The Long And Winding Road
Notes: I don't own the show, the characters, etc. Thanks to everyone for sticking with this story so far, and special thanks to those who've given reviews, which are always a source of encouragement.
Chapter 16 -- Em Appeal
JT and Emma stood outside JT's car, in the Campanelli's parking lot.
"Emma, did you, um, say 'to bed?'" he asked with a confused look on his face.
"Yes," she answered decisively. "I think that would be best. Don't you?"
"I had no idea you were even thinking about such things."
"One of us has to, JT. If it was up to you, we'd be out all night, and then you'd go to work tomorrow morning completely exhausted."
"Huh?"
"If you were so tired you fell off the ladder while changing the movie signs and then cracked your head open, I'd never forgive you," she kidded him. "As much as I'd love to keep this night going, I want to get you back to your house. I'll then go home and you can get some well-deserved sleep."
"Oh," JT responded, having gradually started to realize what Emma meant. "Right. Yes, that makes a lot of sense."
The pair then got into the car and left the restaurant.
"You sure got quiet all of a sudden," Emma commented while JT was driving. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing. I just got confused for a moment back there. Me confused – nothing surprising about that."
"Oh."
Emma thought for a moment, then a look of understanding came over her face.
"Ohhhh. Were you thinking that I meant…?"
"I, uh, think I had the wrong meaning about 'getting to bed.'"
Emma laughed.
"I guess my wording WAS open to multiple interpretations," she admitted. "You okay?"
"Yeah. Still recovering from the shock of what I thought you meant, but otherwise okay."
"Are you upset?" she then asked. "Disappointed?"
Smiling, JT turned his head and looked at his girlfriend.
"Emma, I've just had the perfect evening with the girl of my dreams. How can I possibly be upset or disappointed?"
"Eyes back on the road, daredevil," Emma teasingly instructed, though she was truly touched by his comment.
"Yesss, dear," JT replied, trying to sound like an old man, which made Emma laugh.
"We haven't really talked about sex," she remarked. "At least not since we started going out…that is, REALLY going out."
"I know. As friends we've talked about it in general, especially when we were seeing other people."
For a moment neither said anything else.
"I still want to at least wait until after I'm out of high school," Emma eventually said, breaking the silence. "I haven't changed my mind about that."
"I hadn't even thought that you WOULD change your mind, Emma. That's why I was so surprised back there."
"After all," she added, "there's enough to deal with right now as it is. Classes, causes, college plans."
"I understood your point back when you first talked about it and I still understand," JT assured.
"And of course in the past there was always the idea that when it happens it should be with the right person. You know that I haven't exactly had the best track record with guys. They always seemed to turn out to be so wrong for me. I'm definitely glad I didn't take things to THAT level with any of them."
"I feel the same way, Emma."
Emma put her left hand on JT's right shoulder.
"I know you do," she said. "Of course, now I've found the right person. Right in every way I can think of. And for the first time, I have to admit I've seriously been thinking about…Well, I've been tempted. But I still want to hold off in that area. Are you okay with that?"
"I wasn't expecting you to change your mind or your plans for anyone, and that includes me," he answered. "Don't get me wrong, part of me REALLY wants to say forget about waiting. Trust me."
Emma smiled.
"But we've got more than just the physical going for us," he continued. "And you know I'd not the type to pressure you about something like that."
"I know, JT. That's something I've never worried about."
"Also, ever since Manny had her accidental pregnancy by Craig last year, despite being careful, then all the stress that came after that, and ultimately the miscarriage…I don't know, I just found that to be a good reminder that there's no hurry. We'll get there when we get there. When it's right."
"Once again we're on the same wavelength, JT."
"Hey, until a couple of weeks ago, I'd waited a long time – months – just to kiss you for the first time. For me, finally getting to kiss you…that was like Christmas. I'm happy with what we have right now."
"Including those rather fun make-out sessions on your couch," Emma mentioned.
"Yes," JT responded, laughing. "Most definitely. Anyway, you don't have to think I'm looking at my watch and always wondering when something more is going to happen."
His happy expression suddenly turned to one of distress.
"And now I realize I just mentioned Manny's name," he said. "Sorry about…"
Removing her hand from his shoulder, Emma put her finger over JT's lips.
"You don't have to apologize," she told him. "It makes sense that a friend's experience would have an effect on you and that you'd want to share that effect with me. Besides, her name's not a dirty word around me. I'm working on dealing with her."
JT took her finger from his lips and kissed it.
"I know you have, Emma. She told me you've been very polite to her this week. Thanks for that."
"A lot of guys wouldn't understand. About there being no hurry."
"What can I say? I've never exactly tried to be like a lot of guys."
"True," she said.
"Besides, in one sense, I already go to bed with you every night."
