If I Could Tell Him

Chapter ten

EVAN POV

Evan woke up when the wind blew cooly over his bare arms. He shivered and pulled his arms closer to his body. He lazily opened his eyes. Wait a minute... he looked down and saw two black clad arms holding him, supporting him. He looked up and everything flooded back. Connor's eyes were shut and Evan was aware of his breath rising and falling. As if on cue, Connor opened his eyes and smiled down at him.

"H-hey." Evan said, not quite sure how to talk. His voice seemed to be three octaves higher than it was before. He cleared his throat. Connor laughed gently and looked at his phone.

"Shit. We've gotta go we're late for school." Evan's eyes widened. He'd never been late to school except for sick days. He didn't think he could handle being late. Looking over, Connor's eyes softened. "Hey it's ok. Just blame it on me."

"N-no that's n-not fair.." Evan started but was stopped when Connor gently pushed him off of his lap and began walking to the car. Evan trailed behind. As they were driving, Evan got up the courage to ask a question that was plaguing his mind.

"Hey C-Connor?"

"Mhm?" Connor asked, still looking at the road. Evan thought he saw a quick smile on his face but looked away before he got too distracted by how his nose crinkled or his dimples or the way that his lip curled or...shit.

"Never mind." He couldn't do it. Connor frowned thoughtfully.

"No, what were you going to say?" He asked.

"UmConnordoyoulikemeorwasthisjustallinmyheadidontknowijustfeellikeyoudontwantmeyoudeservebettersorry." Connor knitted his brows as they pulled up to the school.

"Hell yeah I like you. Obviously." He smirked and rolled his eyes. "You're irresistible. And it's you who deserves better." Evan's heart skipped.

"R-really?"

"Really."

Evan could hardly contain himself. "I-I like you t-too." Connor laughed, throwing his head back.

"I know. You asked me to kiss you for God's  sake. Let's go before we're too late okay?" Evan nodded, the smile never leaving his face. They signed into the school and went their separate ways.

Evan couldn't believe his luck and practically skipped to his class. Jared would talk about shit but Evan wasn't listening. He was too busy thinking about Connor.

"...so then the whole thing burst into flames and seven people died." Jared said.

"Y-yeah that's great."

"Evan what's up with you? I know you weren't listening." He said pointedly. Evan flushed.

"S-sorry Jared. I.." he was cut off by a commotion coming from the cafeteria. Wait, w-what was th-that?" Evan looked at the door warily.

"That is the sound of my stomach, I'm hungry as hell." Jared joked, opening the door to the cafeteria.

"FAG!" The word rang through the room and Evan's head snapped up. Connor and some boy were standing face to face. Evan recognized the sneer on the other boy's face. One of the boys who had put him in the hospital. Connor's fists were clenched so hard his knuckles were white.

"What did you say?" Connor asked the other boy threateningly. Evan pushed himself to the front of the growing crowd around the two boys.

"I said, you're. A. Fag." Evan's heart skipped. There was no way anyone could know what happened last night, right? "I mean look at you! Long ass hair and painted nails. What a faggot. Not to mention you were practically drooling over that nerd." He pointed at Evan. Jared put a protective hand over Evan's chest, pushing him slightly behind him.

"Oh, you mean when you were just about beating an innocent person to a pulp for no reason? Yeah, any decent person would have tried to help." Connor said cooly.

This is my fault. Evan thought to himself. He pushed past Jared.

"H-h-hey." He immediately regretted his entire life as the boy turned around.
His mind went blank and he said the first words that came to his mind. "W-what's your n-n-name?"

"T-T-Thomas." The boy mock stuttered. "You here to try to come to the rescue? Please. You're pathetic. Just go die." Thomas walked towards Evan, forcing him to back away, cowering. Thomas snorted.  "Yeah. That's what I thought." Evan felt his eyes burn and turned away.

BAM

Evan looked up. Thomas was on the ground clutching his jaw. Connor stood over him with knuckles that were beginning to bleed. His face was red and he was panting.

"You do not speak to him - I mean, anyone - that way." He said. He glanced at Evan, sending a look that clearly said I'm not ready to tell people about us yet. Evan nodded, still in shock. He looked between his beautiful Connor and Thomas writhing on the floor.

"This isn't over." Thomas growled, struggling to his feet.

"I think it-it is." Evan's hand flew to his mouth when he realized that he had said that. Quickly, Jared was between him and Thomas. Seeing he was outnumbered, Thomas stalked out of the cafeteria. The loudspeaker sounded:

"Connor Murphy to the principal's office."

Evan's stomach twisted. He shouldn't have tried to stand up to Thomas. Connor would no doubt hate him now. He stole a look at him and was relieved to see Connor smiling slightly before turning on his heel and walking purposefully out of the room.

"Hey are you okay?" Jared asked uncharacteristically. Evan started.

"Y-yeah I think I'm g-gonna be f-f-fine."