Just in, late night

OMG. Right.

So since my last post on Tuesday it’s basically been late-night gaming, chatting to my girlfriend, trying to get back to normal. And for a few days it actually was normal… until last night.

Because yeah. Evan showed up.

It was about eight-ish. I was literally just about to head out to Paul’s — Xbox, PlayStation, whatever we ended up on — when I hear a knock at the front door. And then, like clockwork, Edwin does the thing:

“Come in.”

Instantly I get that little drop in my stomach. You know when you’re fine and then your brain goes oh… here we go.

I already knew it was Evan, so I go downstairs and there he is — sat in the front room like he owns the place. I walk in and… I actually do a double take.

Because he looked different.

He smiled — not a big grin, just that controlled little shift — and he goes, measured as anything:

“This is my going-out face. Paint and powder. I’m not walking your streets looking like a corpse unless it’s October and people are drunk enough to clap for it.”

I just stood there like… what? Then I kind of laughed and went, “Evening, Evan.”

He didn’t mess about. Straight to it.

“Cancel whatever you’ve got planned,” he says. Calm. Firm. Like it’s not a request. “You’re coming with me tonight. You want answers — you’ll get them. But you’ll listen. And you’ll keep your voice down.”

Then he looks at me, eyes pinned on mine, and adds, quieter:

“If you’ve got questions, bring them. I’ll tell you what I can. What I won’t do is watch you panic yourself stupid in this house.”

So I’m like, “I was going Paul’s.”

And he just pauses — that slow, patient pause he does — then says:

“We do this now. Tonight I’m free. Tomorrow I may not be. Choose.”

So… yeah. Choice.

I pull my phone out, text Paul: Can’t make it. Something’s come up. And then I went with him.

That’s all I’ve got time for this morning. I’ve only just got back — like, two hours ago maybe — and I can’t sleep. Head’s still spinning.

But I’ll give you a proper rundown tomorrow morning.