Into the gloom disappeared the stooped figure of Phoebe. It was barely 7pm and it was already pitch black outside, making it almost impossible to see even the General Store except for the blazingly bright windows. With a sigh of relief from both Evie and Finn, they ducked into the Accessory shop and straight into the scent of coffee and blackberry pie. As she stamped her feet and hung her slicker on the coat rack by the door, Mira appeared in the doorway holding a cup and saucer in her hands. Her pretty, soft eyes widened momentarily before she broke into a welcoming smile.
"If it isn't Evelyn Tallesin blown in on the wind," Mira said in amusement.
"And just in time for coffee!" Julius called from the other room. A strangely familiar chuckle followed his pronouncement. Evie frowned and moved into the room while Finn sniffed and drooled predictably.
"I remember this smell from the city, Evie! Isn't this the stuff I almost fell in when we met? It smells so good. So does that berry smell. Are we gonna stay?" Finn asked eagerly.
"I would like to stay," Evie replied to both Mira and Finn at once, "but I don't want to impose on what sounds like… guests?"
"Such city manners," Mira said with a quiet chortle.
A movement from the doorway into the living area brought Evie's attention that way. She startled, eyes widening, seeing the all too familiar broad shoulders and clear blue eyes in a weathered, tanned face. Dr. Jones' wide, white grin flashed and Evie blinked when she noticed his ever-present hat and leather jacket were gone. His shirtsleeves were rolled up toned arms as tan as his face and wearing a battered watch on his wrist and a stark, black tattoo disappearing up the other wrist into his sleeve and out of sight. It looked like a combination of words, or runes, and some design or maybe statue that she couldn't quite see enough of.
"Do as the Romans do, Ms. Tallesin, an' intrude," Calvin teased with warm eyes belying the cool color of his irises. "Or less metaphorically, do as the locals do."
"Whatever business dragged you here can wait 'til we've warmed you up," Mira agreed with another amused glance at Calvin.
Intrigued more than a small amount, Evie let herself be led into the beautiful dining room. Much to Finn's pleasure. Julius served her before her butt even fit to her chair and the other three quickly caught her up on the conversation she'd inadvertently interrupted. Gossip from Julius' contacts and his own very vocal opinions of the latest men's fashion week, and his and Mira's excitement over the haute couture week coming soon on its heels. Evie, and it seemed Calvin, did barely more than nod and compliment what pictures Julius demanded they purview, before Mira reined in the conversation and asked their guests about their day.
"I'm surprised you two didn't stumble into each other in the dark," Julius noted as he gave Evie yet another slice of pie, winking when she tried to protest. He couldn't see the fairy with the bulging stomach that had eaten most of the first one, and it had Evie's face flaming.
"I have a headlamp, even if the electric torches weren' in perfectly workin' order," Calvin drawled.
"Besides, me n' Phoebe headed straight up pretty early this morning and didn't leave until before I came in. We got up pretty high," Evie said with a shrug.
"It's actually not so bad in the Upper part. It's a lot shinier and airier up there," Finn mumbled against her cheek. He was warm and buzzing with contentment, already sleepy after a long day of flying about the mines and too much pie. It made Evie smile to herself as she sipped her extra-milky coffee.
"I don' have quite those aspirations," Calvin said. "Just a kind 'o pleasure jaunt for me."
"A pleasure jaunt?" Julius asked incredulously, his perfectly shaped eyebrow rising over his steaming mug of coffee. Calvin smiled his debonair, hero-of-an-action-film smile.
"It's good to have hobbies that gets one outside and enjoying the fresh air," Mira interceded calmly.
"I don't know if you can call dirty mine air fresh," Julius said dubiously.
Evie shrugged, carefully to only shrug one side and not jostle Finn. "It's a work out, at least. I prefer being out in the trees in Fugue, but it's pretty satisfying to crunch through rock and find things that could turn out to be treasures."
Mira smiled and touched Evie's hand. Her dirty work gloves had been set aside, so Mira's soft, cool fingers were like a fleeting touch of silk on Evie's already roughening skin.
