A/N: My fellow West Wing fans, I present to you the next installment of "Hear It in the Silence"! Thank you to the lovely people who left reviews (I had to admit, I was wondering if anyone was even reading it), and I hope you enjoy the next chapter. As always, I own nothing except the original characters.
It wasn't working. No matter how hard Jed tried to keep his thoughts focused on the book he was meant to be studying, he couldn't stop himself from replaying Abbey's words repeatedly in his head, remembering the way her voice had shook as she'd told him what had happened in the English classroom. It made him mad—no, scratch that—it made him furious when he remembered the pain in her eyes, the way she had thrown herself into his arms just to escape the professor, and he sighed as he closed his book in frustration. He'd left the decision of how to proceed up to her, but he would have been lying if he'd said that a large part of him didn't want to demand justice on her behalf.
He knew Jeremy could sense his anger (not that he was really trying to hide it), but to his credit, he had asked no questions, rightfully reasoning that Jed didn't want to talk about it. He wished he had someone he could ask for advice, but—wait! Maybe he did. He smacked himself on the forehead, annoyed that it had taken him so long to think of it, and pulled out a fresh piece of paper, thinking. He would need to tread lightly here, mentioning no names or identifying information, but he thought that he could manage it. At the very least, he was going to try.
Dear Mrs. Landingham,
I hope this finds you well. I'm sorry to write to you so soon after my last letter, but I'm afraid I am in desperate need of advice from someone with more life experience than I currently possess. I don't know if you've had the chance to read my previous letter, but for arguments sake, I will proceed as if you have. The friend I mentioned in the letter, the one that reminded me of you after our first few meetings, is in a potentially dangerous situation and it involves someone who is held in high esteem here at the university. I don't want to go into too much detail in case this falls into the wrong hands, but I am planning to come home during the Christmas vacation, and if you have the time, I would greatly appreciate the opportunity to discuss it with you. It is of the utmost importance.
All the best,
Jed Bartlet
As much as it killed him to be so vague, he knew it was for Abbey's benefit as well as his own, and he sighed, folding the letter carefully. It wasn't much, but it was something, and if Mrs. Landingham responded in time, he would hopefully have a better idea of how to move forward after the holidays. He just hoped Abbey would be safe until then.
He knew it was unrealistic, but he checked the post every day after he had mailed his letter, fervently hoping to find a reply, but with each passing day, he was beginning to lose hope. Was it possible that he had made a huge mistake by writing to Mrs. Landingham? After all, why would she want to involve herself in the drama of a college student and his friend that she had never met? If he truly stopped to think about it, even Jed had to admit that it sounded foolish.
A week after he had mailed the letter, almost down to the exact day, Jed pulled the two envelopes from the mailbox assigned to him, feeling more hopeless than he had in a long time, and he hardly gave the writing on the outside a glance. He was just preparing to toss them onto his bed when he noticed the neat handwriting wasn't that of his father, and his eyes widened as he read the return address. His heart was thundering in his chest as he tore open the first envelope, scanning it quickly.
Dear Jed,
I was so pleased to hear from you, and I'm sorry it took me so long to write back. I'm glad that school seems to be going well for you and even more happy to hear that you're making friends. I must admit that I am a little concerned about your most recent letter, but I trust that you will make the right decision. You're a good person, and I have the utmost faith in you. I would love to see you when you visit, so please feel free to stop by the library downtown when you have a chance. I'm there most days between five o'clock and six in the evenings. I'll keep an eye out for you. Until then, stay safe and keep your head up.
All the best,
Delores Landingham
The second letter was of little importance to Jed, and he tossed it into the trash can next to his bed, feeling more excited than he had since he'd spoken to Abbey that night on campus. Ignoring the confused look that Jeremy gave him, Jed bolted from the room, intent on finding Abbey to tell her the good news. It wasn't a solution by any means, but it was at least a step in the right direction.
Ever since she had confided in Jed about Professor Howson, Abbey found that she had absolutely no idea how to feel about the entire situation. It was a strange combination of fear, relief, anticipation, and worry, making her more than a little nervous any time she was forced to leave the safety of her dorm room. Still, she was too ambitious and driven to allow her work to suffer, resulting in an extremely stressed college student that was bordering on a breakdown. She knew Millie was beginning to get concerned about her, she could sense it in the hesitant way she approached every interaction, but she pushed it to the back of her mind, her every thought focused on her studies.
