Catch me if I Fall (by MysteriousMidnight on ao3)

Caught

When Evan got home, the house was empty. His mom had left him a note and a $20. He read the note over, his eyes focusing on the part where it said she hoped he'd had a good day.

Had he? He wasn't even sure. He'd had several small panic attacks throughout the day, plus that big one before lunch. So that hadn't been so great. But lunch with Connor had been nice, even if it had been on the floor of an empty hallway, and even if Evan hadn't actually eaten any food.

So, had it been a good day? Maybe not the greatest day, he concluded, but it hadn't been the worst, either.

He ignored the $20 - no way was he up to interacting with any delivery drivers right now - and grabbed a soda and some string cheese from the fridge instead.

He made his way upstairs, pulling his laptop to his bed and settling in. He had a couple social media accounts that he rarely posted on – what was the point? He barely had any friends, and his anxiety always made him second-guess the things he posted - but he still liked to check it every day, to make sure he wasn't missing anything important. After that, he checked his email and started his homework.

~*~*~

Two hours later, stomach growling and homework nearly done, Evan made his way downstairs again, hoping to find something – anything – to eat that didn't involve interacting with a delivery person. He was halfway to the kitchen when there was a knock at the front door. He paused, frowning. He really didn't have the energy to deal with anyone tonight, especially Jared. He had a bad habit of coming over unannounced. The last thing he wanted to do was watch some weird porno, pretending to be interested while Jared whooped and made inappropriate jokes.

He stood still, praying whoever it was would go away. But they knocked again. He sighed, slumped his shoulders, and shuffled to the door. When he pulled it open, it wasn't Jared.

"Hey," Connor said shifting his weight from one foot to the other. "Sorry to, uh, come over unannounced. I just... Can I come in? I brought Chinese food." He held two brown bags up.

Evan's mouth watered at the delicious smells coming from the bags. He couldn't believe the turn his night was taking. He nodded, moving so Connor could step inside. Evan shut the door, turning to stare at the taller boy.

"I don't know if you like Chinese or not.. Or, you know, what you do like if you do.. I just kind of got a little of everything." Connor shrugged, looking everywhere but directly at Evan.

"I like Chinese," Evan replied. "Have a... Um, you can..." He pointed at the living room. "I'll get plates and... stuff."

When Evan returned, plates in hand, Connor was on the couch, pulling take-out boxes and containers from the bag and sorting them on the coffee table.

Evan handed him the plates and silverware, then went back for sodas.

"Sorry, all we have is Coke."

Connor looked up at him, his hair falling over one eye. He brushed it back. "Sure, I'll take a snort of coke, please."

Evan's eyes widened. "That's not.. It's not.. I meant..COCA-COLA, not.." He frowned. Connor was staring at him, a shit-eating grin on his face. "Jerk," he mumbled, but he couldn't help a small laugh.

And then he realized he'd just called Connor Murphy a jerk.

"Ohmygod," he said in a rush, hand flying to his mouth. "I'm.. I'm so sorry, that was so rude."

But Connor was snickering. "I mean, you didn't mean it, right?" he asked, quirking a brow. Evan quickly shook his head. Connor shrugged. "So no need to apologize."