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2.16: there's the rub
❝ 19: shadows of doubt ❞
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    "I think I made a mistake getting back together with Blaze."

    Hearing those words out loud terrified her. It was the first time she'd actually voiced it, though the thought had been running through her mind ever since they got back together. Things weren't working between them. The tension from before still lingered, and she wasn't sure if it would ever truly go away. They should've talked it through before diving back into their relationship—addressed the reasons for the breakup in the first place. But they didn't. Instead, they slipped right back into their old patterns, hoping time had healed wounds that still festered beneath the surface.

Maybe that was the problem. Their relationship was supposed to end in Chicago. The timing of their move to Stars Hollow felt too coincidental. They should've seen the signs, but she ignored them. Maybe it was her fault for taking him back. She was blinded by the history they shared, the fact that he was her first—her first everything. Without him, she wouldn't have known what love even was.

    Since the incident with her now ex best friend Agnes, she did try to forget about it. Her love for Blaze was a lot stronger than some kiss but she'd be lying if she said she's forgotten all about it. And maybe that was another reason why getting back together with Blaze was a mistake. She couldn't forgive him for it.

Her dad knew the conversation would've come up eventually. He may have not been around as much recently but he could sense things haven't been going swell, "Does this have to do anything with Jess?" Her eyes shoot up, at the mention, almost as annoyance than anything but her dad explains himself, "I don't mean it that way. I was trying to say, I noticed how Blaze reacted to his name the other day. And that one time you two argued, Lorelai did mention it was over Jess."

     "I'm tired of this being the topic of every situation. This town. Blaze. Everyone." Everleigh runs her hands through her hair, exhaling sharply.

    "But there is a pattern."

    "I'm just tired fighting over someone who is my friend. Blaze never seems to accept that," Everleigh says and her dad presses his lips firmly together, squinting. "I feel like that's all we fight about and I'm tired of it."

    She hadn't realized how drained she felt until she said it out loud. Her dad gave her a long look, like he was measuring his words carefully, trying not to push too far, too fast.

"Permission to speak?" Her dad asks gently. She rolls her eyes but nods her head, "Have you two considered to sit down and talk out the issue?"

    "What issue?"

     "Agnes."

It was always odd hearing her name after everything. The mention of the girl did clench at her heart. There was still that hurt or betrayal, lingering around. She really didn't feel comfortable talking it. So she shuts him down, "I don't want to talk about it."

    He sighs again, "Has Blaze tried talking to you about it?"

    This time the girl pauses. She couldn't really remember the time he would sit her down, discussing the strain of their relationship. He apologised more than once, tried making up, explained his side of the story but they didn't exactly talk it out. She wasn't ready for it. She doesn't think she ever will.

"No."

"Then there's your solution. It just depends whether you're willing to fight the fight," Her dad's words keep her silent, "Or it's time you evaluate what you have and what you want."

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Everleigh stands at her locker, eyes scanning the same page of her notebook for the third time. She's been avoiding Blaze—not on purpose, not exactly—but all she could think about was the conversation she had the other night. It kept running through her head constantly. She lets out a small sigh and tucks the notebook into her bag, pretending the knot in her stomach wasn't there.

Just as she closes her locker, she feels a sudden tap on her shoulder. She jumps, spinning around to see Blaze standing there with a grin on his face.

"Didn't mean to scare you," he says, amused, completely unaware of the tension building inside her. "But you looked a little spaced out."

"Blaze!" She softly slaps his chest with back of her hand, "You almost gave me a heart attack." She tries to sound normal, but she can feel the awkwardness creeping in.

Blaze chuckles, completely oblivious. "Sorry, couldn't resist. You looked like you were off in your own world."

Everleigh mumbles, looking away. "Yeah, just... a lot on my mind, I guess."

Blaze leans against the locker beside her, still smiling. "Well, whatever's on your mind, maybe I can distract you." She arches her brow, waiting for him to continue. "How about we hang out after school?"

Everleigh shifts her bag on her shoulder, glancing down. "Maybe... I've got a few things I need to finish up first."

"That's fine by me," Blaze says easily. "I'll stop by your place later and see if you're free?"

