Connor watched Evan, who was sitting on the porch, listening to the rain. Connor refused to go out, he didn't want to get his clothes wet. So he was sitting on the floor against the couch. Evan was sitting on the swing chair on the porch, gently rocking it back and forth. He wasn't wearing his glasses, claiming he didn't want them to get wet, so Connor noticed that his eyes were closed. He looked at peace.

Connor's heart clenched. He didn't know what to do with this new-found crush. Of course he would get one on the only person that treats him like an actual human. And that means he doesn't know how to handle it. Does he tell him right away? Does he not? He didn't even know if Evan was gay, why should he tell him?

Thunder shook the house and Evan jumped. His eyes were wide and he muttered something. He stood up and walked back into the apartment. He made his way over to the couch and sat next to Connor.

'You looked troubled out there,' Connor said.

Evan shrugged. 'Rain means icy roads. No big deal.'

'I'll try to drive carefully.'

Evan bent his head down. 'Just wish it was winter break so we wouldn't have to worry about it.'

'Damn right.' The short conversation fell flat and Connor was trying to think of anything to keep it going. He wouldn't've minded the silence between them but with this new found crush, he was sure to make it awkward. He searched his mind for something, anything. 'Tell me something about Greek mythology.'

Evan furrowed his eyebrows. 'Why?'

Connor shrugged on impulse. 'It sounds interesting I guess,' he said shortly after realizing what he did.

Evan's face lit up and it made Connor's stomach twist. He launched into something about Hades and how he wasn't the bad guy in mythology. He was signing and talking out loud.

Connor was trying to pay attention. He was transfixed by how animated Evan's eyes were despite the cloudy appearance. How he slightly bounced when he mentioned something he really liked. How he would accidentally repeat himself. How he—

Evan had stopped signing and was staring at him. 'Connor?'

Connor bit his lip. 'Yeah?'

'Were you paying attention to anything I said?'

No. 'Yes.' Evan moved his hand, as if telling him to go on. 'Something about how Hades wasn't bad?'

Evan deflated. 'Yes but then I moved on to how people think he kidnapped Persephone but he didn't.' Connor was about to apologize but he beat him to it. 'It's okay, I know most people don't find this interesting and you probably think I'm weird because I know so much about mythology. I understand if you don't want be friends with a. . .'

'A nerd?' Connor suggested.

'Loser, actually, but nerd works too.' Evan seemed to curl in on himself, his shoulders were hunched over more than usual and he took his hands away.

Shit. Fuck. What do I do?

Connor looked around, trying to see if anything could cheer the boy up. Charles wasn't in the room and Connor didn't know if he had any comfort objects in his bedroom. He wasn't about to leave him to look.

'Want to go to Caribou?' That should work, right? He loves that place. Connor couldn't care less about it, but if it made Evan happy he's willing to tolerate it.

Evan shrugged. Connor bit his lip.

'I'm sorry.'

That made Evan raise his head a bit. 'For what? I'm the one who should be sorry. I'm a boring person.'

'No,' Connor interrupted, 'you are not. Evan you are the most interesting person I've ever met.' He felt a blush creep up as he said this. 'You're funny, you're kind. Hell, you're the kindest person I know. You're the first person to actually try and be my friend. You are in no way boring.'

A ghost of a smile was planted on Evan's face, along with a large blush. 'No one's ever said that to me. Thank you.'

Connor was about to respond when Evan turned to face him and wrapped his arms around his waist. Connor froze, his arms raised mid-air. His heart was doing flips and it made him slightly nauseous. But in a good way, sort of.

He slowly put his arms around Evan. Evan squeezed his waist tighter, making it slightly hard for the taller boy to breathe. Evan dug his face into the crook of Connor's neck and Connor could feel warm tears on his skin.

Not used to being in this kind of situation, he awkwardly rubbed his hand up and down Evan's back. His shoulder didn't shake, he wasn't sobbing. He was just letting tears free. And Connor let him. He let him take his time, letting out built-up stress.

He was used to that; laying on his bed while tears stained his cheeks. Nothing was ever wrong, he just needed an emotional release and the tears happened to get out before he took the usual anger approach of punching walls.

Evan unwrapped his arms and sniffed. He wiped his eyes. He reached for Connor's hands. Connor grimaced at how wet and sweaty they were but tried not to pull back. He didn't want Evan to think he was lying about everything he said before.

'Thank you,' Evan said. 'So much. Sorry I got your shirt wet.'

Connor snorted. 'Don't worry about it,' he replied as casually as he could. 'You would've done the same for me.'

Evan nodded. 'Not just that. Thank you for everything; helping me around the school, helping me with sudden panic attacks that shouldn't happen as often as they do, and. . . For being my friend.'

Connor clenched his jaw at the last sentence and another blush rose. This crush was going to be the end of him.