It was only one day until summer's end, and Evie could feel it. She could feel the way the heat simmered lower and lower, and the breeze picked up into wind while the sun fell earlier and earlier. She never used to notice those details, but now she sat on the lip of her farm's well, a cup of steaming tea in her hands, watched as dawn broke over the ocean's surface, and smiled. Smiled at the dawn. Who even was she anymore?
A faint twinkle of bells broke through before the self-deprecation became an all-too familiar spiral. She had felt one wrong word from a panic attack almost every waking second the past few days, but luckily Finn had been her constant companion, never leaving her alone long enough to fall apart. When it got too bad, Evie had taken to repeating the list of what she needed to get done to herself quietly, fervently.
Bluemist flowers
Fertilizer
Shrine Wishes
Dr. Jones
Bluemist flowers
Fertilizer
Shrine Wishes
Dr. Jones
Bluemi-
"Evie, are there any extra apples for second breakfast?" Finn asked as he lit upon her shoulder.
She had to duck her head to hide the smile. Finn, of course, didn't realize 'second breakfast' was a very Hobbit thing to say, having picked it up from her naturally. They usually shoveled down some porridge or oatmeal before coming out for the chores, so a second breakfast, normally of fruit or eggs, had started.
"Sorry, buddy, the apples and oranges are too much profit to give up so easily. We gotta save up a lot, and fast, so we can buy a second plot of land," Evie told him with a crooked smile. She looked down the slope to the large open area Gill had shown her was for sale. It was more expensive than the one up the road by the pond, but it was closer and larger. "Imagine, a whole field of only flowers and trees. Maybe Luke will help me build a beehive and I'll help the bees after all." She sipped at her tea and saw in her mind's eye the dance of dozens and dozens of flowers, Bluemists and roses and cosmoses, all under the leafy boughs of trees heavy with coffee beans and olives. Maybe even some chestnuts. "Just like the Secret Garden," she whispered, smiling.
"That sounds exciting. A secret garden just for us," Finn said, zooming around her head in a trail of shimmering gold.
"It does, doesn't it?" Evie agreed fondly. She finished the last of her tea and picked up her gardening tools. "Ready to sing the last of the veggies awake with me?"
"Yeah! We have so much to pick and sell today! Maybe we'll fill up the box again!"
"Let's do our best!" Evie and Finn fist-bumped, giggling.
When the last product had been placed in the tradebox, and the bell was rung for the animals to come out, Evie was sweaty, covered in hay and dirt, and the box was almost full to the brim. She and her sprite exchanged grins. Then, they moved quickly through showering and getting re-dressed, lingered over more tea and fruit-filled yogurt, before heading out from Serenity towards Harmonica with a few items swiped from the fridge on the way. It wasn't quite 8 o'clock, but it wasn't just the last day of summer. It was also Casey's last day in Castanet and they had a full day ahead of them. And, of course, yet another farewell party with every young(ish) adult in the county.
Perhaps today Evie would finally convince Candace to confess to Luke, or maybe the other way around? A party was a great time for it! Ever since Kathy's birthday, Luke had taken to sticking to Candace's side like glue at every gathering unless Luna was there to snark him away. Evie knew that Luna wouldn't be snarking him away this time, not with her carefully crafted plans. She had even approved of Evie's Halloween group costume idea.
Ocarina's door swung open, and only Evie's quick snatch of the door handle kept it from smashing into the wall. She stumbled on her own momentum forward, caught her balance, and stood up straight with a grin and blush as Maya clapped from behind the counter.
"I definitely would've fallen, Nice catch, Evie!" Maya cheered, before covering her mouth with both hands and giggling.
"Just barely. Is my brother awake yet?" she asked, rubbing the back of her neck sheepishly.
"Not yet! You're super duper early today!"
"Well, good, 'cuz we're gonna bake him a surprise," Evie said with a wink as she swung her rucksack around.
"Are we?! We? You're going to let me cook?" Maya gasped.
"Technically, bake, but yeah. My brother really likes your cooking," miraculously, Evie did not say out loud, "so let's make him his favorite."
"What's his favorite?" Maya asked as she leaned eagerly over the counter on her hands. Evie quickly set out the ingredients she had brought from home. "Cherries and dough— It's cherry pie!" Maya exclaimed, clasping her hands and wriggling excitedly. "Oh, I just knew we would like the same things. I love cherry everything."
"Me, too. I hope Casey will share!" Finn said appreciatively.
"My parents don't really bake much back home. Usually it's just birthday cake from the grocery store or ice cream, yanno? But he's always really liked pies," Evie explained with a smile. "We'll make him two small pies, how about that? Do you have two small pie pans?"
"I do! Granny always does the same whenever we bake together," Maya said without a trace of shame. "Maybe Chase will let me join his cooking class if I can prove I can bake a pie!"
Evie came around the counter and washed her hands. "A cooking class? Chase doesn't really seem the type."
"It's Granny's idea, of course," Maya said with a giggle. She set out some wooden boards and shook some flour over them. She was a bit too zealous, sending flour all over the counter and the floor. "Oopsie!"
"Never mind, we'll clean up later. It won't take long," Evie said with a wave of her hand. Maya beamed happily over at her and Evie set the oven to pre-heat.
"Right! So, Chase's class! He's going to enter something for the Harvest Festival, of course. He's the best cook in Castanet, so he's gotta enter the contest—"
"Contest?" Evie interrupted. She smoothly slid the cherries over to be pitted before Maya could crack (and then demolish) eggs into a bowl. Maya took to the new task with aplomb and her tongue caught between her front teeth.
"The cooking contest! There's lotsa contests for the Harvest Festival, lessee, ummm," Maya's nose scrunched cutely and Evie couldn't help her small smile. "The cooking contest, like I said, the veggie contest, the fruit contest, and… uh, oh! The flower contest, duh!" Maya rolled her eyes with another giggle. "The best of each contest gets the prize!"
"Like the animal contests at the Animal Festival."
"Exactly! Only pumpkins don't havta do tricks for the judges like the pets do," Maya teased with a wink. "Ooohh, my fingers are all red and drippy, just like blood." She held up her fingers and wiggled them at Evie with silly ghost noises. They both laughed, laughing even louder when cherry juice speckled them both like murder victims.
"You're definitely gonna be dressed all gross for Halloween, aren't you?" Evie realized, wiping at her face. She swiftly plucked the salt from Maya's hand and replaced it with sugar. Maya beamed again.
"Yes! The spookier the better! I think I wanna be a zombie. But, like, a good one. With guts hanging out and pus-covered scabs on my face! Selena n' me have been watching all kinds of make up videos online and practicin' all week!"
"That's disgusting!" Evie said, but grinning. "I can't wait to see it." She took the baking soda out of Maya's hand— where did she even get that? Evie didn't bring that!— and put a spoon in it.
"I can't wait, either!" Maya said, as if Evie hadn't done a thing. She fell to mixing the filling with a gusto that had Evie worried for the integrity of the cherries… She rolled the dough with a bit more speed.
"So, why's Chase teaching others to cook if he can win a contest for being the best?" As hoped, the mention of Chase had Maya slowing immediately down. Evie mentally sighed in relief.
"Granny thinks the only way he can get better now is to teach others. That's the next step to be a great chef, she says! So he decided he'd teach anyone willin' and give himself… what'd he say?" Maya pouted and tilted her head, spoon suspended midair. Gloopy red mess dripped from the spoon and Evie decided to continue rolling the dough out. There was more filling in the bowl anyway. "Oh, yes, he might as well give himself some real competition and if he could teach someone well enough to even beat him, then he'd be a real great chef."
"Or he'd beat everyone anyway and still be a great chef. So he wins no matter what," Evie pointed out, trying not to snicker at Maya's outraged face.
"No, don't say that! Chase didn't mean that."
"Here, the pans are ready, pour it all in," Evie ordered instead of arguing.
Maya cheerily poured filling into each dough-lined bowl while Evie cut the remaining dough into strips. In a show of surprising talent, Maya used the leftover tiny bits of dough to make little flowers and bumblebees to decorate the perfectly latticed pies. Evie's wasn't as nice looking as Maya's, actually, only made a little nicer after Maya stuck some dough-flowers around the edges.
"These are so cute!"
"Thanks~" Maya hummed happily, eyes soft and distant as she arranged everything perfectly and fixed Evie's most egregious mistakes in the lattice-ing. "Mama and Granny used to give me the extra bits so they could finish baking or cooking without me messin' things up. I got real good at makin' things cute~ Thank you for helping me with the hard part!"
