Chap 8: A fitting response

The next day, Evelyn arrived at her University a bit earlier and went straight to her class. She shared this class with Triston, but he had not yet arrived. While she was waiting for him in the class, she heard some commotion outside her class and came out to check. She was horrified when a guy emptied the contents of a coke can on Triston.

Evelyn dashed towards them and glared at the guy, and sneered, " Why the f**k did you do that?"

" The trash can was too far, so I decided to dump it on him," the guy smirked, and his friends laughed as if it was an achievement.

" Oh! But I can see the trash right here," Evelyn said. " Let me help you dump it." She took the coke can from the guy and banged it on his head, not too forcefully. " You are the trash here, so next time you don't have to go looking for it."

The guy was so dumbfounded he didn't even react, and Evelyn dragged Triston to the washroom to clean up. She entered the men's locker room without bothering about the shocked looks she received. She took out the grey hoodie Triston was wearing, which was now wet from the drink, and asked, " It's not too cold, then why do you wear a hoodie?"

" I don't want to be noticed, " Triston whispered, and Evelyn went on to wash his Jacket. After washing, she stared at Triston and saw him standing there in a black t-shirt and jeans, fidgeting on his spot. Evelyn observed him and saw that he was pretty tall. Though he was thin, he had muscles on him.

" Why do you allow those guys to bully you?" Evelyn asked, concerned.

Triston was quiet as he was ashamed to admit he was scared to fight, but when Evelyn insisted, he reluctantly replied, " I-I am scared."

Evelyn could see the fear in his eyes and wondered what must have transpired with him to instill so much fear within him. She couldn't be judgemental as she didn't really know him, and though he looked like he could defend himself, the real courage comes from the heart, which Triston clearly lacked.

" Stay with me, " Evelyn said automatically, and Triston looked at her, surprised. She had an instinct to protect this guy. " Stay with me, and I will help you," Evelyn repeated and smiled at Triston.

Looking at Evelyn's smile, even Triston couldn't help but give her a slight smile of his own. They then cleaned up and went back to the class.

As they entered the class, Evelyn saw loads of coke cans dumped on her desk. She signed and shook her head, annoyed while everyone in the class was staring at her to see her reaction.

" Who did it?" Evelyn asked, looking around.

The students suddenly moved their heads and stared at their books as if that was more interesting.

" I will clean it for you, " Triston muttered and was about to go to clean her desk but was stopped by Evelyn. " Don't Triston. It looks like the one who did it is stupid enough to do such a thing but also a coward to admit it."

" Who are you calling a coward?"

" How dare you say I am stupid?"

Candice and Madison blurted out at the same time.

Evelyn scrunched her eyebrows and said, " So it's you."

" Yes, " Candice said in an attempt to look daring. " The boy you said was trash is from our gang, and nobody messes with our gang," she said, pointing at the guy from earlier.

" You stop messing with me, and my friend Triston and I will stop messing with the likes of you," Evelyn said casually and picked the coke cans on her desk and dumped them on Candice and Madison's desk.

" Ewww!! How can you do that?" Madison shrieked.

" The same way you did," Evelyn replied and went back to her desk. She saw her desk was stained with a few drops of the drink, so she went back to the girls.

Evelyn raised her hand suddenly, and Candice and Madison backed away in fear, thinking she would hit them.

Evelyn chuckled. " Don't worry. I am not going to hit you; I was just taking this," Evelyn said and grabbed the silk scarf Madison was wearing around her neck. She then went to her desk and cleaned the stains with the scarf.

Madison was stunned. " No..." she screamed. " Do you know it's a Limited Edition scarf?"

Evelyn placed the scarf in Madison's hands. " Is it? Thanks for the information. So if you can afford a branded scarf, you can obviously afford the dry cleaning charges, so I don't have to pay it," Evelyn said and moved towards her desk. Before sitting down, Evelyn looked back at Madison, who was still standing there in shock, and smirked, " If you decide to throw away your 'Limited Edition scarf,' you know where the trash can is," Evelyn said, pointing towards the guy who dumped coke on Triston.

" You..." Madison yelled and was about to approach Evelyn, but Candice stopped her as the Professor entered the class. Evelyn also sat down and asked Triston to sit beside her.

Triston was still looking at Evelyn in amazement. This girl was something else. The more he was with her, his respect for her increased.

After the class, Evelyn was called by her swimming coach. Evelyn asks Triston to meet at the cafeteria for lunch after the next class and heads towards the coach's office while Triston heads to his next class.

When Evelyn saw the swimming pool of this University, she was in awe.

Her coach, Adrian Williams, was a former National champion who couldn't compete in the Olympics due to an accident. He was an outstanding swimmer, and his training regime was rigorous.

On her first day itself, Adrian asked Evelyn to compete with the other girls on the team, and he was impressed with Evelyn's speed and skills. The other girls on the swim team were not so happy, except for one girl Hailey who approached Evelyn and questioned her about her techniques. They talked for a while and got along well.

After her swimming session, Evelyn left to go to the cafeteria, where she found Triston waiting for her. They get inside and stand in the queue for food.

" What's good here?" Evelyn asked Triston.

" There are a lot of options. Tell me what you want, I will buy it for you."

" No, don't bother."

" It's not a bother. Consider it as my thanks."

After they got their lunch, Evelyn looked for a table when Candice suddenly approached her and pushed her plate with her elbow. " Oops!! My hand slipped. I am so sorry," Candice smirked and left, laughing and giggling with her friends.

" That was cool," Fred praised his girlfriend Candice and kissed her on her lips.

Evelyn stared at her plate, which fell, spilling all the contents on the floor. Being someone who has spent her entire life in an Orphanage, she knew the importance of food. She clenched her fist in anger and was about to follow Candice but Triston stopped her. " Please don't. I will buy another plate for you."

" I hate wasting food," Evelyn muttered and followed Triston.

While having lunch, Evelyn was still thinking about the bullies in this college. " I don't understand the students here. What's the fun in bullying others?"

Triston signed. " Wish I knew."

" Why do they bully you?" Evelyn asked.

" Guess they don't like me, " Triston said sadly. " I have been bullied all my life, even in my school," Triston felt a sense of comfort with Evelyn and opened up with her.

" The guys who bullied you yesterday, the twins, what's their name, Frank something..." Evelyn started.

" Fred and Jeff," Triston stated.

" Ya them. Do they always target you?"

" Yes."

" They looked vicious," Evelyn remarked.

" You have not seen anything yet," Triston whispered to himself, and Evelyn asked, " Did you say something?"

Triston shook his head, and they both got up as they were done with their lunch.

After lunch, Evelyn saw Candice and her friends leaving the cafeteria. Evelyn quietly approached Candice and suddenly placed her leg before her, making her trip and fall down.

Candice and her friends wailed while Evelyn snickered, " Oops!! My leg slipped. I am so sorry."

Evelyn then turned around to get out while Madison screamed, " How dare you!!! Where are you going? Come back."

Evelyn didn't even bother to look back. She just raised her right hand, showed her middle finger, and proceeded to get out of the cafeteria, leaving the guys cursing and screaming behind her.