"You sound just like my husband. He loved refining with me and watching ores and crystals becoming beautiful things. He said the moment they fell from the machine into my hands, they'd speak to him, ready to turn into something lovely," Mira said, her voice not even trembling and her eyes only shimmering rather brightly. From the corner of Evie's eye, she saw Julius press his fingers to his cheek and sighed silently, his tense shoulders slumping.
"Kathy really liked the bracelet for her birthday. She said she'd seen it a thousand times up here and always wanted to buy it, but could never talk herself into buying it," Evie told her with an embarrassed duck of her head.
"I'm glad it's found a home, where it'll be loved and worn," Mira said, withdrawing back to her mug and pie.
"Home…" Calvin murmured with a slight shake of his head and smirk. They all turned to him and he chuckled under his breath. "I was just thinkin' earlier today how like home Castanet is. I've only been here a short time, and already I can't reckon leavin' in the slightest."
"Does that mean you'll buy that empty house up here?" Mira asked, gaze teasing. Calvin laughed with his head tipped back.
"Hamilton doesn't need to worry about his own sales pitch when he's got you, Aunt," Julius said. Evie glanced, puzzled, between them, mouth bulging around blackberry and pastry. "Aunt Mira has been trying to get Calvin to snap that old house up all week."
"It's only common sense, you're in Garmon Mines so often," Mira said mildly.
"I can't stay forever, more's the pity. I have classes t'give and tenure t'chase come the fall," Calvin said in a tone that sounded rehearsed, if amused.
"You'll be back. Castanet will call you back, sure is sure," Mira said firmly. The fondness in Calvin's gaze had Julius and Evie glancing at each other– Evie blushing and Julius smirking (not able to completely hide the astonished delight in his ruby gaze).
…
Walking out the storm into the cool dell of tumbled marble and thigh high grass was like walking into...
Home.
Evie froze, muddy boots on white stone, and exhaled. Every bit of tension, every worry and lick of guilt, every curl of shame and tickle of panic, left on that low rush of breath. She could feel it in a way she hadn't even on here first visit here. That strange tingle vibrated beneath her skin and it felt like gold.
"Magic," Evie whispered, awe ringing in her voice.
Warmth seeped into her bones as a gentle breeze curled around her freezing legs and soaked, tired hands. She quickly unzipped her slicker so Finn could jump from her shirt pocket and zoom over the pond towards the bright lights dancing around the brightest, blue-white light. Evie was following, mouth curved into a smile, without any further hesitation. Yellow, green, and red burst into flickers of sparkling dust to reveal the sprites she'd already awoken, Dara giving her a sweet, sleepy smile from between her grinning, more awake siblings. The Goddess formed in their midst, her motherly, serene smile urging Evie's feet to move faster. By the time she stopped in the archway, she was miraculously dry and Finn was already cuddled under the Goddess's chin.
"Mother!" he gushed happily.
"My Finn," she murmured back. Her fathomless aqua-hued eyes met Evie's. "And my hero."
"N-not yet, not really," Evie protested, abashed and shy under the fairy's unwavering approval. She glanced around in confusion. "I'm pretty sure we're missing someone. Where's Ben?"
All the sprites giggled, Collin all but falling to the ground as he clutched his sides. The Goddess smiled a little wider, looking proud and amused.
"Ben has found a new friend, thanks to you, he says," she told Evie. She gestured for Evie to sit, and together they folded to the soft, springy grass at their feet. The Goddess was fluidly graceful and elegant, but Evie flopped with a grunt and an embarrassed blush.
"Me? Oh! It's Paolo?" Evie asked eagerly, hands on her knees so she could lean forward.
"Indeed, a good child with a keen mind my Ben sorely missed. They are a good match, those two studious, curious souls," she said, still smiling.
"Definitely. I'm glad Paolo can see fairies now. At least something good came out of this," Evie joked with an awkward laugh.