"Following a recipe isn't so hard. I couldn't make any of these, that takes real work," Evie said, gesturing at the decorations. Maya blushed happily.
"Ya think?"
"Yeah. Maybe we should join his class together. This was fun," and nerve-wracking, Evie thought, still amused. Cooking was usually so boring. Not with Maya. Or Toby… She blushed and passed the little pies over. "Here, why won't you dust it all with the egg wash and sugar, and I'll be back with my lazy, good for nothing brother?" Maya grinned.
"You got it, capitan! Oh! Whoopsies!" She had saluted with the fork from the egg bowl still in her hand, all but throwing raw egg all over Evie's front and Maya's own hair.
They stared at each other, Maya's blue eyes slowly widening in dismay and horror, until Evie burst out laughing. "I'll just get something new from Sonata."
"I'm so so so sorry!" Maya exclaimed between relieved giggles.
"It's nothing, I'll be right back. Put those in when the oven beeps!"
"Will do!"
Leaving the pies to their dubious fate, Evie plucked at her shirt and chuckled a little more. "Too bad magic won't help with getting egg outta clothes," she muttered to Finn.
"Well, you could try, but it'd be a real silly reason to faint," Finn said snootily.
"I really need to figure out where you're learning that sass and put a stop to it," Evie retorted, mouth twitching.
"You know I learn everything from you! And Ben, sometimes," Finn said, giggling. He blinked when he noticed Evie stopping in the hallway and looking both ways. "Isn't Casey's room that way?"
"Uh… yeah, but… there's something I need to do first," Evie admitted with a little wince. Dr. Jones was about to get crossed off the list. She squared her shoulders, flipped her too-long curls out of her eyes, and stomped towards his door. After a brisk knock, it took only moments to reveal Dr. Calvin Jones. Wearing monogrammed pinstriped pajamas. Evie snorted aloud and immediately slapped a hand over her mouth.
Calvin was already smirking, leaning indolently against his doorjamb. It had been so long since she'd had a good look at him, she had forgotten just how movie-handsome he was, with his square jaw and wavy honey-blond hair. Those crystalline blue eyes met hers and she barely kept from squeaking.
"They're a Christmas gift. From my mother," he said, smirk widening into a smile that gleamed.
"Huh?"
"The pajamas," he explained more clearly. She let out a soft oh. "So what's a young woman like you doin' at my door this early in the morn? It's a mite odd, doncha think, Ms. Tallesin?"
"Just a mite," Evie agreed, shoulders loosening at the low, soothing drawl of his accented voice. "It's for business, actually. Nothing… untoward, you old duddy."
He chuckled and tipped his chin forward. "Excuse me for jumpin' t'the wrong conclusions, ma'am. I should never assume a lady's intentions." His drawl got even thicker at the words, and it had Evie laughing despite how awkward it was.
"All right, all right, I'll stop teasing if you will. Dr. Jones, I looked you up and noticed where you're an adjunct professor at. You never said you're a professor at my university." Evie crossed her arms over her chest and cocked a hip to one side. Calvin's eyebrows flew up to disappear behind the waves of his sleep-mussed hair.
"Is that so? I had no idea what university you were in, Ms. Tallesin, so how could I have told you?"
"Uh… okay, point," Evie rubbed the back of her neck and glanced down the hall towards Casey's room. "I… I sighed up for fall classes. Online."
After a brief widening of his eyes, Calvin smiled at her. Approving and warm. It had Evie shuffling in place and blushing hotly.
"I'm glad t'hear it. Academia needs more young, thirsty minds like yours."
"I dunno if I'm all that, but… I talked to my previous adviser, and told her you were here. If you… You offered once, to help me with my courses. If being my adviser is too much, I understand, but maybe you could help with proctoring my exams so I could stay here and finish my last semester, because going back to the city right at the end of the season would be really time-consuming and-"
"Ms. Tallesin," A hand fell on her shoulder and she all but choked on her tongue to shut up. "I would be honored to be your adviser."
Her head jerked up and she grinned, wide and wild, auburn eyes shining behind her heavy framed glasses. "You mean it!? Oh, thank the Tree! You're the only one that could help me. I'm changing my thesis, I know, it's totally the eleventh hour, but I have to, I couldn't do what I was doing before, and you're literally the only person who could help me. Okay, and maybe Pastor Park and the Wizard, but they're not Classics professors-" Evie babbled excitedly, hands clasping like Maya's and voice rising higher and higher, faster and faster, as she went on. Calvin laughed as he held up both hands in surrender.
"You don't havta convince me anymore, student mine. I'll email your current adviser and other pertinent people in the department. We'll have it sorted in a few days. Or perhaps a week, you know what Classics professors are like," Calvin said with a another amused twist of his mouth.
"Oh yeah, I definitely know. Thank you, thank you!" Evie grasped one of his hands in both of hers and pumped it up and down vigorously. He almost lost balance and toppled into the hallway at the exuberance of it.
"My pleasure, Ms. Tallesin."
"What's…" Casey stuck his head out of his door, caught sight of Evie and Calvin, and rolled his eyes. "Oh, it's you. Leave the poor man alone, Lupe. You're about to tear off his arm."
Evie dropped Calvin's hand immediately, scowling and red-faced. "I am not. Why are you still in bed, anyway!? I'm waiting for you."
"Yeah, it really looks like it." He rolled his eyes and ducked back into his room.
"You- Oh, right," Evie looked back to Calvin and grinned again. "Thanks, really. I'll come by with… with everything when the semester starts?"
"Sounds like a plan. Enjoy your last day of summer," he said, touching his forehead as if trying to tip his hat. Then, he stepped back and closed the door as Evie thundered down the hallway.
"Open that door, feo!"
"You don't even know what that means, Lupe."
"Of course I do. Now, get out here! Or me n' Maya are eating all the pie without you."
"Pie!?"
Evie grinned at the loud thud on the other side of the door.
"Evie… what'd you ask that professor man for? I don't geddit…" Finn said, hovering just in front of her.
"Well, remember where we met?" Evie began. Finn nodded eagerly, eyes widening as Evie explained. His chiming wings were so loud that Casey came out of his room with his hands over his ears.
"What in the world is going on?"
…
"So, ya gonna miss him, princess?"
Evie looked up from her drink, blinking a little sleepily as Luke flopped into the chair beside her. He was turned slightly away, pulling out another chair when Candace stepped closer. Candace blushed at the smug leer Evie sent her from behind Luke's head, and sat neatly, skirt tucked under her thighs.
"I hope you both enjoyed his last day here," Candace said, voice admirably steady despite the pink on her cheeks.
"It was a pretty great day. Eating cherry pie and green tea ice cream with Maya, exploring the mines again, relaxing in a hot mineral spa, riding the mine cart until Ramsey came out to yell at us, feeding that cute black cat, and playing with Pastor Park's dog. It was fun. Really fun. I don't think me n' Casey have had that much sibling bonding time since… since high school," Evie smiled down at her apple cider sadly. "I think I really am gonna miss him this time."
"This time?" Candace asked. Evie huffed lightly.
"We separated on bad terms four years ago. Me and my family. Casey tracked me down at Uni and we made up a bit, but… I was never homesick. Never missed my family much. I was so ready to get away, to be someone else. Not one in a dozen of Fuenteses. I ran off and never looked back until Casey made me. And then I… I guess I kinda hated him for it for a while. For making me feel so bad about it. But…" She glanced to where Casey, Owen, Selena, and Kathy were in the middle of a wild, no-rules, four-person swing dance. Somehow, Casey managed to snatch Maya right out of the sidelines and spin her into the mess of things as she squealed in excitement. Casey was always lighter on his feet than she ever was. "I really am going to miss my stupid little brother."
"Arencha twins?" Luke said after a long moment of silence. Evie rolled her eyes and elbowed his side. He oofed and laughed, rubbing his ribs.
"That's not the point."
"Oh, did I miss a point of somethin'?" Renee asked, eyes glinting and hands full of new drinks. Toby was right behind her, slipping easily into the seat next to Evie. She tensed for a split second, her whole body frozen, eyes glued to her mostly empty glass as Candace and Luke waved off Renee's question and thanked her for the drinks.
Pinning on her easy, breezy, party smile, Evie forced herself to relax and look towards Renee. "I don't think I've seen you since the Ocean Festival."
"Oh, you're right!" Renee's pretty brown eyes widened and she tucked her hair behind her ears, blushing as she looked to where Kathy was hip-swinging and fist-pumping. "Been a little busy."
