Erik and Rowan stood up as my mom turned around.

"Hey honey, are you feeling better?" My mom asked, walking over to me. I watched Rowan behind her, his expression had softened as he studied me.

My mom reached over to move some hair out of my eyes and I brushed her hand away.

"I'm great mom," I said with a smile, and walked over to the kitchen, grabbing a glass from the cupboard. I didn't need their pity.

"Ev, no need to be sarcastic with me,"

"I'm not," I said, filling up my glass with water from the fridge. "I feel fantastic."

She frowned at me as I took a sip. Erik and Rowan exchanged glances behind her and I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.

"Okay, well I'm off to pick up the food, do you need anything else while I'm out?"

"I'm good, thanks mom." She gave me a warm smile and picked up her keys from the counter.

"I'll be back soon boys, Evan your fathers on the phone in our room if you need anything."

On the phone... Talking to a fucking lawyer.

I shook my head free of the thought and returned her smile. When the front door shut I headed back to Erik and Rowan.

They were still standing and watching me with concern as if I'd suddenly fall and break down any second. I plopped down on my dad's favorite armchair, putting my feet up on the small table in front of the tv and flashed them a smile.

"What's up guys?"

They exchanged looks again before sitting back down. Erik seemed to be thinking of something to say, I could practically hear the wheels turning in his head, but Rowan just stared. His intense gaze was analyzing me, making my stomach twist. I broke eye contact with him as Erik spoke.

"We just came to see how you're doing, you know..." He looked to Rowan for support but Rowan stayed silent, his stare still set on me.

"I'm doing pretty well," I lied. "No complaints, considering."

"Considering you almost got killed." Rowan said. He hadn't looked away from me yet and my eyes snapped to his as my smile fell. I crossed my arms absentmindedly, his auburn eyes trapping me in. There was a storm brewing in them.

"Yup." I said passively, hoping we could change the topic. But what else would the three of us even have to talk about? We were silent for a few seconds before Erik broke it again.

"Fuck Evan I mean if I were you I'd have a few complaints myself." I shrugged and looked away from Rowan, staring at the tv's black screen. "You know they'll arrest him right? I mean they already got his fucking confession, they have everything they need."

A wave of euphoria hit me as the THC settled in my system, and I gave a short laugh. They probably thought I was a lunatic.

"That's a good one Erik, I needed that."

"What?" His voice was high pitched and he seemed frustrated.

"He's a hero in the eyes of the public. If they arrest him he'll be out in a day or two. It doesn't matter."

You shouldn't have read the comments.

"That's not true." I shrugged again.

"I guess we'll wait and see."

I felt Rowan look away from me and spared him a glance. His face was dark.

One word to Williams about this...

I felt my stomach turn again. The stress was coming back, and so were flashes of his face, the manic joy in his expression mixed with anger and hate.

"I'll be right back." I said and stood up, heading to my room. My dad's voice boomed across the hallway as he yelled at someone on the other line. I ignored it and pulled out another joint and the lighter from where I'd hid them earlier.

I walked back to the living room and pretended to not notice Erik and Rowan abruptly stop their conversation as they saw me.

"You guys want some?" I held up the joint. Realization crossed Rowan's face and his expression softened.

"Uh," Erik glanced at Rowan. "Sure."

I nodded over to the back door and they followed me outside to the backyard. I sat down on our bench and tried not to wince as I felt my ribs throb at the motion. Rowan sat next to me and Erik sat across from us.

My fingers fumbled with the lighter a few times before I got the joint lit. I inhaled deeply, feeling my stress melt away. I passed it to Rowan and closed my eyes.

A few moments passed in silence. The outside breeze had gotten stronger but it didn't bother me.

"Hey, so uh. Evan?" It was Erik again. I opened my eyes, surprised that they were already sensitive to the natural light. I must've smoked a lot.

"Yeah?"

"Alex texted me, he asked about yesterday..."

"Oh." I'd forgotten that I promised Lucy a call later. She'd probably tell Alex and Madison, and they'd probably bombard me with even more messages.

"What do you want me to tell him?"

"Uh..." I thought for a minute. "Just ignore him for now. I'll talk to him later."

"Sure thing."

