Talk About Bad Timing
A/N: drummroollll pleassee! okay, after a very long absence, I have finally returned with another installment of Talk About Bad Timing. since the last time I have updated, I have been off in Europe gallavanting with beautiful men and working with the secret service... only not really. I've just been living my silly life and being extremely busy with school and college applications and everything. Senior year is going pretty badly but that's okay because I have my fanfiction and I decided that the only way to feel better is to update the story that I have the PERFECT ending in my head, but all the middle fluff is going roughly. But I have chapter 6 in the works, it's almost done and I'm proud. Although this chapter could be a million times better, I think it does the story justice. It's an important point in the story, but it's also very short and sweet.You'll survive., I promise. At least I'm updating, right? Umm sooo basically don't hate me for taking so long, and I promise the next chapter is not that far away. If not, I give you permission to come after me with pitchforks and daggers as you yell angry Cantonese chants. It'll be fun to watch, actually. Someone videotape it for me please. And send me some Rolos while your at it. Oo, caramel... yum...
Disclaimer: Not mine. I wish I wish I wish. But not.
Summary: Basically? Rory + gorgeous Calculus teacher trouble... or does it? Hmm, I guess you'll have to read on and see
Chapter Five: Talking About Bad Timing, huh?
"What can I get you two?" the café cashier asked cheerily as Rory and Ian approached the counter.
"The biggest coffee you have, black," Rory replied hurriedly. Ian gave her a sidelong glance and smirked before ordering the same thing – plus some milk. "Go ahead and grab a table," Rory told Ian, "I'll wait for the coffees."
"Okay," Ian replied strolling off towards the window. The cashier approached Rory with two large Styrofoam cups in her hands. She smirked at Rory and then glanced over at Ian.
"You guys make a great couple," she commented. Suddenly, Rory felt her face blush a deep shade of crimson."
"We're, uh, - we're not a couple," Rory stuttered in return.
"Really? From the way he was looking at you, I would have sworn you two were together. My bad, I guess. Enjoy your coffees," she smiled one last time and turned on her heel and walked away. But Rory could have sworn she heard her mutter "fool" under her breath as she vacated.
Willing herself to stop blushing, Rory grabbed the coffees and walked over to the table Ian had chosen. Afternoon sunlight streamed in through the window as the sun slowly began to set. Dust danced in the light as Rory took her seat and slid Ian's coffee toward him. It took so much courage for her to lift her head, but she finally did. Ian was drinking his coffee intently and staring absentmindedly out the window.
"Deep in thought?" Rory asked with a hint of sarcasm. Mid-swallow, Ian smiled at Rory, puffing out his cheeks in a chipmunk-like way and Rory burst out laughing. Together, the sound of their hysterics echoed throughout the establishment. The cashier, who had recently reappeared, smiled knowingly at the couple as they continued to laugh.
They talked for what seemed like minutes while the sky turned shades of pink, purple, and orange and Rory's phone rang, blasting out the ring tone version of Jack's Mannequin's "The Mixed Tape."
"Hello?"
"Rory? Where are you? It's quarter past six!" Lorelai responded.
"Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry mom. I completely forgot. I was in the book store and got caught up in this novel…" Rory glanced over at Ian, who wasn't at all shocked by Rory's need to lie to her mother about what she was doing. "Okay, I'll be right there," Rory said, hanging up the phone. "I've got to go. My mom is waiting for me. I'll see you tomorrow. Bye Ian – I mean, Mr. Smith." Rory gazed at him and the two maintained eye contact for just a moment. But with that moment, without any words, their relationship immediately reached an entirely different level.
As Rory made her way into school the next day, she didn't know what to do or think. She was dreading Calculus, simply because of the way she melted into a puddle when Ian came into sight. Stir in yesterday's events and Rory knew she had a full-blown catastrophe on her hands; her feelings and the constant pounding of her heart could only lead to trouble, and lots of it.
Unfortunately, last period came a lot quicker than Rory had anticipated. When she slipped into class just as the bell rang, she was relieved to see that Ian has yet to have shown up. Instead of her usually seat, front row center, she walked to the back row, the seat all the way to the right; the farther away from him Rory was, the better. The entire class buzzed with a slight murmur as private conversations developed around her. Rory just sat quietly, pulled a book out of her backpack, and prayed to God that no one could hear the sound of her heartbeat increasing in pace.
The longest five minutes of Rory's life passed and finally she heard the sound of the heavy, oak door creak upon. Petrified to look up, Rory kept her head buried in the pages of her novel. It wasn't until she heard the sound of a woman's voice that she lifted her head in surprise.
