"Are you seriously going to stand in the hallway?" Evan called out to me as he looked over his shoulder.

It was around four o'clock now, and Evan was in the kitchen chopping up an onion. Earlier, after I had put a load of clothes in the washer, the two of us just hung around the house. Now since it was getting late and the both of up were getting hungry, Evan took it upon himself to start cooking dinner.

I peered out from the corner and scowled at him. "I can't stand the smell of onions, so yes I will stay here until they are finished."

Evan let out a loud laugh as he went back to chopping the onions that didn't seem to phase him. "How do you expect to get through life without ever chopping an onion?"

"I'll manage," I tell him as I lean my head against the wall. "I guess if I ever need a onion cut I'll just have to call you."

"Is that all I'm good for?" he asked as he set the knife down and turned to face me. I nodded and he started to chuckle. "I feel unappreciated, you know."

"Join the club," I say as I watched him cover the onions to a paper towel so the smell wouldn't spread through the room. Evan gave me a weird look before he went over to the sink to wash his hands. "So, are you still not going to tell me what you're making?" I glance over at the chicken he had placed on a plate as well as a small bowl of assorted spices that I had no clue of what it could be.

"I told you. Chicken," he told me as he began to start opening all the cabinets as if he were looking for something. "Do you have a cast iron skillet?"

"Above the stove," I say as I motioned to the small cabinet above the stove. "Can you give me a hint?"

"Nope," he said as he lifted his arms to open the cabinet. As he did that, the front of his shirt raised and I was able to see toned muscles on his lower abdomen. I couldn't help but blush as I quickly looked away. I did't want to be caught staring at him like that.

"Jerk," I say as I started to walk over to the small counter. I pulled out the stool and then hopped up on it.

Evan leaned his head back and let out a loud laugh. "I'm making you dinner. How can I be a jerk?"

"I don't know," I say as I lean forward on the counter and held my head up with my hands. "Are you making a family recipe?"

"No," he told me as he turned on the stove and placed the skillet on top on the open flame. "I was bored a while ago, and I just started cooking one day. I ended up making this thing, and it turned out pretty good. You're actually the first person I've made this for."

"Well now I feel honored," I say with a smile.

"You should," he told me as he placed the raw chicken in the skillet. The moment the meat hit the hot pan, sizzling filled the room. "After we eat, want to go for a drive?"

I shrugged. "I guess. Where to?"

"No where in particular," he told me. "There's just this place I want to show you, but its a surprise"

I narrow my eyes at him. "So full of secrets, aren't you?"

"Not really," he said as he flipped the chicken onto its other side. "There's nothing to hide, really. I mean, I'm a terrible liar."

"Oh, really?" I questioned as I perked up. "How so?"

Evan sighed. "I get this horrible stutter. It's pretty bad."

I chuckle. "It could be worse. When I was little I just froze."

"What about now?" he asked as he looked over his shoulder at me.

I shrugged. "I don't have anyone to lie to, so I wouldn't know."

Evan nodded as he pulled the chicken out of the pan and onto a nearby plate. Suddenly, the phone in his pocket. He pulls it out, and when he checks the caller ID, he frowns. "My dad's calling. Can you give me a hand?"

I nodded as I slide out of my seat and walked over to him. Just before I got there, he dumped the onions as well as garlic into the pan.

"Stir this until they brown. I'll only be a minute," he tells me as he shoves the spatula before he turns to leave the kitchen with the phone in his hands. "Hey dad," I could hear him say just as he walked to the front of the house and quietly closed the door behind him.

I couldn't help but chuckle as I started to stir the onions, but I immediately regretting helping. My eyes started to water as the onions sizzled in the pan. Carefully, I took a step back and outstretched my arm.

In the corner of my eye, I looked up at the back door just to see Jasper enter the kitchen. Our eyes locked, and anger washed over me. He was that last person I wanted to see at the moment. After the kiss last night, I just wanted to stay far away from him.

"Hattie," Jasper said as he started to walk towards me, but I quickly took the pan off the burner and lifted the rubber spatula and pointed it right at him. "Look, I'm sorry I kissed you. Really, I am. But there's something you need to know."

"Jasper, please," I begged as the spatula shook in my hands. I was so angry, and all the emotions I had felt last night were rushing back. "Just leave me alone."

Jasper frowned and shook his head. "I can't. Look, I don't have much time until he gets back in here."

I narrowed my eyes in confusion. "What did you do?"

"Called the restaurant to report an awful delivery boy," Jasper said as he looked down the hallway that led to the front door. "Hattie, Evan is lying to you. He's just like everyone else."

"Jasper, please," I continued to beg. Tears started to sting in the corners of my eyes, and I knew it wasn't from the onions.

He sighed and shook his head before reaching into his back pocket. I stood there confused as he pulled out a piece of paper that was folded up into a neat square. As if it pained him to hold it in his hand, he slowly opened it up and turned it to me and I read what it said in my head.

FUCK YOU

"Evan wrote this."

