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pre-2.09: run away little boy
❝ sugar, spice & everything nice ❞
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✨☕️✨
Her dad was a lot of things:
He was someone who'd drop everything just to help someone else or will put their needs before his. Their happiness was his own. Or someone who would walk into a hair salon asking how to braid his daughter's hair or learn different styles for special occasions.
Mark Morgan made sure his family had everything that he didn't have growing up. Most importantly, he wanted to be a dad he never had. He only was hoping his girls saw him as a good dad. Or at least someone who was doing a decent job.
( Everleigh wouldn't change it for the world, he was the best role model she possibly could have. )
Mark also knew he had the confidence to flirt with women and knew what charms to use to win a lady over. He was a mastermind when it came to that. But then you had situations like the current one, where everything you knew about Mark Morgan were thrown out of the window. Instead, you had a man who was a complete and utter stress ball.
While being downstairs, sitting on the couch, Blaze, Everleigh and Blaze's sister Allysha allowed Mark to come down every five minutes with a different tie or different shade of dark jacket. Or just overall a different outfit just for one single date.
"Why are you freaking out?" Everleigh asks as soon as her had comes downstairs showing a burgundy tie to match with his black buttoned long sleeve shirt, "You've been going out with the same woman for months."
"First of all," Her dad wraps the tie around his neck as he glances at her, "I'm not freaking out. I just want to make a good impression on her. Second, I like her a lot."
"So basically, freaking out." She retorts.
Her dad unties the tie as he nods, "Yup, totally freaking out here." He removes the tie and gestures on the black buttoned shirt, "Tie or no tie?"
"Depends. Are you planning to elope or are you planning to go on just one date?" She questions as she sizes him up and down.
"Okay now you're just being harsh." Blaze leans into her ask he says and turns to Everleigh's dad, "It's a no tie from me."
"If you're listening to Blaze's advice I'm running away from this household." Her boyfriend gives her a look, "What? Half of the times I have to dress you up and look semi styled."
Blaze mutters, "Thanks."
Blaze's sister, Allysha turns to Everleigh's dad, "I personally think you look good with and without the tie Mr. Morgan."
"Thank you, kiddo." Her dad smiles at Allysha who sends thumbs up in response. His gaze adverts to Everleigh, "If only my own daughter was as nice as you and your brother."
Everleigh rolls her eyes dramatically as she mumbles, "Running away sounds real nice right about now."
"You're being dramatic again," Blaze comments.
"And it only took you seven years to notice?" The girl retorts, placing a hand on her chest as Allysha giggles.
"Guys," Everyleigh's dad claps his hands together, gathering everyone's attention, "Focus on me, please. I need help."
"Dad," Everleigh runs her hand down her face, "You look fine, honestly. A tie looks nice, so wear it with a tie. Stop overthinking everything. If she doesn't like it, then she's not the one."
Blaze nods, looking at his girlfriend, "She's got a point."
The girl smiles in return, "I'm always right."
Both men roll their eyes at the girl's comment. With a heavy sigh, Mark lifts his wrist up to his eyesight, checking the time, "I've got to go and pick her up. You sure I look fine?" He asks nervously.
Allysha, Blaze and Everleigh in unison, "Yes."
"Just look at it this way, you're old, getting wrinkly and on top of that not even Maryann Thorpe could save your fashion sense. So clearly she doesn't care how you look right now." Everleigh adds, only to receive a jab with an elbow in the side from her boyfriend and fits of giggles from Allysha.
At least someone found her comment funny.
Mark gives her a pointed look, his tone monotone, "I'm so glad I raised a non-judgmental daughter. Truly makes me happy and proud."
"Glad to hear you made the right choice to keep me as your daughter," The teen girl comments with a light-hearted tone.
Blaze on the other hand, pinches the top of nose bridge as he mumbles, "Oh, my God."
"On that note I am leaving," Her dad announces, passing glances to the kids but his vision settles on the two teenagers sitting on the couch, "You two. Remember, no funny business because I will be back before midnight."
Allysha turns her head to look at Everleigh and Blaze as she whispers, "What does Mr. Morgan mean by funny business?"
