Chapter 11: Chapter Eleven

Ada tried calling and texting Ewan, but he would never respond to her. The routine “Are you awake?” text at two or three in the morning stopped. Even her texts asking if he was awake went unanswered. This devastated her. The slight amount of progress she made from panic attacks to gaining a little sleep had gone out the window.

Her nightmares became worse and more vivid. A few times, she even woke her mother from screaming. Tanya couldn’t understand why her daughter’s dreams had become so terrible all of a sudden.

Ewan missed tutoring days that they had planned without letting Ada know anything. It was unusual, but she knew he was okay because she would see him at school. But even that was complicated to explain.

As soon as she would notice him and start towards Ewan, he would mysteriously vanish. A few times she even tried just trying to get his attention, but he would still miraculously disappear.

This left her feeling empty and alone. The one person that she could rely on, she could talk to, who kept the nightmares at bay, was now ignoring her. She couldn’t understand what caused Ewan to act this way towards her.

Why is he dodging me? She would think to herself, feeling hurt.

But over the next few days, the pain turned into sadness. A few days later the sadness became anger.

One day, she was determined to get answers. “What is Ewan’s deal?” she questioned Hal as she backed him into a corner.

“I don’t know.” He replied startled, looking around for an escape as he felt became trapped between the lockers and Ada.

“Bull.” Ada retorted, glaring at him hotly. “You know exactly why he’s been avoiding me.”

“Ada, if he doesn’t know, then he doesn’t know,” Kacey interjected, trying to calm her friend down.

Ada didn’t break eye contact with Hal, continuing to scrutinize him.

“Look, all I know is he’s been under a lot of pressure lately. He’s confused about stuff and doesn’t know how to handle any of them.”

She backs off, still visibly upset.

“I’ll talk to him, okay?” Hal says, trying to make her feel better.

Ada lets out a defeated sigh, backing away from him. She starts to walk away without another word to him.

Almost two weeks later, Ada gave up trying to figure out what Ewan’s problem was. What could she possibly do about him intentionally avoiding her? The entire situation was causing her to get migraines from all the stress and lack of sleep.

She felt like she was constantly on the verge of a panic attack. Her anxiety was increasing with every moment that passed without a word from Ewan. Ada was exhausted as she tried everything to keep herself awake at night to keep the nightmares away.

Friday evening Ada was standing outside the school, saying good-bye to Kacey and getting ready to walk home when she was met by Kevin. He flashed his perfect smile that made Ada feel overwhelmed.

“Hey, beautiful.” He greeted, walking up beside her.

“Hey.” She replied becoming embarrassed and feeling awkward.

“So, have you thought about getting to know each other a little better?” He smirked. “We could go grab something to eat.”

Ada hesitates. She hadn’t thought about Kevin since he asked her out. She suddenly felt as though someone was staring at her and decided to look over her shoulder. She notices Ewan standing there frozen, watching her and Kevin. A pang sliced through her heart. Why is he paying attention to me now? Suddenly the anger that she had managed to suppress suddenly reappeared. Turning back to face Kevin, she starts “You know what? I think I would enjoy that.”

Kevin smiles. “Alright. I’ll pick you up later then.” He started to walk away, before turning around. “What’s your address?”

Ada just knew this night was going to be… entertaining, to say the least.

As soon as she gets home, Ada calls Kacey, asking her to come over and help her get ready. She must’ve been at Ada’s house in record time and appeared to be more excited about the date than Ada was.

“Are you ready for your date?” She asked with a big smile as she jumped up and down in excitement.

Ada shrugged. “I guess.”

Frowning, Kacey stops jumping as she stares at her friend incredulously. “Wow… You’re a real mood killer. Why aren’t you giddy?”

“I don’t know.” Ada sighed, walking to her bedroom with Kacey following behind her.

Kacey curled Ada’s brunette hair, styling it into beautiful beach waves. To compliment her burgundy skater dress, Ada wore red lipstick, applied black eyeliner and mascara, and finished her eyes with a light tan eyeshadow.

“So, have you talked to Ewan lately?” Kacey questioned, in a knowing tone, as if she knew something and was ready to explode.

