Lost in the Shadows
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
A couple of people were confused by the pairing because I have all three guys in this story. I just want everyone to know that this is a Tristan/Rory story and is going to have elements of Dean/Rory and Jess/Rory
Part Five
IF YOU NEED ME.
The day had dragged on for Rory and she just wanted it to be over. She tried to keep her mind off of the next day because the thought of it sent her stomach flip-flopping. So she was trying to read one of her favorite stories Pride and Prejudice. Even that wasn't helping too much which was why she was thankful when somebody tapped on her bedroom door.
"Come in!" she called, too lazy to actually get up.
The door swung open with a loud whoosh. "So are you ready for tomorrow?"
Rory grimaced. So much for a distraction. She turned her attention back down to the novel in her hands.
"Don't remind me," she grumbled, hoping he would drop it and go away. No such luck. Jess plopped down next to her on the bed.
"You know that you're excited to see him," he teased. There was no mistaking who the 'him' was he was referring to.
Tristan.
She couldn't get him off her mind for the past two weeks. He haunted her dreams and consumed her thoughts. She constantly wondered what he was doing. How he was doing. WHO he was doing.
Did he ever think of her or the amazing moment they had shared? Probably not.
She sighed loudly hoping to get her annoyance with this subject across to him. Jess simply kissed the top of her head.
To be honest, she was thankful she had him around. She didn't know what she would've done if he hadn't been there for her these past weeks. Not that he like Tristan though, in fact, he utterly despised the guy even though he'd never met him.
She'd tried explaining to him that she was the one who practically seduced HIM but he wouldn't hear of it. Jess said that the guy was always at fault, whatever that meant.
He thought that with her alcohol consumption and the fact that Dean had JUST broken up with her, Tristan had taken advantage of HER.
"So what do you want to do on your last day of freedom?"
She closed her book and tossed it on her desk. "I dunno. Whadja have in mind?"
"Oh, I thunk we could go wrassle up some of them there movin' pictures and then kill us a goat."
Rory rolled her eyes and laid down on her back, staring up at him. "This is a small town, but it's not THAT small."
He chose to ignore her. "And then I thought we could go cow tipping. It's a recognized Olympic sport now, you know."
"Hmm. How ignorant I am. I was unaware of that. Thank God, I have you around to teach me the ways of the world."
"I'll get some culture in you yet." He stood up suddenly. "Come on. What do you want to do?"
Sitting up, she thought about that. "Honestly, I feel like wallowing in my 'vacation's over' self-pity."
Jess gaped in mock surprise before going to her closet and pulling out some tennis shoes. "Not allowed. This is Jess you're talking to, King of Mischief-"
"A self appointed title," she interrupted giggling as he tried to pull the shoes on her feet.
"I'm choosing to ignore that." He finally got one on so he began struggling with the other. "But anyways we can scrounge up some sort of trouble that irks poor Taylor."
She scoffed. "Ah, Taylor's boring now. How about Kirk?"
"Okay, the forever bachelor it is. Let's go." She looked down to find both shoes on and tied.
"Um, that's all fine and dandy but they're on the wrong feet."
Jess quickly lifted her feet examining them, confused.
"Made you look." She giggled.
"What are you, ten?" he asked, but was chuckling as well.
He started to the door, grabbing both their jackets and she surprised herself by following. What was she getting herself into?
The second he opened the door, Lorelai yelled from the living room. "What are you two doing? Can I do it too? I'm bored."
Rory looked to Jess who was smirking. "Thank God we're not into anything kinky," he whispered, eyebrows raised.
Rory smacked him and then led the way to the couch where her mother was perched upside down watching some MTV special. Jess casually leaned forward and lightly wiggled a finger in her side, causing her to squeal and fall at the same time.
"Oof," she cried, rubbing her head and glaring.
Rory ignored the injury. She was like a little kid. If you made a big deal about it then she would cry and pout and never let it go but if you ignored it she would forget just as quickly. "We're gonna go play with Kirk."
"Since when did you revert to the first grade? Wait-Kirk?"
Jess rolled his eyes. "Lorelai, it's me here. Do you really think we're gonna go over there and play hopscotch?"
Rory saw her mom's eyes light up and she groaned.
"Now there's an idea!" Lorelai sat up hurt head forgotten. "Hopscotch! I've got chalk!"
Jess collapsed onto the couch next to Rory probably realizing that it wasn't going to be a quick escape. "I don't even want to know why you have chalk."
