Young Writers Society

"Why are you asking me that?" Jerica grumbled. "You're the one who said it."

"Because clearly you took it the wrong way," Evaline said, feeling the lack of patience return.

"And how exactly was I supposed to take 'stop being Jerica', Eve? Riddle me this."

Evaline almost wanted to laugh. Almost. She had almost forgotten that she told Jerica her name was Eve. Now she was regretting picking that. Why did she picked that? She could have said anything... but maybe this was her way of lashing out against herself. She was always doing that, after all. Lashing out through silent implications.

"My name isn't actually Eve," she said instead with an empty voice. "It's Evaline."

Jerica stared at her blankly for a moment. That... that wasn't an answer. A revelation, sure -- that the ho had been lying to her from the moment that they met. But not an answer. "Okay?"

"...I just thought you should know," Evaline said when it was obvious Jerica didn't know what to say to this. She didn't blame her. "You don't need to call me Eve anymore."

"Okay," Jerica answered tiredly. Eve -- Evaline -- clearly seemed to think that the revelation should mean something. But Jerica was exhausted from the tension between them. "I'll stop being Jerica, and you can stop being Eve."

It was a simple statement, and one that was odd since Eve truly wasn't Evaline's name, but she knew it still prickled her.

Shove it down. Don't let it show.

It didn't matter anyways.

"Yeah. Okay. I'll stop being Eve," she said instead in agreement.

"I can't make any promises about stopping being Jerica," Jerica said. "I didn't lie about my name."

"Okay, fine. Then be Jerica. I don't care," Evaline snapped back.

"Gods, you're so passive-aggressive." Jerica rubbed her face tiredly.

Evaline couldn't stop the weak, mirthless laugh from escaping her throat. She shook her head, glaring at the path in front of them, not letting the words affect her pacing.

"Go ahead. Don't stop. Tell me everything you hate about me," she said lowly.

"And what will that help?" Jerica spat. Part of her wanted to take Evaline up on it. To list off the laundry list of things that were completely and utterly infuriating about her. But it wouldn't improve the situation at all, so what was the point? "I've no interest in trying to hurt your feelings."

Fine. If Jerica didn't want to do it, she would push her to do it. She'd push her to finally accept that she hated her and would be the one to leave.

"Why? Because you're an incompetent assassin who can't finish the job due to your emotions?" she said cooly, with piercing eyes. "Caring about others is what makes you weak, Jerica. You're stronger than that. Let people go. Be angry at me. Tell me everything you hate about me. I welcome it. I know you want to. Just give in to it."

Jerica started to get agitated but calmed the longer Evaline ranted. It was becoming clear that she was trying to provoke Jerica. Which meant that she wasn't going to play a losing game. "You clearly hate yourself enough as is. You don't need my help for it."