#will pullen

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    It was already a stressful morning. Whenever Connor, your father, your mother, or Zoe made a comment that hurt someone else in the family you made the offender apologize. Somehow, you managed to get your two siblings into your father’s car so he could drop the three of you off for school on time.

    The day was your first day of high school. You were only a freshman, but you were grown-up enough to be the one to keep your family sane. While still in your car, you leaned over your brother to roll down his window.

    “Deep breaths, Connor,” you told him, “Drink this.” You handed him a water bottle. “I want you to sober up...At least a little bit please.”

    He rolled his eyes, but followed your gentle orders.

    Zoe complained to your father from next to you, “I don’t understand why we can’t just move your work stuff so one of us can sit in the front. It’s too crowded back here, Dad.”

    Turning to your sister, you sighed. You knew she thought all the time that the family paid more attention to Connor than her.

    “Are you excited for your first day back, Zo? I know I am. Hey, um...I was wondering if you would let me sit with you at lunch?”

    Just as you expected, Zoe was ecstatic that you looked up to her. Truthfully, you would be fine on your own at a new school. However, you loved being there for your siblings.

    “HEY!” you shouted when you saw Connor shove to the ground a student you knew as Evan. “Jared, get back here. I’m yelling at you, too.”

    The boy with the glasses awkwardly rushed back as you helped Evan back onto his feet. Jared was avoiding your eyes. Jared was one of the many people from that high school who, by some event or another, had learned to respect you before you even got to 9th grade. That’s the kind of reputation you had built for yourself.

    “Connor,” your voice held no malice, only confusion. “Why’d you shove Evan?”

    Responding explosively, Connor yelled, “He thinks I’m a freak! He was laughing at Jared’s fucking ‘freak’ line!”

    “I knew there was a reason I called you back here,” you turned to Jared, “You had a look on your face that told me you had just said something mean, and you found it funny.”

    Jared looked guiltier than your friend Jeremy when you called him out on ignoring his best friend, Michael.

    “Apologize,” you ordered the kid who you had learned had given himself the nickname ‘Meme Lord.’

    He did, but it came with a roll of Jared’s eyes.

    “Mean it. You just called Connor a freak for no reason. Who knows what else you said. All Connor did was walk by you. Apologize,” you repeated.

    This time, Jared met Connor’s eyes. “I’m sorry.” His words were finally to your liking. You nodded, and Jared was gone.

    “Now Connor, you are not a freak.” You could tell your words were enough to comfort him. “And I don’t think Evan’s the kind of kid to laugh at something like that. Are you, Evan?” You looked up to the awkward boy, and noticed he hadn’t taken his eyes off of you since you had entered the scene.

    Your words seemed to snap Evan back from whatever trance he was in. “Uh, yeah. I was...yeah. Connor, I was--oh, um--”

    “Evan.” You brought his attention back to you. “Were you just trying to find something to say, and laughing was the first thing that happened?”

    Instead of struggling for words once more, Evan opted to just nod that time.

    “See, Connor? He was just nervous.”

    There was some silence, but then Connor sighed, “I’m sorry for pushing you to the ground, Evan. I’m high, and I was just mad at what Jared said.”

    Evan seemed astonished at how Connor was acting towards him. He looked at you for confirmation that it was sincere.

    You reassuringly nodded.

    He looked back to Connor. “Thanks.”

    Connor nodded, seeming a little uncomfortable in the newly calm atmosphere.

    “Why don’t we get going, Connor?” you offered, “Come on, the bell’s going to ring...It was nice meeting you, Evan...?”

    The khaki-clad boy answered your unspoken question, “Hansen--Evan Hansen.”

    “Y/n Murphy,” you gave your name as well, and began to walk off with your brother.

    Before you got too far, Connor turned around. “Wait...is it okay if I sign your cast? I...noticed no one else has yet...”

    Smiling as Evan offered your brother a sharpie, you joined them, “Is it okay if I sign, too.”

    Evan seemed astounded and amazed that not just one, but two people were signing his cast. In the end, Connor’s name took up the entire outside of Evan’s cast, and your name took up the entire inside.

    “See you later, Evan.” You waved and glanced over your shoulder with a smile as you walked away with your brother.

    Connor threw over his shoulder a quieter, “Yeah, see ya.”

    “Bye, guys!” Evan excitedly called after you. He gazed at your retreating form. Evan was part of the minority that hadn’t heard about your reputation. However, just like everyone else, he loved you as soon as he met you. The only difference with Evan was that right there, he looked down at your name on the inside of his cast and swore to himself that he would ask you out on a date by the end of the year.

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