"Remember when those pesky termites attacked the porch?"
Jess shook his head. "Really, I don't want to know."
Her mom continued rattling on. "And Luke came over to try to get rid of them?"
With a pained expression, Jess looked to Rory. "Don't look at me buster. You started her on this tangent with the hopscotch comment."
"And he went around making all those little marks that didn't seem to be doing anything but encouraging those annoying buggers to migrate. So, I went out shopping and came back with those cute pumps to match my purple suit and Luke told me they were tacky and made my feet look big."
"That WAS pretty funny mom. You almost killed Babbett's gnome when your shoe missed him."
"Yeah, well I stole his chalk."
Sometimes Rory felt as though she was the mature one in her family.
Jess grinned. "Ooh. Good revenge. Stealing a person's chalk can be considered a capital offense you know."
Lorelai glared at him. "So you're going to go play jump rope with Kirk?" she said pointedly.
He sighed. "No, we're going to mess with him. Play a joke if you will."
Her mom brightened. "Oh! I wanna go! Please let me go! I can be stealthy and stuff. I've watched Mission Impossible a million times."
"She has," Rory interjected, reaching across Jess to her mom's soda on the end table.
Jess' jaw dropped. "Mission Impossible! Sacrilege! We're doing it James Bond style."
"But Tom Cruise is sexier."
"Are you forgetting about Sean Connery, mom?"
"Ooh, he's definitely sexy."
"Roger Moore, Pierce Brosnan-"
"Okay, I get the point."
Jess stood up. "Do you two want to go or not?"
"Yes!" Rory flinched at the new octaves her mom hit. "I'll be right back." She stomped up the stairs before either of them had a chance to say anything.
Jess sat back down and put his head in his hands. "What is she doing? Should we run?"
Knowing how long her mother could take, Rory laid down, plopping her head comfortably in Jess' lap. "Probably but my curiosity is getting the best of me. So what are we doing to Kirk?"
"That's a surprise."
"Frightening."
"What?"
"I'm voluntarily wrecking havoc with you. I really shouldn't have finished that paper before Christmas. I'm in desperate need of homework."
"Soon enough." She looked up into his eyes as he gently ran his hands through her hair. There was something there, in his smoky eyes that she couldn't place.
Lorelai chose that moment to hop down the stairs dressed completely in black from her boots to her jacket and ski cap.
"I'm ready."
Rory snorted. "To what, rob a bank?" Jess was laughing so hard, Rory had to sit up for fear she would have been tossed from his lap.
"You two ruin all my fun. Now come on! Let's go!"
*****
"Mom, would you stop doing that?"
"I'm not doing anything."
"Yes you are. You're walking funky." Rory stifled a giggle as her mom almost lost her balance stepping off a curb.
Jess walked past them. "Try bending your knees Ms. Gilmore," he threw over his shoulder.
"Oh, you did not just 'Ms. Gilmore' me, you hooligan. I'm gonna get you for that one!" She tried to run after him but she couldn't seem to move too easily. Her jeans were abnormally tight. Suddenly, Rory recognized them.
"Weren't those mine? I thought they were given away at one of the rummage sales."
She turned stiffly towards her daughter. "Yes and no. I couldn't find any other black pants at the moment."
"I grew out of them years ago, no wonder you're breathing so hard."
Jess whipped around sending each of them a warning glare. "You both better stop talking or I'm turning back to Luke's."
"Okay," they both grumbled simultaneously and then giggled conspiratorially.
"So what's the plan 007?"
His shoulders tensed as he faced them. "The plan is for you two to shut up for a few minutes while we sneak up to THAT window." He pointed to a small side window at Kirk's small house a few doors down.
Nervously, Rory nodded and followed him, holding her mother's hand. She peeked through the window and found an empty kitchen with only a lone pot on the stove. She heard Jess unzip the backpack that he had picked up at Luke's and she turned to see him pull out a video camera.
Lorelai looked bored. "Umm, Jess, what are we doing? Are we going to, gasp, catch him cooking? Unbelievable, yes but humiliating? No."
"Just wait," he hissed back.
Suddenly a stereo in another room came to life blasting a familiar beat. Rory recognized the beginning of "Roxanne" by the Police just as Kirk came dancing in wearing only a pair of tighty-whities.
"Oh, eww!" Lorelai cried, covering her face with her hand but Rory caught her peeking through her fingers grinning wildly.
