Dancing In The Dark - A Jimmy Fallon Fanfiction

Chapter 2

The next morning, as I switched on my phone, there were several unread text messages from an unknown number that had been sent two hours earlier. They read,

"It was great to finally meet you in person!! I'm super excited to have you on the show (finally) next Wednesday."

and then another one, sent about a minute later:

"This is Jimmy, by the way. I asked Taylor for your number. I would've asked you yourself, but our conversation got cut short & I'm sorry it did. Would some pancakes make up for that?"

Pancakes? Is he asking me out??

My fingers hovered over the keys. Maybe I should eat some breakfast or do some yoga or something before I answer this. I laughed and spoke aloud, "Nah, I've got this....it's just Jimmy....."

"No big deal...just...y'know...."

"...actual Jimmy Fallon...."

".....texting me....."

I let out a slight cackle and hugged my pillow. "ACTUAL JIMMY FALLON," I whisper-screeched. "This is freakin unreal."

Finally, after many re-writes, I wrote him back:

"Hey dude! Sorry for responding a bit late - I just woke up haha. And pancakes sound *amazing*!"

I chucked my phone across the bed and stared at it as one might stare at a murderous gas station robber in the middle of a stick up.

And it buzzed barely thirty seconds later.

I timidly retrieved it and clicked the home button.

"Good - I'll bring them by in five. :)"

"WHAT." I jumped out of bed in an anxious rush, cleaning up my messy apartment while simultaneously attempting to make myself look decent. I'd slept in my makeup (of course) (I'm so convenient) (*reigning queen of sarcasm*) and so while one hand was viciously flinging dirty laundry into a basket, the other was swiping at black mascara streaks and faded berry lipstick. I was shutting my bedroom door when the intercom buzzed. I ran to it in a nervous haze.

"Hello?" I said stupidly.

"Gooooood morning!" said Jimmy. "I'm here with a stack of pancakes!"

"You're just the best!"

"I try!"

"Come on up!" I said, buzzing him in.

And that's when I realized - I wasn't dressed.

Jimmy knocked on my door and I froze in fear. I was wearing an oversized Star Wars tshirt and knee-high dinosaur socks, my long black hair up in a messy bun. "No," I whispered. "This is going to ruin everything."

Well....I can't keep him waiting forever.

I swung open the door. "Heyyyy there," I said awkwardly.

"Hey!" he said. I shut the door behind him and felt even more underdressed - he was wearing one of his Tonight Show suits.

"I am so sorry," I said, blushing like mad, "I forgot to change!"

"You're fine, you're fine!" he chuckled. "I dig the socks."

"Thanks," I replied, wishing I could die. "Do you mind if I go throw on some jeans or something?" I asked.

"Nah, go ahead! It's cool," he said, sticking the plate of pancakes on the table.

"Brilliant - I'll be quick!"

I rushed into my bedroom and tore off my clothes, slipping on a Led Zeppelin tshirt, black torn-at-the-knee jeans, and zip-up hoodie. I undid my hair and let my curls be free. There was no time for makeup, but there was time for a bit of perfume. I kept the socks.

I reentered the room and found Jimmy checking out the pictures on the wall. "Hey, is this you?" he asked, pointing to a super chubby baby sticking out her tongue.

"Yep," I laughed.

"You're so cute!" he said. He turned and looked me over and I blushed again, feeling my hands go numb as he gave me a little nod. "So that's one thing that hasn't changed about you...."

Aaaaaaaaaaahhh....!

"Okay," he said, returning to the table with the pancakes, "let's eat these things before I have to go back to work!"

I sat across from him at my tiny, two-person table and ate a couple pancakes. They were delicious. Jimmy and I chatted about work and music and food.

"So, you like Zeppelin?" he said, referring to my shirt. I nodded, mouth full of syrupy goodness. "They're pretty sweet. Favorite song?"

I covered my mouth with my hand. "Probably 'Kashmir', but if somebody sang 'Thank You' to me, I'd lose my mind."

He laughed. "I don't think I know that one."

"You should definitely look it up!"

"I will!" he replied, stabbing his final pancake. I wanted to talk to him all day, but only twenty minutes had passed when he said he had to go.

"I wish I could stay," he said, standing up and pushing in his chair.

"I wish you could, too, but it's okay - you've gotta get back to work. I understand." I picked up the remaining two pancakes. "Here - take these with you. Maybe you can eat them on break."

He laughed. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah!" I replied. "Go right ahead!"

He laughed again. "Okay!" he said, taking the plate from my hands, our fingers brushing in the process. A set of chills ran up my legs. If that's what a slight touch does to me, I wondered, what would happen if he were to hug me? Kiss me?? I was pretty sure I would collapse.

After a long, drawn-out goodbye, he left, pancakes in tow. I watched him walk across the street from my apartment window and held my breath. "What have I gotten myself into," I muttered.