That serene gaze sharpened. "What a thing to say, dear heart. You've brought so many good things, not just the one. It has given me much relief to know my children have a chance to grow and create friendships again beyond this secluded glen, but your hard work has done so much more than you allow," she said seriously, warmly, her hand reaching over to touch Evie's.
The soft touch of her fingers to the back of Evie's hand had every hair on Evie's body standing on end. Wind rushed in her ears, ruffled the edges of her hair, while the burble of a stream ran down her veins. The Goddess's hand moved, but the roaring of the ocean echoed in her ears, like the too quiet murmur inside a conch shell.
She shook her body all over, similar to a wet dog, and met the Goddess's eyes.
"You say that, but... I'm stuck already. I'm not a detective, Mother- er, Goddess..."
"You could call me by my name," the Goddess said. There was something lingering in the corner of her mouth and in the twinkle of her starry eyes that made Evie gape. Because, Evie realized like a fish slapped across her face, the Harvest Goddess was teasing her.
"I don't exactly know that, though," Evie pointed out, smiling a little.
"Hmm, I suppose not, and you're not a… what was it? A detective," she said mildly.
Evie almost fell backwards, laughing loud and deep, before accusing out loud, "you are teasing me, aren't you?" The Goddess just smiled. After a short while, Evie got her breath back and rubbed at her face. "I am stuck, though. I found the other four with a lot of luck and help, but I have no idea where to look first for Edge."
"They are rather shy," the Goddess said absently, her eyes misty and unfocused. The breeze picked up and Dara giggled sleepily in the grass nearby. "I can hear their lonely cries. Somewhere high, find where wishes were once told. I can hear them, echoes on stone and brass. Long forgotten and abandoned."
Evie stared, her body covered in goosebumps and feeling like a spooked cat. If she'd had a tail, it'd be puffed up to twice its size. For a moment, Evie had heard it, too. The sound of a child crying, and whispers of voices cracked and thin and old. She could smell wax candles and wood polish, could see the dance of colored light on a stone floor. The sense of loneliness and hopelessness was so overwhelming, Evie was blinking rapidly to clear away the burning in her eyes and tears filmed her lashes before she realized those weren't her feelings.
"Oh… oh wow. Poor Edge. I have to find them," Evie whispered, rubbing under her eyes.
"You will. We have faith," the Goddess said as the four dancing lights– yellow, red, green, and gold– fluttered around the glade.
"Th-thanks…"
Evie looked down at her muddy knees and shins and her heavy, mine-dust-encrusted gloves. Could she do it? Really? Ring this last Bell and save a whole town– a county of people that didn't even know they were relying on her at all? A stranger with an unfinished degree in a dead, useless language and a broken relationship with her family because of her own judgmental mistakes? She was selfish and impulsive and cowardly, not the brave, altruistic hero the Goddess and Castanet needed–
She inhaled slowly through her nose, then let it out even slower, as if her breath were a bellows heating a flame. When she looked up again, she was grinning, fierce and determined.
"I can do it. Thank you for believing me, all of you," she said, glancing towards the sprites as well.
Alana and Collin dropped onto her shoulders, shedding sparkles of light, and Dara flopped right onto her lap, yawning comfortably. Finn hovered just in front of her, until she held up her hands to cup him in her palms and they shared a smile.
"Of course we believe in you!" Finn exclaimed.
"You've shown us nothing but proof that we can," Alana agreed warmly, so much like an older sister despite Evie being ten times or more her size, it had Evie chuckling.
"We could do worse, but not by much," Collin added, winking and giggling too hard at his own bad joke.
"At least your lap is comfy," Dara agreed.
Evie shook her head as the Goddess just smiled serenely on. With a start, that had Alana and Collin tottering and Dara teetering, Evie remembered her pack and the gift inside. She dragged it closer, while Finn settled on top of her head, and dug around the pockets, fervently hoping they were still okay. After just a second, she pulled out the bandanna wrapped around glistening, beautiful, bright red cherries that shined in the glow of the Spring.
