Holding on by a Thread, Dare, Syn, tags Evan

[Syn Madison-Jones]

“Um, it’s okay.” Evan shrugged, now having no idea how to react. He knew the smart idea would be to run, run away as quickly as he could, he wouldn’t want Syn to change her mind and make another jump for him, that would only piss Brit off even more. He was certain he would already be in plenty of trouble. Not that he understood why Syn would have made such a determined lunge for him. But he was generally a nice guy, so he felt bad that she seemed so down. “Maybe you should, you know, try just talking? And not kissing guys with girlfriends?” he tried to joke, laughing lamely as they walked. “Don’t worry, I won’t tell Dare.”

Syn looked at Evan and shook her head. She knew guys didn't particularly care what she thought, that was for good girls and she had never been one of those. Talking was for the permanent people in your life. "Where I come from the guys all kiss girls even if they are dating someone else," she said being completely honest. "No one wants to talk to a ho." She stepped through the door and realized Dare was home. At first she thought he was just taking a nap, but Rufus was tuggin on the bottom of his jeans and Dare wasn't responding at all. She stared a moment not sure what to do and then she screamed, falling against the wall in shock.

Evan was trying to think of something he could say to make Syn feel better when her scream cut through him. Moving past her, he saw Dare and while he didn’t quite scream, he paled considerably. He had no idea what do to either, he just knew, or thought he knew what had happened, given what looked like a empty pill bottle nearby. He knew something had to be done though. Grabbing his mobile out of his pocket, he passed it to Syn, addressing the girl quickly. “Syn, calm down, need you to focus, alright? Call 911, get an ambulance. You can do it.” With that, he ran over to Dare, dropping down to his knees, flipping his new friend over to his back.

"Wait!" Syn said trying to gather her calm. "We can't call them, it will be all over the news in minutes. We need to make him throw up, drink coffee, walk him around and stuff," she said, her face pale as she tried to remember what her friends did when someone overdosed. "Maybe we have some of that syrup of ipecac junk in the bathroom." She ran in and immediately ran back with a bottle of the stuff used when a kid accidentally swallowed poison or something.

To be honest, Evan really didn’t care at that point if it would be all over the news, he just wanted Dare to not die on him. But Syn now had his phone, and being Dare’s sister, he figured he would just have to trust her. When she ran off, he helped prop Dare up, concern etched over his face. He glanced over at her only briefly when he heard her footsteps. “Quick, pour it down his throat.”

Syn gave Dare the syrup, holding his nose so he would have to swallow it. The reaction came faster than she was ready for and her half-brother vomited all over her with undigested pills in the mix. "Oh god!" she moaned wanting to throw up herself. "Evan can you walk him around? I will change real quick and make coffee." She really didn't think it would help Dare to have to smell her.

Saying nothing, Evan just nodded, his eyes glued firmly on Dare, now looking just a little more relieved. As Syn rushed off, Evan pulled Dare to his feet. He probably wouldn’t have managed that with most people, but Dare was slender, so it wasn’t too difficult. “Here.” he directed, moving one of Dare’s arms over his shoulders, more dragging than walking around. “Come on Dare, gotta keep moving.”

Dare coughed his entire body shaking with it. His feet began to move in a stumbling motion. "Gotta sleep," he mumbled, feeling more tired than he ever had before. Sleep seemed to be pulling at him, but while he was walking it just couldn't seem to keep hold of him.

Syn yelled down from her room, "A cold shower will help too I think. Just keep him upright and not for too long." For the first time she was glad she had too much experience with drugs

“Nah, sleep later mate. Gotta keep me company.” Evan tried to keep things light. Well, as light as they could be in a situation where a person just committed suicide. The whole thing was leaving him strangely calm though, as if he knew he had to be, and just reacted automatically. “Shower it is.” Dragging around Dare still, he managed to find the bathroom, and switching the tap on full bolt, practically forced the other guy under the water, holding him there, trying to ignore himself the instinct to jump out.

Dare groaned and tried to get out of the water. "Cold. Evan it's cold," he whimpered beginning to wake up and clearly not enjoying it. With his clothes damply clinging to him, Dare seemed even smaller and younger, not much more than fifteen really. "Not supposed to be like this." His mumbling turned to tears.

