All Because Mom Wanted Ice Cream

Friday Night

Jared sits alone in his car in front of Evan's house, honking the horn every time a minute passes. Then every fifteen seconds. Then every five. And eventually he's honking to the tune of whatever song in Hamilton he could think of.

He had made sure to arrive twenty minutes early, because he knew Evan had a knack for being late. 

Eventually, Evan ran out the front door, wearing his usual, but with a weird cardigan thing on top. Jared thought it made Evan look fruity.

"Sorry, I was in the shower, and then Alice took my shoe and hid it. I found it obviously but-"

"It's alright, we aren't late or anything."

"Oh. Okay."

"Yeah. Music?"

"I don't care."

"Newsies it is..."

"Jared?"

"Hm?" Jared put his car in drive and began the ten minute drive to his destination.

"Why are you bringing me with you?"

"Because... I need someone to come with me."

"And why me?"

"Because I would like it if you would come."

"I'm coming."

"No duh."

"Shut up."

"How dare you."

"Sorry."

"No need to apologize." Jared said, shaking his head. "Just own it."

Evan froze. Own it... That was Connor, speaking to him.

Own it, Connor had said. 

From beyond the grave. 

"Evan? Hello? Evan? You in there?" Jared waved his hand in front of Evan's face. Evan blinked a few times and turned to face Jared.

"Yeah, no. Sorry. Just zoned out a little."

"Fair. We're here."

"Oh. Okay."

Evan climbed out of the car and followed Jared into the building, eyes down. 

About five minutes passed sitting inside while Jared talked to friends and Evan minded his own business. 

"Hello, everyone! Good to see you all back here, and some new faces, how fun! We're gonna go around, I want you all to share your name, pronouns, and sexuality, yeah? I'll start. I'm Peter, he/him, and I'm gay. Miss Murphy?"

"Yeah, um. Hi. I'm Zoe, she/her, bisexual." Evan snuck a glance at her. He swore he could feel her glare. 

"I'm Alana, she/they, and a lesbian." Alana smiled brightly, a smile that Evan knew so well. 

"Michael, he/him, gay."

"Christine, she/her, aroace."

"Jared, he/him, gay."

Silence fell upon the room. 

"Evan. Your turn." Jared said in a low, quiet voice.

"Oh. Sorry. Um. Evan, he/him, straight."

"Jace, they/them, pansexual."

"Okay." Peter clapped his hands together in a teacher-like manner. "Anyone have anything they want to share about their weeks?"

"I got a girlfriend!" Alana exclaimed excitedly.

"Me too." Zoe said in a more quiet voice.

"Finally, they got together." Michael said to Christine.

"Yay!"

Evan stared in disbelief. Not judgement, of course, just disbelief. His ex-girlfriend had a girlfriend who happened to be his ex-co-president of the Connor Project who hated his guts. Wow.

"Yeah." Alana said. "Zoe's finally all figured out, she thinks."

Zoe nodded in agreement. "All set. Bisexual. Kinda feels nice to have a label on such confusing feelings. I guess."

"And how are you doing otherwise?" Peter asked her.

"You mean, am I coping with the death of my older brother? Yeah, you could say I'm doing that. Great thanks to Evan for the support." Zoe stared dead into Evan's eyes and frowned. 

"Yes, the Connor Project was a lovely thing. Evan, would you like to share anything on that topic?"

"Y- I, uh. I don't think-"

"That's alright. Anyone else?"

"Got third base below the bra with this one girl." Jace said proudly. "Unlike Jared, who was totally making things up."

"Hey!" Jared exclaimed (he was smiling, though). "I could have sex with a girl if I wanted to!"

"But you don't."

"That's true. I most definitely don't."

"And you also don't have a boyfriend."

"I will someday. I hope."

"Or you'll just die alone."

"Likely."

"Hey, hey. No self-depreciating talk in here. I'm sure you'll find the right guy, Jared." Peter cut in.

"Yeah. I'm sure." Jared grinned reassuringly. 

"Anyone else have something to share before we start our little activity planned for the day?"

Evan wasn't  sure what made him decide to speak up, but he did, for whatever reason. 

"Can I- I'm just not- I'm not sure if... I'm confused." He wasn't sure if he was on the right track. He just rambled until he found the words that felt right.

"Would you like to elaborate?"

"I don't know if I'm straight."

"As in, you think you might not be? What makes you wonder?"

"Well, uh, there was this moment, a few days ago, where I was with this guy, and uh. Um. Sorry, this sounds, um, super... stereotypical? But, like, I was with him and he was just sitting there and all of the sudden I just... felt weird? Like, I knew that him being there was making me happier than it should and I just felt like I needed to say something nice to him or give him a hug or mess up his hair or something and it did not feel right and I'm rambling again I'm sorry, I'll stop talking now, sorry."

"Thank you for sharing, Evan. I'm sorry to say that there's not much I can do for you in terms of self discovery. You have to do that yourself. But I can tell you that we are all here to help, right guys?"

There were sounds of agreement from around the room, and an assuring smile from Jared.

Hidden behind Jared's smile, though...

Oh my gosh, He thought, Evan really is in love with me.

"Okay, who wants to do sock bowling? We have rainbow pins now, like someone requested last week..."

A/N: So due to my personal life I have never been to any pride support group so I'm sorry if this is unrealistic. Evan's realizing his feelings ooooo this was supposed to be a slow burn but whateverrrrrrr

Sincerely, Me