"I dunno if you like cherries, but I thought… well, they looked so nice. It seemed a shame just to sell 'em off when maybe you'd like them, Harvest Goddess?" Evie said, offering the bandanna over.
"Oh, they look simply delicious," she said in a voice made throaty and low with gratitude. Evie blushed and shook her head.
All the sprites were ooing and awing, Alana outright drooling, at the sight of the cherries. Evie chuckled again and reached in her bag. "I've got some fresh wild berries, too? Raspberries and blackberries."
"Yes, please!" the Sprites all exclaimed in unison.
"I should plant more fruit trees soon, get an apple or orange crop going," Evie said, passing out berries.
Goddess merely hummed thoughtfully around her first cherry, nodding slightly with her eyes closed in obvious pleasure. It was pretty great seeing someone so thoroughly enjoy what she'd harvested off her own land. Especially with that someone being the Harvest Goddess.
She wrenched herself away from the Spring a little while later. She still had that whirring under her skin, and a low hum that made her ache with someone else's loneliness. (If there were one thing that Evie didn't feel these days, it was loneliness.) And those scents lingered like someone else's memory, while somehow merging with her own vague sense of deja vu. Lastly, the clue about somewhere high, and stone. With all that, Evie had a pretty good idea where her first stop would be.
Her feet thudded over the muddy path into the typhoon, the shadow of the mountain chilling her further this late in the evening. Soon enough, she was skidding to a stop just past the trade box and gripping the lip of the mine cart in both hands. The metal shined dully in the distant rays of light from the blacksmith's behind her.
Finn peeked over the collar of the raincoat and she felt him yelp.
"We're going on that?! Now?!" Finn exclaimed.
Evie tucked him, still protesting, back under her collar and rolled her eyes. "Don't look, then, scaredy-cat."
She jumped in and pulled the brake with an exhilarated grin. At her fingertips, that buzzing became a roar in her blood. She couldn't imagine feeling safer or more thrilled.
…
She might've kept walking, since it was so late, if she hadn't seen a light on inside. The door swung open easily under her hand, the hinges obviously well-oiled. When it opened so easily, the adrenaline of her ride down the mine cart overrode her polite hesitation and she stomped in. It was neither cold nor overly hot inside the Church, and she sighed in relief to be out of the pouring rain. Even as she stamped down the aisle, Finn pulling himself out from under her collar to look around, Evie felt the buzz, from the Spring, from the mine cart ride, quivering down her limbs like goosebumps.
Perry rose from the front pew with a small leather book, the pages of which were edged in gold, in his hands. He set it down on the bench and moved towards her with a genial, puzzled smile. Maybe it was the dim chapel light, made dimmer by the late hour and typhoon blocking the usual natural light that used to flood this room, but there was something… off about him. His complexion was paler than she remembered, and dark rings smudged eyes that were typically a light, warm, syrupy brown. Now he just seemed… tired? But he still wrapped both his hands around one of hers in that not-shake people of cloth liked to do.
"Good evening! You've been out and about, I see. Do you need an umbrella?" Perry asked in concern, glancing over her soaking wet curls and red nose.
"Nah, nah, I'm fine. I had a hat for most of the day, just lost it on the mine cart. I'll be fine to get home," Evie waved off with her free hand.
Perry let her go with an astonished gasp. "Th-the mine cart? In this weather? In this dark?"
"That's what I said!" Finn exclaimed from just under her chin.
Perry glanced towards him, and blinked widely. Then, shook his head. "Was that safe, Miss Tallesin?"
"Perfectly. I can't explain it, but I just knew it would be," Evie said, laughing awkwardly and rubbing the back of her neck.
"Hm," Perry replied dubiously. "Was there anything I could help you with? I was just about to make some tea…?"
Evie shook her head, taking the moment to figure out how to ask without sounding insane or... well, just weird. Perry's eyebrows slowly pulled together and lower in growing puzzlement.
