You Are Not Alone (Sequel to For Forever)

Lifeboat

Jared opened his eyes.

Why hadn't it worked? Huh?

Then he remembered faintly. His soft cry, and that one person clutching at that rope, trying to pull it off him—

He saw Evan next. Evan sat stiffly looking away from Jared stiffly.

"Evan..." Jared began, the tears flowing again.

Evan turned towards Jared and smiled sadly.

"Do you want to... watch a movie? I brought my laptop... something with a happy ending?"

Jared managed to laugh a dry, painful laugh through his cinched and bruised throat. "Are there any happy endings?"

Evan looked down.

"Look—

I can't promise no more problems

High school may not ever end

Still I miss you, I'd feel happy

If we could just be normal friends..."

Jared started to cry little, happy tears.

"We can be seventeen... we can learn how to chill

If no one loves you now

Someday somebody will

We can be seventeen

Still time to make things right

One day we'll change the world..."

Evan smiled softly. Jared laughed.

"Evan, Connor and I are seventeen, but you're still sixteen, going on seventeen." (Eyyyyyy I am sixteen going on seventee—)

Evan laughed as Connor walked in.

"Soon, Evan'll be seventeen, and then it'll be summer, and senior year, and the Heathers will be off to college... wow."

Evan kissed Connor. "Bye, Jared..." Evan waved and then he disappeared.

Jared smiled and thought of that person who pulled at the rope. He didn't know that person, but he wanted to meet them.

Sorry I couldn't stand the angst