head over heels

60 ~ why is it always friday when everything goes to shit?

[A/N - chapter 60, lets fucking goooooooooooooooooooooo. anyways, ethan lore update anyone?]

Monday was shit. It started shit, it ended shit. It was just Friday all over again. People still hadn't got over themselves, and they asked the worst, most unhinged questions at every moment.

He ached all over, not just busted hip, he felt like he was bruised to the depths of his soul.

A dramatic way to put it, but it was the only description that felt apt.

Everything fucking sucked.

But hell, despite the sucky parts, he was functioning, he and Kei had a place to stay, he was making it through, and he could still play volleyball.

Despite his aching body, practice ended up being the best part of the day, which felt utterly alien.

It was the same on Tuesday, Wednesday, then Thursday too.

By the end of the next Friday, Evan decided that collectively, this was probably the worst week of his life, and that— was saying a lot.

The only reason he and Kei actually made it through the week from hell was Eve and Jen. Oliver's moms were utterly angelic. They were just there at all the right times. Never questioned anything, they just treated them like family.

The team helped too, and Willow of course, though with how much she hung out at the court, she almost felt like an honorary member.

The rest of the team seemed to clock that her and Oliver had a thing going on, but no one really questioned it, they just welcomed Willow with open arms.

Riley had tried to talk to him at least twice every day, to which Evan resolutely ignored. Honestly though? He was starting to feel a bit bad. Maybe he'd give it another week, then reassess the situation.

Right now however, Evan was just focused on putting one foot in front of the other.

By the end of Friday's practice, he sunk to the floor, knees feeling like jelly, hip stinging like he'd been shot in the thigh. The rest of the team also hit the floor. Coach was back to being evil, and with the finals fast approaching, he was working them into the ground.

Evan had fished a bag of popcorn Eve had given him out from his bag. He'd been too preoccupied to eat at lunch, and as he sat recovering on the floor, he started munching, feeling utterly ravenous.

He was waiting for Kei, who was off picking up stray volleyballs for Coach.

Slowly but surely, the rest of the team picked themselves up and grumbled their way to the changing rooms.

That was, everyone but Ethan, who sat to Evans right, leaning against the wall.

"You good?" Evan mumbled through his popcorn.

Ethan nodded, "Yeah, fine, how's Ollies?"

"Same as it was when you asked yesterday," Evan replied, offering his brother the popcorn bag.

Ethan grabbed it with a sigh, "Cool." He busied himself with the bag, munching on the popcorn. He was focusing too much on the popcorn, not quite looking at Evan more than he had too. Evans' eyes narrowed, staring his brother down.

He was being weird, Evan decided. It was something about how he held himself. Something had changed since yesterday.

Call it a twin sixth sense, but Evan was immediately on edge.

"How's home?"

Ethan shrugged, but not before Evan saw a tiny flash of nerves flicker over his face.

"Fine," was all he said.