The Bad Boys of Summer Anthology(74)

Ash and I continued on as we had been… friends. He, along with Jess, Meg, & the crew, became regulars at Mason’s bar on Friday nights where he often performed. I would always go over to say hello to all of them, but never lingered. Ash never asked me up onstage with him again, but I couldn’t help but wonder if his song selections at times were made on my behalf. Often the lyrics hit a little close to home, but I did my best to ignore him and focus my attention on Mason. The only time we ever mentioned the time spent at the bar when we were together Saturday nights was when he complimented me on a performance and vice versa.

Evie and I introduced Mason and Max and they hit it off immediately. Together they had booked both Jobu’s Rum and 32 Leaves to play at a music festival in Dallas. The festival was scheduled the third weekend of December which unfortunately, was the weekend before mine and Evie’s comprehensive Biology final. We were super bummed that we couldn’t go watch our men in action, but instead we spent the three days studying and hanging out like we used to do. We watched girly movies, drank cheap wine, and painted each other’s toes. Other than the studying part, the weekend was exactly what I needed. Reconnecting with Evie reminded me of what a wonderful friend she had been to me for so many years. She had taken me under wing time and time again, and without her I wouldn’t have been anywhere near the person I was. I owed her everything, and now that my parents no longer wanted to be a part of my life, she was all that I had.

Monday morning arrived before I knew it. I was thankful that after the Biology final, I would be finished with classes for the semester - my first semester of college in the books, literally. Luckily the student housing that we lived in did not make us vacate over the holidays because both Evie and I wanted to stay in Houston as long as possible. Mason and Max were scheduled to be back the following day and we were both in need of some serious “stress relief.” Sunday night Evie went to bed early because of another headache. She said she wanted to make sure she slept it off before the exam the following morning.

I was surprised that by the time I entered the kitchen in the morning that Evie wasn’t up yet. She always woke up before me. I yelled out to her, “Evie, get your scrawny ass up. We’ve got to leave in 45 minutes.” I went on about my morning routine, getting the coffee started and making us both a bowl of cereal. After I didn’t hear her start moving around, I called out to her again, “Evie! Wake up! Come on, chica, you’re cereal is going to get soggy!” Still no response.

I started to get worried so I made my way to her room and swung the door open. “Evelyn Rose, get up now!” I barked.

She did not move. Instantly, I knew something was very wrong.

I ran to her bed. Her skin had been drained of its natural color. “Evie?!” my voice cracked as I grabbed her arm and nudged her. She was very cold, clammy. I gasped and dropped it immediately.

“Evie!...get up.” I finished weakly, dropping to my knees next to her, knowing she wouldn’t answer.

I reached for her phone, still propped on her night stand where she had placed it before-, “oh God” I cried, “oh no, no, no.” I pleaded, dialing 911 in what felt ultra like slow motion.

Before the operator even finished saying those dreadful numbers I cut her off, “My best friend is unconscious, please send help.” I said as quickly as I could to save any time that might have been available to help Evie, but somehow I knew that it was too late. I felt it in my gut, in my heart.

I managed to give them our address, and the answers they needed, as I kneeled next to Evie looking at her pale lifeless body. I went through the motions, but I knew that it was useless, my best friend was gone forever. I could feel it in my soul.

Shock set in; nausea ensued shortly after. A sob rooted deep in my chest traveled up the back of my throat and obstructed the air flow, forcing me to breathe in loud gasps. Thousands upon thousands of thoughts crossed through my mind - it happened so fast, I could not process anything and soon my head was pounding. I had so many questions. What happened? Why? How long had she been like this? How did I not know that something was this wrong? How could this be happening? What am I going to tell her parents? What am I going to do without her? What am I supposed to do? Why her? Why me? Why? I just couldn’t stop - I was afraid my brain was going to explode from sheer overload. Thoughts were moving so fast they were almost a blur. I’m not sure how long I sat on her bed next to her, it could’ve been 5 minutes or 5 hours, but eventually a warm numb spread across me. The thoughts stopped for the most part, my stomach didn’t hurt as bad, and soon I just didn’t feel at all. I was so disconnected, like I was watching life through someone else’s eyes. Not leaving Evie’s side, I somehow managed to make the worst phone call of my life.

