The rest of the trip to Paris Jane tried to get her mind off of Maura, she didn't want to spend her last days miserable on a trip she had been really excited about. It didn't help that she kept on seeing her at the hotel, surrounded by the Fairfields. They even looked snooty and Jane felt bad that Maura had to be stuck around them, she did seem different than the others in the high class society. Jane wouldn't be able to deal with that, she liked feeling normal. What she witnessed were several high maintenance people, Maura and even her mother didn't seem to fit in. She couldn't help but wonder what that was all about.
What Jane didn't like was Garrett with his arm around Maura, they were trying to play off as this happy couple and she knew the truth and it hurt but Jane made her decision and apparently so did Maura.
It finally became the last day that Jane and her class were going to be in Paris. She was relieved to go home maybe she could finally forget Maura Isles and go back to not feeling so overwhelmed with emotions. This is why she blocked out any emotions dealing with girls, but she couldn't stand the boys acting like pigs. Jane wanted more than that, she was an independent person but she just wanted someone to love her for who she was and she realized she couldn't even have that.
Jane was in the hallway heading back to her room with a bucket of ice when she seen Maura slip out of another hotel room from her usual one, she assumed it was the one the Fairfields were in, Jane was surprised they didn't reserve the whole top floor of the hotel. Jane spent so much time trying to avoid Maura that she really didn't want to stop but Maura looked distressed about something and Jane grew concerned. "What's got you so down?"
Maura wasn't even aware of Jane's presence until she had spoken to her, startling her slightly. "Oh hi," was all she said, causing Jane to cross her arms.
"Are you feeling okay?" Jane asked and Maura frowned at Jane.
"I don't think it's any of your concern Jane, you want nothing to do with me, remember?" Maura stood up straighter, Jane realized Maura was her height with the heels she were wearing, which to her looked very painful.
"Why are you the one who's mad? What I want to know is why are you wearing that," she grabbed Maura's hand. "I thought he wasn't going to ask you?"
"He changed his mind, plus his father brought it up and he couldn't turn back and I don't know why I'm explaining myself to you. You wanted to be out of my life and I did what I did because I never saw us at having a chance anymore. Plus mother is happy and that's good enough for me. I have reasons for wanting to keep mother happy," she pulled her hand away from Jane's.
"Even if you're unhappy?" Jane asked.
"Yes, Jane, even if I'm unhappy. But that's what we do when we care about someone, we put all of our feelings aside and try to help others. Things in the high society world aren't all that bad, when we care about each other we show that."
"Yeah sounds so structured when they are willing to judge people not in that society, it's them and no one else," Jane shook her head. "I don't even know why I stopped to see if you were alright. Good bye Maura," she turned to walk away.
"Why do you always get to be the one to walk away? And if anyone is being judgemental it's you, I don't like you getting upset about something you don't know about, it's not all what you see in those teenage drama shows, I think you're stereotyping things Jane," Maura mentioned in a half shout, causing Jane to pause her steps. Maura noticed the brunette slump her shoulders before turning back around to face her.
"People with money can get away with pretty much anything Maura, they can pawn their daughters off with a guy to marry. From what I gathered the Fairfields only think of themselves, I've been observing them when you aren't aware that I'm around. I don't understand why they want you to marry him so bad, you're just a teenager." Jane moved closer to Maura, placing the bucket of ice on the floor next to Maura's feet. "You and your mother are nothing like them, but you just don't see it. You guys may be in the same social circle, but you are nothing like them. Maybe your father had the good idea getting away from that and working in Boston when he does. You deserve better than that Maura, and you definitely deserve more than becoming a fuckin' Fairfield just to please your mother and whatever other reason you feel the need to tell yourself," she spoke almost face to face with Maura at this point.
"And what do I deserve then Jane?" she stepped backwards a bit to give them some space.
"You deserve to be happy, from what I see you're under their control and you need to break free from that. You need a fresh start, away from it all, your mother as well. You need to be your own person Maura, I'd hate to know that you're throwing your life away," Jane nervously reached up to tuck a strand of hair behind Maura's ear. "I don't know why I care so much about you, I just... you don't deserve what you're doing to yourself," she whispered, feeling Maura lean into her hand. "We both know you don't want to marry Garrett, you said yes because you were pissed at me. I don't want you to have regrets for the rest of your life," Jane's other hand reached down to slide Maura's engagement ring off of her finger. "You should be engaged when you're ready, not because it seems like the right thing to do," she placed it in the girl's hand, "But because you ended up finding the girl of your dreams. The girl worthy enough to be with Maura Isles." Jane rested her forehead against Maura's. "Does that sound like a better idea then torturing yourself?"
