Pairing: Tree Bros (Evan+Connor)
Rating: PG
Genre: Friendship
Universe: Nobody dies
Length: Chaptered
Chapters: [First] [5/Previous] [7/Next]
Notes: I call the chapter the “insanely cool intermission”
[ao3 version]
Summary:“You’re the freak.”
It’s only a second. Between the anxiety that creeps into Evan’s lungs and the cold of the ground, he registers pain in the words. Before he can think- and isn’t that how it always is- he’s stumbling to his feet and through the streams of students flooding the halls to follow Connor.
He’s sick too.
“Yo, Evan.” Jared’s casual greeting does nothing but increase the confusion Evan feels. “I want to talk to you.”
“Yes, just come to my house early on a Sunday, with no warning, uninvited. That’s cool,” Evan thinks when Jared does just that. Instead of speaking he only nods and closes the door while Jared pushes past him and towards the living room.
“So-” Jared spins around, to face Evan- “are you like best friends now?”
“Who?”
“You and Connor. Dude, keep up.”
“I- I guess so?” Evan shrugs. Before he fully thinks the words through- before part of him can argue it’s passive aggressive and mean- Evan speaks again. “S-since he’s my only friend I guess that makes him my best friend.”
Jared visibly deflates. As if somehow that hurt him. Evan doesn’t think it’s entirely fair for him to seem upset over the comment when he’s made it constantly clear that he doesn’t like Evan. That they’re only friends because Jared doesn’t have a choice.
“I- only friend?!”
“Y-Yeah?”
“I’m your friend!”
“You- you only hang out with me because you- because you have to! You always say that what-” Evan takes a deep breath- “where did this come from?”
Evan doesn’t know why they’re arguing. Doesn’t get how Jared can be mad at him. Feels like Jared has no right to be mad at him. If it was anyone else, Evan thinks he would have sunk into himself at the anger. It isn’t anyone else, though. It’s the person who’s made it abundantly clear they aren’t really friends. Who Evan can’t help but be angry is getting mad at him.
“Oh my- family friends are still friends!”
“You- what?! You always say there’s a difference.”
“Different but still-” Jared huffs. “You think I’m not your friend? I was your only friend until recently! Or did you forget that?”
“C-can you actually say that? You- you didn’t even care that I broke my- my arm. You make it- make it so clear that you don’t- that you don’t want to hang out with me. It- it’s only because of your car insurance that you- you do so….” Evan can’t breath. It’s not anxiety, though, for once. His throat is tight and he feels like he’s crying. Knows he’s crying.
“Holy shit don’t- fuck, Evan, don’t cry- you’re- I’m sorry! Okay?!” Jared reaches towards him, but seems unsure what to do. Evan doesn’t know what to do either. “I’m- I was joking! It was a joke, I didn’t think you took it that seriously.”
“How- how could you- you think I don’t take that seriously?!”
Jared can’t seem to answer that. Evan isn’t sure what kind of answer he wants. They’re silent for a long time.
“You’re my best friend,” Jared mumbles, shifting. “Can you… not replace me?”
“I’m not replacing you!” Evan almost laughs. “You’re my only family friend.”
“Oh, ha.” Jared rolls his eyes. “I deserved that, didn’t I?”
“Yes.”
“So… you guys are really friends, huh?”
“Huh? Oh, yeah.” Evan nods, pursing his lips. He doesn’t know where this conversation is going, especially with the argument they just had.
“Well that’s disappointing, I was hoping it would turn out to be a secret homoerotic relationship.”
“Wha- why are you like this?!”
“It’s okay Evan; embrace the gay.”
Evan would like to believe his most comedic action in his entire life was at this moment. When he hugged Jared. “Okay, but is there a point to this?”
“I can’t- I can’t fucking believe you’ve done this to me. I’m so proud.”
Evan approaches Connor early Monday morning- Connor had been coming to school a surprising amount- with a warning. “I think Jared and I are friends again.”
“Okay?”
“The last time- back when we were friends in elementary school- when I had another friend he felt the need to- to try and also be their friend. Something about ‘friends should be friends with their friend’s, friends.’ I- I can’t say for sure he’ll do that but- but if he does-”
“Oh god he’s going to try and be my friend.”
“M-maybe?”
“I’ve just decided, right now, that I’m skipping school today.”
“Connor- please-” Evan huffs while Connor speed-walks his way towards the exit. He’s not fast enough, though.
“Hey, Connor!” Jared draws out both words, grin on his face. Evan shakes his head. He tried, he tells himself, there was nothing else he could have done. “And Evan!”
Now they can suffer together, at least.
It’s not as if Jared is awful to be around. Evan wouldn’t say that. Yet, he worries that Connor will have problems being around Jared. Especially with the fact that Jared had, on the first day of school, called Connor a ‘freak.’ Evan is fairly sure Jared doesn’t remember doing this. He tends to move past things quicker than most people- or perhaps Evan just doesn’t move on as quickly as others- or at least believe that others are over it.
Connor, for his part, does seem to try and get along with Jared during entire five minute conversation they have. Evan can see the tell-tale signs of not wanting to be in his current situation, but Connor does a very good job of not snapping at Jared- or Evan for that matter- during that time.
And when the bell rings, and Jared gives a small, “see you two later,” Connor even waves.
“Sure.”
It’s something.
Today’s going to be a good day, and here’s why. You’ve got your former best friend back. I don’t think it’ll ever be the same, like when we were kids, but I think he does feel bad. Maybe he still doesn’t quite realize how much I thought he didn’t care, or how alone…
Still. It’s nice to have him back, I think.
Connor even seems to be trying to get along with him. Maybe that shouldn’t be surprising? I guess after years of him not really talking to people- except sometimes fighting with them- and only just being your friend because you’re both sick, I didn’t think he’d be so willing to try and, at least, tolerate someone new so quickly.
It’s a good thing. There’s no reason for them not to be friends. It’s probably the best part of what happened this week! You’ve got a friend back and he’s even trying to make nice with your new friend! That’s good!
You’d have to be a really, really selfish to feel otherwise.
After conversations with a few people, someone brought up the idea of taking a self defense class. Alexandra had never really thought of taking a self defense class, but she couldn’t think of a good reason not to. And she thought it might give her some sense of peace, so she wasn’t against it. She knew there were a few options, but she’d befriended both of the other Blackwoods in town, so she figured it was a safe bet that she’d like their other brother, Jared, as well. She stepped in, the little bell going off when she opened the door, and went to the desk at the front. “Hi, I heard you offer a self defense class. Could I sign up for that?” she inquired.