Jess began taping as Kirk grabbed a wooden spoon and used it as a makeshift microphone. He shook his quote on quote stuff as he poured a bag off noodles into the pot. Rory felt violated. She felt as if she were watching the downfall of mankind yet she couldn't seem to drag her eyes away. It was mesmerizing in a terrifying way. It was kinda like a car accident. It's a horrible travesty but you can't help but look.
The song ended as quickly as it began, much to Rory's relief and Jess switched off the camera, signaling for them to follow.
They walked silently, too stunned to talk until Lorelai began to manically giggle. "I can't wait to tell Luke!"
Jess' smirk faltered. "No, you can't. It'll ruin the surprise."
Rory suddenly became worried. She hoped Jess wouldn't be too mean to Kirk. "What are you going to do with the tape?"
"Oh, don't worry. It'll pop up sooner or later. Patience is key."
They reached the entrance to Luke's and Lorelai carefully waddled up the steps. "I'm going in, you two coming?"
Rory smiled faintly at her mom as she thought about the next day. She was surprised that Jess had been able to distract her as long as he had. "Nah, it's late. I'm gonna head home."
"Okay sweetie. See you in a bit." She turned to Jess.
"I'm gonna walk her. Make sure she doesn't get mugged or anything."
Lorelai nodded seriously. "What would we do without you?"
They watched her walk into the diner in time to hear Luke exclaim, "What the hell are you wearing?"
Rory turned her attention to Jess as they slowly walked home.
"Thank you for tonight. You completely took my mind off of things."
He grinned slyly and took her hand in his. "Anytime Rory, anytime."
They walked in comfortably silence and Rory enjoyed the comfort his hand offered.
"How about I pick you up after school tomorrow? We can bum around the mall and celebrate the fact that you survived the day."
"That is IF I survive. Thanks but no thanks. By the time you could get down there, I would already be home if I took the bus."
"Ah, but you forget. I do not have a last period." He gave her puppy dog eyes and she gave in without a fight. She loved being on the back of his motorcycle.
"Fine. Meet me in front of the school," she said curtly.
"It's okay. You don't have to pretend to be put out. I know you're excited."
"You wish."
"You'll hardly be able to sleep tonight because you won't be able to get it off your mind."
"No my sleeplessness will definitely be attributed to Kirk dancing around in his underwear. I don't even want to know how you knew he would do that. That's just disturbing."
They reached her darkened porch and she walked in.
"How many time have I told you two to lock your door?"
"Probably around a hundred." Stripping off her jacket, she tossed it to the couch.
"Actually more like fifty but why don't you listen to me?"
"Because this is Stars Hollow." She continued on to her room and chuckled when she heard him lock the door before following. Turning on her light, she grabbed a large Harvard shirt Jess had bought her the last time they went to visit. He walked in and went straight to her CD player.
She slipped the shirt on and then stripped out of her clothes underneath the protective covering of the huge shirt.
"Where's my CD?"
"You mean the Metallica one that you were hiding from my mom?"
He looked at her, his eyes narrowing. "The one and the same," he said suspiciously.
"My mom found it and is currently holding it ransom for her CD."
"Which one?"
"The one you threw out the window on the way to grandma's last week."
He smirked. "She was pretty pissed wasn't she."
Rory giggled and slid under her warm covers. He casually climbed over her and laid down next to her on his back.
"What are you doing?"
"It's early. You couldn't possibly be going to sleep now."
Rory pointed at the clock that read 10:05. He looked. "Oh."
She looked at him, surprised to find his head already turned to her. They were close, about two inches from each other.
And then he closed the gap and kissed her.
It was slow, sweet, and soft but it was missing something. She kissed him back but it never deepened. A few seconds later, he pulled away and smiled.
"Sorry," he whispered. She shrugged, perplexed. "I just wanted to see what it was like."
"What was it like?"
"Honestly? Like I was kissing my sister."
She sighed and giggled. "Same here. But a manly sister." She dragged her finger across the scruff on his chin. Ignoring the glare he sent her way, she laid her head on his chest and listened to his steady heatbeat.
Surprisingly, that kiss did not create a rift between them like it would've done to most but instead pulled them closer together. They shared something that most friends never did and it made them stronger.
She felt her eyes become tired and she let them close.
"I love you, Jess," she mumbled sleepily.
She felt him wrap his arms around her and kiss her head. "Love you too, kiddo."
