Initially brought in as Oliver for five episodes in January 2008, Evans returned more than 30 times over the next year-and-a-half, saying in a June 2009 interview with AfterElton.com that his appearances had been "building up" since the beginning of 2009.

[2] Oliver played a supporting role in several storylines, and was briefly linked romantically to two female regular characters, Layla Williamson (Tika Sumpter) and Stacy Morasco (Crystal Hunt).

[2][5] On June 15, 2009, the openly gay Evans confirmed rumors that Oliver would be going through a "coming out story" and hinted at the character's possible past and future romantic entanglements with another man, Kyle Lewis (Brett Claywell).

[2][5][6] "I think right now it's going to be a story of his journey and how he's dealing with all this stuff ... he's doing everything in his power to kind of put this [being gay] on the backburner and not let it be a part of his life, but with Kyle in the picture, it's just coming to the forefront.

[3]Meanwhile, on the heels of the announcement of the pending gay storyline in June 2009, Mauceri was replaced as long-running character Carlotta Vega.

[3][4][7][8] According to Michael Logan of TV Guide, based on her religious beliefs Mauceri had taken issue with upcoming scenes that would have Carlotta finding a book called How To Tell Your Parents That You're Gay.

"[3][4] Asked immediately prior to the Oliver-Kyle storyline about Oliver's sexual orientation, Evans said that his character "comes from very conservative parents, and there's going to be a lot of people who can relate to that, and trying to hide it ... You experiment, if you do, when you're younger.

[1][2] Formerly employed in nearby Cherryvale, Oliver is switching places with Antonio's former partner (and lover) Talia Sahid, who had requested a transfer.

[16] Suspended from the force, John is doing his own investigation into a series of murders and asks Oliver to limited access to the case files.

[2][16] On April 1, 2009, Oliver runs into new Llanview resident Kyle Lewis, a medical student; the two recognize each other and have an uncomfortable reunion.

[17] Oliver and Kyle are later revealed to be former members of the defunct "Kappa Alpha Delta" (KAD) fraternity of Llanview University, which coincidentally is linked to the murders.

A protective Cristian wants to know more, but an uncomfortable Kyle vaguely maintains that though "something happened" in college, Oliver could be a different person today.

[19] Confronted by Cristian, Kyle will only say that Oliver messed up a relationship in college because he cared more about what people thought, so he walked away and acted like it never happened.

[20] A sullen Kyle laments to his landlord Roxy Balsom about a guy who will not tell the truth, and she notes that he may be lying "to keep his world from spinning out of control.

[22] Later, Oliver seems poised to open up to Layla until he receives a phone call from his parents, who are overjoyed to hear that he has a girlfriend.

Sick of lying and the troubles it has caused for others, Oliver returns home and finally admits that he is gay to a supportive Cristian and Layla.

In September 2009, Oliver receives a Medal of Honor from the Llanview Police Department for his assistance in bringing down a drug ring and foiling a hostage situation.

Oliver and Kyle go on several dates so that they can reconnect; when they finally decide to consummate their new relationship, they are interrupted by the news that Nick has been gay-bashed.

[citation needed] Executive producer Frank Valentini later released a statement stating "We are concluding the story that we set out to tell with Kyle and Fish.

"[27] Claywell stated in an interview that Valentini had told him the news the day before when he was submitting his Emmy reel, and that Evans had found out via someone tweeting him after the TV Guide article had been released.

[28] Evans later expressed dissatisfaction with the way he found out, saying, "With the amount of time and dedication and the effort I put forward with this story line, have the decency to call me.