"Uh, yeah that's fine." She nods, forcing a smile.

"Okay, good," Her boyfriend glances at his group of friends for a second and says, "I gotta go, just wanted to check in on you."

"Thanks." She adjusts the strap on her shoulder.

Blaze leans in and kisses her cheek, "I love you."

She freezes at his words, watching him walk away. He didn't wait for her to say it back. On a ordinary day, it would been no issue. They always said 'I love yous' to each other before they had to rush away. That's how it always has been. They just like to be verbal about how they feel.

It was a shame today was no ordinary day for the couple. At least not from her. The fact that she was considering breaking up with him, made her stomach knot.

And her dad wondered why she couldn't come to a decision. At days like these when there was no fights or misunderstanding, it felt as though things were perfect again. They were at peace and he simply wanted to check up on her cause her own thoughts have taken over her factuality.

She really was the worse girlfriend ever.

She leans back, her head resting against the locker. But suddenly Lydia sidles up next to her, "What's up with you?"

She glances at Lydia as she crosses her arms, "You ever see A Nightmare on Elm Street?"

Lydia blinks, confused, "Uh, yeah?"

"Feels kinda like that," The girl mutters, "Only, you know, minus Freddy and the slashing."

Her friend tilts her head, "So, what? More like a really bad Scooby Doo mystery?"

Everleigh chuckles, "Yeah something like that."

"You're not having a good day?" Lydia teases her.

"Try a year." The girl scoffs. She glances at Lydia again, her focus lingering a lot longer, "Can you come over to mine after school?"

"Sure," Her friend shrugs, "Any occasion?"

"Nope," Everleigh lies, "Just want to hang out."

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The door rings and Everleigh panics. Lydia glance at her, "You gonna get that?"

Everleigh scratches the back of her neck, "Can you open the door?"

"Uh, sure?"

Everleigh stars walking backwards, "I just gotta grab something from uh kitchen." Lydia stands up but Everleigh panics, "Wait, before you answer the door, can you tell whoever is behind the door you came over cause you needed help on the last minute project for Taylor Doose."

Lydia raises a brow, "Anyone?"

Everleigh nods, "Anyone."

Her friend just turns around answering the phone as Everleigh runs into the kitchen standing still. Not even a minute later, the door slams shut, revealing Lydia walking in. Her eyes squinted, "Eve?"

"Yup?"

Lydia crosses her arms, "Spill it."

"There's nothing. Everything is fine with everyone."

     "Oh, so when you asked me to answer the bell, you didn't know it was going to be Blaze behind those doors?" Lydia's tone more sarcastic than ever.

She looks down, "Was he mad?"

Lydia sighs, "No, he actually was understanding for once. He asked me if you were okay." Everleigh covers her face with hands and groans, loudly, "You are spiralling right now."

"This is my worst nightmare." Everleigh mumbles.

"Did something happen?"

"No." Everleigh shakes her head, "I've been thinking about my relationship."

"And?"

"And I think I made a mistake getting back together with Blaze." The girl says quietly and observes her friend. Who hearing that looked more excited than she should. Everleigh points a finger at her, "Do not say 'about time'."

Lydia shoots her arms up in mock surrender, "I didn't say anything. I thought about it but I didn't say it."

"I just feel so bad." Her shoulders slug.

Lydia arches a brow, "Why?" Everleigh shoots her a pointed look, "Sorry. I couldn't help it."

The girl sighs, frustrated at the wave of emotions she was feeling. "This all really started because Blaze made a comment about us being perfect together and I just didn't feel that excitement anymore. So here I am feeling all sorts of way."

Lydia stays quiet, not because she didn't have anything to say. She just didn't know how to word things out with Everleigh taking a different interpretation.

"Look, I think you should think this through. You don't have to come to a decision overnight. Blaze clearly struck a chord by saying something like that, which caused this whole ripple effect." Everleigh listens carefully, chewing inside of her cheek, Lydia's voice calm but firm, "If you end it now without thinking rationally, you'll regret it later. So for now just take a breather. Observe your relationships with... everyone, including Blaze. You will figure it out, but don't rush it."

