Connor stepped out of stepped out of the doctor's office, a scowl clear on his face. He shoved his hands into his pockets and walked into the waiting room while his father argued with the doctor. He stared at the white tile floor, trying to avoid the black lines. He ended up taking a large step that probably looked weird to anyone passing by, but he didn't give a shit.

When he was younger, he and Zoe would always try to avoid the cracks in sidewalks and buildings. It was fun for them, even if people looked at them funny. But then Connor started losing his hearing and they drifted apart. Zoe would always try to speak with him, but he would say that he couldn't hear her. She took it as "I'm ignoring you, go away."

Even after his family learned he was going deaf, Zoe and Connor still grew apart. They started fighting. Connor could barely hear anything by the time he was thirteen, but he learned to read lips. He would still use his voice, always going by the vibration of his vocal cords to know if he was saying the correct words.

By the time Connor was fourteen, he was fully deaf. He stopped using his voice, which should've brought an end to the arguments. However, he was still able to understand when Larry was talking shit about him, and he would sign angrily at him before storming out, knowing Larry couldn't understand him. He would sign inappropriate things and his mother would tell him off. Larry would demand Cynthia to tell him what he was saying, and then he would get even madder and would go to Connor's room to yell more.

Connor looked around at the waiting room. Children were crying from shots. People were checking in for appointments. Someone was arguing with a doctor, probably about a medical bill.

Connor looked over at the chairs. Most of the ones by the door were taken, much to Connor's disappointment. The only seat nearby was next to a kid around his age. Sighing, he walked over to the chair.

The kid didn't so much as look at him, but he did flinch a bit when Connor sat down. Connor took in his appearance. Blue and black striped polo shirt and khakis. Blond hair.

Connor tapped his shoulder. The guy snapped his head up, looking around.

'Have I see you somewhere before?' he signed.

The guy didn't respond so he tapped his shoulder again. The blond turned his head and looked at Connor.

"Yes?" the guy whispered. Connor signed again. "Oh ha ha, I get it. You thought it, it would be f-funny to mess with the, the blind guy."

Connor mentally slapped himself. He's blind? Connor now noticed the sunglasses and service dog laying by his feet. He felt stupid. He should've noticed that earlier.

Connor grabbed the guy's hand and was about to starting signing when he pulled his hand away. He grabbed his hand again. He held it tightly so he couldn't pull away and started signing.

The guy relaxed a bit.

'That depends,' he signed back. 'Who's asking?'

'Connor Murphy. And you don't have to sign back, I can read lips. As long as you're facing me. But I'm not the best at it.'

"OH," the boy mumbled. "Am I looking at you?" He blindly (Get it?) moved his hand in front of him, trying to find Connor. His hand landed on his shoulder. "Is this you?"

Connor nodded, then mentally slapped himself again. 'Yes.'

The blond nodded. "I, I know of a, a Connor Murphy," he said. "Evan Hansen. Er, that's my name. You said yours so I thought I should- it's only fair that, that I say mine."

'Slow down, I can only understand so much.'

"Sorry."

Connor took his hand away and sighed, slumping down in the chair. A woman with blonde hair approached them.

"Ready to go Evan?" She asked, smiling.

Evan nodded and stood up, signally his dog to get up. He faced Connor, or attempted to. He was looking just above him, at a poster. "See you around I guess," he said. "Or rather you'll see me because, because I can't. See." He frowned and rubbed the back of his neck before following the lady out of the building.

Connor bit his lip and looked around. God Larry was taking forever. He was always arguing with the doctor about fixing Connor. More specifically his sight. The doctors always told him that there wasn't any kind of treatment available yet and for some reason, Larry couldn't get that through his thick, ignorant skull.

He glanced up when someone appeared in front of him. Larry had his arms crossed over his chest and an angry expression on his face.

"Come on," he said. "We're late for-"

Connor didn't catch the last part because his father turned away and started walking out the door. Connor followed.

Connor went straight up to his room when they got home. He jumped onto his bed and rolled himself up in his blankets. He stared at the ceiling, mindlessly scratching his arms. He winced when a nail caught on a scar.

He rolled over on his side and stared at the black wall in front of him. He was about to dose off when someone tapped his shoulder. He groaned and rolled over, becoming face to face with Zoe.

'Dinner's gonna be ready in five minutes,' she signed and left.

Connor bit his tongue, contemplating skipping dinner. But then Cynthia would get worried and when she worries, Larry gets mad and then yells at Connor and then Connor gets mad and starts furiously signing curse words which makes Cynthia cry.

And he was pretty hungry after skipping lunch. He sat up and untangled himself from his blankets. He stomped down the stairs and into the kitchen where Larry was on his computer and Zoe was on her phone. Cynthia was bringing out a covered bowl of vegan pasta.

Connor tried not to gag at the smell and sat down. He put his elbows on the table, chin resting in his hands. He saw Larry drumming his fingers against the table, making him look up. Larry was staring at him. Connor lifted an eyebrow.

"Elbows off the table, Connor," Larry said.

Cynthia sat next to Larry. "You know he can't hear you," she said. "You should really learn sign language so you can communicate better."

"He can read lips, Cynthia," Larry replied. "He just chooses to ignore me."

Connor bent his head and tried to stomach his food. He twirled the pasta around on his fork as he pretended his parents weren't arguing about him. A light tap on his wrist made him look up. He caught Zoe's eyes and she gestured to their parents.

"I just don't understand why he doesn't speak like when he was a child," exclaimed Larry, closing his laptop. "He spoke fine."

"Because he could still hear himself then. Honestly Larry, what is so hard about this? Why can't you just learn sign language like the rest of us?"

"Because I know that treatment will be available, so learning it won't do anything but waste my time."

Connor stood up, pushing his chair back and making it fall. He saw Zoe flinch, her arms raised slightly, and a pang of guilt flowed through him. He glared at his parents.

'I'm fucking tired of you guys arguing about me like I'm not even there!' he signed. Cynthia's face softened as Larry's hardened. 'Just because I can't hear you doesn't mean I don't understand.'

"Connor. . ."

Connor stormed out of the kitchen and up the stairs. He slammed his bedroom door and collapsed onto his bed, fingers digging into the fabric of his hoodie.