Jared smiled when the other nodded and assured him he could listen. He noticed the nervous tics but ignored them for the time being. He'd thought Evan had gotten better about them but honestly, he had. It just seemed as if he did them more than he used to when hanging out with him. He chewed his lip, wondering if he was still worrying over their fight. He decided he'd give it a few more times hanging out to see if it got better and if not, he'd confront him about it then. One thing at a time though, and right now the potential housing arrangement was most pressing.
"So..."
He glanced around the room, suddenly feeling awkward and ridiculous. Seriously, what was the problem? This was Evan and it wasn't like he was asking him to prom or something. He was merely asking a close friend to become his roommate. They were 18. They were, by law, legally adults. Adults did this all the time. There was absolutely nothing weird about asking his best friend to consider getting a place with him.
He cleared his throat and shrugged, spreading his arms open wide before crossing them over his chest again.
"So, here's the thing, Ev," he said, pursing his lips for a moment before pushing on. "You'll be going to college next year, I'm assuming. I think I'd like to go as well. If you were planning on doing the whole community college thing, maybe we can—you know—maybe get an apartment together. I mean, it's the most financially feasible option for us both, and then your mom won't totally freak out because you won't be alone and you'll be, like, living with a friend and all."
He breathed in sharply through his nose before letting it out slowly. "So yeah, that's a thing I think we should do, because—I mean—well, why not? Right?"
He fell silent to allow Evan to process everything he said and to keep himself from rambling on like... well, like Evan, for example. Subtly chewing on his lower lip, he watched the other boy, trying to guess what he was thinking. He hoped the other wouldn't read too much into this, though to be honest, he did have the ulterior motive of just being able to keep Evan close. If Evan went off to a university right now, Jared would worry far too much for the boy's health and safety. He'd worry far too much than he had any right to as a friend.