“Hey sweetheart,” Evie’s mom answered cheerfully on the first ring.

“Something’s wrong with Evie,” I blurted out.

“What? Scarlett, is that you?”

“Yes, I’m on Evie’s phone. I found her unconscious in her bed just now. I’ve already called 911 and the paramedics are on their way.”

“I’m on my way!” She hung up without another word.

I sunk down to the floor, still unable to process what was happening. The next call I made was to my parents. My mom was obviously very upset by the news, she began crying immediately. She offered my old room to me if I wanted to come home, I told her thanks and that I would let her know, but I knew I would never stay there again. Even though our relationship had been strained for the past several months, I had no doubt that my parents would be there for me for this.

The paramedics arrived quickly. They found me sitting on the floor next to Evie. Her hand didn’t feel as cold in mine anymore. I couldn’t move. The cloudy thoughts in my mind were no longer my own. They were more like sporatic flashes of a life I once had. The muffled sounds around me didn’t matter. Nothing mattered in that moment. And I didn’t care if they ever would again.

Evie’s parents got there in what seemed like minutes, even though it must have taken several hours. They found me sitting on the couch, I couldn’t move. I couldn’t think and I couldn’t move. I heard Evie’s mom call Jess to come stay with me so that she and Evie’s dad could go to the hospital. Jess and Ash all showed up some time later. I could see the red rims of their eyes and the dried up tears on their faces. I still hadn’t cried. What was wrong with me? I thought maybe I was dreaming or maybe it was me that was dead, but when Jess shoveled scalding hot soup into my mouth and burnt every taste bud on my tongue, the nightmare that my life had become was confirmed to indeed be real.

The rest of the day was a blur really. At some point I got off the couch and moved into my bed, or someone carried me there, I really couldn’t remember. I woke up there in the dead of night, screaming at the top of my lungs, the vision of Evie dead body in her bed had stamped into my brain.

Ash’s arms quickly wrapped around me and pulled me to him, which scared the shit out of me and caused me to scream again.

“Shhh… it’s okay, Scarlett. It’s just me; I’ve got you.” He rocked me back and forth against his chest while patting my head. “I’ve got you now, butterfly.”

I laid in the security of his embrace a while longer, but was forced to move when I needed to go to the bathroom

“Thank you,” I choked out before I disappeared behind the bathroom door.

For the most part I was still pretty numb. It was like my brain wouldn’t allow me to think about it, about her. I guess it was some sort of self-preservation defense mechanism or something. But I knew that I couldn’t stay in bed for the rest of my life; I needed to figure out what was going on, what I was supposed to do next. I knew that I had to keep moving, one foot in front of the other, just keep moving. The first step was a shower.

When I got out, Ash was no longer in my room. I threw on some jeans and a t-shirt and went to face my Evie-less future. I found him sitting at the table, holding a cup of coffee, but not drinking it. He sat silently, staring at nothing, lost in sleep-deprived thoughts. When I entered the room, he stood up quickly and rushed to my side. He engulfed my body with his before I could say a word. He held me so tight up against him, I was afraid he was going to bruise my ribs. But I didn’t say a word. I needed him to hold me close. I needed to feel protected and close to someone. I needed to not feel alone.

“Oh, butterfly…” were the only words he needed to say.

I pulled my head out of his chest and looked up at him, but stayed snuggled against Ash’s warm body. “So what’s the plan? Have any arrangements been made? Where are her parents?” I began with my questions.

“Evie’s parents are at my house staying with Jess. They made arrangements yesterday for a small service this afternoon at the funeral home’s chapel.” He said softly, stroking my hair.

“Do they know what happened? Why?”

“Initial reports showed a brain bleed. They were doing further tests overnight so we should know more today.”

A brain bleed? The headaches, the fatigue, her weakening eyesight... it all made sense. I should have pushed her to go to a different doctor. I should have made sure that she followed up with someone when the headaches didn’t go away. I should have done something that would have saved her life.