#eleaner wong

[eyedancer7a]

BESTIES!!!! IT'S OUT THE #FINAL SEASON OF #NEVER HAVE I EVER TRAILER OMG!!!! OOUR BABIES ARE BACK!!!! 🔥🔥🔥🥰🥰🥰❤️❤️❤️

This is going to be #CRAZY🤪🤪🤪

Our #PAXTON looks #ALL GROWN UP and #HOTTER THAN EVER🔥🔥🔥

Can't #LIE #ETHAN is hot too but not as hot as our boy! 😉😉😉

What a #DAXTON MOMENT❤️❤️❤️ CROSSING OUT FINGERS BESTIES!!!!

Our Devi is going to have an interesting #SENIOR YEAR😜😜😜😊😊😊🥰🥰❤️

[infinite-wanders]

Credit to this unsung hero on reddit looking after our fandom 👌

[sinrostrodesigns]

Peace out, virgin.

[eyedancer7a]

The introduction of #TREALEANOR was #EPIC 🥰🥰🥰 It made me #SMILE😉😉😉❤️❤️❤️

Loved #FABIOLA'S CONFIDENCE & FRIENSHIPS with #EVERYONE You can #COUNT on her!!!🥰🥰🥰

I love all the growing everyone had to do.

Devi actually listening to her therapist. Devi being more honest with everyone around her.

Ben not being such a perfectionist. Ben learning how to relate to people without being competitive.

Paxton learning how to put in effort and not just skate on his natural charm.

Nalini just being kinder to Devi and more understanding.

Kamala moving out and being independent.

Nirmala Paati being more accepting.

Aneesa standing up for herself and taking no shit.

[infinite-wanders]

Never Have I Ever ...

Over analysed a TV trailer and its subsequent stills (Devi x Paxton heavy)

Previous theories here and here

For @seeyoumondaydevi @kcollgewoman23

3x01 - NHIE ... been slut shamed

Spoiler alert if you havent read the s3 e1 table read >>> Most of the trailer comes from episode one.

We have the Daxton entrance; the mean girls slut shaming Devi in the bathroom; the girls in Devi's room talking about (who's not) having sex; Devis boyfriend party session with Dr Ryan; Daxton make out sessions at Devi's and a failed one post date at Paxton's garage.

3x02 - NHIE ... had my own troll

The popularity that Devi had longed for isn't all it's cracked up to be, as the hate and jealousy of others start to trigger her buried insecurities and traumas.

The Gossip Girl blasts from Lady Whistleboy are coming it hot.

Will we finally find out what the anonymous text means? My bet is still it being Paxton's biggest fan, Trent Harrison.

I think the "we don't make sense" conversation happens early in the season as Daxton navigate the roller-coaster that is their first serious relationship. They reconcile and survive their first bf/gf fight ... but it starts going down down in an earlier round (will they go down swinging?)

3x03 NHIE ... had a Valentine

Hoping for some love all round in the form of Treleanor and Kamanish (is that what were calling Kamala and Mr K now? Idk you tell me).

Anyway, Paxton makes her dinner and it's too cute. The little things. Like ya know he got those roses from the garden and put it in a beer cup cause he couldn't find a vase.

However, it doesnt end well as per Devi’s expression pictured right. Nalini busts them (finally, cause how long can Devi get away with him in her room). As memory serves, she does not approve of Paxton.

Nalini starts running interference with a goal to set Devi up with whom Nalini hopes to be her future SIL - Super hot, Stanford bound, Des.

Devi is in big trouble which is why she has conditions to attend next episode's party.

3x04 - NHIE ... made someone jealous

So now it's confirmed this is when we are first introduced to Des, and 100% not an uggo.

Raise your hand if you felt personally victimised when it's revealed who she was really looking at with wide eyes.

In the same episode theme, this could also be a possibility of Aneesa's jealousy rising. Please don't do my girl dirty, she deserves the world too.

3x05 NHIE ... been ghosted

The fallout of ep 4 ... oh dear, looks like we may have a character arc backslide by P.H.Y in this one. Let's hope not. My soft boy deserves growth. Protect at all costs.

Maybe this is when we'll have more Treleanor to balance the drama. If the play is Romeo and Juliet ... so help me God. I love it but also a bit on the nose?

3x06 NHIE ... had a breakdown

"What do you have to lose? Certainly not your dignity."

Her mind.

She's is absolutely going to lose her mind and shit.

