Frostbitten

Distance

A/n: gonna try a different way of writing in POV, let me know if it works better!

Connor's POV

It's Monday morning. 3 days after the most recent movie night the three friends shared. Three days for Connor to be by himself. Three days to think.

Connor showed up just on time, his sister Zoe, pushing past him angrily to make it to her class before the bell. As the tall, dark haired boy dragged through the halls, people turned to stare at him. Some pointing, some whispering. They all noticed something especially different about him. He was high.

Connor didn't care people were looking at him, he just wanted to make it to the cafeteria and sleep at one of the tables. Had it not been for Zoe yelling at him this morning to take her to school, he would've just stayed home. He didn't want to see Evan or Charlie today. He just wanted to be how he felt, alone.

On Friday during the movie, Evan and tried to hold Connor's hand, and Connor let him, for a little bit longer than he should have. What killed Connor was that Charlie was the first person to not think he was this freak that people made him out to be, and now he can't stop thinking about some stupid boy that he just allowed himself to become friends with. He knew that he was going to fuck this whole thing up, it only took time. Yet here he was, knowing full-well that he was gonna have to do something. That was something he didn't want to think about at the moment.

He must have been pretty lost in thought because he didn't notice the boy walking after him calling his name. The boy grabbed Connor's arm and Connor angrily pulled away, turning to see who tried to touch him. It was Evan.

"Leave me alone, Hansen." He tried to start walking again but Evan grabbed him arm again. "I said leave me alone. Can't you see that you're not really on my list of priorities right now. Just fuck off and go to class or something, I don't care, as long as you're not bothering me." This time Connor was able to walk away, he pushed through a group of 9th graders and vanished from Evans sight.

Evan's POV

Connor Murphy, one of his only two friends, really just told him to fuck off. That part surprised him more than hurt him. But what got to him was that he wasn't one of his friends priorities.

Evan was always scared of not mattering to anyone; he knew that obviously he mattered to some people, like his mom, but what about everyone else? But Connor had just confirmed that he didn't. Evan couldn't help but feel like every one of his organs was imploding and he wished that he could've disappeared right there. People around him were staring, taking in the scene that Connor had just one. It was like every stare was a knife cutting into his skin. The longer they stared, the deeper the cuts got. He felt a hand land on his right shoulder and a figure appear beside but he could get himself to turn to see who it was. All he hoped was that if the person was going to shove him into a locker, they would just do it quick.

"I saw the whole thing. I'm sorry Ev, he gets like that a lot. He didn't mean it."

Evan let out a breath he didn't know he was holding, it was just Charlie that was talking to him.

She turned to look at him while moving to hold Evan's arm, "how about you come over after school? We can talk or watch those shitty movies on that rental channel, maybe even order take out." Evan smiled weakly, feeling slightly reassured that someone at least cared about him.

"Yeah." He managed to get out, "that sounds fun. I'll just text my mom and let her know I won't be home till later."

"Alright! I'll meet you at my car after school?"