"Connor, you have to come to your sister's recital! She's your sister, honey." Connor's mom, Cynthia, tried persuading the small boy.
"I don't wanna! Ballet ith boring and it'th too girly!" Connor stomped his feet, yelling. He had a lisp that made his fit seem less threatening than it really was. Cynthia smiled softly at the small tooth gap in the middle of his mouth.
"Don't you love your sister?" She smiled, hands on her hips before she bent down to the same height as Connor. Connor went silent, nodding and looking at the ground.
"So why don't you want to see your sister dance? She's so good, you know."
"Fine... Let'th go." He fake pouted, crossing his arms and walking lazily as he did so. Cynthia chuckled as she brought him to the car, where his sister and father waited.
"Finally got him to come." She whispered in relief to Larry, his dad and her husband. He chuckled softly, eyes creasing a bit as he smiled at him struggling to get into the car.
"Need help there, bud?" He moved to help him into his seat.
"I could have done it mythelf." Connor stuck his tongue out between his missing teeth. Larry chuckled and buckled him in his car seat. Connor swung his legs happily, as if he weren't just pouting about going to Zoe's recital.
------
They got there within five minutes, Zoe rambling about how great her ballet class was and how she would be a ballet dancer forever. She excitedly met with her other ballet friends and Connor, Cynthia, and Larry all went to sit and wait for the show to begin.
"Do you want a special treat for the show, for being so good and coming with us?" Cynthia asked Connor, looking at Larry with a look of assurance. Connor nodded and giggled happily.
"Can I get gummieth?" Connor gasped. Gummies were his favorite food ever, and you could tell, because that's all he ever asked for.
"Yes, you can get gummies." Cynthia nodded, standing up. She promised to the both of them that she'd be back very soon, and promised Connor she'd get a bunch of gummies for being so good.
Within minutes, she was back with two packets of gummies and a water for herself. Connor took them from her hand and opened them, popping a few into his mouth. The show started soon after.
When it did, 14 kids all entered the stage gracefully, struggling to balance on their toes the slightest bit. Girls of all sizes, all mostly the same age, fluttered their arms and twirled in their tutus.
And then a boy, looking quite timid, entered. The only boy.
Connor's eyes widened and he leaned forward in his seat. The boy was in a basic ballet uniform, though it was a bit loose on him. He was small, but after he got on stage and started dancing, just has they had rehearsed, he looked as if he wouldn't be anywhere else.
He looked like he loved ballet. And Connor saw this.
Cynthia as glad that Connor was enjoying it, as well as Larry. They had assumed it was because Zoe really did sparkle up there.
But no, it wasn't that at all. It was the fact that that boy, that single boy up there, that he was focused on. To eight-year-old Connor, this boy was stunning.
After the show, Connor didn't run to Zoe. He ran to the mystery boy, who found himself in the corner of the room they waited for their parents in.
"Um, hi. I'm Connor, and I thought you did awethome." He swayed back and forth slightly. The boy looked up, surprised that someone came over to compliment him.
"Thank you. I'm Evan."
"Do you wanna be friendth?" Connor's eyes widened, smiling wide and showing off his tooth gap.
"Yeah!" Evan smiled as well. He hopped a little on his toes. Moments later, Evan's mother joined them.
"Well, who's this?" She smiled at Connor.
"This is Connor," Evan told her, smiling, "He's my new friend, Mommy!"
"Well, where are your Mommy and Daddy, Connor?"
"Oh, uh..." He spotted Zoe, Larry, and Cynthia across the room, "Over there!" He pointed at them and waved to them. They walked over, and Connor's parents began to talk to Evan's mom, while Connor gave one of his packets of gummies to Evan.
"I love gummieth. They're yummy. Do you like gummieth?" He asked Evan as they sat, criss crossing their legs.
"Yeah, of course I do." Evan chuckled. He tried opening his packet, but couldn't.
"Do you need help? I'm an exthpert at opening them!" Connor went to grab for the packet, and Evan gave it over. Connor opened it swiftly and gave them back. Evan thanked him and gave him a few gummies for helping him. Connor ate them quickly.
Soon, they had to go home, as the dance studio was closing. Connor and Evan didn't want to go home, not at all. They wanted to keep talking about ice cream and candy and video games. But Cynthia told them they could see each other at school the next day, and that seemed to get them to separate.
"I'm gonna go home and thleep right away tho I can thee you tomorrow!" Connor exclaimed and waved to Evan and held his mother's hand.
"Me too!" Evan giggled, skipping away.
All it took was one show to bring them together.
------
Connor watched with sparkling eyes, sitting in the front row and looking up at the solo performer on the stage. There he was, Evan Hansen in all his glory, performing in front of a crowd of 200.
The song he was dancing to was called You-- Connor knew because he helped Evan choose it before he started to practice for this show. It had beautiful piano at the beginning, perfect for Evan's demeanor.
The boy never stopped dancing since that night at the recital. He was so passionate about it, and wouldn't stop for the world, really. And Connor was there the entire time, through every sprain, fracture, and hardship.
Evan danced to the music swiftly and sweetly, eyes closing as he did so. He didn't realize how beautiful he looked as he got into the music and let his body take control. He didn't realize how he could make a simple turn look so complex.
But Connor did.
Connor had grown to love the dirty blonde-haired dancer. He was so kind, amazing, and talented.
Connor loved that.
And so, when Evan danced, his eyes were glued to him.
The applause could deafen someone, it was so loud. Evan stood, breathing heavily as he eyed the audience. His eyes landed on the long-haired, tall boy who he had begun to like. His stomach fluttered as he saw Connor's eyes were on him already. They met eyes and smiled at one another, before Evan made his way to the front of the stage and reached out to Connor.
"Come on!" He laughed, his eyes creasing as he smiled widely.
"Hell no, Evan! The stage is for you!" He smiled and shook his head.
"You deserve to be known for everything you do." He said as the audience quieted down and listened. Connor looked down shyly and chuckled, shaking his head again.
Evan grabbed his hand and pulled him up, chuckling and pulling Connor close. In a sudden burst of confidence, he pecked Connor's lips and turned to the audience.
"This amazing person here is named Connor Murphy. We met at a dance recital when we were eight, and ever since, we've been close. This boy has helped me more than anyone before. He made me believe in myself when others didn't, and urged me to continue doing ballet despite the countless words that have brought me down. And I thank you, Connor." He smiled, noticing the small pink tint on his cheeks.
More applause, all in support of everything.
"I want you to be by my side forever, Connor." Were the last words he whispered before the lights went out and they exited the stage.
And Connor did stay by his side.
