Hi everyone! Ok, this is my first stab at a Summerland fanfiction so I hope you all enjoy it. Please send me a review telling me what you think. !!!!
Evan Melbrook was, overall, a pretty average seventeen year old. He received relatively high grades on his report cards, was an average height for his age (5"10) and was fairly thin and always tried to stay in shape. He was a decent player at almost any sport he tried, but in truth, sports weren't where his interest lay. Since he was six, Evan had always had a talent for rhyming. That had developed into an ability to write songs. This ability to put words together that made his lyrics flow so well had soon been considered a gift. But it takes more than the ability to write lyrics to create a good song, you also need a decent voice to go along with it. Evan also had that. He also was able to play nearly every instrument anyone could throw at him. In fact, he had been able to read music since before he could even read words.
Evan's gift in music soon brought him his reputation as a singer in Manhattan. He was often asked to play at local charity concerts or parties. This made him rather well known around town, he almost always ran into someone who had been at one of his shows and was complementing him when he went out for a walk.
The odd thing about Evan was that he'd never play at a concert or anything to make money. True, he had earned a fair amount of cash playing at parties and such but he would never say that's what he planned to do for a living. He often described his musical talents as "a hobby not a job" and he'd stayed true to that. Then again, whenever someone asked Evan what he planned on doing when he was older he'd often stutter and change the subject.
He also had a sister. Her name was Ally and she was a year younger than he was. She had shoulder length blonde hair that always seemed to shine in the light. Evan was also blonde, though his hair was cut short. His eyes were very piercingly blue, it was easy to tell what color they were at a far distance.
It seemed as though Evan had everything going for him...until that night came. The night that changed his life.
So don't tell me all those lies, and don't break away from all our ties, I just want to be with you...forever. I just want to be-e-e-e-e-e-e-e...with you forever...
Evan finished his final song of the night with a deep sigh of exhaustion. The small but boisterous crowd that had gathered to watch him cheered loudly. He paused for a moment to take in the applause, then rose and, being terrible at any form of good-bye, made his traditional wave at the crowd and exited the stage. Backstage, many people were waiting to greet him and congratulate him on a good job. As he made his way through the crowded room, his eye caught a woman, formally dressed, standing near the exit. The had long brown hair and wore a white trench coat. Evan knew her all too well; her name was Monica Fringe, she was a social worker.
It seemed as though every time Evan saw her it meant bad news. He first met her when Ally moved in. In truth, Ally wasn't actually Evan's sister, she was his cousin. His aunt and uncle on his father's side had died in a car accident and she'd been brought to live with them. Ally and Evan had always been close, so they considered each other brother and sister. At first, however, Evan had not taken well to Ally moving in and because of that his parents arranged him to meet with Doctor Fringe for the first time.
The second time he saw Doctor Monica Fringe was when his grandparents died. His father took the loss very hard and began taking his depression out on Evan and Ally. Doctor Fringe had stepped in and taken the two to live with a temporary foster family until their father could get himself under control. Monica Fringe seemed to love the idea of temporary foster families, it was always one of her first suggestions to most problems. Evan remembered how terrible it had been being away from his mom and dad. It wasn't that the foster family he'd been put with wasn't nice, he just hated being away from his parents. In addition, his music career had been put on hold as his parents funded most of his lessons and practices.
And now, once again, Doctor Monica Fringe stood waiting for him, looking as grim as ever. Evan continued on through the crowd, pretending not to notice her and praying she was there to collect someone else. His father was going to pick him up around back...if he could just get that far without her seeing he may be able to lose her. He quickly made his way to the exit, and almost made it when suddenly-
"Evan? There you are!" A female voice came from behind him.
He saw a familiar, well manicured hand clamp down on his shoulder. He wondered, looking at the social worker's scarlet fingernails, how much of his pain and sadness had gone into paying for those.
"Oh, Doctor Fringe, I didn't see you." Evan said innocently, turning around to face his social worker.
She ignored his comment and took him outside.
"You need to come with me." She said, beginning to walk towards her expensive BMW.
"Uh, no I don't, my dad's coming to pick me up in a few minutes." Evan replied, looking up the darkened street hoping to see his father driving towards him.
"No, Evan, he isn't. Come with me and I'll explain." Doctor Fringe pressed, stopping.
Evan went up to her. He thought for a moment.
"Let me guess...mom had a meeting and dad couldn't be bothered to show up tonight so you decided to make a little extra pocket money and come pick me up, is that it?" Evan asked angrily.
Doctor Fringe sighed. "No, that's not it. Please come with me, Evan, and I'll explain everything."
Evan scowled. He hated how she always said his name while she was talking to him.
"I'm not going anywhere with you until you tell me what's going on. Why aren't my parents here to pick me up?" Evan demanded, rooting himself to the spot.
