"Distracting"
Disclaimer: These characters did not originate here. I'm simply borrowing.
Show: Once and Again
Rating: PG for now
Author: Colleen
Synopsis: Post-Jake and Tiffany's wedding. Jessie frets about Australia… Katie frets about Jessie's fretting... Lily frets about everything (par the usual).
Email: vegasbaby81@yahoo.com Feed back welcomed.
Part 1: "The Outer Reaches of the Dance Floor"
Jake and Tiffany's Reception
Toasts had been made, dinner had been finished, high heels and cumber bunds had been removed. As the reception wound down, Jessie and Katie gravitated toward a few chairs lining the edge of the dance floor. They sat, watching the others continue to dance and celebrate. Katie couldn't help but notice that Jessie had been a bit distracted all night. Sure, they had gone through all the motions—tormenting Eli, dancing, chatting with Rick and Lily during dinner, who, oddly enough, also seemed distracted. The motions were right, but the feeling behind them was somewhat lacking. In fact, the only real, positive emotion Katie had felt from Jessie all night came during the ceremony when Jessie reached for her hand. The public gesture, while totally welcomed and appreciated by Katie, was also completely unexpected. Jessie had been very clear about wanting to keep their relationship discreet. And, Katie couldn't help but wonder what had charged Jessie's momentary change of heart.
Jessie herself realized she had spent most of the night distracted and preoccupied. The idea of Australia, having to leave Katie behind for an entire year, missing out on thousands of moments to hold hands, kiss, look into each other's eyes—it terrified Jessie. And, she was sick of wasting time. She knew Katie was special to her—she wanted to be with Katie. And, when she reached for Katie's hand during the vows, for the first time all night she felt connected. It was a feeling she wanted to stick around.
As they sat together on the edge of the dance floor watching the dancing and general merriment, there came a point where Katie could no longer silently fret about Jessie's preoccupation. She needed to talk to Jessie about whatever it was that was bothering her. Katie worried that Jessie's mind was chastising her heart for reaching for her hand. But, just as her fears surfaced, Jessie leaned her body into Katie's, resting her head on Katie's shoulder. The simple affection was comforting, and certainly appreciated. Katie brought an arm around Jessie, and rubbed her back in soothing circles. Jessie closed her eyes, trying unsuccessfully to tap into the comfort Katie was offering, trying to dispel the worrisome thoughts of other continents from her mind. No matter how much she wanted to believe that everything would be all right, the reality of Australia pulled at her, demanding her attention.
"Someone's been quiet all night," Katie whispered. With her free hand, she reached for Jessie's.
"I know. I'm sorry." Jessie sighed, attempting to concentrate on Katie's hand in hers. She didn't want to worry Katie unnecessarily. For all she knew, her dad might turn down the job, and all this worrying would be pointless. But, Jessie knew that Katie picked up on her melancholy mood no matter how she wished to hide it.
Katie waited for Jessie to speak, but her girlfriend's thoughts only seemed to drift farther away from her. "Something's wrong," Katie pressed. Jessie shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "What's wrong, Billie?"
Katie kissed Jessie's forehead, letting her lips linger against Jessie's skin. The gesture nearly broke Jessie's spirits. She didn't want to cry there, in front of everyone. She knew that she had to tell Katie about Australia at some point, but Jake and Tiffany's reception wasn't the time or the place. She didn't want to get into the entire emotional conversation until they were alone, away from all other distractions, all other prying eyes. But, it was too late to hold back all of the emotions, and a few tears escaped from her eyes.
"My dad got a job offer—to make more hotels…" Jessie trailed off.
"Isn't that good news?" Katie asked innocently. She let her thumb run back and forth across Jessie's hand soothingly.
It should be good news, Jessie thought. For everyone but Jessie it was good news. But Jessie couldn't bear to think of a year without Katie. Young love, the kind of love built on desperation and discovery, couldn't wait a whole year. After all, Jessie just found Katie. She couldn't expect Katie to sit at home and be miserable. And, Jessie didn't want to be miserable either. If she was headed to Australia she wanted to be able to enjoy it. Her head began to throb.
