get going. Class at eight."

Evelyn blinked, a little alarmed. So it was okay for him to lie to her - and James, clearly, by the look on his face - about the other being in NY, but she, Evelyn, couldn't do anything without Luke's approval?

Evelyn's temper flared. Jake had already teased it enough that day, and it was resting coiled under her impatience, willing ot break out. She pulled her hand from Jake's and slipped it around his waist casually. The act felt natural. Just because she wasn't an outright flirt didn't mean she had no idea what she was doing.

Actually, she reflected, she really didn't know what she was doing. By the look on Jake's face, he was clearly catching on that she had less than honorable intentions. But Evelyn was acting impulsively, and she'd gotten lucky she'd had a cute guy around on time. Hopefully Jake would let this go afterward.

[Guest]

James nodded, "Yeah... class."


Jake winced mentally, this guy was really effected by this he really hoped he didn't have to carry this for long, and he was a bit scared that the dude was gonna snap at him and probably kill him.

[Tiger-Lily]

Evelyn started at his voice. It was just as she'd remembered it from her memory. She spared him one glance and then quickly nodded at Luke. "Yeah, we have to get back to our dorm too. Sneak in, more like."

Luke didn't look appeased by her second fake smile. "Dorm? You're a freshman?" he asked Jake. That might explain how Evelyn knew him enough to actually go out with him.

Evelyn nudged Jake's side with the arm she had around his waist. The idiot couldn't act to save his life.

[Guest]

"Yeah I'm a freshmen at NYU, our dorms are couple of doors down, you know I met her when I saw her on campus and we really hit it off." Jacob smiled down at her, squeezing her hand.

[Tiger-Lily]

Luke's eyes widened. Alexis hadn't mentioned this. What the hell was Evelyn doing?

"That's great," he said through gritted teeth, not daring to look at James. "So we'll leave you to it."

He nudged James in the back with his elbow. "Night, guys."

***

Evelyn had to give Jake props. He wasn't as stupid as he came off. She didn't know why he was even going through with this, but she was aware she owed him. BIG time.

That was probably going to come around and bite her in the butt later. She was doing all this to prove she wasn't really as stuck as James thought she was. She was over him, but he'd never have believed her if she hadn't shown him evidence.

And it wasn't like he had any reason to care. Why he was being all shocked, she didn't get.

"Night," she said to Luke, pulling away from Jake and turning around to face the subway.

[Guest]

James turned walking with Luke, he looked behind him watching as Jacob and Evelyn left, he didn't look at Luke and he decided he didn't need to look back at Evelyn to verify that she had really gotten closure.

James was a mixture of things, right now but his anger was really starting to build,but he figured he just let it all out once he got back to the apartment.

***

Jake just waved at them, and turned to follow Evelyn to the subway, he knew whatever he had done he had gotten himself into deep.

And as they got further away he pulled his hand away, "Um what just happened?"

[Tiger-Lily]

Luke decided walking would help James right now. So they didn't take the subway Evelyn and Jake had taken, but walked home. Luke glanced at his friend, gnawing hi lip. James had a right to cold-shoulder him. And Ashlee and Allexis.

"We only kept it quiet because you guys looked so free out here," he began quietly. "Wanted to leave the drama behind. And about her boyfriend...Lex never mentioned Ev had even met anyone she liked. But maybe Evelyn didn't tell her...and they're, um, roommates."

***

Evelyn's shoulders drooped and she felt suddenly weary. As they went down the steps and entered the platform for a northbound subway train, she tucked her cold hands into the pockets of her wet capris. "Can we just wait till we get back to the dorms?"

A train came rattling in, and the doors slid open.

[Guest]

James wasn't saying anything to Luke, or Ashlee or anyone for that sense.

He was so livid right now he couldn't see straight.

He figured since his "friends" lied to him, he knew Luke would rather him snap at him at this moment, but he figured he'd make him suffer.

James hurried his pace walking past Luke blowing past places to just get back to their apartment.

Which he thought seriously about kicking Luke out of at the moment.

