𝐁𝐀𝐃 𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐀 ━ connor murphy x reader.

Twelve

[Bethesda, Maryland.
Tuesday, October 27, 2015.]

It had been over a week, and Y/n hadn't heard a word from Connor. She'd caught glimpses of him in the halls a few times, his eyes fixed ahead, shoulders hunched as he wove through the crowd. More often than not, he wouldn't even give her a passing glance. She found it strange—and a little disappointing. It wasn't like she expected much from him; she didn't need some grand gesture of gratitude or a heart-to-heart about that night. All she wanted was a simple 'thank you.' Just a quiet acknowledgment that he remembered her small act of kindness.

But Connor hadn't given her even that.

Instead, life had gone on, and the only mentions of Connor in her life came from her usual conversations with Zoe. Y/n knew Zoe meant well; her friend had thanked her for looking after her brother, and that was nice, but any gratitude quickly melted into the usual stories. Within days, Zoe had returned to what she did best—complaining about her brother. Y/n couldn't really blame her; she knew how strained the sibling relationship was.

Still, it was exhausting.

Today felt especially draining. School had just gotten out, and the last thing Y/n wanted was another tirade about Connor. But there she was, sitting beside Zoe on the outdoor benches, trying her best to keep up with her friend's rant. "So then he just barges into my room," Zoe continued, her tone somewhere between exasperation and disbelief, "like he doesn't care at all about boundaries, and he's demanding money— again— for who knows what. I'm at my wit's end, Y/n. It's like I don't even have a personal space anymore. Last week he tried to break down my door because I wouldn't let him in..."

Y/n shifted uncomfortably in her seat, her hands twisting together as she looked down at her lap. She wasn't sure how much more she could take.

She believed in being a good friend, and in being there when someone needed to vent. But hearing about Connor's outbursts, his supposed addictions, his constant pleas for money... it was all starting to wear on her. Y/n felt her sympathy turning into something heavier, an exhaustion that settled into her bones. She couldn't shake the feeling that maybe, just maybe, there was more to Connor than what Zoe saw, but with every story, that hope felt smaller. "Zoe..." Y/n spoke up, her voice tentative as she cut her friend off mid-sentence. She swallowed, glancing up to see Zoe's surprised expression. "Can we... not talk about your brother right now?" She hesitantly asked.

Zoe blinked, momentarily taken aback. Her eyebrows knitted together, and her mouth opened as if to say something, but then she closed it, studying Y/n with a curious expression. Y/n's face was flushed, a mix of nerves and exhaustion showing plainly on her features. "Oh, sorry..." Zoe apologized after a small pause, looking slightly hurt but trying to mask it.

Y/n sighed, feeling a pang of guilt twist in her chest. She hadn't meant to make Zoe feel bad or to come off as if she didn't care about her friend's struggles. "No, I'm sorry," Y/n murmured, hoping her sincerity would soften her words. "I just... don't want to talk about him, is all." She mumbled the last part, unsure of how Zoe would take it.

As they sat in silence, Y/n tried to shake the feeling of guilt weighing her down. She knew that Connor was a troubled person, carrying around more than most people realized. She couldn't be upset with him, not entirely. He had his own battles, battles that probably went deeper than anything she could imagine. Maybe expecting a simple "thank you" was asking too much.

Whatever the case, she needed a break from all the Connor talk, just for a little while. "Just..." Y/n began, turning toward Zoe with a renewed sense of energy. "Why don't we do something?"

Zoe blinked, surprised by the sudden suggestion. "Like what?"

Y/n paused, her eyes widening as she frantically scrambled for an idea. She hadn't thought that far ahead, just wanted to pull them both out of the tired routine of complaining and heavy conversations. Without really thinking, she blurted out the first thing that came to mind. "Why don't we go to the park?" The suggestion hung in the air for a moment. She knew it wasn't the most exciting idea, but at least it would give them a chance to be somewhere fresh, somewhere without constant reminders of school and the drama that came with it. Zoe looked like she was considering it, but then her expression shifted into a grimace.