The Smoke From His Lips

12

That night, Connor stared at this phone screen, a notification displayed with Jared's contact. He watched it pop up, but he didn't respond. Not until he noticed he'd been staring for an irrationally long time, just at the screen. The notification banner reminded him how much time he dissociated for with a blank stare—— 37m ago.

Jared: hey so like I was thinking about what we talked about before with the whole seeming thing and how you talked and the hallway and basically everything in the past couple weeks and I just wanna like, get to know what you mean and your thoughts and I wanna get to know your mind, I'll be genuine this time. Last time I was kinda an asshole and I know that well right now yikes

He blinked hard after reading that. He didn't know why but something about it sparked doubt. Wasn't he gonna just get more material for jokes to crack so everyone can laugh at him? Connor cringed slightly before replying.

Connor: uh well 1. I mean what I said, if I'm being honest right now I think the words I was trying to say is you got a facade of confidence and you drag up walls in front of people and I find that incredibly fake and cheap.

2. My thoughts are shit and currently they're centered around the fact you're fucking confusing and I've been getting mixed signals and it's frustrating I wanna snap your glasses and break your fucking nose

3. My mind is shit too. Why do you wanna know? To learn what can get to me so you can spread shit around? Want my life story so you can fucking "tweet it" like you're Jenna fucking Rolan?

4. Genuine my ass.

Jared: I don't have words to elaborate what I just thought but imagine a very heavy sigh, that's what I just did

Just hear me out dude

Connor: why are you trying so hard to talk to me?

You realize what social suicide is right?

Jared: my second favorite suicide

Sorry

Shit joke

Connor: okay yeah move on and get to your point

Jared: I wanna get to know you.

Like talk regularly

And joke with

And talk about anything with

And I think it would help both of us.

Connor had to step back a moment and reread all of that. It hit him all at once sort of. It also hit him that nobody's really ever said that to him. Hell, nobody asked if he wanted to be in a group project together. Nobody asked him if there was homework, or asked what the class plans were, or asked... fuck, nobody talks to him unless it's necessary for a task or a muttered insult. Of course he was in shock.

Connor: deadass bout all of this?

Jared: yeah

Deadass

Connor: I hate texting

So

When you're ready to not be a fake asshole, meet me by my locker at the end of the day. I don't care if it takes long, you're the one who's taking initiative to this.

I'll see you at school eventually

Jared: yeah, you too

I'll do that

Thanks for hearing me out and shit like that

Connor: ight well it's the A M s now so go to sleep

Do gremlins need sleep?

Jared: what

Idk

Google it

Connor: I thought I'd wanna hear it from a gremlin before google

Don't be rude

Is that like gremlin racist to ask

Jared: shallow

Connor: ight sleep, you're small and care about your grades so you probably need it

Jared: I'm not that small

I'm like

Slightly shorter than you

Maybe if you took off your damn MySpace boots we'd be same height

Connor: that like,, Evan kid is way taller than you and he's slightly taller than I am. You're shorter.

That's his name right the boy you're with?

Jared: with in what sense

Connor: the sense

Like you're always next to each other sense

Jared: oh

I thought you were implying me and Evan are gay together

We're not, disclaimer

I'm single and not into Evan, he's like my brother and not my type in any way

Connor: yeah no, I know you two arent a thing

Plus Evan looks like he might actually have standards

Jared: wow haha

Connor: that was actually a joke this time, disclaimer

Jared: pft

I'm gonna crash. I'll see you sometime soon

Connor: unless I kill myself

Jared: I mean,,, yeah that might interfere with seeing each other

Night

Connor tossed his phone to the side. He didn't like having feelings anymore.
~

Yike they type

Ayo next chapter will be better (probably and hopefully)  and they'll interact more ùwú

Vote and comment so I know to continueeee