Blaze replies shortly, "It's best if you don't know."
"Oh...," Allysha's brows intertwine but turns her focus back on Everleigh's dad, "Don't worry Mr. Morgan I got my eyes on them."
"And this is why you're my favourite." Her dad points at Allysha.
Blaze's sister turns to the duo, sticking her tongue out at them. The couple roll their eyes in response.
Eventually her dad did leave for the date but not without reassuring once again. She was convinced he just was too afraid to leave the house. But as soon as the front doors were shut, Everleigh turned to her boyfriend, a small smile tugging onto her lips, slowly leaning into him as he does the same.
Just as the two kiss, Allysha clicks her fingers, jumping between the pair, "No, no, no. Not on my watch. You're not doing gross stuff in front of me."
Blaze rolls his eyes but doesn't move his sister. He looks down to her, his arm resting on the back frame of the couch, "It's a good thing mom's picking you up in two hours. So, you don't have bother us."
The little girl dramatically crosses arms over her chest, sulking as she looks back at her brother. Everleigh stands up from the couch as she says, "Before you both get in another fight, I'm grabbing some popcorn."
Excitement rushes through Allysha as she sits up, "Can we watch Hocus Pocus?" She turns to her brother, "Please?"
He glances at his girlfriend, "Do we have to?"
She backs his sister, "She's leaving soon, might as well."
Sighing, he slumps down on the couch, "Fine."
Allysha jumps from the couch, running upstairs, "I'll go grab the DVD."
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The next morning, Everleigh was ready to start the day. She managed to wake her boyfriend up as well. Even though that took longer than it should. But in the end, he was the one who was waiting on her to be done so they could leave. He insisted waiting outside while Everleigh quickly grabs a snack from the kitchen. However, the closer she got, the clearer the footsteps were.
With curiosity, she slowly approaches the kitchen area, only to find a lady-like figure opening upper shelf, her features hidden with the open door. Nothing covering her legs, only a familiar oversized grey shirt. The thought of knowing the actual reason why the mysterious lady was wearing her dad's shirt disturbed the girl.
Her expression didn't go unnoticed as she mumbles, "Oh my God," At the sound of her voice the lady jumps, closing the door. The teen now having the ability to see the face of her but when she did her eyes widen in shock, "Oh my God!"
"Dean's friend? — ", She replies, confused as the puzzled pieces fall together, "Oh, no..."
"Nope! I am ignoring this," Everleigh turns around, shaking head, "I am walking away. I've seen nothing."
And just like that Everleigh left the house as quickly as she could. It was too early to deal with that.
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"I didn't know, Everleigh! I really didn't." Lorelai comes marching into the diner, following the teenage girl.
Lorelai's presence made Luke ears perk up. He found himself starring at the woman and teenager in front of him as the two stand in front of the counter, "Didn't know what?"
Ignoring Luke, Everleigh faces Lorelai and continues, "How didn't you know? My name is Everleigh Morgan, my dad is Mark Morgan. Do you know any other Morgans in Stars Hollow? I don't," She sighs, "— You should have known, I'm sure my dad has mentioned me and my sister already."
Luke's blinks rapidly, looking at the teen horrified, "There's two of you?!"
Lorelai's shoulders slouch, "I'm sorry, if I knew I would've asked you beforehand. — I know you don't like Rory and I didn't want this to be another reason for you to not like her."
"You don't like Rory? Why don't you like Rory?"
Still not aware of Luke, the girl says, " I never said I didn't like Rory, I just don't approve her and Dean together that's it. " She in fact didn't like Rory, "Seriously, Lorelai I'm fine — I don't care."
"You do though," Lorelai argues back, "If I knew he was your dad, I would've asked for your permission even before the date."
Disappointment in Luke's voice was clear as day, "You went on a date?"
"You didn't need my permission for anything. I'm just... weirded out. I wasn't expensive to wake up and see you in our house. That's all."
Luke turns to Lorelai, "You stayed at their house?"
Now it was woman's turn to ignore the man behind the counter, "So you're not mad?"
"Of course not." Everleigh admits truthfully.
