Roxy kicked off her sneakers by the door, letting them land in an ungraceful heap. She hung her purse on the coat hanger, a silent testament to her attempt at tidiness. Her keys and wallet went back into the purse, but her pocket knife remained in its usual spot in her back pocket. "Priorities," she muttered under her breath, smirking at her little act of rebellion.
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Walking into her room, Roxy grabbed a book from her nightstand, plopping onto her bed without a second thought. The cozy chaos of her space, complete with posters peeling at the corners and a pile of clothes she swore she'd put away later, suited her. She flipped open the book, already half-lost in its pages, when Evan’s voice carried down the hall.
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“Roxy!” he called, probably looking for some misplaced eyeliner or his phone again. She rolled her eyes but stayed quiet, hoping he’d figure it out himself.
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A moment later, both Evan and Cam appeared in her doorway. Cam leaned casually against the frame, his brown eyes glinting with amusement, while Evan stood beside him, arms crossed, his blue eyes narrowing slightly as they took her in.
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"Is there a reason you two are staring like I’ve got three heads?" she quipped, eyebrow arched.
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Evan sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Do you always have to sit like that?"
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Roxy glanced down at herself. She was sprawled across the bed, her book open on her chest. “Like what? Comfortably?”
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Cam snorted, clearly enjoying Evan’s mild exasperation. “It’s not that. It’s just... you're like, fully developed now. Like, *everywhere*. It’s kind of impossible not to notice.”
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Roxy rolled her eyes dramatically and sat up. "Wow, thanks for noticing, Cam. That’s not creepy at all." She smirked wickedly. “You know what? Evan, you need to make merch for me that says: ‘Yes, I’m short. Yes, they’re real. No, you can’t touch.’”
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Evan groaned, muttering something about boundaries and filters, while Cam doubled over laughing.
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“You’re impossible,” Evan said finally, shaking his head but unable to hide the small smirk tugging at his lips.
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“And you’re late on the merch idea,” Roxy shot back. “Just think of the sales!”
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Evan sat next to Roxy, a little distracted as she casually hung upside down on the edge of her bed. Her shirt rode up slightly as she shifted, the movement completely natural to her, but Evan’s focus stayed squarely on the book she was holding. He was used to Roxy being her usual, unpredictable self, even if her upside-down antics weren’t exactly... standard.
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Roxy tilted her head back, hair spilling toward the floor as she hummed nonchalantly, unaware of how she was shifting further toward him, her body a little too close. As she moved, the hem of her shirt inched up, exposing a sliver of skin, but Evan didn’t react. His eyes stayed locked on the page of his own book, pretending not to notice how her movement brought her closer. Even as the edge of her shirt rode higher and her body slipped closer, Evan remained careful, his hands firmly in his lap, not even the slightest hint of intention to touch her.
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The belt at his waist pressed against her, but it was nothing more than a minor accident. Evan’s stomach churned slightly, but he didn’t flinch, his mind on keeping the distance, both physical and emotional, despite the close proximity. He was her protector, not someone to cross those lines.
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“Are you trying to get me to move you or what?” Evan asked, his tone still casual, but there was a hint of discomfort in his voice, a subtle reminder of boundaries he never needed to enforce with her until moments like this.
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Roxy just shrugged, entirely at ease, flipping a page in her book. “Nah, I’m good. You’re just gonna have to deal with the fact that I’m too cool for gravity.”
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Evan chuckled, his shoulders relaxing a little, though he kept a careful distance. “Yeah, you sure are... just don’t make me deal with you slipping off that bed, okay?”
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As Roxy looked up, completely unaware of her surroundings, she lost her balance and fell from the edge of the bed. Her shirt shifted upward as she tumbled, exposing her favorite white bra, a piece she’d always felt comfortable in. The movement was quick, and before she could even register what had happened, Evan’s reflexes kicked in. He acted on instinct, reaching out and placing a hand firmly against her chest, trying to shield her from the potential awkwardness.
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"Shit, Roxy!" Evan exclaimed, his voice a mix of concern and panic. He wasn't worried about her body, but more about the awkwardness of the situation, especially with Cam standing just a few feet away.
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Roxy’s eyes widened as she realized what had just occurred, but before she could react, Evan’s grip on her tightened, pulling her quickly into his chest to steady her. There was no time for embarrassment or further thought; it was all instinctual.
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Her face flushed red, and she caught sight of Cam’s eyes widening, but before either of them could say anything, Evan's protective hold prevented any further exposure. He gave a small, quick glance at Cam, who was now awkwardly shifting his gaze away, clearly trying not to make the situation worse.
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“Alright, alright, just... just breathe,” Evan muttered, steadying her as she straightened herself. “You good?”
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Roxy was a little disoriented, but she nodded, her heart still racing. “Yeah, yeah, I’m fine. Just... Thanks for saving me from that.”
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Evan, though visibly uncomfortable, didn’t show it too much. He just brushed his hand through his hair, still a little shaken. “Don’t make me pull you out of weird situations all the time, alright? I’m trying to avoid Cam turning into a puddle.”
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Cam shot Evan an amused look from the other side of the room but said nothing, his awkwardness palpable as he continued to avoid looking in Roxy’s direction.
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Roxy shot a half-smile at Evan. “Well, now I’m gonna start being careful. But no promises, alright? Gravity and I are not friends.”
Cam shifted uncomfortably, his eyes darting to the floor as soon as he noticed the accidental closeness between Roxy and Evan. The moment was awkward enough without making it worse, but his attention was already split between Roxy's sudden tumble and Evan’s quick reaction. Cam was a little too aware of the physical tension in the air, his gaze never lingering for long.
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He gave a short, nervous chuckle, clearly uncomfortable with the situation. "Uh... maybe I should go grab something to drink," he muttered, already backing out of the room. His voice was casual, but there was a hint of awkwardness in the way he tried to steer clear of the scene. "I’ll... just be out here."
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It was a small mercy that Cam chose to give them space, even if the atmosphere in the room was thick with lingering discomfort. He wasn’t sure if he was being respectful or if he just didn’t know how to handle seeing Roxy in such a vulnerable position, but either way, he disappeared from the room, leaving Evan and Roxy to sort themselves out.
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Evan, now hyper-aware of the belt pressing into her lap, adjusted his position slightly, his focus still on making sure Roxy wasn’t too shaken. “Sorry about that,” he muttered, his tone apologetic but with a faint touch of humor. “Gravity’s a bitch.”
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Roxy’s eyes widened as she reached for her book, but it slipped from her grasp and tumbled to the floor. The sound of it hitting the ground seemed to echo in the quiet room, amplifying the awkwardness of the moment.
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“Seriously?” she groaned, slipping out of Evan’s grasp and quickly scooting off the bed to grab it.
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