For the next few weeks, things started to get crazy. Spencer and his posse of jocks excluded Trevor and I out of the group. Neither of us cared because Trevor had Lisa and I've personally never really liked Spencer as a friend anyway. Plus I have other concerns that are more important than being rejected out of the most popular boy's group of friends. Evelyn hasn't voluntarily spoken to me since the day after the double date. Whenever I try to talk to her, she's as closed up as a clam and more dark and brooding as ever. My attempts at of getting her to hang out with me after school are in vain. Even Lisa tried to set her up on another double date but Evelyn's not the kind of girl to fall for the same trick twice. Sasha and her clique of girls that I used to be think were hot and bodacious, were now bullying the girl I like. It started after the day Evelyn poured a gallon of chocolate milk on Sasha's head for plotting to break Trevor and Lisa up. It ended with Evelyn receiving two detentions and Sasha making her public enemy number one. They've taunted, ridiculed, tripped, kicked and even punched her numerous times over a few weeks. Evelyn, being herself, would remain unfazed but then would exact some sort of vengeance of hers in retaliation. Like when she somehow managed to get a rat to leap on Sasha or when she threw a hunk of meat at her in the cafeteria. Not to mention the latest retribution, which was basically breaking Sasha's hand, that gave Evelyn another detention. So I shouldn't have been surprised to see Evelyn and Sasha in a stare down in the hallway, glaring at each other balefully while an audience of fifty or so students watch on.

"I'm warning you, walk away now.", says Evelyn in malice.

"You bitch! You broke my hand! Now I can't do cheerleading for the rest of the season! You're going to pay.", Sasha says belligerently. She then strikes out a Evelyn and punches her right at the nose. I hear the sharp crack! as the blow struck. For second, Evelyn is knocked to the ground daze then she gets up, wipes blood off her nose with her hand and grabs Sasha in a chokehold. She pushes her against the wall and snarls.

"You really shouldn't have done that."

"Evelyn!", I call in warning, afraid of what she might do. She appears like she's about to snap Sasha's neck. Evelyn freezes and looks up at me, startled. Suddenly, she whips Sasha hard onto the ground and runs off. I race after her, ignoring the crowd of students converging upon Sasha to make sure she's unharmed.

It takes me awhile but I eventually find her crouched low in a bush beside the school building. She's crying into her hands and I can see blood trickling down from her nose.

Not sure on what to do, I take her into my arms and hug her. She freezes and then pushes me back sharply.

"Stop! I'm trying to comfort you!", I protest, holding on with all my might. After a few seconds she halts her fighting and droops her limbs uselessly.

"Why? I'm a dangerous, unstable, evil creature. Nobody should show kindness towards me.", she says with a hard edge.

"No you're not! If you're talking about the feud that took place a few seconds ago then you are not the one at fault. You were only defending yourself, it was Sasha who started it!", I argue, desperate to stop her self loathing.

Evelyn shakes her head sadly. "Poor incompetent boy. You don't understand the whole situation."

"I think I understand pretty clearly. You and Sasha have gone at it for these last few weeks and it resulted in you two having a scuffle."

Evelyn laughs humorlessly. "That was not what I was referring to."

"Then what are you talking about?", I ask, warily. Does she really see herself as evil?

"Never mind. It doesn't concern you.", is her vague response.

"Evelyn. I won't let you go until you tell me.", I bargain stubbornly, tightening my grip on her. She grimaces and says, "Fine."

"Throughout my childhood, I've lived with the most devious, cruel, and volatile bastards the ever inhabited life. My...foster Mom, she would punish me severely for even thinking of any act of disobedience. This ended with me being similar to her and I often yearn to lash out at anyone that threatens to do me harm. So when I was in that fight, if it wasn't for you, I would of snapped her neck and killed Sasha."

We sit a silence for a moment while I digest this information.

"You were abused?", I ask in astonishment.

"Yes, I suppose you can call it that, but that's not the point. I'm lethal and unstable and nobody should be around me.", she insists, seriously.

"Lisa's always around you.", I point out.

"Yes, well, Lisa knows the risks…", she trails off, evasively.

"And you're not going to explain that, are you?"

We stare each other down. Evelyn knows that I know that she's hiding something from me, I know that she will never give up the secret now.

"Listen, I don't care even if you are dangerous, which I don't believe. I know that deep down, you're more than this intimidating, feral girl who keeps everyone at a distance. One day, I'll find out who you really are but until then, I would appreciate it if you would stop giving me the cold shoulder.", I explain rationally, looking her right in the eyes. Her eyes portray a fear deep within her, only I have no idea what triggered it.

"I really wish you wouldn't try.", she admits nervously.

"Why?", I ask, puzzled.

"What if I'm worse than just an intimidating, violent Goth girl?", she challenges, her jaw tense.

I laugh. "I doubt that your worst than that but if you are. I don't care. You'll still be just plain Evelyn to me."

She's taken aback for a second then rearranges her features so her expression appears blank. I get up and reach my hand out for her to take it. She reaches out, grabs it and I pull her up.

"Now C'mon. Let's take you to the nurse's office. You have one hell of a bloody nose.", I joke. She smirks.

"If I go back they'll find out about the fight."

"They probably already did, Sasha is a blabbermouth." I grimace at the trouble she got herself in.

"True", she admits in a sigh.

I follow her into the school building, then she unexpectedly turns around towards me.

"Hunter, you're a good friend.", she compliments, for the first time ever without bringing attention to one of my flaws. She smiles at me and this time the smile is warm.