Clearly seeing as the two weren't paying attention to him, he waves his hands, getting their attention, "Okay, that's enough you two," The girls finally look up at him while he's pointing finger at them, "You both have ignored me throughout this whole conversation."
"Who pissed in your shoes today?" Everleigh mutters and Lorelai muffles a laugh.
"You are grumpier than usual." Lorelai adds.
He glances from Everleigh back to Lorelai, baffled, "Did you not hear a word I said?"
The teen shares a look with the Gilmore woman before turning back to Luke, "You said something?"
"You know what? Forget it," Luke grabs the coffee pod, walking away, "I don't even care."
"How am I supposed to get my coffee now?!" Lorelai whines, watching the diner man doing refills for customers. She glances at Everleigh, "Are you sure you're fine?"
"Yes, I'm fine, Lorelai." The girl reassures.
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Everleigh Morgan on the scale of fine was definitely not fine.
It was noticeable to everyone that paid a close attention to her. One of those people being Jess. He found it quite entertaining at first but now it was becoming a concern considering how many orders the girl got it wrong. — And she never gets it wrong.
"Everleigh and I are taking a break." Jess announces to his uncle.
Luke turns to his nephew with questioning look plastered all over his face, "Why?"
"Because she —" He points at the teen who kept checking the time and as she did so, she runs into empty chair, "Has been checking that time of hers every ten minutes. Something is clearly wrong and needs to let it out of her system."
Luke raises a brow, unconvinced, "And you want to be that person she talks to?"
Jess shrugs, "That or I'll just enjoy another moment of her getting the order wrong and walking off before they can tell her it's not what they ordered."
Just on time, they watch her come out of the kitchen, making her way to Kirk with double cheeseburger and fries. When Luke was the one that took his order and that wasn't what he asked for. Placing his hands on the hips, he says, "She never gets an order wrong."
"Exactly. So...?" Jess draws out.
"Yeah, yeah," Waving him off, Luke goes to grab Kirk"s wrong order, "Just make her stop."
"Okey — Dokey."
Without another thought, he approaches the girl as she tries to pick up another plate of food and before being able to walk off, he grabs it from her hands. Her eyebrows crease together.
"What do you think you're doing?" She demands, he ignores her. Instead, he grabs her shoulders, guiding her to the back, leading up the stairs, "Jess?!"
"You're perspiring." Was his only answer.
"I'm not perspiring."
"Yes, you are."
She opens her mouth to argue, only to be left with no fireback, "Okay, maybe a little."
The way up the stairs was led by the girl continuously asking questions and she didn't get any response out of him until she was placed down on the couch. She crosses arms looking up at him, "I'm fine, Jess."
"I'm sure you are," He grabs a book from side table and sits down next to her. She scoffs as he flips the book open.
"Seriously?" She grabs the book out of his hands, "We got a job to do, Jess. You know the part where you don't have a choice but to do it."
"You mean the part you've been messing up for two hours?" He corrects her.
"What?" She takes to heart, "I do my job well, thank you very much."
"Clearly today is not one of those days," He laughs, "You've been messing up every order that's been given to you."
"And you didn't tell me?!" She slightly pushes his shoulder, "What's wrong with you?"
"Because it was entertaining." He shrugs with a small smile lingering on his lips and then it fades, "But clearly something's been off with you so now we're here."
"I'm fine." She leans back, he raises a brow and she glances at him, "I am. — Sort of."
"Does it have to do with what happened this morning?"
"What happened this morning?" She repeats his question.
"I don't know you tell me." Jess shrugs
"Nothing happened."
"Okay."
"Okay." The girl repeats again, stubbornness kicking in, resulting the two sitting in a complete silence. Everleigh still holding onto Jess's book with crossed arms, looking away from him. While Jess sat next to her patiently waiting. Not even minute passed by when Everleigh stood up from her spot to stand in front of Jess, pointing a finger at him, "Just to clarify I am fine, recent events that may have occurred last night up to this morning may have bothered me. More than it should. '"
"Like..." He drags out, wanting her to continue.