"Uh..." Evie cleared her throat and glanced away. That returning vibration had her nerves tingling, her hair standing on end, and it was distracting. "I was wondering if... Ms. Mira's still been coming by?" she finally blurted lamely.
"Oh?"
"Evie! That's not the question!" Finn exclaimed. "What are you doing!?"
"Yes, she does, but not quite as often," Perry continued as his expression cleared. He chuckled behind his hand. "It's a bit of a mixed bag, as one might say. I'm glad she's spending more time with her nephew and in her shop, keeping busy and active... but I do miss her soothing company." He sighed under his breath, smiling wryly.
"Soothing?" Evie asked. "Not that... she's isn't, but I figured a church was pretty soothing by itself?"
Perry, for just a moment, lost his cool composure. His pupils dilated to pinpricks and his mouth pulled into a thin, taut line. Then, he swiped his hand over his mouth and forced a small smile.
"Actually, I have a favor," he said, out of nowhere. And the vibration became outright shaking, making Evie curl her hands into fists and shove them in her pockets to hide it. "I've heard that you've spoken to the Wizard on a few occasions?"
Evie blinked in surprise at what seemed to be a complete non-sequitur. "A few, yeah."
"There's been... I have a bit of a problem… here at the church. I could use the Wizard's expertise, or, at the very least, his counsel. However, I've never met him. Not officially. Could you help... introduce me?" Perry asked slowly and rather bashfully, looking every inch his barely twenty-something age.
"Sure? I don't think he'd mind. I mean, if he really wanted to be a hermit with no visitors, his house wouldn't be smack dab in the middle of the town," Evie pointed out. Perry chuckled. "When would you like to go?"
"I suppose right now is too late?" Perry asked, desperation coloring his tone. Evie's eyes widened. "Yes, of course." He glanced to his left, and Evie's right, towards a door with no visible markings or difference from the one to Evie's left. But the way he seemed to shiver and blanch had anxiety ratcheting up her pulse. The longer she looked at the door, the louder her heart beat in her chest, blood roaring in her ears, the shaking almost knocking her knees together.
"Then, first thing tomorrow morning?" came Perry's voice, as if from the end of a long tunnel.
She tore her eyes away and met Perry's worried gaze.
"Y-yeah, I can do that. Tomorrow morning."
Relief had Perry's entire body slumping, like a puppet whose strings had all of a sudden been cut. Evie realized then just how tense and anxious he was. So did Finn.
"What's... what's he so worked up about?" Finn asked, almost scared himself.
Evie and Perry said their farewells and Evie left Perry, alone and small and pale, in the church. She had to force herself to keep jogging towards home, head bent low.
Finally, finally, Evie trudged home. She knew they'd be fine in their safe, warm buildings, but just in case, Evie checked her livestock and poultry, happy to see them all thriving. She gave 'Dite, her last charge to check on, an extra pat, and headed into her house. Rain and thunder and wind blasted at her back as she tripped into her dim house and stepped right onto something that crinkled under her boot.
Finn flew out from under her raincoat to go for the lights while Evie closed the door and crouched to pick up whatever it was. Finn flew back to hover over the paper.
"It's from Candy?" Finn asked in confusion.
"I guess she couldn't wait around for me. I hope she didn't come all this way just to turn back around," Evie said guiltily.
She shrugged out of her coat and sat on the foot of the bed. She quickly scanned the short note, pausing a second to wipe her lenses dry, and felt a stronger sting of guilt, one she'd been ignoring pretty well all afternoon and evening.
I don't know exactly what you said to Luke, but it hurt him terribly. Perhaps because you're such a good friend to him. Please, whatever it was, and why ever it happened, please apologize soon. I'm taking some dinner up to him and his family tonight. I'm sure he'd be happy to see you there, as well, if you could find some time to do so. If not, don't let it wait too long. He misses you, Evie. Your friendship means a lot to him, but I think some part of him thinks it means less to you.
Sincerely, your friend, Candy
Evie sighed gustily and dropped her head to her hands, ignoring the crumple of paper.