***

Jake was silent while they waited for the subway, looking at Evelyn he figured he'd wait for her to see if maybe she'd explain basically why she just stood there and ripped that guys heart out of his chest.



Jake piped up,"You know, I know I owe you, and you pretty much owe me. And no offense or anything, but if you were trying to hurt that guys feelings, you succeeded."

With that he wasn't really expecting her to respond. The subway train roared as it slowed to a stop in front of them.

The doors hissed as they opened and Jacob stepped inside.

[Tiger-Lily]

Evelyn glanced up at Jake, startled. She followed him onboard the train and sank into the first seat she saw. The whole train car was almost empty anyways.

She didn't answer Jake. She'd meant it when she said she'd rather they did this back at the dorms. The dog was poking out of his sweater again and Evelyn smiled faintly, feeling like she was going to be sick.

The subway train hurtled forward.

***

Luke sighed, deciding he deserved the silent treatment. He quickened his pace to match James' and followed after him.

[[Luke and James to their apt.]]

[Guest]

[[ James and Evelyn from around campus/subway]]

James stepped out of the station looking behind him at Evelyn, "Maybe we should have read a map?" He suggested not really sure where they were at the moment.

[Tiger-Lily]

Evelyn glanced at the subway map nearby, mounted on the wall behind a sheet of glass. "SoHo...shit." She frowned. "Of course...that map in the train said SoHo was south from Greenwich...so we should go North."

She turned and began speedwalking down the platform, headed for the set of stairs.

[Guest]

"Well don't leave me here alone!" James yelled to her following behind Evelyn back towards the station.

[Tiger-Lily]

Evelyn couldn't help a small satisfied grin. She sped up some more, knowing James' long legs would make it easy for him to catch up to her.

"There," she said, pointing toward the train on the other side of the platform they'd stepped out on off hte Southbound one. "Headed north to Midtown."

She had to stop because the train wasn't slowed down yet. She crossed her arms over her chest, failing to stifle a small, victorious smile at James as he caught up. The train doors slid open in front of her as the train stopped.

[Guest]

James narrowed his eyes at Evelyn before walkimg onto the train he stuck his leg out without thinking and watched her stumble a bit.

James snickered and straightened himself looking behind him, "Sorry I thought you got on." He said standing in the train.

[Tiger-Lily]

Evelyn narrowed her eyes as she caught her balance on the pole just inside the train's doors. "Mature," was all she said, however, straightening and moving past James to sink into a seat nearby.

She had been about to make a sharp comment. About to, being key. Simple gestures with James somehow always ended up dangerously flirtatious. Sometimes, there had been no romantic situation and he still managed to make her feel like she needed a cold shower.

And hell, for all he knew, she had a beau. Would he still hit on her given a chance or would he respect that?

The train doors slid closed and Evelyn fixed her gaze out the window firmly.

[Tiger-Lily]

[[from Dorms]]

Seth stumbled onto the subway train when it roared in, almost tripping facefirst into a pole. He caught his balance and then whooped as he grabbed a handhold, swinging from it like a younger version of Tarzan.

He swung forwards and collided with Jake as the other boy entered - and Seth lost his grip on the handold. He flew forward.

His momentum knocked them both backwards, down into some woman behind them. She squealed and ducked sideways, dodging narrowly.

"Nice," Luke commented, pulling out his phone to snap a picture of this as he and James entered.

[Guest]

James laughed at the two as they both fell James tripped slightly getting onto the subway he took the empty seat he found away from the angry lady, he watched Seth get up and Jake got up off the women dusting himself off and throwing a playful smile at her.

He punched Seth, "Andreasis, you need to lay off the cat food you're getting fat." He said poking Seth in the stomach.

[Tiger-Lily]

Seth punched him back automatically. "Don't make me beat your ass in public."

The subway abruptly began to move and he staggered again. "Shit!" He grabbed hold of Jake's collar reflexively.

[Guest]

Jake grabbed a hold of Seth's arm pushing him down in an empty seat, "Ha, right! In your dreams." Jacob said grabbing a hold of the pole to steady himself on the moving train.

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