He Shakes His Head, Anxiety Still There Like An Invisible Cloud Surrounding Him But He Bounces On His

he shakes his head, anxiety still there like an invisible cloud surrounding him but he bounces on his feet, forces himself to believe it's magically gone. " nope, i'm officially stress-free. the stress i began to feel over caring for a plant seemed to evaporated all my other stress weirdly enough, so you know, when you think about it, this things still served some purpose in the hour it was in my life. " when alyssa agrees to take it, relief washes over him. he’s all too happy to hand it over, rid himself of it. “ well congratulations, alyssa, you’re now a plant mom to yet another one of these things and i am free. ” practically beaming now, can’t wait to go home and tell his dog all about it. “ let me know if you ever need a plant-sitter, i’ll help you find someone. ”

they do. it's true. all plants die eventually. and then you have to go out and buy yourself a new one. especially if you're not someone who really knows how to take care of them. " of course you're going to be fine. i have a pup too, so i get it. they're wayyyy tougher and a plant.. well.. it's a plant. you just have to give it some sunlight and water. how hard can that really be for you, you know? " she let out a laugh and a playful roll of her eyes while her tone was also kept teasingly. " way, way, easier. at least in my opinion, yes. " dogs usually always let you know whenever they happen to need anything at all. but with plants, it's not exactly as if it can bark and let you know what it needs. " you no longer have any stress? " she made a face as she looked at ace because she could see right through the expression clear as day on his face that he was indeed.... quite stressed out right about now. " you sure? because you seem like you are to me. " she paused before continuing to speak. " if you don't want it...i'll take it. we do have a few cute plants in my apartment. so, what's one more? "

" maybe, " ace answers honestly, because he can't make any promises he won't mess it up. " i’m kind of known for that, teds. it’s my thing. i’ve made a lot of people regret a lot of things. " his words are light-hearted, spoken with a teasing tone and accompanied by a casual shrug. a grin spreads across his face, and for a brief moment he considers making a joke about his parents— but he quickly decides against it. he’s not sure teddy would let it go over her head like others did, and now isn’t the time to open up about things like that. not when they have something important to focus on. " i pay plenty of attention, " ace assures her, keeping his eyes fixed on the ingredients in front of him. he’s not sure he trusts himself to look at her just yet. lately, he’s becoming too aware of what his heart is trying to tell him, things his mind is desperately trying to ignore. like how pretty she is, or how no one has ever made him laugh as much as she does. " but you’re the only person who can be you, teds. you’re one of a kind. " scrunches his nose, deep in though. " but if someone bought you a cake that you didn’t make, wouldn’t you be mad they went to someone else ? i can’t get my cakes anywhere else now. it feels like bakery cheating. " he laughs, a real laugh this time. he finds it hard to believe anyone would describe him as confident. sure, he can fake it when he needs to, but deep down insecurity runs rampant. " i’m not confident, especially not when it comes to stuff like that. " somehow, though, he still manages to attract attention from time to time. which is fine when it’s just for the night, but the idea of someone actually falling for him ? that terrifies him almost as much as the thought of him falling for someone. though it appears it may already be happening. his breath catches in his throat when she takes his hand, his gaze lingering a moment too long. when she asks who his friends are, only one word escapes his mouth, " you. "

"to be fair, between the two of us, i most definitely have been the kitchen dweller... and yet here i've brought you, against my better judgment. are you going to make me regret this?" time with ace was never time wasted, even if it did currently seem like they could go up in flames at any moment. literally. and that potential doesn't stop her from letting out a laugh as he compliments her. "what, just being in my orbit for years hasn't taught you a thing or two by now? i'm really starting to think you don't pay attention..."

"you know, i'm not too sure if they came to the party together. i think maybe they just ran into each other? it would be extra fucked up if they went together though... do you think both would warrant a cake? no one has ever bought ME an apology cake... although, i guess i would probably be the worst person. i judge every cake that i eat." never too harshly-- it was cake after all. hard to mess that up. "well, i just simply don't believe you. you come in here, so confident with your one-liners. no way you don't go repeating those all around town. anybody besides me stupid enough to fall for them yet?" teddy looks over to his hand, another chuckle escaping her lips. "i've made a real big mistake i think... how are you already covered in flour?" still, she sticks her hand out and grabs his. "who are your friends again? like, ones you'd be really mad about? just so i can be extra cautious," she jokes, giving his hand a light squeeze before dropping it.