Maura nodded, feeling a little breathless at Jane's words, the way she spoke to her warmed her heart, Jane's actions speaking just as loud as her words. Maura felt so comfortable near Jane, she felt this warm feeling in the pit of her stomach, something nobody else has ever made her feel. She closed her eyes, sliding the ring into her jacket pocket. Before Maura could do anything else, she felt Jane's soft lips pressed gently against her own lips for a moment. It was a short peck on the lips, but Maura already missed them on hers, she wrapped her arms around Jane's neck pulling her into another kiss. She felt Jane gasp against her lips before resting her hand on her arm, and deepening the kiss.
Maura felt her back hit the wall, the kiss was making her dizzy, but in a good way she reminded herself. "Wow," was all Maura could manage to get out once Jane pulled away from the kiss.
Jane smiled warmly at Maura, "That was nothing like I imagined kissing you would be like."
"I, was that a compliment?" she scrunched up her nose in confusion.
"Yes Maura, that was a very good compliment. It was better than I thought, much better," she grinned, about to lean in again when the hotel room door opened, it was Constance.
"Maura sweetie how long do you need fresh air for?" she asked, looking up and seeing that her daughter wasn't alone. "Oh Jane, I didn't realize you were still in Paris."
Jane bit her bottom lip, glancing at the older Isles woman, "Yes ma'am, today is the last day."
"Well I'm glad that you were able to catch my daughter, she mentioned you two had a fight the other day when you were both sick. I take it things are better now?" Constance looked between the two.
"Much better," Jane smiled, bending down to grab her bucket of ice. "I should get back to my room, my classmates are probably wondering where I am with the ice. Maybe I'll see you both in Boston one day. Bye Mrs. Isles, Maura," she gave Maura a nod before heading back to her hotel room.
"That's good you and Jane were able to make up whatever problems you both had, why did you take your engagement ring off?" Constance asked, noticing her daughter's hand lacking the ring.
Maura frowned taking it out of her pocket, "I can't marry Garrett mother, I don't love him. Jane made me realize I would be making a mistake. I haven't really been honest with myself, or you for that matter. We need to have a talk mother," she shifted nervously.
"Maybe you should go back inside and talk to Garrett first, if you're having doubts he should know."
"Mother, I'm not having doubts," she fidgeted with the engagement ring. "I much rather tell you first then letting the Fairfields know. It's not something I want to get out to the whole world. Can we please go to our room?" she asked, begging for her mother to say yes. Constance just nodded her head and walked with her daughter to their hotel room. Maura sat down on the couch and looked at her lap. "Mother, this isn't easy to tell you. I've done my best to keep this hidden, it kind of took meeting Jane to open my eyes, open them to a lot of things actually..." Maura paused, tears building up in her eyes, it seemed much easier to just keep things buried inside but she needed to be honest.
Constance sat down next to her, resting her hand on her daughter's knee. "Sweetie, you can tell me anything, you know this right?"
Maura nodded, "Yeah I know. Me telling you this can change a lot of things, and I don't know if I can handle all of it," she bit her bottom lip, turning to look up at Constance. "I'm not sure how long I've felt this way but all I know is that... when I met Jane mother it was just... it was new and exciting and she's so different from everyone that I know," she closed her eyes, trying to catch her breath. "We both have a lot of problems going on, but I like talking to her, when we had our fight it was about how we are in two different worlds and she could never fit into what I have. She could never be with me," Maura sniffled, wiping her eyes.
Constance was very concerned about her daughter, she's hardly ever seen her emotional. At her last words Constance understood what Maura was getting at. "Does Garrett know?"
Maura nodded, "We broke up a while ago, I knew he wasn't what I wanted but you and father seemed to like him. I was mad at Jane and that's why I accepted his proposal, and he only did it because his father kept pestering him about it. I just wanted to make you happy. Now I probably ruined that."
"Honey, you didn't ruin anything. I wish you could have been honest with us about what was going on, but I understand you must have been going through a confusing time, and I wish I noticed it. Then I wouldn't have invited the Fairfields and maybe you could have gone to the gallery opening with Jane. She does seem like a lovely girl."
Maura was surprised by her mother's words, she moved in to hug her. "Mother, it means so much that you are so accepting of what I told you, do you think father will be as accepting?"
"I'm sure he will be, he loves you Maura, all he wants is for you to be happy. You still need to talk to Garrett and the family, you don't have to be completely honest of why you can't marry Garrett but they need to know before they tell everyone in New York about the engagement."
Maura sighed, "You're right. Thanks for listening to me mother, it means a lot to me."
Constance stood up and took her daughter's arm, linking it with hers, "Of course sweetie, you can be honest to me about anything. So is Jane the first girl who you've been attracted to?"