"You mean you're attached to Kathy's hip," Toby teased. Renee blushed hotter and puffed her cheeks like a chipmunk.
"We… we really are, aren't we?" she exclaimed at last, burying her face in her hands. Everyone laughed, but Evie's sounded strange to her own ears. Somewhere outside her body, echoing down a tunnel and away.
"Do you mind if I join?" asked a smooth, lyrical voice. Candace smiled shyly, eyes darting towards Luke who sat strangely rigid in his seat, his gold eyes losing their naturally laughing gleam. Julius glanced between the two of them, then smiled, eyes tight at the corners. "I still have an apology to make, and I promise no more repeats of the past."
Luke's eyes narrowed, more catlike than ever. He did actually look like he could punch someone in that moment. Evie blinked in confusion, eyes meeting Candace's, then Renee's, all three of them joined in solidarity at the eeriness of his silence. Evie wondered if anyone else noticed Luke's quick glance at Candace and the minute slumping of his shoulders.
"It's nothun, Juli," Luke said at last with a shrug. He leaned back and one arm lifted to casually lay over the back of Candace's chair. "We both said some crap. I don't gotta problem if you don't."
"Thank you, Carpenter." Julius sat next to Renee. The rancher sipped at her raspberry drink and studied Julius coolly. Gossip got around fast, and Renee had already been on the fence about Julius, Evie remembered.
"So you'll be growing pumpkins again this fall, right, Julius? Like when we were kids?" Toby said when the silence stretched on too long.
"Yes, Anissa already promised to hold some seeds aside for me. I'm hoping I could gift some to the Halloween party Luna is getting the whole town into. Children like carving, don't they?" Julius said, turning to Candace. She lit up with a smile.
"Luna will love that! We don't have enough room in our yard to grow any. You'll let me buy some pumpkin from you, won't you, Julius? Luna loves pumpkin pie almost as much as you do."
Julius smiled fondly at Candace across the table. "I would never sell it to you, Candace. You'll come over and we'll bake some together. It always tastes better when I make it with you."
"You always put in too little cinnamon," Candace said, twisting her hands into her cardigan and smiling. She looked over to Luke, whose face was a little stony, and her hand hovered over his knee, not quite touching. "You like spinach cake, don't you?"
He grinned down at her. "Yeah, you betcha. I haven't had spinach since my birthday party. And nothing beats it fresh. Evie, ya gonna grow lots of it, right?"
"I'll try, but I have plans for my plot. I'll squeeze in whatever I can, just for you. But you better buy it. I don't give handouts," Evie said, laughing.
"That's not true at all. You gave me all of your sunflowers this summer!" Renee protested, smiling.
Evie shrugged and looked away. "I couldn't grow all that many. I'm glad they found a better home than mine." Renee frowned, head tilting slowly. Evie turned quickly to Toby. "I thought I'd grow some cosmoses. You like those, right? You told me months ago."
"Yeah," he agreed, eyebrow going up and a smile curving his mouth. "I didn't think you'd remember that."
"I remembered as soon as I saw cosmos on the crop list," Evie admitted, rubbing the back of her head.
"I always grow roses. Aunt Mira and I adore them. We make gallons of red perfume at the end of the season, right when they're at their last bloom. The scent is exquisite," Julius sighed, hands to his cheek and eyes closing.
"I always liked the moondrop perfume," Candace said quietly, her eyes on the table's surface. "I… I don't really think I'm much suited to perfumes, but moondrop perfume is just so light and sweet, I don't mind a little sometimes. Rose perfume is much too… too much for me."
"The same modesty as always," Julius said on a sigh. He stopped, looked upwards, then started again. "You always think you don't deserve those nice, expensive, too much things, but it's never been true. Rose perfume would be an excellent scent for you, but moondrop suits you just as well."
Candace blinked and looked up at Julius. "Th-thank you."
"That's so well said, Julius!" Renee said, clapping her hands. "I'm not much of a perfume person, either, but you should be more adventurous, Candy! Wouldn't she be darling in pink one day?"
"She would," Julius agreed, smiling. "I've told her often not to let Luna take all the best colors." Candace buried her face in her hands and shook her head wildly.
"P-please, stop!"
"Just wait until everyone sees you in your costume, Candy! You'll knock everyone's socks off," Luke said, tugging her into his side and shaking her lightly. She squeaked into her palms and tucked herself closer, using him to hide even more as he laughed.
"I think we should make Compliment Candace Once a Day a new thing. She's cute when she's all flustered like that," Evie teased, leaning around Luke to get a glimpse of Candace.
"No!" she wailed in horror.
"Definitely, yes. I'll take the mornings, who wants the lunch hour?" Renee threw more logs on the fire. Candace whined into her hands as they all laughed.
"Okay, okay, let her breathe. I think we've tortured her enough," Toby said, still half-laughing himself.
Candace glanced up from under her hair, face still cherry-red and agonized. "Thank you," she whispered fervently. Another peal of laughter went around the table.
As Renee began to tease Luke, trying to get him to admit their costume idea, the Bar door opened. Evie turned absently at the sudden draft at her back and caught sight of Gill, wind-ruffled and buttoned into a navy blue peacoat. He found her in the crowd and raised a hand, cheeks pink and shoulders high.
"Hey, I'll be back. Lulu, keep your mouth shut. You, too, Fisher," Evie said, glaring at them both as she got to her feet.
"You're not gonna warn Candy?" Luke asked, almost offended.
"Candy would never betray me. You, though, you I've gotta keep an eye on," Evie said, forking her fingers towards her eyes and then at Luke threateningly. He clutched his chest and gasped aloud.
"It's all right, Luke, I know you won't tell," Candace reassured him.
"Why was I warned?" Toby asked no one in particular.
"Cuz you're a dark horse," Evie said, touching his shoulder as she passed him. He looked up and watched her walk past, her hand just barely trailing along the seam of his shirt. "Who knows what you'll do when given freedom."
His eyebrow went up and that foxy-smirk had Evie grinning and winking at him before she skipped away. She skidded to a stop next to Gill, who was exchanging small talk with Chase and Luna at the bar. Gill gave her his small, pleased smile, the one that had her instantly grinning back, Wishes burning in her chest. He had some news about the Bells, she could tell, but she couldn't figure out what.
"Did you see that, did you," Luna was hissing at Chase, shaking his arm. Her blue eyes were sparkling and she was the happiest Evie had ever seen.
"Did I see Carpenter pee on his territory in the least subtle way ever? The answer is yes, and I wish I hadn't," Chase said dryly, sighing under his breath when Luna shook him harder.
"Ugh, this man is the least romantic man in all of Castanet! You two, you saw it, right? Everything is going according to plan!" Luna squealed, hands clasping together and finally freeing Chase from her clutches. She gazed at Gill and Evie expectantly.
"I really think one of them will burst it out at any second. I'll try to get Luke to say something tonight. He was basically crying the whole way here about how pretty Candace looked, like, two days ago. I think she had a barrette in her hair? I couldn't tell, he made zero sense," Evie said, eyebrows flying up.
"I put that barrette in her hair the moment I heard him whistling into town. I'll have him eating out of Candy's hand in no time." Luna cackled, actually cackled, rocking back in her barstool so suddenly that all three people around her jerked forward to catch her. In some kind of witchcraftery, Luna re-balanced herself and levelled a disdainful glance on all of them.
"Why… How do you always make it sound so nefarious, Ms. Snyder?" Gill asked, rubbing his forehead. Luna waved him away with a tsk.
"I really don't think Carpenter needs much help," Chase said, jerking his chin towards the table. Gill and Evie turned in tandem to see Luke leaning on his elbow and gazing dopily at Candace's side profile as she spoke to Renee about silkworm care.
"Wow," Gill and Evie breathed incredulously. They cringed when, a moment later, Luna smacked them both in quick succession.
"Are you both complete dunderheads? Where's your sense of subtlety, Mr. Goldstein?" Luna demanded. She looked at Evie. "I know you're hopeless, but surely you can do better, Goldstein."
"Sorry, sorry!" Evie said swiftly as Gill ducked his head and flushed. "I just came over here to steal Gill for a second. I'll give him back and return to my duties."
Luna sniffed and picked up her cocktail. "You better."
Snagging Gill's elbow, Evie dragged him away, past the bar and behind the speakers blasting music towards the stage. The dancers were following Casey in what looked like, after a second look, the basic cumbia steps. Finn was giggling as he swayed back and forth where he was perched on top of Casey's head. Evie and Gill ducked into the corner.
"What's going on?" Evie asked sotto voce, leaning closer so Gill could hear.
