That Kind of Girl (2/5)
It was two weeks later that Liz, innocently sitting down to have a bowl of chili and watch some Dateline, saw Dennis on "To Catch a Predator." It was the last straw. She left him that night, gave back the ring (the "real" one had yet to materialize, anyway) and moved in with Jenna the next day.
Although Jenna's continuing association with TGS sometimes made Liz sad, it was good to be back in Manhattan and back with her friend. Jenna had started a relationship with a new guy. This was bad news: it meant Liz had to deal with him hanging around their apartment, the funny noises coming from Jenna's bedroom, and finding various items lying around the house, items she couldn't begin to understand but that she assumed were sex toys.
On the other hand, Jenna had broken off (who had ended it? Liz wasn't sure) whatever it was she shared with Jack. For reasons she couldn't explain, that gave Liz a warm feeling.
It must be because Jenna's relationship with him wasn't good for her. Yes, that was it.
Late one Thursday night, Liz was digging through her purse and stumbled on Jack's card. She studied it for a long minute, twirling it around in her hand. It couldn't hurt, she thought. She could use a night out.
She picked up the phone.
**
Liz normally wouldn't go through that much effort for a date, but after showing up to their last one in a blazer, she decided to do a little extra. She went out -- to a women's clothing store -- and got a hot little blue sleeveless number. Jack had told her to dress formally anyway; he was taking her to a black tie affair.
"Wow! Liz! You look... fabulous."
She giggled involuntarily.
It was a birthday party for some sort of European royalty -- she had no idea who, even after Jack explained it. It was a bizarre evening. The prince was a grotesque, inbred genetic freak. There were a number of gorgeous women giving Jack eyes, which made her wonder how much he got around. More interesting still, Liz met Jack's ex-wife, who was clearly crazy. Thanks to his competitive streak, Jack reacted to meeting Bianca's fiancee by pretending that Liz was his live-in girlfriend. It was uncomfortable but fun -- at least until Bianca attacked her. Despite all the hijinks, though, she'd actually had a really good time.
Jack followed her up to her apartment door without being invited. What did he think he was getting?
"Well, thanks for a fun evening." That seemed like a good way to indicate they were done. "You friend is... interesting."
"The doctors say he's going to live for a hundred years."
She opened her door and Jack strolled in.
"No, please, come in." she added sarcastically.
After a little banter about the encounter with Bianca, and a disparaging remark about Jenna's place, Jack got down to business. Liz couldn't decide if she was glad that Jenna wasn't home or not.
"So your engagement is off?"
"Yeah."
"Who ended it?"
"I did."
"How come?"
Liz was hardly about to tell him the whole truth. "Because you were right the other night. I can do better. So thanks for that."
"I want to thank you, too. For showing me I could have a pleasant evening with a woman my own age."
Liz was a bit irritated at that. "I'm twelve years younger than you."
"A woman your age, then."
Liz nodded at the acknowledgment. They looked at each other for a beat.
Jack drew closer and give Liz a kiss. It felt good, and quickly became passionate, lingering for what seemed like a long time. His hands, originally around her head, moved to her shoulders and down her back.
It felt good enough that Liz panicked a bit.
She took a break. "Jack, wait... I'm not sure what you're expecting, but I'm not that kind of girl."
"What kind of girl?"
"The kind of girl to have a guy up in her apartment on the first date."
"Well, how very lucky for us it's our second." He moved to start again.
She interrupted him. "You know what I mean."
"Are you always this awkward when there's a gentleman at your place?"
She frowned at him.
He drew back. "Relax, Liz. I thought things were going well... but I have no desire to compel you to do something you have no wish to do."
"No, it's not that I don't want...", she started again. "It was going well. It's just too soon." She gave him a hopeful look, hopeful he understood and wasn't too put off by it.
"I understand. I suppose it's time to bid you... goodnight, then."
"Goodnight, Jack. And I really did have a good time."
"I did too."
