Chapter Three
Jazz smiled as Tucker put his arm around her and dropped a kiss on her neck. She was standing at a rack of clearance fleecy tees. Both were rather amused that they were walking around, meandering in and out of the stores like teenagers, but they were having fun, so they decided it didn't matter.
"Fleecy tees," Tucker said as he looked at the rack of shirts. "Those are out of style."
"Really," Jazz smirked at him. "And you know this why?"
Tucker waggled his eyebrows. "I keep abreast of women's fashions," he told her softly.
"I bet you do," Jazz laughed as she turned in Tucker's arms and smiled. He laughed then looked up and frowned.
"What's wrong?" Jazz asked as she felt him tense. She turned to see Valerie Grey standing not too far away, watching them. Jazz's stomach started to ache and she looked back at Tucker, who had his eyes on Valerie.
"Hey, Tucker," Valerie said as she walked forward. She looked at Jazz for a moment then told her hello as well.
"Hi," Tucker replied as he put one arm around Jazz and held on tight, she wondered if he expected her to run away. She put her hand on his arm as stroked it soothingly, hoping to reassure him that she wouldn't abandon him.
Valerie looked from Tucker to Jazz. "How are Danny and Sam?" she asked.
Jazz smiled happily. "They were good last I heard. They're still in Europe and should be back in a few weeks."
Valerie nodded her head courteously then looked at Tucker. "I would have though you had moved by now," she said. "Weren't you supposed to be in California by the end of June?"
Tucker cleared his throat and laughed nervously. "It got pushed back," he answered.
"Really?" Valerie answered. "By who? You or them?"
Tucker opened his mouth to say something but Valerie stopped him. "No," she said. As she surveyed Jazz's stunned face. "You don't need to answer that, Tuck. It's none of my business. How is Mom?"
Tucker sighed. "She's fine." He slid his arm from around Jazz's waist and she took his hand.
"Do you think she's mind if I called and invited her for lunch?" Valerie asked. "I really miss her."
"I don't know," Tucker answered flatly.
Valerie smiled sweetly. "I know you'd rather I didn't."
She looked at Jazz and said, "What about you? We haven't talked in a long time."
"You're right," Jazz replied. "Not since you and Danny dated. How have you been?"
"Good," she answered happily. "I'm engaged to be married." She flashed her ring.
"That's wonderful," Jazz said genuinely as she looked at the ring. "Who's the lucky man?"
"You wouldn't know him," Valerie said softly. "But he's completely devoted to me, and I'm happy."
"That's the important thing," Jazz responded then looked at Tucker who was looking off into the distance.
"You and I should get together sometime," Valerie said to Jazz. "We could you know, compare notes."
"I've been rather busy lately," Jazz tried to say, but Valerie cut her off.
"No, I understand, you don't want to associate with you boyfriend's ex girlfriend." She paused. "You are dating? I assumed…"
"Yes we are," Jazz said happily as she leaned into Tucker, who put his arm back around her.
"I'm sure you'll have better luck with him then I did," Valerie said as she looked stoically at Tucker for a moment. "He's been in love with you forever after all."
"I think we will," Jazz replied, still smiling graciously.
Valerie told them both good bye and walked away. Tucker let out the breath he was holding and looked at Jazz, who was looking up at him questioningly.
"She seemed hurt," Jazz told him.
"Yeah," Tucker said softly. "We didn't have it easy at the end…"
Jazz squeezed Tucker's hand as they started walking out of the store. "I don't want that to happen to us," she said
"It won't," Tucker assured her. Jazz smiled and leaned against him as they walked. Tucker felt miserable. He wished they hadn't run into Valerie it made him too aware that he was going to lose Jazz, and he didn't think he could handle the thought.
Jazz herself was, for the most part, unaffected by Valerie's appearance. The only thing that bothered her was Tucker's timeline. Had he pushed back his moving date so he could spend time with her? She knew he was very distressed, so she didn't question him, but she would later.
Tucker was unhappy. In two weeks he would be starting his new job, that left him less than a week in Amity Park. He would be leaving Jazz behind. He couldn't stand the thought, it made him toss and turn at night and even his PDA couldn't get his mind off the fact that everything between them was almost over.
