-Collide-

~1~

Trigger Warning- Mentions of suicide attempt(s)

Connor would like to believe he didn't mean it.

One minute, he was just driving, numbly listening to whatever shit played on the radio these days when he saw it.

A tree. An insignificant tree just outside Ellison State Park.

The next thing he knew he was pulling the wheel harshly, dragging the car towards the tree. He had hoped the impact would've killed him instantly, but it didn't. Connor remembers gripping the steering wheel tightly, his seatbelt restraining, keeping him from jerking around in his seat, as the hood of the car crunched up like a soda can, bunching and lumping together, his phone fell out of the cup holder along with change that spilt everywhere, as the car jostled from the impact. He doesn't know shit about cars but his was definitely fucked, and he so, was very fucked.

Connor stared at his now soda-canned Subaru, thankful that smoking wasn't coming out of it. He didn't think about the consequences his parents would unleash on him, he probably wouldn't get another car for a long time, his license might get taken away along with his phone, or he just flat out would be grounded, because yeah, sure, locking your child away from socializing definitely helps. Connor sighed, running his hands through his shoulder length long hair. There was no way out of this, there was nothing that could help him try again. Well, actually, he could try jumping out of a tree, but he's tired and hurt, so that's ruled out.

He's suddenly pulled into reality with the sharp sting of his ribs, and the forming of bruises all over his body (great, his parents will definitely think he got into a fight). He's scraped up too, but he's not bleeding, so it doesn't really matter to him. All Connor cares about is that if he broke his ribs or not. He clutched his at his ribs, wincing.

Connor debated just going home. It wasn't too far away, but he'd have to face his family sooner. Then again, was getting it out of the way a bad idea? Of course it was, but Connor could find a way to lie. He'd just say a car came out of nowhere, and he swayed out of the way. That little fib might just work and spare him from the trouble he'd get in.

Connor turned around, about to start walking home, when he heard a loud thud come from inside the orchard.

Of course, any logical person wouldn't go heading towards danger, but Connor's curious, and curiosity killed the cat, and before he knew it, he was walking inside the orchard, using his phone's flashlight as a light source.

He walked around slowly, trying to find something, and he tried to convince himself it was nothing interesting, it was just a ball or something, but then his light shines onto a person, and they don't look so good.

The poor guy's arm (he's been able to distinguish that it was, in fact, a boy) was twisted at a strange angle, and that is definitely not how arms bend all right. He also noticed that he couldn't quite breathe correctly, like the wind was knocked out of him. He was all scratched up too, assembly from the branches. There was a broken branch beside him.

Connor just stared, because what the hell was a person doing out at that time of night? (almost three in the god damned morning, mind you. Connor's strange like that). Granted someone could ask him the same thing, but it was just so uncommon, because no one was ever out after ten (well, the occasional group of teenagers here and there, but they did stupid shit during daytime). It was obvious that Ethan (was that his name? Connor was never good with names) had climbed the tree, and the branch beside him showed he must've fallen or lost his grip or something. He was presumptuous like that.

He shook his head, snapping himself out of his thoughts, and slowly approached Evan. Judging by how Ethan jerked his head when a twig snapped, he hadn't noticed Connor just yet. He was still panting, his eyes were still red from crying, and Connor could already seeing tears form (Connor wasn't sure why, though).