Syn knocked and opened the door with a couple of sets of dry clothing. "There's some stuff of Maddog's that should fit you Evan. The coffee is out in the living room when you're ready."

Uh, thanks.” Evan muttered distractedly, though he really appreciated the dry clothes. But there were other things to concern himself with. “It’s okay, it’s okay.” He whispered in his friend’s ear, wondering what he was meant to say in this kind of situation, cause he was feeling really clueless. After another minute, he pulled Dare out, shutting off the water and helping him sit on the ground. “Dare...why did you do that?”

"Gonna go to hell anyway, hurts too much keep trying, no friends, no love, even the music hurts," Dare murmured, hanging onto Evan like a life line which he truly was at the moment. "Phil hates me. Gay people go to hell. So much hate."

The whole going to hell thing threw him, and though he only knew of Phil, didn’t really know him, Evan quickly decided that he didn’t like the guy. “Then Phil is fucking stupid.” He rarely swore, but he was pissed now, so he figured it was the perfect time, if there ever was one. “Gay people don’t go to hell, that’s just stupid. You’re not going to hell! You’re too nice to go to hell. And I’m your friend. And Taki. We’re going bowling remember? We wouldn’t be if we weren’t all friends.” He had no idea if this was the right thing to say, but he really hoped it was.

Syn cleaned up the mess, trying to keep busy so she wouldn't worry she had done the wrong thing. She thought it might ruin both Dare and their father's careers if it became known what had happened. Look at Amy Winehouse and she had just gone to Rehab.

Dare just held Evan tighter, but it wasn't at all in a romantic way, more like a drowning person holds onto a buoy that is kind of slippery. "Phil is smart sometimes," Dare defended the boy he had fallen in love with. "I am not Christian so I am probably wrong. He is smarter than me. I can't even figure out steampunk. Why can't I get him out of my head? He won't ever want me. He is in love with Mew even if he won't say so cause he is afraid of Hell." Dare's feelings came out in freeform babble.

“Hey, it’s okay, it’s okay. I’m not Christian, but I’m right, and he’s just stupid.” Evan had no idea of steampunk , what it was. “And that’s his thing, you’ve got your own, music, and you’re awesome with that!” he enthused, moving an arm around the guy, trying to comfort him. “Well, if he doesn’t want you, it’s cause he has bad taste. Sure any other, smart thinking, gay guy would love you! Don’t you let him worry you, he’s not worth it. You really scared me there for a moment buddy.”

Dare hugged Evan tight grateful that someone seemed to care whether he lived or died. "No one does. I don't fit in. I thought..." he trailed off, not finishing that he had thought because Phil didn't fit in either, that he might like Dare, but he didn't even like Mew, so Dare would never have a chance. "I won't hurt myself." He promised cause his shock and grief over what happened at the park had eased somewhat and he realized how much he would hurt his father by killing himself.

“Dare, you think I fit it, in a school filled with jocks, and rich people, and other boring people?” Evan smiled gently. “Not fitting in rocks! So yeah, don’t do this again. That’s just stupid. You can’t do that to your family, your friends. We’re gonna get through this together, okay?” With another grin, looking a little more like his carefree self, he squeezed Dare in a soft hug. “Well, why don’t we put on the dry clothes and get some coffee?”

[Dare Madison]

Dare wasn't very fond of coffee, but he did know it was usual in cases like this. "Lots of cream and sugar," he mumbled as he hugged Evan back. He pulled off his shirt showing that he really was as skinny as he looked with clothing on. He had no spare meat anywhere on his body though he was not emaciated, just thin as a rail.

Dare pulled on the warm sweatshirt that Syn had found for him and then took care of the rest with his back turned to Evan, not wanting his friend to think he was thinking anything funny about him. He knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that Evan was straight. Then together they stumbled out to the living room and threw themselves on the couch. Rufus was immediately up on Dare's lap, trying to lick his face in joy that his master was all right. "Ugh, dog germs! Rufus, I'm okay, chill out!" he admonished his enthusiastic pup.

He even smiled at Syn when she showed up with a soft fuzzy blanket to put over him. She fussed over him a moment and then disappeared. "What's wrong with her?" he asked Evan, for she had been acting oddly even for her and he didn't think she cared enough about him to think she was worried about him.

