"Whoa, watch the sharp turn!" Caleb warned, offering a nervous laugh. "I thought teaching you to drive would benefit me, but I think I need to look back into my car's."

"Huh?"

"Absolutely nothing. Slide through the drive-through and try not to bump anything."

"Sure!"

Eve drove through the McDonalds drive-through and Caleb spoke over her into the intercom. Two vanilla milkshakes. Two burgers. Two large fries. Eve was already envisioning the regret. As the drive-through employee handed them their burgers and fries, then surveyed them happily.

"Ooh, young couple!" the employee trilled. "But shouldn't you both be in school?"

"Um, it's Saturday?" Caleb retorted rudely.

"My boyfriend's teaching me to drive!" Eve answered gleefully.

"Aw!"

Caleb rolled his eyes. "Can we please get our milkshakes and go?"

They were having breakfast. Sundance was, at least. He already ate three separate plates of pancakes, toast, and a few bowls of rice and raw egg. Eve and Sindri still weren't speaking. Sindri sipped coffee. Eve had an uneaten pile of toast in front of her and was texting at the table. Sundance scrutinized both of them, awaiting conversation.

"How did you both sleep?"

"Fine." they answered.

Eve had locked him out, so he was forced to sleep on the couch. She must've went directly to sleep after her uneventful day yesterday. Sundance frowned at his plate, trying to think, then brightened at the reminder of an almost-forgotten fact. "Did you know–"

A knock at the door interrupted them. Sundance lowered his coffee mug, confused. Instinctively, Sundance clutched the table edge, anticipating danger. "I'm not expecting anybody…"

"Well, I am," Eve answered, stepping out of her chair to answer the door. Sundance relaxed, but his hand had left an indent. He moved his napkin to cover it, sheepish. Sindri hadn't noticed.

Eve answered the door, sounding as impolite as she did earlier. A familiar voice. She and the stranger spoke for a short moment. Eve approached the table again, joined by a guest. Kazuya was back, grinning, a bright beacon of emotion. Sundance beamed in return. Kazuya slid into Eve's unclaimed chair and Eve raised an eyebrow, but said nothing.

"Kazuya, we weren't expecting you," Sindri greeted cordially.

"No problem. Who really is, right? Sorry for mentioning the probation yesterday. Eve told me you're still sensitive about that." he said, halfheartedly shoving Sindri's shoulder. Sindri took another sip of coffee. He was beginning to look annoyed. "Come on, though. Brunch, and I wasn't invited? Ooh, is that miso soup? That is my favorite. Haven't had that since my anniversary. Don't worry, I won't stay long. Not long enough to vacuum those pancakes there, anyway. I promised–"

Eve kicked the back of his chair. "Kazuya."

Kazuya's eyes widened. "Um, I mean…I'm cheating on my wife with Eve. Obviously. Don't tell anyone, especially not Minori. She already has a criminal record. Thanks for the food." he said, snatching Eve's plate of uneaten toast and a spare bowl of miso soup off the table and hauling for the door.

"You better return those!" Sindri shouted after him, referring to the chinaware.

Eve followed begrudgingly without even a goodbye. Sindri dragged a pancake onto his plate, shaking his head.

"I wonder what their deal was," Sundance noted at Sindri's lack of verbal response.

"Kazuya is like Eve in the way where lying doesn't come to him naturally, but at least, Eve knows how to maintain a semi-decent façade."

Sundance blinked, surprised by the confession. Sindri returned to his breakfast, unresponsive, without a second of regret.

"You are such an idiot." Eve snapped, storming out of the building.

Kazuya was more lighthearted this morning. He was halfway through the toast she abandoned earlier. A moment later, he fumbled through his pocket for his car keys to unlock the car, and walked around to the driver's side. "Whatever, Eve. I'm an idiot, then. He probably already knew we were gonna visit Caleb, anyway. Why else would I even be here?"

"Kazuya, if you don't wanna come, just go home."

"You sound just like my wife. You turn everything into an argument. It's a surprise she hates you."

Eve laughed, despite herself. "Thanks for undermining our friendship."

In opening the passenger door, she was greeted with a traumatizing sight. Kazuya's car was disgusting. Various articles of clothing and candy wrappers and photo albums filled its interior. Kazuya crossed his arms and waited. "Okay, what is now?" he asked, impatient.

"Your car smells like the inside of a furnace." she informed. "And it's a mess."

"I'm a tattoo artiste. When not at home, I live in my car."

"That's so embarrassing, I hope you don't tell anyone that. But seriously, clean your car."

"You're awfully judgmental for a high school dropout."

Eve narrowed her eyes. "We're back on this?"