Everleigh tilts her head, "What do you mean everyone?"

Lydia scrunches the back of her neck, "Oh, nothing. I just mean, if you think Blaze is worth the battle, you should observe yourself when you're around... everyone else."

Everleigh narrows her eyes, "Again, what do you mean by everyone else."

"Just... everyone else." Lydia keeps nodding, "You will know what I mean."

    Everleigh just wished she could switch her mind off.

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Everleigh sits at one of the tables near the window at Luke's, poking at her plate of fries and half-eaten sandwich. A steaming cup of coffee sits next to her, but she's barely touched it. The diner's familiar noise feels like background static as she watches the world go by outside, lost in thought.

The bell above the door jingles, and she instinctively glances up, spotting Jess as he strides in. He clocks her almost immediately, eyebrows raised in mild curiosity. Without missing a beat, he makes his way over to her table, sliding into the seat across from her.

"Well, if it isn't my favorite brooder," he quips, leaning back in the chair. "What's with the thousand-yard stare?"

Everleigh doesn't bother hiding her smirk, but it's weak, barely there. "Just... thinking."

"Thinking? You?" Jess jokes, but when she doesn't fire back, he glances down at her barely touched food. "Must be serious if you're not even eating."

"I'm eating," she says defensively, stabbing a fry with her fork and popping it into her mouth for emphasis.

Jess leans forward on the table, resting his arms on the edge. "Yeah, looks like you're really savoring it."

Everleigh shakes her head, chuckling despite herself. "I'm just... not hungry, okay?"

He narrows his eyes at her, clearly not convinced, but he lets it slide. "So, what's really going on?"

Everleigh sighs, her eyes drifting back to the window. "It's nothing. Just... stuff with Blaze."

"Ah. That explains the tragic look."

She rolls her eyes, "It's not tragic."

"Could've fooled me," he mutters, leaning back again. "You look like you're at a funeral."

She finally meets his gaze, a flicker of annoyance flashing in her eyes. "You're not helping."

Jess smirks. "I'm not here to help. I'm here to eat your fries."

Before she can react, he reaches across the table, snatching one of the fries from her plate with a cocky grin. Everleigh watches, shaking her head but making no move to stop him.

"Go ahead, steal my food," she says dryly. "It's not like I was eating it anyway."

Jess shrugs, popping the fry into his mouth. "What are friends for?"

Everleigh leans back in her seat, finally taking a sip of her coffee, feeling the warmth spread through her but not quite melting away the tension inside her. Jess, sensing her lingering unease, drops the sarcasm for a moment.

"You know," he says more quietly, "you don't have to keep it all to yourself. Not with me, at least."

She glances at him, surprised by the sincerity in his tone. The weight of his words hangs in the air, and she hesitates, caught off guard. A mix of emotions swirls inside her, and for a moment, she considers opening up. But the words stick in her throat, uncertainty clouding her mind.

Instead, she offers a small smile, attempting to deflect the seriousness. "Thanks, Jess." He nods, leaning back in his chair, but the atmosphere shifts slightly. Everleigh feels the tension, aware of how vulnerable his offer makes her. Jess takes another fry, casually munching it as Everleigh narrows her eyes at him. "You're not even trying to be subtle."

He shrugs, unapologetic. "Subtlety's overrated."

Before she can reply, Luke passes by, wiping down a nearby table. "At least pretend you're paying for that, Jess."

"She's got it covered." Her friend says

Everleigh raises a brow, amused. "Oh, so I'm your meal ticket now?"

Luke shoots them a look, half-exasperated, half-amused. "I'll put it on his tab." He moves on, muttering, "Not that he's ever settled one."

They both chuckle, and as the laughter fades, Everleigh finds herself glancing at Jess. Who was too focused on the food. For a second, something about being there at Luke's with him made her feel at ease. And as much as she tried to brush off the feeling at the pit of her stomach, she couldn't help but think over what Lydia said.

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"Do not come downstairs!" Everleigh shouts, marching down the steps. The knocking on the front door driving her crazy. As she approaches the door, swinging it wide open, her smile instantly fades. "Dean! ... What — What are you doing here?"