She flat-out refused to let any conversation veer in the direction of her former English professor, cutting Millie off mid-sentence more than once, and it was only when she knew that Jed would be in the library that she dared to venture to the large building. She hated that her once-precious sanctuary had been tainted for her, but Abbey knew as long as Jed was there, she would be safe. It didn't escape her notice that he had replaced Ron in everything but name and physical touch, but she couldn't let herself think about that. There were much more important things to worry about.
Checking her watch, she saw that she would need to hurry if she wanted to be on time for her study session with Jed, and she hastily threw a wine-red sweater over her shoulders, hoping to protect herself from the chill of the evening. She rushed out the door, not even realizing that as she swiftly walked across campus, her every move was being observed. She didn't notice the man keeping a safe enough distance that he wouldn't attract attention, and just as she passed the building where her Psychology class was held, she collided with something extremely solid.
Too late, she realized that the something she had crashed into was a someone, and she jumped back, her eyes wide.
"I'm so sorry, I—Jed?"
He gave her a weak smile, reaching out to steady her with his hand.
"Do you always cause people bodily harm when you're around or am I just special?" he quipped.
Abbey laughed quietly, shaking her head.
"Must just be you, Jethro."
"Don't call me that," he replied, only half-joking, "I was just looking for you. I need to—"
He stopped, his eyes focused on a point behind her, and just as she was preparing to turn to see what he'd noticed, he reached for her hand.
"Come on."
Abbey frowned.
"What's wrong?"
Jed shook his head, almost imperceptibly.
"Don't turn around. Just walk with me."
Their eyes met, ice blue to emerald green, and she knew, without a doubt, exactly what he must have seen. Without thinking, she hooked her arm into his, her head falling onto his shoulder as they walked in the direction of the library, doing everything in her power to keep her steps even. She was dying to speak, fighting every urge to turn and look behind them, but she knew if she gave any indication that something was wrong, it had the potential to end badly for not only herself, but Jed as well.
"You okay?"
Jed's voice was just loud enough that she could hear him, and she nodded. They had reached the library lobby now, and it was only after the doors had swung shut behind them that Abbey pulled away from his body, smiling at him almost shyly.
"Thank you," she whispered.
Walking quickly to the Reference section, Abbey secured their usual table, giving Jed a slightly puzzled look as he sat in the chair opposite her.
"He was waiting for me," her voice was quiet, but there was no mistaking the pain.
Jed nodded.
"Seems like it. But, that's what I was coming to find you about. I have a friend who worked with one of the most insufferable men I've ever known and I wrote to her to ask her for advice. She's an incredibly bright woman and if anyone can help us figure this out, it will be her."
He didn't add that the insufferable man in question was his father, but that wasn't really important.
"Us?" Abbey repeated, looking at him seriously.
"Us," he said again, "We're in this together, Abbey. I'm not letting you go through it alone."
Abbey considered this for a moment, trying to make sense of her jumbled thoughts, and finally nodded, looking at him with an expression he couldn't quite identify.
"This friend of yours…" she began, "You said she could help us. Is she an old girlfriend?"
Jed rolled his eyes before realizing that Abbey was teasing him and shook his head.
"More like my older sister."
Abbey sighed, shaking her head.
"Damn," she muttered, "I was hoping to find at least one flaw. You're too perfect, Bartlet. It's unnatural."
This time, he recognized her teasing for what it was and laughed, his voice warm.
"Why would that be a flaw? You've dated before."
"I'm not the one studying to be a priest," she pointed out, nodding her head at him.
Though he didn't dare say it out loud, for the first time, Jed was beginning to wish he wasn't.
By some miracle, Jed managed to avoid his father the entire first day he was home for his Christmas vacation, something he said prayer after prayer of gratitude for, and as he walked in the direction of the downtown library, he couldn't keep from smiling. He hadn't realized just how much he'd been looking forward to seeing Mrs. Landingham again until this moment, and as he pushed open the door, he was overjoyed to find her waiting for him in the lobby, a smile on her face as he approached.
"Jed Bartlet! It's been far too long since I've laid eyes on you!"
He smiled, nodding at her as he held out his hand.
"Mrs. Landingham. Thank you so much for meeting me."
She waved away his words with a smile, gesturing to the far corner to their right, taking a step.
"Why don't we sit where we won't disturb anyone?"
