⎾ CLEVER ⏌

[xDarkWinterx]

Evie haven't eaten much that morning, let alone during lunch. It was the middle afternoon, and almost nearing dinner time. The idea of finger foods did not excite her. Sure it seemed stringy to her, but she knew it was more of a mingling party not a family sit down. Evie couldn’t help herself, the idea of having a party with barely any food to offer didn’t help her mood.

Keeping her figure wasn’t hard, but she wasn’t about to starve herself. Evie watched as Ben finished off his wine glass and came around the counter. She took note of his outstretched hand. Evie slipped off the bar stool, taking his hand as she let him lead the way out of the basement.

As they reached the landing, Evie took her time not wanting to be spotted. She followed after Ben, as she held onto his hand. Upstairs, Evie could hear people moving around as well. She remained quiet not wanting to draw attention to themselves. Evie followed after Ben, as he lead her to the garage.

She looked around, as they entered the garage. Evie didn’t really care too much about ruining her dress. She shrugged it off mostly, as she followed Ben toward his car. Evie walked toward the passenger side, waiting as Ben unlocked the car. She thanked him as he opened the door for her. Evie slid into the car, as she moved her dress not wanting to sit on it and rip it. She relaxed into the seat, as she moved to pull her seatbelt on.

Sitting in the car, Evie watched as Ben went around the car and slipped into the driver’s seat. She waited while Ben started the car up. Evie glanced around a little in the car, it was what she would call fancy. Sport cars weren’t her thing then again, neither were many other cars. She never understood the appeal men had for their cars.

Driving out of the car, and around the house. It seemed there were a few people who might take notice of them escaping but none did. Evie relaxed once they were out of the driveway and heading down the road.

 

[Pure Acid Dreamer]

Making their way through the mansion was the easy part. From what he could tell almost none of the attendees other than themselves were inside, and the staff weren't paid to care what they did. When they reached the garage, it amused him that she seemed to care so little about ruining her dress. The more he came to know her, the more he enjoyed her company. He could go on for ages about how refreshing it was to meet someone that wasn't such a stereotype to their wealth.

Opening the garage door, he eased his way down the driveway. Like Evie, he worried about being spotted so he took his time. It would be unfortunate to make it this far only to be stopped. He watched the people come and going, moving when he had the chance. It felt like hours before they were far away enough to accelerate. But when he was, he took the chance and ran with it. His foot pressing down on the gas pedal. Steadily the needle rose as they practically flew down the lengthy driveway.The joy ride however did not last. As they approached the iron gates baring the family name, he slowed back to a crawl. The gates unlocked as they drew closer, swinging out towards them.

With a quick glance to his left, then his right, Benjamin pulled out into the street. In the rearview mirror he saw no one behind them and recognized none of the cars coming down the street. They had done it! They were out of the house and away from that stifling sham of a party. He grinned over at Evie for a moment as he sped down the street. There were some cars coming and going, but not enough to be a problem. Reaching between them he turned on the radio. The DJ chattered on for a minute or so before fading into Ellie Goulding's Lights. He continued on until hitting their first red light.

 

[xDarkWinterx]

Looks were deceiving. Evie had grown up rich, however money wasn’t everything to her. She liked the thought of it, but didn’t find it to be a necessity. Evie had worked hard to get where she was. She had even earned herself a scholarship to Columbia School of Physicians and Surgeons. Evie didn’t boast about her wealth however after all it could be gone with only a few slips.

As they drove down the long driveway, Evie couldn’t help her own fears as she worried they would be caught. She knew her mother wouldn’t be to happy about her running off especially with Benjamin. They weren’t even married and were already sneaking around.

Once they were at the gates, it helped her to relax. Evie watched as Ben took his chance once the gates were opened. She breathed a sigh of relief she hadn't realized she was holding in. Evie glanced out the window at the passing cars, not fearing them. They were on the road moving away from their family. She glanced toward Ben as he turned on the radio.

The chatter changed to a song that she liked. Evie couldn’t help but hum a little. She didn’t have faith in her own voice to sing along but she couldn’t help but hum to it. Evie looked out the window and moved to roll it down. She enjoyed the feeling of the wind blowing through her hair.

