head over heels

8 ~ do you not remember why you quit?

[A/N - no beta reader we fuckin wing it. I seriously hope this story is coherent at this point. I don't even think i've read it back more than one time through. Anyways! thanks for making it this far my people..]

Saturday morning came all too quickly. Evan trudged his way out from his room, spending half an hour procrastinating in the bathroom. He was nervous, really, really nervous. He stared at his reflection in the fogged up bathroom mirror.

His pale red curls were slightly longer than Ethans, just enough to hang over his forehead. It bordered on untidy looking, his curls sticking out of his head at strange angles. He frowned, his skin was too pale and so freckled he looked like he'd been dunked in a bucket of the things. His jaw was too thin. He had circles under his eyes, making the blue of his eyes less blue, and more hauntingly pale.

He sighed, pushing his glasses onto his face as he gathered his towel and padded back to his room. He sat on the edge of his bed nervously, scrolling through his notifications.

He sat there for longer than he'd like to admit. He heard Ethan trudge into the bathroom, and the shower buzz on. 

Evan might not have school today, but he had to tell Willow and Riley about the mess he'd just made of his life. His phone buzzed with a message from their group chat.

@willowie - pick me up on the way to Rileys yeah?

@evan - ya, like 10 mins?

@willowie - yay!

@evan - k leaving soon

He sighed, collecting himself. He stared dully over his room, the posters on the walls stared at him. The piles of textbooks on his desk felt like a weight on his shoulders. His bookshelf was so full it looked like it was going to break open. 

At least his bed didn't illicit bad thoughts. It looked as cozy and inviting as always, his blanket mound was his pride and joy. It always made him feel better.

Evan sighed, tearing his eyes away. He couldn't rot in bed today, as much as he wanted too.

He slung his bag over his shoulder and left his room almost begrudgingly. He was immediately met with Ethan stepping out of the bathroom in a damp hoodie, hair dripping all over the fabric.

"Hey— Team thing later okay?"

Evan frowned, he'd have to cut his movie day short. "Fine."

Ethan had his towel over his head, trying at failing to dry his damp hair, he shifted it aside to glare at Evan. "Please actually try to get to know them."

He groaned, "Fine—"

Ethan raised an eyebrow, "That was the least convincing thing ever."

"I'll try?"

"Please—"

"I said i'll—"

"I mean, they aren't like Dan. They won't be mean to you. They actually want to get along okay? Seriously, if our teamwork isn't together then we'll be in shambles for the prelims. So please don't do that thing you do where you shut down and make everything awkward."

Evan sighed, it wasn't actually thoughts of Dan that bothered him. "I'll try."

Ethan still looked unconvinced.

"Seriously," Evan muttered.

Eventually, his brother nodded, "Fine, at the courts at five then?"

"Yeah. But I have the car remember?"