"Ev- listen, there's a lot I need to tell you. Please come with me and I promise I'll tell you everything." Doctor Fringe said, noting his annoyance with her using his name and refraining from doing so.
Evan thought for a moment. Obviously he wasn't getting a ride, so he might as well go with her. He couldn't carry his guitar all the way home anyway.
"Fine." He sighed, annoyed.
Satisfied with her work, Doctor Fringe led Evan to her car and helped him in. She stopped him when he went to put his guitar in the trunk.
"Let me get that for you." She said, taking it carefully.
Amazing...was Monica Fringe actually showing courtesy to another person? Evan was shocked. After she loaded his guitar into the trunk she got into to drivers seat and drove off.
"What's going on?" Evan persisted.
Doctor Fringe ignored him. This annoyed Evan because he hated it when he knew something was going on and no one would tell him what it was. As they drove, Evan saw the turn down his street and expected her to go that way. Instead, Doctor Fringe sped up as they passed the street. Evan looked at her perplexedly.
"Where are we going? My house was that way." Evan said, eying the social worker.
"We aren't going to your house." The doctor replied sounding slightly agitated.
Not long later, they arrived at a large, grey building with the words "Manhattan Social Services" written in blue above the entrance. Monica Fringe got out of the car and led Evan up to the building, flipping through her keys trying to find the one to open the door to the building.
"Why are we here, when are you gonna tell me what's happening?" Evan demanded, now growing angry.
Again, the social worker ignored him and unlocked the door, leading him into the dark office building. They went up a short staircase and entered the all-too-familiar office of Doctor Monica Fringe. Evan hated that damned office. It was already lit up and a seat was already prepared for him. He gazed loathsomely her desk, covered with pens, papers, and of course that box of Kleenex that she constantly pushed towards him when they met, as though the sight of it would make him have need for one.
"Please, sit down." She said, gesturing to the empty seat as she took hers on the opposite side of the desk.
Evan slumped himself down in the chair and looked at her impatiently. She leaned forward, resting her arms on her desk and gazing intently at him.
"Are you going to tell me what's happening now?" Evan asked her, his tone threatening to grow louder.
Doctor Fringe hesitated. "Evan...as your social worker it's my job to deliver you bad news when it happens to present itself. And I'm afraid that tonight, the news I have for you is about as bad as it gets." She said slowly.
Evan perked up, now listening to her intently. "W-what is it?" He asked worriedly.
Doctor Fringe gave a deep sigh. "There was an accident. At your house. From what I've been told, it was a gas leak. Your parents must have gone to light a candle or something and the entire house went up in flames...I'm sorry Evan...they didn't make it out in time...they were killed in the blaze." She said solemnly.
Evan's mouth fell slightly ajar. His brain seemed to stop functioning, he couldn't think...he wasn't able to process what he'd just heard. Didn't make it out? What did that mean? Was this some kind of stupid test of hers to see how he would react?
"Wha...how...bu...they..." Evan stuttered.
"Evan," Doctor Fringe said, prodding the Kleenex towards him. ", I know you and I have never quite gotten along, but please don't hold it back just because of me. I can imagine what you're feeling right now."
Evan didn't understand. English seemed to be some foreign language to him now...his heart was pounding uncontrollably. He felt sweat trickle down his forehead. Suddenly it began to come together for him.
"Ally...?" The only word he was able to force out.
"Your cousin Allison was fortunate, she was sleeping over at a friend's house when the accident occurred. We've already taken care of her, she's been taken to a temporary foster family." Doctor Fringe explained gently. "I can take you to there whenever you feel ready, you can be with her."
Evan still didn't quite understand what was going on. Killed? As in dead? His parents were dead? No! It couldn't be true...he'd seen them only hours ago before leaving. He'd forgotten to kiss his mother good-bye before going...he'd said he would be late...she told him just to go, he couldn't be late for his concert. But wait, the concert! They couldn't have been at home, they were supposed to be at his concert.
Evan shook his head. "No..." He whispered.
"I'm sorry, Evan, it's the truth. If I wasn't telling you the truth would you be sitting here?" Doctor Fringe asked him as though she'd read his mind.
Then it hit him. She was right. He remembered now, his parents were going to come late and skip all the performers before him so they could have dinner. His mother had a thing about candles at dinner...she lit a new pair every night. That must have been what started the fire. Suddenly, Evan found himself holding back tears. He leaned forward and put his hand over his mouth. He bit his bottom lip.
"I'll let you be alone for a few minutes. I'm just outside the door if you need anything." Doctor Fringe said, getting up and exiting the room.
As soon as she was gone, Evan felt tears trickle down his face. They were gone. His parents were gone and he was never going to see them again. Never...
Don't forget to review please, guys! Oh, and just to clarify: the first three chapters are all taking place at the same time, things don't really get rolling until chapter 4. Hope you're enjoying it !