"What's wrong? What'd she say?" Finn asked from the pack, where he was dragging out the items she'd foraged– including what remained of the berries.
"She just told me to get my head outta my a– butt," Evie said, refolding the note and shoving it into her nightstand. Finn giggled at the image. "Now, you put those blackberries down. We're having a real dinner first."
"Meanie," Finn whispered, pouting as he set the berries down. Evie scoffed and unpacked her bag quickly– ores to her tool box, dirty gloves and boots next to the front door, berries washed and put in the fridge, and then taking out the few items she had in there to whip something up.
"Whaddaya feel about herb fish?"
"You always make that!"
"It's that or omelets," Evie retorted, cheeks flushed and expression annoyed. The offer Candace put in her note seemed pretty good right now, but no way was she gonna invite herself to Luke's for a meal without apologizing first without a free meal included to ruin the meaning behind it. Besides, it was probably long past their dinner time by now.
A knock on the door had Evie squeaking in shock and Finn buzzing in excitement.
"Do you think it's Renee? Or Toby!? Do you think they'll cook us some dinner?"
Evie laughed aloud, jogging to the door. Sure enough, on the other side was Toby, standing beneath a bright blue umbrella decorated in jumping fish.
"Another gift from Paolo?"
"My twenty-fourth birthday," Toby agreed, closing it as he stepped inside. He made sure to shake it off on her porch step, only a few drops staining her floor (not that it hurt much. It was a pretty shitty floor). "Keeping busy? You look soaked through," he noted, flicking wet hair from her cheek, his fingertip lingering. Her cheeks burned hot enough to dry every inch of skin.
"Mining most of the day, but I was with Phoebe, so I didn't go crazy. Lots of resting and taking my time, being careful, all that boring stuff," Evie said with a laugh. She reached out to tug at the front of his shirt. "You're not exactly dry, either."
"Just fishing."
"In the rain," Evie stated dryly.
"In the rain," he agreed, the corner of his mouth twitching.
Evie snorted loudly and stepped back. Toby glanced over towards the kitchen, where food and dishes were laid out, and raised an eyebrow. "That looks like a very late dinner."
"We– I mean, I had some cookies and coffee with Julius, Mira, and Dr. Jones, actually, so I'm not, like, dying of hunger or anything," Evie told him with a shrug.
"I am. Those cookies were forever ago!" Finn whined, stretching out over the pillow and exhaling sadly. Evie's mouth twitched.
"I do miss the convenience of delivery pizza, though," Evie said.
"I could–"
"You don't always have to feed me, yanno? I can handle it sometimes," Evie interrupted quickly. Toby looked over at her, smiling a little.
"I'm sure you can. It's just something I do well, and something you actually allow me to do for you," he said wryly.
"You make it sound like I'm sorta hardheaded taskmaster," Evie complained bumping his hip with hers. He oofed and then chuckled.
"Maybe not a taskmaster, but that other thing fits," he teased.
"I'm definitely not letting you cook now. Go sit over there until you feel bad," Evie exclaimed, pointing at the edge of the bed.
Toby just laughed, shoulders shaking, and offered, "Why don't we cook together instead?"
"Yeah, okay, I can do that," Evie muttered, grinning as she turned away.
"Looks like… herb baked fish? … how about fish meuniere? You've got everything you need for it," Toby offered, finding a lump of butter still in her fridge (and thankfully not gone bad).
"I dunno, it's fish and something new… I'm not in the mood for guts and burned mistakes this late," Evie said dubiously. Toby just chuckled and handed her the few vegetables she had.
"I'll handle the fish. You just cut those and get them ready to grill on the pan."
Evie rolled her eyes, but gratefully took them. Toby laid out the fish, some nice-sized carp she'd caught and kept on ice, and began to work.
