telling the truth?, clarebear!

October 8, 2011 @ 12:16 P.M.

It was a little chilly outside and Evelyn Leigh was fighting the urge to turn tail and run back inside, where a bowl of hot ramen and her Scentzy were waiting to take her away from the pungent smells that were threatening to take over her heightened senses. She may have only been four weeks pregnant, but, she was already getting morning sickness, and she could only claim food poisoning for so long before her parents started to question her motives for signing up for The Vow. Tugging her hair into a low ponytail as she exited her 2010 Kia Soul and started walking to the front gate. She had forgotten her scarf at home, so the nineteen-year-old tugged her jacket closer to her, feeling the slight bump of her forming baby against her hands.

It was only a faint bump against her hand, but, she could tell that it hadn't been there the week prior. Evelyn knew it would only be a matter of time before she would have a definite bump to start hiding from her family, and until she was married, she would just continue to just cover it up with her loose peasant tops. At least it was working for the time being, as her father had stopped asking about how she was feeling, and her mother had yet to notice her weight gain. Sighing, Evie let her hands drop in her pockets as she walked into the fairgrounds. It was nearing the time she was supposed to meet her best friend by the ferris wheel, and it was going to take a lot of nerve to tell the blonde that she was pregnant and that the father had left her high and dry without so much as a "I'll help when I can". Standing in line, she was sort of zoned out when she felt her best friend tap her on the shoulder.

Ann pulled up to the fair grounds in her car and parked in a parking spot closest to the fair grounds - a handicapped space. "You shouldn't waste a handicapped parking space when someone else might need it - someone who may be able to hear, but can't see. Or even someone who needs to use a wheelchair. Considering I can walk and talk and see, you're just taking advantage of this 'close, free parking' thing," Clare rambled. It was, of course, followed by an eye roll. She almost left the house in different clothes, but her mother stopped her. Her mother was also the reason Clare didn't wear makeup, and Ann practically tattled everything to Clare's mother, according to Clare (of course).

Ann tapped Clare's shoulder, and Clare replied by looking at her translator carelessly. "I'll pick you up in two hours," she signed. Clare replied sternly, "No. I'm sure Evie won't mind taking me home. You're free to go. Don't wait up." Clare opened the car door and started to step out before she felt something soft, but slightly hard, being thrown at her. "Sweater," Ann signed. Clare reluctantly put on her sweater before grabbing her phone and stuffing it in her pocket. Ann replied with a thumbs up, and Clare shut the car door before heading onto the fair grounds.

Once she found the ferris wheel, Clare made her way through crowds of silence that seemed almost endless. She tapped Evie's shoulder and waved once she turned around.

Even though Evelyn had had the intention of telling Clare what was going on with her, the moment that blue met green, Evie had the sudden feeling of dread wash over her. What if Clare was just as judgmental as Darren had been? Smiling weakly at Clare, Evie wrapped her arm around the shorter woman's frame, pulling Clare towards her. "It's good to see you, my friend," Evelyn said, facing Clare as the line moved forward. She knew that the blonde was deaf. The two had been friends when it had happened, and Evie had learned sign-language so that they could communicate better. It had been a long going process, and even now, twelve years later, she was having difficulties with it more often than not.

Once they were seated on the ferris wheel, Evelyn looked out over the little town as they raised higher and higher into the air. They kept stopping to let people on and off and it that time, Evie had a chance to think about the best way she was going to tell her best friend that she was pregnant. Scooting over to sit next to Clare, Evelyn unbuttoned her coat and leaned back a second. "Clare. You are the first person I've told about this, and I need you to keep it a secret, at least until after we've been matched and married, okay?"

Not waiting for an answer, Evie reached for Clare's hand and pressed it against the soft swell of her belly. "I'm pregnant Clare."

((Please don't use pink. D: Light colors on light backgrounds hurt my eyes.))

