Email Pals

Chapter Ten

Evan wasn't too sure what he should do. This was where Zoe had told him during their lunch that the auditions were being held. But, she hadn't told him what to do. Does he wait for her to come, or does he go into the gym and sit and wait.

On one hand, it would look less awkward if he walked in now before the auditions started. Not draw any unwanted attention to himself. But Zoe might not see him and think he had cancelled, and he thinks that would be arguably worse. Zoe thinking he'd forgotten.

So, he decided that he would stay and wait for her. Most people had left school, with only a few people wandering the halls on their way to different school clubs.

"Hey, Hansen!" Connor calls, Evan turns and his eyes widen slightly, his body shrinking in on itself.

"I'm so sorry for earlier." Evan apologizes quickly, backing away slightly from Connor.

"No, dude." Connor raises his hand as if he was approaching a wild animal, making sure he didn't startle or scare Evan. "I was the one who should be sorry. I kicked off at you. I thought you were judging me."

"I wasn't." Evan interjects quickly.

"I know. It's just... Most people at this hell hole always decide to judge me and say shit about me. School shooter, gay, emo. The list goes on." Connor tells him. "I guess I just..." Connor sighs as he runs his hand through is hair. "Look, this having friends thing is new to me." Connor admits, his voice quieter than usual.

"I mean, it's new to me too. I mean, there's always been Jared i guess. But that's different. I mean..." Evan catches himself before he rambles about his wired situation with Jared. "Sorry." He adds quickly.

"What I'm trying to say is, I need to get used to you not seeing the worst of me." Connor finishes, pushing his hand in his jacket pocket, very obviously feeling uncomfortable talking about his feelings.

"Oh. Okay." Evan offers a small smile. It was a welcome surprise, as he expected the worse from this conversation.

"So, what you doing mooching around the gym?" Connor asks, wanting to move the conversation along.

"Oh. I-um, well Zoe asked me to be there for her during her audition for Band." Evan explains.

"Oh." Connor nods. "well tell her that I wish her good luck." Connor tells him as he spins around and begins to walk off.

"Don't you want too, I dunno, maybe support her aswell?" Evan asks.

"Me being there wouldn't help Evan, just trust me on that." Connor tells him. Evan could tell by Connors softer than usual tone that he was telling the truth. He didn't know all the specifics on Connor and Zoe's relationship, and it wasn't up to him to decide if and when they told him.

"If you're sure." Evan offers a understanding smile. Telling Connor that he doesn't need to explain himself, and Connor was thankful.

"I'll see you tommorow, Hansen." Connor smiles back, restarting his walk and gives Evan a little wave. Evan smiles at Connor, it was definitely a shock to think of Connor as a friend. It makes him very glad that he never let what others said about Connor affect his view, as if he did, he'd never would've talked to Connor, that's for sure.

But what he found was someone who he related too, probably more than anyone else. Someone who struggled with their anxiety, although Connor reacted with Anger whereas Evan reacted with panic. But he found someone who desperately wanted a friend, but wasn't sure how to go about it.

Evan was sure that the day the two talked in the Library was Connor trying to be Evans friend, maybe he was wrong, but it felt like the awkward encounter he would have if he tried to make a friend himself. But he had to give Connor credit, he was much better at it than Evan was.