He allowed her to lead the way, but he drew the line at her pulling out her own chair, and as he moved to do it for her, she laughed, the sound light and clear.
"Some things never change."
Jed took the seat across from her, still reveling in the happiness of seeing her again, and she looked at him seriously, her voice low as she spoke.
"We can catch up later, but for now let's get right to it. What seems to be the problem?"
Though he tried to ease into it, the story tumbled out of him quickly, almost as though he were still afraid of Howson overhearing them all the way in New Hampshire. He told her of meeting Abbey, of how they had become close friends, of the terrifying way she had been assaulted, of the most recent encounter, and how they had no real idea of how to proceed in such a delicate situation. Mrs. Landingham listened attentively, her serious expression darkening when he described how scared Abbey now seemed to be, and when he finally finished speaking, she was silent for a long moment, her eyes downcast.
"Well, Jed…you weren't kidding when you said it was potentially dangerous," she said finally, "but you've done the right thing by helping her. What does Abbey want? Does she want to press the issue?"
Jed sighed.
"I don't know. She asked me to give her time to think about it, but that was before he was following her across campus. She's worried that no one will believe her. You know, young woman, versus a respected teacher at a prestigious university…"
"She's right to be concerned," Mrs. Landingham said sadly, "and I hate to tell you this, but you have to respect her wishes. If Abbey decides not to take any kind of action, you can't do it for her. This is her fight. You can help her if she asks, but it has to be her choice."
He knew she was right, knew that he couldn't just ride in like a knight on a white horse to defend Abbey's honor, but it didn't make him feel any better about it.
"If she does decide to say something, what should we do?"
Thinking hard for a moment, Mrs. Landingham leaned forward on the table, her expression serious.
"Be very careful, Jed."
The rest of his Christmas break was largely uneventful, spent playing the role of obedient son during any interactions with his father, and on his last day in New Hampshire, Jed suddenly found himself face-to-face with his father, the anger in his eyes making him pause in the kitchen.
"Your grades have slipped."
Jed frowned, confused. His grades had dropped by two points across the entire curriculum (if that), and he couldn't understand what made this such a life-altering situation. Still, he knew better than to argue.
"Yes, sir."
"I expect you to bring them up by the end of the semester."
"Yes, sir," he replied, his voice soft.
"And if I find out that the reason your grades have slipped is because you're too busy partying, I will not hesitate to bring you right back here."
He didn't know why he did it. Didn't, in fact, realize that he had done it until it was too late, but he rolled his eyes at the statement, an annoyed sigh falling from his lips as he answered.
"Yes, sir."
The slap was so hard that it made his teeth rattle, snapping his head around without warning, and as Jed stood there, dazed, he tried to remember how to breathe.
"Don't you dare roll your eyes at me," his father hissed, his voice low and dangerous.
"Yes, sir."
Without another word, his father stormed from the room, leaving Jed to stare at the place he'd been, trying to figure out how in the world his life had gotten so complicated.
As much as it killed him, Jed avoided Abbey for the first few days after his return to campus. He knew she was more than likely hurt, possibly concerned, by his absence, but he couldn't risk her seeing the still-healing bruise that his father had gifted him for Christmas. She wouldn't understand, and he didn't think he could bear seeing her look at him with pity. Anything would have been better than that. So, he walked as quickly as he possibly could to the sanctity of his dorm room each day, thanking God every time he made it back without seeing her, no matter how much he missed their time together.
He should have known, however, that his luck wouldn't hold forever, and when he left his Theology class one Thursday afternoon, he winced when he heard her call his name from a few feet away. There was no way he could pretend that he hadn't noticed her, so he stopped, turning to watch her as she made her way closer, her hair flowing behind her in the wind.
"Where the hell have you been?" she asked as soon as she was near enough, "I was starting to think you'd decided to stay in New Hampshire."
He shook his head, careful to angle his head in such a way that she couldn't see the right side of his face.
"Just been busy. How was your Christmas?"
Abbey smiled, glancing at him as they walked.
"Not bad. How was yours? Did you talk to your sister?"
He smiled at this, nodding once, turning to look at her warmly, hoping to offer her reassurance.
"Yeah. We met at the library, and I asked her what to do and—"
His words were cut off by Abbey's sharp gasp and he paused, suddenly worried that she'd seen Professor Howson.
"What?"
