Testing, testing...
Title: A Gentle Send-Off
Author: midnitecruiser
Rating: PG, I suppose
Word Count: 950
Notes: Written for the "What Happens Next?" challenge at milady_milord.
Disclaimer: I'm not in it for the money.
They're standing apart now, and her expectant eyes are peering up at him through thick, pretty lashes. Her head is cocked slightly to one side; her lips (he can still feel them all over his) part inquisitively. Clearly, he's supposed to articulate just what it is he's thinking, but doubt and guilt are already beginning to tear at the corners of his lust-addled brain. An apology would be unnecessary - he's pretty sure that Annie is as thrilled with what just happened as he is - but what is he doing kissing her when, for all he knows, Britta and Slater are on their way outside right now? What is he doing kissing her at all? She just broke up with Vaughn, unless she didn't and they're going to try it long distance, and then there's his wreck of a love life -
"Jeff," says Annie's voice, "You've got some…” She brings her hand to the corner of his lips and begins to wipe away the evidence of the unspoken moment. His eyes close involuntarily (he doesn't want to forget); he imagines the look of concentration she must be wearing as she tackles this new challenge (furrowed brow, bitten lower lip). Goosebumps bloom beneath the gentle strokes of her thumb, but his mind jumps straight to 'trembling feminine fingers' and he curses this stupid school for putting him in these sorts of situations.
No, that's not right. It isn't Greendale's fault, or Britta's for declaring that she loved him, or Slater's for matching her bid. Even Dean Pelton, the man who felt compelled to hold five community college dances in a single year, can't be blamed. Jeff has made his peace with Greendale. He's here now, and what he makes of that is up to him.
What to do, then? There are three women in his life, all of them gorgeous, all of them interested in him. Dealing with them one at a time seems wise. Best to start with the one who doesn't want to injure him at this particular moment.
"Annie," he begins, and opens his eyes to meet hers. Her hand leaves his cheek and the sudden absence of her touch leaves the night a little colder and quieter, but he plows on.
"There's clearly something between us. That kiss was - I'm faster than some bacteria, as you know, so I know what I'm talking about when I say it was A-plus worthy." She laughs without an ounce of pity or solicitude. It's a beautiful, encouraging sound. "It's something I might like to do again some time. I really mean that. And I hope you know that I love having you in the study group. Everybody does. Pierce was being an idiot earlier. You're clever and passionate and you give great advice, and because of you even Troy passed Spanish. I'm not an expert at apologies, so if I - if I ever make you feel like the odd man out, that's just me failing to communicate how much I value our friendship."
At this, a soft sob escapes Annie's lips. Horrified, Jeff starts to ask what he's done wrong, but stops when he notices she's smiling from ear to ear. Two tears have escaped her eyes, and he supposes it would be romantic of him to wipe them away, but he's thrown by this display of conflicting emotions (plus, he'd been on a roll with that speech, and now he can't remember what he was going to say next). Ordinarily, her doe eyes are doubly dangerous when they're swimming with tears, but something is different tonight.
She softly huffs, still grinning, and Jeff raises an eyebrow. "I thought I was doing okay," he says.
"You were doing great," she assures him. "These are good tears. What you said about the group and valuing our friendship - that was beautiful. I'm just a little disappointed that all of this is happening tonight. I want to be selfish and keep you here, but you have to get back in there and do some damage control."
Jeff smiles crookedly. "You know, we could say that you didn't give me a choice."
Annie takes a step forward and pushes herself up on her toes. He bows his head to meet her halfway, and their lips meet for just a second. He really wants to pull her to him like he did just minutes ago, but this is a gentle send-off; this is her giving him a choice. He pulls away and takes in her heated gaze and marvels at her patience and understanding. Age difference be damned - she's a woman, and she couldn't look any better in the light flooding the sidewalk where they're standing just inches from each other.
"I have just one request," Annie half-whispers. "If this is the start of something real…” Jeff opens his mouth to put her doubts to rest, but she puts up her hand to stop him. "Since this is the start of something real, I want to be the one to tell Britta, but I'm not ready to do it just yet. Can you promise me that you'll leave that up to me?"
There's a real earnestness in her eyes, and he knows that she's committed: to the group, to her friendship with Britta, to what just happened and to what comes next. Jeff knows Annie. He knows she'll make things right.
"If that's what you want, Annie, I promise," he says, and she beams. They linger for just a moment, and then Jeff manages, "Guess we'd better head back inside." He turns and offers her his arm. "Shall I accompany you to the ball, milady?"
Her heart flutters as they link arms. "It would be my honor, milord."
