Evan squinted with a frown when he realized he would have to reread over the entire page he had just read, having pulled one of those I read the whole page but didn't actually read it because my mind was elsewhere hhhh kind of things, so he was now going back to rereading it, again.

"Evaaaaan..."

"Hush.."

"Evaaaaaaaaaaan..."

"It's okay." The blonde boy hummed.

"But it's noooot, what's taking you so loooong?"

Evan sighed, turning to the brunette boy who was laying flat on Evan's bed beside the sitting Evan, Evan having his back against the wall against the bed of his room with his legs crossed and a history textbook in his lap, while the other boy was taking up the rest of the bed space while lying flat with his arms and legs spread out flat against the mattress, "I promise it'll go faster if you're just a little quiet, Connor..." Evan murmured politely.

Connor let out a small scowl of a pout as he crossed his arms over his chest.

Evan smiled in response and began to read over the page again,

While Alexander Hamilton contributed much to the financial state of the United States with his work as America's first treasur-

Evan yelped as he was jabbed in the side, causing him to slam his book shut on instinct, he turned an accusing face toward Connor who was smirking.

"Done?" Connor winked.

Evan rolled his eyes, "It's Homework, Connor, I can't just not do it.."

"That's what I do, and look how well off I am?" Connor flashed a cheesy grin.

Evan paused before chuckling and putting his book aside, "I wouldn't use those terms...but, alright.."

"Oh? What terms would you use?"

Evan flopped down beside Connor so his head was now by Connor's knees and Connor's head was now by Evan's knees, "You're broken," Evan admitted, "B-but s-so am I- s-so- Yeah!"

Connor smiled, "You don't have to prove it with that stutter, Hansen."

Evan groaned, "I-it's...not like it's a given...I stutter when I'm...nervous, I-I guess?"

"So...always?" Connor snrked.

"Pretty much..." Evan nodded.

"Why don't you just take your meds? Doesn't that help?" Connor inquired.

"I...guess...but...it's like how...your antidepressants don't always work...or, they wear off before you can take another dose...so it's not a long-term fix..." Evan huffed.

Connor hummed in thought, "Good reference."

"H-heh, thanks."

"You know, Hansen, you shouldn't be stuttering around me, everyone else is afraid of me, I don't think I need you to be afraid of me too." Connor shrugged.

"Wh-what? I'm not- no-, Connor, I'm not- I'm not afraid you!" Evan tilted his head up to look at Connor who was studying the ceiling.

"I don't see how...but...you haven't proved to be a liar yet, so I believe you, I suppose." Connor nodded, closing his eyes.

"I-I- Connor, I trust you w-with my life!"

"But, you're stuttering." Connor pointed out, "Part of you is afraid of me, right?"

"That's- thats n-not true! There's a difference between n-nervous and afraid!" Evan argued.

"They're synonyms." Connor shrugged.

"N-not really..."

"Why are you nervous?"

Evan bit his lip, not wanting to answer that, before nervously chuckling, "N-no reason!"

"I don't want to hurt you."

"You're...you're not, Connor, you couldn't-" Evan's heart leapt when Connor slipped his hand into Evan's, their fingers interlocking.

Evan pursed his lips together, face dusting with red.

"Your hand is shaking- you are afraid." Connor murmured bitterly, beginning to take his hand away.

Evan was quick with his reflexes and grabbed Connor's hand the moment it moved, squeezing it tightly, "P-please don't let go..."

Connor was more than a bit surprised, but held Evan's hand regardless, "Only if you want."

Evan nodded and began to run a thumb over Connor's dry, cracked knuckles, closing his eyes and letting out a sigh, "Thanks..."

"Glad I can help."

Evan had a relaxed expression and posture but his heart rate was going off the charts.

Connor's was beating Evan's by a long shot though, mentally he was screaming and wished to never allow this moment to end, feeling Evan's heartbeat between their fingers, it was fast, which made Connor's go even faster, "I don't want to let go.." Connor hadn't exactly meant to slip that out, but he did mean it.

"Y-yep." Evan's voice was squeaky.

Connor closed his eyes, letting out a breath he'd been absentmindedly holding.

"Con?" Evan spoke up.

Connor sat up, moving to sit with his back against the wall.

Evan moved so his head rested on Connor's knee, "You should stay the night."

"Yeah?" Connor looked down at Evan, a mistake on his half as when he looked at the other, he was staring up at him with round, hopeful eyes and a cute, little adorable smile, fuck Connor felt his face turn a rosy-red, "I...don't think Larry will be too happy about that- he thinks you're being paid to be my friend so he'll probably think I'm out getting high or some shit if I say I'm staying here.."

Evan frowned, "You've lied to him before..."

"Yeah, but it's not worth it if, you know, one night here means a week without being with you- or anyone for that matter- out of school if I'm grounded." It quietly killed Connor to have to choose this.

Evan sat up, "Just ask?" He had a pleading look on, eyes directly to Connor.

"If I risk it, I risk getting grounded." Connor glanced away with a shrug.

Evan chewed on the inside of his cheek before quickly grabbing Connor's face, causing the boy's cheeks to squish together as Evan squeezed his own face up, eyes squinted shut tightly as he puckered his lips.

Connor blinked a few times, face heating up, "E-ev?"

Evan opened one eye cautiously, "H-hm?"

"What are you doing?" Connor's voice was unclear with his face being squished.

Evan's face slowly turned an even brighter red, "I-is this not how you do it?"

"D-do what?" Connor tried to clear his throat coolly.

"C-can I um- how do I- should I- can I uh- can I-" Evan lowered his hands to fiddle with a fidget bracelet on his wrist, "C-can you kiss me?"

Connor was surprised he didn't cough up his heart from how high it leapt, he felt goosebumps rise all over his body and he shuttered slightly, "Y-yeah- Sure- yES. I mean- yep, whatever, it's coolio- it's-" Connor cleared his throat again and held Evan's chin, tilting his head up and leaning forward.

Evan's face was squeezed as tightly as possible, Evan's lips awkwardly sticking out.

This made Connor chuckle before he pressed his lips to Evan's, who immediately melted into the kiss, literally, the boy fell onto Connor after a few seconds, balling up the back of Connor's black, gray jacket and burying his face in the crook of Connor's neck, letting out a muffled scream as Connor grinned and held Evan close to his chest.

Evan leaned back to look at Connor, both blushing messes.

"Y-yeah, I guess I could- ditch going home tonight." Connor smiled shakily.