Clare smiled back at Evelyn, but she couldn't help noticing the weakness. Once on the Ferris wheel, Clare signed as she spoke, "What's wrong?" She noticed Evelyn unbutton her coat, and then looked at her lips. Turning to face her friend more, Clare read her lips carefully as she spoke. Secret, matched and married. She thought she had missed something, but before she was able to respond, Evelyn was grabbing Clare's hand and pressing it to her stomach. She bit her lip gently, unsure of what to say.

Clare opened her mouth just slightly as if she was going to say something, but anyone who knew her would know it was just an expression of hers. She breathed in through her mouth slowly before breathing out from her mouth and closing it. She pulled her hand back and placed it in her lap, looking at Evelyn. Clare wasn't judgmental. In fact, she had a very different personality from most people, and they way she saw the world was just ... much more different from what anyone could probably imagine in their "normal" lifetime.

Smiling softly, she looked into Evelyn's eyes and signed as she spoke again. This time, though, her signs were a bit smaller for and more slow for sincerity, and she only hoped her voice sounded the same way as she wanted it to sound. She sometimes wished she could hear her voice, as she had once read people's voices changed as they grew up. She also wondered what her mother's sounded like now and if it had changed, and even Evelyn's. Then there was the occasional thought concerning Ann's voice every now and then. "I'll be the godmother, right?" She tried to sound as supportive and sincere as possible. She knew Evelyn knew her well and (hopefully) knew she didn't mean any harm. She was going to be there for her as much as she could.

Evelyn was finally glad to have told someone her secret. A weight felt like it had been lifted off her shoulders as she sat back against the ferris wheel seat and sighed. She knew that Clare would be there for her, and if all else failed and she was kicked out of the house, perhaps she and Clare could move into an apartment together. Hearing her friend's voice, Evie looked over at the blonde and smiled, reading the girl's hand signs as well. Scooting over so that they were facing each other better, Evie used her hands as well as her voice to answer Clare. "Of course you'll be the godmother Clare. I couldn't think of anyone else I'd rather have raise my child if something happened to me. God knows that Darren won't."

Looking out at the Fair below, Evie suddenly felt a hunger pain strike in her abdomen. A growl soon followed. Looking over at Clare, Evie smiled. It was such a lovely fall day, and the brunette was finally happy with her life for the time being. She had a best friend who was going to be there for her, a family that loved her even though she moved home in the middle of the semester, and a baby that was going to change her life for the better. Speaking again, Evie asked, "How does a funnel cake sound? I'm hungry."

Clare smiled when Evelyn agreed. "Darren's so dumb to realize he's missing out on something great," she replied, wrapping her arms around her friend and hugging her tightly. After a moment, she pulled away slightly and faced her friend more. "I'll always be here for you." she signed with a smile, her lips moving as she signed it. They were best friends, after all, and what kind of a person would she be if she left her best friend because of a mere pregnancy? It wasn't as though they hadn't been through worse, and Evelyn could guarantee Clare wouldn't speak a word of it to anyone else because it was a secret, not exactly because her mother and Ann would flip about it. That was one thing Clare didn't need happening for sure, and as long Evelyn kept things on the down low at least until Clare moved out, things would go well. However, if anything did happen that made Evelyn need to move out, Clare would be all for moving into an apartment with Evelyn.

"A funnel cake sounds great!" Clare replied, smiling. "Just don't tell Ann or my mom," she added soon after. She was hungry, too, and eating something like a funnel cake wasn't super healthy like what she was served at home, and it was nice. She'd missed the taste of something delicious like a funnel cake, as the last time she'd had one was a year ago. Grinning, she felt a little brave. "We could order two, too. You know, just to splurge. Especially since you're feeding two now." She smiled and patted her friend's abdomen gently, knowing Evelyn would need to get used to it as time progressed. Clare knew her friend's abdomen would grow bigger over the months, which meant a lot of tummy-rubbing from Clare, who loved babies.