3x07 NHIE ... cheated

I thought I read that he appears in ep 8 but for now I'm going to assume it's 7. Deacon Phillippe will appear as Parker, Devi’s debate team rival from a well-funded private school, he’s able to coast through debate tournaments thanks to his school’s advantages and is always down to party.

I assume Addison makes their appearance in the same episode ❤️ played by Terry Hu, a non-binary person from the local private school, bringing more than impressive trivia skills to the group.

Please Mindy and Lang >> No physical or emotional cheating. Idc if it's academics, debate, or even board games!

Lets not do the old once a cheater always a cheater.

3x08 - NHIE ... hooked up with my boyfriend

In the words of Poorna herself:

🍆 + 🌶 = s3

Same nerds. New Drama.

Like I said, we get it. The D's V card gets swiped.

And in my favourite twist, it's revealed Paxton is also a virgin.

3x09 untitled / 3x10 untitled

So as I've written this, I've realised Daxton will experience some relationship obstacle or challenge each episode.

Pressures of sex, feelings of incompatibility, family members that don't approve of you, jealousy and insecurities of other people that you think your partner likes more, lack of communication, shutting down / shutting out, having a partner that is not in a healthy state of mind, general cheating, actual intimacy.

The last two eps will address the outcome and also whether we see Paxton graduate this year.

And from here it will go one of two ways:

1) Endgame.

2) First love, but not last love.

[eyedancer7a]

What I did for #LOVE....Woke up #2 HOURS before work to #WATCH SEASON 3 of #NHIE ❤️❤️❤️ #YES 4:32 AM🤣😜🤪😊😍 LOL #ONLY WATCHED 2 EPISODES😊😊😊

[eyedancer7a]

#FOURTH AND FINAL SEASON SAY IT ISN'T SO😭😭😭😭 This going to be one #FAST AND STRANGE RIDE😫😫😫

Renewed for a fourth (final season) already? Holy shit

[eyedancer7a]

'Never Have I Ever' Season 3: Everything We Know So Far - What's on Netflix

The cast is #WORKING HARD on #SEASON 3 Looks like things are going to be turned #UPSIDE DOWN since Mindy likes to do that!!!!😫😫😫

#MISS THE GANG SO MUCH❤❤❤🥰🥰🥰😍😍😍

[infinite-wanders]

Treleanor!!!!

[infinite-wanders]

Trealanors ... stay hopeful for s4

[infinite-wanders]

Do you have any prediction in mind for S3 of Never Have I Ever? 🤔

I hadn't thought too much about it but rather had wishes here ... and my Ben predictions here

So... let's get into predictions that I will most likely get wrong 😅 I didn't realise I had so many until I started answering.

**

Devi eventually has sex with Paxton, and leads to her sexual awakening.

Am very much here for the trope "she fell, he fell harder."

I'm still open to them revealing that Paxton is also a virgin (like with Ginny x Marcus)

**

Nalini notices Devi is more relaxed and calm around Paxton, and brings her back memories of Mohan and Devi’s relationship.

This could lead her to accept their relationship ... until Devi’s grades drop. Nalini then has a discussion about Paxton not being good enough, a comparison to Ben is part of the conversation.

Paxton overhears as he climbs into Devi’s window and the sting on his insecurities put a strain on their relationship.

**

I'm hoping this doesn't happen, but when they've talked about a scene that left them all crying, I was thinking that Ojichan passes away.

**

Paxton goes back to swimming (I feel this was set up in s2 when he was able to lift weights after his accident. Not just a scene for thirsty teens)

He is able to get a collage scholarship that likely won't be Princeton (at first) which will lead to the long distance relationship convo.

Paxton has hinted that he doesn't consider long distance a viable relationship (s2 ep1) ... which would maybe be what his advice is to Fabiola when Eve moves to Korea.

That is until he realises how in love he is with Devi and they will end up being long distance. So to avoid this he works hard to get into Princeton. And he gets in on scholarship but then something happens and Devi is on the waitlist. To get it she feels forced to write about her trauma as suggested by counsellor Ron and we see her work through her grief ... but then maybe writes about all her messiness as a teen - titled Never Have I Ever (see what I did there).

**

Would love to see Eleanor x Trent's relationship blossom and they be the surprisingly super wholesome couple of the show, given Eleanor's track record with Oliver and old mate.

Trent is just El's biggest support/fan and his think out loud attitude would keep El a bit down to earth but also encourage her flair for dramatics.

