Zoe knocked on Evan's door while fumbling in her pocket for some loose change in case he wasn't opening it fast enough, but he did.

Evan rubbed his eyes, looking sleepy, but saw her face and his jaw dropped open.

"Zoe!" Evan whispered. "What happened?"

"Connor," Zoe answered bitterly, shutting the door behind her.

"Zoe," Evan murmured, leading her inside onto the couch, next to him. "Zoe, tell me what happened."

Zoe couldn't. She was so used to having some sort of guard up, keeping the sensitive, normal teenager side of her locked up tight. She wasn't a normal teenager, no matter how hard she tried. Evan was the only one besides Maia she was decently comfortable with, and Connor was constantly ruining her life, and her parents really didn't give a shit.

So she just said "Connor's an asshole. Hardly earth-shattering news."

Evan seemed to understand and nodded. "Um. So. I sort of have an idea but it's probably terrible and you'd probably hate it."

Zoe shrugged. "What is it?"

"Okay, so I don't remember all of the words so I'll have to make some stuff up, but…" Evan opened his mouth to sing.

The river she is flowing

Flowing and growing

The river she is flowing

Down to the sea

Mother carry me

Your child I will always be

Mother carry me

Down to the sea

The wind he is blowing

Blowing and rolling

The wind he is blowing

Down through the trees

Father carry me

Your child I will always be

Father carry me

Down through the trees

The earth she is changing

Changing and moving

The earth she is changing

All through the years

Mother carry me

Your child I will always be

Mother carry me

All through the years

The fire he is burning

Burning and forging

The fire he is burning

Ashes to dust

Father carry me

Your child I will always be

Father carry me

Ashes to dust

Evan stopped. "I don't know the words anymore, and there are like a million different versions, but my mom once took me to Yosemite in California. It was so beautiful. She taught me that song, and my dad played guitar. He was really good."

"That's a great song," Zoe murmured. "You're a good singer."

Evan blushed. "It comes from my mom. She used to be in choir when she was a kid. She actually once got a gig singing at a bar but she had to quit when I was born."

They were silent for a bit. Zoe felt a tear trickling down her cheek. Evan noticed and shifted his body.

"Zoe, what happened? I mean, I understand if you don't feel comfortable sharing but I can't really help if you don't tell me…"

Before she could stop herself, she started to tell him. "Connor was insulting you in front of my parents and my mom had grounded me earlier and so I played a prank on Connor. I filled his bed up with shaving cream. He found out and we argued and yelled at each other and he hit me and shoved me. Then I grabbed the car keys, left, and came here."

Evan looked outraged. "Jesus Christ! I'd kill him, but I'm actually really scared of him…I mean, I'll kill him! Totally!"

Despite herself, Zoe couldn't help laughing at that.

Evan gulped. "I'm not worth that, though."

Zoe shrugged sleepily. "I think you are."

Evan's eyes widened and Zoe rested her head on his shoulder.

"Can you sing a bit again? Please? Just the last verse," she added. She felt so much younger than sixteen, for once in her life. She was always striving to be older. But for once she felt she could catch up and live her life, even if only for a bit.

Evan sang again.

"The fire he is burning,

Burning and forging

The fire he is burning

Ashes to dust

Father carry me

Your child I will always be

Father carry me

Ashes to dust."

Zoe noticed a tear rolling down Evan's cheek.

"Evan?" she asked.

"It's just…it reminds me of my dad," Evan admitted.

"What's wrong with your dad?"

"He left when I was seven. He was abusive to my mother when they were still married. But I still feel like that boy who idolizes his dad. I know he was a terrible person. I just can't help it," Evan admitted.

"And Evan?" Zoe said.

"Hm?"

"You're totally worth it," she said.

Without warning, she kissed him.

He looked surprised but didn't object. They kissed for another couple seconds before Zoe broke away.

"I need to sleep," she explained.

Evan nodded thoughtfully. "Do you want to sleep on the couch? Or…"

"Evan," Zoe laughed, playfully.

"Ok," he laughed back. "Just asking…"


Zoe left Evan's house at about eight. Evan said he could walk (He didn't have a driver's license. Something about slamming on the brake too much). Zoe almost wished she hadn't kissed him. HE was sweet, yeah, and it felt like she'd known him forever, but she'd met him about twenty-four hours before now. She could trust him, but why did she know she could?

Cynthia called Zoe again. Finally Zoe picked up.

"What?" Zoe asked acidly.

Cynthia sounded angry. "What the hell were you doing, running away like that? You know we need you!"

"I was leaving Connor, Mom. Are you seriously telling me Connor didn't tell you what happened yet?"

"Are you talking about the shaving cream or him hitting you?" Cynthia asked, annoyed.

"You know?"

"Yes!"

Zoe was annoyed at her mother not making a bigger deal out of Connor hitting her. "Goodbye, Mom, I'm hanging up now."

"Zoe! Don't you dare hang up on—" CLICK.