Kissing Ringo

Chapter 3

Disclaimer: Thanks ASP!! And Chev, who loves me even though I suck most of the time!! And Jess, who loves Jess and my story!! And Anna, my punk sista!! SPORK!!

Spring Break 2005

Lane gazed around at her surroundings, from the porch of the tiny wood cabin, she, Rory and Paris were staying in for Spring Break. A sparkling blue lake monopolized the majority of the view. Clustered around it she noticed maybe half a dozen other tiny cabins, just like theirs. She could barely make out the small convenience store about a mile away, that was only open during holidays. How Rory had managed talking her into spending two weeks in the middle of nowhere, with none of the luxuries she'd fought so hard to keep, Lane didn't know, but in the middle of nowhere she was. As a John Lennon cover of "So This Is Christmas" drifted out of the cabin. Lane's thoughts drifted off too.

"Later Ringo."

"What?" Lane snapped.

"Drummer."

"I know who Ringo is!"

It had been over a year since that day and Lane had not seen Jess since. In fact her infatuation with him had been short-lived. So short-lived that it was hardly existent at all, or at least that's what she told herself. Luckily Lorelai hadn't told Rory and Lane had never thought about it again. Well maybe not never, but not very often.

"Lane?"

"Yeah?" Lane replied, bringing herself back to reality.

"I've been standing here for the last ten minutes, asking you which Christmas album you think we should play and you completely ignored me! Rory thinks we should go with the compilation. But I think Mariah Carey - the complete Christmas package, is the way to go." Paris shrieked causing Lane to jump slightly.

"It's Spring" Lane pointed out.

"Your point being?" Paris asked impatiently, tapping her foot.

"It's nowhere near Christmas so why are Christmas songs making an appearance on the playlist?" Taking a look at Paris's face and the wood boards trembling slightly beneath her foot Lane sighed. "Mariah Carey will never be the way to go. If we have to listen to Christmas music can I at least put in a bid for Ramones Merry Christmas?"

"Ugh!" Paris stomped back inside, muttering something about a conspiracy theory involving roommates and their friends. And that it was going to be the longest two weeks of her life.

That afternoon Rory convinced Lane to take a walk around the lake with her and enjoy the 'warm spring air'.

"Why'd your mom give us sporks?" Rory frowned slightly.

"Sporks?"

"You know. Spoon/forks."

"Sporks. Uh, chunky soup?" Lane suggested with a shrug.

"Do we even have chunky. Oh my God Jess!"

"Do we have chunky Jess? Probably not."

"No. There's Jess!" Rory whispered loudly grabbing Lane to shield herself.

"Jess Who?"

"How many Jess's do you know? Jess! Ex-boyfriend. Jess. Luke's nephew, Jess!"

"Right Jess." Lane tried to be casual, even though her heart felt like it might burst right out of her chest and she was struggling to breathe. Apparently her infatuation wasn't as short-lived as she'd thought.

"Go spill your drink on him." Rory demanded, pushing Lane in his general direction.

"What? No!" Lane shook her head emphatically.

"C'mon, please? You distract him and I'll run away like I'm in some sort of horror movie."

"Why can't we just turn around and go back the way we came?"

"Because. That still gives him a chance to see us while we're walking away. It'll be like some sort of 'when their backs are turned sort of thing'."

"C'mon Rory. So what if he does see us? He's never really struck me as the type to run over and set up some sort of reunion over dinner."

"Please Lane. I really don't want him to know I'm here." Rory pleaded, pulling her famous puppy dog eyes and Lane's arm at the same time.

"What am I going to say?"

"I don't know. Hi is generally a good start. Now go." Rory shooed her friend in Jess's direction and bolted for the nearest trees.

Oh my God. And I really mean that. God. This is not cool. Is this for not praying everyday? Is this for rebelling against my mother? Don't make me do this! Please! I'll move back home! Oh God! There he is. He's right there. What do I say? Words would be good. Any time now.

"I lost Paris's dog, have you seen it?" Lane blurted out.

"Uh, actually yeah. I think it went that way into those bushes. Why don't I come help you look?" Jess replied in an overly nice, almost sarcastic tone, while guiding Lane into the cluster of scattered trees and bush.

"You did not see the dog." Lane commented rudely.

"How do you know? I could have seen it." Jess replied. This time making no effort to hide the sarcasm in his voice.

"The dog isn't real. I made it up!" Lane shouted.

"Huh." Jess smirked.

Lane turned and stormed off. However before she had a chance to get very far, Jess had jumped in front of her.

"Where you goin'?"

"Back to my cabin. A long way away from you."

"Is Rory with you?"

"No. I'm here with my mother. And if I don't get back soon, she'll hunt you down and castrate you." Lane attempted to walk away again, only to be stopped by Jess once more.

"Can I show you something?"

"No."

"Not even if I promise it's really cool?"

"Especially if you promise it's really cool!" Lane really didn't know what she saw in Jess. He was sarcastic, rude, annoying.

"C'mon. It'll just take a second."

"Oh my God, Jess! What? What do you want to show me?"

Without another word, Jess once again had Lane's face in his hands and his lips pressed gently against hers. Pulling away, Jess winced as if preparing to be slapped again. But the urge to slap had not overcome Lane this time.

"That was not to silence me. I was walking away. I was leaving."

"I wanted to see if it was good the second time." Jess remarked nonchalantly.

"It was good the first time? No wait! You're with Rory."

"I am not with Rory, I haven't been for a long time!"

"You said you loved her though, when you love someone you don't give up! You try and you try and you try again!"

"I'll try to keep that in mind. So can we do it again?"

"Do what?" Lane questioned absently, not really paying attention. Then, for the second time in as many minutes, Jess's lips met Lane's. Lane was shocked at how easy this was. She thought it would be hell on earth kissing Jess, but she found herself deepening the kiss, wanting to be closer to him, still. This time it seemed like hours before either of them pulled away