"Jed, what happened to you? You can't tell me that you aren't aware of the large bruise on your face."
"It's nothing."
As much as he wished she would let the matter drop, by now Jed knew Abbey well enough to know that she wouldn't accept his answer, and when she grabbed his arm to pull him out of public view, he knew he'd been right. It dimly occurred to him that this was the very same place she'd told him about Howson, and he briefly wondered if she realized it as well.
"It's not nothing. Josiah Bartlet, don't you dare lie to me."
Her use of his full name told him just how serious she was, but still he avoided her eyes, hoping she would let it go. She froze and as she looked at him, Jed could practically see her putting the pieces together, her eyes wide as she reached out to touch the area gently, her fingertips warm on his skin.
"Oh, Jed," she whispered, "Your father did this to you…didn't he?"
He said nothing, his silence confirming her suspicions, and when he met her gaze, he was surprised to find, instead of the pity he had expected, fiery anger blazing in her eyes.
"That bastard," she swore, "How could someone do this to their own child?"
She still hadn't removed her fingers from his skin, and when she gestured for him to lean down, he frowned, confused.
"Why?"
"You're taller than me," she said as though it were obvious, "I can't get a proper look if I'm standing on my toes."
He laughed despite the seriousness of the moment, earning him a glare. Typical Abbey, switching into doctor-mode without even realizing it. Still, he knew better than to incur her wrath, and did as she asked, giving her a better angle to see. After a few moments, she nodded, but kept her hand on his cheek, smiling at him.
"It doesn't look like there are any cuts or abrasions. It should fade in a week or so. In the meantime, you might want to avoid pictures."
He smirked, nodding at her as she stepped away, finally dropping her hand.
"I'll keep that in mind."
His skin burned the entire way back to his dorm from where her fingers had touched it. Not that he would have ever told her.
"Jed, let me ask you something: why on earth do you want to be a priest?"
Glancing at Jeremy, Jed sighed heavily, marking his place in the book he'd been reading.
"It's complicated."
"Okay, sure. But I'm guessing that a large part of it is because you want to help people. That's kind of what you do. You're a good person, you're intelligent, you're compassionate, so why would you deny yourself something that would make you happy?"
He frowned, unsure of what Jeremy meant.
"Yeah, I guess that's the main thing. I want to help people."
"There are other ways you can do that, though. You don't have to give up your own happiness to help others."
"What are you talking about?"
Jeremy stared at him as though he'd never encountered someone so stupid, shaking his head.
"Forget what I said about you being intelligent. You're an idiot."
Oh…now he understood.
"You're talking about Abbey."
"Of course I'm talking about Abbey," Jeremy said, rolling his eyes, "You like her. You're with her more than you're with me, and we share a room. Come on, Jed. Think about it. You could change your major, pick some other noble profession if you must, but it doesn't have to be one that forces you to ignore the fact that you like her."
Though he hated to admit it, his roommate was making quite a lot of sense, and he would have been lying if he'd said that the thought hadn't crossed his mind as well, but…no. What about Howson? If he didn't have his future priesthood to back them up, why would anyone believe Abbey? He couldn't risk doing that to her. Not after everything they'd been through together.
Abbey sighed as she pulled her hair into a ponytail, trying to ignore the way it made her feel exposed, and as she closed her door behind her, she shivered. Though there was nothing to suggest it, but she felt as though she was waiting for something to happen, but she couldn't have explained the nagging feeling even if she'd tried. She hastily made her way down the hall, stepping out into the cold January afternoon quicker than she had originally planned, and when she was suddenly pulled to a stop, she felt her blood freeze in her veins.
"I warned you not to play games with me, Abigail."
The fear that overtook her was instantaneous, hitting her with a force she hadn't expected, and it quickly overrode any rational thought. Without realizing it, Abbey swung her arm around, her hand connecting with Professor Howson's face, her nails slicing into his cheek. Blood began to bubble to the surface of his skin and as he released his hold on her, she screamed, gaining the attention of the few students who had dared to venture out into the cold. She barely had time to register the several pairs of hands that reached for her, and it was only when she noticed the ring on one of them that she realized they meant to help her.
"Abbey, are you okay?"
She knew that voice, recognized the ring, and shook her head.
"Where is he?" she gasped.
"Headed for the English building. Don't worry, Abs, we all saw it."
