At Least You're You. (Cevan)

Six: Driving

Evan's bottom lip quivers with anxiety, his arm visibly shaking. Connor reaches his arm out to Evan awkwardly, not exactly sure how to comfort him. Evan flinches, and Connor pulls back. Connor is at a loss of what to do.

"L-Look let's just...we're going to be late for school." Evan mumbles, trying to walk past Connor. Evan's eyes water, stinging with regret and guilt. Connor grits his teeth and grabs Evan's arm.

"We're ditching."

"Wh-What?"

"We're. Ditching."

"N-No, I--"

"Come on."

Connor snags Evan's arm and drags him back towards the Murphy's house, Evan struggling all the way. Connor pulls Evan into a beat up, rusty pickup truck and starts driving, not even waiting to put on a seat belt. Evan pulls his seat belt over his chest quickly, eyes glistening with fear.

"Where...W-Where are we go-going?"

Connor's grip on the steering wheel tightens, his teeth gritted, his eyes on the road. He doesn't respond. When Evan tries to ask again, Connor slams his hands on the wheel in frustration, the loud honk making Evan jump. The anxious child tries not to cry, but he feels a tear trailing down his cheek. His entire body shakes as Connor speeds up the truck.

Evan suddenly flails in a panicked dazed.

"CONNOR CONNOR STOP STOP STOP--" The truck skids on the road, the truck spinning, then crashing into a tree, Connor's arm slamming into the steering wheel. He keeps it there for a moment- the honk of his horn echoing through the forest behind the truck. Connor sits back against his seat, his eyes closed. Evan is still crying, but he looks at Connor fearfully.

Connor's eyebrows are drawn together, his mouth in an obviously frown. He's gripping his hands so tightly that they're shaking and are almost completely white. After a few moments of silence, Connor grabs something from the dashboard and walks towards the cliff side across the road from the crash. Evan follows cautiously. Connor sits down close to the edge of the rocky cliff, and reaches into his pocket, pulling out a pack of cigarettes, lighting one with a match from a almost shredded matchbox (which is probably what he took from the dashboard) and took a hit. Evan tried to meet his eye, but Connor refused silently.

"Why did you do that?"

"It calms me down."

"I-I didn't mean smoking." Connor bows his head, dropping the cigarette off the edge. Evan wonders if Connor will jump.

Evan wonder if he himself would jump as well.