Chapter 6
I threw on a simple black t-shirt and some ripped jeans, the ones I always felt like myself in, and tried to keep my heart from racing as I waited by the front door. It wasn’t like I didn’t trust Evan. I did more than I’d ever trusted anyone, but it was the first date. I wasn’t sure what to expect.
When he pulled up outside my house in his old, beat up car, I felt a weird mix of emotions. There was a familiar rush of nerves that made me second guess everything about my appearance, and then there was this weirdly happy feeling that made my chest feel lighter than it had in ages.
Evan stepped out of the car, looking ridiculously cute in a simple gray hoodie and dark jeans. He looked like he had just rolled out of bed, but it somehow made him look even hotter. His locks were slightly messy, and there was a small, playful smirk on his face as he walked up to me.
“Hey, Bat,” he greeted, using the nickname he’d decided to give me after I’d teased him for calling me a brat one too many times. “Ready for our adventure?”
“Adventure?” I raised an eyebrow, crossing my arms over my chest. “You make it sound like I’m about to be tortured or something.”
Evan grinned and reached out to ruffle my hair, messing it up even more than it already was. “You’ll survive. It’s just dinner, Bat. Lighten up.”
“You’re the one who’s getting all nervous, aren’t you?” I teased, shoving him lightly.
He chuckled, clearly not even a little bit bothered. “Nah, I’m just excited to see you squirm.”
“Sure you are, Rosie,” I shot back with a grin, walking past him toward his car. “I can’t wait to see what kind of ‘romantic’ plans you’ve got for me.”
Evan rolled his eyes but followed me. “Get in the car, Bat.”
The drive to the restaurant was casual, with the two of us bickering back and forth about the best type of pizza. Nothing too serious, but it felt easy, and that was the best part. The conversation flowed without any awkward pauses, and even when we did pick on each other, there was this warmth to it. The teasing felt like a game, like a challenge that we both enjoyed playing.
When we got to the restaurant, a little cosy Italian place, Evan opened my door for me, which caught me off guard for a second. It wasn’t anything grand, but the gesture was sweet, and I couldn’t help but smile at him as I got out of the car.
“I’m impressed,” I teased, looking up at him. “You do know how to be charming.”
Evan just rolled his eyes and led me inside. The restaurant was dimly lit with a cozy, intimate vibe, red and white checkered tablecloths, flickering candles on each table, and the smell of fresh garlic in the air. The hostess led us to a table by the window, and as we sat down, I couldn’t help but feel oddly at ease.
The waiter handed us menus, and Evan started looking it over with a frown. “What’s good here?” he asked, still scanning the menu like he was trying to solve some kind of puzzle.
I snorted. “You seriously don’t know what’s good at an Italian restaurant? It’s all good.”
Evan smirked at me. “Fine, Mr. Expert. What’s your recommendation, then?”
“Spaghetti. Classic,” I said, giving him a wink. “You can’t go wrong.”
Evan narrowed his eyes, clearly not buying my suggestion. “Spaghetti? I’m not a child, Bat. I’m getting the lasagna.”
“Oh, right, Rosie needs something fancy,” I teased, mimicking his serious tone. “Gotta impress me with your lasagna skills.”
“Hey,” he grinned, leaning across the table, “Lasagna is a sophisticated choice. You wouldn’t understand.”
I rolled my eyes dramatically. “Sure, because lasagna is so sophisticated.”
We continued to banter for a few more minutes, until the waiter came back to take our orders. Evan ordered the lasagna, as expected, and I went with my classic choice of spaghetti, which seemed to please him. I felt a strange comfort in the way the evening was unfolding, there was no pressure. No expectations. Just two people, having fun and figuring each other out.
After the waiter left, Evan turned to me, a thoughtful expression on his face. “So, Bat tell me something about you that I don’t know.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Oh, you want to get all deep now?”
He shrugged. “Why not? We’ve been hanging out for a while now. I wanna know what makes you tick.”
I could feel the intensity of his gaze on me, and for a moment, I thought about just teasing him back with something ridiculous. But then I remembered the way things had been going, how easy it was to talk to him, and for some reason, I didn’t want to mess that up.
“I don’t know,” I said after a long pause, tapping my fingers on the edge of the table. “I guess I never really fit in with anyone growing up. My dad was a politician, right? So, I was always surrounded by people who just wanted to use me. And they didn’t care about who I actually was.”
