**This chapter includes mentions of suicide.**

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((still in the treehouse scene from the last chapter))

CONNOR POV

Evan wasn't crying, but he looked as if he were about to. I put my hands on his shoulders. "Evan, it might not feel like it, but there are people who know you exist. There are people who love you to death. There are people who care about you so much that it's kinda ridiculous, almost."

"Who?"

"First of all, me. Duh. Jared, you mom, me again. Seriously. Anyway, you really only need a few good people in your life. Not thirty 'friends' who can stab you in the back at any given time."

He sighed, still not really grasping my point.

I sighed too. "Ev, you're a great person. You're funny, adorable, extremely kind, smart, caring, adorable, passionate, adorable." I smiled. "You're also still so young. You've got a future. Suicide is never, and never will be, the answer. To anything. Unless someone asks 'what is never the answer?'"

He giggled. I got him to giggle. That's a good sign. I started to ramble just then.

"And those three good people love you for you. Even if they don't say or show it 24/7, they do. We think of you like you think of trees. Even the part about trees being pretty. I especially think that about you heheh. I don't even know what I'm saying. I'm so off topic now. In a nutshell, stay alive because I- we all love and care about you and me especially. Heh. So..."

I looked at him expectantly, and he seemed to have been spacing off. No, he's not. He's just looking at me. Hehehehehehe.

EVAN POV

All I heard of the whole speech he gave me was "I love you," "trees," "I love and care about you," that I'm adorable, and something about nuts? Shells?

Oh heck, now he's looking at me. His face looks like he wants an answer of some sort. UhHhHh-

"Yes."

"What?"

"I um.. That was really.." I blushed, finally processing all he had said. All of it. Internally, I'm screaming. Externally, I'm stuttering and embarrassing myself. "You love..? Treeeeessss."

He chuckled and scooted closer. Hngnskhhh.

"Connor, you're- I lo- Hehe, y-"

He cut me off with a sudden, but amazing smorCh. It genuinely startled me, but I got used to it because it lasted longer than I had expected. Wow I'm a happy tree boi.

When he pulled away, rethinking that, I gently grabbed his face and pulled it back to mine.

We pulled away again. Aw. He wrapped his arms around me and I rested my head on his shoulder. This is how we were a few days ago. That was a good day too, but today's even better!

Connor started humming softly. I slowly started falling asleep until I recognized the song. I giggled, like I do, and started mumbling the words as I became more sleepy.

Wise men say

only fools rush in

But I can't help

falling in love with you...

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I got a beautiful suggestion on the last chapter for some angst. I love angst so imma bring it ❤️✨❤️

Also, the song is Can't Help Falling In Love by Elvis Presley. I got the idea to use it from a really cute (and anGsTayy) Hamilton fanfiction I read a while ago on wattpad.

Thank y'all so so so soooo much for reading!! I'll see ya in the next chapter!