Evan smiled softly and nodded. He stood slowly, stretching out his arms as he freed his hand. He gently pat Nico on the head and sighed as he started towards the door. “Take care of yourself, alright? I’m going to hit the cafe on the block, I’ll come back in an hour or two.”
"Yeah, alright."
The two stood quietly in the room,
"Don't look at me like that."
Josh furrowed his eyebrows,
"What're you on about?"
"You. You left me."
Joshua sighed, scratching the back of his neck,
"Nick, I didn't know about mum till years later, you know that."
He huffed,
"If I had known, I would have come to protect you."
Nico ignored him, eyes trained on his shaking fingers. Josh pulled up a chair,
"So…Evan seems nice."
Evan walked wearily down the sidewalk, avoiding as many people as he could. Yeah he was a social person but at the moment he didn’t feel like talking to anyone he knew.
What had just happened had shaken him up a little, scared him. Even if Evan wasn’t very involved in Nico’s life he still worried for the other and felt bad for not noticing how bad the other was feeling.
He should have paid more attention, done something to help.
Hindsight was always 20/20, though, wasn’t it?
Evan sat at a small table in the corner once he had ordered his coffee, sipping on it silently as he scrolled through his phone.
He hardly noticed as someone sat in the chair across from him.
“Hello? Earth to Evan? Evander!” Evan’s head shot up when he heard his full name, his eyes going wide as he looked over one of his past flings, a male who went by the name ‘Winn.’ Winn’s real name was Winston, but he used Winn as his professional name as he worked for a male ‘companion’ service. In less glittery words, Winn was a male prostitute who worked under a company that also owned multiple strip clubs.
Evan had met Winn three years earlier, at a concert he had gone to with his friends. They hit it off right away and soon became official.
Their relationship only lasted a year and a half, Winn having been the one to break it off. Despite all that they had remained friends, and Winn checked in on Evan as much as he could.
“Oh~ now you hear me Evie,” Winn teased, grinning widely. Evan only snorted.
“I was lost in thought okay? And why the hell are you here? Stalking me now? I knew you couldn’t get enough of me.” He flashed a grin of his own, snickering at the look Winn gave him.
"Oh, yeah. He's nice."
"just nice?"
"Well," Nico sputter, glancing up
"I like him, a lot. Like, a lot a lot, But I'm scared. I'm scared of him."
"Huh?" Josh arched an eyebrow,
"Why are you scared of him? Did he hurt you?"
“I was just curious is all. It’s just a chance we met here too, I’m no stalker, especially not to you.” Winn huffed, sipping at the herbal tea he always got.
“Nice to know you’re not crazy. How’s life been for you?” Evan asked softly, smiling at the other. Winn lit up like fireworks.
“Oh it’s been so good! I quit working for the whole strip club and companion service, and I’m actually going to college now! I have a boy I’m interested in who’s in one of my classes and he’s fine like aged wine.” He purred happily, resting his chin in his hand.
"No- no of course not. It's just-"
Nico hesitated
"I think I fell for him to quick. It's only been a few days and he's got me fucking whipped."
Josh pursed his lips, cocking his head in intrigue,
"So? What's so bad about that?"
Evan smiled softly. “Good for you! I’m glad to hear it.” Winn beamed, proud of his accomplishments.
“Oh let me tell you, I’m so ready to continue my life.” Winn took a sip of his tea, smiling as he looked out the window and into the street. “I’m happy. It’s been so fun. I hope you’re doing well, too, Evander. It’s been awhile. Are you still into your card tricks?”
Evan smiled softly and nodded. “Yeah, I am. Cards are just fun. I look like a dork or some nerd using them but it’s fun.”
"I don't know.." he mumbled,
"I don't think it's so bad, ya know? Just make sure you're careful, kid."
(Want to keep this going or would you like to skip to when Evan comes back??)
“Any guys in your life?” Winn questioner, looking mischievous. Evan blushed.
“My roommate is the cutest boy I’ve ever seen… I’ve been pinning for him since I first saw him.” He murmured, sighing.
“And…? Have you gone on a date yet?”
“Not really. We watched a movie in my room and-“ Evan paused, flushing a bright red as he remembered their night together. “And I talked to him about how I felt. But he’s not sure he’s ready to love again. I want to respect that.”
(I don't mind, if you've got somethings you want to touch on then go ahead.)
"So where have you been?"
Josh just shrugged, fiddling with his fingers,
"Been around. Been doing some art courses at uni. Had to work with the theatre kids for a while, painting their sets. They're nice, just not my cup of tea, ya know?"
(I’m good on this end, just testing some background!)
