Chapter Text
Gregory always had his head on his shoulders. He was straightforward, honest, and goal driven. He always had a plan, every single part of his life was meticulously planned down to the last detail. And what he hated most were surprises.
So why the hell was he madly in love with a woman who seems to completely throw him off in every way? He can barely think straight around her, let alone feel like he has a handle on his life. Janine Teagues was like no one he had ever met. She was the sun personified — bright, energetic, beautiful, and optimistic almost to a fault. He adored everything about her. The way she overachieves, crashes and burns, learns her lesson, and does the exact same thing the next day. He loves her dimpled smile, the small gap in her teeth, how he’s almost a foot taller than her.
She occupies every inch of his mind, she has since the first day they met. When he was with Taylor then a few months down the line with Amber, Janine was there. And now it seems her presence in his brain intensified now that he’s single.
Now that they’re both single.
And you would think nothing standing in the way would bring them closer together but he can’t help but feel like they’re being driven apart somehow. In fact, he honestly has no idea where they stand.
And that’s what’s driving him crazy, Gregory Eddie having no control? It just didn’t make sense. They had kissed, twice technically. But she said it didn’t mean anything and like an idiot, he agreed. Of course it meant something, to him at least. It meant the world to him. But instead of fighting for what he feels, he kept his mouth shut and now he and Janine were stuck in this weird gray area. Neither of them wanted to push, to overstep any unspoken boundaries. So they continued to act like friends. Good, 100%, completely platonic, not romantic in any capacity, friends.
And he wasn’t sure how much more of this he could take.
But the more he thinks about it, they weren’t exactly friends either? They were strangely possessive of each other, it was something he had picked up on recently in himself and he was surprised to notice it in Janine too. But neither of them would address it. Any time anything remotely related to a relationship was brought up, their eyes would lock like magnets. Like Janine’s “hall pass” comment a couple weeks ago, his head snapped so hard in her direction he could’ve given himself whiplash. As soon as the words left her lips, her gaze found his. But it was never talked about. They never talk about anything.
Gregory sat at his desk, head buried in his hands as he tried to figure out how he had managed to let things get to this point. Until he heard two soft knocks on his door. He lifts his head to see the woman in question staring back at him.
She smiles and he couldn’t help but do the same. “Hey, you alright in here?” she asks.
“Hmm? Oh, yeah. Just… thinking.” his reply was choppy and awkward and all he wanted to do at that moment was shrivel up and disappear.
Janine’s smile grows a little wider and she tries her best to tame it. Her presence alone was enough to fluster him and she found it adorable. “Well, I’m gonna head out. See you tomorrow!”
“You’re leaving pretty early today, you have any special plans?” he asks.
“If hanging out with Erika counts as ‘special plans’ then, yeah.”
Ah yes, Erika. Janine’s outside of work friend. Erika who’s constantly on Gregory’s case about Janine. They had never talked about it, but he figured Janine told her about their kiss at the teachers conference. Ever since that game night sister feud fiasco, Erika would bring it up in some way whenever they talked.
“Oh, that sounds like fun. Tell Erika I said hey." Gregory said, trying to keep his disappointment at bay. He was hoping this conversation would go in a different direction, one that resulted in them spending time together. As he watched her leave just as fast as she came, he let out a long sigh. The constant tension and unaddressed emotions between them always left the air feeling heavy, but it seems like they made a silent agreement to maintain their professional and seemingly platonic relationship at work.
By that point, he didn't feel like working much. He started gathering his things, deciding it was best to head out. He needed to go to the gym before it got too late anyways. The moment he left the school building, the cool evening air hit him, providing some much-needed reprieve from the stuffy atmosphere inside. He considered the gym as a sanctuary, a place where he could escape from his frustrating emotions and gain some clarity. As he started his workout, his thoughts drifted back to Janine and the uncomfortable space that had wedged itself between them. And as big as that space was, they seemed hopelessly drawn to each other anyway. Sometimes, he wondered if she felt the same pull or if it was just a cruel illusion.
He shook his head to clear it, escaping his thoughts and returning to reality. No more thinking about Janine. Not tonight.
Meanwhile, Janine and Erika were lounging on the couch in her apartment. They had just finished watching a movie, a couple empty bottles of beer littered the coffee table in front of them. All but one belonging to Erika, Janine had work tomorrow and she was quite the lightweight. Usually they would go out somewhere when they hung out but tonight was more of a chill thing. They were both exhausted from work and just wanted to relax. Erika grabbed another beer from the fridge before joining Janine back on the couch. They both settled into their seats, enjoying each other's company while reveling in the quiet after a long day. However, it didn't take long for Erika to address the elephant in the room, knowing her friend all too well. "So, Janine, when are you gonna come clean about your feelings for Gregory?"
Janine's eyes widened as she snapped her head in the other woman's direction. "What are you talking about?"
"Oh don't play dumb with me, you know damn well you're in love with that man."
Janine sighs, closing her eyes as she allows her mind to drift to Gregory for once. Yes, there was a weird... thing going on between them. But she found comfort in pretending like everything was all good, it's always been her go to defense mechanism. With her mom, with her sister, when she knew she didn't have control over something at work. She was the only person she knew who could make the worst situation seem not so bad, she thrived on the feeling of optimism. Even if it's forced at times.
"I'm not 'in love' with him, okay? We're just friends."
"Yeah, friends who just so happened to make out in the most romantic setting possible." Erika says, giving her a knowing look. Janine hated that look, every time she saw it she knew she was on the losing side of the conversation.
"Janine," Erika starts again, "You're gonna have to talk about this sooner or later. I promise you'll feel better if you just let yourself like him."
She sighs again, accepting defeat. Erika's right, as always. She had never acknowledged the way she felt about Gregory, not really anyways. Other than the ping of jealousy that would run through her whenever she saw him with someone else, she never actually thought about it. And when Jacob had accidentally told her about Gregory's feelings, she actively began to avoid and deny the possibility. But maybe saying something, to Erika at least, would help her work through things.
Janine hesitated for a moment before opening up, taking a deep breath to steady her thoughts. "I guess... I'm scared of what happens if it doesn't work out, you know? Losing his friendship, the awkwardness at work..." She trailed off, feeling vulnerable yet surprisingly relieved to have shared her true thoughts. Erika nodded, understanding her concerns. Her reasons were definitely enough to cause hesitation. But it was weird, hearing the biggest optimist she knew stressing over the worst case scenario.
"Girl, I get where you're coming from. There's a lot of factors to consider, but I think you should go for it."
"I don't know Erika..."
Erika groans, grabbing Janine by the shoulders and shaking her slightly. Maybe she could shake some sense into her if she tried hard enough. "Come on, Janine. I'm not saying immediately go into full-on dating mode. Just, you know, start talking to him a little more. Spend more time together. See how things go."
Janine considered Erika's words, knowing that her friend only wanted the best for her. Tentatively, she nodded in agreement, deciding to take baby steps might be her best option. If she didn't, she's not sure if she could stomach watching him get in yet another relationship. Losing him again.
"Maybe you're right," she mused aloud, taking another deep breath for added courage. As far fetched as it seemed right now, maybe her and Gregory could have a chance at a happy ending.