He put his PDA in his pocket and adjusted his hat, which Jazz diagnosed as a coping mechanism against his shyness, not that anyone would believe Tucker was shy, because frankly he was only shy with Jazz, and knocked on the door of Fenton Works. He and Jazz had plans to take in a movie, and then just spend the evening with each other as usual. Jack answered the door as always and scowled at him.
"Hi Jack," Tucker said nervously, he wondered by the suspicious look in Jack's eyes if Jazz's father knew how often he'd snuck out of Jazz's room early in the morning. Tucker reasoned that he could just be feeling guilty, either that or he was scared of getting the crap beaten out of him.
"Tucker," Jack grumbled. "Jazz said to send you upstairs."
"Okay," Tucker said as he looked warily at Jack Fenton.
Jack leaned toward Tucker. "Keep the door open. I'll be up every five minutes with the Anti-Creep Stick." Tucker nodded his head in understanding then started up the stairs. He looked back once and found Jack still glaring at him.
"Tuck!" Jazz called and Tucker ran the rest of the way up the stairs and down the hall toward Jazz's room.
"Hey," Tucker said as he stood in the door. Jazz looked up at him and smiled. She was on the telephone. She motioned for Tucker to sit, that she would be just one minute.
"Okay, Danny," Jazz laughed then looked at Tucker who stared back in alarm. "I'll let you talk to him on the condition that you don't grill him. He's been putting up with enough craziness from Dad."
Tucker's eyes widened as Jazz handed him the phone. He shook his head frantically and tried to back away from the phone. Jazz smiled at him.
"It's okay," Jazz laughed then moved forward and kissed him quickly. "He says he'll go easy on you."
"Oh yeah like that's a real comfort," Tucker responded as he took the phone from Jazz's hand. She sat in his lap and laid her head against his shoulder. He curled one arm around Jazz and sighed.
"Hello!" Danny yelled from the phone. "Expensive overseas call here!"
"Hey, Danny," Tucker said as he put the phone to his ear and laughed sheepishly. "How's Sam?"
"Don't how's Sam, me," Danny replied irately.
"Fine," Tucker said dourly. "How are you? How is Europe? What did you want to talk to me about?"
"I'm fine," Danny answered. "Europe is fine, and you're dating my sister? My sister? Tucker, it's Jazz! That is so sick!"
"She's your sister," Tuck started defensively. "Not mine. I really like Jazz. She's really sweet and wonderful and I like her, so sue me," Jazz chuckled and kissed his neck, making him shiver and smile.
"You are seriously warped, Tuck," Danny said in an exasperated tone. "When Sam told me…"
"Wait," Tucker interrupted "When did she tell you?" Danny laughed and told Tuck that he'd known for awhile, and had known even longer that his best friend had a crush on his sister.
"I think it's weird," Danny said blithely. "But if you're both happy. Then good."
"Thanks, man," Tucker replied warily.
"I just want to know what your intentions are," Danny said sternly. "I mean, I don't want to see either of you hurt and…"
"It's hard to go into that," Tucker interrupted. "When are you and Sam coming home?"
"Two weeks," Danny said. "You're due to report to your new job in two weeks right?"
"Yeah," Tucker replied sadly. "I leave next week." He felt Jazz tense up and he held her closer. He guessed this was a better time to bring it up than any.
"Then I'll call when I get back. Leave your new number with Mom, or with Jazz," Danny teased.
"Sure thing," Tucker answered trying to sound cheerful.
"And Tuck?" Danny asked.
"Yeah?" Tucker replied tensely.
"It's about time you two got together," Danny laughed then told him good bye and hung up the phone.
"Just a week?" Jazz asked shakily as Tucker put the phone down and wrapped both of his arms around her.
"Yeah," Tucker answered as he kissed her hair.
"I have three weeks before I have to be back at school. I thought you had the same amount of time." Jazz stated trying to sound calm and not at all as panicked as she now felt. "When were you going to tell me? The day before you left?"
Tucker sighed. "I just didn't know how to tell you," he answered sadly. "I've not really been facing it myself." Jazz buried her face into his neck, he could tell she was trying not to cry. He was trying not to cry.
"Well," Jazz finally said, as she pulled herself together and withdrew from Tucker and walked across the room. "We'll just have to be reasonable about this. We knew the day was coming when we'd have to part ways. We never expected this to last or anything."
