His Lies, His Truths, Their War (H2OVanoss) [Completed]

Chapter 8

Chapter 8: Hope

Friday, October 7

Most people wouldn't pin Friday at the top of their list for a day of tragedy.

But most people weren't Evan Fong, the extinguished sunshine of Angel Creek High. Or, to use a more light hearted tone, the fallen angel. For him, everyday was a tragedy.

His backpack, once filled with useful textbooks and schoolwork, was instead filled with an assortment of beer, cigarette packs, a few bottles of pills, and other things you shouldn't bring to school. Instead, his algebra notebook and textbook was tucked underneath his arm, the only pencil he used was tucked in his bag's front pocket.

His gaze was glued to the floor, darting upward every so often to see where he was going, which was easy because most people avoided him now. A trail of whispers and rumors followed him with every footstep he made.

"The fight really screwed him up."

"Maybe Jonathan was right about everything."

"Why couldn't his friends help him? I heard he's killed a man."

Everyday he put up with that, everyday for the past two years of high school. Most people found it fascinating that he hadn't dropped out yet, it really is quite a mystery.

Everything about that boy was a mystery, really, one day he came with a scowl, the next he avoided all eye contact.

But only Evan knows that his friends keep him going, even though he left them, he knew they still cared. They stole glances at him throughout the school day, watched him from the other side of the road as they walked home, even catching glimpses of what was in his sacred bag of contraband. They still cared, even if Evan had given up.

And most of the time, that's what kept him from jumping.

Now, that totally sounds ominous, I know, I know, but just, let me explain.

At least once a month, Evan would walk down to the bridge a few miles from his house, the one hidden in the forest next to his favorite park. He would lean on the railing as he stared into the rapidly moving water, debating whether or not it was the right day to jump.

And I find it hard to admit that some days, when I followed him there, I really wanted him to do it. To jump right off the bridge because that would solidify everything I had worked for.

But now, now I wish I had never thought that, because it was wrong, so, so wrong.

Most times, he would just pull out a cigarette and smoke, feeling a lot better by the time he left. When he returned home, the house was usually empty, his mother always having somewhere else to be. She never noticed what her teenager was up to, because he wasn't failing his classes, so there was nothing wrong.

She didn't notice the first two times her son tried to commit suicide, because she hadn't been at home when the landline rang. Instead she had returned a day after Evan was released from the hospital, a few lines of fresh stitches on his arms that he had hidden with a hoodie.

His mom never noticed, but that didn't mean she didn't care. Evan knew his mom was trying to get by, to provide for the both of them since she was now a single mom. So he didn't blame her for being too busy to deal with him, he didn't really need the attention. He didn't want it.

He was sure that the guys had noticed, when the ambulance had come rushing down the street as they were waking home, paramedics pulling out a stretcher for the boy. And when they pulled his limp body out and laid him on said stretcher, he knew that they must have seen, but they didn't say anything, so he never really minded.

But they didn't notice, I made sure they didn't notice, I changed their combinations on their school lockers so that way they'd be stuck there.

Because I was so crazy that I wanted no one, I mean no one to fix the person I had worked so hard to break.

It just proved that they didn't care, which Evan had always known, but he brushed it off most of the time, because that's what he did. He ignored the looks, the whispers, the pity, all of it, because he didn't care.

And sometimes he questions if he ever did.

Right now is the perfect time to share a small, but important secret.

I called the ambulances, because, for the first time since I met him, I really cared.

But, looking back, maybe I didn't care enough.

Because I was the bitch who left him to keep breaking, even when I knew I could fix everything in a few heartbeats, and with a few simple words.

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"What can I do for you, sweetie?" The lady at the front desk of the salon asked, looking at the boy in front of her with curiosity.

Evan ran a hand through his raven locks, pushing the strands out of his face. "I wanted to get my hair dyed, it looks kind of boring." He said.

I followed behind just a few minutes later, meeting a different woman, who also had a nice bright smile. "What can I do for you, sweetheart?"

"I'd like to get the tips of my hair dyed to purple please. A nice, Halloween purple." I said, smiling back at her.

Hey, if I'm gonna follow someone, I might as well get some cool hair for myself.

But, back to what had happened to Evan.

She smiled, gesturing to the salon chairs quickly as she said. "Of course, right this way." She hopped off her chair and led him over to a salon chair in the corner. "What color were you thinking about?" She asked as she pulled on a pair of rubber gloves.

"Maybe red tips? Would that look cool?" He asked, staring at himself in the mirror as he messed with his hair again.

"That would look lovely, how about I give you just a little trim while we're at it, just to get rid of any split ends, you know."

Evan nodded. "Yeah, sounds good. You're the expert."

She laughed. "I wouldn't say expert, but I'll make you look good, just sit back and relax."

Doing as the woman said, her name tag read 'Shannon', Evan leaned back into his chair as he she pulled out a pair of scissors and got to work.

Meanwhile I sat back and enjoyed a nice, relaxing trip to the salon.

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Evan's next stop that day was the piercing shop, and I'll just say right up front that I'm not that hardcore and didn't get any piercings, instead I waited outside. So, unfortunately, I don't know what was said.

But, what I do know is that Evan came out with a helix piercing on his left ear, two metallic black rings going straight through his ear.

Honestly, he looked the happiest I had ever seen him in a while. I thought maybe this was when I got to fade out, I had finally, not to mention successfully, tore apart the strongest friendship I had ever seen.

But, can someone tell me why every high has a come down?