Chap 6: Evelyn Grace

Evelyn dragged Triston away from the crowd. After they reach an empty hallway, Evelyn suddenly stops and faces Triston. " I am Evelyn, U?" she asks him.

Triston was surprised; he just stared at Evelyn as he could still not process what happened a few minutes back.

Evelyn raised an eyebrow when Triston realized she had asked his name. "T-Triston... he stuttered.

Evelyn smiled at him and said, " Triston, nice name... I am glad I met someone decent at this godawful University. I mean, the University is classy with a big fountain at the front, so many trees, massive buildings, and I heard they have a huge swimming pool too. But the students here... Erghh... they are either bullies or have a haughty attitude."

Triston just stared at Evelyn while she was talking nonstop. Suddenly Evelyn remembered something and gasped, " Oh God! It's already late, and I don't even have my schedule yet. Can you take me to the admin office?"

Triston just nodded, and Evelyn followed him to the admin office while continuing her talk about the college. Once they reach the admin office, Evelyn sees a gorgeous-looking middle-aged lady sitting at the desk typing on her phone. She wore a black bodycon dress, and her make-up seemed perfect with smokey eyes and red lipstick.

The lady first saw Triston and ignored him. She then looked at Evelyn with a bored expression, but Evelyn's personality piqued her interest. This girl looked different compared to the other girls studying at this University. While most of the students here were from elite backgrounds and dressed like models for a fashion show, this girl had a badass style.

Evelyn smiled at the lady and said, "I am Evelyn Grace, the new scholarship student."

" Oh! That's you?" the lady asked.

Evelyn nodded and asked," Can I have my schedule?"

The lady shrugged and entered the details on the computer, then took a print and handed the paper to Evelyn, and got back to her phone.

Evelyn and Triston got out of the admin office while Evelyn was checking her schedule. She faced Triston and asked, " Which class do you have now?"

" Accounting."

" That's great. We have the same class. Let's go."

Triston and Evelyn walk to the other side of the building to go to their class. Triston was still on edge. This was all new for him. For the most part, everyone ignored his existence, but this girl was different. He wanted to ask her a million questions but was too shy.

Finally, he managed to whisper, " Thank you for earlier."

They had reached their class while Evelyn replied, " No need to thank me, and don't be so nervous. Are you always this way, or is it just with me? Where are your friends?"

" I have no friends," whispered Triston.

Evelyn was surprised at first, but when she remembered the type of students who attended this college, she realized it must be true.

" No wonder," Evelyn shook her head. " I will be your friend then," she said with a smile.

Triston looked at Evelyn with shock as he could not believe someone wanted to be his friend.

" Why do you look so stunned? You don't want to be my friend?" pouts Evelyn.

" No, no, it's not that," says Triston hurriedly. " A-Are you sure?"

" About what? Being your friend?"

Triston nods, and Evelyn replies, " Of course, I will be your best buddy," saying this, she raises her hand to give a fist bump.

Triston was staring blankly at her, not knowing what to do. Evelyn holds Triston's hand, twists it into a fist, and bumps it on her fist. Triston gives a small smile when they are interrupted by someone.

Evelyn sees two girls dressed like Barbie dolls standing at the door of the class. They gave Evelyn a death stare while one of them asked, " Are you the one who hit my boyfriend?"

Evelyn shrugged and scrunched her eyebrow. " Who is your boyfriend, and who are you?"

The girls looked offended. " You don't know us?" they asked, appalled.

" Why should I know you? Are you the President of the United States?" Evelyn asked indifferently.

The girls Candice and Madison were lost for words. They were the most popular girls of the college who came from wealthy business families. All the boys of the college drooled over them while the girls dreamed of being like them. Everyone wanted to be their friend, while this girl dared to ignore and insult them. No doubt she had beaten their boyfriends Fred and Jeff.

The students had gathered around the class waiting to get inside when the Professor approached them and said, " Why are you all waiting here. Get inside."

The girls gave a mean look to Evelyn and mouthed the words, " We are watching you."

Evelyn ignored them and entered the class, leaving them standing at the door. The girls huffed and sat at their seats while glaring at Evelyn and Triston. Triston sat at his usual corner seat at the end, and Evelyn sat beside him.

All the students sat down while the Professor looked at Evelyn and asked, " Are you the new girl?"

Evelyn nods, and the Professor asks her to introduce herself. Evelyn gets up from her seat and says, " I am Evelyn Grace, and I have joined through the swimming scholarship."

At that exact time, Fred and Jeff enter the class without bothering to ask the Professor. They saw Evelyn and gave her a hateful glare.

Evelyn ignored them and sat in her seat. Fred and Jeff turned to Triston and looked at him as if they would kill him. Triston was so scared that he wanted the ground to open up and swallow him.

Although the Professor shakes his head at the twins' attitude, he does not comment. He opens his book and goes on with the class.

Evelyn thought about her first day at the college and rolled her eyes. She knew this University was not suitable for her, but the only reason she came here was because of the scholarship they offered.

Evelyn was an orphan who spent her entire life in an orphanage owned by a lady named Amelia Grace. Evelyn was just four when she was left at the park by her mother. Her mother had made her sit at a bench and told her not to leave the place. When her mother didn't return, the guard at the park took her to the police station. The Police tried to search for her parents, but Evelyn only knew their first names. Also, nobody came looking for her, not even at the park nor the Police Station, so the Police were forced to take her to the Orphanage.

Even though she lived in an orphanage, she had a perfect life. Mrs. Grace was a very kind woman who took good care of all the children. Evelyn was a very cheerful girl who had soon become everyone's favorite. Mrs.Grace treated her like her own daughter, and even Evelyn refused to get adopted by any family. Evelyn's best friend at the Orphanage was Ava, who was four years older than Evelyn and took care of her like an elder sister. They were always together and joined at the hip, but Ava got adopted by a wealthy family when she was fourteen. Ava left for London, but she was regularly in contact with Evelyn.

Evelyn and the kids at the Orphanage were constantly being mocked and bullied, so she always fought back against the bullies for herself and her friends. Every other day, there were complaints of Evelyn beating the kids. Mrs. Grace understood that Evelyn couldn't tolerate seeing anyone doing anything wrong and appreciated her courage.

During one such incident, the trainer at the Martial Arts Academy near her school saw Evelyn fight the kids and decided to train her for free.

Her trainer James trained her from the age of twelve; hence she was such a good fighter. Now that she was 18 and an adult, she had to leave the Orphanage. Luckily she got a swimming scholarship at this University and could compete for the National level swimming championship.

Though her scholarship covered all her tuition and college-related fees, it did not include room and boarding charges.

She was fortunate that her friend Ava had completed her medical degree in Psychiatry in London and joined a hospital in Chicago as an intern. Ava insisted Evelyn stay with her at the apartment she rented.

Last week, Evelyn had left the Orphanage and shifted into Ava's apartment, which was not quite far from her college.

She had expected she would not fit in at such an Elite Institute, but Ava assured her that Evelyn was brave and could easily adjust anywhere.

As Evelyn entered the University premises, she noticed everyone in their own World, so full of themselves. Moreover, she saw the boys bully Triston while the others observed quietly, without helping him, and instead thought it was entertaining.

Evelyn observed Triston sitting beside her. His head was down, and his gaze was locked on his book. His demeanor clearly showed he wanted to be invisible. She felt the pain in his eyes and wanted to be with him and protect him. Now that she was his friend, she vowed to herself that she would be there for him no matter what.