*****
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
A couple of people were confused by the pairing because I have all three guys in this story. I just want everyone to know that this is a Tristan/Rory story and is going to have elements of Dean/Rory and Jess/Rory
Part Five
IF YOU NEED ME.
The day had dragged on for Rory and she just wanted it to be over. She tried to keep her mind off of the next day because the thought of it sent her stomach flip-flopping. So she was trying to read one of her favorite stories Pride and Prejudice. Even that wasn't helping too much which was why she was thankful when somebody tapped on her bedroom door.
"Come in!" she called, too lazy to actually get up.
The door swung open with a loud whoosh. "So are you ready for tomorrow?"
Rory grimaced. So much for a distraction. She turned her attention back down to the novel in her hands.
"Don't remind me," she grumbled, hoping he would drop it and go away. No such luck. Jess plopped down next to her on the bed.
"You know that you're excited to see him," he teased. There was no mistaking who the 'him' was he was referring to.
Tristan.
She couldn't get him off her mind for the past two weeks. He haunted her dreams and consumed her thoughts. She constantly wondered what he was doing. How he was doing. WHO he was doing.
Did he ever think of her or the amazing moment they had shared? Probably not.
She sighed loudly hoping to get her annoyance with this subject across to him. Jess simply kissed the top of her head.
To be honest, she was thankful she had him around. She didn't know what she would've done if he hadn't been there for her these past weeks. Not that he like Tristan though, in fact, he utterly despised the guy even though he'd never met him.
She'd tried explaining to him that she was the one who practically seduced HIM but he wouldn't hear of it. Jess said that the guy was always at fault, whatever that meant.
He thought that with her alcohol consumption and the fact that Dean had JUST broken up with her, Tristan had taken advantage of HER.
"So what do you want to do on your last day of freedom?"
She closed her book and tossed it on her desk. "I dunno. Whadja have in mind?"
"Oh, I thunk we could go wrassle up some of them there movin' pictures and then kill us a goat."
Rory rolled her eyes and laid down on her back, staring up at him. "This is a small town, but it's not THAT small."
He chose to ignore her. "And then I thought we could go cow tipping. It's a recognized Olympic sport now, you know."
"Hmm. How ignorant I am. I was unaware of that. Thank God, I have you around to teach me the ways of the world."
"I'll get some culture in you yet." He stood up suddenly. "Come on. What do you want to do?"
Sitting up, she thought about that. "Honestly, I feel like wallowing in my 'vacation's over' self-pity."
Jess gaped in mock surprise before going to her closet and pulling out some tennis shoes. "Not allowed. This is Jess you're talking to, King of Mischief-"
"A self appointed title," she interrupted giggling as he tried to pull the shoes on her feet.
"I'm choosing to ignore that." He finally got one on so he began struggling with the other. "But anyways we can scrounge up some sort of trouble that irks poor Taylor."
She scoffed. "Ah, Taylor's boring now. How about Kirk?"
"Okay, the forever bachelor it is. Let's go." She looked down to find both shoes on and tied.
"Um, that's all fine and dandy but they're on the wrong feet."
Jess quickly lifted her feet examining them, confused.
"Made you look." She giggled.
"What are you, ten?" he asked, but was chuckling as well.
He started to the door, grabbing both their jackets and she surprised herself by following. What was she getting herself into?
The second he opened the door, Lorelai yelled from the living room. "What are you two doing? Can I do it too? I'm bored."
Rory looked to Jess who was smirking. "Thank God we're not into anything kinky," he whispered, eyebrows raised.
Rory smacked him and then led the way to the couch where her mother was perched upside down watching some MTV special. Jess casually leaned forward and lightly wiggled a finger in her side, causing her to squeal and fall at the same time.
"Oof," she cried, rubbing her head and glaring.
Rory ignored the injury. She was like a little kid. If you made a big deal about it then she would cry and pout and never let it go but if you ignored it she would forget just as quickly. "We're gonna go play with Kirk."
"Since when did you revert to the first grade? Wait-Kirk?"
Jess rolled his eyes. "Lorelai, it's me here. Do you really think we're gonna go over there and play hopscotch?"
Rory saw her mom's eyes light up and she groaned.
"Now there's an idea!" Lorelai sat up hurt head forgotten. "Hopscotch! I've got chalk!"
Jess collapsed onto the couch next to Rory probably realizing that it wasn't going to be a quick escape. "I don't even want to know why you have chalk."