Evan was silent for a moment, his eyes softening with something that looked like sympathy. He didn’t interrupt, just let me talk.
“I rebelled, obviously,” I continued, letting out a small laugh. “Got tattoos, joined a gang. It was my way of getting back at him, you know? But I always felt like I was trying to prove something.”
Evan reached across the table and placed his hand over mine, squeezing it gently. “You don’t have to prove anything to anyone, Bat. Not to me.”
I blinked, surprised by the sincerity in his voice. I didn’t know how to respond, so I just gave him a small, appreciative smile.
The food came, and the conversation shifted back to more lighthearted things. We ate, laughed, and teased each other more than we probably should’ve, but it was comfortable. The kind of comfortable that made me feel like we were already more than friends, but without all the weight that usually came with labels.
By the time we finished eating, I was full and content, but there was still a buzz in the air. We weren’t done yet.
“So,” Evan said as we stood up and made our way out of the restaurant, “I promised you a surprise. You ready?”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Another surprise? You really think you can impress me after all this?”
“Oh, I’ll impress you alright,” Evan said with a wink. “Just trust me.”
I followed him out to the parking lot, where he led me to his car, and we drove for a little while longer, talking about everything and nothing. He kept teasing me about my hair, asking if I was sure I didn’t want to get green stripes in it.
Evan’s place had always felt like a mystery to me. It wasn’t some grand, decorated home, but there was something inviting about it. I’d never really gotten the full picture of his life before now, just snippets here and there. But as we walked into his room, I realized how much those small things said about him.
Posters of bands I recognised lined one wall, each faded with time. I could see there were some signs of wear, a cracked phone screen on the desk, clothes draped across the chair, but it all felt lived in, familiar. Comfortable. Like it was just him.
“You’ve got the place of a guy who spends more time thinking than cleaning,” I said, looking around with a small smile.
Evan glanced around and shrugged nonchalantly. “Guilty as charged. I’m not exactly running a five star hotel here.”
I took a seat on the bed, the worn mattress creaking slightly under my weight, feeling oddly at home as I sank into it. Evan pulled a box from his dresser with a smile. I raised an eyebrow, curiosity bubbling up again.
“What’s this?” I asked, eyeing the box with a suspicious glint in my eye.
Evan grinned as he opened it, revealing everything we would need for the hair transformation. Dye, gloves, brushes, and a little mixing bowl. The sheer thought of changing my hair color, especially something as bold as green, made me grin despite myself. I hadn’t considered doing anything like it before. But then again, Evan always had a way of pushing me out of my comfort zone in a way that felt oddly exhilarating.
“Green stripes,” Evan said, holding up the bottle of dye as though it were some grand elixir. “You sure you’re up for it?”
I bit my lip, feeling a little nervous now that I had to commit to the idea. But then I remembered the teasing, the little moments when his fingers had brushed mine or when he had laughed at my lame jokes. There was something magnetic about him that kept pulling me in.
“You’re not going to screw this up, right?” I asked, crossing my arms over my chest. “Because I’ve got a reputation to protect, Rosie.”
Evan just grinned wider, sitting down beside me on the bed and taking the gloves out of the box. “Please, Bat. It’s hair dye, not rocket science. And for the record, you’re going to look amazing.”
“Sure, sure,” I teased, rolling my eyes. “You say that now, but if I end up looking like a tree frog-.”
“I’ll laugh,” he finished, holding up the dye bottle like a prize. “But you’ll still look good. I promise.”
I laughed, shaking my head. He was ridiculous, but I liked it. There was a freedom in the way he acted, like nothing mattered except what was happening right here and right now. And in that moment, I wanted that too.
Evan worked his hands through my hair, parting it and applying the dye carefully. The cold sensation of the dye touching my scalp sent a slight shiver down my spine, but Evan’s touch was soft, purposeful. He wasn’t rushing through it like he’d done this a thousand times before, but instead, he took his time, ensuring everything was even.
“You’re good at this,” I muttered after a while, feeling strangely relaxed as he continued to work. It was like having a conversation without words, just him, focused on something simple, like making me look a little different.
“Of course I am, do you think my nearly silver hair is fully natural?” he said with a small chuckle, his fingers brushing against the back of my neck as he worked. “And I’m good at taking care of things that matter.”