At that moment, Evelyn realized that Clare didn't even know who Darren was, and as far as the brunette was concerned, it was going to stay like that. As long as he stayed in Ohio and didn't have some change-of-heart, Evie was going to be fine. Leaning into the hug, Evie was grateful to have such an understanding friend in Clare. They'd been friends since elementary school, and Evie was grateful that this friendship had lasted so long. Not like the one she'd shared with Joey Ruiz for such a short amount of time. It still hurt to think about how Joey had left her in the cold, standing in the snow, waiting for her father to come pick her up after the Colts winning home game. Shaking herself mentally, the brunette forced a smile that she knew didn't reach her eyes. Sighing, Evie said, "I know you will, Clarebear. That's why you're my best friend." She could feel a set of tears welling up in her eyes as she signed using Clare's nickname that they had come up with when they were little.

As soon as they were back on the ground, Evie wrapped her arm around Clare's elbow and they walked like that to the funnel cake stand. Standing in line, Evie reached into her purse and pulled out her wallet. Hearing Clare mention Ann and Tiffany, Evelyn's nose wrinkled in distaste. Everyone who knew Evie knew that she didn't like Tiffany for being over protective of Clare, and she liked Ann worse for being TIffany's little minion. If Evelyn had had her way, Clare would have come to Ohio with her when Evie had gotten into the fashion design program there. Looking up at her best friend, Evie said, "As if. You're staying with me tonight. And I forsee two pizzas in our futures. Pepperoni for you, and Meat Lovers for me." Chuckling, Evie paid for the one funnel cake and looked over at the tables as Clare rubbed her belly.

Dear God that was going to get annoying. But, if it was friends and family, Evie was going to tolerate it (as much as she could, anyway). Walking over to the tables, Evie sat the funnel cake in between them and started to eat. "I think that having a burger after this sounds like splurging, don't you?"

"I know you will, Clarebear. That's why you're my best friend," Evelyn replied. Clare frowned, noticing her eyes. She wiped her friend's tears with the end of her sweater sleeve, trying to be comforting. If she needed to cry, Clare would be there for her like she always was.

It was easier to understand what Evelyn said for Clare; because they'd grown up together, she had to learn to read Evelyn's lips so they could communicate, mostly because Evelyn didn't learn sign language right away. It was a frustrating and emotional time for the both of them, but they made it, and they were still friends. Clare knew exactly what Evelyn said most of the time, which made her best friend one of the easiest hearing people to communicate with, and she wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

"As if. You're staying with me tonight. And I forsee two pizzas in our futures. Pepperoni for you, and Meat Lovers for me." Clare nodded and smiled as her friend ordered and paid for the funnel cake. A funnel cake, a sleepover and pizza? This didn't come often, and if it were anyone else, her mother would disapprove (but that doesn't mean it would stop Clare).

"Pizza sounds perfect," she replied with a smile after sitting down across from Evelyn at the table. She grabbed a piece of the funnel cake with powdered sugar on top and ate it. It tasted delicious - the lust for this pure decadence had built up over time, and she had missed this. Why not splurge? The fair came merely once per year, and time and life was too short to waste it not splurging.

"I think that having a burger after this sounds like splurging, don't you?" After finishing her first bite, Clare nodded. "Let's not forget the fries," she added. She was going to take advantage of this spree. "I'll pay for that," Clare insisted, using facial expressions to show that there was no way her friend could change her mind about it.

And so, that was their day at the fair. Evelyn had a secret, and Clare was there for her friend like always - not that she wouldn't have been. Even if Evelyn had told Clare she had an Ecstasy addiction, Clare would have been there for her no matter what. She would have been hurt, but as long as Evie was willing to try to overcome her addiction and seek the help she needed, Clare would have been on her side one hundred percent like she currently is with Evie's pregnancy.

Their day ended with Clare going to Evelyn's - after eating their juicy burgers, of course. Not all friendships grow old.

-end of thread-