Begin Again - Start All Over Differently

She waited outside Caleb's home as Evan parked the car. Her gaze traveled around the small house at the front. Somehow, it was far from what she had thought of it to be. The worn-out paint on the outside walls told the tale of the home. It looked like it had seen many storms.

Since the Precious Four was quite famous and they had even done stage shows had Evelyn automatically believing that all of them were rich enough but Caleb's home didn't compliment her assumption. She did not get much time to observe it as Evan quickly returned.

She walked along with him, making her way inside the house and her face lit up with a smile as her eyes caught the adorable sight of Caleb twirling a little girl, clad in a cute knee-length white frock, in his arms which she presumed to be his sister. She didn't look more than a ten-year-old to Evelyn.

"Hey, happy birthday," Evelyn wished once she reached to Caleb and his sister.

Caleb put his sister down and welcomed Evelyn. "Thanks for coming. We are glad to have you, right,

Avy?" He held his sister's hand as he brought her forward. "This is Evelyn, I told you about. Evelyn, meet Avyanna. We fondly call her Avy."

"Thank you for coming," Avy's lips curled up in a smile as beautiful as her white flowery dress, "help my brother do better in the exams."

Her melodious laughter made Evelyn take a step toward her, bend down and place a quick, soft kiss on her right cheek. "I will."

Caleb asked Evelyn to come along with him in the room beside the Hall to meet his parents.

Meanwhile, Evan held out his hand for Avy to hold and she gladly gave her hand in his. After all, he was her favorite.

"Guess what I have brought for you this time," Evan said, while he picked up his gift wrapped in a blue paper that he had kept on the table.

She covered her eyes with one hand, pretending to guess. That was Avy and Evan's way.

"My favorite cookies?"

"No."

"Um, the Harry Potter series? No, wait but I already have it."

"Right." His slightly shook head on hearing her. Avy loved Harry Potter and her fascination always

amused him.

"I can't guess, GA." Her hand got down as she fiddled with the infinity pendant in sterling silver in her neck.

His mouth curved into a smile watching her doing that. He had gifted her that pendant, months ago.

Knowing that she wore it almost all the time she could, brought him immense joy.

After a couple of moments passed with him adoring her tiny figure lost in thinking about his gift, he let go of her hand that he was holding and placed the gift in her both hands.

The way she unwrapped the gift within seconds conspicuously displayed her excitement. Her eyes twinkled the moment she got hold of her gift.

"A tablet," she murmured before lifting her eyes at him, "thank you."

"Yes, a tablet. Caleb steals your diary to read what you write, doesn't he? From now on, write in this, assign a password to this and your writings are safe."

Avy's smile broadened hearing his reason. "I didn't think of it this way. This sounds so cool. Thank you, GA. This is why I love you. You take care of, my every problem."

Evan enveloped her in a hug, to hide the pain visible in his eyes. 'I wish that was true, Avy. I wish that was true.'

"Hey, guys, what's up?"

Evan let go of Avy when Caleb appeared, gently pushed her closer to Caleb and almost instantly turned around. "I have an important call to make. I'll be back in a while." He dashed out of the house, running away to take some time to wear the mask that had fallen. The mask of happiness!

Caleb and Avy exchanged glances before Caleb took her to the center of the room where her favorite red velvet cake was waiting for her. Avy sat in the chair and her friends sang a happy birthday song, cheering for the birthday girl.

Evelyn stood in a corner, clapping for Avy. Avy was such a lively kid, Evelyn knew just in one meeting. She stole a couple of moments to pray for a beautiful, healthy and exciting life for Avy.

"Cut the cake, Avy," her mother said when Avy sat still after blowing the candles.

Her father also stepped forward. "What happened, Avy?"

"I won't cut the cake without GA."

GA? Evelyn looked around to figure out who was GA. 'What is GA by the way?' She internally questioned herself.

"I am right here." Evan walked in, gesturing Avy to go ahead with the cake cutting.

Avy's face brightened on seeing him and she quickly cut the cake, feeding the first piece to her family and then Evan. Her mother took the cake inside to cut it in pieces and then brought them for Avy's friends.

Meanwhile, Evelyn was still wondering what GA meant. Why would Avy address Evan as GA? Her trance broke with Avy's voice. She looked in front of her and smiled at the little girl who had brought the cake for her. How sweet!

"Thank you," Evelyn said, taking the plate from her hand. She fed Avy a small piece of cake. "Happy birthday, once again!"

Avy blinked in acknowledgment before she ran to her friends, leaving behind a content Evelyn. She comfortably leaned against the wall, taking the cake piece to her mouth.

Her eyes traveled around the room and even in a bunch of people, she caught Evan's troubled stance and she immediately straightened herself. What was wrong?

She was about to make her way towards him when a sudden sound near the door attracted her attention. She glanced at people in the room. Everyone was busy enjoying the party, so she herself decided to check what it was.

As she reached the door, her eyes narrowed at the small red box on the ground. Wasn't it weird? Why would anyone put it there if it was the gift for Avy which she presumed it to be? That sure was weird. She picked it up anyway and walked back inside to hand over it to Caleb since Avy was dancing with her friends.

Caleb looked equally surprised as he held the box in his hand. An anonymous gift? Who could it be?

Had it not seemed suspicious, he would have never opened his sister's gift by himself but the entire situation didn't look normal.

He shifted to the kitchen followed by his parents, Evan and Evelyn. Without wasting a second, he tore the gift paper and opened the box. The box was protecting money inside it. The amount of cash in the box made everyone's eyes widen in absolute shock.

Caleb's parents did not know how to react. None in their familiarity would do that - it was for sure. There was a small pink note in the box. Caleb pulled it, keeping the box on the kitchen slab.

"Keep smiling, Avy." Caleb read aloud before he dropped it back in the box.

Evelyn's eyes lingered on the note for several moments before she heard Caleb expressing his doubts regarding the gift.

"This is not good. I think we should file a complaint and hand over this money to the police station."

His parents nodded in agreement.

"I don't think that's needed," Evan spoke, earning everyone's gaze at him. "No, I mean since Avy's name is mentioned in the note – it could be some well-wisher."

His explanation got Caleb into thinking something and the next moment, he dragged Evan outside.

"What?" Evan escaped his hold and took a long stride ahead before he turned at Caleb.

"Did you -"

"No… no, Caleb. Why would I do that?" Evan interrupted, explaining himself before Caleb could even raise his question properly.

"You very well know the answer to that question, Evan."

Evelyn was at the door when she heard the duo. Had she not heard Caleb that day, she might have never thought that he could get so serious. She had never heard that tone from him – not with her – not with anyone else.

Evan advanced towards Caleb, putting his hand on Caleb's shoulder. "Trust me, I didn't."

Caleb still wasn't convinced but he accepted it for then.

Who could be the anonymous person?