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Evan smirked, rolling his eyes. “Welcome to parenting.”
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Roxy, now sitting on the edge of the couch with her arms wrapped around her knees, was oblivious to their conversation. She looked tense, her breathing shallow and uneven. Evan walked over to her, his eyes softening as he knelt down in front of her.
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“Hey,” he said gently, his hands resting lightly on her knees. “You’re wound up tighter than Cam’s guitar strings. Let me help.”
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Without waiting for a response, he moved behind her, placing his hands on her shoulders and gently starting to massage her neck. His thumbs worked into the knots at the base of her neck, his touch firm but careful.
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Roxy flinched at first, not used to the sudden contact, but she didn’t pull away. Even so, her muscles refused to relax, her breaths still short and shallow.
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Evan frowned, leaning closer so she could hear him over her own racing thoughts. “You’re not breathing right,” he murmured softly. “Come on, kiddo. Deep breath in… and out. Just follow me.”
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When that didn’t seem to help, he decided to try a different approach. “Okay, let’s do this,” he said, his tone light, almost teasing. “What’s your favorite ridiculous movie quote? Like, the one you’d put on a billboard if you could.”
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Roxy blinked, startled by the random question. “What?” she asked, her voice hoarse but confused enough to pull her out of her spiraling thoughts.
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“Movie quotes,” Evan repeated, his thumbs still working gently into her shoulders. “Come on, don’t act like you don’t have one. I’ll start: ‘Keep the change, ya filthy animal.’ Classic.”
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Roxy let out a soft, involuntary laugh, the tension in her shoulders easing just a fraction. “That’s not even fair,” she muttered, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “That’s iconic.”
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“Exactly,” Evan said, grinning as he caught the small shift in her demeanor. “Now your turn.”
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Roxy hesitated for a moment before mumbling, “I don’t know. Maybe, ‘Nobody puts Baby in a corner.’”
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Evan groaned dramatically, his hands pausing on her shoulders. “Oh, come on. That’s so predictable.”
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“It’s a classic!” Roxy shot back, her voice gaining a little more strength.
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Cam, who had been quietly watching, chimed in from the doorway. “You’re both wrong. The best line is obviously, ‘I’ll be back.’”
Evan and Cam were lounging in the living room, the faint scent of cherry lotion still lingering in the air. Evan, ever the music enthusiast, couldn't help but recall a line from one of his favorite songs.
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"You know," Evan began, a playful grin spreading across his face, "I can't help but think of that line from 'Twilight: Eclipse'—'So ready for this to be the end, for this to be the twilight of your life; even though your life has barely started.'"
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Cam chuckled, shaking his head. "Always the romantic, huh?"
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Evan shrugged, his grin widening. "Hey, it's a good line."
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The conversation shifted as Cam recalled another memorable quote.
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"Speaking of which," Cam said, "remember that line from 'Dawson's Creek'? 'Face it, Dawson, we're not kids anymore. I... I have a chest, and you have genitalia.'"
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Evan burst out laughing. "Classic Joey Potter," he said, wiping a tear from his eye. "That show had some of the best lines."
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Cam nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it was a bit over the top at times, but it had its moments."
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Evan leaned back, his mind wandering to another favorite show. "Speaking of over the top," he said, "remember that scene from 'Glee' where Puck asks Sam, 'How many tennis balls can you fit in that mouth of yours'?"
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Cam laughed. "Yeah, that was hilarious. Puck was always good for a laugh."
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Evan's grin widened as he stood up, a mischievous glint in his eye. "You know," he said, "I think it's time to lighten the mood a bit."
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Without another word, he jumped onto the couch, striking a dramatic pose.
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"I'm addicted to you," he began, his voice taking on a playful tone, "because I know that you're toxic."
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Cam raised an eyebrow, a smirk forming on his lips. "Really? You're going there?"
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Evan nodded enthusiastically. "Oh yeah. Let's do this."
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He began singing the opening lines of Britney Spears' "Toxic," his voice surprisingly on key.
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"With a taste of your lips, I'm on a ride," he sang, his arms gesturing dramatically.
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Cam chuckled, shaking his head. "You're unbelievable."
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Evan continued, his energy infectious. "You're toxic, I'm slipping under..."
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Cam couldn't help but laugh. "Alright, alright. I get it. You're the king of karaoke."
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Evan finished the chorus with a flourish, then flopped back onto the couch, grinning. "See? Told you it would lighten the mood."
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Cam shook his head, still chuckling. "You're something else, man."
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Evan leaned back, his grin never fading. "Hey, life's too short to be serious all the time."
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Cam nodded in agreement. "True. But maybe next time, pick a song that's a little less... dramatic."
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Evan laughed. "No promises."
Roxy had been silent for a while, her thoughts swirling in a haze of confusion and anxiety, so she decided to move. She stood up and walked toward the kitchen, her footsteps deliberate but slow. Cam, strumming a soft tune on his guitar, watched her with a quiet curiosity, but Roxy was lost in her own world. She reached the counter and grabbed three white Monster cans from the fridge, her fingers brushing over the cool aluminum. Without hesitation, she threw one to Cam, who caught it with ease, still lost in the rhythm of his guitar.