'Abs'...who did she know who called her that? It wasn't Jed, it was...wait. The same person who called her that was wearing the ring. She recognized the ring. Millie! It had to be Millie, so why couldn't she say anything?
"Abbey? Abbey, can you hear me?"
The faces around her began to blur, her vision spinning, and it dimly registered in her mind that she was struggling to breathe. She sank down on her knees, trying to hear over the sound of her own blood rushing in her ears, and she felt someone kneel down next to her, taking her hands.
"Abbey, breathe. It's okay. You're safe."
She could faintly hear footsteps approaching, though she had no idea which direction they had come from, and when she heard someone else speaking to her, she fought through the panic to try to focus.
"Miss Barrington, do you think you can stand?"
This voice was also familiar to her, and she forced her eyes open, feeling an almost overwhelming sense of relief when she recognized the woman as the librarian who often greeted her and Jed when they arrived for their study sessions. After several deep breaths, she finally nodded, allowing the librarian and Millie to help her up, and she swayed slightly, unsteady on her feet. She felt Millie tighten her grip on her arm, slowly leading her in the direction of their dorm room, and as they walked, she could feel the eyes of everyone who had gathered following her every move.
Ignoring the way Jeremy was watching him like a hawk, Jed continued to pace around their shared room, trying (and failing) to calm both his rage and his worry. By now, the entire campus had heard about Professor Howson's attack on Abbey, and ever since it had reached him, Jed had been beside himself, alternating between wanting to commit murder and rushing to be with his best friend. He could feel his roommate's eyes following him, could almost see the questions he was dying to ask, but he paid it little attention.
"Jed, you're making me dizzy."
Jed turned on his heel, resuming his pacing.
"Why don't you go see her? She's probably wondering where you are."
"I don't know that they would let me in. Girls dorm, you know."
"I think, given the circumstances, they would make an exception."
Hm...he hadn't considered that. It was worth a shot, in any case. Without a word, he grabbed his jacket, bolting from the room, hoping and praying that, just this once, God would be on his side.
As it turned out, he needn't have worried, because no one even looked in his direction as he walked into the building that housed the girls dorm rooms, and he quickly made his way down the hall, trying to sort through his thoughts. What would he say to her? Would she even want to see him? Would Millie have him thrown out? Worse still, would Abbey have him thrown out? He shook his head to clear it, coming to a stop outside the room he knew belonged to Abbey, knocking on it quietly.
For a long moment, he worried that no one would answer and he had just started to think that they might not even be there when the door opened, Millie looking through the small crack defensively.
"Whoever you are, I—"
"It's Jed. Can I see her?"
She glanced at him, recognition flashing in her eyes, and she nodded at him, pulling the door open. She stepped back to give him room to enter, and as he walked through the door, he felt his anger flare up again at the sight of Abbey sitting on the edge of her bed, clutching a mug of hot tea. He could see her shaking from where he stood, and he took a hesitant step closer, not wanting to scare her.
"Do you want me to stay?" Millie asked her, her voice carefully low.
Abbey's head shook and Millie leaned down, hugging her carefully before she grabbed her jacket.
"If you need me, I'll be giving my statement," she said to Jed, looking at him seriously.
Jed nodded, helping her into her jacket before she swept through the door. It wasn't until it had closed behind her that he moved again, slowly making his way closer to Abbey, unsure of how to act.
"Would you prefer if I sat on Millie's bed?" he asked.
She shook her head, gesturing to the space next to her, and he sat down carefully, still hardly able to believe that he was in her room, on her bed. He could see the slight bruising beginning to form around her wrist, and he frowned, noticing that her mug was nearly empty.
"What happened?" he kept his voice soft, not wanting to scare her.
"I was on my way to my Psych class, and he came up behind me. Grabbed my arm. He said that he warned me not to play games with him. I didn't even think, I just...I hit him. It drew blood, and I—oh, God, Jed...I hit a teacher!"
"He assaulted you," Jed reminded her, "I don't think anyone would blame you."
"After I...after I hit him, I just screamed. I didn't plan it, it just happened, and then he ran. Millie and a few other people were there...they have to provide witness statements, and..."
She stopped, looking at him for the first time since he'd walked in.
"I was so scared, Jed," she whispered, tears filling her eyes, "I couldn't breathe, and I just..."
