Where Do We Go From Here? [30 Rock; Jack/Liz]
TITLE: Where Do We Go From Here?
FANDOM: 30 Rock
PAIRING: Jack/Liz
SPOILERS: "Cooter"; my own fic: Frightened You'll Slip Away
RATING: PG
SUMMARY:
*****
Liz felt terrible for leaving Jack the way that she did, but she truthfully had no clue what she could have said to him. If she would've been forced to think on her feet and respond without proper thinking time, she would've had to hurt Jack. And Jack was still her friend; she'd never want to hurt him in that big of a way. So, she had to hurt him only a little and leave.
The next two weeks between them were strained. She wasn't sure what to say to him, and there were the occasional awkward silences when they were alone in his office together. Jack always looked like he wanted to say something, but Liz never let him. Anytime he would open his mouth to fill an awkward silence, she would blurt out something inane to steer him away from whatever he'd been about to say.
So for two weeks it continued on like this. She mentioned what had happened to both Jenna and Pete. Pete thought that maybe she shouldn't go up to his office as much. Liz told him she had to, since she and Jack always worked closely on the show together, and since they were still friends and all. Jenna thought she should kiss Jack to figure out how she feels. Liz told her she'd never do that, especially now that she knew how Jack felt. It would mean too much to him and not enough to her.
Into the third week, Jenna burst into her office with an announcement -- that she was reviving her role as Evita (on Broadway this time, which Liz thought maybe had something to do with how big the "Me Want Food" thing had gotten this year), and that the whole cast and crew of TGS was invited to opening night. Liz was caught off-guard and, therefore, couldn't really fake an illness in advance.
"Oh, and! I met a guy for you," Jenna told her, eyes wide and bright with excitement. "His name's Greg and he's a back-up dancer for Janet Jackson."
Which, of course, was every little girl's dream. Liz faked a smile. "Great. Why, um... why would I want to go out with him?"
"Because he's hot, Liz." To Jenna there could be no other reason.
"But what kind of message do you think that would send to Jack?"
Jenna made a face, like she was nuts for even considering another person's feelings. "Why should it matter? It would show Jack that you've moved on from whatever awkward little thing happened between you guys." Shrugging, she added casually, "He has, after all."
For some reason, Liz's heart flapped right up into her throat. "Wait, what?"
Jenna furrowed her brow while she fixed her curls in the mirror. "What, you didn't know that?"
"No."
"Wow, really? It's spread all over TGS. Supposedly he's dating this hot Russian volleyball player or something." One of her eyebrows flipped up conspicuously as she added, "A twenty-five-year-old volleyball player."
"Oh!" Liz exhaled her 'oh,' and faked a smile. "Well good for him! So he's over me then." She nodded, wondering why her heart was still beating double-time up in her throat, and why she wanted to cry. "Whew, that's a relief."
"Is it?" Jenna was watching her through her reflection, still playing with her curls. Liz hated when she did that, like she could see through her.
So she brightened her smile. "Yeah! It's a huge relief." She had to remind herself to swallow. And breathe. "And wow! That was, um... quick!"
Jenna just raised an eyebrow, lips twitching slightly in a smirk.
"Really really quick. I didn't expect that he'd--"
"Get over you so quickly?" Jenna offered, smirk widening a little.
"No! No, I mean... I just mean..." She sighed. "I don't know what I mean."
"Well here's Greg's number," Jenna sighed back, still trying to conceal the smirk. "You guys have one of those cool opera box thingies reserved, so remember to dress nice!"
"Okay," Liz returned distractedly, not even looking up as Jenna headed out.
How could Jack not tell her that he was seeing someone? Sure, things had been awkward between them lately, but they were still friends, weren't they? He could've at least come to her and said, "Guess what, Lemon? I'm over you and your nerdish creativity and I'm going to date empty-headed volleyball players."
Or, y'know... something like that.
But more importantly, why did this matter to her so much? Jack was her friend. Her friend that was formerly in love with her. Her friend that dropped a bomb in her lap and looked at her like she was his entire world sometimes.
So he was dating someone. Big deal. On Friday, she'd be dating someone too. And then they could move on like this whole silly thing never happened.
Right?
FIN
Like what you've read? Why don't you watch or join the community?