She turned and looked at Tucker, who was sitting with his eyes downcast. She fought the urge to run to him, and hold him and beg him not to go. It wasn't rational, she reasoned. She'd just have to accept that it was over and move on.
"I don't have to take the job," Tucker told her softly as he looked up at Jazz. "I mean I can always find another one. Closer maybe…"
Jazz shook her head. "No," she said in a business like tone. "I'm not going to let you miss out on such a great opportunity because of me and this…silly summer fling we've had. It's been really wonderful Tucker but.." She paused as she looked into his mournful eyes.
"Just a silly summer fling?" Tucker asked in outrage. "Is that all this has been to you, Jazz?"
Jazz turned her back to Tucker again and wrapped her arms around herself. "I thought you knew from the beginning that's all this was." She told him in a very calm and collected voice. "We have different lives Tucker. We're going in different directions…" She felt horrible. She wanted to throw herself in his arms and tell him to please stay, that she loved him, but she couldn't.
"Fine," Tucker said coolly as he stood. "We don't have much time left. Let's make the most of it."
Jazz turned to look at Tucker and found him wearing a composed but blank expression. He adjusted his hat and looked at the door. "Are you ready to go. We'll be late for the movie…"
"Tuck," Jazz said softly as she put her hand on his arm. He pulled away from her.
"Let's not talk about it right now okay?" He said miserably.
Jazz sighed. "We've been avoiding this talk for too long," she said. "It's not healthy to skirt around issues. It's not the sign of a healthy relationship.
"Well," Tucker said angrily. "According to you we don't have a relationship. We have a summer fling."
"Tuck," Jazz said in exasperation. She didn't want to fight with him. "I'm sorry I didn't mean it."
"I'm just going to go," he told her. "I have a lot of things I need to do anyway."
"Wait!" Jazz cried as Tucker started out the door he stopped and Jazz walked around and looked up into his face.
"I didn't mean it," she said tiredly. "Please. I was just upset. I'm just upset." Tucker sighed and she moved into his arms.
"I don't want to fight with you," he said as he held her. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner, I just couldn't."
"I understand," Jazz said as took a deep breath.
"I really should just go home," Tucker told her. "I've been putting off too much." Jazz bit her lip. She wanted to beg him to stay, more than anything right now she wanted to hold him.
"Okay," she said. "Call me later?" Tucker nodded and kissed her quickly before leaving the room.
Jazz sat down on the edge of her bed and covered her face as she took several deep calming breaths. She knew this was going to happen, she should have prepared better for it, she'd just let herself become too caught up in loving him, that she let herself forget.
She was laying on her bed crying softly when a soft knock sounded on the door. She rolled over and looked at her mother.
"I saw Tucker leave," Maddie said softly as she walked forward then sat on Jazz's bed. "I thought you were going out."
"We had a fight," Jazz told her mother as she wiped away her tears. "He's leaving next week and he didn't tell me."
Maddie sighed as she smoothed her daughters hair behind her ears. "You knew this day was coming, Sweetie," she said gently. "I thought you were resigned to it."
"So did I," Jazz told her mother. "But I was wrong. I didn't mean to become so attached to him."
"And he doesn't feel the same way?" Maddie asked in concern.
"He's upset that I've been taking our relationship too lightly," Jazz said then sniffled. "But I haven't, I just know it's not going to work past this summer."
"How do you know if you don't try?" Maddie asked.
Jazz wiped her eyes as more tears fell from them. "Because," she answered. "That's just how things work. Once you have something magical, you can't just expect to leave and recapture it again. I want to remember things how they've been."
"But you don't want to see if maybe they can get even better?" Maddie asked.
"How can it get better than this?" Jazz questioned. "Things have been so wonderful, so perfect."
"Oh, Jazz," Maddie sighed. "You're such a smart girl. How can you manage to be so dumb?"
"I'm just being reasonable," Jazz defended.
"Love isn't reasonable," Maddie told her daughter. She took Jazz's hand. "Come downstairs. We'll have ice cream and talk about your dilemma."
Jazz raised her eyebrows. "There's ice cream in the house?"
"There won't be if we don't hurry downstairs," Maddie laughed.
Tucker didn't call Jazz the next morning. He didn't call that afternoon either, but mostly because he was talking to the property agent of the apartment he rented, making sure it was ready for him to move in.