I slumped further into the bench and crossed my arms over my chest, regretting throwing the bandages away. They'd definitely helped.

Rowan's phone rang next to me. I studied his face as he looked at the caller and declined it. He turned back to me, and I glanced away. The weed had dulled my senses, I felt like I had no control over what to do with myself. But it was better this way.

I heard a car door slam shut from around the house. My mom was back. I got up quickly and tossed the finished joint over to the neighbors yard. For the first time since he'd come, Rowan let out a laugh.

"I don't look high do I?" I asked them. Rowan smirked and said nothing.

"I mean..." Erik tried holding back a smile and I shook my head. I'm taking that as a no.

"Okay good."

We walked back inside right as the front door opened.

"Food's here!" My mom said, holding two full plastic bags.

Thank god.

I rushed over and grabbed one of them from her, eagerly opening it.

"Thanks, mom."

I pulled out the boxes and loaded my plate with rice and orange chicken.

My mom frowned at me and I saw Erik and Rowan trying not to laugh behind her.

"Sorry, I'm just really hungry." I said, hoping I hadn't given myself away.

"Of course, Ev." She said, and turned to Erik and Rowan, who quickly composed themselves. "Boys, help yourselves." She motioned over to the food I was hoarding.

I went back to the living room and sat in front of the tv, turning it on and flipping through the channels. Eventually I landed on FOX, when I saw an old rerun of Family Guy. Erik and Rowan sat down next to me, this time with plates of food, and my mom trailed closely behind them.

"Honey, I'll be in the room helping out your father. Let me know if you need anything."

"Okay." She walked out of the room and my attention fixated on the show. I'd shoveled enough food into my mouth and set the plate on the table in front of me. It was a good thing I was high because I didn't wanna imagine the social awkwardness that'd be happening then if I was sober and miserable.

I leaned back on the couch and sluggishly watched the show. I wasn't following the storyline, just staring at the colors changing on my screen.

The room was very warm, and I could feel my eyes drooping...

***

The early morning light woke me up. I was covered with a blanket. My eyelids were heavy and it took me a moment to realize where I was.

I stared at my surroundings, wondering why I slept on the living room couch before my brain caught up to me.

I was with Erik and Rowan... We watched TV... Oh no. I fell asleep.

I shot up and looked around. The room was empty, the plate I'd discarded last night was gone, my phone was set on the table in front of me over a piece of paper. I picked it up and saw that it was six in the morning. I must've fallen asleep early.

I scrolled through my alerts and didn't see anything unordinary. Only a few missed calls from Lucy and Alex. A wave of guilt hit me. I'd forgotten to call her back.

I sent her a message to call me when she woke up, before I put my phone down and slowly got up, trying not to irritate my ribs. I smelled my breath and immediately headed to the bathroom. I'd fallen asleep after Chinese food and weed— it wasn't good.

After brushing my teeth and washing my face, I went back to the living room. The piece of paper on the table from earlier caught my eye. I grabbed it, seeing unfamiliar handwriting in black ink.

Below was his phone number, scribbled neatly. A wave of different thoughts rushed over me and I shook my head, tearing my eyes away from the paper and grabbing my phone.

After adding Rowan to my contacts, I battled with my mind on whether or not to message him.

He said call if you need anything, and you don't.

I closed my eyes and lay back down on the couch.

But should I thank him for coming over last night?

No, no that'd look desperate. We'd eventually see each other again, I didn't need to embarrass myself along the way.

***

The smell of waffles wafting in from the kitchen woke me up again a few hours later.

I headed to the kitchen and saw my mom slicing some strawberries and putting them in a bowl. She looked up as I walked in with a beaming smile.

"Mom, it's Monday, aren't you supposed to be at the college?" I asked, looking at my phone for the time— her first philosophy class had started an hour ago.

"Good morning honey, I canceled class today and had my TA send out a reading replacement to everyone." I blinked at her, she'd never missed a day of teaching. "Are you feeling any better?"

"Wait, what? You canceled class? Why?"

"Well your father had a meeting with the lawyer and I didn't want to leave you here alone, Ev."

"Mom, I'm an adult. You didn't have to do that."