Something about the way he said that made my chest tighten, just a little. I didn’t want to read too much into it, but it felt meaningful. Like he wasn’t just talking about hair.
“You’re really sweet when you’re not being a dick.” I said, glancing sideways at him.
Evan rolled his eyes, and I swore I saw him hold back a smile. “I’m not sweet,” he muttered. “I’m just thoughtful.”
I laughed softly, glad I could make him flustered for once. “Sure, ‘thoughtful’ is what we’re calling it now.”
“Well, if that’s what it takes to make you blush, I’ll take it,” Evan said, his voice teasing.
I smirked, poking him lightly in the side. “You wish. I don’t blush.”
“Oh, I think you do,” he said, raising an eyebrow as he continued working. “I’ve seen it. I know when you’re holding back.”
“Are you trying to say I’m cute, Rosie?” I couldn’t resist teasing him.
Evan’s fingers paused on my hair for a second, and he laughed, though it was low and genuine. “Maybe,” he said quietly. “Just a little.”
My heart did that annoying flutter thing, but I ignored it. I didn’t need to think about how my chest felt like it was about to explode when he looked at me like that.
The silence between us settled for a moment as I let him finish the dye job, my mind wandering. There was something undeniably easy about being with him, even though it had only been a few weeks since we started hanging out. I couldn’t remember a time when I’d felt this comfortable with someone, when the teasing and flirting felt so natural, like I wasn’t trying too hard.
He was finishing up the last bit of dye when I finally broke the silence.
“You ever think about your future, Rosie?” I asked casually, not sure where it came from.
Evan’s hands stilled on my hair, and for the first time that night, his face went serious. It was only for a second, but I could see the change in his eyes. “All the time,” he said, voice soft. “But I don’t like to think about it too much.”
I nodded, not sure how to respond. I didn’t have everything figured out either. I didn’t even know what I was doing in this moment, with him, on our first date. But for the first time in a while, I felt like maybe I didn’t need to have it all planned. Maybe I could just be.
“You think you’ll keep doing what you’re doing forever?” I asked him.
Evan let out a breath, wiping his hands off on the towel, then looking over at me with a smile. “No idea. But I like being here. Doing stuff with you.”
I blinked, my heart doing that stupid skip again. “Yeah?”
He met my gaze with that same easy smile, his eyes holding something warmer than just friendliness. Something more.
“Yeah.” He said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world, like we didn’t need any more words.
And then, without warning, he leaned down and kissed me, just a quick press of his lips against mine. It wasn’t anything grand or dramatic, but it was soft, lingering just enough to leave me wanting more.
I pulled back, still feeling the warmth of his lips, but before I could say anything, Evan raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. “You look like you’re about to say something sarcastic, Bat.”
I snorted, looking away to hide the smile that tugged at my lips. “I don’t blush, remember?”
“Right, right,” Evan said with a grin. “Still, I think you’re kind of cute when you’re trying to act cool.”
“Well, don’t get used to it,” I said, though my voice wavered slightly as I reached up to touch my hair, suddenly aware of the new green streaks in it.
“You look great,” Evan said again, his voice earnest now. “Really.”
I shot him a teasing look. “Alright, Rosie. Keep it up and you might actually convince me you’re a softie.”
“Well, maybe I am,” he said with a wink, standing up and offering me a hand. “I guess you’ll just have to stick around to find out.”
As Evan pulled me up from the seat, his fingers brushed against mine, lingering for just a second longer than necessary. I couldn't help the way my heart fluttered, like it was responding to the closeness, to the quiet moments that felt more meaningful than they probably should have. But I wasn’t going to overthink it. Not tonight.
I stood up, feeling a little lighter with the new green streaks in my hair, but then Evan took a step toward me. His eyes locked onto mine, intense, and suddenly it was like everything else, the world outside, the moment we were in, disappeared. There was just the two of us.
He was close now, so close I could feel the heat of his body and the rhythm of his breath, steady and slow. His hand reached up, gently tucking a loose strand of my hair behind my ear, his fingers brushing the side of my neck. His touch was soft, careful, as if testing the waters, like he was afraid of something, but also wanting this. Wanting me.
“You’re perfect,” Evan murmured, his voice just above a whisper.