"Jessie?" Katie asked. Jessie hadn't answered her question. Instead, she had drifted into her own thoughts again, leaving Katie alone with her own fears. She wanted Jessie to get to the point. Actually, she wanted to drag Jessie to the point so that they could get past whatever it was bothering her. Katie looked out at the dancing couples, wishing she and Jessie were gliding up and down the dance floor. She wanted Jessie to sing in her ear as they swayed back and forth, pressed up against each other. She wanted to convince Jessie that they should be celebrating now: celebrating the wedding, celebrating their new relationship. She wanted to kiss Jessie and take away all her fears, doubts, and worries. She wanted to do a lot of things, but for now, all she could do was wait—wait for Jessie.
Jessie took a deep breath. "The hotel would be in Australia. And he'd—we'd have to move. To Australia."
"Oh." Katie couldn't really think straight. What did all this mean? Jessie was going away? Was this set in stone? Finally, Katie caught herself, admonishing her selfishness. Very smooth, Katie. Your girlfriend already feels like shit and you're just sitting here feeling sorry for yourself. Katie took a deep breath before finally managing to muster the nerve to speak again. "When?" she asked.
"I don't know. It's not even, I mean he hasn't accepted the job—yet. As far as I know."
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Lily's dancin' feet never quite showed for the reception. Her feet and ankles were swollen and sore, her stomach was churning, her head pounded. Needing to get off her aching feet, Lily looked around for a place to sit down. She eventually spotted the row of chairs along the edge of the dance floor where Jessie and Katie were curled up, apparently talking. They looked as exhausted as herself. Lily couldn't help but smile at the two of them. Jessie's head was leaning against Katie's shoulder; she looked so comfortable there. It really was sweet. As Lily made her way over to join them, she noticed the two were holding hands, and then she saw Katie brush a few wisps of hair away from Jessie's face. Lily couldn't help but feel she was intruding on an intimate moment. But, after her paranoia about Grace turned out to be totally unfounded, she didn't want to jump to any conclusions. After all, just the other day Tad had come to the house looking for Jessie. It seemed as though the two were entering the beginning stages of dating. Consequently, after a fleeting moment of worrying that perhaps the girls wanted to be alone, Lily's aching feet and back won out, and Lily finished the trek across the dance floor to the row of chairs. She sat in the empty chair beside Jessie.
"My feet are killing me," Lily explained as she removed her shoes. Katie managed to smile in response. Jessie sat up, suddenly aware of her proximity to Katie. Lily, busily removing her shoes, didn't notice Jessie's reaction. "You two looked so comfortable. I thought I'd join you."
Jessie couldn't help but be a bit mortified. She dropped Katie's hand and stared into her lap, too paranoid to even look at Lily. She knows, Jessie thought. Katie sighed audibly and stared out at the dance floor, trying to hold back her tears. Jessie's quick escape from her embrace left Katie feeling rather helpless.
"What brings you two to the outer reaches of the dance floor?" Lily asked, attempting to make conversation, anything to get her mind off Australia, the pregnancy, her fight and subsequent reconciliation with Rick.
"We couldn't quite keep up with the wonders of Jimmy Buffet." Katie half-heartedly joked. Jessie smirked in spite of herself, not able to resist Katie's humor.
"Ah." Lily slumped back in her chair and rubbed her forehead. She had developed a splitting headache over the course of the evening. Seems that lately she'd been getting a lot of those.
"You Ok, Lily?" Jessie asked, watching Lily's obvious discomfort.
"Yeah. I'm just nauseous and aching and my head is pounding…" Lily attempted to smile reassuringly.
"Are you getting sick?"
"You could say that," Lily answered coyly. Jessie peered back at Lily, obviously concerned. Lily didn't want to worry her. "There's just a lot going on right now," she added.
"Heh." Katie responded, receiving a quizzical look from Lily.
"Are you nervous about Australia?" Jessie asked, ignoring Katie's reaction.
"That among other things." Lily answered.
"Other things?" Jessie pressed.
Lily managed a very exhausted looking smile. "Can you two keep a secret?" she asked.
Jessie and Katie looked at each other. "I think we can manage," Katie said, throwing a sidelong glance to Jessie, who smirked. Katie definitely had a point.
"Yeah." Jessie nodded.
Watching Jessie's smirk turn into a beaming smile, Katie couldn't resist the irony of the moment and let a soft laugh escape her lips. Jessie just smiled wider at Katie, before turning to a bewildered Lily.
"What's so amusing?" Lily asked. Jessie, still grinning like an idiot, merely shrugged her shoulders.
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Next time in "Distracting," Lily divulges her secret to the girls. Jessie witnesses tension between Rick and Sam. And, Katie and Lily discuss the prospect of Australia.
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