"Nothing too secretive, but hopefully it's good news," Gill said with a mysterious smile. "I talked to my father about you looking into another plot of land. I may have… pushed him into agreeing into a payment plan for you."
"Uh… what?" Evie asked, frowning slightly.
"I know the amount needed to pay off the second plot is… a lot," Gill said, straightened his coat cuffs needlessly. "However, as I pointed out to my father, you've been an exemplary citizen throughout the past two seasons and increased Castanet's revenue severalfold, and that's without him knowing what you've done with the Bells. He agreed you can give a down payment and discuss future regular payments when you do so."
"So… I could… use the second plot tomorrow?" Evie asked, mouth dry and heart pounding.
"Well, no, tomorrow is Sunday and we're closed. First thing on Mo-oh," Gill broke off into a shocked gasp as Evie threw herself at him. He staggered under her exuberance as she clutched at him tightly.
"Why are you helping me so much!" she exclaimed against his shoulder, sniffling dangerously.
"I already told you why," Gill said softly, patting her head awkwardly. "You're a lot stronger than you look."
"Wh-what does that mean?" Evie laughed while stepping away and rubbing her nose with the back of her hand. "I don't know how I feel about owing your dad for too long, but this… this would really help."
"I know you hate owing anyone, but… I needed to do something. I can't help with the Wishes more than I have. I can't grow flowers for you. If I can do anything, then I'll do it," Gill said firmly, his eyes bright and fierce. Evie smiled and patted his shoulder.
"The Goddess will appreciate it just as much as I do," she promised him fondly. His whole face turned red and he turned away, scowling.
"I didn't— you don't have to tell her such… such mundane things," Gill murmured quietly. Evie just laughed again and made to pinch at his cheeks, cooing. He swatted at her hands and scowling harder.
"If you're going to act childish, then I'm going to leave," he said, raising his chin high and scooting past her.
"But your face is just so pinchable. C'mon, scowl harder, tsundere!"
"I am not… what even is that?"
Evie curled over her stomach, arms wrapping around her ribs tightly, as she guffawed until she was breathless. Gill sighed, mouth twitching upwards.
"My father and I will see you first thing on Monday. Do you think you can pay at least ten percent?"
Evie gulped in air and wiped at her eyes. "Y-yeah, yeah. I think I can pay about one third upfront. I wanna owe as little as possible and pay it off as quickly as possible."
"With the amount you'll be making once your first flower crop goes through, you should be able to accomplish it quickly."
"And I'll be able to grow plenty of actual crops on my land," Evie said with a relieved huff. "I wasn't looking forward to buying so much food."
"And the Wishes? Have you managed to get anymore?" Gill asked, frowning pensively. Evie's mouth twisted to the side.
"No. Some… things… have happened that have made … um, things weird with some people. I'm not sure how to bring it up…"
Gill's eyebrow rose high and Evie glared at him. "Could you be more vague?"
"I could. Do you know how much Latin I've read? It takes those old guys twenty pages to say cryptic nonsense all the time. The Greeks were even worse."
Gill chuckled behind his hand and nodded. "I'll not tempt you into trying. I really should go. You should continue to enjoy your friends' company."
"Some of these people are your friends, Gill. You should stay."
The young man looked away, eyes shifty and cheeks burning pink. "Not… not especially. I didn't… I didn't have many friends as a child and it was hard to make friends when we grew older."
"Because of the fairy stuff?" Evie asked, fists on her hips. Gill shrugged, but his blush got redder. "Well, you're an adult now, and I know for a fact Candy and Luna like you. And you seemed to be having a nice time with Chase just now. More and more people are gonna start seeing fairies, too, so suck it up and make friends, Goldstein."
Gill scoffed and ran a hand through his hair. "I suppose you're right. Your table seems a bit… rambunctious, so perhaps I'll return to the bar."
"You gotta problem with rambunctiousness?" Evie demanded as they walked out of their private corner.
"If I did, I wouldn't be your friend now."
Evie beamed at him brightly and punched his shoulder lightly. "Thanks, Gill."
He gave her one more smile, soft and small, and then made his way back to where Luna was still perched and chatting with Chase and Hayden. Evie strolled the rest of the way towards her own table, the list rattling through her brain again— Bluemist flowers, fertilizer, go to Town Hall, Wishes. She couldn't even be bothered to be annoyed that she had struck one item off the list, just to add one right back.
When she got to the table, she froze and tilted her head in confusion. Selena had somehow appeared in her empty seat, leaning towards Luke as she dared him to come up and dance with them. Even Renee and Candace were encouraging him as he laughed and shook his head. Julius and Toby were leaning across the table, talking quietly. When Toby caught sight of her, and her confused expression, he smiled and shrugged a shoulder. Julius glanced up at her and then chuckled into his drink.
"So, I took too long and now I can't sit with you guys? How Mean Girls of you," Evie said, grinning and arms crossed over her chest.
"You're back!" Luke exclaimed.
"Yup. Just some serious farming business to get done," Evie said.
"Is everything all right at Serenity?" Candace asked worriedly.
"Better than all right," she replied with none too little satisfaction.
"You've been doing a lot of business with Gill these days," Renee pointed out, casually stirring her drink. Evie couldn't help the scowl, mouth twisting.
"Yeah, it helps that Gill cares so much about the town and is actively helping out. It's better than just spreading gossip around and sighing about it," Evie snapped, auburn eyes flashing. Renee's eyes widened before her lips pulled taut. Candace inhaled sharply and Luke startled in his seat at the tone, gold eyes darting between the two of them.
Selena rocketed out of her seat and latched onto Evie's arm. She startled and stared at the teen, who leaned close and smiled brightly. Her Elizabeth Taylor eyes looked truly gemlike as they gleamed in the bar's low light.
"U-um?" Evie muttered dumbly.
"That coward refuses to come dance with me, but you will, won't you, Evelyn? Casey said your name is Guadalupe Evelyn, and Guadalupe is so much prettier. Can I call you Lupe, too?"
"Um… that's a little weird for me, actually. I'm much more used to Evie."
"Hm, all right, I guess. Come with me, Evelyn~" Selena all but sang, tugging Evie towards the stage.
Evie stumbled after her, staring over her shoulder at her friends. "I'll be back!"
Instead of going up onto the stage, Selena perched on the table closest to it. Evie skidded to a stop, blinked, and then sighed roughly.
"Um, thanks. I guess you noticed…"
"That you basically called Rey a bitchy gossip to her face? Yup," Selena agreed, shiny lips popping on the p.
"I didn't mean to imply the bitchy part," Evie said with a wince, glancing towards the stage. The music was still blaring. Casey met her eyes as he swung Maya around, but she shook her head. Keep Finn, she mouthed at him. He nodded, which had Finn cackling excitedly.
"You gotta admit, you and the Mayor's son are together all the time. And then… just now…" She waved towards where Evie and Gill had been whispering together. "People are talking."
Evie shifted her weight onto one foot and stared her down. Selena pursed her lips and then tossed her tumble of curls over her shoulder.
"You're right. None of my business. That's between you and that fishing man."
"Toby Fisher."
"Right," Selena said dismissively. Evie scowled harder, but Selena was already clearly thinking of something else, twirling her hair between her fingers. "I've been meaning to ask… you're good friends with Carpenter, right?"
"Wh-what?" Evie blurted, utterly bewildered by the change in topic.
She dropped the red curls and leaned forward, purple eyes shining. "I've been trying to get a read on him all night, but he won't leave his chair or let me get him alone. Not since he flirted with me weeks ago."
"Wasn't that the night he got super wasted?" Evie pointed out, eyebrows rising high.
"You know what they say about getting drunk, you're more honest."
"Or more drunk."
Selena sighed and rolled her eyes. "Evelyn, I'm trying to ask your advice. Has he talked about me at all? Do you think I should ask him out myself?"
Evie's jaw dropped. "Wh-what?!"
Selena blushed and began twirling her hair again. "He's cute, yanno? And fun. And he's basically my age. Don't you think we'd make a good fit?"
"Good fit? But… you two have nothing in common," Evie whispered.
"People say the same about you and Fishman."
"Fisher."
"You're outgoing and fun and friendly. Everyone talks about you like you're some kinda hero," Selena told her, voice low and earnest. "They say, 'if you've got a problem. Miss Evie will help. She fixes things.'"
"Uh… thanks?"