"Are you and Blaze still together?" Dean walks in without the invitation. Everleigh glances up the stairs, hoping her company wasn't noticeable.

Her eyebrows crease together, "Yes, of course."

"Are you sure?" Dean asks, watching her.

She couldn't help but be more confused and for a second she hesitates to answer, "According to my love life, yes we are." She tugs hair behind the ear, "Where's this coming from?"

"Is it wrong of me to be mad and annoyed at my own best friend?"

She shrugs, mumbling, "Well, that depends which best friend you're talking about."

"Eve, this is not funny." Dean deadpans.

"Yeah, sorry, my bad." The girl shakes her head, "So who we're talking about?"

"Blaze."

"Right..." She draws out, squinting. Not really understanding his outburst. Dean simply sighs heavily and loosely lifts his arms up. Everleigh gives him a pointed look at his reaction, "Dean, context, backstory, synopsis, the Brothers Grimm version — anything really would be helpful."

"Have you spoken to Blaze today? Or seen him today?" Dean pushes further.

The girl crosses her arms and leans in slightly, whispering, "Are you having a stroke?"

He glares at her, exhaling sharply, "Not the time for jokes."

"Then please make sense." She watches her best friend, "What happened between you and Blaze that got you all weird and stuff?"

Dean pauses for a second and looks away. The girl waits patiently for him to finds the right words. He looks away as he says, "Rory was meant to be on her own today because Lorelai is out on a—"

"—Spa day with her mom, Emily. Yes." She finishes his sentence and the way he was looking at her, she knew he wasn't helping. "Sorry. Overheard dad's conversation with Lorelai. You may continue."

"Anyway," Dean sighs again, "Rory really hasn't been in the house on her own all day. But then... I don't know... I just wanted to see her but when I showed up Paris and Blaze was there."

"Okay."

"Okay?" Dean's eyebrows knit together, "You got nothing?"

"Wait, is that it?" Everleigh blinks rapidly, "That's why you were spazzing out?"

"Are you serious?" Dean scoffs, "Don't you find it weird how Rory would rather spend time with Blaze than me?"

"I feel like I'm having a déjà vu." Everleigh mutters under her breath, rubbing the inside corners of her eyes, "Now you sound like Blaze when he accuses me of hanging out with Jess."

"Because Jess has intentions with you." Dean fires back.

Everleigh waves her hand, dismissively, "Not the person for the conversation."

Dean looks at her, almost as if he was observing her , "Are you not worried?"

She was worried. Worried that maybe everything that happened with Agnes hasn't really changed and maybe Blaze didn't want to try fixing this relationship either. But the way her best friend was looking at her with fear in his eyes, she really didn't want him to get where she was. She had to put her worries aside and reassure him.

Everleigh sighs heavily. Stepping closer to Dean and places her hands on both sides of his arms, "Dean, my sweet insecure pumpkin—," Dean pulls a face, looking offended as ever but she continues, "You're so cute when you're worried about Rory but in the nicest way possible, get over it."

"What?"

"Rory is allowed to hang out with whoever she wants to and if she wants to hang out with someone that's not you, she can." Everleigh defends the girl, "Blaze is a nice guy, besides I kinda blew him off yesterday and haven't really spoken to him since. Probably I'm at the blame for this."

"But you didn't answer my question," Dean says and Everleigh tilts her head, "Are you not worried?"

There was a change in his tone. Almost as hinting the situation with Agnes. She forces a smile and lies, "No." She steps back, straightening her posture, "Besides, Blaze is your best friend and he is my boyfriend. I think that should explain everything."

For the first time Dean chuckles, "Yeah, you're right. I'm sorry."

"Meh, I signed up to be the middle man from a very young age." Everleigh comments and Dean laughs again but it didn't reach his eyes, "Look, Rory loves you. She wouldn't do anything to hurt you. Tonight was just miscommunication. Just talk it out tomorrow."

Dean nods, "Yeah, you're right. Thanks, Eve."

She slaps his arm playfully, "Glad to be at your service, Eeyore."

