A/N: Argh! I got distracted XP Anyhow, I love this movie and book and I hate how it ends. So I've fallen victim to writing fanfiction on how it could have ended if there was someone else to help. Anyways, I hope you all will enjoy it and please let me know what you think! :) Enjoy!

The Great Gatsby – I Can See the Green Light

Chapter One – The Newcomer

The train trudged on, rickety and puffing thick, black smoke as the passengers within grumbled about the heat. Sitting complacently by an open window of the car was a girl, gently turning the page of a favorite book.

"Can I get something for you, Miss?" asked a waiter as he scanned the aisles.

Glancing up, she shook her head at the older gentleman. "No, thank you."

Noting how she was dressed, he gave her an odd look and walked away.

Blush came to her cheeks as she realized once more that she didn't fit in with these people. Self-conscious now, she reached for her braided hair resting upon her shoulder and gripped it. Her plaid dress did nothing to help her confidence, nor did her worn brown work boots. With a frown, she softly kicked her lonely suitcase and sighed. Letting her emerald eyes drift past her clothes and out the window, she rested her elbow against the sill and placed her cheek upon her hand.

As the train finally came to a halt at the station, she was stunned to see their stop was in what appeared to be a valley of ashes. Men toiled and slaved away as thick columns of smoke filled the sky. Off in the distance, a billboard with a set of bespectacled eyes gazed down upon her, the name "Dr. T. J. Eckleburg" faded on the broken, peeling sign. Stepping off the train and onto the platform, the young woman gripped her suitcase and purse as she made her way down into the dirty, filth-filled area, hoping to catch a cab into the city.

"Evelyn?! Evelyn Keller?!"

Hearing the familiar voice, the girl stopped in her tracks, her head swiveling around as she struggled to locate the source of the voice. Her eyes sparkled at the sight of the young man who called out to her, making his way past the crowd and standing before her. "Nick Carraway! I haven't seen you in years!" she laughed, setting her bags down so she might embrace him.

The man chuckled, returning the gesture and accepting a chaste kiss on the cheek before pulling back. "Let me look at you! You've grown since the last time we saw each other!"

"Just before you left to join the war," Evelyn nodded, tossing her coppery hair over her shoulder. "How did you know I was coming?"

"Your mother phoned my mother and she phoned me, asking if I would come and make sure you were well taken care of," he grinned, winking at her.

Giggling, she shook her head and grabbed her bags once more. "I appreciate that, Nick, but you don't need to worry."

"Oh? And where were you planning on staying?" he asked, taking her luggage from her before walking down to a waiting cab.

"I'm not sure," she answered honestly. "But I knew I wanted to come here and try to make it on my own."

"That's what I've been hearing," Nick nodded with a wry smile. "I've come with the same intentions."

"That's right. How's the bond business?" she grinned, accepting his help as they entered the vehicle.

"It's all right," he answered, nodding for the driver to move. "I'm doing fairly well in it, so I guess that's all that really matters. Now then, about your lodgings-"

"I'll be alright, don't worry," she tried to wave it off but he gave a look that made her stop.

"You're a dear friend to me, Eve, I don't want anything happening to you. I'll let you go about your business and search for a job or whatever it is you want to do here, but you'll be staying with me."

She blinked, stunned by the finality in his voice. "Are you sure, Nick? I could rent a-"

"I'm certain," he said, running his fingers through his slicked back chestnut hair. "There's a guest room at the cottage I'm staying at in West Egg. Don't worry, I'll give you your space. I just want to be sure you're all right. Besides, both our mothers would kill us if anything happened to you."

Laughing, she embraced him, causing his cheeks to go bright red. "Ok, you win, Carraway. Thanks for this."

"Forget it," he brushed it off, offering her a smile. The smile turned into a small grimace as he scratched the back of his neck and confessed, "Listen…I need to go straight away to visit my cousin…they're expecting me for dinner. I already told them I'd be coming and that you'd be there, too, so-"

"You sure know how to make a girl feel welcomed, Mr. Carraway," laughed Evelyn. "I'm excited. But what's with the face?"

