3.08c Let them Feel Chagrin
If they were together then why was he nervous?
His love did abound, for her, in a surplus!
So shouldn't he find himself, now, in a groove?
Should Jess not go out and just bust a move?
But Rory avoided him over a week!
When she'd seen Jess coming, dark corners she'd seek.
And though she'd assured him that Dean was her past,
The bracelet he'd spotted did hint that they'd last.
(Though she had kept meaning to undress her wrist
Her actions were stalled by a certain Fate's twist:
Did Clotho, a blue, affix to her thread
So Rory kept wearing the bracelet instead.)
The Fates, for their part, did feel mollified
Since, though this precarious plot qualified
For chance of disaster, at least it was stalled:
The bracelet, a barrier, 'tween them installed.
And once again Jess, in limbo, was left;
For happier thoughts, was victim of theft.
So Jess also ran, ere paths could soon cross,
Though knew he not why or what was the cause.
As much as his heart did yell, "Hold the phone!"
He slightly suspected that he was alone.
The Fates saw to this as start of the trend
The two, without speaking, would all's well pretend.
The Friday two weeks post-date of the dance,
Once Jess had suspected that he'd blown his chance,
He'd gotten up early, for once gone to school,
And walked in a haze and felt like a fool.
Then later he'd wanted to clear out his head.
Returned he to home and flopped on his bed.
For nearly an hour would Jess lay there prone
'Til downstairs Jess wandered, in search of a scone.
He burst through the curtain and bleary eyes rubbed
And there right before him—no longer she snubbed—
None other than Rory, in splendour, appeared!
And Jess stumbled slightly, as his footfalls neared.
To Jess's dismay, Luke hovered, too close,
Preventing his thoughts to chance diagnose
The reason that Rory had come there that day
Instead of their custom for staying away.
A tentative greeting the simple two shared
'Til Luke interrupted: abruptly prepared
To take Rory's order. Jess stifled a groan.
Why was it they were never alone?
'Twas Jess's annoyance by Luke triple-fold—
Reminder of "hi"s and of "bye"s getting old.
As, Rory's doe eyes, were Jess's own searching,
Upon a solution, was Jess's mind perching.
For Luke's benefit, he set to deceive:
A reason that, Luke, behind, they could leave.
Since Rory was cunning, did Jess have no doubt:
He knew that her mind would figure it out.
He stated, upstairs, he'd found her "That Book."
And, nodding, she said that she'd take a look
While knowing the item was only a ruse.
(But one truly useful that they could now use.)
So into the hall, ascending to heights,
At top of the stairs, they shared in the sights
Of intimate setting as, slightly, their fingers
At bannister's apex did brush with light lingers.
A glance did they share. They both swallowed hard,
With all of their senses, towards moment, jarred,
'Til Jess broke the contact, submitting to code.
The two carried on, to enter abode.
She tugged on her sleeve. A bracelet there burned,
Which quickly she covered and secretly spurned.
She knew right away, at love's equinox,
She'd have to, her bracelet, put into a box.
For now, to her Jess, was Rory committed.
By no other guy, would she be conflicted.
When once did she step inside Jess's home,
She knew that, from him, she'd rather not roam.
The Fates fairly shrieked and got to work faster
And thought of how Richard, the staunch Puppet Master,
Might have a bit more, in his bag of tricks,
Than even a goddess could use to, this, fix!
Discussion was had 'til Fates were decided.
Solution to kiss was quickly provided:
Their dosage of shyness, in short term, was upped
'Til entry of other would, them, interrupt.
Lachesis, to loom, ran straight with a dread
And sat on the stool and sorted some thread,
A lifeline so handy to shove in between
To stop the two teens from being serene.
Then done was the weaving of that middle Fate.
For plans to play out they'd just have to wait.
Did Clotho hands wring, from where she would sit.
Atropos just watched while swooning a bit.
Though, now, it did seem they'd much they could say,
To get to the point, they suffered delay.
Since talking was something that didn't come easy,
Jess failed to be calm, though tried to seem breezy.
Oh sure could Jess argue and comments could bark
And off-the-cuff banter he'd easily snark.
He'd unleash his mind on only a whim!
But speaking his heart was trying for him.
To take the edge off, perhaps their nerves numbing,
He urged that he get her a soda or something.
But Rory refused, her nerves beyond saving,
While stating they both, this moment, were braving.
Their sanity they, perhaps, could recoup.
Decided they that, they'd have to regroup.
For starters, their distance, the two should reduce.
