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 Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2022 6:54 pm
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Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2022 7:22 pm
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Evan blinked at the gift; her arrival had been enough for him to manage a smile in greeting, but when he saw the present it slipped off his face in surprise. “You got me a present? I didn’t get you anything.”
Everything had been set up for the day and he was ready to go; they weren’t open yet but it wasn’t going to be long. And she brought him a present? What was he supposed to do with it, stare at it for the whole shift and wonder?
Curiosity got the best of him, and he reached out, taking it into his hands like it was some sacred treasure. He looked like he’d slept a bit last night, and he had a bit more color than usual. Still dressed in all black, still a little morose, but better, visibly.
“Can I open it now?”
The excitement was setting in, and he looked up at her hopefully. His fingers were digging into the wrapping but he was containing himself, albeit barely.
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Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2022 9:21 pm
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He had been down, he was so absolutely readable about it. But he wasn’t moping around today or sniffling at least, so obviously he just needed to see Lysithea more often. He didn’t give her any more time to worry; he tore the wrapping enthusiastically and then, with great interest, shook out the fabric so he could see.
It took him a few seconds before a smile split across his face–and he laughed.
“This is cute! I’m going to wear it today,” he said, and lowered it like he was going to put it on, and then had to hold it up so he could laugh again. “I like this a lot, Ana. Thank you.”
Evan wasn’t very big, but he was certainly big on cheese, and he was quick to get the apron on. He smoothed his hands over the fabric and laughed again, and for a moment the worry and doubt on his face seemed to completely melt away.
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Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2022 1:02 pm
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“Ana!” Evan hurriedly rushed over and scrambled to pick up the coins to help out, glancing between the floor and her.
“I don’t know, I didn’t want to ask a whole lot. I’m just a stranger to her, too many questions are rude. She’ll tell me if she wants to. But, um. I don’t know. I would just…”
He fell quiet. “I don’t know. If I said anything to her then she might feel like I was doing what everyone else was doing. She helped save me. From all the bad places I always get myself into. She means a lot to me. It’s why I want her to be okay, no matter what. It’s not her fault she forgot, I wouldn’t want her to think like that. But–I don’t know. I’m scared to mess it up. Really scared. I shouldn’t say anything. I’m sorry, Ana. I’m a coward. I’m too afraid to lose her again.”
She looked a little pale and he was immediately worried; his stomach flipped in that weird way like maybe he’d done something wrong? She had seemed fine just a minute ago. There wasn’t a carbon monoxide or gas leak, right? He didn’t smell anything but he couldn’t help but worry.
“It’s okay, you don’t have to pick it up. I’ll get it. Do you need to sit down? I can get you some water.”
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Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2022 2:04 pm
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Evan left the few coins still on the ground and immediately went to get her a bottle of water–and a sugary soda, and a grilled cheese sandwich that he’d made for himself but thought she needed more. He returned to her side quickly and handed everything over.
“I guess…it’s kinda like a sickness. You know weird things are always happening in Destiny City, right? I think it’s something like that. She didn’t recognize me, so that’s how I know she forgot. She said it was nice to meet me, so I just sort of…assumed. But–no, I wouldn’t try to trick her. I mean, why? I don’t want anything. I mean–yeah, I want…my friend back. But–no, that sounds selfish. That’s not what I’d want to say to her. I don’t want her to think she has to compete with herself, or–I don’t want her to think that I want her to be someone else. I just.”
He was quiet and flopped down onto the ground to sit with her. “I don’t want to be selfish. It can’t be just about me. If she forgot me, if she forgot everything we had, then–that’s it. It’s in the past. And I’m not going to get that back.” And it broke his heart. He drew his knee up so he could rest against it, and kept his head down because he was happy to see her, but the finality of her not knowing was still settling in. He didn’t want to think about it, but…
He couldn’t have this conversation without saying it.
“She shouldn’t have to feel bad about that. I wish I could tell her all the things we did together, and what she means to me. But…that’s so much pressure, you know? Like she has to live up to this fantastic person, but–the thing is, she’s the same person. She just doesn’t remember. I could tell, when we were sitting together? She laughs the same way. Hugs the same way. Plays games the same way. But she thinks she’s only known me for a few hours. And, like–it’s okay if she doesn’t remember. I want to be her friend. I want to make new memories with her. I wanna be there for her like she always has been for me. Just because she doesn’t remember doesn’t change the fact that she’s still important to me. Whoever she is.”
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Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2022 4:08 pm
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Evan’s cheeks tinted pink, as they often did when someone said something nice to him. He often seemed embarrassed first, either in the present or in the expectation of being teased in the future. He’d been tricked and humiliated before, and sometimes it was obvious.
Sometimes he just seemed so happy that it was genuine.
The smile on his face meant he trusted her enough to think she meant it.
“Well, she only deserves the best, so I’ll give her all of mine. I wish you could meet her, Ana. Maybe you will. She said she likes my food. I don’t know. I’ll think about it,” he said, and it wasn’t just lip service. He would think about it.
“...I don’t lose good things and have them walk back into my life, Ana. I almost cried when I saw her. I think I did. What a dork,” he sighed, and rubbed at his face. “I was just so worried something bad happened! Like, that she was–I don’t know. Kidnapped, or murdered. I wish I could bring her home. Wish I could introduce her to my cat, and my dog. My fiance.” Her boyfriend. “Her family. Wish I could make her breakfast in bed. I’m just worried I’m gonna open my mouth and something dumb is going to come out. I will literally die if I scare her away, Ana.”
Melodramatic, but he seemed sincere, at least.
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Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2022 4:12 pm
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Ana swallowed hard and took a bite of her sandwich to stop her own lip from wobbling with the feelings that were overwhelming her, and she thought she did a good job, though at the idea of him scaring her away, she had to snort, and then coughed, bits of the sandwich having gone up her nose.
When she managed to get it all out, she shook her head, giving him a look. “Evan, honey. And I mean this in the kindest way possible. But you are about as scary as a baby bunny in a ballerina costume with tiny little socks on its tiny little bunny feet. Besides, you’re honest and sincere and if she’s scared away by that…then she’s a fool. But I really don’t think that could be any kind of a problem.”
She sipped at the soda again and grinned suddenly.
“Besides. If you fill her up with enough food, she won’t be able to run!”
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