Chapter Text
Evan spotted Connor walking into the bathroom and he decided to follow. He needed the letter back, it was embarrassing and just...so spur of the moment. Maybe if he just apologized--
Yeah, and look what happened last time you apologized.
Evan pushed the door open, shivering. It was quiet and cold. Colder than expected, sure Evan avoided public bathrooms in general because you never know what happens in them or if they're clean, but he was freezing.
Thankfully Connor wasn't at a urinal, he was sitting on the floor. The letter in his hands. Evan could see the storm inside his grey eyes from across the room. Connor looked more gloomy than angry right now. His eyes tore across the handful of lines and Evan could see every time something hurt him. His eyes almost flinching.
It was quiet, still cold, so cold, Connor stopped reading and closed off the storm, head falling back against the wall and chin stretched up. Connor was breathing deep, like he was trying to calm down. He looked so...at peace. Like he was begging the world to just let him stay in the cold and quiet air. The letter wasn't even crumpled, still crisp in his hands, fingertips twitching.
Say something!
"I-I'm sorry."
And Evan burst the peace bubble. Connor jerked forward, head damn near colliding with the sink next to him. His fingers clenched on the paper, wrinkling it slightly, and those grey eyes shot open to find who disturbed the quiet.
"What the fuck do you want?!" Connor snapped, standing fast and slipping the letter into his bag.
Evan shivered, the air sharper than before, "I'm s-sorry. Can I ple-please have the letter back?"
Connor clenched his jaw, pulling out the letter and slamming it into Evan's chest. He started to stomp away while Evan stumbled to catch the paper as it fell to the floor with a clink.
With a clink?
Evan bended down to grab his paper. Pieces of shattered ice were surrounding the letter and some were still attached. Ice?
Evan shivered, whipping around to find Connor in his face, the cold nearly unbearable in his warm weather clothes. The taller boy backed him into the corner of the room, face pale and colorless while Evan trembled. Connor placed a single finger on his chest, poking him, and ice formed on his shirt.
"Tell anyone about this, and you're dead."
Connor stomped out, the cold vanishing in seconds without him there. Evan could feel the panic rising in him, but his brain needed answers first. Looking down there was a small wet spot on his shirt where the ice had melted, and the letter was now soggy in some spots.
Connor made ice. Jesus Christ.
Evan started laughing, unwanted but still. He covered his mouth with one hand, the chuckles quickly turning into choked crying. Oh god. His hands shook as he started to haul himself to the nurses office. She didn't even ask, but handed him his medication and a small cup of water and made him sit. He was in here at least once a week last year when he thought he might have a panic attack, but it's been a while since he's had one at school. Summer break was so much better
This is why talking to people is pointless. This is why having no friends is better.
After twenty minutes he trusted himself to stand, starting towards the door.
"Evan, I need to know why for my records. What set you off?"
Evan sighed, pulling the first bullshit excuse he could come up with because telling her the truth was a one way ticket to a loony bin.
"First day. I-I guess it se-set me off more than I exp-expected."
The nurse nodded, scribbling in her binder and handing him a pass. Evan held the paper tight and started walking down the hall. The teacher did the usual thing of making a big deal over him being late--shutting up when Evan pressed the pass on his desk. Still, people had to stare. Evan wasn't exactly the most friendly after a panic attack, not really speaking or wanting to...be a human being.
This was also a full class, sure some people will have dropped it for tomorrow but he had no choice but to sit next to someone at the tables. Evan slumped in his seat, reading the syllabus in front of him.
And then he made the stupid decision to see who he sat next to. Connor was scrolling through his phone, not paying attention to the teacher who was loudly pulling the class back into session. Evan was like a deer in headlights, he couldn't move or look away. Connor sensed him staring, eyes drifting over. They both flinched when they made eye contact, freezing in place. Connor looked scared too. Why?
Was he worried about Evan knowing? Sure he pretty much invaded his privacy, but Evan couldn't do anything about it. There was just...something chilling about his presence. Was it bad that he wanted to know more? What all Connor could do.
Connor looked away first, pushing his chair as far away as he could. Evan silently fidgeted for the rest of class, sensing Connor glance at him every few minutes. It was going to be a long day.
"What do you want?"
Evan glanced up from his phone. Last class of the day, he had nothing to do. Connor was in front of him, grey eyes stormy again.
"H-huh? Nothing?"
Connor glared, "Why didn't you run?"
Evan bit his lower lip, his curiosity was getting the better of him, "Um, well, I don't--I just...want-wanted to know more?"
Connor didn't seem to know how to respond to that. The storm was fading though, so that was a plus. Right?
"So...this," Connor gestured to his hand, eyes wide. "Didn't scare you?"
"Oh, no--no it did," Evan sighed. "I just...I have rea-really weird ideas? Like, clim-climbing a 40 foot tall t-tree? So, I just thought 'oh th-that's interesting' and m-my brain jus-just ran with it."
Connor still seemed apprehensive, "You're weird."
"Y-yeah, I know."
Connor smiled a bit, "I guess I can't talk."
Evan wrung his wrists, "I am s-sorry. For...everything that happened. I-I wasn't laughing at y-you, I just have a-anxie--"
"--I know. The computer lab was me trying to apologize. I shouldn't have pushed you."
Oh yeah, that happened too. It's been a long day, that feels like years ago.
"I forgive you."
Connor inhaled, grey eyes not stormy...but searching.
"This doesn't mean I'm setting you up with my sister. That shit was creepy. Also she hates me but that's a different story."
Evan nodded, not wanting to unpack that. Connor finally sat down, pulling out his phone. Whatever trust they had between them was fragile, Evan didn't want to risk breaking it.
"What did you want to know?"
Evan jumped, not expecting Connor to just talk to him, "Oh. Um, how long? Have you..."
"I was fifteen. I don't know how, it just...happened. Froze my window shut in the middle of summer."
Evan nodded, taking it in. That wasn't as interesting as Connor being an alien or something, but it was honest. Maybe Evan just had a thing for drama.
"Does anyone else--"
"--No."
Evan flinched at his harsher tone, sensitive topic. Noted.
'"Sorry. I...don't want people to know? At first I wanted to tell Zoe, we didn't completely hate each other at the time and I just...I almost did? But...I don't trust people with shit so the idea was gone before I could even process it."
They were both quiet after that, Connor seeming to shut himself down. Evan assumed that meant that they were done talking for the day. Still, Connor didn't leave or walk away, he just pulled his phone out again and put in earbuds.
At least he was smart enough to know what earbuds meant. Evan went back to scrolling though his own phone, almost relaxing in the quiet. When the bell rang they both stood, heading towards the locker bay.
"See you t-tomorrow!" Evan peeped, walking away.