Ada became angry and anxiety rose within her at the mention of his name. She could tell Kacey was about to burst with some type of information, but Ada wasn’t interested in it at the moment. She had tried to get answers for two weeks, and now she’s over it. “No, I haven’t.” She replied without emotion. She didn’t want to think about Ewan right now.

Sensing the hostility that Ada appeared to be harboring toward Ewan, Kacey decided to change the subject as she continued to look as though she were ready to spill. “Where is Kevin taking you tonight?” She questioned, continuing to pick at Ada’s make-up and hair, to ensure that it is “Kacey approved.”

“No idea.”

“Hopefully it’s nowhere fancy.” Kacey retorts, scrutinizing Ada’s choice.

“Seriously, I don’t know of any high school jock that can afford fancy restaurants other than ones on TV.” Ada retorted, rolling her eyes.

“Don’t get snippy!” Kacey replied with her eyebrows raised. “And I think your makeup and hair is complete. Just don’t touch your face or hair, okay?”

Ada looked at herself in the mirror, flabbergasted. She couldn’t believe the person staring back at her was herself. “Wow, you did a great job!” She replied smiling, feeling beautiful.

“Thank you,” Kacey replied smugly.

Knock, knock.

Kacey looks at Ada with glee. “Oh, it must be him!” She states, clapping her hands with excitement.

Ada’s heart jumped from anticipation.

The girls walk down the hall to the front door, only to find Ewan was the person who was standing on the other side.

He was wearing a dark blue hoodie. His hair was a mess; tousled and sticking up in every direction. He appeared as if he had just jumped out of bed. The bags had grown darker under his magnificent brown eyes. It looks as though he hasn’t slept a wink in days. Ewan’s bloodshot eyes grew big when he saw Ada.

“What are you doing here?” Ada questioned, with a mixture of emotions. Relief, sadness, anger, and nervousness consumed her. She felt relieved that Kevin wasn’t there yet, sad that Ewan appeared to be getting as much sleep as her, angry for how he’s been towards her, yet so anxious by his presence.

“You look so beautiful.” He replied mesmerized.

Ada hesitated with apprehension. “I’m about to leave.” She responded slowly, blushing from his comment.

“I wanted to apologize for the way I’ve been acting towards you.” He started gradually.

“Now?” Ada questioned with annoyance.

"I just—"

“No, Ewan, you had plenty of opportunities to talk to me. I’ve called and texted you, I’ve tried talking to you at school and you just dropped me like I was nothing!” Her voice grew louder. Tears started to form and threatened to fall down her cheeks, ruining her makeup.

“You’re right. I’m sorry.” He replied, while his eyes betrayed the increasingly growing wound that Ada’s words had slit through him.

Both of them stared at each other for a moment. There was so much Ada wanted to say, but couldn’t make them come out. Likewise, Ewan looked as though he was about to say something but wasn’t sure if he should.

“Maybe this discussion should be done at a later date?” Kacey chimed in, trying to diffuse the situation.

Ewan nods and starts to walk down the pathway. He suddenly stopped, turned around, and called back to Ada, “Kevin doesn’t deserve and will never appreciate how stunning you look.”

Ada blushed from the doorway, watching Ewan.

“He doesn’t have the brains to comprehend just how special and amazing you are.” Ewan continues, making Ada’s heart swell. He was getting ready to walk back to the house, as if he had something more to say to her, when a car pulled up, honking its horn.

Everyone stared at the uninvited guest who interrupted their conversation. It was Kevin.

At the sight of him, Ewan stopped in his tracks, turned, and stormed off.

Ada could do nothing more than watch as he tensely walked away from the situation.

“Well, your date has arrived!” Kacey replied in replicated excitement.

“Yeah…” Ada replied feeling nauseated. “Isn’t it a bad sign that he didn’t come to the door?”

Kacey shrugged her shoulders. “Maybe he’s just not the type to want to meet the parents on the first date.”

Ada didn’t like this explanation but just chalked it up to that.

After getting the “okay,” from Kacey that her makeup and hair still looked fine, Ada walked to the car.