It was nice, standing in the same space with Toby, doing something as mundane as cooking. She'd been spending the past few days running around, panicking over nothing, getting into stupid, rude arguments with her best friend… She'd almost forgotten that the Green Bell had just been Rung and that the next Bell was surely just around the corner. She was able to indulge in something simple and easy. Toby used his phone to play old-timey music Evie didn't recognize in the slightest, except for maybe a few lyrics here and there, maybe a melody from movies she'd seen, but she enjoyed Toby humming along and smiling while the aroma of butter and herbs filled her musty shack-house.
The fish on her plate looked suspiciously larger than Toby's, but he didn't seem that hungry anyway. So she didn't poke fun at his mother-henning and moved the extra to the side of her plate for Finn to munch eagerly.
"It's so good. Much better than herb fish again," Finn said, chewing and twinkling happily.
"Yeah, it's really good! I wasn't expecting to like it so much when you left the head and everything on, but it's really juicy. You're amazing," Evie said, humming happily around her mouthful.
Toby rested his chin on his propped up fist, a lazy smirk on his face. "I thought you would. I'm glad you enjoy my cooking so much."
Evie blushed and let her fork bounce on her plate a little. "I'm glad you like cooking so much," she muttered.
Toby tilted his head towards her. But he still gazed at her, his vaguely amused expression tightening slowly, his brows pulling down and mouth thinning just slightly. He looked less like a mischievous fox and more like a fox contemplating how to get past a trap in his path. Evie slowly set her fork aside and frowned at him.
"Is something wrong?"
After a (too long) moment, he shook his head. "No, nothing. More... I'm wonderin' how far I can push before it's too much?"
"Push? What, you push me? You're the least pushy person I know," Evie said, bewildered.
"I s'ppose that's a compliment?"
"It is to me. I'm pushy enough, we'd probably argue all the time if you were just as bull-headed," Evie joked, a little too seriously.
"Surprisingly introspective of you," Toby noted with a smirk. Evie bumped her fists together at him, and he stared, baffled.
"I... I forgot you weren't part of that FRIENDS marathon," Evie admitted with a half-laugh. After a second, he also laughed, muttering 'Ross' under his breath. "Anyway, I sorta see that as a personal advantage. It's not exactly hard to own up to things you think are positive traits, Mr. Sass," Evie said haughtily.
Toby chuckled. "That is very true."
"I think you've tangented from the point. What did you wanna say or... ask?" Evie said, bemused. "Something pushy?"
"Mm… Is a tangent a verb?" Toby murmured noncommittally, slowly beginning to frown, more pensive than angry or worried. Evie scowled at him, fingers tapping on the table impatiently. Fortunately, he just raised an amused eyebrow at her, which she responded to by rolling her eyes. "A date," he said at last.
"Finally! Wait, what?!" Evie blurted, rearing back, a little like a startled cat. "A date?"
"Yes, a date. I'd like to go on a date that we both agree is a date," Toby said, rather wryly. He glanced away and roughly cleared his throat. Just barely, his cheeks pinked.
Evie gaped, probably looking like a moronic, beached fish. It wasn't a good look, she was sure. She shook her head and clicked her jaw shut. "I... why so specific?"
"I felt the need for it," he muttered, rubbing his mouth self-consciously. "We've been alone, and in date-like situations, but... I've never jus' asked."
Remembering their last "not-date", Evie burned red, from her hairline to her toes. She almost felt... shy?! Only her (earlier discussed) bull-headed nature kept her gaze from dropping when Toby looked back at her directly.
"I know you don't want to label or... want some kinda announcement," he grimaced slightly, "And that's not what I'm askin' for. I just... I just want somethin' a little less vague."
"I'm... I'm sorry, Toby–"
He quickly reached out out to cover her hands with his on the table. "Hey, none o' that. I'm your friend, Evvy. I wanna be a friend you can rely on, of course I do. But there's also something... more... here," he said, gesturing a little between them and then dropping his hand back down to hers.
Her mouth went cottony and dry, a sharp ringing drilling into her ears, but she was nodding, too. Involuntarily. Because... "Y-Yeah, I know," she whispered, her mouth tipping up even as her hands twitched under his. "I've been really selfish about what I wanted..."
