Chapter Text
They say you know when you find your soulmate because when they touch you color will spread from the point that they touch you. Eventually it stops and when you touch again it spreads more.
They say your first day of senior year is supposed to be exciting but for Evan it was just another day that he was stuck in this hell like state. His mom Heidi knocked on the door of his room and let herself in.
“Senior year! Aren’t you excited?” Heidi once had color but ever since Evan was seven and his dad left the color drained from her.
“C’mon Evan it’s a new year meaning a new chance to make some more friends!” She smiled on the outside but on the inside, she was frowning.
Evan looked at his mom and faked excitement and a smile, “Yeah mom, it’s uh r-really exciting.” Evan had been dreading this day ever since he broke his arm,
“Hey I know, why don’t you get the other kids to sign your cast? It’d be a great conversation starter.”
Evan just sighed knowing he was fighting a losing battle, he grabbed the sharpie his mom had handed to him and with another fake smile he replied, “Okay mom im sure a lot of people will sign it.”
The Murphy household was trying to have a peaceful breakfast but that just wasn’t possible anymore, between Larry being too busy with work and Zoe and Connor fighting all the time it was almost impossible to think.
“Connor, you have to go to school today it’s the first day, no excuses.”
Connor huffed and ran a hand through his hair, “Look mom I didn’t say I wouldn’t go tomorrow, I’m just saying I don’t want to go today.”
Cynthia sighed loudly not knowing what to do and hoping her husband would at least try and say something.
“Larry, are you going to look up from your emails and say something or not?” She didn’t mean it to sound so frustrated but that’s how she was feeling.
Larry looked up reluctantly from his phone and sighed, “What do you want me to say he never listens and besides he’s probably high.”
Zoe decided to butt in, “He’s definitely high.”
Connor glared at her, “Fuck you.”
“Fuck you.” Zoe retorted.
Cynthia put the coffee cup she was holding down and glared at both of her children.
“Look, Zoe I don’t need you making those comments at your brother, they aren’t constructive.”
Zoe scoffed, “Are you actually kidding me?”
Cynthia turned to Connor, “And you we have talked about this I don’t want you going to school high!”
Connor laughed, “Perfect so then I won’t go, thanks for the flawless logic mom!”
Evan had run into his somewhat friend Jared Kleinman, they’d been well, why not call it like it is, ‘Family’ friends for years Evan thought they were actual friends and while Jared wouldn’t admit it he knew Evan was one of the only people who actually enjoyed talking to him.
“How does it feel to be the first person known is history to break your arm from overly jerking off?” This was Jared’s coping mechanism being a dick and saying shitty things to the people who cared about him.
“N-no that’s obviously n-not what happened and y-you know th-that.” Evan managed to stutter out.
Jared laughed, “Oh c’mon you got Zoe Murphy’s Instagram up on that weird off brand cell phone of yours- “
Evan cut him off, “Shut up th-that’s not what happened! Um how was um your s-summer.”
Jared grinned genuinely actually interested to tell him about summer camp, “Well my bunk dominated capture the flag, and I got to second base with this girl who’s going off to be in the army or whatever, I think that answers your question.”
It was only half true, sure Jared got to second base, but he lied it wasn’t with a girl who was leaving, it was one of his bunk mates who just so happened to be a guy.
“Did um d-did you gain any color over the summer?” Jared shook his head sadly, he was really hoping that it would happen but it didn’t and he’d never admit it but he actually cried about it.
“How’d you break your arm?” Evan frowned and began fidgeting with the hem of his shirt and quickly moved on to scratch at the cast on his arm.
“I w-well I um, I fell. I fell out of a tree.”
Jared couldn’t help but laugh it was such an Evan thing to do, “You fell out of a tree? What are you some kind of acorn?”
Evan gave a weak laugh, “Hey, did you maybe wanna sign my cast?”
Jared frowned, he wanted to, he really did but if someone saw him doing it his rep would be ruined so instead he said, “Wait why are you asking me?”
Evan’s face fell, “Oh um well I thought since we’re friends?”
Jared patted Evan on the back and hesitated for a moment as if he were waiting for something to happen, but it didn’t. “We’re family friends and you know it, that’s a totally different thing.”
Connor Murphy heard the annoying voice that could only be coming from Jared Kleinman’s mouth as he was walking to class already pissed off.
His high was wearing off and he wasn’t dumb enough to cut class to get high either, he was walking by Evan and Jared when he hear Jared say, “Oh, hey Connor, I love the new hair length it’s very school shootery.” Jared laughed, “it was a joke.”
Connor snorted lightly, “Oh no I get it, but am I not laughing hard enough for you?!”
He took a step forward ready to fight Jared if needed. Jared began to walk away but not before stating, “you’re such a freak.”
Evan didn’t know what to do with what he just witnessed, he accidentally laughed nervously and started fidgeting again. Connor turned on Evan, who the fuck did this kid think he was laughing at him, “You think im a freak huh? I’m not the freak, you’re the fucking freak.” And he pushed Evan storming off.
Evan noticed something had happened when Connor pushed him, his arm began showing color. “Wh-what?” N-no way in hell Connor Murphy was his soulmate. There had to be a mistake, and Evan would find out. Connor had noticed color going down his arm ever since he pushed that Evan kid, he snorted to himself, no fucking way Hansen was his soulmate, this was a mistake and he had to at least try to fix it.
After school Evan made a beeline for the computer lab so he could try and finish that stupid letter Dr. Sherman needed when he went to his next appointment. He had just gotten off the phone with his mom and went to get his letter off of the printer when he spotted Connor. His hunched posture worsened with fear but Connor seemed different, friendlier.
“H-hey I’m sorry that I uh pushed you it wasn’t right.” Evan straightened, “O-oh um it’s fine you’re okay.” Evan noticed Connor staring at his cast but didn’t say anything.
Connor spoke up, “Um, so how’d you break your arm?”
Evan started scratching at the cast again, “I fell out of a tree.”
Connor laughed softly, “Well that’s just the saddest fucking thing I have ever heard.” Evan laughed, “I uh I guess so.” “Well no one has signed it yet,” Connor replied pointing at it. “O-h I um I know it’s just- ““Well I’ll sign it.” Evan’s eyes went wide, “Y-you really don’t have to!” Connor smiled slightly, “It’s no big deal um do you have a sharpie?”
Evan wiped his hands on his pants before pulling out the sharpie and handing it to him. Connor grabbed at Evan’s hand a little harder than he meant to but when he did both he and Evan noticed the color spreading across his arm.
They looked each other and Connor spoke first, “Huh, guess we are soulmates Hansen.” Evan pulled his arm back after Connor signed the cast, which he took up the entire front in his large handwriting, but at the bottom only noticeable if you looked very hard was a small heart.
Evan noticed Connor holding a piece of paper in his hands, “Hey Hansen is this yours it was sitting on the printer.”
Evan nodded, “yeah um i-its mine.” Connor skimmed through it seeing his sister’s name, rage flowing through his veins.
“Is this about my sister?!”
Evan’s eyes widened, “No, i-its um um for my um my therapist.”
Connor frowned wanting to believe him but his older brother protective instincts were wanting to take over.
“Then why is Zoe’s name in there?” Evan couldn’t respond his anxiety was going off the charts as he started shaking and fidgeting.
“I-I don’t know I really don’t, I don’t know wh-why I put it in there.” He choked out. Connor threw the papers down, “I don’t care if we are soulmates Hansen don’t fucking talk to me again.” He stormed out.