**

Fabiola - I just love her moments when she is really honest about her feelings, ie. Confessing about being queer, popping off when devi drenched her, standing her ground that she is a nerd who loves robots (and loves eve).

Just want to see our girl happy, not bottle up her emotions to avoid confrontation (relatable but not healthy) and comfortable in her identity so more of that please.

**

I saw a post by Ben Norris (trent) from set captioned When In Rome.

Am still unsure if to take this literally as a possible scene in Italy but def gave me Lizzie Maguire vibes.

**

I don't have any predictions for Prom yet. Happy to leave it as a surprise for myself than try imagine and end up disappointed.

**

Thanks for coming ✌️

[eyedancer7a]

Oh #ZAMN exactly!!!🔥🔥🔥😜😜😜 Do you think we will see Paxton's #INSECURITIES come out after he sees everyone react to #DES!!!! 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️ Love Eleanor’s #REACTION TO EVERYTHING AND ANYTHING 🤣🤣🤣 Give us more #STILLS ❤️❤️❤️we need a #TRAILER🙏🙏🙏🥰🥰🥰😍😍😍

[infinite-wanders]

Chapters: 2/? Fandom: Never Have I Ever (TV) Rating: Not Rated Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Ben Gross/Paxton Hall-Yoshida, Ben Gross & Devi Vishwakumar, Paxton Hall-Yoshida & Devi Vishwakumar, Paxton Hall-Yoshida/Devi Vishwakumar, Ben Gross/Devi Vishwakumar Characters: Devi Vishwakumar, Paxton Hall-Yoshida, Ben Gross, Trent Harrison, Eleanor Wong, Fabiola Torres, Aneesa Qureshi, Zoe Maytag, Shira Liedman Additional Tags: Never Have I Ever Summary:

Paxton Hall-Yoshida and Benjamin Gross have been best friends since the third grade. As they enter Senior year, also enters their perfect girl. They've never been in competition with each other, so how will it go when they fall for the same person?

[eyedancer7a]

The #FANDOM continues to #SPEAK👍👍👍 Great points. But I'm excited to see #TRELEANOR and the antics that can ensue with #DAXTON with them

😜🤪😂😊😉🥰

Nhie 3x1

-I’m glad Devi is starting to learn not to care about what others think of her.

-Paxton was a great boyfriend! I’m really glad that tv shows nowadays are showing the guy backing off when the girl looks uncomfortable without her having to say anything bc it shows that consent is not just saying yes, it’s being enthusiastic about that yes.

-It was really sweet that Trent was so protective of Paxton. Tho hitting Paxton where the sun don’t shine is not funny. This reminds me of when Trent’s mum thirsted over him in season 1. Newsflash, guys getting sexually harrassed and sexualized is not funny ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY’RE UNDERAGE.

-I don’t really care about Trent and Eleanor dating, I have to be honest.

- I can’t believe that one of the posts on my Nhie season 3 headcannon list came true! Fab and Eve are on the rocks their interactions in this ep once again prove to me that Fabiola deserve much better. Fabiola is over-exhausted to the point where she is constantly falling asleep just to make time to talk to Eve but Eve can just say anytime that is convenient to her? Fuck that shit, I’m fucking pissed. I’m glad that Fabiola realized after unfortunately underperforming in school that she can’t go on like this and that she needs to prioritize herself. I predict that she will get a love interest at the end of the season. Idk if there are any few female characters this season but if there aren’t, maybe she’ll date Aneesa? They could be good together.

-Imo I think Ben is stressed about something and that is why he obsessing over his grades so much, bc when you are stressed over something you can’t control, you try to tighten your grip on what you can control. This is like far-fetched wish but if they approach it from a certain angle, then they could make him have an OCD storyline. Like let’s say after that 100, he gets extra-credit in another class so he’s like, “it was bc I did this in the morning” so he makes it a ritual, then something bad happens and he’s like “it’s because I didn’t tap the door 7 times before leaving the house” and then soon he has all these rituals and gets agitated when someone interrupts him or questions him and he eventually spirals out of control.

- I definitely expected Ben and Aneesa to be together in this ep but I have to say I really hope she doesn’t get hurt in this situation tho I know that she probably will. It has also been confirmed that Ben does not like that Aneesa does not score grades that are as high as his and that she doesn’t really know where she wants to go to college. I think that’s shallow, but unfortunately very unrealistic, I could see some of the smart kids in my old high school doing that. I hope he realizes that type of stuff doesn’t matter and if their relationship ends, it’s because they mutually realize that they aren’t compatible romantically and not because Ben thinks that ‘she’s not smart enough’ for him, ick I would hate it if they went in that direction.

