Page 107 of Before Eve

“What else is going on?”

“Let’s see, I filed for emancipation.”

“What does that mean?”

“Well, Brynn’s parents have temporary guardianship of me. Now I’ll be in charge of my own self.”

“Ford said the two of you have been talking.”

“He’s helping me apply to sound engineering programs.” I laugh. “It’s been a busy week.”

“I’ll say.” West shifts a little, smiling. “I love how happy you are.”

“Thanks. I am.” I’m also content and working solidly toward being complete and whole. “Enough about me. What’s going on with you?”

“Well, Anne’s a pain in my ass.”

We share a laugh.

“You text with her more than you do me!” he jokes.

It’s true, I do.

“Did you hear we just signed on to do a European tour?”

“Anne told me, yeah. That sounds amazing.”

“Did you hear about Toby?”

“Anne told me that as well.” Toby got into a lot of trouble, harassing multiple girls, who came together in a law suit against him. Bus Stop replaced him with a new drummer. “Doesn’t surprise me, and I’m glad. He deserves that.”

“Agreed.”

We don’t speak for a few seconds, just look at each other, smiling.

“God, I miss you,” he says.

“I miss you, too, West.”

My seventeenth year goes by in a blur.

I apply and get accepted to a sound engineering program at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

I move into the dorm and dive into classes.

I talk every week with Brynn, who still lives on the West Coast. I also talk nearly every week with Anne, who still works as a roadie for Bus Stop.

My friendship with West continues to be a solid foundation in my life. But we haven’t seen each other in person since our goodbye at Brynn’s house.

A text comes in:

Anne: Have you seen this?!

She’s attached a YouTube link with West as the thumbnail. I launch the link. West is on stage, a hip propped on a stool and aguitar cradled in his lap. “…watching you in a rainy Central Park. Wondering what’s beneath your haunted eyes. Holding your hand. Falling asleep with you in my arms. Kissing you for the first time. For these reasons and so many more, I love you, Eve. Always. This is dedicated to you, my one and only.” He starts playing the song he and I wrote together, and it’s like I’ve never heard it before.

As I listen to the familiar words and notes, I become entranced, drawn in by his voice, our lyrics, and the emptiness in me only he can fill.

I take in every expression, every tone, every syllable of his voice. I drink in his gorgeousness and am overwhelmed with the urge to touch him, to kiss him, to love him. To see him again.