Blind Connor, role swap AU, Really it's just a more timid Connor and a less anxious Evan
My alarm goes off, ringing loudly slightly to the left of me. I reach over, turning off the alarm and sitting up. I reach over to my desk chair, where Mom put my clothes. I feel what she put out as I change. T-shirt, black jeans, which I know are the black ones because there's a little hole in the back left pocket and my only zip up sweater, which is a dark grey. I grab an elastic from the box on my desk, pulling my hair into a quickly done bun.
I get up from the bed, slowly making my way downstairs. I follow along the wall, tripping over the coffee table. "Ow... Who moved this..." I mumble.
I feel a hand on my shoulder. "Sorry hon. I had to vacuum." Mom says, helping me up. "Toast for breakfast?"
"Yes please..." I say, making my way to the table, sitting in my usual spot at the head of the table.
"How'd you sleep last night?" Mom asks.
"Alright... I think the neighbors were having a party again though... I could hear them all night..." I say, hearing Mom put the toast in front of me. "Thank you."
"No problem hon." She says, kissing my head.
I hear coughing. "Mom..." Zoe says, her voice is rough and tired. "I don't think I can go to school..." she says, coughing roughly.
Oh no... Zoe has been taking me to school since I lost my vision... I can't get around without her...
"Alright honey. Just go back to your room and get some rest. I'll bring you some tea." Mom says.
Zoe walks away.
"M-mom... Can I stay home too..." I mutter.
"No. You need to go to school. I'll drive you and we can get someone to walk you to class. You'll be fine Connor."
"Cynthia!" I heard Dad call. "He's here!"
"Oh! Connor! We have something for you!" Mom says, taking my hand. "Sit here." She says.
I sit down.
"Hold your hand out." Mom says.
I do as I'm told, feeling something soft in front of me. The furry thing felt like it was breathing. And he was so warm. "I-is it a dog?"
"Yep. He's here to help you get around today. For as long as you want actually. Since you're graduating this year Zoe isn't going to be there to help you get around anymore so we got you this guy." Mom says.
"What's his name?" I ask, smiling and petting the dog.
"His names Ace."
"Ace." I try out the name. "I like it. Hi there Ace. Are you ready to go to school?" It's quiet for a bit. "I'll take that as a yes." I smile, petting Ace for a bit before getting up.
~~~~~
I end up getting to school quite well. Ace is obviously well trained and I got to class quickly. I sat down at my desk and I felt Ace sit down beside me. Before class starts, I'm approached be someone.
"H-hi Connor." That's Evans voice. I'd recognize it anywhere. He's the only one here who ever talks to me besides Alana. But she talks to everyone. "How are you?"
"I'm doing well. Thanks Ev.. How about you?" I say, smiling.
"Oh-... I'm doing fine. I-if you don't mind me asking... I know I'm not actually supposed to be asking this but umm... could I pet your dog? He looks so sweet...." Evan says.
"Yeah go ahead. His names Ace."
I listen to Evan talking to Ace. It's kinda cute. "Hey Ev..." I say after a bit. "Would you care to come over tonight? I mean you don't have to but we haven't talked in a while and it'd be nice..."
We haven't talked since eighth grade because a few months after we met I was spending countless hours in the hospital because it slowly became harder and harder to see. Evan blamed himself for what happened to me, saying that being around him is bad luck... We tried to stay friends but it just wouldn't work.
"O-oh yeah sure..." Evan said. I could hear that he wasn't paying much attention and was still petting Ace.
I sighed softly. It's fine. I'm used to people ignoring me...
~~~~~
Evan met me outside of the school at the end of the day. As we headed to my place we were both quite silent and Evan had a heart attack when I was almost hit by a car. We stopped on a bench on the way there so I could help him calm down. We hugged and i said soft, comforting things to him until he felt better. Once he was good we continued to walk. We arrived at my house a few minutes later with Zoe greeting us at the door.
"Hey Connor. How'd today go?" She asks. I can clearly hear that she isn't sick anymore.
"It was fine... You sound a lot better now." I say.
"Yeah... About that... I wasn't sick... Mom let me stay home today so we could give you the dog and you could get used to him. Don't tell mom I told you though. I wasn't supposed to say anything."
"It's fine."
"You guys better get inside. It looks like it's about to rain."
As Zoe says that I do notice that smell the air has when it is about to rain. I step carefully into the house, followed by Evan. I reach out for Evans hand, which he places in mine, and I lead him to my bedroom. I hold my hands out to find my bed, seating myself down on it. I feel the bed shift as Evan follows.
There is a long silence between us before I decide to speak up. "So how have you been Evan?" I ask, fiddling with the sheets of my bed. I am quite nervous about talking to him though, I am unsure why. Maybe from years of him avoiding me.
"I--... To be completely honest with you, not that good. I've been lonely." he pauses for a moment. "My anxiety is getting better though! I don't stutter as much."
"That's good. I'm proud of you Evan." I say with a smile. I remember back when we started drifting as friends, how Evan could barely form a proper sentence, and when he could you could hardly make out what he was saying. He's gone so far with his recovery. It's really incredible.
"W-what about you Con? How are you?"
"I'm holding up. I don't think I'll ever get used to this being blind thing but it's something I am going to have to live with." I say with a shrug. "So," I start, wanting to get off the topic that drove us apart, "random question but do you like anyone? Like, romantically? I heard you and Jared have been getting pretty close."
Evan laughs. "God no. Jared and I are just friends. Besides I-I've got my heart set on being with someone else--..." Evan trails off.
"I'm intrigued. Tell me more?" I say as a question, so it doesn't sound forceful.
"W-well... We're really close now but we haven't talked in a while. He's a real sweetheart, pretty too, though he can't see it a-and we've been friends since junior high..."
I start to piece something together. Does Evan like me?? "I-Is it me... D-do you like me?! I'm so confused... You couldn't like me. Nobody could ever like me."
"Maybe it's you... Depends on if you're willing to give us another try... I know I've been horrible to you the past few years. I was just scared. I didn't want to leave you but my anxiety kinda ruled my world."
"I noticed... But are you really sure you want me... I'm blind-"
"That doesn't matter to me. Your an amazing person. I love you Connor..."
I felt tears roll down my cheeks. Reaching out to find Evan I pull him into a hug. "I love you too Evan."
Word count:1304 (told you not to expect longer than last time..)