"Remember when those pesky termites attacked the porch?"
Jess shook his head. "Really, I don't want to know."
Her mom continued rattling on. "And Luke came over to try to get rid of them?"
With a pained expression, Jess looked to Rory. "Don't look at me buster. You started her on this tangent with the hopscotch comment."
"And he went around making all those little marks that didn't seem to be doing anything but encouraging those annoying buggers to migrate. So, I went out shopping and came back with those cute pumps to match my purple suit and Luke told me they were tacky and made my feet look big."
"That WAS pretty funny mom. You almost killed Babbett's gnome when your shoe missed him."
"Yeah, well I stole his chalk."
Sometimes Rory felt as though she was the mature one in her family.
Jess grinned. "Ooh. Good revenge. Stealing a person's chalk can be considered a capital offense you know."
Lorelai glared at him. "So you're going to go play jump rope with Kirk?" she said pointedly.
He sighed. "No, we're going to mess with him. Play a joke if you will."
Her mom brightened. "Oh! I wanna go! Please let me go! I can be stealthy and stuff. I've watched Mission Impossible a million times."
"She has," Rory interjected, reaching across Jess to her mom's soda on the end table.
Jess' jaw dropped. "Mission Impossible! Sacrilege! We're doing it James Bond style."
"But Tom Cruise is sexier."
"Are you forgetting about Sean Connery, mom?"
"Ooh, he's definitely sexy."
"Roger Moore, Pierce Brosnan-"
"Okay, I get the point."
Jess stood up. "Do you two want to go or not?"
"Yes!" Rory flinched at the new octaves her mom hit. "I'll be right back." She stomped up the stairs before either of them had a chance to say anything.
Jess sat back down and put his head in his hands. "What is she doing? Should we run?"
Knowing how long her mother could take, Rory laid down, plopping her head comfortably in Jess' lap. "Probably but my curiosity is getting the best of me. So what are we doing to Kirk?"
"That's a surprise."
"Frightening."
"What?"
"I'm voluntarily wrecking havoc with you. I really shouldn't have finished that paper before Christmas. I'm in desperate need of homework."
"Soon enough." She looked up into his eyes as he gently ran his hands through her hair. There was something there, in his smoky eyes that she couldn't place.
Lorelai chose that moment to hop down the stairs dressed completely in black from her boots to her jacket and ski cap.
"I'm ready."
Rory snorted. "To what, rob a bank?" Jess was laughing so hard, Rory had to sit up for fear she would have been tossed from his lap.
"You two ruin all my fun. Now come on! Let's go!"
*****
"Mom, would you stop doing that?"
"I'm not doing anything."
"Yes you are. You're walking funky." Rory stifled a giggle as her mom almost lost her balance stepping off a curb.
Jess walked past them. "Try bending your knees Ms. Gilmore," he threw over his shoulder.
"Oh, you did not just 'Ms. Gilmore' me, you hooligan. I'm gonna get you for that one!" She tried to run after him but she couldn't seem to move too easily. Her jeans were abnormally tight. Suddenly, Rory recognized them.
"Weren't those mine? I thought they were given away at one of the rummage sales."
She turned stiffly towards her daughter. "Yes and no. I couldn't find any other black pants at the moment."
"I grew out of them years ago, no wonder you're breathing so hard."
Jess whipped around sending each of them a warning glare. "You both better stop talking or I'm turning back to Luke's."
"Okay," they both grumbled simultaneously and then giggled conspiratorially.
"So what's the plan 007?"
His shoulders tensed as he faced them. "The plan is for you two to shut up for a few minutes while we sneak up to THAT window." He pointed to a small side window at Kirk's small house a few doors down.
Nervously, Rory nodded and followed him, holding her mother's hand. She peeked through the window and found an empty kitchen with only a lone pot on the stove. She heard Jess unzip the backpack that he had picked up at Luke's and she turned to see him pull out a video camera.
Lorelai looked bored. "Umm, Jess, what are we doing? Are we going to, gasp, catch him cooking? Unbelievable, yes but humiliating? No."
"Just wait," he hissed back.
Suddenly a stereo in another room came to life blasting a familiar beat. Rory recognized the beginning of "Roxanne" by the Police just as Kirk came dancing in wearing only a pair of tighty-whities.
"Oh, eww!" Lorelai cried, covering her face with her hand but Rory caught her peeking through her fingers grinning wildly.
