We Still Matter | Treebros

1

Evan's POV

     Light pours in through the window, my eyes hesitantly fluttering open. I get out of bed and stretch. I go to the bathroom and throw some water in my face. Feeling more awake, I go get dressed in my usual blue polo and khakis. I walk downstairs, and instead of being greeted by a parent, I see a note on the dining room table, as usual. I sigh, reading it like I do most days. They're usually all the same. I get a bowl, spoon, and reach up into the cabinets and pull out a box of my favorite cereal, Cinnamon Toast Crunch! I go get some milk out of the fridge and pour it into the bowl, then pour some cereal. It isn't much, and the bag is empty. I usually don't eat a lot in the morning, anyway. I finish, putting everything where it goes. I go get my backpack, phone, and earbuds.

     I walk through the gates of my high school. I don't really know anyone so far. It's still the first week. I have seen a few people more than others. Jared, my fr... family friend. He's not too nice when I accidentally call him my friend... There's this long-haired guy that wears all black, I don't know anything about him, and I hate being rude, but he kinda scares me. There's a girl with glasses that always walks with Zoe Murphy, Zoe's a girl....

     ....and I supposeshe'skindacute?? I don't know her, she doesn't know me. It's better that way. Maybe not? Maybe I should try making friends. I don't know. I see that the first period bell is going to ring soon, so I start walking through the hall.

     I'm minding my own business, quietly humming a song stuck in my head...

       And I bump into someone.

     I stumble back. An tall, angry long-haired guy is looking down at me. I take my earbuds out and start saying sorry about 20 times a second.

      "I don't fucking care, jesus christ..." He looked away from me and continued on his way. I took a second to calm down and compose myself. He didn't seem annoyed, but tired. And he smelled like... a plant? I think? It was kinda overpowering, and the smell kinda lingered after he left. He wasn't too rude I guess, I mean not saying that he was rude or anything it was my fault I wasn't looking or anything-

//ring//

      The bell scared me out of my thoughts. I start walking to first period, again.

     My classes aren't the best or anything, but lunch is....

     I don't really like it. Too many people, and I have no friends. I rush to the library to get a seat at one of the tables before they all fill up. I snag an empty table, pulling out my weird, off-brand phone to pass the time quicker while waiting for Jared. He wanted to meet up so we could work on a project for English. I look up as some people fill in the tables around me, leaving me alone. No one sits near me if they can help it. I see the kid I ran into earlier at a table sitting down alone, writing something? They look concentrated, but I mean...

     He's alone, and so am I and maybe I can...

     Make....

     A friend....?

I try to compose myself and walk over to him. He isn't writing, he's drawing. His hair is blocking the drawing, though. He doesn't seem to notice me, or care that I'm there. I try not to break down for no reason as I take the seat on the opposite side of the table. It's one of those small, tall ones with two high seats. There's only a few in the library. But I'm sitting across from him, almost crying because it's hard to just even be around people. Oh god I didn't even ask to sit here I'm such a bad person-

"....Hi"

I gulp as my palms get sweatier by the second, awaiting a response. It takes him a second, but he slowly looks up from his notebook. He just stares blankly at my before saying anything to me.

"Why."

And of course I messed up, great, of course, I'm just the worst....

"Ummm, I, umm, you... you were, I'm sorry you were busy and I ruined it sorry I just thought-"

"No... no you're fine. I finished drawing anyway."

It was... pretty. It was of an open field framed with trees. 

"Wow, that's really, that's umm, I like that, like a lot. It looks really n-nice. I r-really like trees..." W

He... cracked a small smile. I'm... It's a calming, sincere smile. As soon as he realized he was smiling he stopped.

"Thanks." He sounded dull.

"I-I.. umm, you're, welcome. I-uhh, I really like trees. Sorry, I-I already said that. Oh god you think I'm stupid now, huh? I-I mean not that y-you didn't think I was stupid already- Oh g-gosh sorry I didn't, umm, mean to ramble..." I feel my face getting warmer.

"I- who is that?" He started. I felt an arm wrap around me.

"Heyyyyyy Evan. Didn't know you were dating a psycho." He looks over at the long haired kid. "I'm lovin' the new hair length, Connor. Really school-shooter chic." He winked and chuckled.

'Connor' looked agitated. He didn't say anything.

"I'm just kidding. It was a joke." 

"Yeah, I know, it was funny. I'm laughing, can't you tell?" He paused, and then raised his voice. "Am I not laughing hard enough or you?" 

"You're such a freak..." And with that Jared left. I let out an awkward laugh to try and make conversation, but Connor cut me off.

"What the fuck are you laughing at? STOP FUCKING LAUGHING AT ME. You think I'M the freak? YOU'RE THE FUCKING FREAK!" And with that he pushed me off of the tall chair, having me land on my broken arm. I managed to not cry out because of the pain. He had left, and no one had heard him because the library is always loud. I just lay there on the floor, trying to not have a break down.

"Holy shit are you okay??" I hear a familiar voice getting closer. It's Zoe Murphy, and she helps me off the ground.

"You're lucky I had to get a book here! I'm so sorry for my brother, he's a fucking psycho. Are you okay?" I nod and give my thanks.

"You landed on your broken arm, man. A few feet to drop. You sure you're okay?" She actually sounded concerned, for me...

"Y-yeah. I-I'm fine..."

"Well, okay then.... I'll make sure to yell at him later. Evan, right?"

"Evan...."

"That's your name right?"

"oH S-sorry yes, it's Evan soRRY-"

"-why are you sorry?"

"B-because you said 'Evan' and I said it and I repeated it and t-that's so annoying when people do that...!" I let out a forced, awkward laugh and a quick 'sorry'.

"Right... Well I'm Zoe." She sticks out her hand, and as I go to shake it, I realize my palms are probably sweaty. I wipe them on my khakis and try again but she's already put her hand down.

"Y-yeah I know."

"You know...?"

"Nonono it's just I've seen you play guitar in jazz band! I love jazz band, I love jazz! Well, not all jazz.... B-but definitely, like, jazz band jazz! That's so weird I'm sorry...."

"You apologize a lot..."

"Sorry- I mean you know what I mean so y'know...."

"Okay... well I probably should go get that book...."

"yOU don't wanna sign my cast do you?"

"What?" 

"What did you say?"

"I didn't say anything, you said something..."

"I-Wait what me? N-No way, Jose..." I nod.

"Okay... Jose...." She gives me a thumbs-up before hurrying off. I wave goodbye a little too eagerly.

I look back at the table. Connor left his notebook there. I look at it for a bit. The bell to go back to class rings. I decide to take the book so I can give it back to him whenever I see him again. 

A/N 1358 Words!