"Ill-fated joke, partial of me. Defuse your anger. If you want, I'll let you drive. How's that for compromise?"

"Deal."

Eve could only do so much for Caleb's disgusting apartment. He drank heavily, brought in his hanger-on friends, and Kazuya stopped by almost every other day to take him to a party or play video games until early morning. When he was at school, she did her best to clean the place. Dishes, laundry, vacuuming. She filled their apartment with books to drift her mind and taught herself to cook better. She had no friends. And without her mother, she sometimes felt weightless.

After their first year of dating, their relationship had stooped into "okay" territory. They weren't the ideal couple, but Caleb wasn't horrible. He was just lazy. He also became secretive. He stooped more into his phone. Whenever he received a text, he would turn away to read it. And when he and Kazuya went out together, he would sometimes not come home at all. Sometimes, she invited Sindri over and he probed her over her relationship, and she told him too much. She wondered how much he told to Ike.

"Where were you?"

"I was with Kazuya. Where do you think?" he retorted, flinging his jacket over his shoulder and the front door shut behind him.

"And it took this long to get back."

"I got drunk. Kazuya reminded me of the risks of driving whilst drunk, so I slept at his place."

"You should be so proud."

"Watch it, Eve."

Eve rolled her eyes in dull response. "Go sleep off your hangover."

Caleb slammed the door to his room.

"Well, so that was one of my finer regrets," Kazuya admitted, snatching his keys back from Eve as they simultaneously exited the car. "I haven't been that scared since my wife accused me of cheating and stood over me with a steak knife. You drive unhealthily fast and I'm not in the mood to question it."

Eve raised her hands defensively. "Um, we arrived safely, did we not?"

"You nearly drove a mother and children off the crosswalk."

"Okay, you're exaggerating. Just so you know, they were in the way and I punched the horn in warning."

As they passed through the automated hospital doors, Kazuya shook his head, refusing to answer. The receptionist from yesterday was at the desk. She beamed at Eve and Kazuya. "Hello, I remember you! Are you here to see Mr. Borriello again?"

"Again?" Kazuya repeated.

"Hopefully, yes," Eve answered, ignoring Kazuya.

The receptionist checked her computer, but as she read the screen, her expression deflated. "I'm so sorry," she said. That itself was not promising. "It says here Mr. Borriello has checked himself out as recently as today. He was medically cleared this morning."

"What? Why? Where did…why would–"

A hand snatched her arm. Kazuya. She'd completely forgotten about him. "Thank you, ma'am," he said, leading a desolate Eve toward the door.

Eve recovered by a touch of cold air. She shook off Kazuya's arm rabidly. "Get the hell off me!"

"You were acting crazy. They would've probably had him re-committed if you continued talking."

"They may as well!"

"What's gotten into you?"

"You've been telling me for years how he isn't safe on his own and Caleb won't survive in the real world, and now you're questioning my sanity. Wait, who're you calling?"

"Caleb. His phone goes directly to voicemail."

Eve didn't even dignify that with a response. She and Kazuya spent the next minute in silence as he made another call, which was answered. "Hey, Nori. I'm fine, thanks. Yeah, we're outside the hospital now. Weird question, but you haven't heard from Caleb, have you?"

Kazuya sounded bizarrely amused. "Wait, you have? What the hell? Okay…we'll be there in a few." he answered, dropping the call. "Nori just told me she was about to go out and Caleb showed up at our door with a blanket roll. He's currently on our couch, eating cereal. Not really talking. Memories gone wild. By the way, I'm driving."

Eve tried. Tried to be a better girlfriend, so she initially went to parties with Caleb, which she did not enjoy. She sat in the corner and watched Caleb like a hawk. Caleb and Kazuya never invited her because they knew this. Someone shoved a drink in her hand, the music was too loud, and no one talked to her.

Caleb didn't know how to stop at one drink. Midway into the party, Caleb would disappear, return not sober (sometimes, Kazuya dragged him back), and it was grossly humiliating. He would wink and flirt with other girls. Kazuya tried very hard to hide this fact from her. Initiate arguments with her and others. Messy, public fights with strangers. After a while, she just stayed home. If she could avoid the fanfare, so be it.

Sometimes, Kazuya brought him home. Sometimes, Kazuya took him to his apartment, which was what she preferred. Caleb was a hassle when he drank. And when he was hungover, he spent the whole day in bed, complaining.

"Come on, wake up," Eve said, storming into his room and flipping on a lightswitch.

Caleb flung the blanket over his head like a preteen, groaning madly. "Eve, the light! Come on!"