 

[Pure Acid Dreamer]

Driving down the driveway was exhilarating. He hoped his brothers witnessed the moment their parents found out he had escaped and he wasn't alone. They weren't married, not even so much living together. Yet here they were, out on the town like it was their last night of freedom. When they reached the streets he dared go a bit faster, turning on the radio and just enjoying the free air.

As they approached a red light, he glanced over at Evie and heard her humming along. He smiled at her image. Red hair blowing wildly in the breeze. He didn't say it out loud but he thought she looked beautiful. After rolling down his own window, the light soon changed and he continued down the street.

"How long do you think we have until they start looking for us?" he asked curiously. Benjamin wasn't too worried about what might happen. It was bound to happen at some point tonight. Although it would be a shame if they were found out sooner rather than later. After all if he was going to be spending this time to get to know his bride he'd rather take his time in doing so. He doubted they would be able to talk much if they were forced back to the party.

 

[xDarkWinterx]

Evie knew it wouldn’t be long before her mother started looking for her. She was very protective of her children, even though her younger siblings were usually who should be worried about. Evie hated to imagine her brother and sister getting into trouble, after all they usually did, or they tattled to their mother about her. Even though she no longer lived with her parents, there was never a moment she didn’t feel as if she didn’t. Her mother usually stopped by at least once a day to check on her, even if it meant at home or called during school.

It worried her to think about getting married. After all she wasn’t worried for herself but more for Ben. Evie hated the idea of her mother showing up out of the blue as she usually did. She only hoped it didn’t scare Ben away. Evie was already thinking of the inevitable. They were arranged to get married but that didn’t mean Ben had to marry her, it was merely a choice.

Her mind was a little occupied, she barely noticed Ben speaking toward her. It pulled her out of her thoughts. Evie smiled glancing toward him and laughed softly. She tried not to let her thoughts of her mother, ruin the moment. She turned her attention back toward Ben, ”Oh not long.” Evie teased but meant every word of it. She enjoyed the feeling of the wind blowing through her hair. It didn’t bother her, it was giving her a chance to just be herself in the company of a man she barely knew but hoped to learn more about.

 

[Pure Acid Dreamer]

If Evie's mother was anything like his own, they likely would not have much time to themselves. Elizabeth G. Davis was protective of her boys. Even when she was busy, she would put potential nannies through hell to ensure their safety. If no such nanny existed to fit her preferences, they were often left with Elizabeth's own mother. Whom they often referred to as Nana Petrov. The boys spent a lot of time with their maternal grandmother. While his fathers' parents helped a lot as well, it was mostly through Nana Petrov that they learned to read, write, and speak Russian. She would tell them of the old country in her native tongue, often explaining in great detail of their heritage, and how she longed to one day return to Mother Russia and show them her old stomping grounds.

As the boys grew older they were given a bit more freedom but still saw their old grandmother from time to time. As Benjamin was the oldest, he was given the most freedom. He became less interested in his grandmothers stories of the cold war and more interested in hanging out with his friends. Though there were times his parents wanted him to stay home and he would have to get creative. It didn't always work. His brothers were just as clever and had no problems with throwing one another under the bus. He imagined this time would be no different. After all, tonight's party was all about the "lovely couple".

Benjamin had mixed feelings about their upcoming nuptials. On the one hand, he knew next to nothing about his bride. While on the other he just wanted to get it done and over with. After twenty years of waving it in his face, he was tired of hearing about it. He often wondered if it was the same for Evie. They were strangers tied together by an unfortunate string of fate. One word to either of their parents was all it could take to either make or break their relationship.

As he drove on he couldn't help asking for her opinion. He watched her smile and turn towards him. He then turned attention back to the road but could feel her gaze still upon him. He grinned as she teased him. He didn't think talking about their family would ruin the moment. A bit the opposite. It amused him to think how they would react when they learned of their great escape. It brought him joy to think how much he "ruined" the whole evening by leaving so suddenly. The farther they drove from his family's house the better he felt. He was looking forward to getting to know his not-so-distant-future bride. He smirked back at her and all he said was, "Good."

Benjamin continued to drive through the near empty streets. He made a few turns here and there, and was soon pulling into the lot of the diner. The two of them were most certainly over dressed. But he didn't care. What mattered now was he was out of the party and could get his hands on food that wasn't caviar, and thinly sliced cheese. Putting the car in park, he cut the engine, and unbuckled his seat belt. Slipping out of his seat, he shut the door behind him. He walked around the front to wait for Evie to join him. When she shut her door, he set the alarm and locked his car. Out in public he was unsure if she would want to hold his hand or even act as though they were a couple. So he didn't bother. Instead, he politely motioned her forward, and held the door for her as they entered the quaint restaurant.

