Bible Kiss Bible Chapter Five, a gilmore girls fanfic

Chapter Five

When I am on the bridge with Dave, the real world ceases to exist. There is no Kim's Antiques, no Rory preparing to have sex, no tofurkey crazed mother. Here on the bridge there is only Dave and I and the sound of our voices hovering in the night air, mingling with the bubbling creek. It's addictive, intoxicating, this feeling of freedom. Maybe that's why I risk sneaking out every night, maybe that's why Dave makes the drive from Hartford, maybe that's why the Connecticut December cold never fazes us, because we're so blinded by our need for each other.

I lie on the hollow of his chest, marveling at the comfort of his arms around me. His slow breathing is a metronome for my heart, allowing me to relax against him. Each day my quirky relationship fears are fading and I am able to kiss Dave without being so aware of my hands and fingers and tongue.

"What are you thinking about?" I whisper, my finger tracing obscure patterns on his abdomen.

"Nothing," he says. Then he seems to reconsider and adds, "I was wondering where you plan on going to college."

"Oh," I say, thinking of that morning with Mother and the college applications. The Seventh Day Adventist School, the Amish School in Nicaragua, the Quaker college in Massachusetts. "I don't know."

"Okay," he says.

"Do you know what you want to study?" I ask.

"Music, I guess. Or art history."

"I've always thought Boston was an appealing city," I say. "But that was back when Rory was going to Harvard and I couldn't imagine living in a separate city than her."

"This is kind of a stupid question, but is your mom letting you go to college?"

I can't help laughing.

"She kind of is. I can go to college as long as I go to one of her colleges."

"Which I assume are all religious."

"You got it," I say.

"But you'll be eighteen," Dave says. I wait for him to say more but he doesn't.

"What do you mean?" I ask.

"I mean, you're eighteen so you don't really have to do what she wants."

"Being eighteen doesn't mean I can just do whatever," I say.

"Why not?" he asks.

"It doesn't work that way," I say. I ponder this for a minute. "Does it?"

"Work that way? I think it does. In the eyes of the government, you're an adult."

"Her and my dad wouldn't pay for anything though."

"So?" Dave says. "My dad already told me that he won't pay for a major in music. He told me it was worthless."

"He's wrong," I say.

"I know."

We are quiet for a while. The cold tips of his fingers graze the exposed skin of my waist, causing a shiver down the length of my body.

"Sorry, my hands are probably cold."

"It's okay," I say. He lays his hand flat against my hip.

"You can warm it up for me," he says as I nuzzle closer against him.

"So, where are you going to college?" I ask.

"Somewhere close to you."

It's so shocking that I have to sit up. Close to me? The expression on my face makes Dave laugh.

"Well you are my girlfriend," he says.

"Of like a week," I say. "Not that I don't consider you to be special because I do, but-"

"You don't have to explain," Dave interrupts. "I know it's kind of fast, but…you're really special. I mean, how many other girls am I going to meet who can talk to me about The Clash and Beck and The Velvet Underground as extensively as you can?"

"I…I," I can't find words. "I'm speechless."

"I see that."

"I…" I look at my watch. "I need to get home."

"Yeah, I know. But guess what tomorrow is."

"Friday?"

"Yep. And our first official date."

"Of band practice."

"I'll buy you a coke on the way home or something. Oh, and we can swing in and meet my parents."

"Oh, right…your parents," I say.

"We talked about this, remember? I thought you were okay with it."

"Yeah, I'm fine with it, just…nervous," I say.

"You shouldn't be, they're going to love you," Dave insists. "Now hurry up and get home so you can get some sleep."

"Goodnight," I say, leaning in for a lingering goodnight kiss. His mouth, full and cold against mine, makes me smile. "See you tomorrow," I say.

* * *

"Five minutes, Lane!" Mom calls from the front door.

"Yes, I know Mama!" I yell back. It is all my mind is capable of thinking right now- five minutes, five minutes, five minutes. Five minutes until Dave will be here, five minutes until I have to be ready to meet his parents, five minutes to make my hair look good.

The ends were curling funny, so I've spent the last ten minutes teaching myself how to use a curling iron. Now the flip of my hair is too perfect, making it look I spent an obsessive amount of time on my hair (which I did) and that's no good either. Finally I settle on a ponytail, hoping to achieve a sporty, carefree look, which is ridiculous because I'm anything but carefree right now.

