What makes someone a good friend?

AN

Hello,

I guess I am kinda back? Three years and I am still here! I am terribly sorry for the really long wait! But I have some good news! I wrote down some ideas for this story and I will work them into chapters soon, so I kinda know where this story should go! So the updates won't take so long ever again! Also, this fic is the only one of mine getting that much attention, over 17000 views. That is huge for me! So thank you for that!

I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who stuck with this story and is still interested! I am really grateful for you all! For all the new readers! Hello to you too!

I re-read the story just before typing this new chapter and noticed some errors. My english seems to have improved a bit, what with me studying it now at university :D

But still, I am far from perfect, especially in the grammar section, so sorry for that! Typos etc. are all mine and will be picked up if I have the time!

Thank you so much for your attention and enjoy the new chapter!

Stay safe!

Evie closed her eyes and leaned back against the cold stone wall. She heard the fading sound of footsteps indicating that Jane left. She heard Carlos' frantic yelling as he ran after her. She pressed the back of her head to the wall, trying to focus on the coolness of the stone seeping through her hair, reaching her scalp, cooling her heated mind. Thoughts swirled in her head and she started feeling a bit dizzy. Her hand was still grabbing onto the tissue and when a slight breeze caught the wet tracks of her tears, she opened her eyes and wiped the tears away. She watched the boy in front of her. Jay's back was turned to her and she saw his shoulders shaking slightly. Her eyes scanned his form and she noticed his hands were balled into fists, his muscles were tight with tension. She had seen this stance many times. Back on the Isle of Lost he would always look like that when he tried to intimidate someone, or when they were send out to "pick up" the money. But to see him here, in the castle, a place that was so much safer and better than the Isle, standing like that made her heart heavy. She let out a big sigh, her shoulders sagging a bit und her weight pressed even more on the wall behind her. The boy had heard the sound and turned around, focusing his icy glare on her. But she wasn't to be intimidated by him, she knew him too well. Even though he was an impressive fighter she was secure about her abilities too. She could handle everything he could throw at her with ease.

"You okay?" Jay muttered, his arms crossed over his chest. He looked away.

"Yeah, I guess…" she shrugged, not really sure what he referred to.

"Good! I am glad we talked about this! I really appreciate your sacrifice by the way. I guess I could show Carlos some moves and help him with his fighting skills before I leave. So when you eventually leave he will be fine on his own." He said and smiled at her.

She was shocked, the situation with Jane made her forget their conversation before. But now she was reminded of Jay and his stupid idea.

"You still don't get it, do you?" She asked and shook her head in disbelief. How did she never notice that Jay was so stupid? How could she not see how vain and self-centred he was? Because you were just like him… A small voice in her head reminded her and she winced. That was true.

"What do you mean?" Jay faced her again, this time looking her directly in the eyes, trying to intimidate her into agreeing with him. Too bad that two could play that game, she thought and stared right back.

"I don't stay here for Carlos's sake. I am not his bodyguard and I will never be. I am not here to protect him; not like you think. I want to stay because I think it is better for me! Not for him, not for my mother, but for me! For once I really think about me and not about anyone else!" She yelled and took a step forward.

"Carlos is capable of protecting himself! He survived his mother, nothing these people could do will even come close to that! The mere thought of him needing our protection is laughable!" She continued, her mind was full of Carlos and his strength. He survived the torture that was his mother, he was more than capable of fighting for his own. And with Jane by his side he would be unstoppable.

"You are out of your mind!" Jay yelled. "You cannot really consider staying here?"

"I am not only considering it! I already decided! I am staying here. And you are doing the worst job trying to convince me otherwise!" She yelled back and threw her hands in the air, the anger taking full control over her.

"But your life back home-" Jay started.

"Home?!" Evie started to lose her mind.

"What home? You mean the crime infested pile of junk you call an Island? How can that be my home? A home is a place where you feel cherished and loved! I never felt loved there, I felt like a burden! I have no real home!" Tears started to gather in her eyes, and she swallowed.

"You didn't feel loved? What about us? What about Mel and I? Didn't we care about you back there?" Jay started to ball his hands again, taking a threatening step towards the princess.

But Evie wouldn't back down, she stood her ground.

"Do you even hear yourself?" She said.

"You just said that your friend Carlos, who you are supposed to support and love, is a good-for-nothing weakling. You never really loved me or Carlos or anyone for that matter! Only yourself!" She said and pushed herself from the wall.

"I cannot speak for Carlos, but I don't really need you in my life!" She said and walked straight past him.

"Don't you dare walk away from me like that!" Jay yelled turning to her, the rage clear in his face. But Evie didn't care she shrugged and continued walking away from her old life.

Carlos tightened the grip on Janes hand when they entered the Cafeteria. He had opened the door and was met with nearly the whole student body.