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With a quick flick of her wrist, she tossed another onto the couch where she'd been sitting, and her fingers lingered on Evan’s can. She could feel the tension in the air, and she knew what would happen next. Evan would know. He always did. His eyes locked onto hers, a warning in them, but it wasn't harsh—it was more like a reminder of something unspoken.
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Roxy quickly dropped the can on the floor, barely making a sound as she tossed it to him. Evan caught it, raising an eyebrow. "What, did you find the fucking Bacardi I hid two years ago?" he asked, his voice calm but with a touch of disbelief.
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Roxy didn’t respond immediately, her anxiety bubbling up. She couldn’t help but feel like she was walking on a tightrope, constantly balancing between control and chaos. She grabbed Evan’s drink and rubbed the sides, her fingers tracing down the can in a soothing motion. The sound of the tab being pulled back was a small comfort. It didn’t fizz over, much to her relief, but the moment felt like too much.
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The knot in her stomach tightened, and she felt her breath grow shallow. She needed a break, a way to ground herself. She walked away without a word, making her way to the bathroom, her hand gripping the pocket knife she had left there. It was a small act, but it helped. Her breathing steadied a little as she retrieved both hers and Evan’s knives.
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When she returned, she held out her knife to Cam. "Can you hang onto mine?" she asked, her voice wavering, like the words were on the edge of breaking. There was something in the way she said it—something raw, as though if she didn’t let go of the knife, she’d shatter. She didn’t want to show it, but she knew Evan could see the way her hands were shaking.
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Cam, ever the protector, reached out and took the knife with a reassuring nod. Roxy dropped beside Evan, her eyes meeting his. She opened her mouth as if to speak, but no words came out. The question hung there, unspoken, heavy in the space between them. Her gaze softened, and Evan could see it: she was holding herself back, fighting against something deep within. He knew her too well.
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"What’s on your mind, kid?" Evan asked softly, his voice a gentle invitation.
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Roxy hesitated, her eyes flickering with uncertainty. She was trying to find the words, trying to push through the anxiety that gripped her chest. But there was something she wanted to say, something that had been brewing inside for far too long. She just didn’t know how to say it yet.
Roxy cracked open her Monster with a swift motion, the sound of the tab echoing in the room. But the relief she usually felt with that action didn’t come. Instead, a sharp pain shot through her head, as though her thoughts were too loud, too scattered. The words tumbled out, before she could stop herself, “Me and Evan are the same person, just different genders... shit, I’m not bi, right?”
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She laughed nervously, a hollow sound that didn’t reach her eyes. It was the kind of laugh that people gave when they were too afraid to really ask the questions that were gnawing at them. Her chest tightened, and she tried to shake it off, pushing the thought back down. She didn’t know where it came from. She didn’t have time for this right now.
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Evan saw the flicker of something in her eyes, but he didn't press. He could see she was sorting it out, trying to figure things out in her own way. He gave her space, leaning back slightly and turning to Cam. Cam was picking up on the tension too, his gaze flicking between the two of them. He didn’t need to say anything, but Evan could feel the weight of his curiosity, of his protective instincts.
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“So,” Evan started, his voice quieter as he looked at Cam. “Roxy gave you her knife. You think that means she’s—?”
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“Not okay?” Cam finished, his eyes unreadable. “Yeah, it’s a red flag. But you know her. She’ll pull herself together. It’s just... one of those days, man.”
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Evan nodded, biting his lip, but then the reality of the day hit him. He suddenly remembered—Roxy’s physical. It was today.
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His heart raced a little faster. This wasn’t something he could let her avoid, and he knew how much the whole thing stressed her out. The physical, the doctor, the questions. He hated the thought of her being examined, but she had to do it. It was for her own good.
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"Shit," Evan muttered, snapping out of the conversation. "We’re gonna be late."
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He stood up quickly, grabbing his keys. He walked toward Roxy, who was still sitting on the couch, her gaze lost somewhere in her thoughts. He leaned down slightly, meeting her eyes. "Hey, we need to go, okay? The physical... we can’t delay it any longer."
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Roxy’s eyes flickered to his, and for a moment, she looked like she might protest, but she didn’t. She just nodded, biting her lip. Evan could see the nerves in her posture, the way she held herself tightly, like the whole world was too much to handle at that moment.
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“Cam, stay here,” Evan said, his voice low but firm. “I don’t want Roxy to be overwhelmed. Just... keep her grounded. I’ll be back as soon as we’re done.”
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Without waiting for a response, Evan grabbed Roxy’s hand and led her out the door, moving quickly. The cool air hit them as they stepped outside, the rush of the city streets surrounding them. Roxy’s breathing quickened, and Evan could feel the tension in her hand.
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“You’re okay,” he said quietly, glancing at her. “Just breathe. We’ll get through this.”
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Roxy nodded, but she didn’t say anything. Evan knew she was trying, even if it didn’t feel like it right now. They got into the car, and as Evan started the engine, he glanced over at her again. There was something unspoken between them, something both familiar and painful. But they had to keep moving. There was no turning back.
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