Evette
The moon hung high in the sky, casting a silver glow through the sheer curtains of Evette's room. The mansion was quiet, save for the occasional creak of the old wooden floors and the distant hum of the refrigerator in the kitchen. Evette lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling, her thoughts swirling like leaves caught in a whirlwind.
Dingani. The name echoed in her mind, bringing with it a rush of warmth and confusion. She had never felt this way before, and it both excited and terrified her. The way his hands had felt on her thighs, the way he had looked at her with those deep brown eyes—it was intoxicating. But beneath the thrill was a gnawing uncertainty. Was he just another boy looking for a good time? Or was there something deeper there?
Evette rolled over, glancing at the clock on her nightstand. It was past midnight, and sleep eluded her. She needed to talk to someone, to get this weight off her chest. And who better than Ethan? Despite their sibling rivalry, he had a way of cutting through the noise and getting to the heart of things.
With a determined sigh, she slipped out of bed, pulling on a soft hoodie over her pajamas. She padded down the hallway, her bare feet silent against the cool floor. As she approached Ethan's room, she hesitated for a moment, unsure if he would be awake. But the faint glow of light slipping from under his door told her otherwise.
Evette knocked softly, the sound barely echoing in the stillness of the mansion. "Ethan?"
A moment later, the door creaked open, revealing her older brother, his hair tousled and his eyes still heavy with sleep. "What's up, Ev?" he asked, his voice a mix of curiosity and concern.
"I need to talk," she replied, her heart racing as she stepped into his room.
Ethan gestured for her to sit on the edge of his bed, and he flopped back onto his pillows, propping himself up on one elbow. "What's on your mind?"
Evette took a deep breath, the words tumbling out before she could second-guess herself. "It's about Dingani."
Ethan raised an eyebrow, a smirk creeping onto his face. "Ah, the jock with the killer smile and a way of making you weak in the knees?"
"Shut up!" Evette shot back, though she couldn't help but smile at his teasing. "I'm serious. I don't know what to think about him."
Ethan sat up, his expression shifting to one of genuine interest. "Okay, spill. What's going on?"
Evette hesitated, trying to find the right words. "I mean, he's… different. He's charming and funny, and he makes me feel things I've never felt before. But I can't shake this feeling that he's just playing around. You know? Like, what if he's just looking for a fling?"
Ethan nodded, his expression thoughtful. "That's a valid concern. But you've got to trust your instincts. How does he treat you when you're together?"
Evette's mind flashed back to their conversations, the way he had looked at her with that smirk, the way he had joked around but also seemed to genuinely enjoy her company. "He's sweet, I guess? But then he makes these jokes that make me wonder if he's serious about anything."
"Sounds like a classic case of a guy trying to impress a girl," Ethan said, leaning back against his headboard. "But you know him better than I do. What does your gut say?"
"My gut is all twisted up," Evette admitted, running a hand through her hair. "One minute, I'm on cloud nine, and the next, I'm freaking out about what he really wants."
Ethan sighed, his expression softening. "Look, Ev, it's normal to feel confused, especially when you're dealing with someone like him. But you've got to communicate. If you're feeling uncertain, maybe you should talk to him about it."
"But what if I scare him off?" she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "What if he's not looking for something serious?"
"Then you'll know, and you can save yourself the heartache down the line," Ethan said, his tone firm but kind. "You deserve to know what you're getting into. And if he's the right guy, he'll respect that."
Evette nodded slowly, taking in his words. "You're right. I just… I don't want to be another notch on his belt."
"You won't be," Ethan assured her. "But you've got to be honest with yourself and with him. If he's not the one, then better to find out now than later."
They sat in silence for a moment, the weight of the conversation hanging in the air. Evette felt a mixture of gratitude and frustration. She appreciated Ethan's advice, but the uncertainty still gnawed at her.
"What if I'm not enough for him?" she finally asked, her voice barely a whisper.
Ethan's expression hardened slightly. "Evette, don't ever think that way. You are more than enough. You're smart, funny, and beautiful. If he can't see that, then he's not worth your time."
Her heart swelled at his words, and for the first time that night, she felt a flicker of confidence. "Thanks, Ethan. I really needed to hear that."
He smiled, the teasing glint returning to his eyes. "Just remember, if he breaks your heart, I'll be right here with a tub of ice cream and a list of all the ways he's a loser."
Evette laughed, the tension in her chest easing. "Deal."
As she got up to leave, Ethan called after her. "And Evette?"
"Yeah?"
"Just be yourself. That's the best thing you can do."
With a nod, she slipped out of his room, her mind racing with thoughts of Dingani and the conversation she would need to have. As she returned to her own room, she felt a newfound sense of determination.
Tomorrow would be a new day, and she was ready to face whatever came next.