what came before won't count anymore · deh

xxi

"what do you want?"

"are you okay?"

"you sound like a therapist, alana."

"then so be it." she folds her hands halfway across the table. "we can do this all day."

"actually, no, we can't," connor says, smirking, "because you won't skip class."

"i'm technically not supposed to be here today," she says with a grimace. "honor society trip. but we landed early, and here i am. so, yes, we have all day."

connor's smile fades. "okay. what."

"are you okay?"

"what is okay?"

"oh, don't give me that hot topic bullshit."

alana beck doesn't curse. connor is taken aback.

"i mean, right now? no. but it's because of outside sources. oh, don't give me that look," he says as alana's eyebrows furrow, "you saw exactly what went down."

"what happened?"

"why do you need to know?"

"because evan is my friend, connor. not acquaintance, not a passing face. i consider him a friend. and i think i have a right to know what's happening."

"then ask your friend, alana. i don't think he's ever going to talk to me again."

alana pauses, settling back as she purses her lips. "okay... okay. let me act as a mediator, then?"

connor inhales sharply, tapping his black nails on the table. "fine. i guess. whatever."

alana nods, pushing away from the table. "alright, then, connor murphy. i got you."