And with that he was gone. As soon as the door was shut, Liz smacked her forehead with the heel of her hand. "He's a good guy, Liz. Don't Lemon this," she said to herself.
TBC
Although Jenna's continuing association with TGS sometimes made Liz sad, it was good to be back in Manhattan and back with her friend. Jenna had started a relationship with a new guy. This was bad news: it meant Liz had to deal with him hanging around their apartment, the funny noises coming from Jenna's bedroom, and finding various items lying around the house, items she couldn't begin to understand but that she assumed were sex toys.
On the other hand, Jenna had broken off (who had ended it? Liz wasn't sure) whatever it was she shared with Jack. For reasons she couldn't explain, that gave Liz a warm feeling.
It must be because Jenna's relationship with him wasn't good for her. Yes, that was it.
Late one Thursday night, Liz was digging through her purse and stumbled on Jack's card. She studied it for a long minute, twirling it around in her hand. It couldn't hurt, she thought. She could use a night out.
She picked up the phone.
**
Liz normally wouldn't go through that much effort for a date, but after showing up to their last one in a blazer, she decided to do a little extra. She went out -- to a women's clothing store -- and got a hot little blue sleeveless number. Jack had told her to dress formally anyway; he was taking her to a black tie affair.
"Wow! Liz! You look... fabulous."
She giggled involuntarily.
It was a birthday party for some sort of European royalty -- she had no idea who, even after Jack explained it. It was a bizarre evening. The prince was a grotesque, inbred genetic freak. There were a number of gorgeous women giving Jack eyes, which made her wonder how much he got around. More interesting still, Liz met Jack's ex-wife, who was clearly crazy. Thanks to his competitive streak, Jack reacted to meeting Bianca's fiancee by pretending that Liz was his live-in girlfriend. It was uncomfortable but fun -- at least until Bianca attacked her. Despite all the hijinks, though, she'd actually had a really good time.
Jack followed her up to her apartment door without being invited. What did he think he was getting?
"Well, thanks for a fun evening." That seemed like a good way to indicate they were done. "You friend is... interesting."
"The doctors say he's going to live for a hundred years."
She opened her door and Jack strolled in.
"No, please, come in." she added sarcastically.
After a little banter about the encounter with Bianca, and a disparaging remark about Jenna's place, Jack got down to business. Liz couldn't decide if she was glad that Jenna wasn't home or not.
"So your engagement is off?"
"Yeah."
"Who ended it?"
"I did."
"How come?"
Liz was hardly about to tell him the whole truth. "Because you were right the other night. I can do better. So thanks for that."
"I want to thank you, too. For showing me I could have a pleasant evening with a woman my own age."
Liz was a bit irritated at that. "I'm twelve years younger than you."
"A woman your age, then."
Liz nodded at the acknowledgment. They looked at each other for a beat.
Jack drew closer and give Liz a kiss. It felt good, and quickly became passionate, lingering for what seemed like a long time. His hands, originally around her head, moved to her shoulders and down her back.
It felt good enough that Liz panicked a bit.
She took a break. "Jack, wait... I'm not sure what you're expecting, but I'm not that kind of girl."
"What kind of girl?"
"The kind of girl to have a guy up in her apartment on the first date."
"Well, how very lucky for us it's our second." He moved to start again.
She interrupted him. "You know what I mean."
"Are you always this awkward when there's a gentleman at your place?"
She frowned at him.
He drew back. "Relax, Liz. I thought things were going well... but I have no desire to compel you to do something you have no wish to do."
"No, it's not that I don't want...", she started again. "It was going well. It's just too soon." She gave him a hopeful look, hopeful he understood and wasn't too put off by it.
"I understand. I suppose it's time to bid you... goodnight, then."
"Goodnight, Jack. And I really did have a good time."
"I did too."
And with that he was gone. As soon as the door was shut, Liz smacked her forehead with the heel of her hand. "He's a good guy, Liz. Don't Lemon this," she said to herself.
TBC