"Get over yourself, Caleb. You've been sleeping for hours. We were supposed to meet my brother for dinner tonight. Are you not coming?"

"Ugh. That's tonight?"

"Uh, yeah. That's tonight."

"Tell him I'm gonna take a raincheck," he informed, muffled from beneath the blanket. He freed a hand and waved it lazily. "Eve, the light."

Eve frowned and stomped over to his dresser, dug through it idly, and managed to collect him a decent array of clothes, which she tossed at him. "I'm giving you ten minutes. Get dressed. We're meeting Sindri there. I'll drive." she ordered, closing the door to the sound of an overexaggerated sigh.

Kazuya's parents owned the apartment complex she and Caleb lived in among others, but the one he and his wife lived in was not theirs. Caleb claimed it was about pride. Not that it made a difference. Kazuya's building looked exactly like theirs. Disgusting. Creaking stairs. Exposed drywall.

After Kazuya drove back to the glum of the Heights, he parked at the end of the street and they headed into his building, strolled to the end of the hallway. Kazuya unlocked the door, and they stepped in and removed their shoes. The television was on. Minori was sitting in an armchair in the living room, but she jumped to greet them. Eve hadn't seen her in a few months, but she was gorgeous. Effortlessly gorgeous. Dark hair with a red sheen, a beauty mark near her chin, and dressed in a silk robe. Minori had slashed her best friend in the face for trying to get with Kazuya, a month after they were married. Spent four months in the local detention center while Kazuya fought to provide bail.

"Hey, you," she said, lifting a sly hand to Kazuya's waist. He pressed his face against her hair. It was something so simultaneously innocent yet intimate, Eve had to look away. "Eve, Caleb is in our room. I tried to get him to relax. Watch a movie. It didn't really work. He's been…on edge."

"How so?" Kazuya asked.

"I don't know, Kazuya. Jittery, I suppose. I gave him tea and a scone. Did nothing. The boy just appeared at my door with a blanket, like a homeless person. What was I supposed to do?"

"I'm sorry about him," Eve said apologetically.

Minori waved, offhand.

"I can go check on him," Kazuya offered, shrugging.

"I'm sure you're the last person he wants to see."

"And what is that supposed to mean?"

Eve could've rolled her eyes. Minori didn't. She didn't place her hands on her hips or narrow her eyes. Perfect poker-face. "Kazuya, go read a magazine or get a soda. You're being nuisance-y again."

Kazuya walked into the kitchen, whining soundlessly. "If only Caleb was like that," she said without thinking.

"Believe me, I never let him forget how he dumped me in high school when I was nearly pregnant with a ghost child."

Eve shook her head, providing a dry laugh. The sound of returning footsteps crossed the floor. She raised her head, feeling familiar again. "Returning for another round, Kazuya?" she asked.

"Not exactly," he said.

It wasn't Kazuya.

"I'm sorry for the other day," Caleb said.

"No, you're not…but it's fine." Eve answered methodically, staring at the television. She wasn't entirely focused on it. "Wanna sit with me?"

"How are you?" he asked.

"How are you?" she asked.

Caleb laughed acridly. "What fascinating conversation. I'm fine. I did my homework. I took my medication."

"What was that last one?"

"Joking." he said, sliding an arm around her shoulder. "Kazuya is coming by in a few, but before the freeloader stops by, do you wanna sneak to the backroom–"

"Kazuya is coming over. Again."

"Yeah?"

"Okay, get off me. No, I'm serious. Get off. You don't even understand why I'm pissed! Seriously, I can't even believe you." Eve answered in a huff, simultaneously shoving Caleb and switching the television off. She climbed off the couch, heading into the kitchen.

Caleb groaned, following her lazily. "Goddammit, Eve, what seems to be the problem?"

"Can you not tell Kazuya to get a life for once?"

"Why would I do that? Contrary to popular belief, I like the guy."

"Okay, Caleb," Eve sneered. "Go to high school parties, get drunk. Act like a loser. Do it without me. It's what you're good at."

"Failed attempt at an insult because I'm still in high school, so I'm allowed to do that shit. If I wanna get wasted, I can. I don't live with my parents. If you'd like to move back in with your nepotistic father, go beg for his forgiveness and I'm sure he'll gladly let you live under his half-fallen roof again." he informed, approaching her threateningly. She backed against the counter instinctively, but he only shoved a hand in her face. "And just so you know, you kissed me while I was still with my girlfriend. But you never saw a problem with that, did you, sweetheart?"

Eve was knocked breathless. When words found her, they were rightly furious. "You…you told me you didn't have a girlfriend!" she yelled. "Don't you remember how so many students alienated me? I told you they were calling me names. I got into an actual fight over you! What the hell is wrong with you? Don't you care?!"