My eyes widened, and I felt as if I had been punched in the stomach. Was Jasper telling the truth? How would he know what Evans handwriting looked like? They aren't exactly close. However, I did recognize the note in his hand. I remember finding it in my locker one afternoon when I went to my locker in between classes. I really didn't pay it any attention, though. I just tossed it in a pile with the others.

"No," I say as I lower the spatula slowly and stepped back.

"Hattie, I know his handwriting when I see it," he told me with a sad look on his face, but it was obvious he knew I had doubts. "Evan and I were chemistry partners last year. I saw him write all the time."

"You're lying," I told him, anger pooling out of me. "This is just one of your messed up ways of torture. I just know it."

"Hattie, I wish I was lying, but Evan is lying to you," he said as he tossed the paper onto the counter, but I refused to look at it.

"Why would he lie, then?" I asked him, but Jasper just shook his head.

"I don't know, Hattie. I wished I did."

"Wished what?"

Both Jasper and I looked up to see Evan standing there in the doorway. By the look on his face, I could tell that Evan was not happy to see Jasper standing there in my kitchen.

"We know what you're doing," Jasper said as he turned and stepped in front of me so he would be in between Evan and I.

"And what am I doing?" Evan questioned as he crossed his arms over his chest. Jasper smirked as if he had caught Evan in a lie. For all I knew, maybe he was right.

"Care to explain this note?" Jasper asked with a cocky as he motioned to the note on the counter.

Evan looked over at the counter, and looked even more confused when he saw the note on the counter. "Where'd you get that?"

Jasper turned his head to look at me, and Evan started to walk towards me. However, Jasper placed a firm hand on Evans chest and stopped him in his tracks.

"I found it in my locker," I say quietly as I looked at the note and back to Evan. "You wrote it, didn't you?"

"Yes, but-" he started to say, but Jasper shoved him. Evan was taken aback for a second, but he quickly recovered. "Shit. Hattie, look. Yes, I did write that, but I never put it in your locker."

"Then how did it get there?" Jasper questioned.

"How am I supposed to know?" Evan said as he threw his hands up. "Look, I wrote it down, and made it into an airplane before I threw it at James. Last I saw he had it in his hands."

I let out a sigh of relief. Evan wasn't that kind of guy, and the thought that I doubted him showed that I had some serious trust issues.

"You really think I would do something like that?" Evan asked as he looked directly at me, and I could see the hurt that was etched on his face.

"No," I started to say as I shook my head. "I didn't..."

Evan chuckled as he started to turn towards the front door. "Yeah sure, whatever."

"Wait," I called out as I pushed past Jasper and started to chase Evan. "Evan, please wait."

Evan stopped when he reached the front door, but he didn't turn around. "You believed him, didn't you?"

I opened my mouth, but then closed it. Did I believe Jasper? I didn't exactly know all the facts when Jasper came barreling into my house.

"I see," Evan said softly as he reached out and grabbed the door handle. "I'll see you around."

"Evan, no," I begged, but it was too late. Evan had already walked out of the front door, and before I could say anything, he was already in his car. Tears streamed down my face as I watched him back down the driveway, and when he was out of sight, I had to grab hold of the door frame for support.

"Hattie?" Jasper said as he came up behind me. Suddenly, my pain turned to rage, and I clenched my fist so tight that my knuckles started to turn white.

I turned around as quickly as I could, and by the surprised look on Jasper face, I could tell he was shocked to see me angry. "Why couldn't you just leave us alone?" I asked through clenched teeth.

Jasper stepped back, clearly shocked. "What are you talking about? I was just trying to help."

"You call this helping?" I shouted as I pointed to the driveway where Evans car once was. "Why can't you just stay out of my life?"

Jasper's face fell, and he shook his head. "I can't do that."

"Why the fuck not?" I questioned as I poked him in the chest, slightly catching him off guard. "I never wanted you here, and yet here you are. Why are you ruining everything for me? I'm not somebody that you can keep pushing around like this."

"I know," Jasper said, suddenly defensive. "I thought I would help. Try to make everything better, just for you."

"I never wanted your help," I shouted back at him, but my voice started crack. "You just had to pull one last prank before you left, didn't you? You aren't even supposed to be here anyway."

"Hattie," Jasper said softly as he started to reach out towards me, but I quickly pulled back. Jasper's eyes widened when he realized what he was doing.

"Get out," I ordered shakily.

"Hattie, please," Jasper started to say, but I held my ground.

"Get out," I shouted at him loud enough so the message would get through.

Jasper sighed as he dropped his hand and walked around me and through the door. The moment he crossed the threshold, I quickly closed the door before he could change his mind.

The moment the door was closed, I couldn't help but put my hand to my face and sob. Everything in my life had officially fallen apart. The boy who I was starting to like walked out, and I was pretty sure Jasper's feelings toward me had started to shift after he kissed me yesterday. Add that on to having an absentee father and a clueless mother, and that just shows how pitiful my life was.