Chapter 2: Fake Friends

August 3rd, 2015

Lunch

Connor didn't know what the hell was going on! He tried to be a decent human being by apologizing to Evan Hansen. The guy broke his arm. Connor felt bad. Seems like he was feeling bad about a lot of things lately… He was that kid in the background who Connor didn't hate. And Connor blew up in his face.

Great job asshole!

Even someone like Connor understood how much of a dick move that was. Why was he like this? That is still the grand mystery of his fucked up life. He felt like a walking time bomb. Everyone knew that. He was going to explode one day and everything will go to hell. Evan is not the first victim. He definitely won't the last. Connor hated knowing that. He didn't know what to do! The least he could do was apologize to Evan. Maybe start with that. The first step of his transformation from being the biggest dickhead of all time.

The plan was simple. Sign his cast. Leave. Maybe Connor wouldn't need a smoke. What was he thinking? Of course he would need a damn smoke. His nerves were just so restless. If he stood still he had to be doing something or whatever. Problem was, things took a different turn.

Being tackled by the cripple was not part of his grand master plan.

Thankfully he was sober enough to realize how uncomfortable and embarrassing this position was. A strange and slightly perverted image popped into his head. Evan on top of Connor. His face buried into Connor's chest. He bet Evan could hear his racing heartbeat. A mismatched pair of arms wrapped tightly around Connor's waist. Circulation was cut off due to the cast. Too shocked to do much of anything, Connor sat there in mortification. Evan shifted. Something moved between Connor's legs.

Oh God is that hiseg?! Should I scream rape?

Connor said what Connor usually said, "What the actual FUCK!?"

"Don't read the letter!" Evan cried. Connor tried to scoot back. He felt his jeans slip off. The one day he actually regretted not wearing a belt was this one. Connor felt the pairing heat of anger and embarrassment built up in his cheeks.

"What the actual FUCK!?" Saying that again woke up Connor's senses. He kicked Evan where the light doesn't shine. At least he prayed to God that it never saw light. Evan groaned in pain. Connor pushed himself back. His pants were draped over his knees and trailed after him. Did Connor wear underwear today? He checked.

Yep.

Evan whimpered, "Don't read the letter!" He tumbled to his side, cupping down there. "Oh that hurts!"

"No shit Sherlock! Do you normally try to rape people!? I thought you were too chicken to do that kind of crap!" Connor tried to stand but fell on his tighty whities. He wiggled on his pants.

"I-I-" Evan stuttered. From pain or just the fact that he was weird, Connor didn't know. He didn't care.

"I said, fake friends! Ya know? Not fuck buddies!" Connor stumbled to his feet and paced around the room. He felt the tears build up. His breathing was erratic. Connor glanced at the pained Evan who seemed to be calming down.

Screw this guy... screw this school...screw his family...screw him!

In a hateful voice, Connor snarled, "Fuck you!" He tried to wipe the tears before they fell. "I thought you were different. But it looks like you are as fucked up as everyone else!"

"Connor…" Evan gasped. He pulled himself up by clinging to the table holding the printer with his good arm.

Connor should kick him right in that fucking face. Instead he froze. Something felt off. He didn't kick people, did he? He never wanted to hurt people. Yet why was that his first instinct? An image of him yelling at his mother played through his head. I pushed her…The dark gaze of his father was burned into his memories. I made him hate me… Zoe was crying in front of him. I ruined her childhood.

I am the problem...I need to end it.

There were those pills in the bathroom cabinet. That one therapist prescribed them but said not to take more than two a day. Connor was hated by his parents for a reason, he did the exact opposite of what he was told. Maybe this time, he could do it for their sake.

The door opened. "What is going on in here!" an older woman demanded. Her dark eyes fell upon Evan struggling to stand. She shouted into the hallway, "Someone get the nurse!" Before Connor could blink she was at Evan's side.

"I'm-he-I am fine," Evan groaned.

The woman jabbed a finger at Connor and growled, "What did you do Mr. Murphy?"

Students were crowding in the doorway. Connor's breath hitched as he heard the dreadful whispers.

"Connor beat up Evan!"

"Is he going psycho?"

Connor's hands trembled. His lungs were collapsing from the inside.

"God, I don't even know why they would keep a freak here."

"I heard it's because the Murphys don't want to keep him at home."

Freak...Psychopath...Is that what I am? Connor glared down at his trembling hands. He didn't belong here. He exploded. He hurts people. What use is he?