Winn groaned lightly but patted Evans head. “You’re such a dork, you know? Give him time,” Winn hummed. Evan gave him a pout.
“I know I need to give him time. I’m willing to wait.”
"Yeah."
Nico nodded his head, going back to staring aimlessly,
"When we get outta here, me and you are gonna go somewhere." josh sighed,
"Where?"
"Anywhere you want, Nicky. Just say the words and ill get you there."
“Hmm… really? You’ve always been the arrogant, ‘I want things now’ kinda guy.” Winn flashed a charming grin, snickering.
“I have not been and you know it.” Evan laughed softly, downing the rest of his drink and humming happily. “You know I’ve been getting better. I’m much less proud.”
"You don't have the money to do that. Just stay here," Nico whispered,
"I missed you, Joshy."
Winn smiled and patted Evans arm. “I’m sure you have, love. But I’m afraid I have to get back to work. My lunch break is over.” He flashed a charming smile and got up to leave.
“Thank you Winnie, It means a lot you came to talk to me. Have a good shift. I assume you work here?” Evan Asked curiously, grinning back.
“Of course, now, see you later, go to that roommate of yours.”
"Yeah, I know. I missed you too, kid."
Silence.
"Have you heard from Reese?"
Evan watched Winn walk off behind the counter and into a back room, sighing deeply. He relaxed into his seat, looking out the window for a moment as he sipped on his drink.
It was starting to cool.
He didn’t mind much.
Evan didn’t know if he should go back quite yet, not with everything going on. The quarantine rules had lifted slightly, so he was able to sit here for a moment longer, but he debated returning to the apartment to pick up a few things. He’d have to ask Nico if he needed anything.
"Uh- n-no she's-" Nico inhaled,
"She's dead, Joshy."
Josh shook his head
"No, she's not. I've had phone calls from her."
Once he had finished his coffee, Evan stood. He thanked the workers, waving goodbye to Winn as he walked out the door and into the near empty streets. It really did seem like the whole world had been put on pause.
He wasn't sure if he liked it or not, all the quiet.
Evan sent a quick text to Nico, asking if he needed anything from home before he came back, looking back up at the skyline over the tops of the large buildings.
"No, no it was someone else. I went to her funeral."
Before Josh could protest, Nicos phone pinged,
[Do you need anything from home?]
«it's gonna sound stupid, but can you grab the bear on my bed, please? The Blue one»
Evan smiled at the response, laughing softly to himself. Nico was too cute.
« Of course I can. I’ll be back in a little bit. »
He hummed happily as he strolled through the streets, on his way to their apartment. At least there he could get his car. He had ridden with the ambulance to the hospital so he didn’t have a ride back home.
At least it wasn’t too far.
"I-"
Josh opened and closed his mouth like a fish. Sure, it was possible that someone else had been calling him, impersonating his sister, but it was also possible that Nico was delirious, that he didn't go to his sisters funeral, maybe it was someone else's
Evan opened his door to find even more alcohol left on the counter for him, a note from his friends telling him it was to celebrate the break that was coming up in the school year.
Evan chuckled lightly at the scribbled drawings on the bottom of the note, taking the alcohol back to his room. He hid them in the same place he always did - in the closet behind a rather large blanket stack - before grabbing his charger and a few things he might need.
He moved to Nico’s room next, grabbing the requested item and smiling softly at it. Evan couldn’t help but hug it to his chest, breathing in the soft smells of Nico for a moment.
"What?"
Josh shook his head,
"Nothing- It's just so weirdo has been calling me the past 5 years pretending to be Reese,"
"What?" he sat up, alarmed,
"Who's been calling you??"
Evan hummed happily as he grabbed his keys and locked up.
It felt empty and a little quiet without another human being in there with him. He was almost regretting coming back home alone for that night already.
He walked down the street a little quicker than usual, biting his lip as he looked up the road.
"No one, don't worry."
Nico huffed,
"I AM worried! What if someones after you?"
"Hey- Evans been gone for a while…" Josh spoke quickly, changing the subject.
Evan was running a little late, he had stopped for more coffee. It felt relaxing to finally get some caffeine in his system. He walked into the main door of the hospital and nodded kindly to the woman at the front desk.
He knocked softly on the door to the room Nico was in.
"Nico? May I come in?"
"Oh- yeah sure."
He looked over at the old blue bear in Evan's arms
"Charlie!"
Evan laughed gently and gave the bear to Nico. “Charlie is quite soft. I like him.” He hummed, taking a seat and sighing deeply. “How are you feeling? Still sore?”
Nico buried his face in the ratty, old, blue fur before nodding his head,
"I'm okay, I just wanna go home."