Evelyn "Evie" Harper

  The library was as quiet as it always was on a rainy Thursday. I leaned back in my chair behind the circulation desk, staring at the steady drizzle streaking down the window. The faint smell of old books and tea clung to the air, a comforting mix that usually kept me content. Today, though, it only reminded me how dull the day had been.

  I checked the clock again. Five hours until closing. Wonderful.

  The ping of a notification snapped me out of my boredom. I glanced down at my phone and saw the message from our group chat, Bookish & Chaotic.

  Maya: Alright, nerds. When are we meeting up for costumes? We’ve got less than 24 hours till Anime North.

  I smirked, opening the chat. Maya’s energy practically jumped off the screen.

  Jake: You’re acting like we’re presenting at a fashion show. Just say when.

  Maya: This is a fashion show. Our group cosplay is gonna turn heads.

  The chat lit up as I typed my response.

  Evie: Maya, you’ve been preparing for this all year. I think you’ve got it covered.

  Maya: But have I??? Have you tried everything on? Does it fit? Are the wigs styled?!

  Jake: Evie, for the love of all things nerdy, please tell her we’re meeting tonight so she doesn’t combust.

  I couldn’t help laughing. Maya’s enthusiasm was contagious, even if her relentless attention to detail sometimes bordered on overkill.

  Evie: Fine. My place at 7. Bring the chaos, but leave the glitter bombs at home.

  Maya: Yessss! I’ll bring snacks.

  Jake: I’ll bring duct tape for whatever disaster Maya drags in.

  The messages continued to pour in as I set my phone down, a small smile lingering on my lips.

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  This was a tradition—a plan we’d hatched almost a year ago after Maya had convinced us to join her in a group cosplay idea she’d been dreaming up for years. The convention was her Christmas, her Olympics, her everything. And somehow, she’d roped Jake and me into her orbit.

  Despite myself, I was excited.

  I hadn’t done anything like this since before the divorce, and the thought of slipping into a costume, immersing myself in a world of fandoms and creativity, felt like exactly the kind of escape I needed.

  For the first time that day, the hours ahead didn’t feel quite so dull.

  The end of the workday couldn’t come fast enough.

  When the clock finally hit six, I flipped the CLOSED sign on the library’s glass doors and locked them with a satisfying click. The rain had stopped, leaving the streets slick and shining under the glow of streetlights.

  I grabbed my bag from the desk, stuffing my notebook and tarot deck inside before heading out into the damp evening. The air was cool, and the walk home felt quieter than usual, my boots splashing softly through the shallow puddles.

  By the time I reached my flat, the city’s noises had faded into the background—a dull hum of distant traffic and murmured conversations. I unlocked the door and stepped inside, the familiar scent of lavender from the diffuser greeting me like an old friend.

  The flat was small but cozy, a mix of secondhand furniture and personal touches that made it feel like mine. Books lined every available surface, their spines leaning against each other in an organized chaos that only I understood.

  I dropped my bag onto the couch and headed for the kitchen, my stomach reminding me that I hadn’t eaten since lunch.

  Cooking wasn’t exactly my forte, but I could manage the basics. I threw together a quick stir-fry—chicken, veggies, and a generous splash of soy sauce—while humming a song I’d half-forgotten. The sizzling of the pan and the rhythmic chop of the knife filled the quiet space, grounding me after the long day.

  By the time I plated the food and settled at the small dining table, the tension in my shoulders had begun to ease.

  “This is what normal looks like,” I murmured, spearing a piece of broccoli with my fork.

  The warmth of the meal and the soft glow of the table lamp made the flat feel especially comforting. I allowed myself to sink into the moment, savoring the rare sense of peace.

  Halfway through my meal, the doorbell rang.

  I glanced at the clock on the wall. It wasn’t quite seven yet, but Maya and Jake were nothing if not eager.

  “I swear, they don’t know how to wait,” I muttered, wiping my hands on a napkin as I got up to answer the door.

  When I opened it, Maya stood there grinning, a large duffle bag slung over her shoulder. Jake was right behind her, holding a plastic bag filled with snacks and what looked suspiciously like duct tape.

  “Evie!” Maya chirped, brushing past me into the flat. “Tell me you’re ready for this. We’ve got so much to do.”

  Jake gave me a wry smile as he followed her inside. “I told her to wait, but you know how she is.”

  I closed the door behind them, already feeling the chaos they’d brought with them.

  “Make yourselves at home,” I said dryly, gesturing toward the couch. “I just finished eating, so try not to destroy the place before I join you.”

  Maya was already unpacking her bag, pulling out an assortment of costumes, wigs, and accessories with the precision of someone preparing for battle. Jake shook his head, plopping onto the couch and opening a bag of chips.

  This was going to be a long night, but for once, I didn’t mind.