shaolina | Evermore, chapter 6 part 1 (transcript) (Reply)

In which Miles pisses me off.

(The recording thing didn’t go as planned so I’m going to write what I said in the first half. )

Now before I begin with this chapter I want to discuss my view on sex in books: I don’t mind it at all. I can and have read through sex scenes before. I can mention several books I love where sex happens: Stardust, Good Omens and Soulless.

Also teens talking about it doesn’t shock me. Sex is one of those topics I believe should be talked about and I have with my sister . So nobody can accuse me of me hating this chapter on the grounds that I’m asexual. Asexuality is the lack of sexual attraction not the hatred of sex.

All I ask of this book or any book or any book when it comes to sex is:

Make sense in story. Don’t just add it for giggles.
Make sense with the characters
Be well written
(For bonus points) Be funny or clever

I don’t mind if Damen and Ever do it or not by the end of the novel, but if they do I want them to have these points. But after this chapter I have no faith. Then again I’ve been wrong before. Now on to the story!

Previously in Evermore: Ever’s wonderful friends invited Damen to her house even though she has stated she wants to avoid the guy. They are selfless like that.

Now this chapter starts with school being over. On her way out Ever encounters Damen who tells her he can’t make it. Ever is pretty much “Ok, no problem about it.” However Miles is seeing this scene from the parking lot and is not pleased.

He asks her what happened with a glare. Ever gets defensive and says he cancelled and that it wasn’t her fault. At this point I want to say that he was waiting Ever because she is going to take him home. Ever is doing him a favor spending gas on the guy so he doesn’t have to walk home or wait for his parents or something.

Miles then sighs and says “Please don’t get mad” And you know that nothing good follows that sentence. It’s like somebody saying “Please don’t get offended” before saying something extremely offensive. And I did get mad by the way, Godzilla size even. But hey, maybe I’m in the wrong here.

"For one thing, you're completely knock-down, drag-out
gorgeous-at least I think you might be, because it's really
hard to tell when you're always hiding under those ugly
stretched-out hoodies. I mean, sorry to be the one to say it,
Ever, but the whole ensemble is completely tragic, like
camouflage for the homeless, and I don't think we should
have to pretend otherwise. Also; I hate to be the one to
break it to you, but making a point to avoid the completely
hot new guy, who is so obviously into you, is just weird."

Thank you Miss Noel for that insight into your character. Because Ever is not just pretty, she’s gorgeous. How else could she stand next to Damen, after all. And I don’t mind pretty characters, but this is not the first time the author feels she has to explain that Ever is the most beautiful girl in class, but her misery makes her hide her shinning looks under the dreaded hoodie. Even though hoodies are not that bad. I wear hoodies when it’s cold and I’ve had boyfriends. Ever biggest hurdle in looks is her personality. She’s miserable and people don’t usually date miserable people, much less self imposed misery.
At what point did Damen stated he was into Ever? Or showed he was? He arrived yesterday so they’ve barely talked and the conversations they’ve had are pretty normal except for the fact he feels its necessary to invade her personal space. Also he cancelled without an explanation nor a reschedule. What, does Miles thinks Damen read “the rules of dating” and figured he was being too easy and is waiting by the phone all alone for her phone call just to say he’s too busy?
If he likes her then let her be. She’s obviously doing something right since she accomplish something you two are trying too hard to get and failing. Stop trying to change her for a guy! Change is something that should come from oneself for oneself.
Just because he might like her doesn’t mean she has to like him back. But no, that’s not right because he’s just that hot. Which bring me to the next quote:

He stops long enough to give me an encouraging look, as I
brace for what's next. "Unless-of course-you're gay."

Yeah, because Damen is so hot that either you worship him or your gay. Never mind that the spectrum of like is as big as the world itself and nobody can fit it completely. All sorts of people like all sorts of people. Some girls prefer tall guys, or artistic guys or thin guys or sensitive guys. Others have a certain skin color or eye color or body part that just melts them. Also there are other sexualities where Damen wouldn’t fit like asexuality and pansexuality and people with fetishes that would clash with Damen. Ever even points out:

But I just shake my head and hit the brake. Just because I
m not interested in Damen doesn't mean I'm gay," I say,
realizing I sounded far more defensive than I intended.
"There's a lot more to attraction than just looks, you know."

Although the author ruins it by following it with:

Like warm tingling touch, deep smoldering eyes, and the
seductive sound of a voice that can silence the world

Can I just say what’s up with the word smoldering and this book?! It shows up in every chapter. Is this a running joke like Psych and pineapples? Am I supposed to spot the smoldering?

Anyway, sensing that I’m not pissed enough yet, Miles follows that up with this lovely quote:

"Is it because of Haven?" he asks, not buying my story.
"No." I grip the steering wheel and glare at the light, willing
it to change from red to green so I can drop Miles off and
be done with all this.
But I know I answered too quickly when he goes, ''Ha! I
knew it! It is because of Haven-because she called dibs. I
can't believe you're actually honoring dibs! I mean, do you
even realize you're giving up a chance to lose your virginity
to the hottest guy in school, maybe even the planet, all
because Haven called dibs?"

I have no words yet so many words about what’s wrong with that!

She stated before the dibs came into play that she doesn’t want to do anything with the guy. Stop forcing her.
So what if she’s honoring dibs! As much as I hate Haven, she did let her feeling known. As her friends you should respect that and aim to avoid hurting her. Why are you trying to put these two girls in a situation that will end in hair pulling and eye scratching. I swear this guy thrives in the misery of these two for lulz.
Why are you treating sex with Damen as the highest honor anyone could aspire to? Three days ago this guy wasn’t even in your mind and there might be other guys or things that would be better. Looks alone does not establish the end all and be all of things.
Does the author realize that by writing that she has reduced Damen’s character to just being smoldering. Miles gives no other incentive to give this guy a chance. He didn’t find him funny or smart when he talked to him.
How dare Ever not loose her virginity , if she has it, to the hottest guy at school. What better way is there?! To somebody you love? Ha! That’s just stupid. How dare she waste this chance. She should just spread her legs and tell Damen to put his smoldering penis into her smoldering vagina so they can have smoldering sex until the smoldering hours of the night. (No, I am not letting that word go!)
Why is Ever being a doormat?! Tell him to get off your car right now woman! He’s not treating you with respect. He’s not trying to understand your feelings or views, but shove his down your throat for his amusement. She should just tell him: “It’s my fucking problem if I want to fuck him or not so leave me alone you fucking asshole” or something like that.
Finally, what makes me feel most mad is that we’re supposed to take Miles side. We’re meant to agree with this jackass. Be at bated breath over these two lovebirds just getting together even though there’s no real reason as to why. I’ve quoted all their talks, is there anything in there that would be the founding blocks of a relationship?

Well I feel better. But really, am I wrong at being mad at this guy? I don’t think so. Anyway, until next time this is Shaolina signing out.