"c-connor, i-i'm r-really n-n-nervous," evan informed his boyfriend, as if connor couldn't already tell.

it was evan's first day of senior year, and the boys were walking towards hamilton high. connor had insisted on helping evan - after all, this was the high school he had gone to.

"don't worry. remember, you're not alone - zoe's there, too, and she'll help you with whatever you need."

they got to the front of the building and connor hugged evan goodbye. "you can always call me if you need anything, darling. i love you."

"i l-love you, too. b-b-but you sound like a m-mom," evan informed him.

connor laughed and watched evan walk into the building. once evan was in, he started walking back to his new apartment.

while evan was in the hospital, connor had decided to take a gap year. his grades weren't as bad as most people would assume, but he had never truly looked for colleges. he figured he would go to nyu at some point, but for now, he had an apartment in the same building as evan, and he was figuring out what he wanted to do with his life.

suddenly, he got a text.

unknown: hello, connor.

connor raised his eyebrows. huh, maybe it's someone i met, he thought, trying to reason with himself. but when do i ever try to meet people?

connor: who is this?

unknown: an old friend.

unknown: just kidding, you don't know me, but i've always wanted to say that.

what the actual... what?

connor shook his head and slid his phone back into his pocket. maybe it's just a prank.

but his phone chimed again. he grudgingly pulled it out.

unknown: oh, i wouldn't ignore me, if i were you.

connor's heart started racing and he looked around. none of the new yorkers seemed to be observing him.

connor: what the hell is going on?

unknown: just because you got justin locked up doesn't mean it's all over.

unknown: and, hey, don't worry about evan. it's his first day of his senior year, right? i'll take good care of him.

connor felt rage burning inside of him.

connor: who the fuck do you think you are?

connor: hello?

no response.

a mixture of fear, rage, and adrenaline was coursing through connor's veins. his mind was racing.

what do i do, what do i do, what the hell should i do, god this isn't happening, they know about justin, "i'll take good care of him," "doesn't mean it's all over", is evan okay, what the...

connor took screenshots of the conversation and sent them to zoe.

connor: attachment: 3 images

connor: please keep an eye on evan. don't tell him what's going on. i'm heading to the police station.

zoe: damn, this is some pretty little liars shit right here. don't worry bro, i gotchu

connor: wtf is pretty little liars?

zoe: *facepalm emoji* you live under a rock

connor rolled his eyes, got himself together, and raced to the police station.

***

"these are the texts you received?" the officer asks, looking concerned.

connor nodded. "god, i thought this nightmare was over..."

"we can trace them," the officer interrupted, looking up at connor.

"that would be great," connor responded. "is there anything i can do?"

she shook her head and sighed. "not really. just... wait here."

connor waited in the office as the police officer left, then came back about a half hour later.

"here's your cell phone. the texts have been redirected to be sent here, and stored in our database," the officer gave connor his phone, then started to make
her way out the door.

"wait! what's the number?"

"classified."

"please. i'll ask again: is there anything i can do?"

the police officer looked back and met connor's eyes. she sighed, closed the door, and sat back down.

"you're his soulmate, correct?"

connor nodded.

"do you love him?"

"more than anything. he's everything to me."

the officer smiled. "when you love someone, you want to give them everything. you want to do everything for them, be everything for them." her face suddenly fell as she continued. "but, sometimes, you can't do that."

the officer leaned forward. "one day, evan's mother is going to die."

connor leaned back. "what the - why are you even - what?"

"just hear me out. one day, evan's mother is going to die. or something else will happen. something that is going to leave him broken. and there will be nothing you can do but be there for him."

connor stood up, his plastic chair falling backwards. "no. there will be something else i can do. i refuse to believe that i can't make things better for him."

the officer sighed, shook her head, and stood up. "one day, you will see. love isn't always about racing into battle for them and being a hero. because, connor, that will make you feel like you can't be the one who's broken."

she started walking to the door. "sometimes love is just sitting with them, comforting them, and accepting that there's nothing you can do to glue the pieces back together again. my advice? don't worry about all of this. we're taking care of it. go back home to your soulmate. and love him."

she paused in the doorway, met fleeting eye contact with connor, and looked at the ground. "love him while you still can." then she walked out of the room.

connor looked at the doorway, then looked at the desk. officer veronica sawyer was written on the nameplate.

i wonder what happened to her, he thought as he walked out of the station.

***

"the officer told me not to worry. it's hard for me to, but it's probably for the best," connor told zoe over the phone.

he was sitting in his apartment, on his couch, eating chinese takeout for lunch.

zoe sighed. "as much as i would like to go on another wild goose chase, i think that's correct. evan is here, he has people watching him all the time. as long as we don't let our guard down, i think we could actually be okay."

"just stay cautious. keep watching him for me. how's he doing?"

"he's talking to jared on the phone at the moment. he's actually been okay. no one's bothered him yet."

connor allowed a bit of relief to settle in him. "okay, good."

"alana's calling, i've gotta go." the note of excitement that was in zoe's voice made connor smile.

"bye, sis."

and the phone was disconnected.

connor sighed and looked at the clock. he had taken a job at a coffee shop to get some extra cash, and his shift started in fifteen minutes.

the police officer's words had hit connor more harshly than connor expected they would. so he started planning a date - the perfect one.

he grabbed his laptop and started his research, veronica's words echoing in his brain.

love him while you still can.

***

a/n:

oops everyone was happy and we can't have that, can we?

this update is brought to you by me squealing at 2 am while listening to bmc and writing this

of course it's not 2 am anymore but whatever