Chapter Text
The next week Gillian received a call from Jeanine’s assistant. The opportunity she had mentioned was one to travel with Jeanine and a few other erudite board members to visit the factionless population and meet with their “leader”. It would be an overnight trip staying in a hotel in candor as it was the closest faction to get to the factionless. She would need permission from her supervisor before committing. Gillian thought what a great opportunity it would be especially being able to see the factionless and study their behaviors in the flesh. Gillian immediately went to her supervisor and once she had his permission, she called Jeanine’s assistant back to say yes. The trip was 5 days out so Gillian had a few days to prepare for the overnight trip and being in close proximity to Jeanine.
The next 5 days raced by and it was Monday afternoon and the car was set to pick Gillian up any minute. It was a 2-hour drive to get to the hotel on the outskirts of candor. They needed to make a stop at candor for Jeanine to meet with the leader there first. Jeanine and the 2 other erudite board members were in the car already. Gillian put her overnight bag in the back and was sat in the middle of a man named Phil and Jeanine on the other side, the other board member a woman named Helen was up front. Gillian’s leg gracing Jeanine’s was going to make this 2-hour ride difficult for her to focus on anything other than the fact they are touching.
They arrived at candor just after 4pm and Jeanine went into the building to meet with the candor leader while Gillian, Phil, and Helen waited and stretched their legs at a park across the street. Jeanine came out just after 5pm and they headed the last 20 mins to the hotel. When they arrived at the hotel, they all got their bags from the car and went to check in. Phil checked in first and then waved goodbye for the evening. Helen checked in next and did the same. Gillian was up next and they weren’t able to pull a registration for her room. Jeanine jumped in and took over to try to rectify the situation but the hotel was sold out for the evening as candor was having an event that brought in others from other factions. Jeanine checked in and pulled Gillian aside and asked her “if you are comfortable, I would be happy to share my room, it is only 1 night and we are both women and adults it should be no problem. Gillian replied “I don’t want to sleep in the car so I would say that is my only option and we can make It work.” Oh gosh, what was Gillian going to do sharing a room with Jeanine…a bed.
When they got to their room there was a king bed and a small chair. Gillian immediately offered to sleep in the chair but Jeanine said that was nonsense and they could share. They ordered room service for dinner and caught up on projects they’ve worked on over the years and the main project of why they were there the factionless society. Jeanine wanted to find a common ground with them and see if they could be used for her advantage to make the other factions better by having them do jobs no one else wanted to and in return they would provide updated housing and a food distribution system to those factionless that are willing to work. She wanted Gillian there to work in the background to observe the people and work on analyzing if they are buying the idea or have hesitations. Gillian agreed to do this for the greater good.
It was time for bed and they both slid into their perspective sides without saying a word. They both turned at the same time and almost collided front to front. Gillian could have sworn Jeanine blushed before she flipped the other way. It took Gillian hours to fall asleep hearing the soft lull of Jeanine sleeping and her scent filling the air and encompassing the sheets. Gillian finally fell asleep and slept hard until she awoke when the sun rising filled the darkness. She found the one and only Jeanine Matthews cuddled up holding her with her leg over her like she was a body pillow. Gillian tried to squirm to slide out of Jeanine’s embrace but had no luck and only ended up waking Jeanine. Jeanine quickly said “Don’t get confused I was only cuddling you so close because you stole the blankets and I had no other way to keep warm.” Gillian replied “You could have nudged me to give you the blanket back. Admit it you liked cuddling me.” Jeanine quipped “I will do no such thing it was purely to keep warm.” They both laughed and slid apart. Jeanine smiled at Gillian and said “it’s nice to see you still have a sense of humor.” Gillian looked Jeanine in the eyes and said “You might find not a lot has changed about me.” She then winked at Jeanine. Out of impulse Jeanine grabbed Gillian and kissed her hard and fast. Gillian pulled away out of shock. Jeanine quickly said “I am sorry I don’t know what came over me. I thought maybe that’s what you meant that your feelings for me hadn’t changed.” At that moment there was a knock at the door. Phil yelled through the door “Car is leaving in 10 mins we need to go ladies.” Gillian and Jeanine quickly got changed and ready to leave without saying a word. They rode to the factionless without a word or a look.
When they arrived at the factionless, they met with the leader Evelyn and a few of her top trusted alliances and her security team. Gillian saw a new side to Jeanine during this meeting she was poised and determined with a terrifying vibe. She now understood why some thought she was scary. Gillian was having trouble focusing on her task she was given for the meeting because her mind kept wandering to the kiss. The kiss that changed her life, her first kiss ever. Could she admit that to Jeanine or is that a turn off. Guess it doesn’t matter because she knew Jeanine deeply regretted the kiss and it wouldn’t happen again.
Gillian snapped back to it and watched the faces, hands, shoulders, and overall body language and facial expressions of everyone in the room. Taking notes as she did this, it was like no one in the room even knew she was there. It seemed like Jeanine was winning Evelyn over and that she was considering this as a possibility. The meeting wrapped with handshakes and a promise from Evelyn to discuss it and get back to erudite within a week was made.
Jeanine, Phil, Helen, and Gillian all got in the car and began the 2-hr drive home. Jeanine seemed to only be speaking with Helen and Phil and ignoring Gillian’s existence. Even making her sit up front alone with the driver. Gillian didn’t understand what she had done Jeanine was the one that kissed her. Gillian was the last to be dropped off aside from Jeanine. Gillian asked Jeanine if she had a minute to discuss a private matter. Jeanine said “Please call my assistant tomorrow and ask her if we can set something up next time, I have an opening.” Gillian replied “Never mind just forget about it, clearly what is important to me isn’t to you so I’ll email over mt notes and we can go back to not speaking for years. Best of luck, Jeanine.” With that Gillian shut the door and stormed off.