"Nothing, it's just…you remember my cousin Daisy, don't you?"

"Of course!"

"Well, she's married…the man's name is Tom Buchanan. I went to Yale with him. He's sort of a…"

"Brute?" finished Evelyn, recalling an article in the newspaper years ago and hearing gossip on the train from some folks who were returning home.

"In a manner of speaking, yes," admitted Nick, his blue eyes falling upon her once more. "I'll do my best to keep him away and stop him, but he says what he thinks and he's not very fond of 'poor' people."

"I think I can manage," she winked. "I'm sure it'll be just fine."

~JG~

"Brute" was too kind a word to describe a man like Tom Buchanan. The moment they arrived at the lavish East Egg estate, he was imposing, selfish, and rowdy, his booming voice overwhelming at times. Daisy, on the other hand, was light and airy, but she reminded Evelyn of a bird, oftentimes distracted or distressed easily and constantly striving to change the subject into something of little consequence.

Nick and Evelyn weren't the only visitors there, however. Arriving at the Buchanan estate and entering the house, they were escorted by Tom until they met Daisy and her two friends. The first was a tall, pale, sarcastic woman, her dark hair cut short and sharply framing her face. She held herself with a certain grace and seemed to have a "pooh-pooh" attitude. Jordan Baker was not one for "how-do-you-dos" and was already well-known for being an ambitious golfer. The other girl was much younger, her skin creamy and her hair a delicious caramel brown hue, her ringlets cascading down her bare shoulders. Her stormy grey-blue eyes shone playfully at them, though she, too, wore a careless face.

"Desiree Lancaster," she introduced herself, getting up off the settee and offering her hand to Evelyn and then Nick.

"Pleased to meet you," Evelyn smiled back politely. "I'm Evelyn Keller."

"Nick Carraway," the young man stammered, smiling bashfully at the girl.

"Des is my little cousin," Jordan Baker explained with a shrug of her lean shoulders.

"Let's eat, shall we?" Daisy smiled, her expression not quite reaching her eyes.

Everyone took their places at once and Evelyn was soon grateful for she found that her stomach was gnawing with hunger from her trip. The topic flip-flopped from current events to people from the past to a butler in the Buchanan household who had some terrible secret about his nose.

"Nicky, I thought you were going to get married!" Daisy gasped gaily, winking at him.

"It was a rumor," he reassured her. "I'm too poor."

"Oh, but you're just a darling!" she cooed as she sipped her wine. "Maybe one of these days I'll fling you and Jordan into a closet or leave you stranded at sea. You can have a little affair!"

"Please, Daisy, you're making me feel so uncivilized," Nick said bashfully, scratching the back of his neck. "Couldn't we talk about crops or something?"

"Y'know, the whole world is falling apart," Tom said out of nowhere.

"Oh boy," Desiree muttered rolling her eyes. Noticing how Evelyn raised an eyebrow at her, she tilted her head slightly and whispered, "Tom's going into a rant about how we need to keep other races in line."

And he most certainly did, going on for nearly a whole minute on how he was superior compared to his Negro servants.

"We've got to beat them down," Daisy whispered, winking at Nick playfully. Evelyn was starting to wonder if this woman took anything seriously.

"Say, Evelyn, is it?" Tom said, his rant coming to a jarring halt. "Where're you from, anyhow?"

"Kansas," she answered politely, continuing to eat. "Why do you ask?"

"You don't sound like you're from Kansas," he stated, staring at her curiously.

"I get that a lot, actually. My father was a farmer and my mother originally came from Philadelphia. She was from a well-off family and when she met my father she left everything and married him. She took care of most of my schooling, actually, since she was a teacher."

"Teacher, huh?" Jordan chuckled. "Good with brats, then?"

"You said your father 'was' a farmer," Desiree cut in, coolly checking her nails. "What's he now?"

