Evelyn's POV
How do you know if you're ready to lose your virginity?
How long do couples wait before they do it?
What's the appropriate age to have sex?
Those were the questions sitting in my search history, staring back at me.
I stared at the screen, chewing the inside of my cheek, scrolling through forums and advice columns written by adults who all sounded way too sure of themselves.
Everyone kept saying the same thing....you'll know when you're ready.
That was the problem. I didn't know.
And it was ridiculous, because I was already eighteen…..turning nineteen in a few months. College brochures were already piling up on my desk.
I clicked a video without really reading the title.
A loud moan filled my room.
"Oh my God!"
I slammed my laptop shut, covering my mouth in shock.
"Shit.."
I sat there frozen, listening for footsteps, voices from downstairs. The house stayed quiet.
Please tell me no one heard that.
A yell came almost immediately.
"Eve?" Mom called from downstairs. "Are you ready for school? Don't make me come up there!"
I groaned, dragging my hands over my face and pushing my messy gingerhair back.
"Coming," I yelled back.
Privacy was apparently a myth in this house.
I shoved my laptop into my bag, grabbed my hoodie, and yanked the door open.
My name is Evelyn…..Eve if you know me well enough. I live in the suburbs with my parents and my little brother, Ethan.
I go to Westbrook High.
I'm eighteen, a junior, turning nineteen in three months… and somehow, my curfew is still 8PM.
And I'm dating Owen Carter.
Yes. That Owen Carter...the hottest, most charming guy in school.
Which made the questions in my search history feel even more embarrassing.
Downstairs, mom was already dressed for work, her red hair was pulled into a low bun. Ethan sat at the table kicking his legs while Dad scrolled through his phone.
Dad glanced up when I walked in.
He smiled. "You know," he said casually, "every time you wear your hair like that, I see your mom. Same look she had in high school."
Mom shot him a warning look, but I caught the smile she tried to hide.
"Don't encourage her," she said.
He shrugged. "Just saying. I have a beautiful wife, and my daughter looks just like her."
"So," I said casually, grabbing a slice of bread, "I'm going to that party tonight. I'll head out around seven."
Mom stopped moving.
Slowly, she turned toward me. "No, you're not."
I blinked. "Excuse me?"
"You're staying home to babysit Ethan tonight. Your father and I have an official dinner. His promotion is today."
I shook my head in denial. "You better be joking."
"I am not!"
"Mom, I've been talking about this party for a while. You know that."
"And I told you I do not approve."
I scoffed, because of how ridiculous she sounds right now. "You never approve of anything. You just like pretending it's about safety when it's really about control."
She shook her head, and rolled her eyes. "There she goes again."
"Mom!" I snapped. "I'm eighteen. I'll be nineteen in a few months. Do you know how stupid I'll look staying home babysitting?"
"And?"
"And you're acting like I'm twelve."
Everyone else was growing up. Living like they were already free. And I was stuck at home, tired of being the girl who always waited. It's no fun.
"You're staying home," she said firmly.
"I'm an adult."
"And you're still my child."
I laughed in disbelief. Just because I'm her child doesn't mean I shouldn't get a life. "So what, I don't get freedom until I graduate college? Is that the plan?"
Her jaw tightened. "Watch your tone, Eve."
Dad shifted uncomfortably but still stayed quiet. He does that when me and mom starts arguing. Like he doesn't want to pick a side between his daughter and his wife.
"No, you watch yours," I hissed. "I'm a junior, who has never been to any party. Everyone is going. Owen is going. Lily is going. You're still grounding me like a toddler."
Ethan perked up instantly. "Owen and Eve sitting in a tree," he sang. "K-I-S…"
"Shut up, Ethan!" I barked.
"Evelyn!" My mom warned. "Do not speak to your brother like that. This conversation is over."
I shook my head slowly. "Dad," I said, turning to where he sat quietly staring at his phone. "Please, say something."
He glanced up, and sighed. "Listen to your mother, honey," he nodded slowly.
That was it.
Fine. Let them ruin my night.
I grabbed my bag.