Caleb hadn't looked at all thrown. "Not my problem," he replied, walking around her, out of the kitchen, snatching his shoes off the mat near the door and heading outside.

Caleb was in pajamas. Actual pajamas. Striped, hospital-issued pajamas and a cargo jacket. His own. He needed to shave, and Eve was shocked to see the remnants of a burn on his hand from their battle. He appeared gaunt. Thinner. Frailer. His glare was menacing. Heavy-lidded.

"What are you doing here?"

"Caleb, be nice." Minori warned.

Eve opened her mouth, then closed it. She had no answer, actually. He dumped her. He broke up with her. He placed a note on their apartment door, demanding she leave. There really was no point in visiting him now.

"I don't know," she answered, after an interval.

Caleb took a step forward, entering the light. His gaze was fathomless. "You don't know, huh. Okay. Leave, then."

"Caleb." Minori cautioned, fiercer this time.

"You never even liked Minori or Kazuya. Go ahead, admit it. Believe me when I tell you all the names she called you over-the-years, Nori–"

Minori crossed her arms. "No offense, Eve, but I never liked you either. Feeling's mutual." she admitted, mouth pursued. "Stop trying to start undramatic shit, Caleb. You'll be back on the street in a second."

Eve wrapped a hand around her neck, looking away. She hadn't expected this to be so awkward. "I…"

"I'll let you two be."

Caleb scoffed. "It won't take long, I assure you."

Minori didn't respond. She headed into the kitchen in search of Kazuya. Eve glanced at Caleb again. He was staring at her. Annoyed. "Well?"

"How are you?"

"You came all the way down from your rich brother's condo to ask me that?"

"I don't know what else to–"

"I'm sick, Eve. Obviously not well, okay?"

"Please stop saying that."

"Well, it's true!"

"No, it's…can we have a civil conversation for once?" she requested.

Caleb rolled his eyes, placed his elbow against the wall and groaned. "Why? We don't have children together. We dated for, like, two years. Considering we've broken up twice before, I think the term civil conversation is to be used jokingly."

"Yeah…but–"

"But what?"

"Damn, can you let me get to it?!"

Caleb tapped at his wrist, gesturing to a nonexistent wristwatch and Eve was reminded of the past. How bright and young and comical he was at sixteen. "I love you," she said in one breath. "Doesn't that mean anything to you?"

Silence had become a physical being. Caleb didn't even react. No facial movement. Nothing. At seeing his expression, Eve felt something in her sink. "It doesn't. I'm sorry," he said, appearing otherwise unmoved. As if the sorry was a consolation. "No offense, Eve, you're very pretty and all, but I have no intention of getting back with you. I hate your personality. You're too intense as a person. I think it becomes a problem when someone's flaws outweigh the good in them, you know?"

This was wishful thinking, but Eve had expected his feelings to return when Ophelia's book burned, but he was seemingly still repulsed by her. "Yeah…"

"Well, I'll be seeing you. Thanks for stopping by." he stated, heading back down the hallway without awaiting her response. Eve stared at him, conflicted. This visit was a waste of everyone's time and nothing short of humiliating. Minori and Kazuya still didn't like her. Caleb didn't like her and he just made his feelings for her loudly known.

Eve pulled on her shoes and ran for the door. No one even tried to stop her.

"What are you still doing here?"

"If you're back for another argument, go away."

Caleb shook his head. In the dark of their apartment, she could barely distinguish his expression. "No, no…that's not it. Really, I am sorry."

"Yeah, sure," Eve muttered, twisting on her side on the couch. She could feel Caleb lingering over her. "Go to bed, Caleb."

"I'm scared, Eve." he confessed.

"Of what?"

"Of…everything."

Eve leaned over halfway. "Well, that narrows it down."

"I don't–"

"Come sit here. You're probably just tired." she said, coaxing him beside her. Closer. "Stop overthinking. If you want, I can make you tea. You're probably just stressed from school and college applications. Everything will be fine."

Caleb paused, releasing a lifelong exhale. "I don't know…"

"I swear, it'll be okay. Now, let me hold you."

Caleb let himself be held. He pressed his face into Eve's shoulder and she enclosed her arms around him. Soon, he brought an arm around her. The sky changed from indigo to a tranquil blue to the blandest, in-between gray of pre-mornings. It'd been a mostly sleepless night for both of them, but they were safe.

So Eve and Caleb have reunited in the present day and it doesn't go as planned. The next chapter will end this mini Eve/Caleb saga up AND officially end the first arc. R&R!