ғɪɴᴅ ʏᴏᴜ - 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐬

025. evan

Evan sat with his elbows propped up on his desk and his head in his hands wondering how so much could go wrong all at once. Every little thought in his head sped by too fast, leaving him dizzy and disoriented. Poorly attempting to even out his breaths, Evan inhaled deeply, only to begin to hyperventilate in large gulps of air.

It was going so well.

Thinking back to the practice presentation, Evan remembered Alana enthusiastically encouraging him when he managed to not stumble at all. Evan remembered his chest swelling with pride. Evan remembered how comfortable he felt when Alana was his only audience. Evan remembered... hearing the barista call out her name.

Zoe.

Zoe.

Zoe.

Her name rang in Evan's head. He let out a pained groan of embarrassment, burrowing his head deeper into his hands.

Evan remembered seeing her walk past like she ran the world and not the other way around. Evan remembered wondering how she could do that. Evan remembered how dry his throat suddenly became. Evan remembered how he seemed to vomit out the unwanted stammers. But...

Don't cry now! Evan flinched as a small, gargled sob escaped his lips, the tiny noise cutting through the silence within his bedroom. Why was he such a crybaby? He couldn't help it.

Yes, you could.

Even remembered Alana's sly smile bridging from one dimpled cheek to the other. Evan remembered Alana reasoning that having an audience would be beneficial. Evan remembered Alana standing up and approaching her as Evan pathetically sat glued to his chair. Did she know who he was? Did she remember DMing him? Evan remembered making a fool out of himself as he spoke. She must've thought he was such a loser.

Squeezing his eyes tightly shut, Evan allowed miserable droplets of water roll down his cheeks and plop onto his desk.

Evan remembered locking eyes with him. Evan remembered the pure terror that seized his muscles. Everything... was too fast. She was a character in a painting that had come to life. He was a ticking bomb ready to go off any second. Then, the barista came like a devastating tsunami and pulled both of them away, crashing down on Evan and leaving him in pieces.

What... was that? Evan couldn't move. He couldn't rip his eyes off of that boy—the one who shoved him, only to make polite conversation a few hours later. Needless to say, Evan was terrified of him.

But who was he? Somehow, Zoe was associated with him. Zoe's... boyfriend? Evan was too distressed to let any jealousy surface. Weren't boyfriends supposed to be nice to their girlfriends? This boy seemed... violent. Something panged in Evan's chest. He hoped Zoe was okay when she and the boy left together.

And yet, there was something past the anger in his eyes that... intrigued Evan. Fear was an emotion Evan was all too familiar with. But recognizing it in a person so angry...

It was the barista who scared him off. Why? What happened?

The thoughts in Evan's head swarmed like bees. He couldn't think properly. Think, Evan. Think.

The boy removed his gaze from Zoe and placed it onto Alana, who looked more confused if anything from what Evan could see in his peripheral version. Before Evan knew it, the boy locked eyes with him. Evan couldn't look away. How long were they staring at each other? It felt like five minutes too long. Evan could never seem to have a proper grasp of time.

Then, the boy's mouth opened. With his eyes still on Evan, he spoke. Was he talking to him?

"What are you—"