Jess began taping as Kirk grabbed a wooden spoon and used it as a makeshift microphone. He shook his quote on quote stuff as he poured a bag off noodles into the pot. Rory felt violated. She felt as if she were watching the downfall of mankind yet she couldn't seem to drag her eyes away. It was mesmerizing in a terrifying way. It was kinda like a car accident. It's a horrible travesty but you can't help but look.
The song ended as quickly as it began, much to Rory's relief and Jess switched off the camera, signaling for them to follow.
They walked silently, too stunned to talk until Lorelai began to manically giggle. "I can't wait to tell Luke!"
Jess' smirk faltered. "No, you can't. It'll ruin the surprise."
Rory suddenly became worried. She hoped Jess wouldn't be too mean to Kirk. "What are you going to do with the tape?"
"Oh, don't worry. It'll pop up sooner or later. Patience is key."
They reached the entrance to Luke's and Lorelai carefully waddled up the steps. "I'm going in, you two coming?"
Rory smiled faintly at her mom as she thought about the next day. She was surprised that Jess had been able to distract her as long as he had. "Nah, it's late. I'm gonna head home."
"Okay sweetie. See you in a bit." She turned to Jess.
"I'm gonna walk her. Make sure she doesn't get mugged or anything."
Lorelai nodded seriously. "What would we do without you?"
They watched her walk into the diner in time to hear Luke exclaim, "What the hell are you wearing?"
Rory turned her attention to Jess as they slowly walked home.
"Thank you for tonight. You completely took my mind off of things."
He grinned slyly and took her hand in his. "Anytime Rory, anytime."
They walked in comfortably silence and Rory enjoyed the comfort his hand offered.
"How about I pick you up after school tomorrow? We can bum around the mall and celebrate the fact that you survived the day."
"That is IF I survive. Thanks but no thanks. By the time you could get down there, I would already be home if I took the bus."
"Ah, but you forget. I do not have a last period." He gave her puppy dog eyes and she gave in without a fight. She loved being on the back of his motorcycle.
"Fine. Meet me in front of the school," she said curtly.
"It's okay. You don't have to pretend to be put out. I know you're excited."
"You wish."
"You'll hardly be able to sleep tonight because you won't be able to get it off your mind."
"No my sleeplessness will definitely be attributed to Kirk dancing around in his underwear. I don't even want to know how you knew he would do that. That's just disturbing."
They reached her darkened porch and she walked in.
"How many time have I told you two to lock your door?"
"Probably around a hundred." Stripping off her jacket, she tossed it to the couch.
"Actually more like fifty but why don't you listen to me?"
"Because this is Stars Hollow." She continued on to her room and chuckled when she heard him lock the door before following. Turning on her light, she grabbed a large Harvard shirt Jess had bought her the last time they went to visit. He walked in and went straight to her CD player.
She slipped the shirt on and then stripped out of her clothes underneath the protective covering of the huge shirt.
"Where's my CD?"
"You mean the Metallica one that you were hiding from my mom?"
He looked at her, his eyes narrowing. "The one and the same," he said suspiciously.
"My mom found it and is currently holding it ransom for her CD."
"Which one?"
"The one you threw out the window on the way to grandma's last week."
He smirked. "She was pretty pissed wasn't she."
Rory giggled and slid under her warm covers. He casually climbed over her and laid down next to her on his back.
"What are you doing?"
"It's early. You couldn't possibly be going to sleep now."
Rory pointed at the clock that read 10:05. He looked. "Oh."
She looked at him, surprised to find his head already turned to her. They were close, about two inches from each other.
And then he closed the gap and kissed her.
It was slow, sweet, and soft but it was missing something. She kissed him back but it never deepened. A few seconds later, he pulled away and smiled.
"Sorry," he whispered. She shrugged, perplexed. "I just wanted to see what it was like."
"What was it like?"
"Honestly? Like I was kissing my sister."
She sighed and giggled. "Same here. But a manly sister." She dragged her finger across the scruff on his chin. Ignoring the glare he sent her way, she laid her head on his chest and listened to his steady heatbeat.
Surprisingly, that kiss did not create a rift between them like it would've done to most but instead pulled them closer together. They shared something that most friends never did and it made them stronger.
She felt her eyes become tired and she let them close.
"I love you, Jess," she mumbled sleepily.
She felt him wrap his arms around her and kiss her head. "Love you too, kiddo."
*****