"I'll be honest Mr. Mariano. When Richard sent me your novel, I really wasn't expecting too much. While he gave a quite positive account of your personality, the underlying details made you just seem a little out of character for the type of writer we usually contract." Mr. Barnes straightened his tie and adjusted his posture in his large leather desk chair.

"Really? How so?" There was only a twinge of sarcasm in his voice.

"Well, you just seemed a little troubled. Richard informed us about some of your past. But assured us you'd grown up, how shall I put it? Right."

"I think that "troubled past" is what gives a writer his edge. Having a bit of a past, not being some stuffed shirt who sits locked up in a library all day, a modern day Jack Kerouac, of sorts." He ran his right hand through his dark brown hair. It was a little longer than it should have been.

"Well, yes. However, being that Richard is such a good friend of mine, I gave the novel a chance. I have to say that I absolutely loved it. We are pleased to offer you a publication deal for this novel and a contract for two more if you so choose."

There was a marked silence. Jess knew that he had come in here and this is what he would hear. He had read their letter to him, but to hear the words were almost unreal.

"I would have creative control?" He asked.

"Of course."

"Mr. Barnes, that is a very generous offer. I'll take it."

"Fantastic! If you could just sign here, here and here on this contract, everything will be in order." Jess placed the pen on the first line and signed it. He did so with each of the following lines as well. Completed, he set down the pen and shook Mr. Barnes hand. "Thank you, Jess. Someone will be in contact with you soon about the publishing aspect of your first novel."

"Thank you." With that, he left.
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"I'm so glad you decided to go in to see the publisher today, Jess. I know you didn't initially want to do it, being all Jack Kerouac and whatnot, but this will be a really great move for you. It will open a lot of doors that may not have otherwise been opened."

"Yeah, thanks to your Grandfather and his connections."

"He really does like you, Jess. He finally sees in you what I saw in you all along." She snuggled closer in to his chest.

"What's that?"

"You're gonna think it's stupid." She replied. He shook his head, urging her to continue. "An original soul, begging to be expressed and accepted."

"You get me. You know that, Rory. I know that. That's why we work. It's what I love about you."

"It's not the only thing you love about me though, right?"

"Of course not!" He began to kiss her neck, making his way up to her lips before speaking again. "It's just one of many, many things I love about you. Like how absolutely gorgeous you look, even when you aren't trying. Some of your little mannerisms that you never notice you do, but you do. And that fact that whenever I am around you, I don't feel like I have to be fake or live up to some standard. Most women have this intimidating standard that a guy needs to live up to. Not you. You know who I am, and you take me as that." He kissed her neck again. She couldn't help but smile. "God, I love you, Rory." He whispered as he held her close. Every sense in her body was tingling right now. She couldn't have moved if she'd wanted to. It was perfect there.

She began thinking about the future. At that moment she couldn't see it without him. She'd tried. It hadn't worked. They were honestly the best for one another.

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"Want some eggs?" He asked as she sleepily rolled out of bed and wandered into the living room Saturday morning.

"Only if they come with a side of coffee." She yawned and smiled.

"Well that's just implied. Of course they do." He placed a plate and a cup down on the island and she sat down on a stool.

"What time is it?" She sipped from her cup.

"Twelve forty-five."

"Wow, we slept in." She grinned.

"That's what a night like last night will do to you." He winked and leaned forward to kiss her. She captured his lips with hers and they lingered there for quite sometime. She smiled. "I got the mail. Your mom must have forwarded your mail here. There's something from Yale."

"Oh." She shuffled through the envelopes until she found the one with her name on it. "They want me to register for classes."

"Well, that's good right? You don't need to be there, do you?"

"No, it's online, but I haven't thought about classes. I don't even know…"

"What?" He asked.

"I don't even know if I want to go back. I mean, us? Things have been going so well. I could go somewhere here. I know this was supposed to be temporary, but wouldn't separation only hurt us again? I don't want that."

"Whoa, Rory. Wait, it's okay. Take a breath. Harvard was your dream and then you went to Yale and realized that was the right thing for you. You just went back after being off for a while. Now, you want to leave again? We can work long distance. It's not that far. It's only a year."

Jess hadn't realized quite how serious she was thinking about them. It's not that he hadn't thought about their future, because he had. It simply had always seemed so far off. Was she thinking wedding bells? Could he ever reconcile himself to marriage, even if it was to someone as great as Rory, someone so perfect for him?

"I guess you're right."

"When do you need to decide by?" He asked.

"August 15th," she replied.

"Two weeks, huh?"

"Yep. Two weeks."

"Hey, that's a long time. You'll figure it out. Call your mom like you always do. You haven't talked to her in a while, have you?"

"No. I'll do that."

"Good." He kissed her again, grasping her hand with his and squeezing it reassuringly.

Two weeks, he thought. Just two weeks.

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Note: Hey everyone! I apologize that this is a bit short, and for the complete and utter lack of updates for the past few months. I really just have not had the time for it with starting up classes again. Sophomore year has been killer. I will try to update more frequently, but I can't promise anything. Also, it feels like the narrative is naturally coming to an end, so just a heads up on that.