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     After a while, Dean did leave. She did her best friend's duties and he left not worrying about a thing. Maybe even apologising for the outburst but even though he left at peace. She was left with more questions running through her head.

    She may have not spoken to Blaze as much or really seen him for that matter. Deep down she wanted him to try. Try at least seeing her but that didn't happen. No voice mails left either. The thought itself scared her and made her wonder whether he was giving up on her too.

   Maybe breaking up was inevitable.

  Before she could get consumed by her thoughts, her company finally speaks up, "So I got intentions with you now?"

   She stands still for a moment, composing herself and spins around with a forced smile. Trying to act as natural as possible, "Yeah mind telling me about that?"

    Jess slowly walks downstairs, meeting her at the bottom, "Nah, I like to keep things interesting."

   That perks her interest, "So you want to keep me on my toes?"

    "Would it be bad if I did?" Jess says slowly as he approaches the girl.

    "Depends how far you go."

    "Is this your way of flirting, Robin?" Jess lips twist upwards.

    Everleigh rolls her eyes but couldn't contain the smile spreading, "In your dreams, Mariano."

    Jess presses his lips together, holding back as he watches her. For the moment the two stare at each other until Jess looks behind her at the doors. Where once Dean was, "So you're not going to react to what Dean said?"

   Everleigh's smile drops and she inhales sharply, "That Blaze was at Rory's?"

   "Yeah," Jess nods, analysing the girl, "By now it's usually expected of you to freak out, get annoyed. Come up with your own scenarios and argue with your boyfriend."

   She looks away, crossing her arms as she takes a tiny step back, "It's fine. Nothing to talk about."

    Jess raises an eyebrow, unconvinced. "Nothing to talk about?" he echoes, taking a step closer. "That doesn't sound like you."

   Everleigh shifts her weight, glancing away, her voice quieter. "I've been doing enough thinking for both of us. I'm... tired."

    Jess watches her for a moment, the usual smirk fading slightly. His tone softens, though it still carries a teasing edge. "Since when do you let things slide, Robin?"

   Her lips twitch at the nickname, but she quickly suppresses it. She exhales slowly, as if gathering herself. "Maybe some things just aren't worth the fight anymore."

   The words hang between them for a moment, and Jess's expression becomes unreadable. He shifts slightly, looking away before glancing back at her. "I think I should go," he says quietly. "It's late."

   Everleigh nods, her smile faint, more out of habit than anything else. "Yeah. Probably for the best."

    Jess lingers for a moment longer, as if considering saying something more, but then he shoves his hands into his pockets and heads for the door. His steps are unhurried, but there's a weight to his movement. "Get some sleep," he adds, just before reaching the exit.

    Everleigh watches him, the room suddenly feeling much quieter than before. Her heart feels heavy, her thoughts spinning in circles, but as she stands there, she can't shake the strange comfort in knowing Jess had been there, even if he didn't say everything she wanted—or needed—to hear.

    The door clicks shut, and Everleigh exhales slowly, a hand brushing through her hair. Her eyes drift back to the spot where Jess stood. For a long moment, she just stands there, lost in thought.

    How did her once perfect life crumble within a blink of an eye?

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LIFE BEFORE STARS HOLLOW
[ CHICAGO ]

    Blaze and Everleigh stand in her kitchen, surrounded by a mess of flour, sugar, and random ingredients. They had decided, on a whim, to bake cookies together, but it's quickly becoming obvious neither of them has a clue what they're doing.

    Everleigh watches as Blaze leans over a worn-out cookbook they found in her dad's cupboard, squinting at the tiny print. "Are you sure you're reading the recipe right?" she asks, her voice laced with skepticism. She can't help but smile at how seriously he's taking this.

    Blaze, confident as ever, nods. "Yeah, yeah. I've got it under control." He glances at the measuring cup in his hand, filled to the brim with sugar. "One cup, right? That's the whole thing."

     Everleigh bites her lip to keep from laughing. "Blaze, that's not even the right kind of cup..."

    Before she can finish, Blaze turns too quickly, sending the sugar cascading across the counter in a small avalanche. He freezes, staring at the mess with wide eyes. "Uh-oh."

