you are my sunshine

"Yeah, I am," she agreed. It half caught her off-guard, to be honest. Gwen couldn't remember the last time she'd spent an evening not at the library or hanging out with her little sister (and gosh, that made her feel like a complete and utter loser, but that was her life now, she supposed). The idea of getting out, or at least, hanging out with Jenny (because they weren't going out, not in a date sort of way, it was too early to label it or whatever) made a spark go up her spine, make her want to sit up a little bit straighter.

"Next Friday," Jenny repeated with a little laugh, unable to keep the smile off her face at Gwen's answer. She was already nodding in response and definitely being way too eager but who cared, right? Like, what was wrong with that? And besides, when something good comes along, you can't let it go by. You can't afford to, not in Havensdale.

"Yeah, I did notice that it's not exactly a big city. Not that I'm complaining. Sometimes small is fun." Hallie shrugged at the question. "Just a girl on a road trip, to be honest."

"Small can be fun. Small can also be drama- unnecessary and otherwise- you know? The stories I could tell... A road trip? Makes sense. So, are you not planning on sticking around for long?"

"I am wounded. I poured my heart out to you. Real deep stuff." Julian smiled at Jenny. "I was just asking how everything is going?"

Jenny laughed without meaning too and instantly felt lighter. "I appreciate you might never be able to forgive me, Julian," she joked. "Thank you. It's okay, really. I mean, nothing new, right? How have you been doing?"

"I was just asking if this spot was taken? I need somewhere to sit."

"Oh, sorry. I'm totally on another planet right now... Please, sit down. Are you-...," she started, brow furrowing- "Oh my gosh, are you new?"

"Flowers." Haleh beamed, holding out a fresh bouquet and sitting down across from her. "I brought some fresh flowers. Are you okay, hon?"

"Oh, they're beautiful. Thank you, Haleh, you always know just how to brighten this place up. I'm okay, really. Just... Overthinking."

Noah sighed, "Nothing. Forget it."

"No, I'm sorry-," she started, reaching out for his hand- "I'm listening, okay? Tell me."

"Just wondering why the long face on such a nice, sunshine-y day. Duh!"

Jenny jumped when she heard Sophia Chambers' voice. You would think after being faced with Juliette's torment, she'd be used to this by now. "It must be so nice living in your world, Sophia."

"right? i think if everyone that comes into the store just...like...closes their eyes, we'd be all good. do you think we'd get away with that?" it felt like she'd never get this place clean at this rate. "i would love to grab coff-" love turned to see mugwort indeed all over the counter "ah shit, i swear that that stuff is multiplying"

"absolutely! i think we just have to get a little creative and you'll be up and running again in no time," jenny grinned. she scrunched her nose as love turned to see the mugwort mishap on the countertop. "okay, how about you finish sweeping up the glass and i'll deal with the counter. give it a half hour and then we break for coffee. deal?"

the magic box had taken a hit during the earthquake and the place was a mess. determined to try and get some semblance of order back in place, love had taken it upon herself to tidy up.

"you can barely notice it. i mean there's just a teeny - teeny, tiny - little mess. minuscule," she added for extra emphasis, already reaching for a spare broom to help love with the clean up.

She tapped her glass against Jenny's lightly. Gwen had only been partially kidding about the whole possibility of explosions, given how the night was going. But, no, the glass held, whole and strong. It was a good sign, and as Gwen sipped her drink, the smile on her face was genuine.

"You are? Amazing! That's- Yes, that's great. Good, even," she laughed nervously, saving them both from any further stumbled words by taking another long drink. Had it really been so long since she'd... Not that she was labeling anything! It just suddenly felt like she was trying on an old dress that still fit, but not the same. Flexing old muscles, you know? "Rhiannon is great," Jenny agreed, fighting off a laugh as she saw Rhiannon in the back giving them a thumbs up. "Too many cooks totally kills the vibe, I understand."

"Dang, do I really look that out of place?" Hallie gave herself a self-deprecating once over. "On second thoughts, please don't answer that. My heart couldn't take it."

"It's not that, honey. You're just in a very small town where anyone new stands out. You do look gorgeous, though. Are you just passing through?"

"Okay, that does make me feel somewhat better. Like, yeah, sure, in 25 years I would be..." Alison quickly did the math and couldn't help but grimace. "...over fifty, but yeah, at least, that's under a century. So, thanks, Jenny. I mean it. Really." Hopefully she sounded sincere. She really had meant it. "If you are going to be taking requests. generally, I have a whole list of baked goods I would never say no to. Not that I'm trying to get you to bake for me, of course." At the mention of a hypothetical rebuild, Alison forced herself to nod. Yes, Jenny had a point. It wouldn't be the same, but it would be a start, and that was something. "I might take you up on that offer one of those days. I could use a little...kindred spirits."

"Any time," she smiled. "Besides, you're also a kickass witch... you'll have everyone whispering about 'how is she doing it' and 'no way she was born in 19...something something'," Jenny added, finding herself clumsily falling back into joking. It was kinda nice, actually. "No, please. Request away! I could use the challenge and I like to keep busy. And, I don't know, it's silly but... it does make me feel like I'm helping, too. Even if I'm not, really." The block on Jenny's magic had worn down her spirit in a lot of ways, but she had come to terms with it. At least, that's what she told herself. "Yes, exactly. We're a community, now more than ever. You'll be so welcome, I promise."

"Just, given our luck, if we try to get proper drinks, the glasses will either shatter in our hands or catch on fire, and both of those would be pretty messy, no?" Honestly, Gwen would like nothing more to get a proper drink with Jenny Moore, but it seemed that life had other plans.

"Cheers to us," she grinned, holding her glass up to Gwen's. It was just so typical that the first real... Well, the first time Jenny had been out like this in forever, disaster struck. And she was useless to fight it, as always. She shook the thought, sure her newfound pessimism was slipping onto her face.