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Years.

May 23rd, 2012

"You don't think it's odd that he hasn't left town by now?"

"Mm...I dunno. It's not my place to say whether he gets to be here or not," Gen replied nonchalantly to her longtime best friend, Kate Finley. Kate had just finished the last organic chemistry exam of her pre-med collegiate career, and Gen warranted it as an excuse to take her out to lunch at Z&H.

The Finley family moved into a home down the street from the Whitby residence not long after Gen turned three. Kate and Gen had walked to and from school everyday until the Whitbys divorced and Gen moved to Rochester with her mother. Regardless, Kate and Gen remained steadfast friends. Kate had four younger siblings, and since her mother was an anthropology professor at the UC, she took full advantage of the free tuition and the ability to come back to a home cooked meal whenever she pleased, so long as she babysat for date night every once in a while.

"Do you want him to stay so long as you are?"

"What does it matter? It's not my decision."

"Genevieve Anne, I bet you the last bite of this Godfather sammi that if he asked you specifically if you would mind him staying around to specifically spend more time with you, you would be wholeheartedly agreeable to the idea," Kate pointed a long, manicured index finger to the last mozzarella and prosciutto laden piece of ciabatta on her plate, one eyebrow raised.

"You think so?" Gen snagged the piece of deli sandwich from her best friend, smirking as she chewed it.

"Oh?" Kate's other eyebrow rose. "You're telling me that you're willing to let this golden opportunity of a summer fling pass you by?"

"Who says he's interested?"

"Fuck you if you think that."

"Hey!" Gen whined with a slight smile. "I'm just saying-"

"You know how many young women are like you? It's unnatural, Gen. It's a rare anomale of womankind to be beautiful, personable, and extremely intelligent all at the same time– embrace it."

"I credit much of it to growing up with you," Gen shot back. She wasn't lying. Kate had a Persian background to complement her looks– sleek, raven hair, year-round sun-kissed skin, shocking green eyes, and out of habit, she walked around with the slightest of pouts on her lips that would otherwise look immature in not for her pulling it off with fierce, model-esque confidence.

She was often noticed, in the few hours of her life that weren't wrapped around in studies and research. Granted, guys always found her too intimidating to toy around with the idea of dating her– Kate was too quick-witted, confident, and independent for any guy's ego to take.

"Fine," Kate said, playing to her own ego. "We're a rare breed. Anyways, all I'm suggesting is that you can at least have fun with this."

"While it lasts for ten more days?"

"Yeah," said Kate, eyeing her friend carefully. Gen looked away, stirring her lemonade with her straw. "Unless...what, you think there's something more?"

"Please," Gen scoffed. "It's been four days."

"Four days in which you've seen him practically every day."

"It's been four days."

"Yeah, well, just remember that my dad decided he was going to marry my mom the second they got paired together in the field during that Instanbul dig. And it only took her another month to think the same thing."

"Kate, aren't you missing a detail out of that story?"

"Yeah okay, so she married him when she found out she was prego with me, but who cares?" Kate grinned and Gen rolled her eyes. "She says she loved him regardless, and they've been married for twenty years, so that's that."

Gen aimlessly looked out the window to the cars passing down 57th street. Some people just made love look so easy. Yet, the majority of people, her parents included, found it so difficult that they couldn't take it anymore. She would be satisfied if she even faced it in the medium range.

Truthfully, she didn't know where to even start with Jonathan Toews. Kate was right– a little bit of fun before she went back to Boston wouldn't hurt. But she could tell that, to her surprise, Jon didn't want to make it that way. He hadn't so far as put his arm around her as they sat and talked on the beach the previous day. But his lack of direct, physical indication could be made up for by his frequent, drawing presence.

Gen couldn't help but be drawn to Jon. They often locked eyes for half a minute or longer when talking, but one of them would always look away to remember to carry on the conversation. Their conversations were intense. Both she and Jon wanted to absorb everything about one another in the short number of days they had, and so everything felt so concentrated. They shared stories about growing up, their hobbies, their favorite movies and books. There were more personal aspects of their conversations, too. Family was a big factor– Jon talked about how close he felt to his family, and about all the sacrifices they made for him growing up. Without even thinking about it, Gen disclosed the reason why her parents had broken up– her mother engaged in an affair, that eventually led to her second marriage– something that she'd only confided in to Kate.

Even within four days, Gen felt like she'd known Jon her entire life.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

There were two bottle-blondes eyeing Jon from the bar at Dave's engagement party. Only minutes earlier had Kaner begged him to double-team (the one with the nicer ass could be Jon's, he promised), shocked by Jon's resignation.