"And that guy is kinda… well, he just slumps around fishing, right? Me n' Luke have a lot more in common than you two do," Selena said with a flourish of her hands. Evie stared, jaw still somewhere around her ankles and voice completely missing. "You and Luke are best friends and you're good at fixing problems, right? So you'll help me, won't you? You'll tell me if I have a chance?" She said it so hopefully with her eyes shining and cheeks flushing.
If Evie hadn't been resisting the urge to shake the… the audacity out of her, she would've been moved by Selena's pleading.
"No. You don't," Evie said bluntly. She could feel her hands curling into fists. She closed her eyes and breathed in slowly, deeply, and opened her eyes again to see Selen gaping at her. "I don't think you two would be a good match. Thank you for getting me away from Renee before I said something ruder, but I'm going to go back and apologize and rejoin my friends now."
"W-what! Why? Why are you being so mean!" Selena exclaimed, hopping off the table and grabbing Evie's hand. "Everyone says you love to help—"
"Yeah, and apparently everyone says I'm secretly hooking up with the Mayor's son, so maybe everyone should just shut up," Evie finally burst out, shaking Selena's arm off of her. She winced when Selena's lashes filmed with tears and her lip began to tremble.
"I never said that! I just heard it! I was trying to warn you!"
"You're nineteen. You should just keep minding your own business, Selena," Evie said wearily.
"Stop acting so high and mighty. I'm not taking back what I said when it's true. And I'm going to ask Luke out, whether you think I should or not," Selena said, stomping her foot and lifting her chin.
Evie scowled. "He has feelings for someone and it's not you," she admitted, begrudgingly. If Luna ever found out she opened her blabbermouth to Selena, Evie would be dead meat...
Selena blinked in surprise before her eyes narrowed suspiciously. "You're lying. If he liked someone, everyone would know," she accused.
With a loud groan, Evie mussed her hair wildly in both hands. "No one knows half as much as they think they do! Just back off, Selena."
"It's you, isn't it? You're fending me off so you can date him yourself."
Evie literally laughed in her face, actually clutching her sides as she wheezed. Selena blushed tomato-red, hands curling into fists.
"Yeah, sure, I'm sleeping around with the Mayor's son and Luke and Toby. Yet, somehow, I have enough time to be a full-time rancher and run a thousand errands a day. Grow up, Selena. Didn't you have a Wish, you know, a dream? Shouldn't that matter more to you than some guy?"
Selena gasped softly, face abruptly paling. In that moment, Evie was immediately stricken with guilt. She shouldn't have said that—
"How dare you? You're barely older than me and you think you can talk to me like that?" Selena snapped. She stepped up and leaned into Evie's space, eyes narrowed into slits and voice all but hissing. "You're a college dropout dating the town bum. No wonder everyone thinks you're sleeping around behind his back, since he's the most boring guy in town and you're—"
Whatever Selena thought she was, Evie didn't care to hear. The moment of guilt was gone. She was already seeing red. The loud thud cracked through the bar so loudly, the music couldn't mask it. Selena falling back on the table with a loud cry and tumbling to the ground had the music going silent and a round of gasps and shouts replacing it. Selena lay on the ground, her hand cradling her face that was already swelling and turning red.
The rage was abruptly gone and the guilt was back, writhing in a familiar knotted mess in her gut as her skin turned ice cold. "Oh… oh my Goddess," Evie croaked, staring at her fist. A hand wrapped around her wrist and she jerked in place, spinning half around to meeting Toby's wide, shocked eyes. "I…"
"Selly! What happened?" Maya exclaimed, falling to her knees next to Selena to help her sit up.
"Lupe?" Casey questioned, eyes darting between Evie and Selena.
"Evie, I've never felt you so angry before," Finn whimpered from Casey's hair.
"We don' allow fightin' in here!" Kathy said, stomping forward and scowling at both of them. Evie just stared, mute, fist still high and Toby's hand around her wrist.
"She punched me," Selena said blankly. A moment later, she scrambled to her feet and snarled, "You punched me!"
"I shouldn't have-"
"Whoa, what in the world, Evie?" Luke asked, hand on her shoulder. "What'd she say to you?"
"What did I say? I got punched!" Selena shrieked.
"Evie, you should go," Candace whispered.
"She should apologize for being a giant bi-"
"Don't you finish that," Toby interrupted sharply. Selena hiccuped and then glared.
"We're going. Now," Evie said numbly. She twisted her hand around to clasp Toby's wrist and drag him out of the bar.
"You can't just-!"
"Let me help you with your eye," Candace interrupted Selena quickly, softly. Selena hiccuped again and sniffled. "Luke, could you get some ice?"
The door banged open under Evie's hand and the two of them were out the door and into the night air. Evie didn't even notice when she dropped Toby's hand as she dug her fingers into her hair and scrubbed angrily.
"I punched her. Why did I do that? I'm so stupid," Evie repeatedly muttered under her breath, all but running out of Harmonica. She almost did take off the moment her feet left the bridge, but Toby grasped her elbow, holding her back.
"Evvy, calm down, it's going to be fine," Toby said turning her towards him and wrapping his hands around the back of her arms.
"No, it won't!" Evie burst out. "I punched her. She was a mad, dramatic, little teenager and I punched her for it."
"… I'm pretty sure almost anyone could understand that impulse," Toby said dryly. Evie burst into laughter and slumped against Toby's chest, shaking her head while her glasses pressed uncomfortably against her nose. "Dramatic little teenager or not, it's not like you to punch someone in the face. What in the name of the Tree did she say?"
Evie stiffened and sniffled. "Well, I didn't exactly like being called a college dropout, but it was the crap she was saying about you. About you and Luke and Gill. She's not even from here, so she has to be hearing it from people around town and it makes me so friggin' furious!" Evie growled the last of it, wincing at the brief tightening of Toby's grip. Not because it hurt (it really really didn't, her biceps were basically a bag of ropes these days), but because it meant the words had sunk in. "Honestly, I was already mad because I snapped at Renee, and Selena pushed an already tweaked button."
"What about… you and Renee?"
"You're not gonna ask about Luke and Gill rumors, then?" Evie said wryly, leaning away to meet his gaze. Or she would've if he were looking at her. He was pinching the bridge of his nose and tilting his face upwards instead. He looked so annoyed that she wanted to laugh, if she didn't feel so angry again.
"Believe me, I already know."
It wasn't fair that this was the rumor going around, and if she… if anything happened, people would be saying this was why.
"I'd never do that. You're not boring or a bum, or whatever bullshirt some people might be saying," Evie said fiercely, her hands gripping his loose coat in a white-knuckled grip. "If anything you're too good to me. A lot more patient than I deserve and I… I feel like… like my life is a storm sometimes, and I don't know my butt from my head." Toby chuckled, finally meeting her eyes and smirking softly. She smiled, heart thumping. "But I find my feet again with you."
Toby's hands raised to cup her face, which promptly burned red, and he bumped their foreheads together. Their noses brushed and he smelled like the sea and herbal tea, which Kathy always made for him instead of a cocktail. The scent of chamomile was as calming as the brush of his thumbs over her hot cheeks.
"I feel the exact same way." Evie's fists convulsed tighter around light summer linen. "I've heard the rumors, but they're not as bad as you're implying, or however Selena said them. Just people seeing you and Goldstein together, and wondering if…" Toby broke off and sighed. "Wondering if we were ever dating at all."
Evie yanked back with an affronted gasp. "I'm not dating or flirting with Gill! Can people stop thinking they know anything when they don't!?"
Toby smiled crookedly and turned her face towards him again. "I know how honest you are. If you wanted to date someone else, you would tell me. And we both agreed we weren't boyfriend and girlfriend, so technically you could see anyone else you wanted and I wouldn't-"
"You shush your face!" Evie interrupted, scowling. "This isn't the big city or even a big town. I can't just date around and use that excuse. I wouldn't put you through that, either. I care about you, and Gill, more than that."
Some small tension seeped out of Toby's shoulders. "I thought so, but I wanted you to know that I wouldn't blame you if you did. Gill is closer to your age, too, and went to university. You two have a lot in common."
"Yeah, we do. And we like and respect each other, but," Evie gently pulled Toby's hands from her face and held them in hers, "I punched someone in the face for calling you a bum. I dole out my chivalry very sparingly."
Toby chuckled, brows contracted low. "I'm not sure I like the idea of you punching someone for my honor."
Evie bit her lip and slowly pulled away, rubbing her bare arms awkwardly. "Yeah, no. I shouldn't have… that was…" She groaned and rubbed at her face, knocking her glasses askew, and her chest grew hot. Burning under her breastbone uncomfortably.