 

[xDarkWinterx]

The idea of marriage never bothered her. She had seen her parents who were arranged to be married form a perfect bond. Sure there were time they would argue but she could see they were happy together. Evie wondered though if their marriage would be one of chaos. She didn’t want to be with someone she could never learn to love. Evie wanted to be happy, but not with someone who didn’t want her. She didn’t get that vive off of Ben, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t hiding it.

Evie wanted to be able to get to know Ben as well. However they couldn’t really get to know one another, if they were constantly being watched. She would only feel conscious of herself if they did. Evie didn’t like to talk too much about herself. She didn’t find that she was all that interesting.

Silence spread through the car as Ben continued to drive. Evie didn’t mind the silence, she enjoyed the sounds of the streets and the radio. She wasn’t one to force herself to make conversation. It didn’t take long to get to the diner. Evie waited for Ben to park the car and get out. She moved unbuckling herself and joining him at the head of the car. The idea of being touched didn’t bother her. Evie had never really been in a relationship before. Sure she had highschool crushes as well as boys asking her out left and right. She had just never took them up on the offer.

Evie followed Ben toward the door. She pulled on it entering the diner. Evie looked around feeling eyes on her, especially knowing she was overdressed. She didn’t mind, as she continued to moved through the diner toward a booth. Evie ignored the odd looks, as she took a seat. She sat there contently as she looked around.

 

[Pure Acid Dreamer]

At the moment Benjamin had no reason to hide. What Evie was seeing was all him. Although he did not know much about her, he felt no reason to be weary of her. A bit quiet, but he was sure that might change once they sat down and had a moment to themselves. Benjamin soon pulled in to the diner. A small lot with an even smaller building with just enough people minding themselves to not even worry about how much they stood out. He parked in the first open spot he came across and cut the engine. Stepping out, he waited for Evie to get out as well. Together, they walked up the small path to the door. He held the door for her and soon followed in behind her.

Inside, there was a small buzzing, an almost hushed silence as they walked in. Benjamin could see a few heads turned towards his fiance. He knew they were both overdressed and he didn't blame the men for staring. After all, Evie was stunning tonight. He followed her through the diner, feeling a bit smug. He sat across from her as she soon chose a place for them to sit. Plucking a menu from behind the salt and pepper shakers he passed one to Evie and another for himself. "Feel free to order whatever you want. It's on me." he said before bending his head to look over the items carefully. After all the times he had passed this place he hadn't eaten there often so he wasn't entirely familiar with the choices. He knew there to be plenty of breakfast choices as well as a few burgers. But the rest was a complete mystery to him.

 

[xDarkWinterx]

Feeling eyes on her, Evie didn’t mind. She was used to the stares even in high school. Evie had always felt men watching her. She had always been told she was beautiful, but didn’t let it cloud her head. Evie didn’t want men to like her for her body, after all a relationship like that could only go far. She wanted a man to appreciate her mind too the most. Sitting across from Ben, she thanked him as he handed her a menu. Evie opened it looking it over. She knew that Ben had talked about the idea of pie and coffee, but that just seemed boring. Evie wanted something more, as she hadn’t eaten since this morning that was just a granola bar while she was running between classes. The idea of a burger didn’t sound good to her, right now she had a craving for chocolate chip pancakes with whip cream on top. Evie looked up at Ben as he spoke, she nodded. She continued to look over the menu seeing if something else changed her mind.

 

[Pure Acid Dreamer]

It was funny really. Evie wasn't the first woman he'd made every person in the room stop what he was doing. But she was the prettiest. Benjamin paid no mind to the other patrons as they walked by. He knew how much they stood out and frankly he didn't care. After settling in the seat and grabbing a menu he looked over the items. He wasn't really feeling up for breakfast food nor did he want some heart attack on a bun burger either. He smiled at Evie before they both ducked their heads to look things over. As he was reading, a young woman came over with a pad and pen in hand. When asking for a drink order, Benjamin ordered himself a sweet tea with lemon. He glanced at Evie, curious as to what she might order. He took note to ask her later what sort of foods and drinks she preferred. He took another minute going over the menu before finally deciding on the days special - chicken and dressing. He set his menu aside and leaned forward, placing his elbows on the table. He didn't care if the table was a bit greasy or that it might ruin his suit. He could replace it if it was that important. He looked towards Evie, taking in her features. He would admit she was very beautiful. But looks weren't all he was interested in. He wanted to know what she was thinking, her interests, if she preferred show tunes over modern radio. The little things.

