Unexpected, Cliché [TREEBROS]

Third Day's a Charm (TW)

TRIGGER WARNING 

- TIMESKIP : A FEW DAYS - 

It was the third day of school, and the day was almost over. Now would be the day. I would go back to the orchard. Climb the tree. But a bigger one. Cause I can't do this anymore. I know I already broke my arm, but I can still probably climb up. Then finally, I wouldn't be so bothersome. Cause I wouldn't be here anymore. 

I didn't bother taking the bus back home to my bus stop, instead, I just decided to walk directly to the orchard. I remembered the path - I have been there so many times before. Each time, I was too scared. Each time I just ran back home. Until this summer, when I finally did it. And failed. But I wouldn't fail this time. Cause nobody would care to stop me this time. They never did anyway. So why does it matter? If I were gone, nobody would notice. 

The heavy rain continued to pour as I walked up the dirt pathway to the forest. Of course this place has been closed down since forever, but it's so easy to just climb over the fence. Nobody's watching. Nobody cares. But when this place was open, I remember being here with Mom. And Dad. But that's over now. 

As I walked deeper into the forest, I heard a familiar voice. But I didn't know who it could have been. I knew it could not have been mom, or Jared, or Alana, or Zoe, or anybody really. But I felt like I knew who it was, through the fog and rain, and what sounded like crying, the talking was inaudible. Whatever, I shouldn't care about this. This isn't my business. Why do I even bother? I should just get this over with. But I couldn't help it - I looked around to try to find who it was, despite the fact that I was practically scolding myself. This is so stupid, I shouldn't care. But who is it? And then, there he was -

The school bully. The terrible brother of Zoe's. The boy who slowly started to lose feeling, yet couldn't control his emotions. 

Connor Murphy. 

He was standing there, his eyes were stung red with tears, his arms red with cuts, and his hair dripping wet from the rain. He shivered from the cold air, and took out a bottle of pills from his book - bag. I knew right away what he was about to do. Why do I care? I don't even know him. He was always mean to everybody. But still - something inside of me had to stop him. I couldn't handle the thought of somebody having to go though the same thing as me, or worse. But what did it matter - I couldn't do anything about it, could I? At least, I could try. 

"STOP. CONNOR - STOP YOU CAN'T DO THIS! YOU CAN'T LEAVE" I shouted through tears, as the rain continued to pour

"Why should I listen to you. You don't even know me. WHY DO YOU CARE? JUST FUCK OFF ALREADY, EVAN. YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW ME." He yelled back at me.

Right. Why should I care? I kept thinking to myself. But I couldn't help it.

"Connor, I care because I know how you feel and-"

"NO YOU DON'T. NOBODY DOES. GO AWAY EVAN." 

I was sobbing now. I shouldn't have been doing this. He hates me anyways. but I couldn't let him. I had to stop him. I ran closer to him and yanked away the bottle of pills. He stared at me in anger, but I felt like I had done the right thing... right? 

"EVAN. STOP." He scolded. And then Evan felt Connor's hand slap across his face. It felt warm and it stung, but that didn't stop Evan. 

"Connor, you can't do this. I know that I don't matter a bit to you. I know that you hate me. But you can't leave - you can't just be forgotten. Give life a chance. Nobody deserves to be forgotten - and I know that a lot has been going on for you, but you can't leave!" I cried out

"LISTEN, EVAN" - he said, pinning me up against a tree, our faces only an inch apart - "YOU'RE A FUCKING HYPOCRITE, YOU KNOW THAT RIGHT? I KNOW WHY YOU CAME HERE. I KNOW WHY YOU HAVE A BROKEN ARM. AND YET, YOU WANT TO STOP ME? I DON'T FREAKING THINK SO. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF I'M GONE, BECAUSE I'm ALREADY FORGOTTEN, YOU GOT THAT?" He let go, as I fell to the ground, the bottle of his pills still in my hand. I hid it in my backpack, but he saw me do it. I threw my backpack down to the ground. I knew he wouldn't have listened to me. Why did I even try? 

No. He can't do this. I know he hates me. I know I should hate him. But he can't do this. I can't let anybody suffer like this. Even if I do every day. 

My hands were sweating like crazy when I tried to hug him - stupid, right? I just wanted him to know that I cared in some way. 

"STOP IT, EVAN. STOP." He quickly pulled away and slapped me across the face again. 

"CONNOR, YOU CAN'T DO THIS. THIS ISN'T YOU - IT CAN'T BE. YOU WEREN'T ALWAYS LIKE THIS." 

The words seemed to echo in the park. Tears rolled down Connor's cheeks when he heard what I said.

you weren't always like this.