The span of a ruler would make a good truce.
They stepped even closer, to more closely stand.
He'd suddenly taken a hold of her hand.
And something inside of him suddenly clicked
While Rory her nerves she'd suddenly licked.
The field of his vision was surely filled up,
Like overfilled version of bountiful cup,
With delicate features and striking blue eyes
That struck him quite daft with their wide-eyed size.
And those bright, blue beauties returned smitten gaze
As, into his own, emitted they rays.
Then softly they dropped to his bottom lip
Which lightly, with teeth, he slightly did grip.
As trembling fingers did chance interlace,
A dopey smirk drew across his stunned face.
He thought to himself, growing light as a feather,
I guess, then, that's settled. I guess we're together!
And lightly she breathed a glorious, "Hi,"
That felt like a spark. And then, by and by,
Did Jess breathe the same and felt himself drawn
Towards her in mind and heart and so on.
His lips were awaiting a falling from grace—
She saw it spelled out on his beautiful face—
So Rory leaned forward to take what she may,
Since it was an urge she'd not keep at bay,
While thinking the moment she'd lived for is this,
As drew they together to share in a kiss!
Her heart shuffled loudly within her ribcage.
From all conscious thought, did she disengage.
His pulse hammered hard at her heavy-lid gaze.
Poor Jess nearly swooned, so much in a daze.
He drew ever nearer her lips, like two cherries
That, glossy, did smell like sweet summer berries.
Then, loud, came the sound of an opened front door,
As Lucas burst in and strode 'cross the floor.
And startled they were to once again learn
That others existed beyond their concern.
She quickly succumbed to the knee-jerk reaction
That, as in the past, they must hide their attraction.
So, from Jess's arms, her reflexes burst.
Then Lucas, with reason, suspected the worst.
The girl from the scene so frantically flew
As though something urgent she really must do.
But why she felt guilty she just didn't know.
She just had the feeling 'twas better she go.
And, as Jess was flogged with Lucas's lecture
Replete with suggestion as well as conjecture,
Was Rory off bounding her way down the block,
Their quick separation creating her shock.
She'd ripped off the bandage and now she was sore.
To feel Jess's nearness she wanted some more!
She swooned at the thought. How much time had passed?
How was it her burger was ready so fast?
As Rory, through Hollow, made quickly her way,
She thought to a future when longer she'd stay.
She vowed then, again, to take a new chance
When next time the two would, together, advance.
Atropos did argue that they could all spend
The years in denying this new kissing trend,
Creating discordance wherever they go,
Or they could just bear it and go with the flow.
"Without a sure course to separate them,
Their urge to be kissing would devastate them
And, by this distraction, would their other plots
Fall into a fray, would loosen good knots!
"'Tis better to keep them in love, light and fresh,
Allowing them chances to, lips, lightly mesh,
So, once they'll go off to have their adventures,
They'll memories, save, of pleasant togethers."
The Fates argued on, decision not reached,
While walls between kisses were never once breached,
Yet also were walls not fortified, strengthened—
Nor built very tall, nor width, at all lengthened.
With heart in his throat, much later that night,
Did Jess, in the shadows, make quite a fool sight.
He'd peered in her window and found the lights out.
The next forty minutes he stewed in his doubt.
Then clarity struck him like flashing white light.
His waiting was worthless! 'Twas six! Friday night!
Though girls were at dinner, to diner, might roam
Knowing their stomachs. So then Jess went home.
He figured perhaps to kill a few hours.
His urgency taxing him all of his powers,
The stress of the wait was heavy and strong.
Distraction was needed to help him along.
Then I Dream of Jeannie did catch Jess's eye.
Though reruns he'd seen, in oft, by and by,
He watched while he waited but drifted asleep
And Jess would miss Rory while dreams would, him, keep.
Though Jess felt at ease under cover of night,
He went the next morning, instead, in the light.
In search of the kiss that both of them sought
But, quite interrupted, that neither then got.
The lingering Jess saw a towncar arrive.
The girl he'd been seeking set off on a drive,
And bringing some luggage, enough to thus say
That she would be gone throughout the long day.
***
AN: One day long ago, I scribbled a rhyme on a random scrap of paper about "the book" and the excuse for going upstairs. The rhyme was gold, Baby, gold! Of course, I promptly lost the scrap of paper. Though it's probably in my clutter somewhere, I've searched nearly forever for it and I've finally called off the search. Please share a moment of silence with me in memory (or lack thereof) of the long-lost, mythically perfect little stanza... Thank you.
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