Evan knew going off to a university was not in the cards for him. He wouldn't survive on his own, despite the blank slate of a new start. He knew he could be anyone or anything he wanted in a new place, but he also knew he couldn't shed his anxiety like a jacket. It was part of him.
He wasn't sure about anything anymore. High school wasn't easy for him, but it was familiar. He had been in school with a lot of the kids for a long time. He knew, more or less, what to expect day to day. College, even community college, was a whole new arena, and one Evan wasn't sure he was ready for.
"I...I don't, don't know." Evan stammered. There were a lot of thoughts running through his head. Would living with Jared be better than this? Would his mom even allow it? Could they afford it? Could he function on his own, but with Jared?
He realised he wanted to try. He didn't want to go out into the world, but he knew that he should. He was 18 now, an adult. He suffered from crippling anxiety, sure, but he had medication that helped. And Jared...Jared was his friend. The only real friend Evan had ever known.
"I..." he started, stammered, fell silent. He flickered his gaze to look at Jared. "I want to try."