Without even stopping to think, Jed wrapped his arm around her shoulder, and before he had comprehended that it had happened, Abbey threw her arms around him, her tea mug falling to the floor with a thud. She buried her head in his shoulder, her tears soaking through his shirt, and as he held her, Jed ran his fingers through her hair slowly. If only there was something more he could do to help...but so far, he had nothing.
He had no idea how long they stayed that way, but when he noticed that Abbey's tears had started to slow, he tilted his head back just enough that he could see her, catching her eyes with his.
"We'll figure this out, Abbey," he said, "Surely now, with witnesses, he won't be able to come near you or anyone else like this again."
Abbey nodded, though he could tell she didn't entirely believe him, and when she spoke again, her question broke his heart in a way he hadn't expected.
"Why are you here helping me?"
He frowned, looking down at her seriously.
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"I just...there are more important things you should be doing than having me cry all over your shoulder."
Jed stared at her, certain she'd lost her mind.
"Nothing is more important than this."
"How can you say that?"
"Abbey, you're my best friend. There's nowhere else I want to be."
Abbey pulled away, looking at him as though she'd never seen him before, and shook her head.
"I'm your best friend?"
He smiled, nodding as he ran his thumb over the back of her hand lightly.
"No one else in the world even comes close."
By the end of January, the general buzz surrounding the incident with Professor Howson had died down, leaving Jed and Abbey free to resume their study sessions without dodging the looks of those who had merely heard about the attack, and as he left his Psychology lesson, Jed found himself turning for his Theology class rather than the library as he had originally intended. He knew now what he had to do, and he prayed that it wouldn't be as difficult as he'd imagined. He entered the room, thankful it was empty save for the deacon, and when the older man noticed him standing just inside the door, his face broke into a smile.
"Jed! To what do I owe this unexpected pleasure?"
"Sir, I just wanted to let you know that after careful consideration, I've decided to change my major. I've come to realize that perhaps priesthood isn't what God intended for me, and I'm going to be exploring other avenues."
"I see," came the reply, "Well, Jed...God works in mysterious ways. I have no doubt that you will excel no matter which path you choose, though I will miss your contribution to our sermons on Sundays."
"I'm still planning on having Theology as a minor," Jed assured him with a smile, "I just think this is the best decision for me, and I wanted to extend the courtesy of telling you rather than simply dropping the class with no explanation."
After being assured that there was no bad blood between himself and the deacon, Jed quickly made his way from the room, feeling lighter and happier than he had in months. He briefly wondered if he should perhaps feel guilty about that, but he soon decided that it didn't matter. After all, God had led him here, so he simply had to trust that God wouldn't lead him astray needlessly.
"You did what?"
Abbey's voice rose slightly in volume, though not enough to cause anyone to look in their direction, and as he slid into the seat across from her, he nodded, though he knew she didn't really need him to.
"Josiah Bartlet, have you lost your mind? Are you possessed? Do we need to perform an exorcism? We're in the perfect school for it."
He laughed quietly, shaking his head.
"I've been thinking about it for months," he admitted, "It just wasn't the path for me. There are other ways I can help people and possibly on a larger scale than just a church priest. Besides, I'm still going to have Theology as my minor. No sense in throwing away all that time I spent studying it."
Abbey was still staring at him as though she couldn't believe what he'd said, and the look on her face was so comical that he nearly started laughing again.
"What—how—why?" Abbey asked, seemingly unable to say more than a few words.
"It just wasn't meant to be," he replied, turning his attention to his book.
Even though Abbey never looked up from her book again, Jed would have bet all the money he had to his name that she hadn't comprehended a single word on the page.
"Tell me the rumors are true," Jeremy said as he burst into their shared room that evening.
"Hello to you too, Jeremy," Jed muttered sarcastically.
"Hi," he shook his head as he walked closer, "Now are the rumors true? Did you really give up the priesthood?"
Jed nodded, more than a little amused by his reaction. Jeremy threw his arm around him, thumping him on the back excitedly.
"When are you going to tell Abbey?"
"Already did. She was just about as shocked as you are excited."
"So, what are you waiting for? Go get your girl, Bartlet."
Jed rolled his eyes as he released him, shaking his head. This was going to be a long night...
"Wait, let me get this straight: Jed Bartlet, the same Jed Bartlet who studies Theology as though his life depends on it, is suddenly not going to be a priest?"