"You know what?" I said, heading for the door. "Fine. Whatever. Just don't be surprised when I stop telling you anything at all."
"Evelyn!"
I didn't answer. I slammed the door behind me hard enough to shake the frame.
Eighteen… and still treated like a child.
If they thought they could control me forever, they were wrong.
And tonight…one way or another, I was going to prove it.
——
I walked into school still pissed off.
I found Lily…my best friend leaning against the lockers, chewing gum slowly.
She had one hip popped out, scrolling on her phone with one hand while the other toyed with her lip gloss. Total diva energy.
"There you are," she said, snapping her gum. "You look miserable. And wow…your hair is extra red today."
"Can you not?"
"Nope," she said cheerfully.
"Ughhhh," I groaned, dropping my bag. "My mom won't let me go to the party."
That got her attention.
Lily's smile vanished. "What?"
"She's making me babysit Ethan. Some stupid dinner for my dad's promotion."
Lily scoffed, loud enough for a girl walking past to glance over. "Your mom is actually insane."
"She's not. She's just.."
I shrugged, already tired of defending my mom.
"No, she is," Lily cut in. "Eve, you're an adult. And she acts like you're still in middle school."
I sighed. "She thinks freedom is dangerous."
"She thinks you are irresponsible," Lily corrected.
I opened my locker and stared inside, pretending to look for something. "She says it's about safety."
"Of course she does," Lily rolled her eyes. "Parents love pretending control is protection."
I sighed. "She didn't even let me argue."
Lily said bluntly. "You let her walk all over you."
That stung.
"Do you think she'll be like this until I'm done with college?"
"Yes," Lily said instantly. "She'll walk you to lectures and pack your lunch."
I snorted.
"Just sneak out," Lily added. "Everyone's doing it. You're not a kid."
Before I could respond, her eyes flicked over my shoulder.
Her posture changed instantly.
She straightened, slipped her phone into her pocket, and adjusted her bra strap, pulling her top down just enough to make her boobs look fuller.
She glanced at the small mirror inside her locker, fixing her hair.
I frowned. "What are you doing?"
Then I felt it…..that shift in the air.
Owen Carter. My boyfriend.
He walked down the hallway with that confidence…..confidence that came from knowing everyone was already looking at him.
Tall, broad-shouldered, effortlessly hot in a way that made girls notice even when they pretended not to. Smiles and giggles started appearing out of nowhere. Girls straightened when he passed.
Dating Owen Carter meant never really having him to yourself.
"Hey," he said, leaning in to kiss me, close enough that I caught the faint scent of his cologne.
"Morning, babe," he added, smiling like he hadn't noticed Lily practically preening beside me.
"Hey," I said, forcing a smile.
Lily smiled way too brightly. "Owen."
He smiled back. "Lily."
As he spoke, I caught Lily subtly straightening again, shoulders back, chest out. Like she was trying so hard to be seen.
A strange thought flickered through my mind.
Why did she always do that when he came around?
It was unnecessary. He was my boyfriend!
I told myself I was overthinking it. Lily was my best friend. She'd always been dramatic..a total diva. Always liked attention from guys.
"Party tonight," he said, wrapping an arm around my waist. "You coming, right?"
His eyes searched mine, and I swear, I could feel him reading every flicker of desire in me.
My cheeks went red.
I hesitated.
"I… don't know," I said.
He pulled back slightly. "What do you mean you don't know?"
"My mom's being difficult again," I said. "She wants me home."
Lily laughed. "She always wants her home. Like she's a kid."
Yeah, like she's a kid. What an odd thing to say in front of Owen.
Owen frowned. "That sucks." He reached out again, brushing a strand of hair off my face.
"Yeah," I said quietly, my voice started shaking.
Standing next to him always made me feel smaller, like people were silently comparing us, wondering how I'd ended up with someone everyone wanted.
He kissed my forehead, like that was supposed to fix everything. "Figure it out. I'll see you later, okay?"
"Okay," I said.
He walked off, already distracted by someone calling his name.
Lily watched him go, chewing her gum slowly, then glanced back at me.
"You're not really thinking of staying home, are you?"