-They’re really trying to make Aneesa look dumb, huh? 84 is a decent grade, especially when you spend hours training. Her grade is only 2 points higher than Trent? So what?? That means that Trent studied and so did she. And maybe school isn’t her thing but at least she’s putting in the effort and she’s doing decent. Academics is not the only indicator of intelligence and I’m sick of tired of people thinking that it is.

- I’m glad Kamala and Prashant broke up and I hope that she will be single for a while. I am intrigued to see Kamala in the hot seat with her family for once, well with Nirmala mainly.

-I am not a huge fan of the ending scene, Devi getting a text insinuating that Paxton is not great is a weird plotline. Like if they wanted to cause problems in the relationship and eventually break them up,it should be because of something Devi or Paxton did or them realizing they are not compatible, not because of a rumour. I am hoping that this is a subversion of some sort.

[eyedancer7a]

#IT'S FINALLY HERE❤️❤️❤️❤️

If you thought it was a rollercoaster ride last season #ZAMN!!!🤪😜😭🤣😉😫☹️🔥🥰

[eyedancer7a]

WE'VE MISSED YOU @cupcakesandtv Great CONTINUATION of our #FAVORITE COUPLE'S 🥰🥰🥰 #JOURNEY into Being #PARENTS Paxton will #ALWAYS tell Devi the #TRUTH When you're #BEAUTIFUL &HOT just #ACCEPT IT GIRL 🔥🔥🔥👍👍👍 Paxton #STANDS UP for his #WIFE 😍😍😍 #MR. 7 STEP SKINCARE MAN He knows you got start early. But #ASIAN DON'T RAISIN😜🤪😉😊 LOVE how the gang #STICKS UP for one another! #GENDER FREE YASSS 👏👏👏 Trent has loved Eleanor just as long as Paxton has loved his girl!!! #BEST FRIENDS JUST GET IT🙌❤️🙌❤️🙌❤️

Five to Seven Years Early or Two Weeks Late part 7

Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 on ao3

I know this has taken forever and it might be hard to believe but the entire abortion argument was actually in draft 3 when the Supreme Court decided people who can get pregnant don't need to have access to safe and easy ways to unpregnant themselves. It just so happens that I could give it another pass and make it more scathing to take out some of my stress over...well...everything. Anyway, enjoy!

14 weeks

Devi walked out of her sociology class slower than usual. Her leg cramped up during class and then she had a sharp pain in her hip joint. Pregnancy did weird things to a person’s body. But other than those minor issues, she was actually feeling much better than she had in weeks. All the bruising from the car accident was healed and she didn’t flinch when she heard an ambulance siren. 

“Excuse me!” a girl from her class was waving her over to the building exit. “Devi?”

The girl was definitely a freshman. That’s what Devi got for putting off some of these useless filler classes until her senior year. She got stuck in class with a lot of kids. 

“Hi, uh,” she racked her brain to try to remember the girl’s name but came up empty. “Hey you.” 

“Do you mind sharing  your notes from class on Monday? I slept late and since I shared mine with you a couple weeks ago when you were skipping…” The girl trailed off and looked at Devi expectantly. 

“I wasn’t skipping,” Devi answered, offended by the implication. “I was in the hospital.” 

“Right,” the girl said, nodding as if they were sharing a little secret. 

“No, I was literally in the hospital. Someone wrecked my car. It was awful. I panicked because-” The girl, oh, Kelsey, her name was Kelsey, she looked at Devi unphased and Devi gave up trying to explain. “Yeah, I’ll email you my notes from Monday.” 

“Thanks!” Kelsey kept walking with her to the parking lot and Devi tried to think of something kind to say. Anything. Just to make this less awkward. 

“Damn,” Kelsey let out, slow, like she was in a trance. “Who is that? I’ve never seen him around.” 

Devi looked up to see Paxton leaning on the hood of the Jeep waiting for her. She smiled and he smiled back. 

“Ma’am, I’ve been hanging out on campus this morning and I think I’m ready to state with finality, through my extensive, peer reviewed research, that you are the hottest woman at Princeton.” 

Kelsey put her hand on her chest like she might faint. Did she think he was talking to her?

“You saw the pool, your research is an incredibly small sample size,” Devi said, shaking her head and handing Paxton her book bag. “This feels a little like high school right now. I’m having some dejavu.” Paxton leaned down and kissed her on the lips. “High school was a good time for me. Especially when this girl I loved agreed to date me.” 

