"What's happened?" Chris asked, watching Eva clamber into the car and slam the door.
"I never want to see that little girl ever again!" Eva fumed. "She's a freak!"
"Eva!" Chris gasped, shocked.
"She started saying that I should punish Kyle and that I should never forgive him-"
"If talking sense makes her a freak then...wow." Chris said sarcastically.
"She doesn't know what's happened! She's just some girl who happened to be in the hopsital and now thinks I owe her something." Eva said angrily. "I owe her nothing - this is my choice, my life."
"She cares about you, Eva." Chris sighed. "Why won't you let people care for you?"
"Because people always have ulterior motives when they 'care.' What does she get out of it?" Eva snapped.
"The thrill that she helped someone make the right decision before she died." Chris answered.
"What makes that the right decision?" Eva asked bluntly.
"He nearly killed you, Eva!" Chris argued. "You could be ten foot under by now!"
"Gee thanks, Dad - great thought." Eva rolled her eyes. "I visited Kyle yesterday and things happened. I'm not pressing charges."
"Don't be so stupid." Chris half-laughed. "How can you be stupid enough to let a murderer free?"
"Because he isn't a murderer!" She yelled. "He's Kyle Stack and no matter what he's done, he's done for me! That's the first time I can say someone has done that for me!"
"He was thinking of himself and now he's manipulating you!" Chris shouted. "How can you act like everything is ok? Here is Finn giving you a second chance and you still chose Kyle!" He erupted.
"Finn hasn't given anyone a second change because everything's stayed the same!" Eva screamed.
Chris was struck with shock. Never had they spoken to each other like that before. "Eva?"
She stayed silent, staring out the window. She didn't trust herself to say anything. Tears trekked down her cheeks as she relayed the conversation back in her head.
"You need to think this through." He said softly.
She turned to face him, her voice sad and gentle. "And what if I have, Dad? What if it's been all I've thought about since I lay in hopsital?" She closed her eyes as more tears rolled down her face. "I can't see him put away for something he doesn't deserve."
Chris took her hands and stared into her eyes. "I was stood on the edge of the hall, watching you fall to the ground with an arrow in your shoulder. I saw Kyle thrown into a police car and carted away. That was the one thing that consoled me. I saw your eyes half closed and the ambulance men tell me there was a small chance you would make it. I heard those words and seeing Kyle safe in that cell suddenly wasn't enough for me." Chris cast his eyes to his lap. "The thought that he could get seven years inside whilst you walk around makes me feel so much better, like what goes around does really come around."
"I understand that." Eva nodded. "But this is my decision. I'm nearly seventeen, Dad, why shouldn't I make my own choices depending on my friendships and relationships? If this was the other way round, you would be praying that Kyle didn't press charges against me. Kyle doesn't have anyone to do that for him, Dad. His Mum doesn't care what he does - she probably hasn't even noticed he's gone."
Chris nodded slightly, thinking over what she had said for a while. He could see truth in what she was saying but still despised the kid for what he had done to her.
"I saw him last night, Dad, and I have never felt that way before." Eva sighed. "He was vulnerable and scared of what his future would be. He has never been taught what's right and wrong and I couldn't live with knowing he was inside - struggling to cope. I can't press charges."
"The police could still prosecute him for what he did. He was in posession of a weapon." Chris sighed.
"I'm not going to let that happen to him." Eva shrugged. "Now if you don't mind, I want to go home now."