I swallowed hard, not knowing how to answer that. I had no idea what to say, but then I found myself stepping closer, closing the space between us. My pulse was racing, and I felt a rush of warmth in my chest. I could hear my breath catch, matching the rhythm of his. It felt almost impossible not to kiss him now. The way he was looking at me made it feel like it was something we were both waiting for, something that had been building without either of us saying it out loud.
“Rosie...” I whispered, my voice betraying the way my heart was pounding in my chest.
His lips curved into a soft, teasing smile, but there was something in his eyes, a softness that made me feel like I mattered. “Bat,” he said, his voice gentle but full of warmth.
And just like that, it felt right. There was no hesitation, no doubt. I leaned in, closing the distance between us. His breath mingled with mine, and I could feel the warmth of his lips just before they met mine.
The kiss was slow at first. Soft, like we were both savoring the moment, making sure we weren’t rushing something that was already so delicate. His lips were warm, and I couldn’t help the way my heart seemed to skip with every brush of his mouth against mine.
I tilted my head slightly, deepening the kiss, and it was like everything clicked into place. His hand slid to the small of my back, pulling me closer, and I felt the gentle pressure of his chest against mine. It was gentle, the way he held me, like he was afraid to break something. But there was a quiet confidence in the way he kissed me, and I couldn’t help but respond with the same certainty.
His lips moved against mine, slow and deliberate, and my hands found their way to his shirt, fingers gently pressing against the fabric, feeling the warmth of his body through it. I could hear the soft sound of his breath, almost like a moan, when he pulled back just enough to look at me.
For a second, everything stopped. It was like we were both taking in the moment, the closeness, the way our hearts were racing in sync. His eyes searched mine, and there was something there, something I couldn’t put into words.
“Don’t... don’t stop,” I whispered, before I could even think about what I was saying. It was almost too much, too much feeling, too much of him. But I didn’t want it to end. Not yet.
Evan’s hand found its way to my hair again, fingers threading through the strands. He leaned down, brushing his lips against mine once more. This time, it was a little deeper, a little more insistent, but still so gentle. His lips were soft and warm, and I could feel the way his heart beat against mine. It was like time was slowing down. Every second felt like it mattered more than the last.
And then, with a small smile against my lips, he pulled back just enough to look at me, his forehead resting against mine.
“You drive me crazy, Bat,” he murmured, his breath a little ragged.
I laughed softly, the sound escaping me without thinking. “Right back at you, Rosie,” I whispered back, unable to hold back the smile that tugged at my lips.
He smiled too, and I could see the way his eyes sparkled, the same way they had when we first met. That effortless warmth, that quiet confidence that drew me in. I wasn’t sure what was happening between us, but I knew I didn’t want it to stop.
We stood there for a moment, just breathing, just being with each other. And somehow, that felt like enough. The kiss had been everything I hadn’t realized I needed, and now, standing here with him, I felt more connected to him than ever before.
“Let's move this to the bed?” he asked softly, his voice a little more serious now.
I looked up at him, the playful banter still lingering between us but softening into something warmer. “Yeah. I think I’d like that,” I said, my voice just as quiet.
Evan grinned and leaned in to kiss me again, this time, more passionate and harder, tugging and biting at my lips, making my head fall back as I released a muffled groan.
We kissed passionately, our tongues chasing each other and going greedily down one another's throats. I flung my legs around Evan’s waist and he tightly grabbed them carrying us to the bed, small moans escaping both our lips as he pushed me down onto my back.
The air was thick with quiet intimacy as I lay exhausted on my back, my head resting against the pillow, staring up at the ceiling with a soft exhale. The faint sound of the rain tapping against the window was the only noise in the room, a peaceful background to the weight of everything that had just transpired. My chest rose and fell with each breath, the air in the room warm despite the cool night outside.
Evan was lying beside me, his head propped up on his hand, watching me with a kind of softness in his eyes that made my heart skip. I’d never been the type to linger after anything like this, but with Evan, it felt different. More natural. More right.
Evan's fingers, delicate and warm, slowly traced the outline of the tattoos that curved across my shoulder, his touch light, almost reverent. It wasn’t a quick, absent gesture. Evan was careful, like he was mapping out each detail, each curve of ink as though he wanted to make sure he memorized it. The tattoo was a bold, swirling design that stretched from my upper arm across my chest and onto my side. It had taken hours to finish, the ink sharp and dark against my skin.
