The Eve Effect
Chapter 11
“Shit, Eve,” Elena was intently listening as Eve recalled that night and all the painful details, “She told you she loved you?”
“Yup…” The professor looked down at her drink, almost empty. She felt annoyingly sober.
“And you said you didn’t love her and she left right then? You never heard from her again?”
“Yup,” Eve wasn’t really listening but her assistant’s words finally registered, “Well, I never said I didn’t love her, I said it was complicated. I was married!”
“Yeah, I remember Niko,” Elena nodded, knowing about Eve’s recent divorce, despite how little the professor talked about it, “Did you?” She asked after a moment.
“Did I what?” The professor furrowed her brow.
“Love her.”
“Oh god, Elena. I don’t fucking know.” She groaned.
“After all this time you still don’t know?” Elena was hiding a smirk.
“You really know how to make me feel better. Thanks, friend.”
“Best friend,” She pointed a finger at the brunette, “And I’m just saying. Sure, you may not have known then but seeing her now, you must have some idea of how you feel or how you felt, right?”
Eve shrugged. “When I was with her, I just felt… a lot. I didn’t know what those feelings were exactly, I just knew there were a lot of them. And that scared me so much that I didn’t want to figure out what they were,” Elena was giving her a look, “God, that made no sense.” The professor put her head in her hands.
“No no, it kind of does,” Her assistant tried to reassure her even though she didn’t really understand what the brunette was saying, “How can we fix... this?” She gestured to Eve’s general area.
“Fuck if I know. She could just leave and my problems would be solved… again.” She finishes off her drink, the alcohol was finally hitting her.
“Eve.”
“What?” The professor held her hands out, questioning. It was kinda mean, but unfortunately, kinda true.
“Look, I don’t want to play devil’s advocate here…”
“Oh god,” Eve whispered under her breath, closing her eyes and preparing herself for what’s to come.
“But you obviously hurt her feelings a lot, she said she loved you and you straight up rejected her! Well, not straight since she’s a woman and you’re a--”
“Please get to the point.”
“I just mean you broke her heart. Shattered. Destroyed. Completely and utterly--”
“Elena!” Eve laughed, amused, and annoyed at her assistant’s rambling.
“You broke her heart and she broke yours. Simple as. Don’t you think it’s time to talk it out? Like the adults, you both are now? Hmm?”
“What would I even say? Sorry I didn’t know how I felt about you? You were a teenager and I was 20 years older than you and had a husband so I was a bit confused?” Eve chuckled at the absurdity of it all. When did her life turn into this? Oh right, a few weeks ago.
“You summed it up pretty well, yeah.” Elena smiled into her drink, proud of her work. She did study psychology.
“Shit. I’m really going to have to do this, huh?” She was nervous now. The idea of talking to Villanelle about what happened 8 years ago was scarier than anything.
“Yup. Cheers.”
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It was Friday morning.
Villanelle was on the treadmill when she got a call.
She’d spent the past few days exercising, obviously. She’d also met some women, brought them back to her place, and kicked them out when she was finished. She’d also tried a very good sushi place. All in hopes of distracting her. It’s what she did best. When something was bothering her and she couldn’t do anything about it, she’d find as many distractions as possible, and eventually, whatever was bothering her would go away.
That was not the case this time, however.
It was frustrating. To have someone stuck in your mind, no matter how much work and effort you put into getting them out. Eve shouldn’t be stuck in her mind. She said hurtful things to the blonde years ago, things Villanelle would never forget. She’d made her feel safe and loved but took that away from her. Who could forgive someone after doing that? Apparently, Villanelle.
Despite everything that had happened, she still wanted to see Eve again. Part of her wanted to go back to the way things were before. They were in each other’s lives. They mattered to each other. It wasn’t the way Oksana had imagined, but it was enough at the time. Oksana had been content… until she wasn’t. The other part of Villanelle, and probably part of Oksana, wanted more. She wanted to see where things could go with Eve. She thought she had loved her but that obviously wasn’t enough.
What did Eve think now though? Was she impressed? With the gym, with her? Would she love her enough now? Could she?
Then there was one part of Villanelle’s brain that was screaming ‘RUN! Don’t let her hurt you again! Protect yourself. Get out of there!’ That part of the brain kept getting quieter… and quieter…
“Hello?” Villanelle answered, not recognizing the number.
“Villanelle?” Eve. She knew the American accent instantly. Eve was calling her? Eve had her number?
“Yes… Eve?”
“Yeah, uh hi. I got your number from Elena.” Well, more like the professor took Elena’s phone and copied her number. She knew her assistant would be supportive of her trying to make amends or talk it out, or whatever she was trying to do, but she also knew her best friend. The shit she’d make her do to get the blonde’s number… it was just easier to take her phone while she wasn’t looking.
“Okay…” Villanelle was very confused. So confused she ended her workout early. She stepped off the treadmill, walked to the back of the gym, and headed up the stairs to her apartment. Why was Eve calling? What did she want?
“I just wanted to…” This was very difficult for the brunette, please do not judge her awkwardness, “Ask you to go to lunch. To talk.”
Villanelle had to hold back her laughter. This was so! Weird! What the hell was going on? If she were Oksana right now, she’d be bouncing off the walls, shrieking. But she was Villanelle now. She was an adult. Still, Eve asking her out to lunch? This was weird, no matter how much time had passed. Also, to talk? Talk about what?
“You are asking me out to lunch?”
“Yes.”
“Okay.” She was smiling from ear to ear. The Eve Effect.
“Great!” Eve put her hand to her forehead, regretting how childish and high-pitched she sounded, “I don’t have a lecture until later so does today work? I can meet you at the gym.”
The blonde was on Cloud 9. She hated it. Why did the brunette still make her feel this way? It was ridiculous. Also, the way Eve said ‘the gym’. She couldn’t but feel the domesticity of the phrasing. She was like that around Eve. She really hated it.
“Okay, I’ll see you soon, Eve.” She tried to say calmly, as she jumped toward her closet to find the best outfit to wear.
“Alright, see you soon, Vil.” The brunette quickly hung up. Not the nickname again, Eve!
“Fuck.” Eve sighed, this lunch will definitely be interesting.