I think I've fleshed this out enough now that you understand where everyone that was introduced stands, so obviously I have to add the remaining characters to the fray. I decided to add my wildcard character to this story bc I remembered I possess that kind of power.

Zoe Murphy is a complex character that I've honestly haven't done any justice to; hopefully I can do better with her in this.

Tfw 13 of the completed stories in the ship tag are all made by yourself. Shooting for 14 with this one, but it'll probably be the last one I do on this ship; hopefully it's a good one.


19. Περιθώριο

Things had become quiet since the last week of the break, when Connor added yet another scent to his collection, faint and healthier than the last, with the sweet undertone of an omega. That particular week he had stayed out for as long as possible, and kept silent through all the dinners their mom had forced them into having as a family; Zoe wasn't going to chance messing the odd tranquility by asking questions.

Now he was showing to school, not just walking into the building, but actually attending class, and spending the times in between walking besides Evan Hansen.

The idea of Connor having a crush shouldn't have been weird, and yet here Zoe was, completely dumbfounded by the image of his brother acting like a pining alpha, and all around being soft to an omega. What did make sense was that said omega was Evan Hansen.

Evan seemed to be Connor's exact opposite, quiet, kept to himself, didn't stand out, didn't cause trouble; he made for a very stereotypical omega, if Zoe was being honest, but he was also of the maybe two people at school willing to stand that close to Connor for anything other than riling him up. Zoe guessed he was cute for an omega, round face and bright eyes, but everyone knew he was a fox, and that kind of worked against his favor; but considering how Evan affected Connor, Zoe was not going to judge, ever.

Connor is still arriving home later than he should and giving no explanation, but Zoe's pretty sure he's hanging out with Evan, if the way the scent of forest was slowly becoming more noticeable was anything to go by; and if things were normal she would find it weird that he's hiding this fact from his family, but as it is Connor's secrecy is mostly welcomingly familiar when everything else about the situation just off sets Zoe.

It's not that she thinks there's something going on, Evan seems perfectly consenting to having Connor play the part of his shadow, she was pretty sure she caught him actively seeking him out a few times, actually one of said times was the reason why Zoe had learned there was a project to renew the old apple orchard; but it was still weird to see Connor acting nice with anyone.

So she tries to distract herself, because otherwise she'll pry, and prying only ever ends wrong in the Murphy family; and she likes the quiet. She's still weary and untrusting, and she sometimes catches herself thinking that her brother doesn't deserve something normal, resentment burning so viciously on her veins that her scent turns bitter with it.

Zoe doesn't exactly remember the orchard, she was far too young back then, but she's heard the stories, and the world could definitely do with more green areas; she thinks of her mother, and how it would probably make her happy to know she helped with something like this, and she thinks of Evan Hansen, ripping a poster out before walking to meet Connor half way with it clutch tight in his hands. She doesn't stay to see the outcome, and when neither appears at the meeting place later she forgets about it; it couldn't have been that important.

- ... . / - -.-. / .-. - ...-

There are times where Trevor wonders if he perhaps possesses some sort of magic ability to be on the right place at the right time; other times it's more of a curse, but he's learned to deal with it. It is particularly helpful when taking photos.

Trevor had gotten into photography because of it at first, but he eventually fell in love with the way he could pretend like he had stopped time, captured seconds into pixels. He hadn't joined the yearbook committee as much as Elise had dragged him there for his skills, but then he started talking with the others, and wore his red highlights proudly as a fully invested member.

And then Alexei, Lexi, the sophomore that was far better with a brush than with a camera, who liked to exchange pigments of perspective for Trevor's frozen seconds of reality; told him about the Autumn Smiles Apple Orchard. To them the Orchard wasn't a place; it was a clue, a memory.

"I know it's a lot to ask, going somewhere that's closed off, particularly when there's someone about to take it over, but…"

"You know I'd do anything for you Lexi, a bit of law breaking isn't outside of the realm of possibilities"

They make to protest, then seem to register his words and instead assume a perturbed expression instead.

"Should I be concerned?"

Trevor snorts but shrugs his shoulders.

"Do you want to go today?"

"Yeah, but not immediately after school, maybe once it gets dark, we could shift to cover more ground"

Trevor grins then.

"Sure, it's been a bit since I last stretched these old dog legs properly"

Alexei gives him a very done look.

"I'm gonna ignore that and ask you to meet at mine at sundown before you keep going and I go ask Rene for help instead"

"Ok, no, I love Irene, but that's an awful idea; there's no way I'm letting you do that to yourself"

Alexei sighs but gives him a grateful smile, and that's what counts.

Trevor Fletcher is only looking to help a friend out, to use his penchant for being on the right place at the right time for someone else; nothing more.