Just Another Lie, Right? [Kleinsen]

•6•

Evan and I got to his house without any disruptions.

Thank god. I did not like being a doctor. Note to self: cross medicare off the career list.

Right now Evan and I were sitting on the floor of his living room, because we're nerds and don't use couches. Evan was on the phone with Mrs. Murphy, explaining why we weren't able to come to dinner.

"I'm really sorry it's just-"

"Evan" I whispered, "You know you can still go. Just stay hydrated."

He looked at me, still rambling on the phone, and shook his head, mouthing the words "It's fine."

I shrugged. It's not like I really cared either way, but I kinda wanted to get this game in motion. Maybe I could call Alana and say something like "Ey Evan forgot to mention me at his speech."

But that would ruin the run of this natural-flowing process. I can't just insert myself into the cycle, I have to be adapted into it.

"Thanks for understanding!" Evan said before hanging up.

"How'd it go?"

He shrugged. "She said she was fine with it, and that I can take all the time I need."

I nodded and we kinda just stared at the television for a long moment.

"Thanks, Jared." He said, out of no where.

"For what? Helping you write creepy sex letters?" I asked, giggling at my own joke afterwards.

"I- what? No!" Evan said, sounding little upset. "No. For helping me-"

"Write sex letters." I finished. As much as I enjoyed seeing Evan back and conscious, I also really enjoy making fun of him.

"Jared I'm trying to have a heartwarming moment and you're ruining it!" Evan spat out fast. He sighed before continuing. "Thanks for keeping me alive.

I laughed awkwardly, "You know that was a joke, right. You wouldn't have died-"

"Well I may have!" He spoke in his typical nervous-Evan manner, fast and slightly loud. "We'll never know because you came-"

"I was already there-" I barked in.

"and helped." He said, ignoring my interruption. "Thanks."

I looked up from the TV and looked at him. In the eye. I can't remember the last time I got a chance to look Evan in the eye. He's usually always looking at his feet or fiddling with his shirt. But not now. He was looking me in the eye and I was looking him in the eye.

He looked... Happy? Proud? I couldn't tell. But it was definitely not a negative emotion.

Weird... I'm used to being associated with negative emotions.

"I-"

I didn't know how to respond. Sound arrogant and just say "You're welcome"? Do the ol' uno-reverse-card method and say "Thanks for cooperating."? Maybe I shouldn't say anything and just pat him on the back.

But there's no way sitting in silence isn't gonna make me look weird.

"Did Alana ever plan that dance?" Evan said, changing the subject, thank god. I didn't think I could handle another second of silence.

"I'm not sure. I'd assume she would, being the miss-always-ready she is." I responded slightly rudely.

I expected Evan to retort, telling me that I shouldn't talk to Alana like that, but instead he just nodded and said "Yeah that makes sense. Maybe we should call and ask?"

"Nah." I said, "Let's just let her yell across the cafeteria again tomorrow."

At that moment, the door opened behind us and Ms. Hansen walked in, still in her work uniform.

"Evan?" She said when she spotted Evan, and then her gaze turned to me, "Oh, you brought Jared..."

What time was it? Evan's mom usually got home around 1. But the I remembered today was Thursday, the day where Ms. Hansen has a shorter shift.

It was 8:42.

"Yeah. I did." said Evan rather stiffly. "Is something wrong with that?"

"No no no no!" Ms. Hansen said, and suddenly I felt like I was gonna be dragged into a conversation. "It's just that usually you're at his house-"

"Nope, it's fine, we'll go." Evan said, grabbing my arm and pulling me to my feet. "We'll be in my room."

"Evan no- I-"

"It's okay mom!" Evan half-shouted, before pulling me into his room and closing the door.

He sighed. With all of the context clues, I have came the the conclusion that Evan and his mom do not have a very stable relationship.

It's weird, though, because when we were little they seemed to get along so well. I don't know what happened.

Why would I know, though? I'm not supposed to care.

"Sorry." Evan mumbled, and I shrugged.

I looked around his room. I haven't been in it since I was like 14. That's like 4 years ago, jesus. It's changed a lot since then. His walls were painted a mint green color, and there were only a few things on his walls. He had a nice collage of tree pictures on one wall. On another wall, there were a couple family pictures, but I couldn't quite see the faces.

I walked over to inspect them, my curiosity getting the best of me. One of the pictures were of just Evan and his mom, when Evan seemed to be about 8. Another was one the entire family. Evan was about 2. His mom looked like her cheery self and his dad wore a proud face. They looked so happy.

I shifted my gaze to the next picture and I felt my heart swell. It was a picture from Evan's 7th birthday party. More specifically, it was a picture taken after he unwrapped the little bonsai tree I gave him. He was hugging me, his face bright with excitement. And I was hugging back, my face bright with happiness.

We were happy.

Oh how times have changed.

I looked around his room some more and, sure enough, the bonsai tree was on his nightstand beside his little lamp. I felt all of the happiness from that birthday party return.

"You still have that?" I said softly.

"Yeah." Evan responded simply, a small smile on his face.

I walked over to it and I saw that it was still doing perfectly. In fact, it almost looked the same as it did 11 years ago.

"It's the one plant I've gotten that hasn't died yet." Evan elaborated. "You picked a nice one."

I couldn't help but smile at that.

"Yeah. I guess I did."

There was a small silence that filled the room. Unlike last time, though, this silence was beautiful.

"I named it Klein. After you." He said after a moment.

I busted out laughing, ruining the moment, "You what?" I asked, still laughing.

"Yeah it's dumb-" Evan said, rubbing the back of his neck and looking at his feet.

"No." I said softly, my laughing abruptly ending. "I just- didn't see it coming I guess. It's cute."

He smiled and hugged me.

And I hugged back.

Just like at his 7th birthday party.

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Published: 6/13/19
Word Count: 1167