“I don’t remember it happening like that,” Devi countered, rolling her eyes. 

“Oh my god, that’s your boyfriend,” Kelsey exclaimed. 

Paxton didn’t miss a beat, he turned to Kelsey, smiled and waved. “Her husband, actually. I am married to the hottest woman at Princeton.” 

Devi felt her face warm but then Kelsey turned up her nose. 

“That’s so sad. You could do so much better,” she said before turning on her heel. 

Devi shook her head and reached for the door handle. She wanted to get in the car and leave and never come back to the class she shared with that bitch, Kelsey. But Paxton shouted after Kelsey. 

“Hey!” When Kelsey turned back to him he put on his fake smile and Devi worried what he was about to do. “What’s your name?”

“Me? I’m Kelsey,” she said, her voice had a flirty lilt that Devi didn’t care for. 

“Kelsey?” Paxton asked, fake smile still intact. 

“Yes?”

“Fuck off,” he said, his fake smile falling. He glared hard when she flipped him off and turned around to go. 

“How am I supposed to sit next to that girl in class now?” Devi asked, exasperated but grateful. “Move across the room?” Paxton offered before he shut her door. Devi appreciated the way he stood up for her but this also felt like high school, someone suggesting the two of them didn’t belong together. She didn’t like feeling less than because of some freshman but it did sting. 

When Paxton got into the Jeep he turned and kissed her. Deeper this time. One hand tangling in her hair, the other holding her cheek. His hand lingered on her chin as he pulled back. That felt a little like high school, too. “You’re beautiful and I love you and if anything, you’re getting hotter, while I definitely peaked in high school.”

She gave him a soft smile and felt her heart tug at the way he was looking at her. “You did not peak in high school.” “You won’t be saying that when I lose my hair.” He laughed and put the Jeep in drive. “Will you still love me when I lose my hair?”

Devi thought for a moment and then shook her head. “No, because I’m shallower than you are. But by then we’ll be staying together for the kids so I’ll be stuck.” 

Paxton laughed again, louder this time. “Oh good, I’m safe then.” 

—

As they headed to the airport security line, Devi turned to Paxton suddenly. “Did you remember to go to Sephora and get the travel size stuff?” She took her shoes off and put them in a bin as he lifted the one suitcase they were sharing for the trip onto the conveyor belt. 

“Yes,” he answered, taking his own shoes off. 

“Aw, your boyfriend went to Sephora for you?” one of the TSA agents asked Devi, hearts in her eyes. 

“He’s my husband and he went for himself. He’s the one with the seven step skincare routine,” Devi said, shaking her head. The agent, a middle aged woman with red hair, laughed. 

Paxton gestured for Devi to go ahead and walk through the metal detector then turned to the agent. “She only has a three step skincare routine. But she’s getting hotter with age. I’m only going to get worse so the least I can do is moisturize and use a couple serums, ya know?” 

Devi stepped into the scanner and lifted her arms. 

“Wait!” Paxton stopped them. “Is this safe for pregnant people?”

The red headed TSA agent looked at him like he was crazy. “Of course it is.”

“He’s just panicked because I was in a car accident a few weeks ago and we had a little scare with the baby so now he’s like this.” Devi gestured to him. He looked so anxious. “He’s overprotective to a fault.”

The agent looked at Paxton, then over at their bag going through the X-ray machine, then at Devi. She noticeably glanced at Devi’s barely showing belly (especially with the chunky sweater she was wearing) and then looked over Devi’s shoulder at Paxton. 

“Alright, but you, Mr. Skincare, have to walk through the scanner.” She tipped her head to direct Devi to walk through the other archway that was the less invasive metal detector. 

Paxton sighed, relieved, and eagerly walked through the scanner. Devi grabbed her shoes out of the bin on the other side of the machine and thanked the woman. 

“I’d say he’s a keeper but you look exasperated so you do whatever makes you happy, sweetie. Keep him, toss him, follow your bliss.” 

Devi laughed. “About an hour ago a college freshman said he could do better than me so thank you.”

“God, what do 18 year olds know? And did they not see you? You’re gorgeous, sweetie, he's right, you’re only getting better.” The woman was so sincere, Devi felt tears well in her eyes. “I remember with my second baby I always felt so ugly but I look back at pictures and I was beautiful, just didn’t feel it on account of feeling like I’d swallowed a basketball and oh my god, I had the worst acne! Worse during pregnancy than when I was a teenager! But you just forget that feeling. You’re making a person and that’s hard work. That freshman can take a long walk off a short pier.”