When it started to rain, he sighed. The gloom fit his mood perfectly. He needed to talk to someone, but pestering Sam was out of the question, mostly because he knew she'd tell Danny and Danny would tell Jazz, and he didn't want Jazz to know how shattered he felt.
He was sick at the thought of losing Jazz. It made him feel weak and achy, especially at the realization that she didn't love him.
Tucker pinched the bridge of his nose. His head was aching badly, and he hadn't gotten much sleep the night before. He was about to lay down for a nap when his mother knocked on the door.
"Tuck," she said softly. "Jazz is here. Do you want me to send her away?"
"No," Tucker told his mother as he sat up. "Can…can you send her back here?" His mother paused a moment then consented.
Tucker put on his glasses and grabbed his hat. He contemplated it for a moment then put it aside and waited for Jazz.
"Hey," she said as she stepped in the room, closing the door behind her with a soft click.
"Hi," he replied as he looked at her sadly. She walked forward knelt before him.
"I'm sorry I was such a jerk," she told him as she laid her head on his knee. "I'm sorry."
"I was a jerk too," Tucker said as he reached for his hat and his PDA. It was the only way he felt safe from his emotions. Jazz looked at him thoughtfully then sat beside him.
"I was thinking," she started. "If it's okay with you, maybe I could go with you and help you set up your apartment. I'll have two more weeks, we can be together a little longer and then I'll fly back to…"
"No," Tucker said as he shook his head. He didn't want to prolong the torture. He didn't want Jazz to go with him, because then memories of her would be everywhere, and he wouldn't be able to escape
Jazz closed her eyes. "Then what? How long do we have?"
"A week," Tucker answered. "Exactly a week."
"I don't want to fight with you," Jazz said. "I don't want our last days together to be just as good as the first."
"Jazz," Tucker said then looked into her eyes and frowned. He caressed her face gently and sighed deeply. She closed her eyes and he kissed her softly then pulled away.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"Nothing," Tucker answered. "I'm tired. I have a lot of work to do."
"I'll help you," Jazz said cheerfully. "I'm great at organizing. What do you need done?"
"I don't want you to help me," Tucker said irately. He was trying hard to construct his life without her, but the thought of her helping him leave her, made him feel even worse.
Jazz's eyes filled with tears and he pulled her into his arms. She lifted her face to him and he kissed her. He almost told her he loved her, but he held it back as she kissed him feverishly. They only had so much time left together, he didn't want to ruin it.
The next couple of days, they tried to pretend like nothing was wrong, to just go on like they always had, but it was hard. They couldn't deny the inevitable, as much as they wanted to.
Tucker withdrew and would give Jazz wacky answered to her serious questions. She tried to understand that humor was how he dealt with stress, but it frustrated her how he wouldn't talk about anything serious.
They were sitting on the swings at the park well after sunset, just talking when Jazz said, "I think you should let me go with you."
Tucker sighed heavily. He didn't want to fight with her. "Why?" he asked.
"Because I've been thinking of transferring schools," Jazz started.
Tucker looked at her for a moment. "What?" he asked in confusion, his heart started racing, if she was willing to make that kind of change for him, it had to mean she cared for him.
"I could transfer schools," Jazz said softly. "I don't have that much left. I don't think it would be that hard…" Tucker pulled her to him and kissed her. He needed to think before he said anything, not that he could think clearly while kissing her.
"So," Jazz continued as she pulled away and looked into Tucker's eyes. "Let me go with you, that way I can check things out, see what my options are."
Tucker shook his head. "I don't know Jazz. How long have you been thinking about this? You might regret it. I want things to work out, don't get me wrong, I just don't want you to give anything up for me."
Jazz sighed. "That's what relationships are about, compromises." Tucker opened his mouth and Jazz put her hands to his lips.
"Just let me go with you, Tuck. Please?" she begged. "I'm not ready to let you go."
Tucker closed his eyes. "And at the end of two weeks," he started. "Will you be ready to let me go then? Even if you do transfer, there's no way you can do it this semester." Jazz closed her eyes in defeat. He was right.
"And if you go with me," Tucker continued stiltedly. "You'll be everywhere in my new home and I'll miss you. This is already hard enough."
Jazz smiled seductively as she smoothed his hair. "But just think of it. Two weeks with just you and me, alone. No one to bother us. We can wake up every morning in each other's arms…"
He was so tempted, and so weak. "Okay," he answered against his better judgment. Jazz squealed in delight then kissed him repeatedly. Tucker laughed as he put his arms around her and held her close. How was he going to be able to let her go?
