Confide

[Mal and Evie's dorm room. 4:15 pm]

Mal's POV

I had to think of something fast. I cannot let Evie know. I'm not ready yet. Except Evie saw my reaction.

"Mal?"

"It was me. I'm really sorry Evie." I said.

I was scared now. My secret will be blown any second.

"Best forests to live in the world? Mal, you weren't planning to run away, were you?" she asked.

"What? No! Not at all. It-it was for a class assignment, that's all." I said.

"Class assignment?" Evie asked.

"Yes. I'm really sorry, Evie. I knew I should've asked. I'm very sorry, Evie. I won't do it again. I promise."

"Hey, it's okay. I don't mind at all. I just want to make sure it was you, that's all." Evie said.

She could tell I was anxious, but perceiving it for a different reason than mine.

"Okay." I said, as I started to calm down .

Evie kissed me on the cheek and rubbed my arm.

"Go ahead and resume on your school work. Let me know if you need any help." she said.

"Okay." I said.

I went back to my bed and quietly took a deep breath. It seemed she bought it. Thank god. Because I'm not ready yet to tell her. When I do, she's going to ask me lots of questions, and I would like to have an answer for all of them.

Evie's POV

Something wasn't right about what just happened. Mal was keeping something from me. I can feel it. But I didn't dare question her further. I didn't want to stress her out. Instead, I logged onto my business website and saw that I had an order. From Audrey. Right, carnival day is coming soon and she would want something good to wear. I heard my phone vibrate from my purse. I grabbed it and saw a text message from Audrey.

"Did you get my order?"

"Yes. I'm looking over it now." I replied back.

I looked over her plans for the design of the dress and her notes. Of course she would want something elaborate. But I can't totally blame her. I'm like that as well.

"Good. Come to my dorm room as soon as you can. There's some other things about the design I need to discuss." Audrey texted.

"I'll be there shortly." I texted back.

This is good. I have another opportunity to make more money. I'm sure the other girls will want something nice to wear for the carnival day. Ben said that there will be music, so most likely there will be a dance as well. I'll have to go back to the city to buy more material soon. I only bought enough to make Mal and myself nightdresses. I got myself freshened up and went over to Mal.

"Hey, how are you doing?" I asked.

"Fine." she replied.

"Okay, good. Got any questions?"

"No, I'm good."

"Okay. Well, I'm going to go out. Audrey sent me an order for a dress she wants for the carnival. So I'm going to her dorm to discuss the details. Will you be okay for awhile? I'm not sure how long I'll be." I said.

"Yeah. I'll be fine."

"Alright. Text me if something comes up otherwise."

"Okay."

I leaned over the bed to kiss Mal on the lips. Afterwards, I blew her one just before leaving.

Mal's POV

Thirty minutes went by and I was almost done with my work. "Work until page fifty two." I feel that might have been part of my punishment as well. I got to page forty two. Ten more to go. As I turned to the next page, I felt my phone vibrate. I grabbed it and saw a text from Carlos.

"Are you available?"

"Yes." I replied back.

"Cool. Come to the tourney field."

"On my way."

I looked at the textbook before scoffing and closing it.

"I'll finish it later." I said.

I left the dorm room and headed to the tourney field.

[Tourney Field. 5:10 pm]

Mal's POV

"It's been a while since we did something together." said Carlos.

"What are you talking about? Last weekend we went to the city and had fun." I said.

"Yeah, but I mean us. You and I. We never hang out together anymore." he said.

I started to feel bad. He's right. We never do anything anymore.

"I'm so sorry, Carlos. I truly am. I've been so intensely focused on Evie, I had forgotten about my friends and my family." I said.

"It's okay. Evie's your love. I don't blame you for always thinking about her. But try and have a little time for others."

"I will. I promise." I said.

That's a promise I know I will definitely keep.

"So, whatcha' wanna do?" I asked.

"Wanna play a game of tourney?" he asked.

"Sure. I've kinda been wanting to try it." I said.

So we went to the field and Carlos told me how it's played. I failed many times, but had fun otherwise. After more failures, I started to get the hang of it. And we both played for, well, I don't know how long. But regardless, we had fun. After feeling tired out, we sat down by some tall trees and rested.

"So what else is happening with you, Mal?" Carlos asked.

"Mm, nothing. Just school work and...that's really it." I replied.

"Oh, okay."

"How are things with you and Jane?" I asked.

"Good. We're planning to take things to the next level in our relationship this summer." Carlos said.

"Really? Well, good for you!"

"Yeah, but, can I ask you a personal question?"

"Sure."

"No, I mean, it's really personal."

"Go ahead. You're family, I don't mind. Whatever you would like to know." I said.

For some reason, I feel more comfortable saying that to Carlos. If it was Jay I was talking to, I'm not quite sure.

"How are you and Evie in your relationship?" he asked.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Like, what base are you two on?"

"Oh, second."

"Second?"

"Yeah. For a while, I've been hoping we can go to third base, or maybe just cut straight to fourth depending on how things go. But Evie isn't ready yet. But it's good that you and Jane are taking things slow. Sometimes it's better that way."