"Hello. My name is Mrs. Van Buren. Mr. Smith is not here today, so I'll be subbing for your class. However, since I know nothing about Calculus and he left no work, this is your free period to do whatever you like… as long as it's legal and it pertains to school." The class buzzed excitedly and Rory all of a sudden felt like she could breathe again. For the first time since she entered the room, a small smile grazed her lips as she turned back to her book.
The next fifty-one minutes passed a lot quicker than Rory had predicted. She walked out of the building as the sun poured out onto her face, illuminating her brilliant brunette hair as she made her way to the bus stop. She turned the corner to head down the street with her books in hand when suddenly she spotted Ian standing by the bus bench, pacing back and forth. The beating of her heart picked up speed and the constricting feeling in her chest developed once again. With a deep and shaky breath, she made her way over to the bench. The sound of her brown clogs hitting the pavement caught Ian's attention and he stopped pacing and looked up at Rory in one simultaneous motion.
"Hi," he said breathlessly, his hands becoming contorted as his fingers began to intertwine together.
"Hi," replied Rory hesitantly. There was a good fifteen feet between them, but Rory suddenly felt very claustrophobic.
"Um. I don't know what I'm doing right now Rory. But I couldn't go to class and stand up there and teach with you sitting right in front of me because I would of either gone nuts and jumped out the window or…something like that."
"I sat in the back today, if that makes you feel any better," Rory somehow managed to choke out in a semi-sardonic way.
"Do you realize how insane this whole thing is? I can't do this… I will get fired."
"Nothing has happened," Rory mumbled.
"Yes and no. Something has happened; we have a connection. I don't know how and I don't know why, but we do. I feel like you're the girl I've always been looking for, just knowing you in the short time that I have. But God is spiting me by sending you to me in the form of one of my seventeen-year-old students. Do you realize how incredibly mean spirited that is? It's like the world is playing this mean trick on Mr. Ian Smith. Who knew my career choice would be so daunting? If only you were two years older or this happened two years from now, it could work. And I know it would. But right now, here, it's practically impossible… no it is impossible for anything to really happen between us. And I think it's possibly the cruelest form of punishment any one could ever think of. For the past couple weeks, my mind has been going a million miles a minute, trying to rid my brain of these thoughts. But I can't; my heart won't let me. It's calling out to me, telling me you're special; and that's no surprise to me because I knew it from that first moment in the hallway when I laid eyes on you. But my brain's tendency to be moral and enjoy my income is completely weighing me down. Plus, what would a scandal like that do to your high school years? It would completely ruin them. But yet, I can't let it go. And I have to… I know I do. I'm just going crazy with all these thoughts and I had to tell you. Yesterday at the bookstore there was an even stronger connection and I spent all night tossing and turning, trying to figure out what to do. And then the sun rose and I realized that nothing can come of it, not here and not now…" Ian ended his rant, breathless and looking pained. After a few moments of awkward silence, Rory finally spoke up.
"Talk about bad timing, huh?" she said, a smirk playing at her lips. Suddenly, Ian cracked up and doubled over in laughter.
"I waste an entire five minutes of my life, spilling my guts and that's all you have in reply? Jeez, Gilmore. You're supposed to be the smart one," he replied with equal sarcasm. Clear out of the blue, he dashed over to Rory and started to tickle her mercilessly. Rory yelped in shock, dropping her books to the ground. After a minute or so of a ruthless tickle fight on the side of the road, the two both stopped moving and Rory looked deep into his soulful eyes.
"What's meant to be will be," she whispered softly and breathlessly, her cheeks pink from the cold wind.
"Indeed," Ian replied in an equally quiet tone. He reached over and planted a firm kiss on the top of her forehead. Rory suddenly felt pure bliss from this gesture. Her bus roared to a stop beside them and Ian automatically released their embrace.
"Um, I'll see you in class tomorrow?" Rory commented in an unsure voice.
"Yup. In class tomorrow," he replied, scratching the back of his head.
"Bye, Mr. Smith," Rory said with a smile as she climbed the metal bus stairs.
"Bye, Rory," Ian replied with a wave, a grin taking over his face.
The bus doors closed shut and Rory took a seat. She watched out the window as the bus drove away and Ian stood there, staring. She sighed lightly and took the time to take in the feeling that was currently overtaking her – the feeling she couldn't really describe in words.
A/N2: so, was it worth the wait? I sure hope so. REVIEW so that I know that at least someone is reading this. just one person conveying the pleasure they get from this would make me happier than you can imagine. so thank you. now get on with the reviewing :) thankssssssssss
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