    For a second, there's silence. Then Everleigh bursts into laughter, clutching her stomach as she doubles over. "I think we just invented a sugar mountain!"

    Blaze grins at her, his eyes sparkling with that mischievous gleam she knows all too well. Without warning, he scoops up a handful of flour and tosses it lightly at her. "Oops. My bad."

   Everleigh gasps, staring at him in disbelief. "Did you seriously just—"

    But before she can finish, she grabs a spoonful of cookie dough and flings it at him, hitting his cheek squarely. The look on his face is priceless—shocked, but only for a moment before he breaks into laughter.

    "Alright, you asked for it," Blaze declares, his tone playful as he moves closer. In one swift motion, he wraps his arms around her waist and lifts her off the ground, spinning her in circles. Everleigh's laughter rings out through the kitchen, carefree and infectious, as she clings to him, dizzy and breathless.

   "Blaze! Put me down!" she cries, though the grin on her face betrays how much she's enjoying this moment.

    "Not until you admit I'm the best baker in the world!" he teases, twirling her one last time before gently setting her back down.

    Everleigh leans against the counter, trying to catch her breath. Her heart is still racing, but she's not sure if it's from the spinning or from the way Blaze is looking at her now. The teasing atmosphere shifts slightly, becoming something softer, more charged. She brushes a strand of hair from her face, noticing the way his gaze lingers on her.

   "Okay, okay," she finally says, her voice quieter now. "You're the best baker... even if you do create chaos in the kitchen."

    Blaze chuckles, stepping closer, but this time there's something different in his eyes. His hand reaches up, gently brushing a bit of flour off her cheek. The touch lingers longer than it should, and for a moment, the whole world seems to still around them.

    "You've got something right here," he murmurs, his voice soft, almost teasing, but there's a hint of nervousness there too, as if he's testing the waters.

     Everleigh's breath catches in her throat. She looks up at him, feeling the heat rise in her cheeks, and it's not just from the flour fight. "Where?" she asks, though she already knows.

    Blaze's thumb strokes her cheek gently, and then, slowly, he leans in. "Right here," he whispers, just before his lips brush against hers.

    The kiss is soft at first, tentative, as if neither of them can quite believe it's happening. But then it deepens, and all the playful energy from before is replaced with something warmer, more intense. Everleigh's heart is pounding, her fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt as she pulls him closer, losing herself in the moment.

    When they finally pull apart, both of them are breathless. Everleigh's cheeks are flushed, her pulse racing. She looks up at Blaze, and for a second, neither of them says anything. There's nothing to say—the feeling is enough.

    Blaze grins down at her, that familiar playful spark returning to his eyes. "Told you we make a good team," he murmurs, still holding her close.

    Everleigh smiles, her heart swelling. "Yeah," she whispers, resting her forehead against his. "We really do."

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   i love how everyone is planting a seed about jess without exactly addressing him, so everleigh can figure out her own emotions.

    also im so excited for the next chapter, ive been waiting to write it for months and months. *cough* emily and richard *cough*

question for you guys, would you prefer me trying 'everleigh's dad' in paragraphs or refer him to 'mark'?

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REFERENCES:

          ☕️ everleigh: "you ever see a nightmare on elm street?"

movie━ A Nightmare On Elm Street ( 1984 )

[ everleigh was just saying she's living a real life nightmare ]

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          ☕️ lydia: "More like a really bad Scooby Doo mystery?"

tv series━ Scooby-Doo, Where are you! ( 1969 - 1978 )

—

          ☕️ everleigh:  "dean, context, backstory, synopsis, the brothers grimm version — anything really would be helpful."

authors ━ Brothers Grimm

[ If you have never read their stories, they basically turn a fairy tale story into a dark and twisted version. hence why everleigh made the comment. ]

━

          ☕️ everleigh:  "glad to be at your service, eeyore."

fiction character ━ Eeyore from Winnie-the-Pooh ( 1926 )

[ eeyore is known to be pessimistic and depressed, so that's why everleigh gave dean that nickname ]

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