"I am fine! Connor I am so sorry-" Evan got to his feet. The words played themselves over and over in his head. Freak. Psycho. Monster. Scary...Scary...He was scary.

"Mr. Murphy and Mr. Hansen," a deep voice shook the room. Connor jolted out of his trance to stare at a short man with narrow eyes and the thinnest beard one could ever have. "Seeing as neither of you are in serious harm, come to my office now." The short man wearing a suit shooed away the students. They made a poor attempt to keep an eye on the two teens. The whispers continued as they followed the short man.

Zoe was scared of him. He rubbed his now running nose. God he hated this. He made her cry countless times. This will all end soon though. Newfound determination made its way to his heart. After the stupid principal, he will finally do it. And no one will stop him. No one wouldn't. It's the debt he needs to pay for being the biggest fucking asshole of all time!

Principal's Office

Well, at least Connor didn't storm off to kill himself. Right? Evan already knew he should have planned this whole saving Connor idea before doing something stupid. But as usual, he didn't think! If he could, Evan would be banging his head against the wall. He messed up in the past by fabricating a horrible lie and he also messed up by tackling Connor who thought he was trying to rape him. Great, I am such a dumbass. When Connor was about leave that computer room by himself, Evan couldn't not think. He felt like he had to do something. He had to make sure that the letter was never read. Thank God, Buddha or whatever that never happened.

In an alternate world, this one in particular, Evan and Connor would have ended up in the principal's office. His insane and selfish story about his fake friendship with the teen began in this very room. Evan gripped his shorts. He noticed that Connor was impatiently tapping his foot. Connor was biting the inside of his left cheek as he glared at the window across from them. Evan could tell he was doing his best to avoid eye contact with him. Sweat raced down his forehead. Maybe he made things worse?

There stood the desk in front of the sitting teens. It was clean and organized. There was a pile of folders neatly stacked besides the black keyboard for the computer. The screen was hidden from view. A green mug stuffed with new pens and pencils was next to the silver plaque that read, "Principle Kawaguchi." Evan didn't recognize the name but was too terrified to question it. He noticed pictures on the bookshelves of the man who left them here. Mainly of him with different people and a couple kids that had his cold gaze. Pictures of his family, Evan assumed.

The short man, Mr. Kawaguchi sauntered in with his round, wrinkled head held up high and his pudgy hands behind his back. He took time sitting in his big black chair and adjusted himself as the boys waited. Sweat trickled down Evan's face.

Cupping his hands together, the middle aged man wrinkled his small nose and said, "So...you two were yelling at each other. Ms. Herrington found Mr. Murphy standing over Mr. Hansen." His cold gaze focused on Evan. The handicapped teen froze. "She claims that Mr. Murphy here was harassing you. Earlier today, some students claimed that he threatened you. Is that true?"

"Threaten!?" Connor exclaimed. The firecracker bolted to life. He slammed his hands on the desk and pointed at Evan. His pale face turn a dark shade of red. "I didn't do anything! He-"

"Mr. Murphy! Sit down. We are handling this in a timely matter before your parents arrive!" Mr. Kawaguchi growled.

"Oh! Great! More condescending jerks to come and side with this rampaging creep!" he spat at Evan. He reluctantly sat in the chair. Fumes flew out of his nostrils as he took deep breaths.

Evan felt his ears turned red. Ok. Maybe he could have grabbed Connor's attention a different way. Tackling him like he was the quarterback for an opposing football team was a bit extreme. He obviously had to work a few things in this new life.

"Mr. Murphy! I am talking to Mr. Hansen at the moment!"

"Then why are we here together!?" Connor rolled his eyes.

"One more word out of you and I will have you suspended for your conduct!"

Evan couldn't help but imagine a cartoonish time bomb preparing to explode. He forgot how scary Connor could be. Evan did his best to hide his trembling and gather up the courage to speak up. He had to make this right.

"Its my fault Mr. Kawaguchi," Evan declared.

The other two froze as the doors opened. "The Murphys and Mrs. Hansen are here Principle Kawaguchi," a woman announced.

Evan instantly felt relieved when he saw his mother. She awkwardly entered the office and glanced around the room with wide eyes. "Hey sweetie!" she gave her son a hug from behind. "I know I said go out there and everything, but this isn't exactly what I meant," she whispered with a giggle. His mother's embrace warmed his heart. It took a year of lying, but he knew that his mother was on his side.