I let out a soft sigh at the touch. It was strange, how something so simple, just fingers skimming over his skin, could make him feel so seen. The heat from Evan’s body radiated beside me, but it wasn’t overwhelming, it was comforting. I didn’t say anything at first and closed my eyes for a moment, savoring the tenderness.
Evan’s voice broke the silence. "Your tattoos... they tell a story, don’t they?"
I nodded, my lips curving into a small smile, eyes still closed. "Yeah, they do. Some of it’s past stuff. Some of it’s about things that made me who I am. Some of it’s just for me, y’know?"
Evan's fingers traveled lower, brushing along the line of ink that crossed his ribs. "I get that," Evan murmured, his voice soft as the pads of his fingers gently danced across my skin. "Your story’s in your skin, and now I get to learn it."
My chest tightened, and I opened my eyes to look at Evan, his gaze soft but full of something unspoken. "You think you could handle it?"
Evan’s lips quirked up at the corner, a playful but fond smile forming. "I think I could handle anything you threw at me." His thumb brushed over a delicate swirl of the tattoo on my collarbone. "You’re complicated, Bat. But that’s what makes you you."
A warm laugh bubbled up from my chest, and I nudged Evan with his shoulder. "Always with the nickname stuff." My voice was a little teasing, but there was something genuine behind it. "What, you don't like it when I call you Rosie?"
Evan chuckled, shaking his head as his fingers continued tracing over my ink. "I’ve gotten used to it." He leaned down, his lips brushing the top of my shoulder. "And you’re right, I do like it when you call me that. Even if it makes me sound like a damn flower."
I rolled my eyes but smiled, letting my head fall back onto the pillow. My hands found their way to Evan’s arm, tracing the tattoos that ran along his forearm, noticing the subtle way Evan had inked certain symbols, like a jewelry box and a crystal, that seemed to remind him of something close to his heart. I let my fingers linger there, moving over the tattoos, feeling the slightly raised edges of the ink. "I like yours too, you know," I muttered softly. "They make sense. Like, they fit you."
Evan grinned, clearly pleased by the compliment. "Thanks. My sister picked out most of them. She’s got good taste. Not like you, with all your angry designs." He tapped the intricate knotwork of Barty’s sleeve with a teasing finger.
"Hey," I huffed, my voice a playful challenge. "The angrier, the better."
Evan leaned in and kissed my cheek, just a soft brush of his lips against my skin, and I couldn’t help but smile, the warmth in his chest spreading. I loved how comfortable this was. How easy it felt to just be here, with Evan tracing my tattoos, our bodies tangled in the sheets. It was gentle, but it was also raw in its own way.
The night stretched on, quiet and peaceful, and Evan’s fingers continued their slow, affectionate exploration of my ink. It wasn’t about sex or anything else. It was about being close, really close, in a way I wasn’t sure I’d ever experienced. A kind of closeness that made me feel seen, understood, without the need for words.
My hand found its way to Evan’s hair, my fingers lightly tugging at the locks as I shifted closer. I smiled against Evan’s skin, my lips finding Evan’s shoulder for a gentle kiss. "You make me feel different," I murmured.
Evan paused, his fingers halting their movement across Barty’s skin for just a moment. "How’s that?" he asked quietly, his voice steady, like he was carefully taking in everything I was saying.
"Like I’m not just some guy with a bunch of tattoos," I said, my words soft but sincere. "Like there’s more to me than everything else. More than what I’ve been running from."
Evan’s hand rested gently on my side, his thumb brushing over the tattoo there again, and he said nothing for a while, letting the weight of my words settle between them. Instead, Evan leaned down and kissed me, just a slow, soft kiss that said everything I didn’t know how to express. When he pulled away, there was a slight smile on his face, and his eyes were soft with something that looked like care.
"I see you," Evan said quietly, his voice low and steady. "And I’m glad you’re here with me, Bat."
I felt his chest tighten in a way he hadn’t expected. The words, the way Evan said them, made me feel warm in a way that nothing else had before. And as I lay there with Evan’s hand on my skin, tracing my tattoos, I couldn't help but think that maybe, just maybe, I had found something I didn’t need to run from. Something worth staying for.