there's parts of kingsley that never feel like they'll be whole, like he's destined to be a partially incomplete person for eternity. so much unresolved that it feels easier to keep things light, a faux filter of being carefree. because he has everything he could possibly ever want, right ? enough money that he could live multiple lifetimes in pure, blissful comfort. a name that could open any door with ease. but there's never been a real understanding of love, or direction. just a need to try and fill the void with alcohol, drugs, reckless acts that make his heart beat fast. but esme, well, there were moments with her, completely sober and still, that felt like just as big a rush. " guess i was feeling nostalgic, " kingsley responds with a smirk, his voice light, almost playful. but there's a weight behind it he can't quite shake. he shrugs, like it’s no big deal, like he didn’t just climb up here chasing a feeling he can’t define. “ figured i’d see if the place still lived up to it's charm. " breath threatens to catch in his throat as he allows his gaze to fully settle upon her, memories filtering back into his mind. " though i don't think it could ever lose it. not while you own the place, at least. " because she was the main part of the charm, the reason he knew this was the perfect view of the sun setting. " you look good, esme, " he adds, smile softening slightly, " how've you been ? "

her breath caught in her throat as kingsley’s figure emerged against the backdrop of the setting sun . the sight of him , framed by the warm , golden light , was both a shock and a comfort . the rooftop , once a shared haven , now felt charged with a history that lingered between them . she turned fully to face him , her eyes reflecting the soft hues of twilight . the distance he kept was palpable , a physical manifestation of the space that had grown between them over time .

“ kingsley , ” she said , her voice steady but touched with a hint of emotion . she took a deep breath , trying to steady herself . “ it’s been a while . ” as he settled a few feet away , she leaned against the rooftop’s edge , the cool breeze ruffling her hair . she glanced out at the horizon , where the sun dipped lower , painting the sky in shades of pink and orange . “ chasing sunsets... yeah , it’s one of those things that just sticks with you . some habits die hard , i guess . ” her smile was tinged with both nostalgia and a hint of sadness , reflecting on the shared moments they once had . turning back to him , she met his gaze with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension . “ so , what brings you here , kingsley ? "

Mal's Gilmore Girls rewatch: Lost and Found 2.15

" okay, " singular word is dragged out, contemplation before her next words. noa has never had a one night stand in her entire life, and it's not that she thinks there's anything wring with them— there most definitely isn't. but growing up watching her parents be madly in love had made her very particular. " well, did he ask to see you again ? because if not i would probably be questioning his motives. "

"Well the amount of bouncers I've met who have actually done their jobs and kicked out handsy and rude guys is astounding. Mostly I have to go and tell them and hope they actually do something, but this one actually helped out instead of letting the guys do whatever the hell they wanted. And he's really hot. Like could be a Marvel superhero hot," she further explained, putting her lipstick back into her purse. "And he was sweet enough to offer to walk me to my car in case the guy stuck around, which isn't exactly in his job description."

“ oh, no, you don’t have a friendly face whatsoever. great bone structure, sure, but inviting ? not so much. luckily for you, i don’t intimate easily. but really, it wouldn’t hurt to smile more. or once— ever ! ” once again she’s talking quickly, animated, ignoring his first statement. eyes roll instantaneously as she adjusts her stance, exasperated sigh escaping perfectly painted lips. “ well, for starters, i haven’t seen you with anyone since charlotte, except for nova but she’s your roommate and if that was going to happen it likely would have by now. which is good for me because i also plan on getting her to sign up. but back to you. yes, you probably could get a date easily if you actually tried, but i’m just, like . . . way better at it. and honestly, men often can’t be trusted to make good decisions. that’s just fact. ”

"yeah, you're not exactly making me feel better as you boast about how much better you could stalk me..." he places the bottles in his bag. "you know, you're the only person i've ever met who seems to think i have a FRIENDLY FACE." he'd tried to let this girl down subtly what felt like a hundred different ways, and yet, she always found her way back to him. "and i ask you again... what makes you think that i can't get a date on my own?" probably the fact that he, well, you know... wouldn't. but he liked to think it was his own personal choice. his relationships had all been with dancers ( the exception being charlotte ) and they all ended poorly. apollo didn't see the point in making empty promises to others. he would provide what he could, and often times, it wasn't enough.