Evan felt a lump form in his throat when Mr. and Mrs. Murphy entered the room. He couldn't just casually greet them. They didn't know him. Besides, it's not like he could do so in the real world. Is it the real world or is this one?

Mr. Murphy asked annoyed, "I got called during a meeting so what did he do this time?" He pulled out his phone and typed something quick before giving the short man in the chair his full attention.

"Are you okay Connor?" the kinder woman, Connor's mother, asked. She noticed Evan's arm and bit her lips. A million ideas seemed to have been running through her head.

Unlike before, Evan noticed that Connor looked a lot like his mother. Not that Connor looked like a girl, well he kinda did with his long messy hair from behind...Evan shook the idea away of Connor dressing like his mother. Actually, he stopped the comparison there. Weird images were flashing through his head. Yep. Connor should definitely invest in a haircut sometime soon. Now an image of him with his mother's hair plagued Evan's mind.

Ok. He should stop there and pay attention to what was happening.

"-Connor here was found standing over an injured Evan in the computer room. Passing students reported that they heard yelling and other noises. That prompted the faculty to investigate and find the two," Mr. Kawaguchi explained to the adults.

Mr. Murphy sent his son an obvious glare of disappointment mixed with disgust. Evan opened his mouth to clarify but the principle beat him to the punch. "Evan here was about to explain how it was 'his fault' as you all were coming in." The man gestured to the silent stuttering teen. Evan instinctively shrunk as he slumped over and rubbed his good hand over the cast.

Mrs. Murphy's eyes sparkled with interest. Good, she saw the name. Evan could fix things. "Uh-well I will explain that!" Evan squeaked. He cleared his throat and tried to avoid the gazes of everyone in the room. Especially Connor's own. His heart leaped a few times. "Well Um..I...Kinda tackled Connor."

"Tackle?" Mr. Murphy and his wife repeated in confusion.

The principle crossed his arms and leaned back into his chair. "Go on…"

"See! I didn't-" Connor began but stopped when the principle sent him a silencing glare. Connor slouched back and continued tapping his foot at a rapid pace. He turned his head away from Evan, but he could see Connor's strained, clenched cheeks.

Evan scratched his cast, earning him a warning tap from his mother to stop. Evan shrunk even more. "Earlier today some students were picking on him...and he thought I was with him. Which is why some people said that he threatened me! But he didn't! Not truly!"

The tapping was paired with a huff through the nose.

"He was looking for me during lunch. I was printing out something for myself. He apologized and signed my cast."

Mrs. Murphy tilted her head in curiosity. Her husband checked something on his phone for what felt like the sixth time.

"He signed your cast sweetie?" his mother inquired. Evan could feel her excitement.

"Why would he do that?" Mr. Murphy asked nonchalantly.

Evan mustered all the strength he had and smiled, "Because we are friends!"

Connor turned, his blue eyes wide. "Friends? Connor I didn't know you had a friend!" Mrs. Murphy exclaimed.

Connor's expression disappeared and he looked away again. "Uh-of course we are friends. I just didn't expect him to tackle me."

"Haha," Evan said and rubbed the back of his head. "I kinda got carried away! I tend to do that sometimes…"

Connor giggled bitterly and shook his head. "No shit Sherlock…"

"Connor!" his parents scolded in unison.

Evan forced out a laugh, feeling the blush blooming in his cheeks. "That's just Connor Mr. and Mrs. Murphy!"

Connor genuinely laughed softly, "God you are so weird…" He stopped and looked at the principle. "I kinda overreacted. I mean, I thought the quarterback came out of nowhere to take me out."

"I did want to join the team," Evan added.

"Coach definitely needs you then. With that arm, you can totally knockout some big guys."

Butterflies flew around his rib cage. "I see that this situation has been cleared up," the principal said with a knowing smile.

Out of the office

That was the first time someone didn't disappoint Connor. Someone who actually followed the code of fake friends! If there was a code. Maybe he could start working on that after his smoke. Connor mentally shrugged as he and his parents left the principal's office. He and Evan did get detention. Thankfully no one is allowed to talk in a boring classroom so he wouldn't have to interact with the creep. Even though that creep did help him, he was still a creep. Evan almost raped Connor for crying out loud. Who knows what the hell is going on in the quiet guy's head!

Shake that thought away. Connor didn't wanna know anything about this guy.

Connor smiled in response to his father's skeptical frown. He still didn't trust Connor. His son's track record of being a bad boy may have been put on hold, but they both knew something will come up, Connor took it as a compliment just in spite of the bastard. He was half tempted to bow dramatically and announce, "This time I did not start shit!" His mother was the complete opposite of his father. She was ecstatic. New information containing anything positive about Connor's life made her happy. Proof to Connor that he sure was a fucking handful for her. To the both of them.

