All In (Jack/Liz, snow)
Title: All In
For: ham_napkin
Prompt: Jack/Liz, snow
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 675
Summary: Jack's gambling with his heart.
Feedback/comments always appreciated.
Disclaimer: Characters are not mine. Don't sue.
It’s just beginning to snow when Liz walks Jack out to his rental car.
“You remember how to get back to the hotel, right?”
“Of course, Lemon. It’s not my first time in White Haven. As you may recall.”
Her eyes twirl about at the cascading white flakes. “Oh, it’s the first snow of the season. It’s so pretty."
“Yes, it’s very beautiful,” he replies. Her childlike amazement occupies all of her attention. She doesn’t notice his eyes focused on her, and only her.
“Lemon?”
She lowers her gaze to meet his. He feels his lips reflexively mirror her innocently contagious smile.
“I had a wonderful time. That was the best Thanksgiving I’ve had in years.”
“Really? That’s awesome.” Her genuine delight is actually visible when her warm breath condenses as it hits the cool night air.
“Thank you for inviting me.”
“Oh, jeez, no need to thank me, Jack. I’m glad you came. I have so much to be thankful for this year. My Dealbreakers book, and now the talk show. I owe it all to you.”
“Nonsense, Lemon. Dealbreakers was your idea. I just helped you capitalize on it.”
“Yeah, the part where you make money, Jack,” she laughs. “I’d have nothing to show for it if you didn’t help me.” She steps closer, arches up onto her tiptoes. Her arms clumsily wrap around his substantially larger frame for a quick hug. “Thanks, Jack.”
He wonders if she heard his breath hitch when she touched him. Wonders if his eyes are giving away what his heart is feeling. The moment is perfect. Absolutely perfect. All he has to do is lower his lips a few inches to connect with hers.
She mistakes his silence for uneasiness and quickly steps back. “Right. You’re not a big hugger. Sorry about that.”
“No!” he nearly shouts as he reaches for her wrist, wanting her to stay close. He lets go as soon as he comes to his senses but his cover is surely blown. She has to know what he’s feeling. How can she not tell how madly in love he is with her? His heart racing, he desperately searches for some sign she finally understands. The initial shock in her eyes seems to blend into mere surprise. Or is it fear? Why is he so unsure?
“No, hugging is fine, Lemon. Friends hug. All the time. We’re friends. We can hug, right?” He cackles like a complete idiot at the end of his word vomit. He’s such a horrible actor.
And still Liz is silent. The awkward tension so thick it hangs in the frigid air with each rapid breath between them.
He wants to jump in the car and speed away as fast as possible. He’s able to muster up enough self-respect to thank her one last time before fleeing. Leaving her silent and alone in her parents’ driveway. His cowardice sickens him, but he’s too afraid she fully comprehends his desires, and doesn’t reciprocate them. He can’t unmask his true feelings without absolute certainty she feels the same. It would ruin everything if she didn’t. She’s too important, their friendship too vital. She’s everything. He can’t risk losing her because of imprudent declarations of unrequited love.
He rounds the corner, mercilessly cursing himself, slamming the steering wheel with his fists. He halts at the first stop sign. Unable to forge ahead in shame, or gallantly turn around and race back to her.
Seconds turn to minutes, his fate hanging in the balance.
He stares at his own reflection in the rearview mirror, verbally bashes himself. “Quit being such a chicken shit! Just do it! Take a fucking chance!”
He smashes his skull against the head rest, nearly choking on his own gasping breaths.
“Take a chance,” he keeps mumbling.
Finally when his heart and soul convince his brain, he looks back into the mirror. “She’s worth it. She’s worth the risk.”
He slams on the gas pedal and flies into the intersection to make a u-turn.
END
For: ham_napkin
Prompt: Jack/Liz, snow
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 675
Summary: Jack's gambling with his heart.
Feedback/comments always appreciated.
Disclaimer: Characters are not mine. Don't sue.
It’s just beginning to snow when Liz walks Jack out to his rental car.
“You remember how to get back to the hotel, right?”
“Of course, Lemon. It’s not my first time in White Haven. As you may recall.”
Her eyes twirl about at the cascading white flakes. “Oh, it’s the first snow of the season. It’s so pretty."
“Yes, it’s very beautiful,” he replies. Her childlike amazement occupies all of her attention. She doesn’t notice his eyes focused on her, and only her.
“Lemon?”
She lowers her gaze to meet his. He feels his lips reflexively mirror her innocently contagious smile.
“I had a wonderful time. That was the best Thanksgiving I’ve had in years.”
“Really? That’s awesome.” Her genuine delight is actually visible when her warm breath condenses as it hits the cool night air.
“Thank you for inviting me.”
“Oh, jeez, no need to thank me, Jack. I’m glad you came. I have so much to be thankful for this year. My Dealbreakers book, and now the talk show. I owe it all to you.”
“Nonsense, Lemon. Dealbreakers was your idea. I just helped you capitalize on it.”
“Yeah, the part where you make money, Jack,” she laughs. “I’d have nothing to show for it if you didn’t help me.” She steps closer, arches up onto her tiptoes. Her arms clumsily wrap around his substantially larger frame for a quick hug. “Thanks, Jack.”
He wonders if she heard his breath hitch when she touched him. Wonders if his eyes are giving away what his heart is feeling. The moment is perfect. Absolutely perfect. All he has to do is lower his lips a few inches to connect with hers.
She mistakes his silence for uneasiness and quickly steps back. “Right. You’re not a big hugger. Sorry about that.”
“No!” he nearly shouts as he reaches for her wrist, wanting her to stay close. He lets go as soon as he comes to his senses but his cover is surely blown. She has to know what he’s feeling. How can she not tell how madly in love he is with her? His heart racing, he desperately searches for some sign she finally understands. The initial shock in her eyes seems to blend into mere surprise. Or is it fear? Why is he so unsure?
“No, hugging is fine, Lemon. Friends hug. All the time. We’re friends. We can hug, right?” He cackles like a complete idiot at the end of his word vomit. He’s such a horrible actor.
And still Liz is silent. The awkward tension so thick it hangs in the frigid air with each rapid breath between them.
He wants to jump in the car and speed away as fast as possible. He’s able to muster up enough self-respect to thank her one last time before fleeing. Leaving her silent and alone in her parents’ driveway. His cowardice sickens him, but he’s too afraid she fully comprehends his desires, and doesn’t reciprocate them. He can’t unmask his true feelings without absolute certainty she feels the same. It would ruin everything if she didn’t. She’s too important, their friendship too vital. She’s everything. He can’t risk losing her because of imprudent declarations of unrequited love.
He rounds the corner, mercilessly cursing himself, slamming the steering wheel with his fists. He halts at the first stop sign. Unable to forge ahead in shame, or gallantly turn around and race back to her.
Seconds turn to minutes, his fate hanging in the balance.
He stares at his own reflection in the rearview mirror, verbally bashes himself. “Quit being such a chicken shit! Just do it! Take a fucking chance!”
He smashes his skull against the head rest, nearly choking on his own gasping breaths.
“Take a chance,” he keeps mumbling.
Finally when his heart and soul convince his brain, he looks back into the mirror. “She’s worth it. She’s worth the risk.”
He slams on the gas pedal and flies into the intersection to make a u-turn.
END