Dead Boys Walking

Waving Through a Window

Evan Hansen sat at his window, shocked by what had just happened. When Connor's family had reached out to him, saying that Connor had addressed his suicide note to Evan, Evan had been entirely caught off guard. Of course, Evan soon realized that the note was, in fact, the letter that Connor had taken from him in school. Evan had  written himself a letter as an exercise for therapy. Connor had found the note, which happened to mention that Evan had a crush on Connor's sister, Zoe, had been disturbed, and had taken it. Then, Connor killed himself, leaving everyone to think that Connor and Evan were friends.

Evan couldn't help but feel shady for allowing this untruth to be believed, but the idea of telling everyone about how Connor really got the letter would be cataclysmic.  What if Zoe found the letter as creepy as Connor had? She probably would, too, Evan thought, and it would probably break her heart to find out that Connor had really died with no friends to write to. Connor's family, The Murphys, had invited Evan over for dinner to talk about Connor, and Evan had accepted. That was tonight! But how could he fake being friends with Connor? Would it be enough for Evan to tell some fabricated stories, or would he need evidence? Evan felt a wave of anxiety hit him. He had backed himself into a corner, and there was nothing he could do. 

Suddenly, Evan heard a knock on the window and saw an unfamiliar boy in a long, black coat standing outside his window. The boy waved. Confused, Evan cracked the window open.

"Evan Hansen?" The boy asked.

Evan froze when he heard his name. Who was that guy? Suddenly, Evan had a sickening thought. "Um, is this about Connor?"

The boy seemed amused. "I suppose it is, in a way. I'm JD, and I came here on Connor's behalf."

No, no, no, no, no! Evan's mind was screaming. JD must have been one of Connor's real friends. There was no way he could do this. He wasn't ready. He would surely be caught in a lie. 

"So, can I come in?" JD asked. 

"No!" Evan yelped, "I mean, I have an appointment, with a... Tree! Come back later! Or don't." Evan slammed the window shut and and pulled the blinds. He pressed himself against the wall, gasping. 

"Evan, are you alright?" Evan's mom called out from the kitchen.

"Yeah, mom. I'm fine." Evan lied.

Evan finally managed to calm down to the extent of being able to focus on the next most terrifying thing, his meeting with Connor's parents. It was certainly lucky that Connor had signed Evan's cast before he found the 'creepy' letter. Maybe that would be enough evidence.

"So you're a panicky one." JD said, suddenly sitting on Evan's bed. 

Evan turned around and screamed. "Who let you in here? Was it my mom?"

"Sure." JD said casually, "Lets go with that. Got a lighter?" JD  fingered an unlit cigarette. "I haven't had a real smoke in ages."

"What do you want from me?" Evan asked, shaking.

"You know, Connor said you're a creep." JD commented. "But from my research, it seems like people are saying that you two were friends. Why is that?"

"Are you trying to blackmail me?" Evan whispered. "I don't have anything to give you." 

"Just trying to get to know you." JD told him. "So I can better...assist you.

Evan gulped, "What does that even mean?" 

"You're stuck in a lie, aren't you?" JD chewed his unlit cigarette. "I can help."

"How?" Evan demanded.

"Evan?" Evan's mom walked into his room. "Who are you talking to."

"Him." Evan pointed at JD.

"Evan." Evan's mom looked worried. "There's no one else in here."

Evan's eyes widened. He glanced at JD, who shrugged. "Right," Evan faked a laugh. "That was a joke, sorry. Actually, I was just reading a book for school aloud." 

"Okay then. I need to leave for work." Evan's mom gave him one more confused look and walked away, she turned again at the door. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah mom." Evan waited until he heard the front door close, then turned back to JD, "Am I just imagining you?"

"Maybe, maybe not." JD replied, "Not that it really matters. I'm here to help you get through this whole crazy situation with Connor."

"This can't be happening." Evan mumbled. "This is some sort of dream. I...I need to get ready." 

"For what?" JD asked.

"I'm going to dinner at the Murphy's." Evan explained.

"I'll go with you." JD told him. "I'll make sure you don't screw everything up." 

"No, you already made me look weird," Evan snapped. "You'll probably do the same at the Murphy's house too."

"You made yourself look weird," JD smirked, "It will be fine, as long as you don't acknowledge that I'm here. I'll just stand across from you and give you advice." 

"I guess I can't stop you." Evan shrugged, "Just please don't do anything embarrassing."

Evan and JD walked out of the house and down the street. It was a nice evening, if a bit chilly. Crickets chirped and the wind blew softly. After a few blocks, they passed a Seven-Eleven. JD suddenly turned to Evan excitedly. "Why didn't you tell me there's a Seven-Eleven near your house?"

Evan looked at JD, perplexed. "Why do you care?"

JD had a mad look in his eyes, "WE HAVE TO GET SLURPEES!" 

Evan shook his head and kept walking. "We have to go to the Murphy's house. I don't want to be late."

JD frowned, but followed reluctantly. As they neared the neighborhood, Evan stopped in his tracks, and started to hyperventilate.

JD crossed his arms. "And this is why we needed to get slurpees."

"What?" Evan panted.

"You just have to freeze your brain and then everything will be better." JD grabbed Evan's arm and dragged him back towards the Seven-Eleven. "You'll thank me later."

Confused and still very anxious, Evan stumbled after JD to avoid being dragged across the pavement. Soon they were back at the Seven-Eleven. A confused employee stared at Evan as JD dragged Evan over to the slurpee machine. Evan's cheeks grew red with embarrassment, imagining how weird he must have looked. To the employee, it must have seemed like the door opened on its own, and Evan's jerky steps must not have looked much better. JD began frantically filling a paper cup with blue-raspberry slush. Evan escaped his grasp and hid behind an Icebreakers display. 

"Can you even drink that?" He whispered. "I thought you didn't actually exist." 

 "Only one way to find out." JD chugged the slurpee. "I've missed this. What flavor do you want? My treat."

"Um... Mountain Dew, I guess." Evan said meekly. "We really need to leave."

JD filled a cup for Evan, then refilled his own. "Trust me, this will calm you down."

"Can we go now, please?" Evan begged. "I don't want to be late."

JD handed Evan the slurpee. "Evan, chill." He looked around to see if anyone was watching. "Okay, let's go." JD dragged Evan through the aisles and out the door. 

"I'm s...so sorry!" Evan stammered to the employee as JD dragged him backwards. 

JD let go of Evan in the parking lot. "Run."

Evan bolted down the street, in the direction of the Murphy's house. "You said you were going to pay for the slurpees!"

"No I didn't!" JD shouted back, keeping Evan's pace.

Finally, Evan reached the door of the Murphy's house, sweating and panting, his hair a mess. "What were you thinking?" He demanded, grabbing JD by the shoulders.

 At that moment,  Connor's mother, opened the door. "Evan?" She stared at Evan, who must have looked like he was having a wrestling match with nobody. "What are you doing?"