"Okay, JT, now you've lost me."
"Well, I do have a framed picture of you on the table by my bed, so it's like you're close to me even when I'm asleep."
"You just keep on surprising me," Emma remarked.
"But don't worry," he added. "Your picture isn't TOO close. It's to the side and a little bit behind the alarm clock. I wouldn't want it right up close. I usually reach out and pound on the clock when the alarm goes off in the morning. Wouldn't want to accidentally pound on your face."
Emma laughed.
"Good to know. That wouldn't be the most pleasant way to start the day."
"Plus, assaulting my girlfriend's picture, even unintentionally, is probably some kind of a criminal act," he joked. "I don't want the Kodak people coming after me."
"JT, you have this uncanny ability to say the sweetest things I've ever heard, then follow it up by saying the goofiest things I've ever heard. Don't ever change."
"The photo cops might take me away. A judge could sentence me to life in a photo lab darkroom."
"If they did, I'd want to come with you," Emma said, then kissed JT's cheek.
"NOW who's going to get us into a wreck?" JT responded. "Not that I'm complaining about this distraction or anything."
After a few more minutes, the couple reached JT's house. They soon got out of the car.
"I know it's getting late, Emma, but are you SURE you won't stay awhile? We can watch a movie or…"
"I'd love to, but I meant what I said. You need your sleep. You usually end up working longer than you should on Friday nights, then you're back there again early on Saturday mornings. Take advantage of this extra time to get some rest. I'll see you at the theater tomorrow afternoon for our movie date."
"Followed by food, conversation and extreme amounts of physical contact. Not necessarily in that order."
"Wouldn't have it any other way."
"But I'm not letting you walk home alone right now," he informed her.
"JT, I've been walking to and from your house by myself almost since I COULD walk any real distance. Even late at night. I can more than manage."
Hearing that, JT rolled his eyes.
"Save the 'I am woman, hear me walk' speeches," he joked. "I just mean that I don't like that this evening has to end, but if we HAVE to say goodnight, at least let me stall a little and walk you over there first."
"I guess that would be acceptable…for THAT reason."
"You drive a hard bargain," JT said.
They started walking down the sidewalk, but it wasn't long before JT grew troubled.
"Emma, what's wrong?"
"What do you mean?"
"You're limping a little."
"What are you talking about, JT?"
"Well, I don't think invisible elves came along and shortened one of your legs when we weren't looking. So if you're favoring one side over the other, something must be wrong."
"It's nothing," she insisted. "Though I do like your invisible elf theory. You should write a paper on it, then send it to a lab. There are medications doctors can give you. The road to mental health is only a step away. I know you can do it, JT."
"Emma…"
They stopped walking.
"Okay, JT, if you MUST know, one of my feet is a little sore. That's all. Consider it a souvenir from a wonderful after-dinner dance. It'll be okay in no time."
"I was afraid of this," JT said, feeling both worried and guilty. "I never should have let you talk me into dancing. You've gotta know that the last thing I would ever want to do is hurt you. I never meant for…"
Emma interrupted what she knew would be an unending panicky – and unnecessary – apology by suddenly kissing JT for several moments.
"Okay then," JT said after catching his breath. "Maybe you're not in such bad shape after all."
"It's taken about a dozen years, but I think I've finally found the one way to get you to shut up once in awhile," Emma teased. "Who knew a kiss could come in handy in so many different ways? Now, listen to me, JT. My foot is fine. A little sore because your foot kept landing on it, but it's still capable of getting me where I need to go. It's also able to kick you in the butt if you try to feel guilty about anything you've done during this perfect evening. Look, I'll gladly take this little bit of pain now considering I finally got you to dance with me back there tonight. Expect to dance with me again soon. So relax already. You've made this a great night."
JT accepted this and started to relax.
"I guess I'd better do what you say."
"Just don't relax so much that you fall asleep on your walk back to your house," Emma advised.
"You are WAY too demanding," JT said, smiling.
"Live with it," Emma replied.
Then she winked at him.
"Only for the next couple hundred years, Emma. After that, I'm outta here."
"We'll see about that…"
"Okay, so your foot will be fine soon. But by law, I can't have you continue to limp home like this."
"What law?" Emma questioned.
"Yorke's Law, of course."
"Of course," she repeated in a sarcastic tone. "How could I possibly forget about Yorke's Law?"
"Don't worry, Emma. It's easy to do, since I simply make the laws up as I go along."
"Oh, just like politicians," Emma cracked.
JT laughed.
"And people say I'M the comedian in this relationship."
"That's high praise coming from you, JT."
"Anyway," he continued, "as the one responsible for your unfortunate toe calamity, it's up to me to provide you with proper transportation."
"What are you talking about?"