The corner of Evelyn's mouth twitched upward as her eyes dimmed. "He's dead."

Immediately, Desiree's uncaring face turned to her, sadness shining in her stormy-hued eyes. "…I'm sorry."

Evelyn placed her hand on her shoulder for a moment before shrugging. "Thank you."

"And your mother? Where's she?" Tom asked, taking another swig from his glass.

"Back home with my step-father." She couldn't help but feel a little drowsy from speaking with these people. They made life seem so dull she wondered if she should've stayed behind like her step-father told her to.

"What made you want to come to New York?" Daisy prompted, resting her cheek against her fist daintily.

"Well…you'll think it's silly," she said, looking down at her plate. She wasn't even comfortable mentioning this to Nick. The truth was that she was so intimidated by her step-father's warnings and doubts that she was starting to think it was stupid of her to state what she dreamed of.

"Try us," Nick grinned, curious to hear what she was hiding.

Inhaling deeply, she held her breath, the others waiting for her response. "…I'd like to find a job, even a small one, so that…I could sing."

Tom's harsh, booming laugh nearly made her jump out of her seat as he gave a cruel grin. "Good luck, missy! People don't just hire amateurs off the street like that!" he snapped his fingers. Shaking his head, he smirked at her. "I suppose you thought Broadway was going to take you with open arms?"

Though her cheeks flushed bright pink, she narrowed her shining green eyes at him, bewildering him for a moment. "I never said that-"

The shrill cry of the telephone in the neighboring room filled the air, cutting her off. A servant stepped in and stated that the call was for Tom from some mechanic's shop. He stalked off, suddenly stiff.

Daisy watched him with frustrated, hurt eyes before turning and smiling at Nick. "Oh, Nicky, I love having you at my table. You're like…a rose! An absolute rose." She giggled at what she'd said when she suddenly got up and ran off in pursuit of her husband.

Baffled, Nick turned to his childhood friend and smiled reassuringly. "I'm sure you'll do great. I remember when you used to sing at Sunday school."

"Don't mind Tom, he's a hulking brute," Desiree added with a nod, startling the two of them. She winked at the Midwestern pair, causing Evelyn to smile and Nick to blush.

Jordan, on the other hand, got up and tip-toed to the door, inclining her head slightly so.

Awkwardly, Nick called to her. "Miss Baker, aren't you-?"

"Shh!" she shushed them. "Quiet. I want to hear what they're saying."

Nick raised an eyebrow at her, perplexed. "Is there something going on?"

"You mean you didn't know?" Jordan asked, amazed at his naivety. A small smirk seemed to grace her face as she whispered to them, "Tom's got some woman in New York."

Evelyn's eyes widened in shock as she turned to see Desiree. The younger girl simply nodded, wrinkling her nose in disapproval as she twirled her fork mindlessly.

Jordan suddenly hurried back to her seat and struck a nonchalant pose as Daisy and Tom stepped back in to join them, both looking strained and irritated. Watching them with interest and pity, Evelyn had the feeling that things were not well in paradise…

~JG~

After dinner, they had all dispersed into their own little groups. Jordan remained with Tom in the living room, discussing strategies on how to win the next tournament; Daisy dragged Nick out to the gardens, prattling on and on about how they barely saw each other and how they knew so little about one another; Desiree wandered through the halls, showing Evelyn each room with little interest or concern.

"Jordan says it's a miracle they're still together," Desiree commented, tossing her hair over her shoulder. "I have to agree. Daisy's so out of it and Tom's such a cad that I can't believe they have a daughter."

"They have a child?!" Evelyn nearly shouted, but kept her voice to a low gasp.

The other girl laughed gaily at her new friend's reaction. "Oh yes, she's out with the nanny right now, that's why you haven't seen her. But anyways, if you need help with anything, Eve – can I call you Eve? – just phone me."

"That's awfully kind of you," Evelyn smiled, seeing through the cool demeanor the rich girl had.