"Lane," Mom says from my doorway, startling me out of my hair obsessed world.

"What?"

"Your bible is on the kitchen counter."

"Why do I need my…" I ask, then remembering the decoy I cringe and say "Oh my bible, I thought you said bicycle."

"Are you wearing make-up?" Mom asks.

"No Mama."

Truthfully I'm wearing clear mascara, but there's no way she can prove that.

"You look flushed."

"Oh, just the anticipation," I say. To avoid looking her in the eyes, I preoccupy myself with brushing my stubby ponytail.

"You should not be so nervous."

"I'm always nervous when I'm meeting new people."

There is a knock at the door.

"Must be David," Mom says. "You hurry. It is very nice of him to come pick you up, you should not keep him waiting."

"Yes, Mama," I say, mentally cursing Dave for being early. The two of us clatter down the staircase.

"Hello David," Mom says, holding the door open for him.

"Good evening, Mrs. Kim. Sorry I'm so early."

"Nonsense, right on time. Lane get your bible."

"Yes, Mama," I say.

"What time will Lane need to be home, Mrs. Kim? 'Cause sometimes we just get so wrapped up in our discussions that we lose track of time," I hear Dave ask as I walk to the kitchen.

"10:30, please. Lane must get a full eight hours of sleep."

"A very good idea."

"Lane? What is taking so long?" Mom calls. I'm in the bathroom giving myself a final glance before I walk out the door to meet Dave's parents.

"Coming, Mama."

"It is rude to keep David waiting."

"Oh, I'm fine," Dave says.

"Please apologize to David, Lane," Mom says.

"I'm sorry my disorganization has kept you waiting," I say. Dave bites back a laugh and winks at me.

"That's quite alright. Goodbye, Mrs. Kim."

"Bye, Mama."

"Drive safely."

The world of my mother shuts behind us and Dave holds the door of his Blazer open to me.

"Uh, just kind of shove all that crap to the middle," he says. "Now it's my own disorganization slowing us down."

"Oh shut up," I say. Dave grins.

"I'd like to kiss you," he says.

"I would strongly advise against that, unless you'd like to witness my mother having an aneurysm."

"I'll hold off then."

He shuts the passenger door as I fold myself into his cluttered car.

"So, serious question," Dave says once we've escaped Mother's prying eyes. "Are you going to tell your mom about me?"

"I was wondering how long it would take you to ask me that."

"And what's the answer?"

"That I don't know."

"I see."

"Are you offended?" I ask.

"No."

"Okay, good."

"Well, maybe a little," Dave confesses.

"Oh…please don't be mad. I just don't know how to handle this with my mom yet."

"I'm introducing you to my parents."

"It's different for you, you said so yourself. Your parents don't care that I'm Korean. My mom would care that you're Caucasian."

"Take a risk, Lane."

"I just need some more time."

"To what?"

"To…you know, see."

"See what? If I'm worth the hassle?"

"Dave," I say, rolling my eyes even though what he says is true.

My heart pounds as he pulls to the side of the country road. Is he about to break up with me? Why oh why didn't I just tell my mother? Just let her disown me and get it over with. It's not like it isn't coming anyway, with my planned profession of being a rockstar. Dave kills the car and turns to face me.

"Look Lane, I'm not going anywhere, okay?" Dave says, voice gentle. I reach for one of his hands and he laces his fingers through mine. "I know you've been hurt before by someone who didn't want to deal with the relationship between you and your mother, but I'm not that guy. I'm way too crazy about you to leave just because you're afraid of talking to your mom about me. That being said, if we want this to be anything long term, I just think it would be better if we told your mom sooner rather than later…okay, what does it mean when you bite your lip like that?"

"You're crazy about me," I whisper, blushing. I feel warm all over, my cheeks, my legs, my stomach. Someone is crazy about me. Dave is crazy about me. I think of Rory, when she and Dean were first dating and he was all she would talk about. It bugged the heck out of me, but now…now I get it. I want to tell everyone that Dave is crazy about me, that he wants to introduce me to his parents, that he'll put up with my mother, that he plans to follow me to college.

"I am crazy about you," Dave says, smiling a love-drunk grin back at me. He pulls my body against his, CD cases and speaker wire pressing against my skin and making painful indentions.