Connor's POV

"I- what the- Jared Kleinman, I swear to God." I facepalmed, not wanting to look at the ass in the eyes. "It's a fucking hug! It's a fucking platonic gesture! Why the fuck- why do you have to make everything about my fucking crush on my roommate!?" The À La Mode table turned strangely silent. I gazed between Evan and Jared, trying to figure out why exactly both of them had stopped talking. "What? What's the issue?" Then, I saw their expressions. Jared's smirk told me everything.

Holy shit. I'm fucking idiot. Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck! I wasn't planning on telling them now! God, I'm so fucking dumb.

"So... you admit it?" Jared asked, sounding snide and mocking. I didn't answer, feeling my face flush darkly, probably answering for him. Jared went silent, smirking, glancing at Evan who had just been silent the entire conversation. I looked up at them and Jared leaned forward on the table. He clearly wanted me to answer him, while Evan just shifted uncomfortably, clearly feeling awkward since he wasn't in the conversation.

"..." I didn't really say anything. I merely looked at the ass sitting across from me and glaring. Jared merely raised an eyebrow. "I never said I had a crush," I stated. "I was simply saying what you seem to believe I have on Michael. Which is fucking ridiculous, by the way. As I don't like him in that way." I kept my voice calm even though I knew I was talking utter bullshit. Jared's expression didn't even change a little.

"So you mean to tell me, that whole little 'it's a platonic gesture' rant is because you don't like him and definitely weren't flustered by said hug? Hm?" My cheeks burned and I glared at him.

"Jared, I'm the one who hugged him. It wasn't the other way around. Michael was clearly upset and I just wanted to comfort him! Is that so bad? Can I not comfort a friend when he's upset without you jumping to the conclusion that I like him?!" I don't even know why I'm denying it to him, he clearly doesn't believe me at all. Serves me right for lying through my teeth. Evan placed his hand on Jared's causing the latter to very noticeably lose his smirk immediately.

"Can I um, can I uh, talk? Jared er, your... your um, way isn't uh, working so... let me try?" Evan stammered out the question. Jared just nodded. Evan then turned to me. "Con, uh, when you um, said all that... all that uh, stuff, earlier, uh... your tone didn't really uh say that you were mocking it so uh.." Evan cleared his throat, tapping his fingers on the table. "You uh, you know you like him, uh, don't you?"

"...yes. I've known for a few days now, actually." Jared just looked shocked and looked between me and Evan, before looking away, glowering. I often wonder how I'm even friends with Jared in the first place. Evan smiled slightly. "It's just... he's like, adorable. His hair has this slight curl to it near the end. He has these oak-brown eyes that just light up, when talking about stuff he likes. I look at him, and I just can't help but smile. And you know, I don't really smile that much. His laugh is kinda cute."

"Okaaaaaay, we did not need to know how helpless~ you are for your roommate, Connor." I glared at Jared. Evan had gone silent again.

"Is that Hamilton? You do know that the only musical I know is Little Shop, correct?" Jared merely shrugged. "Oh! And, aren't musicals... Evan's thing?" Jared's expression grew angry. "Ooh~ what's this? Has the great Jared Kleinman listened to Hamilton because of Mark Evan Hansen~?" Jared glared at me.

"Shut it." Evan just looked at us, looking extremely confused. I was smirking. Evan tapped my shoulder.

"Um, please don't uh, use my first name..." I blinked and then turned to face him. Evan met my eyes.

"Right- I forgot- Sorry." Evan nodded and didn't say anymore. I turned back to Jared. "Sorry, I meant." I cleared my throat. "Has the great Jared Kleinman listened to Hamilton because of Evan Hansen~?" Jared just continued to glare at me and said nothing.

The rest of the À La Mode visit was just spent eating our ice cream and at the end of it, Jared drove us back to the college campus.

~~~

I opened the door, giggling to myself. Michael was on the couch and noticed me. He smiled and so did I. "What happened that's so funny?" He asked, and saw that he was playing video games on our shared TV. I flopped down onto the couch next to him, maybe a little closer than necessary.

"Y'know my theory?" Michael nodded. "I just got so fucking much evidence for it!" I was laughing slightly and Michael was smiling softly at me before smirking. He raised a brow.

"Oh? Do tell," he said, causing himself to laugh. I giggled a bit myself.

"So, a bit of like, backstory or something. I don't fucking know. Evan's kinda into musicals and such." Michael nodded as if he was following. "So. Do you know what I found out? Jared listened to Hamilton." Michael paused his game as his smirk widened. "Well, at least I'm assuming as such, since he made a fucking Helpless reference in reference to my crush or something so that was weird." When I looked back at Michael, his smile seemed slightly forced.

"Oh. That's cool," Michael said, looking back at the TV screen. "Imagine that." He looked back at me. "Hey, weird question but, what's your favourite Linkin Park song?" He asked, before fiddling with his glasses. "I mean, I've kinda heard you listening to it in your room and I'm curious."

"Oh. Uh, it's Somewhere I Belong. Um, I kinda relate to it." I ran a hand through my hair and started twirling it once I reached the end. "Back in high school, I didn't really fit in. And I'm just gonna leave it at that." I wasn't sure if I really wanted to tell my past to my roommate/crush right then. I just didn't really feel ready. I was frowning and I felt Michael's hand go over my own.

"Connor... are you okay?" I felt my cheeks heat up at the hand holding and I looked at Michael.

"Yeah, I'm good. Was just thinking about stuff, but I'm okay now." Michael smiled and then I smiled. He looked back at the television screen.

"Wanna play with me?" He pointed towards the second controller and I nodded.

"Sure," I stated with a smile.