"Just hang on to your purse," he cautioned.
"What?"
Suddenly JT bent down and then swept Emma up into his arms. To say Emma was surprised by this action would be an understatement.
"Okay JT, I've always known you were crazy, but I didn't think you were insane. Put me down!"
"Not until we've reached your house," he responded, sounding both cheerful and determined.
"We still have a couple of blocks," she said, surprise turning into concern. "There's no way."
"Then you should stop arguing and let me hurry."
JT started walking quickly.
"JT Yorke, if you drop me…"
"Would I do anything to mess up your beautiful dress?"
"Forget the dress. I'm thinking about me here. Me, me, me, me, me!"
"Emma, you were a little flat on that last 'me'. You need to work more on your singing."
"You're impossible, JT! And your skinny arms can't hold on to me for any real amount of time."
"When I used to be the mascot, there were a few times when I'd lift up one of the members of squad to help out with some crazy routine or another that Paige dreamed up."
"Lift them up, yes. But you didn't carry them around!"
"Are you saying you're too heavy?" JT smirked, infuriating Emma all the more. "I would NEVER think something like that about you."
"Of course I'm not heavy," she replied. "That doesn't mean you're able to continue to hold me up."
"Hey, I'm just trying to stay in shape. When we get married one day, I'll have to carry you like this over a threshold. Of course if you'd prefer, when that day comes I could just throw you over my shoulder like a sack of potatoes."
"Walking through a doorway takes seconds, not minutes. And don't you dare compare me to a sack of potatoes! But I shouldn't be surprised. This is exactly something I should expect from you. You get these crazed ideas into your head and you don't let them go. With you, I never know what to expect from one minute to the next. I'm willing to consider the possibility that you were sent from another planet all those years ago with the specific mission of testing just how much it would take to push me right over the edge and into…into…"
"The Cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs Zone?" he suggested.
"Yeah! And by the way, JT, that's a terrible breakfast to start off your day. You really should stop eating junk like that. And did you say something about us someday getting married? I can barely keep up with all your schemes now."
JT slowly put Emma back on her feet. He looked at Emma and saw that she was frowning.
"NOW what's wrong?" he questioned.
"What did you put me down for?" she asked in reply, sounding annoyed.
"Isn't that what you wanted?"
"Yes…" she answered. "Well, no…Well…"
"Emma, have you noticed where we are?"
"Of course not. I've been looking at you the whole time, not to mention hanging on for dear life."
Emma looked around and saw that they were right in front of her home.
"Oh, THAT'S why you…"
"…Put you down," JT completed her sentence. "Yes. Like I promised, not until we got to the front of your house."
"That was quick," she commented.
"Time flies when Emma's on the rampage," he joked.
"Are your arms okay?" she asked, looking concerned.
"They were holding you. They can't get much better than that."
"All my complaints to the contrary, that was kinda nice," Emma admitted. "Being carried in your arms AND getting to question your sanity. Two very fun activities."
"And you even managed to slip in a mini-lecture on good nutrition," JT added. "This is really your night."
"Half right," she corrected him. "It's OUR night."
The couple then kissed.
"Thanks for the Yorke Foot-Relief Mode of Transportation," Emma said after they eventually gave in to their need for oxygen and broke apart.
"Anytime, Emma."
"And for the private candlelight dinner, the dancing, the conversation. Everything."
"Couldn't have done it without you," JT responded. "Well, I could have tried, but then if anyone had seen me dancing with myself, I'm sure they'd have thrown me out of the restaurant. So you keep me looking respectable."
Emma laughed.
"And you, JT, keep me away from boredom."
"We're not a bad combination."
"The best," she confirmed. "Now promise me that you won't find some excuse to stay up really late."
"You would doubt me?" he asked.
"You always seem to find some old movie on one of the channels, and I want you alert and well-rested in the morning."
"Okay, Emma. I promise. But if I find out someone's airing 'Frankenstein Marries the Wolf Man in Outer Space,' all bets are off."
At this, Emma rolled her eyes.
"It's a real tear-jerker," he jokingly insisted. "And you DID say I was a romantic."
"You're hopeless, JT. But I love you anyway. Sleep well."
"You too, angel."
Emma then adjusted JT's tie.
"It got a little crooked during our walk. Well, your walk. My ride."
"Thanks."
The couple enjoyed one last, lengthy kiss.
"Love you, Jamie," she then professed for one last time that night.
"Love you too, Emma."
Emma then started walking toward her front door and JT started walking back to his place. Before going inside, though, she called out to him.
"And be careful up on that ladder tomorrow morning! No falling!"
"Aww, that takes all the fun out of it!" JT called back as he walked away. "See you tomorrow afternoon!"
Next Chapter – Parent Of The Year