Modern day
"Jen?" Dave calls from the kitchen, as he sat by the counter drinking his morning coffee
"Yeah?" She came running down the stairs, buttoning up her blouse as she rushed for work
"Made you a coffee." He called out, not looking up from his phone
"Oh. Thanks babe." She grabbed it hurriedly
"...This whole 90210 thing has social media going crazy!" He began
"Oh. Yeah, I know." She replied, throwing things in her handbag.
He looked up at her, "Calm down, babe. This whole thing has gotten you in a mess."
"I know... it's crazy."
"Are you okay?" He asked
"Yeah..." She said breathlessly "It's just been a whirlwind of emotions trying to get this reboot together."
"The rumours must be getting to you..." He sighed
"Oh. Don't read those things." She brushed it off
"The fans seem to really want you and Luke to happen."
"Huh?" She seemed startled
"Anything I should know?" He asked
"No, it's just tabloid garbage." She shrugged
"Alright. But honey, you know you can talk to me." He said assuringly
"Believe me, there's nothing going on..."
"What about in the past?" He asked
Flashback - The dressing room
"Wait..." Jennie called out
Luke turned around to face her. She let out a deep breath and headed towards him. He stood still, as she headed to the door and locked it.
"Jen, what are you-?" He was cut off by her hand taking his. Before she could clear her thoughts her lips brushed against his softly.
He paused and she stepped back, her eyes gazing into his as to figure out what he was thinking. He then, returned the kiss, sped up the pace as they made out, heading towards the couch.
She laid on the couch as he slumped himself over her.
This confirmed it. All those scenes felt so real for a reason. They weren't acting during those and they definitely weren't acting now. This was real. Finally, he thought, finally he could embrace all of her, without interruptions, without the director yelling cut and telling him off for adding unscripted kisses or touches. He could just be with her.
He had been longing for it, and so had she, and it felt so good to finally let it out.
Her soft touch was euphoria, as she caressed his arms, his chest, down to his jeans.
I've wanted this for so long, he thought. But as she began to tug at his belt. He felt uneasy.
He placed his hand over hers, "You sure?" He whispered, and she nodded, desperate to give into desire.
They resumed their make out session, as he kissed her neck, but as soon as her hand reached down, he pulled away.
"I'm sorry..." He shook his head, half guilt and half annoyed at himself for delaying this pleasure. "I want you..." He began, "I've wanted this for a long time, but I can't do it."
"Why?" She asked
"I don't wanna put you in this position with Dan. I want you when you won't wake up the next day and regret it. I don't wanna be that guy."
"I understand." She nodded, sitting up. He helped her with her shirt which had been twisted during their embrace, and proceeded to fasten his belt.
"Want me to drive you home?" He asked
"No, that's okay." She smiled.
"We could go back to mine..." He suggested, "Watch a movie."
"No, I should get going... Long day tomorrow. I've gotta come to work and feed you strawberries." She joked and he chuckled.
"Take care, Jen." He smiled, gazing at her.
"You too. See you tomorrow." She waved goodbye.
Modern day
"Dad, mum's here!" Sophie called out
"Alright!" Luke called back
Luke's ex wife Rachel Minnie Sharp arrived through the doors.
"You guys aren't ready yet?" She rolled her eyes, "Jack's wrestling match starts in an hour!"
"We're almost ready." Luke assured, "Jack!" He called for Jack to come downstairs
"How've you been, Minnie?" He asked
"Everything's good. What about you though? Rumours are back now with this whole reboot thing."
"They've got nothing new to write." Luke groaned.
"Everyone's been asking me if you ever hooked up with Aunt Jennie." Sophie asked
"Tell your friends to get off the internet." Luke scoffed
"Soph, go wait in the car, sweetheart." Minnie suggested, before turning to face Luke once she was out of earshot. "There's no smoke without fire, Luke."
"Oh, come on, Min." He whined
"You come on," She chuckled, "How many times did we go out with her and Peter back in the day and you two were all over each other."
"We worked together!" Luke sighed
"And we had an understanding, but that doesn't change the fact that it was hard to tell who was married to who." She replied
"Do you have a point?" He mocked
"...Well, maybe it's not too late... if it'll make you happy."
"There's nothing to go for, alright? We're just friends." He assured
"If you say so." She breathed out, "Now, come on. We're already late." She turned to the staircase, "JACK!"