When she dropped her hands, Toby gently readjusted her glasses and brushed her frizzy curls away from her damp cheeks. Why were they damp? When did they get damp? Any amusement over the situation had fled Toby's expression, only concern pulling at the corners of his eyes and pinching his brows together.
"You still haven't explained what's goin' on with you tonight. Is it Casey leaving? Or something about Serenity?"
Laughing thickly, Evie shook her head. "No, no, nothing's wrong with Serenity, and me and Casey are fine. Really, better than we've been in a long time, shockingly. It's just…" She pressed a hand to her chest, felt the flickering ember of the Wishes, and remembered the list she had been repeating ceaselessly. "I signed up for fall classes and I guess that crack about being a college dropout hurt more than it should've."
Toby frowned a little before his expression cleared into a smile. "You're finishing your degree?"
"Yeah, all online, though. Dr. Jones is going to be my adviser, he's setting it all up for me." Evie began to walk towards her house again, Toby easily keeping pace. "I don't know if I'll be able to do it, but… I want to finish something. Finish something properly. Maybe… maybe I'll feel less like a failure, less pressure, if I manage at least this." She stared hard through the darkness, hands shoved deep into her pockets.
His hand, weathered and callused, wrapped around her elbow. "You're not a failure, Evelyn."
"Not… really, not yet, I guess, but it feels like it. Like every day I'm failing a little bit more," Evie whispered.
Silence fell between them, and her heart lodged in her heart. Or was it words still unsaid? They were right there. He was right there. It would be so easy to tell him, to let him in on this secret that hovered between them, cracking them down the middle. Surely he knew what she wasn't saying? He wasn't dumb, and his expression was still pulled tight and pensive. She knew her… her 'love affairs'— she barely kept from snorting aloud at the thought— were just one of many rumors circulating this little county. Candace knowing it the other day had made it very clear that it was probably the worst kept secret of Castanet.
So… why couldn't Evie just say it? Tell him? Why was it so easy to invite him into her home, into her bed, but being honest and open, in the ways that mattered, why was that so much harder?
Evie frowned, remembering something Toby had said once. About how being alone with her didn't mean exactly what he thought it did. … is this what he meant? That sleeping with her wasn't the intimacy he thought it would be?
She turned her face away, the back of her hand pressed to her mouth, as bile burned in her throat. Does he… does he choose to stay with me even though he knows I don't trust him? That I'm keeping secrets for no other reason than I don't want to share them with him? And he's still here, by my side? Waiting for me?
"Evvy? Are you okay?"
Evie gasped against her hand and spun towards him, eyes wide and heart beating so hard the thudding overwhelmed the weight of the Wishes. He was looking at her, and somehow they had made it to her house, and the porch light was falling over his face, glowing gold on his silver hair. At her reaction, his eyes widened and that pretty heart-stopping leaf-green gaze had her pinned. Her feet glued in place while the world spun on without them.
Oh Goddess, he loves me, doesn't he? She realized in a surge of terrified awe. His fingers brushed away her bangs, so carefully and sweetly it made her tremble like a goose had walked over her grave, and the back of his hand pressed to her forehead.
"You don't feel feverish, but you look a little red. You should drink some tea, or just hot water, and go to bed."
"No," Evie croaked. Toby's eyebrow rose, and the full force of his quiet mischief and green eyes had her throat drying, her heart thudding harder. She couldn't feel the weight of the Wishes at all anymore. Only fear. Desperate desperate fear and hunger.
He loves me. He loves me. He was looking right at her, through her, and loving her. I'm not ready, I'm not ready and he knows it. It's not fair. It's not right. I can't let him keep waiting for me when I can't even…
Her mouth opened, the words, the truth, on the tip of her tongue: I'm Ringing the Bells. I'm scared of failing this town, of being a Hero.
That's all it would take. Say it!
"Evvy?" he repeated, even more confused, his teasing smirk disappearing.
She cupped his face in her hands and pressed her lips to his. There was a soft muffled noise of surprise, but his arms automatically wrapped around her waist. And he all too easily sunk into the kiss. The words shoved down far, shoving the fear and doubt down with them. There was one clear thought in her head and it had her heart breaking.
I'm not ready for that.
She fell back on her heels, and smiled at him. Her party trick. He looked a little stunned, eyebrows high but his arms unmoved from around her waist.
"What's that about?"
"You haven't stayed over for a while," Evie said. Her thumb brushed his cheekbones, over the curve of his ears, then through the short, rough strands of his hair. It sprang back into its usual messiness, as if her hands had never passed through, so she did again with a tiny smile. "I'm way too jittery to sleep and I don't think drinking tea, or… hot water? Is going to help…"
"My mother believes strongly in the power of hot water," Toby explained with a mirroring smile. If Evie had been red before, Toby was slowly meeting her flush with his own. "You want me to stay tonight?"
Evie nodded once, and lowered her eyes to keep her guilt hidden. "Yeah, I want you to stay tonight." The blue stripes on his over-shirt blurred slightly before she shook her head and looked up again with her smile back on. "Unless you've got better plans?"
Toby huffed under his breath, his arms tightening around her waist. "I can't think of any better plans."
Evie laughed, quiet and soft, and dropped her head to his collarbone. "You'll be here."
"I'm already here."
With another quiet laugh, Evie grabbed his hand and pushed into her house. "True enough, Tobias."
"That's not my name."
The door closed behind him and she wrapped herself around him again. He was still smiling, and she inwardly thanked her good luck that it was dark inside. He couldn't see the guilt shining in her dark eyes, couldn't feel it in the soft, slow way she tugged him closer, couldn't taste it on the curve of her lips when she leaned over him on the bed and her hair fell in a curtain around them.
This would be it, Evie had decided. No more making him wait right here while she ran in every other direction. For once, he didn't have to ask her to slow down, because she was drawing out every moment. Wanting the seconds to last. Wishing for time to stand still.
The weight behind her heart burned hot just once, and then faded away to nothing.
…
The bed moved and Evie mumbled in discontent. She was colder than she was supposed to be, and the sound of the ocean, the gentle thudding of Toby's heart, was gone from under her cheek. There was a tickling brush over her cheek as her wild curls were brushed away. The faint scent of brine before his lips brushed her skin. She blinked awake blearily, scowled with sleep- and vision-impaired eyes at Toby where he hovered over her, his knee braced on the bed.
"Wha?"
"It's just about four. I headin' to the Fishery," Toby said, a small smile hovering around the corner of his mouth.
"Ah, s'that time a'ready?," Evie slurred, pushing onto her elbows. She scowled harder as her hair fell in her face, and she blew at it petulantly. "'m gonna cut this."
"It looks nice," Toby told her with a smile, tucking it behind her ear a little more firmly. She blushed slightly, still dopey and warm with drowsiness, as he leant down to kiss her forehead. "Enjoy the morning with Casey."
"Until I face the town again," Evie muttered, eyes closing as she hummed, enjoying the feel of his fingers dragging through her hair.
"You'll get through it. I believe in you, Ms. Rancher Woman."
Abruptly, that soft, warm feeling dropped like a stone to her stomach. She swallowed hard and dredged up a smile just in time for him to see it. She nodded at him, and he turned away, pausing only to slip on his shoes and glance over his shoulder, the smile replaced with something more pensive as he looked over her expression. The door closed behind him and Evie slowly slumped over her knees. She had lost just enough weight over the past months that she could curl into a smaller ball, wrap her arms around her shins, and cry soundlessly against her knees.
Of course he knows something is wrong. And I'm the worst person in the world.
She had Selena to go make amends with, Renee to talk to before her resentment and guilt got even more out of control, college courses to prepare for, and hundreds of flowers to grow while collecting Wishes from people who all thought she was basically cucking Toby over with Gill even as they somehow whispered about the Ringing Bells and her timely arrival in the same breath. She laughed against her thighs wetly. Small towns sucked.
It was barely after four now… she could go back to sleep. She could go back to sleep and wait a few more hours to face the day. Face more mistakes and try her best to forget the look on Toby's face before he'd walked out. To pretend like she wasn't torn ten ways to Sunday over every tiny decision she made. Stay or go, graduate or not, tell the truth or ignore the rumors… Say out loud something she had never said, never felt, or pretend like it didn't exist? Tie herself to this place indelibly in every way?
She pressed a hand to her heart and frowned. Then, pressed harder.
"Where…?" Evie whispered in confusion. She shook her head and slipped from her bed. She was too far into her own head. Wishes couldn't just disappear. Ridiculous.