"I guess it is prime time?" He said and rubbed the back of his neck, still nervous about the whole situation. He could still see the redness in Jane's eyes and the traces of her tears, and it made his heart heavy seeing the girl like that.

"I guess." She said and turned to him with a little smile on her lips. Her eyes were still sad but he tried to focus on the small sign of happiness.

"Are you ready?" He asked playfully raising their hands in the air. Jane let out a small laugh.

"Bring it on!" She exclaimed and nodded. Carlos let out a little war cry before launching them into the chaos that was the cafeteria life. He heard Jane laughing behind him, following him quickly through the waiting students, he looked back and pointed to the main course queue. Jane nodded and together they made their way through the mass of people. They had to dodge tablets and Carlos had to push Jane a few times to avoid her being hit with some tablet full of juice glasses.

"Who even buys five glasses of juice? Like why one would even do that?" Carlos asked when they arrived at the end of the queue.

Jane laughed loudly, making the students around them stare. Carlos had the instinct to hide, but when he turned to the laughing girl the instinct vanished into thin air. Her eyes were full of life, sparkling with joy and her whole being lit up. His heart was beating faster, and his entire mood brightened just seeing her like this. He tightened his hold on her hand and used their connected hands to pull her closer. He was aware of the people around him and kissed her on her cheek. Her laughter stopped and she looked at him, her face flushed and her eyes shy. Catching her glance, she quickly looked down, her face getting even redder. His heart made another somersault.

He was afraid he overstepped a line. Maybe she didn't want the other people to know about them? Should he keep it a secret? Was he already blowing this? They were only dating for a handful days and he was already making her uncomfortable. His heart sank and the joy he was feeling just seconds ago faded.

But then he felt something squeezing his hand. He looked down and saw Jane's hand still holding his. Her fingers squeezing his, his heart swelling. He squeezed back, a small smile on his face.

"Thank you" Jane whispered so quiet he could barely understand it over the background noise of the cafeteria buzz.

"Always." He muttered back and squeezed her hand again. He felt more than heard her chuckle.

They waited for their turn and ordered the main course, for Jane a spinach-feta-lasagne and for Carlos the chicken nuggets with fries. They made their way through the never-ending stream of hungry students and found a place in the dining hall. They even got a seat on some of the handful small tables. So they could enjoy their dinner alone on a table. They sat next to a window and could see the lights of the city shimmering in the dark sky. Suddenly the lights dimmed and the candles on the tables went on.

Carlos was caught by surprise and nearly spilled his soda making Jane laugh.

"Magic." She reminded him with a wink and the boy flushed. This made her laugh even harder.

"You are cute when you are surprised!" She said. She seemed embarrassed by her own words and her cheeks reddened slightly.

Carlos cleared his throat: "How is you lasagne?" He tried to change the topic.

"Are we now at the point where we talk about the food?" She asked curiously.

"What do you mean?" Carlos asked, clearly clueless.

Jane grinned; her cheeks still flushed. "Well, this is our first dinner date and I read once that you are supposed to talk about the food at some point." She said, her face gaining more colour.

"Our first dinner date?" Carlos repeated slowly. Suddenly the situation hit him. They were sitting together on a table. With food. They even had a candle! Of course, this would count as a dinner date. When he realized that he felt bad. He wanted to make Jane feel special, he wanted to make their first date something special.

Jane noticed how Carlos's face fell slowly, realization dawning in his eyes.

"I blew it, didn't I?" The freckled boy sighed, his shoulders hanging and his face in his hands, his elbows on the table.

"Whaat?" Jane asked, reaching over the table to grab one of his hands. Squeezing it so he would look her in the eyes.

"Why would you say such thing? I love this. Did I blow it?" She asked and watched him intensively.

He gasped and shook his head, making his curls fall into his eyes. He wanted to pull them back but was stopped by Jane holding his hand.

"You love this? This? Us sitting in the old stuffy cafeteria eating cheap cafeteria food. Not that I could afford a fancy restaurant anyway- I guess I couldn't really afford anything fancy… Maybe- "He muttered, his shoulders falling even more, his face darkening with every word. Jane was shocked to see her Carlos like that. Usually the boy was so bright and happy, making her laugh so easily. But now he seemed lost in an endless swirl of negativity. She would not let him drown, not if she could help it!

"Carlos." She said sternly, capturing his eyes and holding his gaze.

"I will say this just once and I want you to remember it for ever: I love this. I love spending time with you, I don't care where! I love to just be with you! I don't need a fancy restaurant! And I happen to love the food that is served here! I also happen to love sitting in our dorm and watching some movie with you! You are never blowing it by trying to make me happy! As long as I can be with you, I am happy so, don't beat yourself up about giving me expensive things!" She squeezed his hand again. He squeezed back and nodded.

"I like spending time with you as well." He said softly and a smile graced his features. Chasing away the darkness that was there just seconds ago.

They grinned at each other before tucking in again, finishing their first dinner together.