Evan had always enjoyed one TV show as a kid: Cowboy Jared's Western Roundup.

Now, it wasn't TECHNICALLY a TV show. But Jared made a new episode of it everyday when he was in preschool, and would perform it for Evan when Evan's mom had to babysit Jared after preschool.

One day, after preschool had ended, Jared came up to Evan, smiling widely.

"I got a surprise today!" he exclaimed. "But you can't know it until you watch the show!"

Evan smiled shyly and nodded. He wondered what it was. But, before he could have much time to think about it, his mom came over to him with a boy from his class, Connor Murphy.

"Evan, Connor's mom can't take Connor home today, so he's going to come home with us for a little while," she explained.

Evan's eyes widened. Connor was- okay, he wasn't going to deny it, he was cute- but also kind of reserved. What if Connor didn't like his house? Or him? Or- oh no, what about Jared? They couldn't have the show with Connor around, could they? Evan sighed and nodded to his mom. Now he'd never know what the surprise was.

As the three boys got into Heidi's car, Evan tried to make conversation with Connor.

"Hi."

Connor didn't say anything.

Evan decided that was enough of being social for the day.

Jared couldn't stop talking the entire ride over. He always did this- going on and on about the randomest things that Heidi pretended to know what he was talking about.

Jared jumped out of the car the moment they pulled up, taking out his cowboy hat he always carried around and throwing it on his head. He waited excitedly for Evan, Connor, and Heidi to get out of the car, then rushed to Evan's room as soon as the door was unlocked.

"Evan! Evan! Evan!" he cried, as Evan and Connor stepped into Evan's room. "I'm gettin' the surprise ready! Close your eyes and sit on the bed!"

Evan climbed onto his bed and closed his eyes. He heard Jared whispering to somebody and shifting around the boxes he always used as his set. Hm. What could it be? Especially since Connor was there....

"Ok, OPEN!"

Evan opened his eyes and gasped. Not only was Jared standing in front of the saloon drawn on cardboard, but Connor was too! Dressed with a bored expression and a western "bad guy" hat, he stared at Evan with the most blank face ever.

"Welcome back to Cowboy Jared's Western Roundup! Today I'm going to fight my nemesis, CONRAD MURPHY!"

"It's Connor."

"THE NEMESIS SPEAKS!" Jared yelled. "DRAW THY WEAPON, FIEND!"

Connor took a strip of cardboard that Jared pretended was a gun. He aimed it at the boy.

"Bang."

Jared clutched at his heart, fake pain shooting across his face.

"NO! NO! NOOOOOOO!"

As he crumpled on the floor, Connor took off his hat and sat down next to Evan.

"T-that's the quick-quickest the show has e-ever ended," Evan giggled, staring into Connor's multi-colored eyes.

Connor laughed a little, then blushed.

"M-maybe next time Jared will kidnap you and I'll have to save the day," he smiled.

Evan grinned back.

"I'd like th-that."

AN: HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEN!!!!! Two things: would you guys follow if I made an Instagram account? Also y'all how do you ask a strict parent if you can date?? I'm asking my dad because my mom's basically out the door as y'all know (me and this guy (ikr I never have straight crushes anymore) already told each other we liked each other soooo)
-Eli