Chpt. 13 - Amends

Weeks had gone by after Connor had come out... And, eventually, the school had learned of his relationship with Evan...

It wasn't Jared that had let the beans spill though... Through everything, Jared had kept his lips sealed, refusing to tell a soul, even his parents didn't know. Jared was many things, but he wasn't a liar. Evan knew that as much. Of course, Evan was going to apologize to Jared, finally wanting to make amends. He was conflicted though, seeking Connor for advice and comfort in this trying time. Connor had his arms wrapped gently around Evan's waist, holding him quite close to his body in the middle of the school hallway. People passed by, giving them odd looks and snickering to themselves, wearing devious smirks.

Evan tried not to get too flustered, but the proof was in the pudding... He was beyond flustered. The entirety of his face was bright red and he held his bottom lip between his teeth, kneading it softly, trying not to bite his lip completely off. "Evan. You're nervous, I can tell. If you want me to let go, I will." Connor began to loosen his grip, but Evan quickly shook his head, afraid to not be so close to him as they were now. "No! Nonono- It's okay! I just... I'm not that nervous." Evan ended his sentence with an anxious chuckle. He had accidentally bit down on his lip and blood began to slowly pour out, but he just curled his lip into his mouth, nervous about getting blood everywhere.

He couldn't quite understand why he was so anxious right now when he hadn't been the other times when Connor held him close. It could've been because they were in public... Evan noticed Jared walking down the corridor, following a group of students, people whom he called friends but... They sure weren't acting like it right now. He attempted to talk to one of them, but they just brushed him off and quickened their pace. Jared's shoulders drooped, but he quickly regained his usual posture, laughed, then walked after his "friends". Evan watched him turn around a corner, out of view. "I think we should talk to Jared. He seems, uhm, upset?" Evan said, slowly pulling away from Connor, although he really didn't want to. Connor reluctantly agreed. Connor wasn't too keen on talking to Jared, or even being near him for that matter because of the way he had treated him and Evan in the past, but if Evan wanted to... Then, he wanted to, too.

Evan placed his hand in Connor's and grinned as Connor latched his fingers around his, feeling electricity rocket through his arm. It was amazing. Everything about being near him, seeing him, and touching him was amazing.

The pair walked the way Jared had gone to see him leaned up against a locker, his glasses were held loosely in his hands as he cleaned the smudges off of his lenses with the front of his shirt. He looked around the corridor, lazily. "Uh... J-Jared! Hey." Evan approached Jared with Connor beside him, holding onto his hand tightly.

Jared looked up for a millisecond, then turned back down to his glasses which were now clean, but he continued to aggressively wipe them. He refused to look back up. "What?"

"I'm sorry." Evan apologized, meaning it. "We're sorry." He lightly squeezed Connor's hand. Connor nodded.

A smirk began to bloom on his face. He thrust his glasses back onto his face. "Sorry for...?" He drawled. Here was the sarcastic Jared Evan had grown to know... Evan let go of Connor's hand, then placed both of his hands on Jared's shoulders. Jared's smirk faltered. "We're...serious, Jared. We're so, so, so sorry." Jared flinched as if he had just taken a blow to the head. He was surprised. "Why are you apologizing? I should be the one apologizing." Jared responded, a frown now replaced his usual smirk. "I'm sorry for everything..." Jared continued.

The three of them were all sorry for a lot of things.

Jared was sorry for bullying Connor and using Evan.

Evan was sorry for not realizing sooner that Jared needed a friend.

Connor was sorry for pushing Jared away when it was obvious that he was trying to apologize to Evan that day in the computer lab.

That day... The duo became the trio. Of course, Jared joked about being the third wheel... But, tricycles can't roll without three wheels, that fact made him chuckle. This time, Jared would be true, honest, and kind to his new friends because Heaven knows he could use some of his own.