Devi felt tears fall down her cheek. She wiped quickly at her face to try and hide it but the agent smiled again. “You’re gonna be okay. Mr. Skincare, go get this woman some french fries before you get on that plane.” Paxton nodded as he finished putting his shoes back on. He took the suitcase and put his arm around Devi and guided her out. “It’s not pregnancy hormones,” Devi squeaked out, trying to get herself under control. 

“I know, you just cry a lot,” Paxton said. 

--

Thankfully, Devi wanted to catch up on The Bachelorette while they were in the air and Paxton was thrilled to do it. The chances of her crying during The Bachelorette were low. (But never zero so he was a little concerned it could still happen.) To Paxton, the second trimester was less puking and more outbursts of tears. Plus this very small pudge on Devi’s stomach. It was cute. And surreal. 

“Hurry up!” Trent shouted from across the terminal, waving his arms. ��Your flight was delayed ten minutes in the air and now we’re gonna be late!” 

In general, Trent was not worried about being punctual to anything, ever, so Paxton knew something was up. When he got in the passenger seat of Trent’s car he barely had time to buckle his seatbelt before Trent was pulling out and speeding towards the airport exit. 

“What the hell, Trent?” Devi asked before even Paxton could. “It’s just dinner with Eleanor. She doesn’t care if we’re a few minutes late.” 

“Did she text you?” Trent looked back at Devi in the backseat before averting his eyes to the front so he could drive. “Is she already there?”

“I’ll text her right now but I swear she’s gonna be chill with us being late.” Devi threw Paxton a look and he nodded. 

Paxton waited for Trent to say something, anything to explain this behavior but it took a solid minute before Trent started talking. 

“I haven’t seen Eleanor in two weeks,” Trent blurted out, equal parts annoyed and concerned. 

“In two weeks?” Paxton and Devi both asked shocked. 

“Yes. Do you see why I’m trying to get there?”

“She’s alive. I texted her like, all yesterday. But she didn’t say that she hadn’t seen you in two weeks.” Devi looked worried now. 

“She missed Eggs and Edibles?” Paxton asked. “Twice?”

Eggs and Edibles was the name that Eleanor made up for her and Trent’s typical Sunday brunch hangout. It started back in high school when he would bring her a breakfast sandwich when she had rehearsal before the school play but they kept it up as their thing since then. Whether they were or weren’t dating. Everyone knew that Trent and Eleanor hung out on Sunday, midmorning. And got high. 

“Yes,” Trent muttered.

Paxton wanted to ask follow up questions but he couldn’t think of one that wouldn’t hurt Trent’s delicate feelings. (He was very sensitive. Always had been. He was the king of dishing it and not being able to take it.) 

Devi handled it though. “Did you piss her off? Or is she just seeing someone new?” “I hope I pissed her off,” Trent said, glancing at Paxton and shaking his head. 

When they made it to the restaurant, Eleanor was indeed inside already but she didn’t mind that they were late. She was having a brightly colored drink and laughing at...the dude sitting next to her at the table. “Hi!” Eleanor jumped up to hug Devi and Paxton and stopped right before Trent and sat down before even looking at him. “This is Todd.” She gestured to him like she was Vanna White. Todd offered his hand to shake. 

“Phew. Meeting the best friends,” Todd said, taking Paxton’s hand, then Devi’s. “That’s more important than the parents, right?” He reached out to Trent and Eleanor looked at him finally, demanding with her eyes that Trent behave and just shake the guy’s hand. Trent did so and Eleanor gave him a tight smile. 

“I think you can take it down a few notches, Todd,” Devi said, sitting down in the chair across from him while Paxton sat across from Eleanor. “This is a Chili’s.” 

Paxton stifled a laugh behind a cough and picked up the menu. Trent sat on the end of the table stiffly. 

“So, how are you feeling, Devi?” Eleanor asked and then turned to Todd. “She’s pregnant. She found out at Christmas and then Paxton went back to Jersey with her and they got married a couple weeks ago out of nowhere. I mean, it’s not out of nowhere, you two have been an off and on thing forever.” Eleanor finished her rambling and turned back to Devi to signal she could answer the question now but Todd laughed. 

