“Rory, where are you going?” my mom asked as I grabbed the car keys.

                “That depends. I’m either going to go hang out with Evan, or drive off a cliff and kill myself so that I never have to put up with him again. I’m still contemplating it,” I said.

                “Rory Connor Kelly!” She rolled her eyes.

                “Pray for my sanity while I go deal with the imbecile,” I said, giving a short wave and leaving my house.

                I got in my car and turned on my music, knowing that once I was with Evan, I would be forced to listen to Adam Lambert until my ears fell off. I might as well listen to A Skylit Drive while I still had the chance.

                I pulled into Evan’s driveway a few minutes later and got out of my car. I went up and rang the doorbell, waiting until his dad had pulled the door open.

                “Hi Rory,” he greeted, stepping aside to let me in.

                “Hi Mr. Sudlow,” I said, entering the house.

                “Rory…Something’s up with Evan,” he said.

                “What do you mean?” I asked, wondering if something had happened between Evan and Sebastian.

                Mr. Sudlow just shook his head, though. “I’m not sure. He had gone to Sebastian’s house earlier today. That usually puts him in a good mood. But when he came home, he looked really shaken up. He locked himself in his bedroom. That’s not like Evan.”

                “I’ll talk to him,” I grumbled, heading upstairs. I went down the hallway and let myself into Evan’s bedroom without knocking.

                “Leave me alone to die,” he said dramatically, his voice partially muffled due to the fact that he had his face pressed against a pillow.

                “If you’re trying to suffocate yourself, you’re doing it wrong,” I said, shutting his bedroom door.

                He sat up. “Rory! I forgot I invited you over.”

                “Thanks. It’s nice to know much I mean to you Ev,” I said, sitting down on the edge of his bed. “Why the depression?”

                “Because I have to stare at your ugly face,” he said miserably, falling back against the pillow. But his heart just wasn’t in the insult, and I could tell.

                “Did you get in a fight with Sebastian?” I asked.

                “No,” he said into the pillow.

                Annoyed, I forced him to roll over. “So what happened?”

                “Leave me alone to die!” he commanded, rolling back over.

                I pulled him so that he was sitting up and facing him. God, he’s lucky I didn’t just smother him with the stupid pillow.

                “What happened?” I asked again.

                “Well I definitely didn’t get beat up on my way home by Jason or Kyle. Nope. They leave me alone like they said. Swear to god,” he said, trying to sound casual.

                “You drove home. How did they beat you up?” I asked. “Oh, and you’re an idiot.”

                “Hey!” he whined. But he sighed, nervously running a hand through his hair. “I stopped at the gas station to get myself a slushie on the way home. When I was walking back around to my car…well, there they were.”

                His hand trembled as it fell back to his side. I gripped his shirt, tugging it up as he stared at me in surprise.

                “They wouldn’t hit you where Sebastian would see. Even though you’re probably naked around him most of the time,” I said, letting his shirt drop back down to cover the bruises they had left on his chest and sides.

                I pretended to be looking out of his window as I struggled to push the anger out of my eyes. I didn’t know how many times I would have to hurt them until they got it through their thick heads to leave Evan alone. They had bullied him ever since we were kids, and I had always gone after them when Evan wasn’t around, threatening them away from him.

                “My sex life is better than yours and Yolanda’s,” he argued.

                “Andrea,” I corrected absentmindedly. “Her name is Andrea. Are you going to tell Sebastian they came after you again?”

                “No,” he said, looking panicked. “I can’t do that! Man, you’re ugly and stupid Rory. They’ll kill me if I tell Sebastian. They told me.” His voice was terrified and matter-of-fact.

                I noticed just how badly his hands were trembling now, and scooted closer to him. He was way more afraid of Jason and Kyle than he let on, and for good reason. They used to really hurt Evan when we were younger.

                I sighed and pulled him into my arms, knowing my hugs comforted him. He immediately hugged me back, the trembling of his hands easing.

                “Rory, do you want to sleep over?” he asked, peeking up at me.

                “I wasn’t planning on it.”

                “I’LL TAKE THAT AS A YES!”

                He tackled me back on his bed, and I somehow managed to keep my arms around him. I rolled my eyes as I landed on my back, Evan awkwardly still trying to hug me.

                “Just don’t tell my boyfriend we cuddled together on my bed,” he said.

                “Evan, it’s not like anything would come of it.”

                “Well, I’m incredibly irresistible. You never know. You could try to take advantage of me.”

                “I’m straight, and I have Andrea.”

                “Have you seen my body? I’m way better than Yolanda.”

                “I’m not gay, Evander.”

                “YOU USED THE BAD E-WORD. NO, NO, NO. MY NAME IS EVAN.” He slapped his hands over his ears, rolling away from me.

                I snickered, but inside, I did feel relieved that he was cheering up. Jason and Kyle could leave him scared for awhile. I just wanted to get him into a good mood, even if he was incredibly obnoxious when he was happy.

                “You’re evil. I’m telling Sebastian you tried to do the naughty with me,” he said, glaring at me.

                “I didn’t,” I said, smacking him upside the head. “Get over yourself.”

                “You, ah, won’t tell Sebastian? Right Rory?” he asked, looking anxious. “You know, about the bullies. Not that anything happened. Like them throwing me to the ground and kicking and punching me until I begged for my mommy. Yea, that never happened. But we don’t want Sebastian to think it happened. So you won’t tell him that, will you?”

                I pulled him back into a hug. “No, I won’t tell him.” I would go after Jason and Kyle on my own, probably tomorrow. They weren’t going to keep screwing with Evan. No one screwed with him and got away with it. He was too stupid to protect himself, so I protected him.

                Evan yawned and rested his head on my chest, looking exhausted. It was getting pretty late. We might as well go to bed.

                “Goodnight Evan,” I mumbled.

                “Goodnight Rory. Ugh. Worst name ever.”

                I rolled my eyes, resisting the urge to smack him in the back of the head. He cuddled against me, his eyes dropping shut. I sighed but smiled weakly down at him. I hated the guy, but he was my best friend. I would keep him safe and happy.

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A.N.- Rory won the best friend contest! Which I was kind of hoping he wouldn't because I knew it would be hard to write a bromance chapter between him and Evan .__. But the tally amounts are over on the side somewhere, and Oliver came in second place! Which is ironic because at one point in Can't Even Think Straight, Evan says he wants to change his name to Dimitri because it's a sexy name. Lol. 

So I hope you guys like the complicated Rory/Evan bromance :3 And I gave you guys Rory's POV, which I've never done before! Let me know what you thought of it :D Anddd maybe if you guys really want, I'll do a special chapter for our 2 runners-up, Oliver and Shaw ;3