"I'm here, I'm here!" Jack cried out, running down the stairs
Flashback - Graduation 1993
"You okay?" Luke asked Jennie, on set.
"I will be, I guess." Jennie sighed
"Sorry things didn't work out." Luke wrapped his arm around her shoulder
"He got tired of the rumours. Guess we weren't that secure as a couple, and I can't blame him for feeling the way he did." She murmured
"Just wasn't meant to be..." Luke replied, apologetically
"I can just see the headlines now." She scoffed, "Jennie's fiance calls off engagement. Jennie and Luke's steamy scenes cause drama. Jennie can't keep her man."
"Screw what they write." Luke kissed her forehead, "I'm here for you, you know that."
She looked up at him and smiled, "I know." She said, feeling comforted "It just makes me feel so stupid."
"You're definitely not stupid." He said, stroking her arm
"Thanks..." She rested her head on his shoulder, "For everything."
"What are friends for?" He grinned. She gazed into his comforting eyes, and without thinking brushed her lips against his.
His lips parted, wanting to return that kiss and get lost in her sweetness but he couldn't.
"I... I should've told you. I'm sorta... seeing someone." He cleared his throat
"Oh." She tried to shrug it off, "That's okay."
He felt so conflicted, he still really wanted her. But the timing was so off. Luckily the foundation of their friendship was solid enough to withstand their passion for each other. Jennie remained respectful, well as respectful as they could be. Luke did his best to honour his new relationship, however those lines were always going to be a little blurred between the two of them. As much as they managed to stay platonic-ish, kissing each other was never off limits, in fact for them, kissing became their new hugging.
Modern Day
"Mum, are we ever going to talk about this?" Luca enforced, after handing Jennie her smoothie.
"Luca, not now." Jennie groaned
"This stuff is out of control. Dave was caught by surprise with the intensity of it. Now they're saying Luke could've been my father!"
"Oh, that's ridiculous!" Jennie snapped, grabbing Luca's phone to see the article, "Cheap, clickbait... I mean, seriously. Just because you were named after him."
"I was?" Luca asked
Just then Jennie realised how she had snapped. She was getting so defensive since being thrown into her past.
"You and dad never mentioned that." Luca eyed her closely
"It's a long story, but you know how Luke has always been there for me. I mean, he's your uncle Luke. But rest assured, he is definitely not your father!" Jennie scoffed.
Flashback - The heat of Passion
Luke and Jennie, apart from kissing, maintained a strictly friends relationship, they had a lot of fun together and had a great sense of humour. Despite the passion between them, they always joked around as friends, lightening the mood, and their hidden feelings. That was until a couple months into season 4. Unfortunately life imitates art, as their characters struggled to stay apart, the anguish got to both of them.
"Cut!" The director called out, as Jennie stood there in her red dress, Luke holding her in his arms. They had forgotten they were filming up until that point "Luke," The director walked over to them, "Let's try this again, maybe less neck kissing this time, your head is blocking the shot."
"Alright..." Luke grinned, "I'll do this shot 10 times if i have to." He winked and Jennie.
Luke began to purposely muck about and get the shot wrong, only to prolong their kissing scene.
"Cut!" The director yelled again, "The line is 'In the middle east they have these winds called the Siroccos.'"
"He knows!" Jennie groaned, then turned to whisper to him, "Stop messing this up."
"I don't want it to end." He smirked at her.
Finally the scene was shot. As everyone got ready to go home, Luke offered Jennie a ride and this time, she took it.
"I don't wanna go home." Jennie sighed, once they were in the car.
"So, don't." Luke acknowledged. He glanced at her, his head was spinning with how much fun today was and how badly he didn't want to let go of her. And he realised he was about to give into temptation and was struggling to find reasons to not go there. "Come to mine." He blurted out
She hesitated. She wanted to, really wanted to but her conscience kept trying to stop her. But every time she reminded herself that he wasn't really hers, despite how he made her feel, she didn't want to wait. She wanted him now.
"Let's go." She finally breathed out
That was the first night they made love. And the first night that opened the gate. For the rest of the year, they were officially having an affair. Yet they had convinced themselves they were just friends with benefits. The cast and crew had caught on, but knew how dangerous for both of them it would be if it got out. It was the best year of their experience together. They couldn't keep their hands off of each other. The lines were so blurred now, they were almost in denial. Just friends, they always said, conveniently leaving out the benefits.