“Man, I would be freaking the fuck out if I accidentally knocked somebody up.” He nodded at Paxton and Trent as if they should agree with him but Paxton bristled. 

“We’re happy about this, thanks,” he said.  

“Yeah, if they’d wanted to get her an abortion, they would have done that, like Eleanor got last year.” Trent said it so casually and then was looking around for the server. “I need a beer, stat,” he muttered. 

Todd looked at Eleanor surprised though. “You had an abortion?”

“Yeah,” she said with a shrug. She kicked Paxton under the table, hitting his shin. Paxton assumed she was aiming for Trent so he kept his yelp of pain as quiet as he could but he definitely made a face. Paxton cleared his throat and looked at Devi who was trying not to laugh. 

“I don’t believe in abortion,” Todd crowed proudly like a goddamn Republican pastor who believed in conversion therapy. 

Trent, Eleanor, Paxton, and Devi all stared at Todd in horrified shock. 

“You just said you’d be freaking the fuck out if you got someone accidentally pregnant,” Trent jumped in first. 

“I had a great reason to have an abortion, Todd, I didn’t want to be pregnant,” Eleanor said. 

“What the fuck, dude?” Paxton managed while he felt Devi quietly seethe next to him. 

“Hi, welcome to Chili’s, can I get you some drinks and apps to start?” their server, a girl in a sunshine yellow shirt with hoop earrings and a full face of makeup, interrupted. 

They gave their drink orders and by the time she left, the tension had dissipated mostly, but Devi was still tense next to him. He put his hand on her knee and squeezed, giving her a smile. 

“Did you find out if your role on the CSI reboot is gonna stay in the episode?” Devi asked Eleanor. He could see her jaw was tense but when Eleanor answered excitedly in the positive, Devi seemed to exhale. 

“Yes!” Eleanor shifted into her bubbly, vibrant self again. Buzzing with excitement. “I am going to be on TV next week as Dead Girl Number 1! Wanna see some pics from the set?” She was already pulling out her phone to show them. “Yeah, we wanna see pics from the set!” Devi said with more than necessary excitement, until Paxton noticed Todd rolled his eyes. 

“It’s not even a named character,” Todd threw to Trent…as if that wasn’t the worst possible thing he could do. 

Trent’s hands balled into fists and he took a breath, ready to defend Eleanor but Devi cut in, “Dead Girl Number 1 is huge!”

Todd snorted but Eleanor perked up. 

“Did your flashback scene make it in the episode, too?” she asked. 

Eleanor clasped her hands and smiled wide. “Obviously, there’s no way to know for sure until it airs, but one of the PAs said I had two scenes in so hopefully it’s the dead body reveal and the flashback. Dead Girl Number 2, a role I’ve played many times before, was completely cut. Not even a sheet pull back on her, poor thing. It’s rough out there.” 

“You were the best Dead Girl Number 2 in that episode of Law and Order . Totally hot.” Trent glared at Todd. 

The server came back with drinks and spinach dip and the conversation halted for a minute. Eleanor dipped her straw in and out of her water cup since she’d finished her bright drink from the bar. 

“Do you guys know if it’s a boy or a girl yet?” Eleanor asked.

“We could know,” Devi answered with a look at Paxton. He rolled his eyes. 

“I’m not saying we should wait until the baby is born, I’m just saying we should examine why knowing the baby’s gender assigned at birth is so important?” Paxton took a pull of the IPA he’d ordered and then waved at Trent. “Trent’s cousin, Arrow, is nonbinary, maybe that’s what our kid will be. Why should we limit things to pink and blue?”

Devi blew a raspberry at him. “I don’t even like pink or blue! I think yellow and green are bomb colors for a baby! And if you think me, of all people, would treat a girl or a boy differently based on nonsensical standards of performative gender, I continue to be offended by the assumption.” 

“Why not just wait a little longer? What does it hurt?”

Devi’s face softened and she turned back to the others. “This is actually because he wants a girl and doesn’t want to think he’s wrong. I think it’s a boy and all this talk of patriarchy and sexism in parenting is more about his 50/50 chance he’s wrong and I’m right.” 

Trent nodded, a knowing smile on his face. Todd’s face was screwed up in disgust. 

“Biology says otherwise,” Todd said as if he’d won the non existent argument. 

“What biology classes are-” Devi started but Eleanor cut her off. “Oh my god, shut up, you’re embarrassing me.” 

“You’re cute when you’re angry,” Todd said, leaning in to kiss her but she pulled back. Paxton saw Trent clench his fist like he was saying “yes!” to himself. 

