I rolled my eyes at the thought of her as I tried to master my eyeliner wing. Speaking of the she devil herself, she banged on the bathroom's door. 
                          
I frowned, facing towards it. 
"Come on Evi, two more minutes." She spoke. Not responding, I finished quietly when I finally heard her leave the door's presence. 
                          
I exited the bathroom soon after, going into my bedroom for my disgraceful purse and heels. I started down the stairs nearly falling on my face. I huffed, straightening my walk in these six inch. 
                          
"You look beautiful Evi." My mom smiled. She stroked my bone-straightened hair while her keys dangled from her other hand. 
                          
"Let's get going. They already have some dresses to the side for you." She poked my nose, strutting to the door. I sluggishly walked behind her, inaudibly sighing. 
                          
I shut and locked the front door after we both exited. Her car purred as she already started the ignition and I walked to the passenger seat. 
                          
We were both in and down the street soon after. I stared out the window as I reminisced about my daydream. Also, how I couldn't wait to get out of here after graduation. 
                          
I honestly hate the fact I feel this way, but she added fuel to this hatred fire over the years. She brought it upon herself. 
                          
"Evi aren't you excited. I just know you're gonna look absolutely stunning in these dresses. Don't forget recital practice is tomorrow evening." She spoke nearly all in one breath. 
                          
"Alright." I muttered, looking off at the distance at the basketball court as we passed it quickly. The faded memories saddened me and the thought of Niko now with his injury didn't help. I could see her look at me slightly from the corner of my eye. I didn't bother facing her, though. 
                          
° ° °
                          
Jue
                          
I smiled briefly at the mother of Niko as she invited me inside. 
                          
"Hi Julian. He's in the basement if you're looking for him." She smiled as she spoke but you could see the tiredness, stress, possibly even depression flustered in her face. 
                          
I cringed at the sound of my full name. I nodded. 
                          
"Thanks Ms.Robinson, how are ya?" I tried to be nice. It wasn't a strong point but I try. She nodded. 
                          
"I'm here. Just a lot Julian. Almost like having a young child again." She mumbled more to the end. I could understand what she meant. By what I heard, he could barely do anything himself from his leg injury. 
                          
"Well.. I'll be going now." I replied, which came out much more awkward than I was meaning for it to. 
                          
She nodded, cutting up some freshly washed, mustard greens. 
I trailed off into the house, getting down the stairs of the basement. 
                          
I heard the sound effects of a video game along with the song, Panda, blast at loud volumes. He had his leg elevated as his eyes glued to the screen of the TV. 
                          
He held the controller above his chest as he leaned back into the couch, his mouth agaped slightly. 
                          
"What's up." He mumbled finally. I noticed he was playing 2k16 NBA basketball. 
                          
"I'm guessing this is the closest you can get to playing it, huh?" I questioned with a shake of my head, sitting in the recliner across from him. 
                          
He scoffed. " It's hell." I smirked a chuckle, from the tone he said that. He paused the game, reaching over sipping from the straw inside the can of his Sunkist soda. 
                          
"What's up with you? About time you came by knucklehead nigga." He stated. I waved him off, leaning back. 
                          
"You got another one of those?" 
                          
"In that fridge behind you." 
                          
I could reach over the top of the recliner to open it so I did and got one out for myself. Cracking it open, I took a sip. 
                          
"Nothing. Trying to enjoy Toronto but I can't lie, I'm homesick already." He nodded in understanding, unpausing the game and starting to play again. 
                          
I looked in my can, contemplating my next question. Rather I should ask it or wait for him to possibly bring it up. The situation was getting way too serious to wait around though. 
                          
"So uh.. you talked or seen that Evi chick since your party?" I asked, quickening up toward the end and drinking my soda again. 
                          
I viewed over at him above the rim of my can. He furrowed his eyebrows but his eyes didn't leave the TV. 
                          
"Why?" He asked, a wide and unnecessary smile accompanying his face. I stayed silent. This was strictly for what was mine–more so my brother. 
                          
Pretending I like the hefer may help me get needed information, though. "Nothing. I was just wondering." I shrugged. 
                          
The sound of him pressing the buttons overly hard was all that was heard until the song shuffled. "You checking for her?" 
                          
I internally rolled my eyes. Hell no. I clenched my jaw and raised my leg on the armrest. "Could be." I lied right through my pearly whites. 
                          
He laughed. "I've tried cuh', good luck." He paused the game once again, slowly moving his injured leg from the stack of pillows. 
                          
He sat his feet on the ground, grabbing his crutches to the side of him. "But.. I could see where she is right now. Maybe she could stop by or something. I'll hit her line when I come from the bathroom." He said, raising from the couch with assistance of the crutches. 
                          
"Good." I said quicker than I meant to. He looked at me and shook his head. 
                          
"First sight, huh?" 
                          
"You need help?" I switched over the subject. She wasn't even my type. 
                          
"I'm going to the bathroom son. Hell naw."