Stopping at an open window, they gazed out at the stars above. In the distance, New York twinkled like a jewelry box, and the water of the bay gleamed magically. Off in the distance, where West Egg lay, a rather grand house sparkled and shone like a gem, tantalizing to the eye. In the corner of her eye, Evelyn could see the blinking glow that came from the green light on Daisy's dock.

"How did you and Mr. Carraway meet, anyhow, Eve?" Desiree asked, curling a strand of her caramel locks on one long finger.

"We've known each other since childhood, actually," the other responded with a smile. "Nick's like a big brother to me. He's so easy to talk to and get along with, and he's very protective. But he's a real gentleman and he loves spending time with people that matter to him."

"Hmm." Desiree nodded politely, her eyes staring off blankly at the water.

"What about you? Are you and Jordan close?" Evelyn asked, taking a step back when Desiree snickered.

"She's been with my family lately to get away from some aunt she used to live with. Now that she's professional, my father recommended that I spend time with her, especially since she's in New York for the time being. We barely knew each other about a month ago. She's not bad, she's just really boring."

Evelyn kept her lips shut, preferring not to get involved in someone's opinion of another she barely knew.

"I hate this high society stuff," Desiree said suddenly with fierce scorn. "I grew up in it and I've become part of it. It's so stiff and fake, not that the new, self-made rich are any better but at least they try to throw parties and have a little more fun with their lives. Being here…I feel trapped." Throwing her curl over her shoulder, she put on a careless smile and said, "But never mind me, Eve. Tell me about yourself. What's Kansas like?"

"Well, it's not New York," Evelyn smirked. "It's been dry and dust for some time now. Farming isn't all that great at the moment, at least not where I live. But we have each other…when my father died, my mother remarried."

"You don't like him?" she inquired, noting how the young woman's voice changed tone.

"Don't misunderstand me, Jeremiah is a good, honest, and hardworking man," Evelyn explained. "But…my father, Henry, he was…supportive of my imagination and crazy dreams. He was always hopeful, determined, and never gave up. Jeremiah…he always criticized the idea of me leaving on my own and actually having any success. He's realistic and says I should stay on the farm and get married to someone as soon as possible."

"And you don't want to?"

"Oh, I do. I want to get married, but…I want to find the right man. I want to fall in love-"

"Love only happens in fairytales here," Desiree shook her head.

"Well, I believe in fairytales," Evelyn stated stubbornly. "I'm going to have an adventure and find love and try new things while I'm here before I decide whether or not I'll go back."

To her surprise, Desiree tilted her head back and laughed, her eyes shining with admiration and delight. "You know, I really do hope you find all that…and maybe more. Do you mind if I join you on this 'adventure'?"

Evelyn grinned, taking the girl's hand in her own. "That'd be wonderful."

~JG~

The ride back to West Egg was spent talking about the Buchanans mostly and how unsatisfied they seemed with everything. Evelyn was appalled at how droll and curt they were with just about everything, especially Tom.

"Don't mind them," Nick suggested. "They really aren't so bad-"

"To be perfectly frank, Nick, the only person I really found relatable was Desiree Lancaster. Jordan was cold, Daisy seemed to be on the moon half the time, and Tom is – what was it Desiree said? – a hulking brute."

Nick had to laugh at his friend's words, amused at how intrigued she was with this new culture she was so unfamiliar with. "It seems you made a new friend today."

Evelyn smiled at the memory of the beautiful girl with walls built up around her, a door now opening to a Midwestern stranger. "Desiree is so much more than she seems. She acts cold like Jordan but she's got a warm heart underneath all that lace and chiffon. She said to call her up and get together soon. Y'know, she asked a lot of questions about you, Nick."

His face instantly turned red and she couldn't help herself as she clutched her sides at his bewildered, embarrassed face.

"D-Don't be ridiculous!" he scoffed, looking away as he ran his fingers through his hair several times.