Abbey nodded, running a brush through her long mahogany hair, glancing at Millie in the mirror. Truth be told, she was still having trouble processing Jed's decision herself, but she couldn't deny that she was secretly a little happy about it. As much as she knew she shouldn't be, she knew she was attracted to him, more than she would have thought possible, and knowing that he had been off-limits made it even more difficult to be around him. Not that she would have ever admitted it. Definitely not.
Millie moved forward on her bed, waiting expectantly for her to elaborate, her eyes watching like a hawk as her roommate finished her nightly routine. Abbey ignored her for as long as she possibly could, pretending she didn't notice the way Millie was practically bouncing on her bed in anticipation, and when she finally turned, she sighed.
"What?" she asked exasperatedly.
"When are you going to tell him?"
Abbey frowned, moving to sit on her bed, curling her feet under her carefully.
"Tell him what?"
Millie rolled her eyes as though she'd never heard such a ridiculous question.
"That you've been dying to shove him up against a wall with your tongue halfway down his throat since the day you met."
"Millie! Why would you say something like that?" Abbey practically shrieked, tossing a pillow across the room at her.
"Because it's true."
"That's insane," she replied, feigning ignorance.
"Is it?" Millie asked, looking at her suggestively.
Abbey said nothing, confirming her guilt with her silence, and Millie laughed, launching the pillow back at her, hitting her squarely in the face.
"I knew it! Abigail Barrington, you little slut!"
Bursting into laughter, Abbey didn't even bother to deny Millie's accusations, burying her face in the pillow now resting on her lap.
"Fine! I admit it! Yes, I'm attracted to Jed, and yeah, I wouldn't mind having my tongue halfway down his throat. Or having his tongue halfway down mine, for that matter."
"Which brings me back to my original question: when are you going to tell him?"
Abbey sighed, all laughter gone from her face as she seriously considered her answer, finally settling on shaking her head sadly. She didn't have a clue when, how, or even if she should tell him. After all, Jed had almost no experience in romantic relationships, and she didn't want to risk ruining their friendship by admitting her feelings. She could handle loving him from a distance if it came to that, but she could have never handled losing him completely. It was simply not an option.
After several hours of prodding from his extremely insistent roommate, Jed found himself wandering the campus grounds, searching for Abbey. She hadn't been in the library when he had looked, and he really didn't want to risk being seen going to her dorm room, so he was simply walking the grounds, hoping he would catch her between classes. He still had no idea how he was going to broach the subject, his lack of experience making him more than a little nervous, and he sighed as he scanned the area. Fate appeared to be on his side as he spotted her leaving the Biology class and he broke into a run, desperate to talk to her before he lost what little courage he currently possessed.
"Abbey!"
She turned, waving at him as he came to a stop in front of her, and smiled, her eyes bright.
"Well, if it isn't the church-abandoning heathen," she quipped.
He smirked, shaking his head slightly.
"Not entirely. I still go to Mass every Sunday."
God help him, he really needed to put an end to this banter if he wanted to have any hope of saying what he'd come to say.
"Do you have a minute? I need to talk to you."
His seriousness must have shown on his face because something shifted in her eyes, and she nodded.
"Sure."
Careful to keep his touch light, Jed led her to a somewhat secluded area, glancing around to see if anyone was listening. They seemed to be unnoticed by the students passing by, and he looked at her, trying to find the words he needed.
"This isn't something I've done often, or at all, really, so…" he frowned, thinking, "I know that you—"
Why couldn't he tell her? Why was this so difficult?
"Is something wrong, Jed?" she asked, her eyes meeting his worriedly.
"No!" he said, a bit more forcefully than he'd meant to, "Abbey, I—you are the most incredible person I've ever known. You're smart, compassionate, beautiful, you make me happier than I can remember, and I don't want to mess up our friendship, but I could never forgive myself if I didn't tell you that. I want you to be in my life any way possible, but…Abbey, would you give me—give us—the chance to see if there's something more?"
She was silent for so long that he thought he would lose his mind waiting for her to speak, and when she met his gaze, he was surprised to see a hint of laughter in her bright green eyes.
"Jed Bartlet, did you just ask me to be your girlfriend?"
He nodded.
"Yeah."
Abbey reached for his hand, smiling as she moved closer, her lips a soft brush on his cheek, her voice low and sultry as she spoke.
"Game on, boyfriend."
A/N: I hope you liked it! Reviews are love and provide me with motivation!