{x-post to jack_liz and 30_rock}
FANDOM: 30 Rock
PAIRING: Jack/Liz
SPOILERS: "Cooter"; my own fic: Frightened You'll Slip Away
RATING: PG
SUMMARY:
*****
Liz felt terrible for leaving Jack the way that she did, but she truthfully had no clue what she could have said to him. If she would've been forced to think on her feet and respond without proper thinking time, she would've had to hurt Jack. And Jack was still her friend; she'd never want to hurt him in that big of a way. So, she had to hurt him only a little and leave.
The next two weeks between them were strained. She wasn't sure what to say to him, and there were the occasional awkward silences when they were alone in his office together. Jack always looked like he wanted to say something, but Liz never let him. Anytime he would open his mouth to fill an awkward silence, she would blurt out something inane to steer him away from whatever he'd been about to say.
So for two weeks it continued on like this. She mentioned what had happened to both Jenna and Pete. Pete thought that maybe she shouldn't go up to his office as much. Liz told him she had to, since she and Jack always worked closely on the show together, and since they were still friends and all. Jenna thought she should kiss Jack to figure out how she feels. Liz told her she'd never do that, especially now that she knew how Jack felt. It would mean too much to him and not enough to her.
Into the third week, Jenna burst into her office with an announcement -- that she was reviving her role as Evita (on Broadway this time, which Liz thought maybe had something to do with how big the "Me Want Food" thing had gotten this year), and that the whole cast and crew of TGS was invited to opening night. Liz was caught off-guard and, therefore, couldn't really fake an illness in advance.
"Oh, and! I met a guy for you," Jenna told her, eyes wide and bright with excitement. "His name's Greg and he's a back-up dancer for Janet Jackson."
Which, of course, was every little girl's dream. Liz faked a smile. "Great. Why, um... why would I want to go out with him?"
"Because he's hot, Liz." To Jenna there could be no other reason.
"But what kind of message do you think that would send to Jack?"
Jenna made a face, like she was nuts for even considering another person's feelings. "Why should it matter? It would show Jack that you've moved on from whatever awkward little thing happened between you guys." Shrugging, she added casually, "He has, after all."
For some reason, Liz's heart flapped right up into her throat. "Wait, what?"
Jenna furrowed her brow while she fixed her curls in the mirror. "What, you didn't know that?"
"No."
"Wow, really? It's spread all over TGS. Supposedly he's dating this hot Russian volleyball player or something." One of her eyebrows flipped up conspicuously as she added, "A twenty-five-year-old volleyball player."
"Oh!" Liz exhaled her 'oh,' and faked a smile. "Well good for him! So he's over me then." She nodded, wondering why her heart was still beating double-time up in her throat, and why she wanted to cry. "Whew, that's a relief."
"Is it?" Jenna was watching her through her reflection, still playing with her curls. Liz hated when she did that, like she could see through her.
So she brightened her smile. "Yeah! It's a huge relief." She had to remind herself to swallow. And breathe. "And wow! That was, um... quick!"
Jenna just raised an eyebrow, lips twitching slightly in a smirk.
"Really really quick. I didn't expect that he'd--"
"Get over you so quickly?" Jenna offered, smirk widening a little.
"No! No, I mean... I just mean..." She sighed. "I don't know what I mean."
"Well here's Greg's number," Jenna sighed back, still trying to conceal the smirk. "You guys have one of those cool opera box thingies reserved, so remember to dress nice!"
"Okay," Liz returned distractedly, not even looking up as Jenna headed out.
How could Jack not tell her that he was seeing someone? Sure, things had been awkward between them lately, but they were still friends, weren't they? He could've at least come to her and said, "Guess what, Lemon? I'm over you and your nerdish creativity and I'm going to date empty-headed volleyball players."
Or, y'know... something like that.
But more importantly, why did this matter to her so much? Jack was her friend. Her friend that was formerly in love with her. Her friend that dropped a bomb in her lap and looked at her like she was his entire world sometimes.
So he was dating someone. Big deal. On Friday, she'd be dating someone too. And then they could move on like this whole silly thing never happened.
Right?
FIN
Like what you've read? Why don't you watch or join the community?
{x-post to jack_liz and 30_rock}