Two Player Game

~Chapter Fourty-Seven~

They all pass out. Jeremy needs his sleep. Cause he hasn't slept in two days. Evan doesn't sleep for a while, staring at his cast. He doesn't know why, but the sight of it just makes him feel so... Empty. Jared just doesn't sleep. He tries. He opens an eye to Evan.

"You alright Ev?" Evan tenses a little at been caught still awake.

"Yeah. I'm fine. Totally fine, a-okay, why do you ask?"

"You just seem off. I'm just worried about you."

"Don't be. It's fine. I've just... Been thinking I guess."

"About what?"

"... You're not gonna want to hear what about."

"I won't get mad. I promise."

"I don't think you'd get MAD, I just..." he doesn't look at him. "last time I had a broken arm, it was... It was because of..."

"Because of what?"

He swallows. "I haven't actually been in a tree since. When I fell today it was like... I felt exactly like I did that summer. I didn't care if I made it to the ground again. I... And then this cast, it- I couldn't stand to see all those names and not -"

"Evan did you...?"

"... Did I what, Jared?"

"Did you try to.... Y'know?" He can't say it.

"The first time.." he takes in a shaky breath and just holds him tighter.

"I'm sorry I wasn't there Evan."

He stays tense and takes a breath. "Conner brought it up once. 'How'd you break your arm, Evan? Don't lie, how'd you do it? You fell out of the tree Evan, you fell? DID you fall? Or did you let go, Hansen? Did you just stop CARING? Was it all too much? Could you not take it anymore, being alone, being ignored, being forgotten?' I hated it, I hated myself, I hated the world, and I couldn't take it and when that branch snapped I just... Let myself fall. I chose to do it."

"Evan........" he's more mad at himself for how he acted towards him.

"I've been thinking about... About why I did it. And about what Conner told me afterwards. He was in the same boat, Jared, the same tiny lifeboat. He said us guys that get ignored, that are so easy to forget, we gotta stick together, and... And so I can't not think about him now, I can't ignore the thought of him and not have his name on my cast and - and although I don't need him, I do miss him. He was nice to me when even you, the person I love the most out of everyone, weren't. It all came back to me when I was in my hotel today, after the hospital and I kept thinking why can't he just LEAVE me ALONE?? He's gone, he left me, so any won't be stop plaguing my mind and my emotions and just leave me alone?"

"I don't know Ev... I'm sorry.."

"I don't know what to do, Jared."

"Just.. stay calm. We'll figure something out. I promise."

"Okay..." Jared kisses his forehead.

"I love you. So much." Evan clutches him tight.

"I love you too." there's a long pause. "Promise me again that you won't leave me."

"I promise. I promise that never in a million years I will leave you."

"Thank you. J-Jared, I love you so much."

"I love you too." He kisses him sweetly. Evan just kisses Jared all over, blubbering softly about how much he is loved and admired and all this stuff. Jared wishes he had this so long ago. When he needed it. They both had a time when the needed it and didn't get it. At least they've got it now. Jared falls asleep quietly with Evan in his arms. He wouldn't even think about doing it if Evan was still in his life. Evan thinks about it occasionally, but he would never EVER go through with it. Jared needs him.

The next morning, Everyone is up before Evan this time. Evan sleeps so long that at one point Michael swears he's dead.

"Evan. Evan, baby wake up." Jared shakes him lightly.

"Oh my god, he might actually be dead."

"whAT."

"TREE BOOOOOOY." He jolts up at the sound of Rich shouting.

"What, Conner, what -!?"

"Great. You scared him. Good job. Evan, baby, it's Noon."

"It's - huh?"

"You slept half the day, dude."

"I did?"

"I wish I could do that."

"Then just do it Jeremy. No one is stopping you."

"The only person stopping you is you, Player two. Look at me, one time I slept from Monday night to Wednesday morning."

"...."

"It's just because of the stupid coma thing I was in. Got too much sleep and now I can't sleep."

"I'll let you take the sleep I just got, I feel like shit. You know how it feels when you take a nap too long and wake up more tired than you started?"

"Michael would know."

"Sadly... Take an Advil for the headache and wait at least twenty minutes before actually doing anything. That's what I do."

"Noted." Jared wraps his arms around him, sorta like Michael and Jeremy.

"Just stay here."

"Don't have to tell me twice."

"Gaaaayyy."

"Shut your face hole."

"So that party we're going to? It's gonna be lit as hell. I heard the dude has a pool."

"Shit dude. That is lit."

"Y'know what drunk people do in pools? Skinny dip."

"Oh. Wow. Do they now."

"Don't worry Evan... if you are worried. I won't be doing that and neither would you."

"no, I'm definitely worried. You know how I get..."

".......... You telling me tree boy is a crazy drunk? "

"Oh yeah. But put your hands on him and you might be going to the hospital instead."

"No, I didn't mean - Nevermind. Keep an eye on him then, cause these parties get a little rowdy sometimes."

"Oh I know."

"Shut up Jeremy."

"Not to breath or anything, but I totally burnt a house down once at a party Jake had."

"........ We don't talk about that night... "

"I haven't gone to a party with Rich since."

"I promise I won't do it again. I had a... Problem."

"That is resolved and we're gonna stop talking about it."

"Nothing stays I love you like burning down their house."

"I think it says 'I have a burning passion for you.'"

"No. I think it says you have a burning hatred."

"Well I didn't. And I'm better. And tonight will be great, Trust me."