I HEART HISTORY
EVIE
WEDNESDAY NIGHT FINDS ME DEEP INTO RESEARCH AT THE SCHULTZ LIbrARY, BUT THIS TIME IT’S FOR an essay, not stress relief. Because what would I have to be stressed about? My life is great right now. I have the perfect balance of schoolwork, extracurriculars, new friends, and… Viktor.
We’ve been seeing each other for three weeks now.
He was completely right about sex improving each time.
But even better than the actual sex is the time after sex.
That’s when Viktor is relaxed, sweet, and funny.
He’s never going to be a person who talks about his feelings, but it’s fine since I can interpret his body language.
When I was young, my father would take me to a park or public square, and we’d make up stories about strangers based on our observations.
What I thought was a game was actually an exercise in understanding people.
I’m completely immersed in Paul Desmond music and the German Democratic Republic when something hits my forehead. It’s a tiny paper airplane. I look up, and Viktor is laughing at me from the other end of the long oak table.
I pull off my headphones and hold up the plane. Did you hit me with this?
I didn’t want to take the chance of tapping you on the shoulder again. He laughs as he slides into the seat next to me and slips his arm around my waist.
I laugh too. I love seeing him happy like this. He carries so much worry and responsibility on his shoulders. Viktor kisses behind my ear, and I shiver.
I missed you. Thought I’d see if you need an escort home.
Whose home? I ask suspiciously, since Viktor is caressing my thigh in a very seductive way.
We’ll have to see. He’s still grinning, and I melt. I have rules about school nights, but on Thursdays I have only one class.
As I gather up my belongings, a movement catches my peripheral vision. When I turn, I see is an auburn ponytail disappearing around a corner.
Uh-oh.
My relationship with Viktor happened so suddenly and so intensely that I’ve ignored the possible consequences.
When my phone vibrates, I’m certain it’s Mia. After all, when she was complaining about not having quiet places to study, I told her that the top floor of Schultz was always deserted.
I sneak a look at my phone.
OMG, we need to talk.
I sigh, and put away my phone. Right now, I’m going to spend some delicious time with Viktor. I can worry about Alpha Z tomorrow.
Were you studying too? I ask as we walk from campus. It’s a freezing October night but with Viktor’s arm around me, the weather feels perfect.
No. I had an Athletic Council meeting. Afterwards, I stopped by the library, just in case you were there. Are you working on something?
Yes, an essay for poli sci. But then I got distracted by this book on socialist art in the German Democratic Republic.
He laughs. Only you, Evie. I’ve never met anyone who loves political history so much.
I find comfort in it, I confess. You know how people get so stressed about the news?
I think it’s better to see today’s events in the context of history.
Of course, things seem catastrophic when we’re in the midst of them, but if you can take a longer view, you can see all the ways that people have confronted and overcome worse circumstances.
He doesn’t respond, and I wonder if I’ve gone on too much. Annie tells me I need to stop nerding out about ideas and theories. But isn’t that why we’re at college?
When I look at Viktor, he’s so deep in thought that I’m not sure if he even heard me. Then he stops short and puts his hands on my shoulders.
It’s like you can read my fucking mind, Evie. All the things I never tell anyone. He hugs me tightly, then tilts his head down and kisses me with a tenderness that feels more loving than erotic. For a moment, I think he’s going to share something big, but he gives a little shake of his head.
Is that why you read history books too? I ask.
Yeah. I was ashamed at how little I knew about Ukraine, he admits. And it makes me feel closer to…everyone there.
He must be worrying about his grandmother. His thoughts are miles away. Sure enough, he walks me back to Humphrey without even asking if I want to come over. Obviously, something deeper is bothering him. I wish I could help, even if only by listening.
THE NEXT DAY, I MAKE MY WAY TO THE SORORITY HOUSE, FEELING VERY NERVOUS.
IT’S REALLY A miracle that my relationship with Viktor has flown under the radar this long.
We’ve gone out on dates, but it’s always been just the two of us.
And I don’t wait for him at the arena after games or go to the pub with him, which is the way Viktor’s girlfriends are usually announced.
Maybe I’ve been trying to keep us a secret, aware that things could end at any moment.
But there’s a big Hallowe’en party coming up this weekend at Delta Theta Pi house, and Viktor and I have plans to go.
So everyone will find out about us soon.
