Evan was laying on the couch, listening to the TV. The movie Hocus Pocus was having a marathon all day and Heidi had made a stack of Halloween movies in case he got tired of it. He had searched through them and found The Addams Family Values in it, which he planned on watching next.

His phone buzzed in his left pocket. He pulled it out, hoping it wasn't bad news. Though the only bad news he would receive was his mom canceling taco Tuesday like always. The robotic voice on his phone read out of the text and who it was from.

Connor: Cynthia's asking about you. She wants u to come over for dinner some time this week

Evan: Oh. When?

Connor: maybe Saturday

Evan: I'll ask my mom when she gets home

Lies. He wouldn't ask Heidi. He'd forget and then make up an excuse like she doesn't like last minute arrangements. Plus she's never home in the first place. He just wasn't ready to meet an entire family minus Connor and Zoe.

Connor: text her or smth

Damn it. If he did that, she'd definitely be all over the idea so he wouldn't be able to back out.

Evan: She's not allowed to check her phone while she's working.

Connor: well just send it and shell check it when she can

Connor: do you just not want to come over? Is that it?

Evan: No, no! That's not it.

Connor: then why does it sound like that?

Evan: I'm just not comfortable meeting a bunch of people at once.

Connor: it's only my parents, you know Zoe

Evan: Still.

Connor: just ask your mother Hansen

Evan didn't reply to that. He let his phone drop to the ground.

He did end up texting Heidi just so that he wouldn't be completely lying when he said that she said no. But around three in the morning, she said yes and that she's so proud of him. No backing out now.

Evan held onto Connor's elbow, letting him lead him up the porch steps and into the house. To say he was nervous was an understatement. He was on the verge of a full-blown panic attack. For multiple reasons; what if he asks where the bathroom is and ends up in a different room? What if the bathroom is upstairs and he falls down the stairs and ends up breaking his arm? What if the family doesn't like blind people? That last one was unlikely, but his mind didn't care at the moment.

Evan untied his shoes and took them off. He wasn't sure if the Murphy family was the type of family to take their shoes off or not, but Evan didn't want to take any chances. He stood in the entryway holding his shoes. He didn't know where to put them and it seemed rude to just drop them by the door.

Connor eventually took them from Evan and set them somewhere. Probably by the other shoes.

Evan grabbed ahold of Connor's shirt sleeve. 'This probably sounds silly but could you dish up my plate?' Evan asked. His face burned in embarrassment. 'You don't have to, it's just it'll be easier for me to eat because I'll know where my food is and if I dish myself up, I'm worried I might like stick my hand in mashed potatoes or something and that would ruin everything and then your family would hate me-'

Connor grabbed Evan's wrist, making him stop signing. 'It'll be okay,' Connor said, 'it'll be weird but sure, I'll do it. Although I doubt you would ruin the entire dinner. Potatoes maybe, but don't worry.'

Evan's breathing got faster and he dropped his head so Connor couldn't see possible tears escape. He took his hands away and wrapped his arms around himself. His cane fell to the ground, making Evan jump at the noise. He had no idea what Connor was doing, but he heard him shuffling around.

God how he wished he was home with his mom or Charles. He clearly wasn't ready to meet a family if he was worried about ruining a bowl of potatoes that he wouldn't eat anyways because he'd be too nervous to eat in front of strangers and he's already nervous to eat in front of people he does know. But then they would ask why he wasn't eating and what if they thought he didn't like the food? Would they be offended? Mad? He can't handle his mom sounding the slightest bit disappointed in him, how would he react if they got mad?

He'd rather fall out of a tree than have people be mad at him.

"Evan?"

Evan had his eyes squeezed shut, a method he used to try to ground himself. The smallest bit of pain from it kept him from dissociating, which he generally does when panic attacks arise.

"Evan?" Zoe repeated, her voice high above the boy. He hadn't even realized he had kneeled to the ground. "Are you okay?"

No was what he wanted to say. Does it look like I'm okay? "Yes," he answered instead, his voice hardly above a whisper. He took a few deep breaths, held them for five seconds, and exhaled. With weak legs, he stood up. He tried to grab onto something to support him and ended up grabbing Connor's arm. Electricity shot through his hand when his skin came into contact with Connor's and he quickly pulled away, blushing.