 

[xDarkWinterx]

While looking over her menu, she made a decision as their waitress came over. Evie closed her menu setting it aside. She smiled up at the lady, as she waited while Ben ordered his drink. Evie ordered herself a sweet tea as well, minus the lemon. She didn’t like lemon all that much in her tea. Evie also decided on the chocolate chip pancakes with whip cream as planned. After the waitress took their orders, she returned her attention back toward Ben. Evie could fell Ben staring a little which didn’t bother her. She crossed her arms as well leaning on the table. ”See something you like?” Evie teased as she watched Ben. She couldn’t help but tease him. Evie was curious as well what things Ben liked and didn’t like. It was the perfect time to just sit and get to know one another without the hassle of their families breathing down their necks.

 

[Pure Acid Dreamer]

Benjamin was silent as he folded his menu closed. He watched Evie curiously as the female looked over the various items. As their waitress came over, he watched her light up and recite her own drink order. The woman smiled back, taking down their orders, and soon leaving them in peace. He leaned forward, looking at her even more closely. His head was abuzz with questions, but he wasn't sure which to ask first. Benjamin focused his attention on Evie as she too leaned forward. He smirked as she teased him. "Would you be mad if I said I did?" he teased back. He studied her closely, there was no denying her beauty. But there was more he wanted to know. "So, do you plan on telling me anything about yourself? Or I have to guess?" he continued. Although there was much he desired to know. He wondered if there was anything Evie would prefer to keep to herself. After all, what would be the fun in learning some things about one another if they laid all their secrets out here and now. He wanted to take his time getting to know her. Well, at least as much time as their families would allow. For now, he could settle for some more basic details. Her favorite music, her likes, dislikes, and so on.

 

[xDarkWinterx]

Being watched didn’t bother her, after all she couldn’t help but gaze curiously at Ben herself. Evie found that Ben was lovely in his own way. She found that she liked his jawline, it was strong and the brush of stubble against it suited him as well. Turning her attention back to Ben, she couldn’t help but tease him. Evie smiled lightly as Ben seemed to tease her back. She shook her head, ”Not in the slightest. “ Evie spoke watching Ben as she sat there. She listened as she spoke questioning her in return. Evie grinned lightly at an idea, ”Yes, and no. Only if you give me information in return as well.” She spoke as she watched Ben. Evie didn’t mind talking about herself, but what would be the point if she told Ben everything. ”How about game of twenty questions?” She asked curiously, figuring they could both offer up some questions they wanted to know about the other.

 

[Pure Acid Dreamer]

Benjamin didn't mind being watched either. Although he may not get as many looks as Evie. From time to time he would catch someone staring. He was long used to it and sometimes hardly even noticed. He smiled coyly as he watched her shake her head and soon reply. He continued himself, hoping to pry a bit of information out of her. There was much he wanted to know, just as he was sure there was much she would want to know about him. Benjamin nodded to her request as it seemed fair enough. After all why should he be able to get all the answers and provide none at all? He raised an eyebrow at her next question. "Twenty question....Anything at all? Or are there limits? Mind you we're not playing yet so those two don't count." With twenty questions he should be able to get just enough information to know her on a basic level. But before getting into he wanted to know her limits, if there were any topics she just wasn't ready to open up about herself.

 

[xDarkWinterx]

Most men didn’t find themselves attractive, at least until someone spelled it out for them. Evie didn’t see the need however. She could tell that Ben knew that he had a few handsome qualities. Evie didn’t mind the questions, only if she could ask her own. It would give her a chance to get to know her future husband better. She listened as Ben spoke questioning her, already asking two which apparently didn’t could to Ben. Evie shook her head, ”No limits, ask away.” She spoke figuring what good would it do to have limits. Evie knew if that she held back, then what kind of honest relationship could they ever have.