The first three days passed slowly, filled with text messages, apologies and longings for Kyle. Eva sat in the common room during her free period, staring into space as she waited for Kyle to reply to her latest text.
She was relieved to see Madi enter the room, knowing she would fill the empty silence in the room. "You alright?" She asked.
"Um..yeah." Eva nodded, fiddling with her phone. "You?"
Madi ignored the question. "Are you missing Kyle?"
"A little bit, yeah." Eva nodded again. Huge understatement.
"A little bit? Gees, you've been dating a few days and you're already pining after him!" Madi chuckled as Eva blushed.
"I guess I just don't think it's fair he gets excluded when Finn started it." Eva shrugged, staring at the floor.
"How old are you? Stop whining. This isn't the first time Kyle's been excluded." Madi smiled.
"Is that your way of being understanding?" Eva looked up, a slight smile on her lips.
"Trust me, this is for your sanity as well as mine." Madi smiled warmly.
"Yes!" Eva cheered as her phone vibrated.
"What does it say?" Madi asked.
"You don't want to know." Eva giggled, fingers tapping a reply.
"You're right." Madi nodded, chuckling to herself.
"I'm guessing she's texting Kyle." Lauren gestured to Eva as she walked in, smiling as Madi nodded. "Gotta love you, Evie." Lauren sat down next to her, hugging her tightly.
"Huh?" Eva looked up from her phone bewildered, making them all laugh.
"Does that say-"
"Leave it." Eva smiled, covering her screen.
"It's been really hard, Kyle." Eva sighed, clutching the phone to her ear as she sat, curled up, on the sofa.
"Don't be soft!" Kyle snorted. "You probably haven't spared a thought to me until now!"
"That's a lie and you know it!" Eva protested.
"I know." Kyle chuckled. "It's only a week and a bit left. You'll live."
"Tough love, ay?" Eva chuckled back. "I'm sure I can."
"Oi! You're supposed to say that that's impossible!"
"I did and you told me not to be soft!" Eva exclaimed.
"That's enough of that." Chris snatched the phone off of her and terminated the call.
"What?" Eva shrieked. "I was talking!"
"I know." Chris nodded. "To Kyle. Something that won't be happening in this house." He shrugged.
"Or school...or country...or planet." Eva glared. "Me and Kyle are going to be together; whether you like it or not." She left him with a lingering glower before walking into her bedroom and slamming the door.