Here and Now

Author: Sparkling-Diva

Rating: PG-13 (possibly more later)

Genre: Drama/Romance

Feedback: Yes! Please! But be nice!

Summary: Vincent Gray, now 33, is at a depressing stage of his life. When he meets a young girl, his life will change forever.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to the show Judging Amy whatsoever and in no way am I affiliated with it.

Author's Note: Oh no. Vincent has broken Laura's heart. But he still doesn't know what she does. How will he react when he finds out what she knows? How will she react to the break up? Keep on reading…

Chapter 28

All morning, Laura had been doing her best to try to cover up how she was feeling at the office. It didn't take long before people began to realize how she wasn't her normal cheery office self.

"You okay?" Sean asked Laura as she was getting some coffee from the machine in the conference room at lunch.

"Yeah. Why do you ask?"

"You look like you're about to cry," he said approaching her.

She didn't respond.

"What happened?" he asked calmly.

"I just-," Laura stopped, began to sob, and held herself against the counter.

Sean quickly rushed over and gave her a hug.

"What happened?"

"I don't-…You shouldn't get involved."

"I just want to help."

"I know. I …I just don't know whether to tell anyone. I mean in the past, there's not many people who listened to me and if there ever was there was a good chance bad would come from it."

"Why?"

"That's my life Sean."

"Is there something else?"

"What if you tell Maxine?"

"Is this about Vincent?"

Laura didn't say anything except sit at the counter holding the coffee in her hands.

"I promise, that if you'll tell me I won't criticize or bring any bad from it. You have my word."

Laura looked up at him.

"I mean it," he said.

"We…" Laura decided, "Actually, he decided that's it better if we don't really date right now."

"Oh," Sean said with a smile when she wasn't looking. When she did he said, "Oh," with a look of concern realization on how she must've have felt.

"I mean I thought that we had something you know and probably we did. I don't know. I guess I was wrong."

"Here," he said taking out a tissue from a box nearby.

"I'm sorry about all this. I probably shouldn't have brought it up."

"No. You're a friend. I'm here to listen."

"I'm your friend?" Laura asked surprised.

"Aren't I yours?"

"Yeah, I guess. But you're my boss."

"So?"

"Isn't it kind of awkward?"

"I don't think so."

"Okay, then me neither."

He gently gave her a friendly nudge on the shoulder causing her to smile, "Well, friends listen to each other and care and I'm here. Now if you're up to it you can tell me what happened with Vincent."

"He talked and told me that he wasn't in the right position to be in a relationship…"

"So he broke up with you?"

"I think it was a break up. I don't know."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, we had gone out a few times but more like a friend thing, you know. He kissed me once…"

"He did?"

"Yeah…"

"How was it?"

"Sean…"

"Was it like a quick peck or like a kiss-kiss?"

"Sean!" Laura exclaimed.

"I just needed to know whether it was really serious. I mean we must unlock this mystery," he joked.

"It was sweet and gentle. I don't know much about kissing and relationships. I mean, can I confess something to you?"

"If you want."

Laura looked around and then leaned forward and whispered, "He was my first kiss."

She then backed away and dried her eyes with the tissue while Sean had a look of shock on his face.

"Wow. You never…"

"Never," she said coughing after. "Now, I found out that he is getting a divorce from his wife. He never really told me about her in the first place."

"Do you think that is the reason why he broke up with you?"

"I don't know Sean. Everything is just so confusing right now. All I know is that he's a good guy. I don't want to cause him any problems. He's dealing with a lot. The divorce must be really tough. Maybe it's better this way. He might still be in love with his ex. I can't just pass in the way. I don't want to be a fling or an obstacle or anything in his life at the point of where he is."

"Are you in love with him?"

"Sean…"

"Tell me, would you normally get this worked up about a man on a normal basis?"

"What other men, Sean?"

"Oh, right. First kiss."

"I don't know how to act. I'm not good with this sorta thing."

"But you like him right?"

"He's-he's special," Laura stammered.

"So you do love him?"

"I can't tell you that."

"I think you are in love with him."

"Sean?"

"Yeah."

"Please don't tell anyone."

"I won't."

"Tell anyone what?" Maxine said walking in.

"Umm…" Laura started.

"Nothing," Sean said.

"Are you sure? You two sound pretty serious."

"It's nothing major," Sean assured.

"I better go back to work. I've got to pick up Adriane a little early today because of her having a dentist appointment and no one else could make it," Laura said getting up nervously.

"If you want to talk some more just know that I'm here," Sean quickly whispered.

"Thanks," Laura said getting up and leaving the table, "See ya, Maxine!"

"Goodbye dear." Maxine said as Laura left.

"Sean…" she began to ask.

"I better get back to work too," he said leaving.

"But…" she said following him.

"I have to go to a meeting so don't follow me."

"Alright, I'll be here," she said as he left.

What happened? Maxine asked herself.