"Like..." She hesitates as she waves hands around as it would help her open up, "...Finding out my dad has been seeing Rory's mom and to address the elephant in the room — I don't like Rory, so this just complicates everything." Jess couldn't help but to chuckle and the girl glares, "Dude, this is not funny."
"I'm sorry but it kinda is. "He admits, "Everyone can tell you two don't exactly see eye to eye so the fact that your dad and her mom are seeing each other is very amusing."
She grips the book with both hands, her grip tightening as she starts walking back and forth, "What am I supposed to do when they become fully official? Do we suddenly become friends and make friendship bracelets and paint nails while talking about boys? It will just result in a messy fight. I have my reasons to not like her but why does she not like me?"
"It's hard not to like you." Jess murmurs under his breath more to himself than Everleigh.
She hears it, "I know that. I'm made from sugar, spice and everything nice." She plops back down next to him, her grip from the book not releasing and Jess couldn't help but to notices.
"Okay before you damage my book, let's just put it down," He gently takes it from her hands.
"Sorry," The teen mumbles, realising where all here tension was being targeted at and sighs as soon as the book is out of her hands, "I don't like this."
"You're reading more into this than you should, "He says it honestly, "They're just seeing each other, it's not like they're getting married."
As soon as those words left his mouth, he instantly regretted them. Everleigh's face morphed into a petrified stare as she turns to him wide-eyed, "Oh, my God! They can get married and if they do, Rory will be my stepsister. — I have no choice but to break them up."
Now it was Jess's turn to be petrified, "You're insane."
"You're insane-er."
"That's not a word."
"Well, it is now."
"Look," Jess rubs his eyes, exhaling sharply, "If your dad is happy, let him be. You're reading into this more then you should. They could eventually call it quits. You don't know that."
She hums, pondering over his words, "I guess you're right. I don't have to mentally prepare myself to call Rory my stepsister yet."
"You should be an expert in these things, you got a boyfriend yourself. You don't need my advice." Jess adds.
She shrugs, unbothered, "Yeah, well now Blaze and I just flow with whatever happens, happens. There used to be a plan but not anymore. I guess." That makes him look at her and she notices, "What?"
"Nothing," He brushes it off, breaking an eye contact, "Maybe your dad and Lorelai are the same. They just flow with whatever happens."
"Yeah, I guess," She crunches up her nose, "I do sound inane."
"Just a tiny bit," Jess smirks, she bumps her shoulder against his,
"Shut up," She chuckles lightly.
Jess nudges his head at the door, "Come on, let's go back downstairs before Luke loses it completely."
They both stand up, making their way downstairs and before entering the diner, she grabs his hand, "Hey," He glances at her, "Thanks for that."
"It was no big deal," He brushes it off as he looks down to his arm to see her still holding onto it. As soon as she realizes her grip on him lingered more than it should, she drops it and walks past him. Just as the pair enter the diner Jess says, "Your best friend's here."
She looks up, excitement written all over her face, expecting to see Dean or Lydia walking in. She really wanted to tell them who her dad's mystery woman was, only to see Rory walking in. She squints her eyes at Jess, "You bug me."
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REFERENCES:
☕️ everleigh: just look at it this way, you're old, getting wrinkly and on top of that not even maryann thorpe could save your fashion sense.
tv show ━ cybill ( 1995 - 1998 )
[ maryann is a character on the show and everleigh is basically referencing her fashion sense cause let's be honest if you've watched the show her style was pretty nice ]
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☕️ allysha: can we watch hocus pocus?
movie ━ hocus pocus ( 1993 )
[ who doesn't love hocus pocus?!?!?!? ]
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☕️ everleigh: i'm made from sugar, spice and everything nice.
tv show ━ the powerpuff girls ( 1998 - 2005 )
[ everleigh loves the powerpuff girls okay and i can't blame her ]
—
i'm back!! sorry it took so long, my life has been too hectic and too mentally draining for me to write anything but omg thank you all for supporting this book still as it hit over 30k reads not that long ago. and just thank you for being patient with me. love you all! <3
i also may or may not have posted jj maybank fic not that long ago, so if you like outer banks i'd appreciate if you checked it out as well :)
( p.s. expect two more updates this month from me, one of them being halloween themed )