Author: midnitecruiser
Rating: PG, I suppose
Word Count: 950
Notes: Written for the "What Happens Next?" challenge at milady_milord.
Disclaimer: I'm not in it for the money.
They're standing apart now, and her expectant eyes are peering up at him through thick, pretty lashes. Her head is cocked slightly to one side; her lips (he can still feel them all over his) part inquisitively. Clearly, he's supposed to articulate just what it is he's thinking, but doubt and guilt are already beginning to tear at the corners of his lust-addled brain. An apology would be unnecessary - he's pretty sure that Annie is as thrilled with what just happened as he is - but what is he doing kissing her when, for all he knows, Britta and Slater are on their way outside right now? What is he doing kissing her at all? She just broke up with Vaughn, unless she didn't and they're going to try it long distance, and then there's his wreck of a love life -
"Jeff," says Annie's voice, "You've got some…” She brings her hand to the corner of his lips and begins to wipe away the evidence of the unspoken moment. His eyes close involuntarily (he doesn't want to forget); he imagines the look of concentration she must be wearing as she tackles this new challenge (furrowed brow, bitten lower lip). Goosebumps bloom beneath the gentle strokes of her thumb, but his mind jumps straight to 'trembling feminine fingers' and he curses this stupid school for putting him in these sorts of situations.
No, that's not right. It isn't Greendale's fault, or Britta's for declaring that she loved him, or Slater's for matching her bid. Even Dean Pelton, the man who felt compelled to hold five community college dances in a single year, can't be blamed. Jeff has made his peace with Greendale. He's here now, and what he makes of that is up to him.
What to do, then? There are three women in his life, all of them gorgeous, all of them interested in him. Dealing with them one at a time seems wise. Best to start with the one who doesn't want to injure him at this particular moment.
"Annie," he begins, and opens his eyes to meet hers. Her hand leaves his cheek and the sudden absence of her touch leaves the night a little colder and quieter, but he plows on.
"There's clearly something between us. That kiss was - I'm faster than some bacteria, as you know, so I know what I'm talking about when I say it was A-plus worthy." She laughs without an ounce of pity or solicitude. It's a beautiful, encouraging sound. "It's something I might like to do again some time. I really mean that. And I hope you know that I love having you in the study group. Everybody does. Pierce was being an idiot earlier. You're clever and passionate and you give great advice, and because of you even Troy passed Spanish. I'm not an expert at apologies, so if I - if I ever make you feel like the odd man out, that's just me failing to communicate how much I value our friendship."
At this, a soft sob escapes Annie's lips. Horrified, Jeff starts to ask what he's done wrong, but stops when he notices she's smiling from ear to ear. Two tears have escaped her eyes, and he supposes it would be romantic of him to wipe them away, but he's thrown by this display of conflicting emotions (plus, he'd been on a roll with that speech, and now he can't remember what he was going to say next). Ordinarily, her doe eyes are doubly dangerous when they're swimming with tears, but something is different tonight.
She softly huffs, still grinning, and Jeff raises an eyebrow. "I thought I was doing okay," he says.
"You were doing great," she assures him. "These are good tears. What you said about the group and valuing our friendship - that was beautiful. I'm just a little disappointed that all of this is happening tonight. I want to be selfish and keep you here, but you have to get back in there and do some damage control."
Jeff smiles crookedly. "You know, we could say that you didn't give me a choice."
Annie takes a step forward and pushes herself up on her toes. He bows his head to meet her halfway, and their lips meet for just a second. He really wants to pull her to him like he did just minutes ago, but this is a gentle send-off; this is her giving him a choice. He pulls away and takes in her heated gaze and marvels at her patience and understanding. Age difference be damned - she's a woman, and she couldn't look any better in the light flooding the sidewalk where they're standing just inches from each other.
"I have just one request," Annie half-whispers. "If this is the start of something real…” Jeff opens his mouth to put her doubts to rest, but she puts up her hand to stop him. "Since this is the start of something real, I want to be the one to tell Britta, but I'm not ready to do it just yet. Can you promise me that you'll leave that up to me?"
There's a real earnestness in her eyes, and he knows that she's committed: to the group, to her friendship with Britta, to what just happened and to what comes next. Jeff knows Annie. He knows she'll make things right.
"If that's what you want, Annie, I promise," he says, and she beams. They linger for just a moment, and then Jeff manages, "Guess we'd better head back inside." He turns and offers her his arm. "Shall I accompany you to the ball, milady?"
Her heart flutters as they link arms. "It would be my honor, milord."