[Evan Hughes]

Evan got changed as well, not bothering to dry himself off, instead just chucking off all his now soaked clothes on, and putting on what Syn had left for him. He was wearing a rock star’s clothing! These jeans were ripped by a rock star! (Or at least purchased ripped, by an assistant, for a rock star! The faded t-shirt was worn by a rock star! He wasn’t the type to get star struck normally, but still, it was pretty cool. He didn’t think anything of Dare getting changed, especially when the kid turned, except that he was probably too skinny for his own good. He needed to get some candy into him.

He helped Dare into the lounge room, laughing as he was immediately set upon by the small puppy. “Ah, he’s just happy. Poor doggy, let him slobber all over you, good boy.” Evan only laughed harder when the dog seemed to take this as encouragement, worsening his ‘attack’. “Better you than me anyway.” he grinned, reaching out to pat the dog. “There you go, covered in spit, that’s gotta feel real nice.”

Then Syn came out, and Evan tried to think of something to say to her, but seeing as how she barely looked at him, let alone say a word to him, he apparently had no need to worry. Then she left, and Evan was left to try to answer Dare instead. Even with what had just happened, he gave his word to Syn. “Well, her brother just tried to...um, you know.” he struggled to say it. And he wasn’t really lying, that was sure to be part of it at least. “She’s just worried, and relieved. Oh, now he’s eating your shirt.”

[Dare Madison]

Dare had a difficult few minute calming Rufus down and then grimaced at the slobber. "How does such a small dog produce so much saliva?" he asked with a deep sigh. He pet the puppy idly as he snuggled in the blanket. It was clear he still wasn't feeling well. He lacked his usual energy and bright outlook.

He sipped his coffee and didn't even complain about the taste. "Evan how did you meet Brittany and how did you decide you wanted to go out with her?" he asked, his mind still on Phil and his disappointment in his first crush. He thought it must be easier for straight guys, but he didn't have anyone else he could talk to about this. He didn't want anyone else to know what he almost did, especially Phil or even Mew.

[Evan Hughes]

“He’s just excited, is all. I slobber and drool a bit when I’m excited too.” Evan laughed. “Just wipe your face on the blanket. Don’t get it close to me. I mean it. I don’t know where his tongue has been.” Not that he really cared, he would have thought nothing of the dog licking him instead.

Drinking his own coffee, grateful for the caffeine hit, the odd topic change threw him, and it took a couple of moments to answer. “Uh, met her at one of the school’s football games, Patch tripped over her foot. She seemed pretty cool, and hot, I mean, I know you’re not into women and all that, but you have to be able to tell, she’s hot, right?” he laughed. “Anyway, where was I? Oh, yeah, talked to her a couple of times after that, realised she’s a cool chick, like really cool. She laughed at my jokes, when I teased her she gave back as good as she got, and she’s in a band.” he pointed out. “So, I dunno, I just decided she’d be great fun to go out with. And I got real lucky.”

Quickly polishing off his still hot drink, he put the empty mug down, sinking into the comfy couch. “Why do ya ask Dare?” he asked, having no clue himself. He was good at cheering people up, especially by doing stupid things! When it got to serious topics, he was very much a fish out of water.

[Dare Madison]

Dare wiped his face on his sleeve instead of the blanket, they were harder to clean he figured. "I know where it's been and that's why I prefer he keep it away from my face," he answered with another sigh. Normally he would have been laughing at the problem, but he was too heavy-hearted at the moment to even chuckle.

He listened with interest and a certain amount of jealousy to Evan's description of meeting Brittany. Things like that never happened to him. Well not and end in romance anyway. The closest would be getting shot in the butt though it was really his upper thigh. That certainly had not led to romance, just a crush on a boy that despised him.

"Have some more coffee if you want," Dare offered and frowned at the question. "Well... I have always been surrounded by people. That's just the way it is when you're on the road. I never had to be alone and I like it that way. But now I am always alone and I feel incomplete. I know I don't look it, but I am seventeen and well... I have never been asked out, well not by a guy. The groupies would have given me anything I didn't want... even the ones my dad's age," he said with a shudder. He really didn't understand the concept of a MILF, but then perhaps if Eddie Van Halen wanted to hook up he might have gone along with it.

