Adam Milligan deserves better

Now, there's no real evidence to suggest any sort of link between the two of them. They were born and raised in completely different states -different worlds practically-, have different physical features, are different ages (although her best friend didn't make it past 18, she was born two years before Dennis. Trinity also noted that there wasn't any astrological connection, Maria was a Scorpio, like Trinity, and Dennis is a Pisces), and have countless differences personality-wise.

However, Trinity has convinced herself that the similarities are just too abundant to neglect. Before Maria died, she and Trinity spent a lot of time together. Gymnastics practices and competitions, sleepovers, summer days when their parents needed them to get out of the house… they were inseparable. In this time, that had seemed endless, Trinity memorized all the mundane things that made Maria who she was. Now, after a forever of time without her, Trinity is suddenly reminded of her in everything Dennis does.

It began with breakfast on a shared day off. Dennis had woken up half past 8, getting the jump on Trinity, who rolled out of bed around 45 minutes later, just in time to be greeted by the smell of bacon and eggs. She walked into the kitchen as he was plating it. The only variation in their meals were the avocado toast in his and the orange slices in hers.

When Trinity had first moved to Pittsburgh she started to feel further and further from Maria. Not only in physical distance, which was approximately 2,258 miles... and 6 feet, but also because being away from home meant fewer reminders of her altogether. Trinity couldn't go visit the park they used to sneak out to and smoke weed at. She couldn't get lunch at Maria's favorite cafe when she was feeling lonely. To combat these feelings of separation, Trinity did things to incorporate Maria's favorite things into her apartment; things like keeping the kitchen stocked with avocadoes and oranges.

At first, she even tried to get herself to like avocadoes in an attempt to feel closer to Maria, but then she started just buying them and waiting for them to go bad so she could get more... thinking back, a painting of avocadoes probably would've sufficed.

Then, Dennis moved in, and started eating said avocadoes. And then, he was making avocado toast the same way Maria used to. Mushing the avocado into a spread, he topped it with scrambled eggs and everything bagel seasoning. He even cut it diagonally! Trinity couldn't help but notice this. And the ritualistic way Maria used to slice her oranges for after practice? Dennis does it too. Into eighths, then cutting the pith left from the core, and leaving the peel.

Is Trinity just supposed to ignore that? She couldn't possibly be expected to. She opens her notes app and starts a list,

Dennis/Maria Whitaker

Slice oranges identically

Share an avocado toast recipe (?)

Once Trinity starts the list, she can't stop taking observation every time he does something like she did. One morning he's feeling especially clingy after spending the night in her room, and moves his toiletries into her bathroom so they can get ready together. She opens her clock app and begins a stopwatch,

Brush teeth for three minutes at a time

It really was just the little things too,

Loves Extra gum, but only the Polar Ice flavor

"Nighty night"

Bakes chocolate chip cookies and brownies

Eventually it escalates, the resemblance becoming more and more unavoidable; Trinity is pulling out her phone nonstop around Dennis,

Puts left shoe on and then right before tying them (bunny ears method), repeating the pattern by tying left before the right, and using a double knot

Always barefoot around the apartment instead of wearing socks or slippers

Makes homemade lemonade and drinks it every day

Listens to ABBA, same favorite song (Lay All Your Love On Me)

At some point, Dennis catches onto the strange ways Trinity has been acting. The long stares, the odd questions, the sudden interest in every single thing he does. After a long day of noticing her noticing, he finally dares to ask, "Is everything okay?"

Before Trinity can filter herself and find a good way to word what she wants to ask, she blurts, "Are you my best friend?"

"Umm... I don't know? Do you think I'm your best friend?"

"I think you are?"

"You don't seem very convinced."

"Well, you brush your teeth for three minutes, you slice your oranges instead of peeling them, you like Monsters more than Red Bulls, the other day you ate a steak medium rare, you even did a cartwheel when we were drunk that one time!"

Befuddled, he tries to figure out what she's really trying to say to him, "Are those like... the qualities of a best friend to you?"

"Not a best friend, my best friend."

"This is the weirdest way anyone has ever called me special."

"The problem is that I don't think you're special!"

"Oh." The dejected tone in his voice is what makes Trinity realize how this all must sound without context.

"Shit, sorry Huckleberry. Okay... I'm gonna ask you a question, and it might come off a little insane."

"Everything you do kind of does these days-"

"Are you Maria?"

He looks at her as if he’s convinced this is a trap of some sort; the silence stretches for what feels like an hour, but is a minute or two in actuality,