Can You See Me/Can You Hear Me

Pity Ride

Evan was glad it was Thursday, which meant it was almost Friday meaning the weekend was closer. It was only the second week of school, but he wanted it to be over. He only had one more class before he had to wait for Jared by the school entrance.

Evan was reading his Greek Mythology book when the teacher cleared his throat. Evan stilled his hand as the teacher began to speak.

"I know it's only the second week of school," he said, "but all throughout next week we will be working on a group project."

Evan froze, his breath catching in his throat.

He felt the teacher's eyes on him as he continued. "Don't worry, you aren't going to present it. But I will be picking the partners."

Evan let out a sigh of relief and the teacher began calling out names. The boy went back to reading, though he wasn't paying attention to it in case he missed his name and who his partner was. He just kept rereading the same sentence over and over.

"Evan and Connor," the teacher announced. Evan lifted his head in surprise. He instinctively looked toward the door. Connor had told him that he sits near the door, but he wasn't sure which seat. The teacher instructed to go sit with your partner.

Evan stood up, gathering his things and stuffing them in his backpack, and walked over to the general area of the door. Connor grabbed his elbow and pulled him into a seat. He squeaked, probably earning some stares.

The teacher explained the project. You had to go through a book or poem of your group's choosing and find at least two examples of every figurative language as review. They also had to ask their partner questions about them so they could get to know each other. It didn't even have to be a group project, but how else were you suppose get a bunch of teenagers to talk to new people?

Evan fidgeted with his backpack strap. He and Connor haven't spoken since the hallway incident last week. He had forgiven Connor right away, but he didn't know if the whole thing gave him the right to talk to him whenever he felt like it. He didn't want to make him mad. He's heard the rumors, and while he doesn't believe them he doesn't want to risk it.

He heard Connor shift a little, probably to face him. Connor drummed his fingers against his desk.

Evan, his hand shaking, reached over to try and grab Connor's hand to sign to him. He missed and caught his thumb. Evan bit his lip.

'What book should we do?' he signed. 'I was thinking we could do The Raven or something like that. We don't have to if you don't want it, it was just the first story that popped into mind.'

'I don't care what book we use, Hansen,' Connor signed back. 'Hell, I don't even care about this project. But whatever.'

Evan frowned. He didn't know how to respond to that. The rest of the hour was just them sitting in the desks, not speaking to each other. Evan kept fidgeting with his backpack strap or his shirt while bouncing his leg. Connor would occasionally tell him to stop and Evan would apologize before fidgeting again.

The bell rang and Evan stood up, slinging his backpack over his shoulders. He waited for Connor's signal that he was ready—two taps on the shoulder. They walked out of the classroom, Connor lingering back a bit to give Evan space. The blond appreciated that, it made him feel more independent and less of a bother to people.

Evan stopped abruptly, making Connor collide into his back. Connor let out what sounded like a grunt. Evan turned to face him. He grabbed his hand, quickly signing.

'If you want to come over to work on the project, I'm free whenever,' he signed then dropped his hand.

He didn't for Connor to respond and turned back around, walking out of the school doors. He sat on the bench nearby, waiting for Jared. Hopefully he won't make him walk home again like the other time. His leg started bouncing as five minutes passed, anxiety starting to settle in. But really, when wasn't he anxious?

He heard the sound of doors opening and looked to his left, hoping it was Jared. The person—or people rather, he could hear two sets of footsteps— didn't call out to him, much to his disappointment. The footsteps stopped a few feet in front of him. One pair started walking toward him.

Evan's leg bounced faster. Two fingers tapped his shoulder. He furrowed his eyebrows.

A familiar hand grabbed his. 'I know we don't know each other well,' Connor signed. 'But do you need a ride home?'

'Jared's giving me a ride,' Evan replied. 'He just. . . Isn't here yet.'

'It's been ten minutes, he's probably gone.'

Evan sighed and nodded. He stood up, grabbing his backpack and cane. He gently grabbed Connor's elbow as soon as he heard him walking.

"Who's this?" A female voice asked. A beat of silence. "Oh so this is him? Evan right? I'm Zoe."

"Evan," Evan repeated.

"That's your name right?" Zoe asked.

"Yes it is, sorry," he said furiously, shaking his head.

"Why are you sorry?"

"Well it's just you said it and I just, and I repeated it and it's just so annoying when people do that," he stammered. "Sorry."

"You apologize a lot," Zoe commented.

"Sorry."

The three stopped walking when they reached the parking lot. Zoe unlocked the car and the three climbed in. Evan had a bit of trouble buckling his seatbelt, not used to being in a car. He normally walks to and from school because he doesn't want to bother Jared, but then Jared complains that his mom is wondering why Evan hasn't been around and that it's affecting his car insurance so once in a while he'll accept a ride. Because car insurance is more important than friendship, right?

". . . Evan?"

"Could you, could you repeat that?" Evan asked. "I didn't hear you. Sorry."

"It's fine," Zoe assured. The car's engine roaring to life startled Evan, making him jump. He could practically hear Connor rolling his eyes. "I asked for your address."

"Oh, it's um. . ." He's never memorized his address. He just knows that it's the apartments by the school and it's by a Caribou Coffee. "It's the apartments near uh, near the school. I, I don't know the, the exact address sorry."

Zoe reassured him again and pulled out of the school parking lot. A finger tapped Evan's shoulder three times. The boy turned his head to face Connor.

'Sorry about this,' Connor said. 'She can be annoying.'

'She's not annoying,' the blind boy responded.

'You haven't lived with her your entire life.'

'You got me there.'

He felt eyes on him and faced forward, embarrassed.

"Sorry!" Zoe said. "It's just a little weird seeing how you two talk. And I'm just not used to seeing Connor not fighting with someone."

"Sorry," Evan mumbled, fidgeting in the seat.

"That's a good thing! No need to apologize."

Evan fought the urge to apologize again. Instead, he leaned his head against the cool window.

Ten minutes passed and the car rolled to a stop. Zoe read the apartment complex name out loud and Evan confirmed it. Unblocking himself, he opened the door and stumbled out. His backpack got caught on the door handle. He pulled it free without ripping it.

"Do you need help?" Zoe asked.

"No, no I'm, I'm okay. I can handle myself." Grabbing his cane, he shut the car door and started walking toward the building. He tripped over the curb. He blushed, hoping Connor and Zoe didn't see that.

He successfully made it inside the building. He was still embarrassed over what happened and on top of that, today had been stressful so when he got into his apartment, he was goin got take a nap and forget about everything.