"I can't believe we're letting her go!" Jack growled angrily as he watched Jazz sitting in the living room, with a suit case and a carry on bag beside her.
"Don't go overreacting, Jack," Maddie said gently. "She's just helping Tucker move. You know Tucker. Danny's best friend? They boy you said is like family to you?"
Jack shook his head. "All bets were off the moment he started dating Jazz."
Maddie put her hand on her husband's arm. "Don't be ridiculous," she said. "Jazz is an adult, she'll be fine."
"And if she isn't?" Jack asked.
"Then you can go after him with the Anti-Creep Stick," Maddie laughed.
"Mom!" Jazz complained as she looked up from the couch. "Dad isn't going to try to talk me about going again is he?"
"No," Jack said with a smile. Maddie rolled her eyes at him then looked at her daughter.
Jazz looked at her watch, sighed then stood and looked out the window. Tucker was late and now she was worried that he left without her. He wouldn't do that, she thought to herself. She was just about to pick up the phone and call him when his car pulled up.
"He's here!" Jazz said happily as she ran to the door. Tucker was just getting out of the car as she jumped into his arms. Jack and Maddie looked at each other for a moment then Maddie indicated for Jack to bring out Jazz's suitcase.
"You're late," Jazz scolded as she hugged Tucker tight.
"Sorry," Tucker told her. "Mom got a little emotional over good bye." He smiled at her then looked up at Jack who was looming nearby like a large angry thundercloud.
"We need to hurry if we're going to keep on schedule," Jazz chastised him.
"You're or mine?" Tucker asked. They'd both mapped out different strategies for getting to California in the least amount of time.
"Mine is better and you know it," Jazz scolded playfully.
"Yes," Maddie said as she interrupted them. "No one is leaving without a proper good bye." She held out her arms to Jazz and her daughter stepped into them, giving her mother a long hug.
"Tucker," Jack said. "We need to speak for a moment." Tucker looked at Jack frightfully then nodded his head and allowed Jazz's father to lead him away as the women said their good byes.
"If anything happens to Jazz," Jack said in as soft a voice as was possible for him. "Danny and I will come after you and best friend or not, you will pay. Got that?"
"Yes sir!" Tucker replied. "Nothing will happen to Jazz. I'll guard her with my life."
"Break her heart," Jack continued. "I break your face." Tucker furrowed his eyebrows and wondered why Jack was quoting teen romance flicks from the 80's.
"I'll do my best not to," Tucker promised.
"Do more than your best," Jack ordered then clapped Tucker on the back then pushed him toward Maddie and Jazz.
Jazz gave her father an exasperated look then hugged him tight. Tucker thought he could see tears in Jack's eyes, but the moment ended so fast, he wasn't sure. He loaded Jazz's bags into the car while Jack checked out the trailer hitched to bumper.
"You know Tucker," Jack said. "I have an ectoplasmic line which would be much more secure than this rusty old chain."
Tucker opened his mouth to answer, but Jazz was faster. "No Dad," she said. "No ecto anything. We want to make it to California without any ghostly encounters."
Maddie hugged Tucker quickly and told him to drive carefully and to call as soon as they stopped for the night.
"Stop for the night?" Jazz asked as she smiled. "We're driving all the way through." She looked at Tucker. "Right?"
"Uh, sure we are," Tucker said as he climbed in the driver's side. Jazz looked at him for a moment and sighed. She sat in the passenger seat, waved good bye to her parents and they were off.
"There goes my baby," Jack sniffed.
"Jack," Maddie laughed. "We've watched Jazz go off to college several times. You're acting crazy." Jack only nodded his head as he put his arm around his wife and continued to watch in the direction Tucker and Jazz had driven off in.
"You know who they remind me of?" Jack asked.
"Who?" Maddie asked as she turned to go inside.
"You and me," Jack answered. "They're just like you and me."
Maddie gave Jack a funny look. "They're nothing like you and I," she said. "Where do you get that idea."
Jack smiled. "They're both crazy about each other, just like I'm crazy about you."
"Oh, Jack," Maddie tittered then went inside the house.
And now please review, because I gave this to you earlier than I intended to.