"Yes and I'm a mother. I wanted to." I looked away from her. My pride had gone from being fractional, to completely non-existent in the past few days.

"Well thank you." I said, feeling slightly defeated. Thanks to one man, everyone now felt like they needed to baby me.

"Of course, you seem to have slept well last night?"

What does that mean?

"Huh?"

She glanced up at me with a small smile on her face.

"You fell asleep on Rowan last night, he and Erik had also fallen asleep—"

"—Wait, wait, wait, what?!" I asked, blood rushing to my face. "What do you mean I fell asleep on him?"

She looked up, surprised at my strong reaction but seemingly amused.

"You fell asleep on his shoulder." Oh my god. "I woke them up to ask if they wanted me to pull out the mattress from your closet but—"

"You woke them up before trying me?!"

"Evan, now you're just being dramatic. Anyway they would've stayed but Rowan got a call and said he needed to be somewhere. They're sweet boys for checking up on you." She handed me a plate with four waffles and I took it from her, feeling my non-existent pride reduce even more.

***

The week that followed went by slowly. My dad was home, on the phone with the lawyer almost all day. My mom went back to teaching her classes the rest of the week, and Erik would bring me my assignments daily. He even recorded the weekly lectures, but I didn't need them. I'd be high almost every time he came.

It was just easier that way. It was the only way I'd be distracted from my self destructive thoughts. I'd gone through all the joints Alex had left, and had moved onto edibles.

I'd finally told Lucy what'd happened after putting it off for as long as possible. She was furious as I expected her to be, and had booked a plane ticket to visit me in a few weeks. I asked her to make something up to tell Alex and Maddy, but I wasn't sure she hadn't just told them the truth, because after our call they'd stopped badgering the group chat for questions about what'd been in the paper.

Schoolwork was an easy way to pass time. Erik would stay and do his assignments with me every day, which delighted my mom. She'd come in with snacks and joyfully give Erik help with his philosophy homework that he didn't ever ask for. He was clearly becoming her favorite student, and she'd expressed how grateful she was that he was there for me.

I could tell he was getting worried about me. Anytime he'd want to talk about the attack I'd just laugh it off. I ignored his concerned looks and fake laughs with ease though as the days went by.

***

It was Sunday, tomorrow I'd be heading back to school. I was nowhere near fully healed enough and still had bruises under my eyes from my broken nose. My mom said they'd probably be gone in a week or so, but that still left me looking for a way to hide them for the following week.

I boxed my last answer on the stats test Erik brought me and tossed it in my bag.

"Already done?" He asked from the corner of my room. He was on my laptop, writing an English essay.

"Easy." I said, laying on the ground.

"No need to be smug, Einstein." I snorted and looked at him, stress was etched into his features as he frowned at his computer.

"Need help?" I asked, I'd finished my essay a few days prior. He glanced at me and shook his head.

"Huh? No, I finished the essay. It's shit but it's finished." He bit his nail and looked back at the screen.

"What're you looking at the computer like that for then?" He gently closed it and met my eyes, seeming to have an internal struggle with himself.

"So—" Erik was cut off by my bedroom door opening. It was my dad, the first time I saw him off the phone in a week.

"Evan, can I talk to you for a minute?" Erik quickly hopped up,

"I should get going anyway, I'll see you tomorrow though." He said and walked past my dad as he came into the room. "Oh, Rowans on the way to see you too." He said, popping his head back in the room.

"What— like now?" I hadn't seen him since he'd come over with Erik, and my heart beat a bit faster as I processed that information.

"Yup." He gave me a wave before leaving and my attention turned back to my dad, standing over me with his hands in his pockets.

I sat against the wall and stared at him.

"What's up dad?" He crouched down and sat across from me, his arms now crossed.

"So, it looks like we're gonna drop the lawsuit. For now at least."

I blinked dumbly at him before realizing what he'd said.

"Oh. Okay. Why?" I wasn't bothered by it, my parents could finally go back to their normal lives and we could move on... I was just confused.

"Nobodies seen Ray Warner for a week now. Not his coworkers, family, or friends."

My stomach turned as a sinking feeling came across me.

"So..."

"The police have been searching everywhere, they haven't seen or heard from him. He's missing."

***