It took moments to get dressed and out the door. The very idea of eating had her stomach rebelling, so she threw herself into clearing out the land and getting it ready for the first fall crops. She couldn't work the new land plot yet, not without Town Hall's explicit permission, so she did all she could, and then some more. Not stopping until she almost fell over her hoe in exhaustion and every inch that could be tilled, tilled. Her animals seemed almost surprised at her early entrance, but they were already awake and didn't exactly protest her getting the barn and coop chores done a little earlier. Well, maybe her chickens protested a little. Awake, yes, ready to be shifted around so she could get at their eggs? Not so much. She cuddled and petted them a little extra to calm them, then let them all out in the early autumn morning.
The dawn light was shining through the golden leaves of her fruits trees, a few of them already burnished orange and red along the edges. Like feathers, they fluttered to the ground when the wind passed through and Evie picked up a few, smiling softly at early childhood memories. Did Casey remember collecting leaves like these and turning them into placemats and holiday wreaths and all sorts of things with their Tallesin cousins in the country?
She leaned against her apple tree and twisted the leaf between her fingers. As if feeling Evie's melancholia, Hera ambled towards her and butted at her shoulder. Evie's mouth twisted, her eyes burned, and she leaned against the warm, steadily heaving flanks of her first, and still only, cow.
"Thanks, my Queen of the Heavens," Evie whispered, sniffling and breathing in the scent of cowhide and fall leaves. Too soon, Hera was ready to go, and Evie stumbled with a thick laugh when the heifer moved abruptly away. She turned to the house, then stopped, and turned back to the road. There, in the morning sunlight, something twinkled. Bells echoed in the air. Evie smiled.
"Evie!" Finn cried. She held out her hands and he was cuddled and chiming under her chin in the next second. When she looked up again, Casey was cresting the hill, steps slow and hand running through his hair repeatedly, agitatedly.
"Casey's coming to give me a talk, huh?" Evie noted with a smirk.
"We both are," Finn said stoutly. She smiled a little more naturally and nodded.
"All right. How about over breakfast?"
"Yeah!"
"Case will cook while I shower and change, won't ya, Case?" Evie said when he got in earshot. Casey rolled his eyes when Finn gazed at him imploringly.
" Yeah, yeah, sure. I'm a better cook than you by a hundred times anyway," he agreed. Evie huffed and rolled her eyes at him before turning towards the house.
She sat at her dining room table, rubbing at her damp hair, and felt the stirrings of hunger when Casey set a plate of fried eggs and tomatoes in front of her.
"Your fridge is all but empty. Where are your beans?" Casey asked in a mock horror.
"Where your foot belongs," Evie retorted. He snorted loudly.
There was a long break as the three of them dug into breakfast, Finn exclaiming in delight at the new textures and tastes of familiar food, and Evie wondered if Casey had slipped some spices from home into her cupboards when she wasn't looking. Casey was such a mom that she wouldn't be surprised. She sipped at chamomile tea, contentedly listening to Finn's bells and Casey's gentle admonishments for the sprite to slow down and not choke. Then, she set her cup down and took a slow breath.
"How… how is she? Selena?" Evie finally asked. Finally broached the subject hovering over all of them.
"Still pretty pissed when she went to bed last night," Casey said dryly, and Evie grimaced. "But she was also sorry. She was so sorry she wouldn't even tell us what she said to you. I think she was too embarrassed to."
"She should be sorry. She never should have said that about Toby, or me," Evie muttered darkly, stomach twisting uncomfortably.
"Of fucking course it was about that guy," Casey groaned.
"Little ears, Case!" Evie hissed.
He glanced guiltily towards Finn, who gazed at them with big, shining eyes. "Don't tell your mom I said that."
"Said what?" Finn asked innocently.
"Exactly, thanks, bud."
Evie snickered at Finn's bewildered look her way.
"Lupe, you really gotta be thinking about what you're doing here," Casey said after a pause. He was grimacing as he spoke. "This isn't a giant city, or even our hometown. I know you've never cared about what people thought of you, and you had plenty of guy and girl friends that were just friends, but…. this place is different. Selena wasn't getting anything out of nothing. I've even heard some of it…"
Evie stirred her tea, spoon tapping the sides with quiet chinks. She didn't take milk or sugar, so there was no reason to stir. With a sigh, she tapped her spoon and set it aside.
"I know, Casey. I know," she whispered, feeling cold and achingly empty and light. Why was her chest so barren? So weightless?
Casey glanced at her sharply. "Lupe?"
Evie shook her head. "You don't even know what she said, Case. So, just leave it-"
"Actually," Casey interrupted smoothly. "Kathy and Owen both asked Selena to explain what happened. Like I said before, she didn't give us a lot of details, and she explained some more to me later when we talked alone, but she said enough for us to get the gist. She told me she wanted to apologize to you two, you and … Toby."
Evie smirked at him wearily. "Did it hurt to say it?"
"Ugh, shut up," Casey scoffed.
"I still don't get what's going on!" Finn exploded. His wings fluttered wildly. "No one will tell me anything! Casey wouldn't let me hear his talk with Selena, and Candace said it was best for me to not come home because you had to have a talk with Toby! Candace's pillow is really comfy and smells nice, but she wouldn't give a good reason why!"
"Sorry, Tinks," Evie said, twitching into a real smile at the compliments about Candace's pillow. "Let's just say it was a big fight about stupid rumors. You don't even want to understand."
Finn glanced between Evie's weary smile and Casey's annoyed scowl. Then, nodded. "Mother says rumors never say the whole truth and only hurt with the rest."
"She does, huh?" Evie said, smiling wider with Finn cuddled close under her chin. "She's the Goddess, so I guess she would be pretty wise."
"Whatever she said, Selena, I mean, you still punched her. That's not okay, Lupe," Casey pointed out, returning them to the subject. Evie winced.
"Okay, no, it's not. And I already planned on apologizing. I immediately regretted it. I don't even know why I did it."
"We all figured that out by the look on your face, but… you're not a puncher kinda person. What the he-… honey happened?"
Evie's lips twitched at honey, and she lowered her eyes to her teacup. Tried to gather her thoughts into coherence.
"I can still feel how angry you are…" Finn whispered. His stocking-cap tickled her neck and she stroked his ears to soothe him. "I feel how guilty you are."
"I am definitely both of those things," Evie agreed. "I'm almost… almost as angry at me as I am at her," she admitted at last. Casey nodded.
"That's normally how it goes."
Evie curled a lip into a snarl, but her twin merely smirked cheekily.
"It's just… she managed to poke at something—a lot of somethings— that I'm already all… nervy about. This weirdness with me and Toby, and not knowing what I want… about all the Wishes, really… there's just so much… And needing Gill's help as much as I have, and having it thrown in my face as something so… so bad and… and dishonest, it just…" Evie rubbed the back of her neck and shrugged. "Selena said the wrong things at the wrong time and I bit off her head. Or well, punched her in the head."
"Face, head, tomato, tomahto," Casey agreed. Evie gave him a look, and he grinned. "I don't think Selena meant to put that much thought into her petty clapback. You pissed her off a lot, too, Lupe. She told me what you said, too."
Evie blushed and looked away. "She needs to stay away from Luke, okay? She wouldn't take me at my word and accused me of wanting to sleep with him, too. It was ridiculous."
"You didn't have to belittle her like that, hermanita."
Evie crossed her arms over her chest defensively and stared hard at the calendar across the room.
"Look, my ferry isn't leaving until 11. Why don't we walk down to Marimba and back, since you need your fall crops planted-"
"Seeds sown."
"Whatever."
Neither moved, though, and Finn looked between them in confusion.
"I'm failing," Evie whispered, the same confession she'd managed last night to Toby. Casey stared at her and even Finn's chimes went silent. "I have to… I have to give such a big piece of myself to the Shrine, give it and Edge a True Wish, and, Coots, I don't have one." She looked up, auburn eyes staring into the matching set of auburn eyes across the table from her. "It really shoulda been you. I know Finn and the Goddess think I can do it, that they all believe in me, but I'm not like you, Casey. I don't know how to just… know myself."
Casey's mouth fell open in surprise. Before he could speak, Finn sprung up between them and patted at Evie's face. She startled, and blinked rapidly, and tears splashed off her lashes onto her cheeks.
"Stop that! Stop doubting yourself! How can I believe in me if you don't believe in you," Finn cried, his own eyes wide and teary. "We're doing this together, Evie, because we belong together!"