"I know your type, man," Pat had assured him. "And by the looks of it, they know theirs."

"Nah, I'll sit this one out," Jon shrugged, taking a swig of his beer and stuffing his free hand into his pocket to feel his phone. He was tempted to take it out to check if Gen had texted him, but he knew she probably hadn't. His phone was on vibrate, but he checked it every minute regardless. "Take Nick with ya."

A figure now sauntered by, taking the seat next to him at the table. Without even looking, Jon could tell it was Patrick Sharp. He sighed, leaning back in his chair a bit.

"Hey Sharpie."

"I thought you weren't coming to this thing," Patrick nudged him. "Aren't you supposed to be back in the 'Peg?"

"Not for another couple of weeks. Change of plans."

"Who's the girl?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Just tell me. It's so obvious, it's not even funny, twinkle toes."

"It's not a big deal," Jon lied gruffly.

"Ah, you admit it!" Abby Sharp plopped down in the other seat next to Jon, her face slightly flushed by the second glass of wine in her hand. "Pat and I were making bets on how long it would take."

Obviously the Kaner Double-Team wasn't the only strategy going on in the restaurant, Jon groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Her name is Gen, she's only here for another ten days, and I really must be wasting my time because she's way too good for me," Jon spilled, the alcohol and emotion going to his head. "I think I love her."

"Oh my God." The Sharps both said at the same time, mouths hanging open. Jon's mouth fell open too, realizing what he'd just said.

"No, wait, that's– that's way out of line," he stammered, and Abby's lips pursed into a thin smile that erupted into a burst of giggles. Patrick hooted, slapping him on the back.

"Holy shit, Jon," Abby managed to speak between laughs. "How long have you known her?"

Silence.

"How long," Abby coaxed tentatively.

"Four days."

"Four?!"

"I mean, hey, I decided I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you by our third date," Patrick pointed out to his wife. "Guys know. It's women who waste their time figuring out their options."

"Take me home and make sweet love to me, hubby," Abby crooned to her husband, and Jon groaned, standing up from his chair.

"Yeah, that's my cue. You guys have a good night, I'm dipping out," he ran a hand through his hair.

"Don't be afraid to go for it, Jon," Patrick grinned, his arms now around his wife's waist has she moved to sit on his lap. "I did, and look where I'm at now."

"And it wasn't without its sacrifices," Abby agreed, making bedroom eyes at her husband. "Good night, Jon."

Jon snuck away from the party, only saying a quick goodbye to Dave and his fiancé. Stepping out to the city street, he slung his sports jacket over his shoulder, watching the world go by around him.

Some people make it look so easy, Jon thought to himself. Yet, Abby's last words stuck with him– And it wasn't without its sacrifices.

Jon knew all about sacrifices– he'd been making them all of his life. Yet to make a sacrifice like this so willingly– he'd never felt that way before, other than for his career. And while he'd grown up asking his parents to sacrifice so much for it, they'd always been so willing– become they'd loved him enough to help his dreams come true.

He couldn't ask Gen to make the same sacrifice he was willing to make. There were too many aspects of her life that would have to be upturned. She was allowed to be selfish and seek out the things she most desired in life– she'd earned the right to do so.

"I'm thinking too far ahead," Jon murmured to himself, moving to flag a cab. After all, he was the one pursuing her. She'd given little indication of any above-platonic feelings for him so far. He was wrapped around Gen Whitby's finger; she was hardly wrapped around his.

Giving the cabbie his address, Jon sat back in the taxi, glancing up at the lit-up skyscrapers of Chicago. His attention averted, however, as his phone buzzed in his pocket. It was Gen, sending him a text.

Filled in last minute to teach a sailing lesson today and got a day-long rental for tomorrow in return. Wanna go? :)

Jon grinned at the screen of his phone, quickly shooting back a response.

That sounds great, what time? I'll pick you up.

For now, he would just enjoy his time with her.

Comments

Whoa this is so so so well written, it's amazing. I mean it, I'm totally in love with it. Can't wait for the next chapter :)
Nina Nina
7/28/13
yeah hi update please!
marlene marlene
7/13/13
this is my favorite story right now :) you have to update! <3

gitadeon gitadeon
6/23/13
HOLY CRAP. YOU HAVE TO UPDATE THIS. THIS IS AMAZING! :)
buckfliesvipers buckfliesvipers
6/22/13