"What got you so worked up?" Zoe asked, her voice closer this time.

"Potatoes."

Zoe made a noise of confusion but thankfully didn't say anything. If she did, Evan would've started panicking again.

"Alright, well dinner is going to be ready in thirty minutes. It's pork tonight."

Evan opened his mouth to say something but Zoe walked away, her footsteps getting softer and quieter.

'What's wrong?' Connor asked.

'I can't have pork.'

Connor lead Evan into the living room. He reached for the remote and put on The Office. Connor didn't like the show, but it would pass time. He was probably as nervous as Evan.

Thirty minutes later, Connor's mom walked into the room, saying dinner was ready. Evan stood up, alerting Connor to do the same. The two walked into the kitchen. Evan felt around for a chair and pulled it out when he found it. He sat down and scooted close to the table.

"I hope you all like it," Connor's mom said. Evan quickly signed to Connor where to put everything. Connor did as instructed. "No pork?" His mom asked once everyone had filled their plates.

"I uh, I'm Jewish so. . ." Evan coughed. A beat of silence passed. "Thank, thank you for, for having me, Mrs. Murphy."

"Oh please, call me Cynthia," she replied. "And I've just been ecstatic to hear that Connor has a friend, so it's my pleasure. The food would've normally been vegan, but I know how much people don't like vegan food." She laughed. "Now please, eat."

Evan reached for his spoon. Or what he hoped was the spoon. He felt the top and confirmed it was indeed a spoon. He felt stares on him as he scooped up some potatoes. He ducked his head as he ate. The only sound was utensils on plates and it made him uneasy.

"So," Cynthia said, "how do you and Connor know each other?"

Evan lifted his head at the question. "Oh, uh. He hasn't told you?"

"He doesn't tell us much."

"Oh. Well uh, he's, he's my guide around the, the school," Evan explained, setting his spoon down on the left to the plate. "I don't, I don't think I need one but it's nice. Talking to someone." His cheeks burned. He basically just admitted he has no friends. Which is true, but he doesn't want people knowing that.

Cynthia seemed content with that answer.

Mr. Murphy cleared his throat. "If you don't mind me asking, how long have you been blind?"

"Larry!" Cynthia exclaimed, "that's personal, you shouldn't ask that."

"It's, uh it's okay Mrs. Murphy," Evan stammered quickly. He placed his hands in his lap, waiting a bit before answering. "Ten years."

"Goodness," he heard Cynthia murmur.

"I uh, there was a crash," he continued, "with my Dad. It was winter and the road was covered in ice. I kept worrying that we would slide or something and he kept telling me to calm down, but uh anxiety just doesn't let you do that." He felt himself start to shake lightly. "Then a driver in the right lane slid on the ice and crashed into us. They, the doctors, preformed surgery but it didn't work. My sight was gone."

Tension filled the room. No one spoke. Connor tapped his wrist. Evan turned and faced him.

'You okay?'

Evan nodded. "It's not that bad," he said to the Murphys, hoping to ease the pressure in the air, "once you get used to it. My dog helps me walk around the town, I have my cane. And of course there's Connor."

"How do you use your phone?" Zoe asked.

Evan let out a breathy laugh. "Text to speech, Siri, all that stuff."

No one asked anymore questions. There was the occasional comment about politics or school but no full blown conversations.

Connor tapped his wrist again. 'You sure you're okay?'

'Yes,' Evan responded, 'why wouldn't I be?'

'You looked like you were on the verge of crying.'

'I'm always on the verge of crying, what's your point?'

'Never mind.'

Connor drove Evan back home an hour later. Evan was about to get out of the car when Connor grabbed onto his sleeve.

'Can I hang with you for a while?' He asked. 'When I get home, I'm gonna be bombed with questions and then everyone will start yelling and I'd like to delay that as much as possible.'

'Why would they yell?' Evan asked. 'They seem nice.'

Connor snorted. 'They were only nice because you were there. Trust me, they're anything but.'

Evan sighed. He really wasn't up to more social interaction, but he didn't want Connor to hate him. 'Alright, come on.'