"Finn, I'm s-"
"He's right, you have to stop that," Casey said calmly. Evie and Finn stared him, both teary and sniffly, as he got to his feet and came around the table. He perched on the edge of it, and thanks to renovations, the table didn't so much as wobble. He gripped Evie's face in both his hands, squishing her cheeks inward like a fish and making her flail as Finn giggled wetly. "You are insufferable, and impulsive, and also the bravest person in my life. You're not gonna let people tell you what makes you happy. You never have. You're gonna find it, Evie, and you're gonna be a Hero, too."
The tears fell fast and heavy as Evie laughed and snuffled disgustingly. "You called me Evie."
"Cuz you are. You're Evie, cuz that's who you chose to be." Casey leaned down and wrapped his arms around her shoulders, and she clutched at his back desperately, laughing and sobbing, as Finn nuzzled close under her ear. "And I Wish I could be more like you. I Wish I could find my happiness, and not have it told to me."
Evie gasped, and that heat behind her heart came back. Thudded once. Flickered low, so low and small, but steady as embers.
"I love you, little sister," Casey whispered in Spanish. "I get it now, I get you, and I'm sorry I made you feel bad."
"I'm sorry, too," Evie stammered in her awkward, clunky Spanish. "I'm sorry I made you all feel bad, too. I love you, and Mama, and everyone."
"Yeah, yeah, we know, little sister."
"I'm the same age as you!" Evie exclaimed in English.
"What about me? Don't you love me, too?" Finn cried, still sobbing. Casey and Evie exchanged glances, and grinned. They both kissed a cheek each. Finn squeaked and burst into fresh tears.
"Of course we love you, little man," Evie said, laughing.
"Yeah, even me. One day, we'll take you to meet the rest of the Fuentes clan."
"That'll be fun," Evie said dryly.
"Yeah, it will!" Finn cheered, sniffing hard.
Eleven came too soon. Evie and Casey did have their long walk to Marimba, taking their time for Casey to say good-bye to everyone there as Evie and Ruth tied up bags and counted out auree. They had barely had time to sow the seeds, dodging around curious farm animals with the watering can, before running for Ocarina and then the docks. Evie pulled up short in surprise seeing the men standing beside the ferry. The Fishers— Evie tried not to blush or choke on her own tongue at the sight of Toby— and Pascal weren't the surprise, but Luke, nodding and whooping eagerly at Toby's side, was.
Evie hauled Casey's suitcase towards the ferry, Casey muttering under his breath about freakishly strong sisters, and dropped it easily by her foot. The foursome talking turned towards, Pascal puffing at his pipe and doffing his cap a bit towards her.
"What's going on?" Evie asked, mainly at Luke. Who grinned and held up two thumbs-up.
"We're talkin' 'bout my birthday present!"
"Your-?" Evie started, eyebrows rising to her hairline.
"Ah, the passenger's finally here. Got ever'thing there, Mr. Fuentes?" Pascal asked as Casey made it to Evie's side, puffing slightly. Right behind him, a teary-eyed Maya was wringing her hands while Kathy patted her back sympathetically. Candace, Chase, and Luna were all gathered just behind them.
"You'll come back, wontcha?" Maya pleaded. Casey held out his arms and Maya fell into them with loud sobs that would put Finn to shame.
"Yeah, yeah, I'll come back," Casey promised with a little chuckle while patting her head.
"Here. Maya made me. She threatened to do it herself," Chase said, yawning at he stepped up and handed over a cutely wrapped bento box.
"Threatened?" Casey repeated, clueless.
"Never let her prepare seafood anything," Chase said with a slightly blue tinge to his face. Everyone not the sobbing Maya or the befuddled Casey flinched.
"You were an interesting visitor. Make sure you order something from our website for Halloween, or I'll force Evie to tell me where you live," Luna said with a sharp glilnt in her eye.
"Luna!" Candace whispered. She turned to Casey and smiled with a blush. "I'm glad you and Evie had some time together. I hope you enjoyed your visit."
"Yeah, it was great, and I already put in the order, milady," Casey said with a wink at Luna. She crossed her arms over her chest and pinned him with a Look. Then, nodded once, pleased.
"C'mon, Maya, gotta let the fella go," Kathy said gently, drawing Maya away. Maya sniffled and buried her face in her lacy, cherry-patterned handkerchief.
"Isn't Selena gonna come say good-bye? I know I pissed her off, but Casey sure didn't," Evie muttered under her breath.
"I saw her a bit ago. She came right up and started asking me weird questions about herself, like it's some sort of quiz. How'm I supposed ta know if she looks good in blue?" Luke shook his head and shrugged. Evie rubbed her face as Toby chuckled quietly at her side. "She got all huffy with me when I told her a'course I like you better'n her, I barely know her, then bounced away."
"Bless yer heart, Luke," Kathy sighed, running a hand over her hair and propping her other fist on her hip.
Luna cackled like an actual Disney movie witch as Candace fidgeted with her cardigan and stared at the wooden docks beneath her feet. Chase and Casey barely managed to keep down laughter, and Maya glanced between everyone with watery, red eyes.
"Should I go f-find her?" Maya asked with a hiccup.
"Nah. She sent this with me," Kathy said. She handed over a letter to Casey, who took it with a small frown. The confusion cleared away almost immediately, without him even opening it, and he groaned, eyes looking heavenward. To the surprise of everyone else, Kathy handed a second envelope to Evie.
"What?" Evie blurted, taking the note. Kathy waved her hand expansively, just as confused.
"Sorry t'interrupt, but it's gettin' past eleven now and I got a schedule t'keep," Pascal said. He hefted Casey's suitcase in hand, then held out the other. "Ticket, Mr. Fuentes."
Maya burst into fresh bawls, and Casey handed his ticket over with a weird grimace. They waved to him as the ferry blew the horn and slowly pulled away, still waving until it chugged out of sight.
"What's the letter say?" Toby asked as Kathy led Maya back to the bar, Chase slouching beside them and trying to pat Maya's shoulder kindly.
"I have to say, I enjoyed last night. 10/10, would pay to watch again," Luna said gleefully. "I've been wanting to punch her since she made some crack about my tablecloths. Not a real job, my pretty, round, white a-"
"Luna, please," Candace interrupted, red-faced, as Luke guffawed.
Evie smiled awkwardly, looking over at Toby helplessly, who just smiled.
"It'll be good to see what she says, make it easy to know what you gotta do next," he advised. She sighed.
"Yeah, I guess. But why a letter," she muttered, tearing it open carelessly. It was barely half a page of notebook paper, the bottom half torn off in a clean, neat line. Frowning, Evie glanced over the words and then— "What!? No wonder Casey- He knew and didn't tell me, I'm gonna kill 'em both," Evie shrieked. She raced towards the edge of the docks, waving her fist, with the note clutched tightly within. She almost tripped right off the edge, only Toby and Luke's quick hands grabbing the back of her shirt keeping her from pitching headfirst into the water. "I'm gonna kick your salsa-loving butt, Cootsy!"
"W-what?" Candace gasped.
"She stowed away again!" Evie shouted, shoving the note at Candace. Luna leaned over Candace's shoulder and read aloud,
"'Dear, Evelyn, I know I said cruel and wrong things, and you also were wrong. But you were also right. I can't sit around here and pretend like I'm living my dream. Casey promised to pay for my ticket and get me to the big city if I decided to go, and he'll even travel with me for a while. I forgive you for punching me, I only hope you can forgive me for the terrible things I said. Thank you for your help and your good advice about silly boys that I should have listened to. Toodles and much love, Selena.'"
She finished with a loud tch of disgust. Then, burst into laughter. "I guess she didn't want to get punched again!" Luna whooped, actual tears in her eyes.
"I wouldn't have punched her again. I might punch Casey, though!"
"Well, at least she's consistent," Toby said with a sigh, plucking the crumpled note from Candace's shocked hands. He crumpled it further into a ball and shoved it in his pocket. "I'm sure she'll be back soon."
Evie buried her face in her hands and laughed. Luke wrapped an arm around her shoulders and laughed with her, actually smacking at his thigh once.
"What a way t'start the Fall."
"You can say that again," Evie said with feeling.
"How about we all sit down to some lunch and tea?" Candace offered gently, trying to hush her sister's cackles.
"Can I have a hot cocoa instead?" Finn asked, dropping onto Candace's thick, blue hair. "When are they gonna stop laughing?"
"I really don't know," Candace whispered.
A/N: I can't believe it, but I'm already working on the next chapter. A few things I was DESPERATE to get into this chapter, like I wrote them in and everything, just did NOT work out, so there's a bit already started in Ch42. Maybe I'll even update before 2021?! Sneak Peek: Chapter 42 is "Ashes After".