My feet drag as I go up to Mia’s room, usually one of my favourite places. I peek inside, where the tasteful Mia indulges her secret tackiness. There are animal prints and glitter collages of her three cats back home.
Oh hey. Come in. Her forehead creases. And maybe shut the door.
I sit on her bed and wait in tensed anticipation. She whirls her desk chair around to face me.
So Evie…have you got anything to tell me?
Like what? I hedge.
Mia frowns. Like, what’s going on between you and Viktor?
Well, it’s hard to define… I begin.
She crosses her arms. I’m not going to play semantic games with you.
We’ve gone out a few times. I’ll tell her about the dates, but I won’t reveal the intimate extent of our relationship.
She’s still glaring at me. Really? I saw you making out in the library.
I crinkle my nose. We weren’t making out.
She leans forward and puts her hands on my knees. Evie, I’m on your side. Talk to me, and we can figure out what to tell Des. Because she’s going to find out, and then the you-know-what is going to hit the you-know-where.
My shoulders droop. Well, everything I told you guys before was true.
Viktor said he never wanted to see me again.
And I respected that. In fact, I tried to avoid him.
Once I saw him in the Union and I hid behind a potted plant!
And sending the varenyky was only a polite thank-you. I never saw him while I was there.
She motions with her hand for me to keep going.
Then he saw me at a hockey game and messaged me.
We went out for lunch. And dinner another time.
And coffee. And we’ve been in his bedroom several times since then, I don’t add.
I clench and unclench my hands, then look up at her.
He’s been really nice. He’s nothing like that horrible guy that everyone described.
The frown doesn’t leave her face. Of course he’s nice.
How do you think he attracts women? He’s charming and sweet and considerate.
And for some women, that’s fine, they can go out with him a few times and have some fun, and that’s enough.
The women who get hurt are the ones who want relationships. And that’s definitely you.
Ugh, I hate being so easily classified as a romantic. But growing up with my love-at-first-sight parents made me believe that people met and mated for life, like pigeons.
He warned me that he was going to hurt me. And I told him that was okay, I confess.
That only shows how inexperienced you are. That’s how guys live with themselves. Mia makes her voice low and mocking. ‘Well, I told her what I was like.’
She blinks her long eyelashes. But breaking up really hurts, Evie. Especially when it’s someone you really care about. You have no idea.
I have no regrets about everything that’s happened with Viktor. And the more I get to know him, the more I like him.
But Mia, I really want to go out with him. Shouldn’t I have a chance?
She scrutinizes me hard, like she’s trying to see into my soul. Then she throws up her hands. Well, you have to get your heart broken at least once. Why not have it done by the best? Besides, dating Vik is an exclusive club for only the very best women.
I tentatively smile at her joke, and she finally smiles back.
What should I do about Des? I ask.
You have to tell her, Mia says.
Do I? She said that the whole revenge thing was over.
Yes, but it’s so… Mia doesn’t even have the words, and neither do I. Honestly, I did worry about this initially, but then I got distracted by all the sex.
Ugh. Let me think about this. She yanks at her hair and scrunches up her face like a troll, but since she’s Mia she only looks adorably worried.
Finally, she nods her head. Okay, I’ve got an idea.
First off, Des has a new boyfriend now and she probably wants to put this whole Vik thing in her rearview mirror.
We can tell her about Vik asking you out and how you like him now and you want to keep going out with him. So then maybe we can put it to a vote.
I nod. From everything I’ve seen, Alpha Z is big on votes. But do I get a vote? Because if you, me, and Des agree, then we could win.
Mia tilts her head. I think you’d get a vote, but I’m not totally sure. But if Des and I agree, then Jordan will go along with the majority.
Then we both frown at the same time.
What about Angelica? I ask.
She sighs. That’s a lot harder. She really hates Viktor, although I don’t understand what he did to her that was so much worse than anyone else. And you’re not her favourite person either. Des got mad at her for ditching you at that party.
And she didn’t even like me before the party. Look, if she thinks I’m going to get hurt when Viktor dumps me, do you think that would be enough to sway her?
Oooh, you’re good at this, says Mia. Okay, let’s do that good cop/bad cop stuff. I’ll tell everyone your story, like you confessed to me and I’m mad at you. And then we’ll throw you on the mercy of the court.