“So you guys are going back to Jersey on Monday?” Eleanor pretended not to notice Todd’s irritation at being shut down. 

“Yeah, I’m not looking forward to going back to my intro to art class with Kelsey, the freshman who Paxton bullied earlier today.” Devi was trying to joke but Paxton knew she was hurt by what her younger classmate said. 

“Maybe she’ll drop the class out of embarrassment,” Paxton said.

“If my guy bullied some girl, she probably deserved it,” Trent said as though he too noticed Devi’s joke frosted unease. 

“She said I could do better,” Paxton explained. “Better than Devi? The girl I’ve been lowkey in love with since I was 16?”

“You’ve never been lowkey about it,” Eleanor laughed. “Devi’s boy crazy levels have always been off the chart though. She was ping ponging from one crush to the next back then.” 

“Was not!” Devi put a hand on her chest, over exaggerating.

“Sounds like you were kind of slutty,” Todd muttered but everyone at the table heard. 

Paxton felt like the wind had been knocked out of him. His skin was hot and he could have flipped the table they were all sitting at if Devi hadn’t acted quicker, knocking her water over so it spilled all over Todd. 

There was a time when she was younger when she would have punched poor Todd for his bad taste and rude comments. Her temper was barely restrained back then. So he marveled at how she’d learned to use her temper as a slick weapon, a sniper rifle, that could be silenced and she could claim ignorance. 

“I’m so sorry,” she deadpanned as Todd jumped up, water all over his lap. Eleanor stood up too, but she handed Todd the cloth napkin her silverware was wrapped in and the fork and spoon and steak knife clattered to the floor, causing Todd to jump again. 

“I think you should go home,” Eleanor said firmly. “And probably lose my number.” 

His face was dour as he wiped at his pants, as if that would dry the water all over him. “You’re a bitch.” 

Paxton stood up now, knowing he’d need to hold Trent back but before he could reach for him, Todd spoke again, “And a terrible actress.” 

And before Paxton could do anything, Trent was swinging. His first swing missed, Todd showed a shocking amount of awareness to duck as Trent swung and then pushed Trent back. People screamed and shouted and Paxton moved around Devi to try and break up the two men wrestling on the floor. He could make out Eleanor screaming Trent’s name. He couldn’t be sure, but he thought he heard Devi say to a bystander, “The guy had it coming.” 

—

Devi pushed open the door for Eleanor. The cool air of Sherman Oaks’ “winter” evaporated any sweat Devi felt on her face immediately. 

“I can’t believe I let that guy tie me up during sex, I could have been murdered!” Eleanor shouldn’t have said it so loud. 

They approached Paxton and Trent, Trent with an ice pack to his cheek and Paxton doing some little game with his feet and the curb. Devi and Eleanor stayed behind after Paxton broke up the fight to pay the bill and beg the Chili’s manager not to call the cops. The manager recognized Eleanor from a local car dealership ad and took pity on them when she explained how bad of a date the whole event turned into. 

“You let that guy tie you up?” Trent whined. “What the hell, E?”

“Look, it’s not that you’re supremely skilled or anything, it’s just that you know how to give me la petite mort!” 

“And other people have not been able to make you cum in French?”

Eleanor blushed and Devi knew she should be embarrassed to hear this conversation but she was enjoying it thoroughly. She loved drama when she wasn’t the center of it. 

“They tie me up and it usually gets the job done but-”

Devi saw Paxton cringe and then his eyes turned to hers, pleading to get out of the area but she shook her head. 

“But I get it done without any mildly kinky shit,” Trent said, lowering the ice pack and giving Eleanor what were definitely bedroom eyes. 

“Yes, but that’s just because we’ve been having sex for years. You were my first, for fuck’s sake. It’s not like…an accomplishment. It’s just something you know how to do!” Eleanor waved her arms big but Trent mirrored her movement so he could pull her arms down to her sides. He dropped the ice and held her hands, looking at her with what Devi knew for sure was love. He’d been looking at Eleanor like that since high school and at this moment she was a little jealous at how easy it was for them. They dated steadily through, no break ups. No back and forths like she and Paxton did in school. No ping ponging from crush to crush for Trent or Eleanor. 

Of course, what did she have to be jealous of, now? She could just enjoy this little scene unfolding, watching her friends come back to each other. Devi looked over at Paxton and smiled, wide, her tongue hitting her teeth. He smiled back and Devi felt weak in the knees.