New Lives Start With "N"

Nice meeting you

"Are you okay?.... Bro?" Jeremy hesitantly called out to the smaller boy in front of him. The boy tilted his head up to look at Jeremy. The small boy wore a striped bright blue shirt, grey pants, shoes, and his blonde hair was combed neatly onto one side of his head. He seemed nervous. Jeremy was definitely feeling the awkwardness of the response of silence. Jeremy didn't expect an answer. He was already accustomed to this kind of treatment-

"T-Thank you, Mr. H-Heere..." The boy looked down, his shyness nearly knocking him over. Jeremy's eyes widened. He actually knew him. Somebody other than Michael actually knew him from the first impression! What accomplishment!

"You don't have to call me that, just Jeremy is fine, so, what's your name then?" Jeremy stuck out his hand for the smaller boy to shake, hoping he will return the greeting.

"E-Evan H-Hansen. It's n-nice to meet y-you, Jeremy.." Evan kindly shook Jeremy's hand. An acquaintance forming. As soon as they released hands, they felt the slight tension in the air. The silence was back. Until Jeremy decided to break it.

"So.... let's get to school, yeah?" Jeremy has not felt this awkward since the whole SQUIP accident last year, his junior year to be in fact. But this year is different. He is now a senior, and is going to make a positive change...he thinks?

~~~~~• • •~~~~~

Evan felt his hands start to get sweaty from his nervousness. His mind could not even translate the words Jeremy was saying on their way to school. The words sounded as though they were emerged in deep water, or a language that did not make sense to him or couldn't recognize.

Jeremy and Evan both parted at the entrance, with just a swift "goodbye" and a short hand wave. Jeremy was walking in the hall, searching for a certain "Player #1" of his. And luckily he did, but was in an unexpected state. He was arguing with a... girl? Did he have a relashionship and not tell him? They quarreled, and Jeremy took some steps closer into the conversation. Michael was furious, and the girl was angry as well, but looked more... guilty? No way. Jeremy knew who this girl was. Her name is "Veronica Sawyer." She was an old friend of theirs until she decided they were losers and too nerdy to be with her, so she abandoned them completely. Jeremy was now at Michael's side, trying to calm his best friend down.

"Michael! Just listen to me! ....I need your help... okay? There are these three girls, and coincidentally, they are all named Heather. They all plan to take my popularity! And I need your guys' help!" Veronica "cried" as if she was a damsel in distress.

"Why should we believe you bitc-!" Jeremy just dragged Michael out of the argument before any more protests have been made.

"Hey what's your problem-Oh hey Jeremy! Jeremy my buddy, how's it hanging?" Michael suddenly asked, his once angry frown transformed into his usual happy one.

"Okay? I guess... how was lunch?" Jeremy replied slightly feeling awkward. He breathed a heavy sigh.

"Lunch is banging! Got my sushi, got my slushy and more! Cause' the girl at sev' elev' gave me a generous pour!" Jeremy noticed that Michael was drinking out of a slushee cup that was the same color as his red hoodie. Jeremy raised an eyebrow and gave a suggestive smile, the tune sounded slightly familiar to what Michael was making it sound like. Michael's headphones were on his ears while he jammed and talked to him casually.

"You're listening to Marley again, aren't you?"

"OHHH! I'm listening to Marley and the groove is sounding gnarly and we're almost at the end of the song. Now that was the end, now tell me friend, how was class? You look like ass, what's wrong?" Michael remarked, as he pushed up his glasses and stared at Jeremy with a worried expression. Jeremy sighed, and explained his new dilemma about meeting someone new, and saving them from being bullied. But he knew, he had a strange feeling that, that one time isn't the last time he will see Evan Hansen again. Something tells him they will somehow be forced to be closer, but somehow, he really didn't mind.