Maura blushed at her mother's words, "Emotionally yes, there were a few girls in the past who caught my eye, but they are nothing like Jane, all looks, no personality. Jane is quite an interesting girl, I honestly never met anyone like her. Too bad she lives in Boston or maybe we could have continued whatever this is between us," she spoke, standing still once they reached the Fairfields hotel room.
"I'm right here beside you Maura darling. Are you ready?"
"I don't think I could ever be ready for this, but it needs to be done," Maura took a deep breath before stepping back in the hotel room with Constance.
Meanwhile Jane was in her hotel room packing up her things and she noticed her classmate staring at her. "May I help you with something?"
"Why are you so crabby towards me Rizzoli? I'm just thinking about things, who was that girl you were with in the hallway? Was that the girl Joey was talking about?" the blonde smirked, leaning back in her chair.
"What did Joey say about her?" Jane stopped what she was doing and crossed her arms.
"He just mentioned how he'd love to get some of that, he's such a loser you know. I didn't know you were gay, don't worry I didn't tell Joey, we already know how he can be a prick."
"At least we can agree on Joey being a prick and a loser," Jane plopped down on her bed.
"So, how come I never knew about you being into girls?" she asked and Jane didn't like this question, but it seemed pretty innocent. "I wouldn't judge you or anything, that seems to be what you're good at though. Ain't she like really rich though?"
"She's probably wealthy, but I'm not going to just ask how much she has, that's being rude, plus it's her friend's family who seems to be loaded. She may seem fancy but she's nothing like those stuck up assholes."
The blonde laughed at Jane's words, "I knew I caught you staring at them with this anger, so you like her?" she asked, sitting next to Jane now.
"I don't know why I'm talking to you about this, but yeah I do. Nothing is going to come of it though, she lives in New York City."
"I see, well from what I witnessed it looked like you were both pretty cozy."
Jane frowned, "You seen me and her kiss?"
"Yeah, I mean you were in the hallway, not very well hidden if you ask me. Maybe we can sneak out later and go visit her."
"We?" Jane shook her head. "There is no we in this. I would love to sneak out and see her again before we leave but she's occupied with things."
"This could be your last time to see her Jane, you should make the most of it, plus Paris is the city of romance. What's a better love story than this," she stood up, "I can help you get ready, we're both the same size in clothes," she got up and dug through her suitcase and pulled out a dark blue strapless dress. Jane immediately shook her head.
"No, I'm not wearing a dress, there's no way in hell," Jane grumbled causing the blonde to pout.
"Come on Jane, live a little, it'll show off your legs and we both know she'd like that, at least try it on."
"Why are you helping me?"
"Romance excites me and my boyfriend sucks at it, I'm living vicariously through you right now," she handed Jane the dress.
"Fine, but if this is some kind of trick, you'll pay for it."
"Do you really think that low of me?"
"I'm not sure," she grabbed the dress and went into the bathroom to change. Jane looked at her appearance in the mirror and frowned. "God, I hate dresses," she tugged at the bottom which was riding up the middle of her thigh. "Same size my ass," she grumbled and went back out to the main room. Her roommate smirked and nodded her head in approval.
"Damn Rizzoli, you look hot," the blonde gave Jane the look over, causing Jane's cheeks to become flushed. "I swear if I wasn't straight, I'd give that girl a run for her money."
"Her name is Maura Isles."
At hearing the name the blonde's jaw dropped, "Wait a fuckin' minute! You were kissing Maura Isles?"
"I-yeah, do you know her or something?"
"Of course I heard about her, the Isles family is very successful family, Constance is a well known artist. She's dating Garrett Fairfield, who was named the most eligible bachelor of New York City. Shit Jane, I have got to meet Garrett."
"How can an 18 year old be an eligible bachelor?"
"I don't know but his family is loaded, they can find a way to do anything that want."
"What's so great about Garrett? I seen nothing special about him."
"You wouldn't understand, but does that mean Maura is cheating on him?"
Jane shook her head, "They actually broke up months ago she told me, they kept it quiet."
"Oh okay good, just I know it sounds crazy, but can you get his number for me?" she asked, bouncing on her heels.
"I'm not going to do that Bridgett, that's just too weird. If you want to try good luck, his family would love to find him a suitable girl. Can we get back to me and meeting up with Maura now?"
"Yes, of course, I just guess I got a little carried away. Just knowing Garrett Fairfield is now available, that's huge and exciting. I'll help you with your hair now."
"What's wrong with my hair?" Jane asked, and the girl just pulled Jane into the bathroom to get her ready for her late night rendezvous with Maura Isles.