Fuck them. It will all be over soon.

"Connor! Why don't you introduce us to your friend! We are dying to be properly acquainted. Aren't we?" she grinned and practically jumped in place as she waited for her husband to respond.

That's when the bastard's skepticism intensified. Connor internally groaned. He could never satisfy him. Connor placed on his show smile and dramatically waved towards Evan. He was leaving the office with his mother behind him. The shorter woman sent them a warm smile. Connor felt his own become real, if only for a moment.

"Mom, dad this is my friend Evan," he announced. The handicapped teen blushed furiously. Connor swore his father's eyebrows were going to fly off of his head. Connor chuckled darkly. "See! I signed his cast!"

"Yeah! No one else did…" Evan awkwardly added. Evan's mother beamed pridefully. Connor wrapped an arm around his shoulders and pulled him close. Evan squeaked.

"He is a weirdo, but hey," Connor shrugged, "that just means he is awesome. Like me."

If he had a camera he would show the world how one can lose their eyebrows in five seconds. One look at his father and the man lost them. It became hard to hold back his insane laughter. Thankfully, Evan's mom put in her two cents and saved him by saying, "I am Heidi Hansen by the way, Evan's mom!" She thrusted her hand out eagerly. Connor's mother gripped it with growing enthusiasm.

"We are the Murphys! I am Cynthia and this is Larry," she replied. "We are thrilled to meet you."

"Same here!"

"So uh...another reason why I was looking for this guy-" Connor rubbed Evan's head. Evan giggled, it was obviously awkward. But it was cute enough to hide the fact that he was trembling. Connor held onto him tighter. Parents could smell fear a mile away and he had to hide Evan's or else they could smell all of the bullshit. If that happens, it will be an eternity until Connor gets his smoke. Even longer for his plans.

"He was going to help me with my art class! He knows the teacher. So I need his help with things like impressionism and that Picasso guy," the words fell easily off of his tongue.

"Yep," Evan agreed.

"Is it like ok if we run off? So he can be the good-" he squeezed Evan's shoulder for emphasis and a silent message to the creepy teen, fucking go with it. "-friend he is!"

"I see no problem with that," Evan's mother said.

"That's wonderful!" his mother clapped her hands. "Oh Heidi- can I call you that?" Heidi gave a confirming nod. His mother continued, "-would you like to join Larry and I- I mean we just met but we would love to invite you and Evan over for dinner sometime."

"Oh!? Really?" the woman asked, he voice laced with excitement.

"Yeah," his father said in confusion. "Wait what?"

"How about tonight?"

"Wait what?" Connor looked between the two women chatting away like chipmunks.

"We will be there! I can pick you two up from school and we can go together," Heidi turned to the two boys. Evan was sweating. Gross.

"Yeah!" Evan agreed.

"Sounds great!" Connor forced the biggest smile. He tapped his fingers against Evan's shoulder. "But we really need to do the art crap…"

"Ok! Evan, text me when you are done. Ok?" Heidi said. Evan nodded.

"See you guys later!" Connor tried to get as far away from these crazies as possible without drawing suspension to their ruse. He let go of his shoulder but held onto his good hand. He dragged Evan after him. God even his hands were sweaty. This fucking creep…

That's probably why his heart skipped a beat when he glanced at Evan's dark red face. He felt his own pale cheeks warm up from the embarrassment.

God I seriously need that smoke!

Author's Note:

Thank you MidnightMoon17, Raincoloredeyes, IsomniaticFrenchToast, PsychologicalColors, Sarcastic Radiation, Winkj, mdmpinkie9088 and Yup_the_feels for your comments. (I have this story on Fanfiction and AO3). I would list off more of the amazing people who left kudos, follows and likes as well but then the list will get a little too long. I didn't expect this kind of response. I never get any so I usually feel like a story goes to waste.

I could say a million more thanks but that would be a bit redundant. I tried to get part two out as quickly as I can but I also wanted to make it a bit longer. And there was also finals, and work, and "The Greatest Showman Soundtrack" (I am totally "not" slacking on anything). Honestly thank you all, and I hope this gets as much or more feedback. I am trying to write and share more consistently so get on me to continue or I will move on to a different project.

Thank you for reading! Leave a comment, like or follow. I love feedback in all of its different forms!