"Yeah."

Then for some reason, I started thinking about my dream. It seems to keep coming back at the wrong time. I kept wondering why. Is it because I'm holding it in? I don't dare write it down since I'm afraid that Evie might find out. I got lucky earlier, but I cannot let it happen again. I looked at Carlos. He had his head rested up against the tree with his eyes closed. I wonder, if I confide in someone about my dream, would it make me feel better and allow me to focus on what needs to be done? And it won't keep coming back in my mind at the wrong times? There was only one way to find out, and the best person was sitting next to me.

"Carlos?" I said.

"Yeah?" he said, looking at me.

"Since we're talking about personal things, can I tell you something?" I asked, not really wanting to do this, but I feel I have to.

"Of course." he said.

"No, listen. What I'm about to tell you has to remain between us. You cannot tell anybody. You cannot tell Jane. You cannot tell Jay. And most importantly, you absolutely cannot tell Evie." I said, with a little sternness in my voice.

"Why? Did you do something bad?" he asked.

"What? No! Carlos, please listen to me." I said.

"I am. And I promise, whatever you're about to tell me, I will keep it a secret. I will not tell anyone. I promise."

I looked at Carlos for a few moments before feeling it was okay.

"Okay." I said.

I moved myself closer to Carlos and we both sat across from each other. I sighed, knowing once I say this, there is no going back. But I know I can trust Carlos.

"Last week, I had a dream about myself and Evie. We were living in a, what I call a luxurious home." I began.

"Where?" Carlos asked.

"Somewhere far away from here. I researched a little and found the setting to where my dream was taking place is similar to a country called Canada."

"Canada? I've heard of it. That's really far away."

"Yeah." I said.

"I'm sorry, go on." said Carlos.

"Anyway, I don't know much details, but I saw the inside of the house and it was really nice. Everything seemed high end and bright. Kind of an opposite to what I like, but yet I liked it. When I walked into this amazing kitchen, I saw Evie, making dinner and she looked amazing as well. But the house. The house was just incredible. It felt more grand than what is here. You know, with the castles and such. Except it wasn't a castle we were living in, it was one of those contemporary style homes. You ever seen those before?"

"Pictures of them, yeah."

"Me too. Our bedroom was nice too. And so was our bathroom. In fact, I had a second dream about it last night. It took place in our big laundry room, then our nice bathroom. I had mud on my clothes and Evie made me take them off so she could wash them. Then she led me to the bathroom. And it was big as well. Way bigger than what we got in our dorms."

I softly laughed.

"And then I dreamed about having sex with Evie in the bathtub."

Carlos raised his brows. I looked at him and softly laughed again.

"Sorry. Probably shouldn't have told you that part. But anyway, for some reason, those dreams, especially the first, has really bothered me. And I would love to make it come true, except I'm afraid Evie might not like living in a forest. During summer break, I plan on taking her to the mountain and see if she likes it. I'll carefully ask her if she wouldn't mind living in a place like that someday." I said.

"And if she doesn't?"

"I still plan on finding a home for us, but it'll just have to be in a different location, that's all. And I'm alright with that. So as long as we live in a home similar to what I had dreamed about. But I have one main problem."

"Evie's business." Carlos said.

"You know. And that will probably be the first thing she asks about. I don't want her to have to give it up. But would it thrive in a place far away? Probably not."

"If it doesn't, how would you afford to live there?"

"I'm still figuring that out. Getting jobs, of course. But doing what? I'm not sure. There's still a lot more I need to figure out. Like if Evie wants to leave."

"When are you planning to leave?"

"I don't have a date. And that's okay. I'm not in a hurry. As long as we can move sometime in the near future, like in the next few years, I'll be alright. It's all really how Evie feels." I said.

"But how would you know if you don't tell her?" Carlos asked.

"I want to know as much as I can and have things planned out as much as I can before I tell her." I replied.

"Wow. It seems like you have a lot more going on than you let on."

I smiled.

"Yeah, I do. But I feel better now. Telling you about this has definitely lifted a lot of weight off my shoulders." I said.

"Good. I'm glad. And I'll be glad to help you, Mal." Carlos said.

"You will?"

"Of course. I'll help you figure things out. In secret of course. As I promised."

I sighed and began to hug Carlos.

"Thank you so much, Carlos. You truly are the greatest little brother I've ever had." I said.

"The only little brother you've ever had."

"Which makes you the greatest."

I gave him a kiss on the cheek and we both got up from the ground.

"Well, I better head back to the dorm." I said.

"Oh, really?" he asked.

"I'm afraid so. Evie doesn't know I left." I said.

"She doesn't? How?" Carlos asked.

"She's with Audrey, going over a dress order she made for Evie."

"Oh, okay."

"But we'll hang out again soon, I promise."

"Okay. I love you, sis." he said.

"I love you too, bro." I said.

I kissed him on the cheek one more time before heading back to the dorm. That was nice. I do feel better now that I have said something. And I feel even better to know that I'll be helped.