A gleam of fondness softened the worry that had begun to pull Toby's features too tight.
"That's kinda the point of feelings. They're always gonna be somewhat selfish. What... What I'm askin' right now, it's selfish, too. You have every right to say no. I wanted to try bein' a little selfish, too. See how far it got me."
Evie couldn't help the chuckles that bubbled out of her at his teasing confession. A relieved smile made crinkles form at the corners of Toby's eyes. And the sight of those crinkles had Evie's heart thumping even harder, the panicky feelings fading under the onslaught of ridiculous affection.
"You're doing a good job so far. I kinda like it," Evie teased back. She slipped her hands out from under his and entwined their fingers before he could move away on reflex.
"You don't have to call me your... boyfriend or anything like that," Toby said after a quiet moment. "I just want to claim a bit of your time and, between us, say what it means."
"And what does it mean? To you?" Evie asked, quiet and curious.
"That I like you and I like your company more'n anyone else's," he answered honestly.
"That's..." Evie's shoulders relaxed, each muscle in her body releasing as if one by one. "I can do that. I definitely feel the same way," she said with a crooked smile.
"What about the kissing stuff?" Finn piped up from right next to her ear.
Evie shrieked aloud, her whole body jerking back and away from Finn's unexpected voice. The chair under her wobbled and rocked in place, almost toppling her right onto the floor, if not for Toby lunging across the table and latching onto her upper arms, almost pinching her in his haste, and her own hands latching right back onto his forearms.
"Holy Goddess, Evelyn!" Toby wheezed, yanking her back onto the chair.
"Did you forget I was here, Evie!?" Finn exclaimed as he zoomed around her anxiously.
"I– wow, I'm so sorry!" Evie gasped, already laughing and red-faced. "Oh my sh-nap, I'm so sorry. You coulda just let me fall! The floor isn't thatfar."
"I got a heart attack more from the shriek than the fall," Toby admitted, falling onto his chair and covering his face with a hand. A moment later snickers burbled forth and quickly became breathless laughter.
"Sorry, sorry! Are you sure you want to go on that date after all?" Evie joked between her own hiccuping laughter.
"Yes, I'm sure," Toby said, green eyes twinkling when he looked past his hand.
"Me, too," Evie agreed, still grinning and blushing.
"I wouldn't go. You're gonna give me a heart attack next time," Finn grumbled, flying away and sniffing in annoyance.
Giggles and laughter burst out of Evie again. Toby got up out of his chair and leaned down to kiss Evie's forehead, chortling under his breath when he moved away. Evie choked on a hiccup, face somehow hotter, and stared up at him.
"When the storms stop, I'll be here."
"Coming to claim your little bit of my time?" Evie couldn't help but say, already up and walking with him to the door.
"Hopefully more than a little. Have a good night," he said with that teasing smirk back. She bumped his shoulder with hers and then pecked a kiss on his mouth, as sweet and chaste as his forehead kiss had been.
"Okay then, Tobes. When you wanna stop being all Victorian all of a Sunday, you can stay over again."
"All of a Sunday?" Toby repeated, perplexed. He shook his head, amused, and headed out into the night.
Evie snapped the door shut and leaned back against it. Her heart beat too fast and her hands pressed to her forehead. "Whatta dork," she whispered, stupidly fond.
A/N: This chapter was basically filler and set up and just truck-truck-trucking along. I'm so sorry I didn't update here sooner. It's been up on AO3 for a while. I just kept forgetting to repost it whenever I was actually in the right place for it (I can't use my work computer because it has has Chinese knockoff of MS Word that doesn't like LOL). The next chapter has already been written, but I MIGHT be doing a timestamp instead first.
Also, yes, I gave Calvin a tattoo. BECAUSE SOMEONE DESERVES A TATTOO. I DECIDED THE COOL AF DR JONES SHALL BE THE ONE. I hope you like the unconventional pairings I'm hinting at. ;)
Next Update: 10/03/2018