[Evan Hughes]

“Nah, it’s alright.” Evan grinned, feeling more like candy than coffee now. Or maybe a chocolate bar. Or coke. The yummy things all seemed to start with the letter C. C was a really good letter. He listened to Dare’s explanation, and while might not have always been the brightest spark when it came to some things, he understood what Dare was getting at straight away.

He didn’t fail to see the irony in the situation though. Dare wanted someone to date, while he already had a girlfriend, and another girl seemingly interested in him. Which was actually quite an uncomfortable situation, having two girls like you was totally not all it was cracked up to be.

And from what Dare had told him in the bathroom, Evan guessed that the slender boy had a thing for Phil, and with Phil’s rant at Annie (which Evan still didn’t understand, of course he disagreed with everything Phil said, but even if he disagreed, he couldn’t understand why anyone would, or even how they could, get angry at her. She was Annie! She was always so nice! And she always had cupcakes!), the guy pretty much crushed any hope Dare had of Phil liking him back. So that helped explain why he did what he did.

“Well...” Evan thought about it for a moment, “We’ve gotta do something about that. We’ve gotta find you a guy. Oh, and when we do, we are so double dating! Brit would be up for that.” he chuckled. “Um, I don’t know any single gay guys. The only two I know are dating. Well, besides you. But, I’m so gonna play matchmaker. So, what do you say Dare? Gonna let me?”

[Dare Madison]

Not knowing what was running through Evan's head was probably a good thing. Evan's 'good' fortune in admirers would have depressed him more when he was so horribly alone. Dare was not normally envious of his friends, but he had been totally through the wringer. Phil's personal philosophy had hurt him on so many levels.

"Well I won't date guys already involved, but would consider bisexuals... Do you think that a bisexual would always be wanting the gender they didn't end up with? That seems like it would be rather uncomfortable, never really being satisfied... he sighed and shook his head. "I suppose I should ask Mew. If you want to try to find someone for me, you can try. I am certainly not doing well on my own. Oh... I don't think I would do well with someone that is less aggressive than me... like I am more... like the girl in a relationship. Ick that sounds so gay, but its true. I am not a top." He didn't really know of course as he had never gone through with that, but he instinctively knew he would rather take it than give it.

[Evan Hughes]

“Um...dunno. Suppose not. I mean, if they wanted the other sex, then wouldn’t they just break up and date someone else then?” Evan wondered aloud, not having any real idea though on the thoughts and dating processes of a bisexual. He was completely straight himself, never had anything but innocent thoughts when it came to other guys. The same could not be said for the fairer sex. His perviness had toned down considerably since dating Brittany, but of course it didn’t disappear completely, he was a guy after all. Checking out cute girls was in his nature, after all.

“Hey, it’ll be fun! I get to play Cupid and all!” Evan wasn’t sure just how successful he would be, but he would give it a damn good shot for Dare. It would hopefully at least cheer his friend up, and hopefully it would work out, the guy did deserve to be happy.

He had to laugh at Dare’s comment about sounding gay. “Well, seeing as how you are actually gay, I think you’re allowed to sound like it.” he grinned. He did get the top reference, well, kinda got it, so he figured he had to find like a manly guy for Dare. He had never set anyone up before, but he guessed it really couldn’t be that hard on his end, he didn’t have to worry about the whole getting nervous part.

“Well then, I’m gonna find you a guy!” Evan enthused, shouting just a bit too loudly, and he gave his friend a sheepish grin in apology.

[Dare Madison]

Since that was what Dare was afraid of, Dare took a deep breath when Evan commented on the bisexual's likelihood of moving on if he wanted something else. He really would have to talk to Mew about that to decide whether that was a route he could risk taking.

Evan's enthusiasm was both touching and a bit frightening. Dare didn't really want to be the subject of a lot of gossip. And he wasn't sure how well Evan could keep a secret.

"Well... its just most of the time people are surprised I am gay cause I don't lisp and dress in designer clothing I suppose. I don't really want to be a stereotype, but I also know I couldn't be the aggressor in a relationship. I have a hard time approaching new people, let alone asking them on dates," Dare confessed.

Dare cringed when Evan shouted and blushed really hard when Syn looked around the corner to see what the ruckus was. He wondered again if this was going to be a good idea. Evan was a good friend but he was good at being the center of attention and it was likely that by the weekend everyone would know he was hard up for a date and needed a matchmaker to get him one.