I rarely understand all Mia’s idioms, but I know what she wants us to do. She sends out a message to the group chat. Everyone is around, so they agree to meet in half an hour. Meantime, Mia and I practice getting my doomed love story straight.
Then it’s showtime. The Revenge Squad meets once more in the small parlour with everyone looking mystified.
So what’s this about? Des asks.
Mia begins. Well, I have good news and bad news. The good news is that our original plan and all our hard work paid off. Vik did end up asking out Evie. And now they’ve gone out several times.
Everyone turns to gawk at me. I square my shoulders and try not to show my nervousness.
Why didn’t you tell us the moment he asked you out? Des demands. We could have game-planned it.
Mia slides in. As my little sister, she told me.
And honestly, I didn’t think it would work out.
Sure, we did a ton of work on Evie so she looks great, but inside she’s still as awkward and na?ve as when she walked in here.
She confessed that she forgot all the lines we taught her when they actually spoke.
So I figured they would be one and done.
Mia apologized to me ahead of time for the mean things she was going to say. But I appreciate all her efforts. She’d make a great asset.
Anyway, I was wrong. Yes, she’s awkward, but they bonded over…what was it again, Evie?
Eastern European history, I reply.
Jordan nods. Yeah, that sounds like Vik. I mean, everyone wants to go to Paris or Rome, but who cares about Moscow or Kiev?
It’s Kyiv actually. I automatically correct to the Ukrainian pronunciation.
Mia rolls her eyes dramatically. See! That’s the nerdy stuff I’m talking about. So, they’ve gone out on two more coffee dates, and guess what happened?
Mia and I wait to see if anyone will hazard a guess or if she’ll have to answer her own question.
The little idiot is crushing on him now, drawls Angelica.
Bingo, says Mia, turning to Angelica. I mean, that’s what you always said, right? That she wouldn’t be able to handle the revenge part of the mission?
Angelica nods. You can’t send in a girl to do a woman’s job.
While I’m fine with Mia’s pre-planned insults, Angelica’s comments make me angry.
Maybe I’m inexperienced with men, but on a human level it seems like these women only saw his surface: an attractive guy, a great hockey player, a team leader.
But even just learning his name should alert anyone to his Ukrainian background and his concern about the war there.
So, what’s going to happen now? Jordan asks.
Mia shrugs with casual indifference. She wants to keep dating him, so I say why not? After all, how long can it last?
Angelica turns to me. When we originally planned this thing, you said you weren’t willing to have sex with him. Now that you’re into him, has that changed?
Luckily, the mere mention of Vik and sex makes me blush immediately, painting me as nervous and virginal, even though I’m now only one of those things.
I would never have sex with someone I didn’t truly care for, I state truthfully.
Angelica snorts. Well, we all know how highly sexed Vik is. That’s not going to fly with him.
Jordan looks skeptical. Wait, you mean you guys haven’t done anything yet?
I blush even harder. We kissed. And much, much more, I add silently.
Oh, and one kiss was enough to make you fall head over heels, Angelica mocks.
So, can we put this to a vote? Mia steps in again. Does everyone agree that it’s okay for Evie to date Viktor, exclusive of the whole revenge plot?
Des, who has hardly reacted this whole time, finally chimes in. I’m good with it. But Evie, when he does hurt you, please don’t come to us for comfort. You were warned.
I nod. And I’m really grateful for everything you guys did to boost my confidence.
And make you look human, Angelica mutters.
Jordan raises her hand. I vote yes. Because Vik is smoking hot, so why shouldn’t Evie get a turn? Plus it’s good for the reputation of Alpha Zeta Mu to attract the best men.
I don’t think it will last, so why not? Mia turns to Angelica. What say you?
She gives a dramatic shrug. Well, I don’t know how we can stop her. My parents forbidding me to date someone never stopped me.
Angelica pauses dramatically while I hold my breath.
She eyes me as if she can see right through to the intimate times I’ve spent with Vik, to how much I already care about him.
Angelica may be the only one here who suspects that what I only hope in the most secret part of my brain: that my relationship with Viktor might have a future.
But that’s what everyone here thought at one time.
Fine. Let’s see what happens, Angelica says dismissively.
Then it’s unanimous. Evie can date Viktor, Mia concludes. Thanks, everyone. Meeting adjourned.
Everyone disperses. Mia walks me to the door and gives me a big hug. You got your wish, Evie. I just hope you don’t regret it.