Gazing out through the window, Evelyn could see the silhouette of the grand estate next to Nick's house. It shone gloriously and even at this distance she could hear band music and laughter. "Nick, isn't that the Gatsby mansion?"

Looking over her shoulder and peering through the glass, he nodded the affirmative. "Yes. Why do you ask?"

"Desiree told me he throws huge parties every week, said she went to one two weeks ago. She told he's a mysterious man that no one knows anything about, but there are all sorts of colorful rumors." Just the mention of his name had her skin covered in goose bumps. There was something magical about his name. Turning her head, she looked at him, one eyebrow raised inquisitively. "Have you seen him?"

Nick shook his head, the same inquisitive look shining in his eyes as he stared at the nearing structure. "No…not really. I think I saw him once on his dock, looking out across the bay, but I looked away for a moment and when I checked for him, he was gone."

"Oooh, a ghost," she teased, waggling her fingers at his, causing him to chuckle and crack a smile. "Haven't you ever gone over to greet him?"

"Never had the time," he shrugged. "And I didn't want to be rude by just appearing to see whether or not he was home."

Evelyn nodded, an idea nagging at her mind. She remained silent for the next few minutes until they reach Nick's cottage, the notion churning and flipping in her mind over and over again. When at last they stepped out of the cab, she had come to a decision…but first things first. Grabbing her suitcase, she smiled brightly at Nick's home.

"It's just adorable! Like a cottage from a painting!"

"It's a shack, really," he grinned modestly, pleased that she approved. Paying the driver, he helped her inside and offered her something to drink.

"A cup of tea would be nice, but I'll make it," she said, ignoring his protests and scouring through the cupboards until she found what she wanted. "How about you? Do you want tea or coffee?"

"I'll join you with tea," he winked, grabbing her suitcase off the floor. "I'll drop this off in your room and be right back."

"Thanks," she nodded, filling the pot with water and setting it on the stove. Once he had vanished, she checked the cupboards again. Flour, sugar, baking powder, chocolate…She couldn't believe her luck. "I didn't know you were a baker," she jested as he came back.

"I'm not," he stated, frowning in confusion.

"You have baking goods in here," she pointed out.

His frown switched to a grin at once. "That must've been Alfhilda."

"Af-who?"

"My Finnish housekeeper," Nick chuckled. "She comes every couple of weeks to check up on me and the house. I mentioned you were coming and that you liked cooking and baking. I saw that she brought back those supplies but I didn't think anything of it."

"I'll have to thank her, and learn her name, too," Evelyn giggled. "That was sweet of her."

Once the tea had been prepared, they stepped out onto the porch and sat on the swing, sipping their beverages and listening to the party next door.

"What do you think it's like over there?" she murmured, deep in her musing.

"Where? At Gatsby's?" Nick asked, following her eyes. "Who knows," he shrugged. "But it must be grand."

"I suppose it is," she smiled back at him. "Nick, are you heading to work tomorrow?"

"Of course. Why? You want to come and help me sell bonds?" he chuckled.

"Not quite," she smirked. "I want to see if I can find work, too."

"Just don't aim for Broadway or Tom will have a heart attack," Nick joked, nudging her arm.

Laughing at the memory of Tom's comment, she shook her head. "Don't worry, I'll start small. Maybe I won't find anything with singing, but I do want something to do."

"Got it," he nodded, sipping his tea. "I'm sure whatever you find, you'll be fantastic at it."

Turning to look back at the mansion's lights, she felt that someone was watching them. Her brows furrowed, she glanced up towards one of the many windows and was startled to see a figure standing behind a curtain in one of the upper story rooms. The moment she saw his silhouette, the curtain drifted shut. Pursing her lips in curiosity and the same determination her father had, she complacently sipped her warm tea and remembered her goal. If Mr. Gatsby wasn't going to drop by and say "how-do-you-do" himself, she would make herself and Nick known.

A/N: I own nothing except my OCs, Evelyn and Desiree. Please don't forget to drop off a comment! 'Til next time! ^_^