Chapter 10
"So what are we drinking?" Jason asked as they made their way to the bar.
"Water!" Jackie and Hyde shouted in unison. It had turned out well but they were still recovering from the night of revelry in Nashville. The friend of a friend of a friend the local Jason had shown up earlier that night insisting on taking them out on the town. He was tall and a pretty boy and Hyde didn't like him at all. But Jackie did. And he was man enough to admit that the former was due largely to the latter. It was obvious that the guy wasn't fond of him either. They didn't seem to see eye to eye when it came to philosophies on life. This guy was not Zen. He was a sheep, probably a Republican, and he reminded him way too much of Kelso with his mop of dark brown (too taken care of) hair. Suffice it to say that he'd been pushing Hyde's buttons all night with little or no effort. Jackie didn't seem to notice. She'd been chatting non-stop since he got there and seemed to be having a wonderful time. He made a considerable effort to check his insecurity at the door of the bar and have a good time. But it wasn't working.
"Okaaaaay," he looked confused. But didn't press. He winked at Jackie and pretended not to notice when Hyde clenched his fists. Oh yeah this guy was just aces. They grabbed their waters and headed to a table. This place was a lot different from any place they'd been in Tennessee. Birmingham was a city associated with steel and conflict. It was town called the "tragic city" after the horrible events of the 60's that happened during the Civil Rights Movement. The 70's saw the city trying to modernize and lose the name. Hyde who never thought he could live in the south was starting to see the appeal. Present company excluded the people were really nice here. And as long as the exception didn't get too nice with Jackie he would be fine.
"So Jason what do you do for a living?" Jackie asked eagerly. Too eagerly Hyde thought. Please let the guy be a farmer or something.
"I'm studying to be a doctor." He casually threw out with a pompous smirk sipping his beer. Hyde suddenly wished he had one himself.
"A doctor?" Jackie was impressed. He felt his resolve slip a little.
"In Alabama?" Hyde mocked. Gaining a "don't be rude" look from Jacks. Which only pissed him off more.
Jason for his part refused to be insulted. He was playing the bigger man bit flawlessly. "Yes Birmingham is shaping into a leading city in medical advances. The school I go to has a long history and is well respected in the medical community worldwide. What do you do Steven?" he challenged.
"The name is Hyde. And I don't participate in the U.S government's methods to imprison and conform its citizens."
"Steven is a cook at a hotel back home", Jackie offered much to his chagrin. Well this night was beginning to suck. Who's great idea had it been to go out with Doctor Smarty Pants?
"It is a job. It does not define who I am."
"Then what does?"
Okay the guy was pushing it now. It was bad enough when he was making eyes at his girl. But now he was being outright confrontational. Zen was zen –but he would kick his ass. Suddenly that was all he wanted to do. He stood up and pushed the chair loudly back from the table "Do you have a problem with me?"
"Maybe"
"Maybe or yes?"
Jackie was trying to get in between the two. Pushing him back and making calming noises to no avail.
"Yeah It's just I don't like guys like you"
"Guys like me?"
"Yeah guys that act all apathetic and like nothing matters. Things matter man. We don't like anarchy here in the civilized world."
Was this guy for real? They had known each other for like 5 minutes and he was starting shit. Acting like he knew anything about the kind of person Hyde was. And Jackie –well she was just letting him. Would it kill her to speak up here? Tell the guy to fuck off and leave them both alone. But no –she was still looking at him like he was the bad guy.
"Screw this" he said –shaking her off and backing up towards the door. "You wanna stay here with this tool then you are welcome to it". He wasn't much of a man for scenes but he pulled one off –storming out of the bar with Jackie at his heals.
"Steven what the hell are you doing?" she demanded as they stalked across the parking lot.
"I'm leaving"
"We came with Jason" Logic. Logic would always piss him off most of all.
"Then I'm walking"
"It is 4 miles" she whined as if that was too long of a distance to even consider.
"Then you better run back in and get your new boyfriend to drive you", he said meanly. He was beyond trying to avoid a fight. Maybe he even wanted one. Things had been going to well. They weren't dealing with any of their issues –they were just no where near them. With the smart "Kelso" just a few feet away they were hard to ignore.
"Steven you are such a jerk" was her tired response.
"Always have been", he said with a false smile.
"Yeah well I thought you were working on it"
He turned around. Taking in the sight of her. Beautiful, frustrated –the girl he had fallen in love with – the girl who had broken his heart –the girl whose heart he'd broken. Suddenly it all seemed so clear. They were never meant to be. He wasted both their time with this kidnapping. She belonged with someone different. Someone better. Someone who could change. And he never could. He heaved a sad sigh and turned around –walking away in the night. "Well I guess you thought wrong".
++Note: What do you think? I know Jason came out of nowhere but he is merely a symbol of Hyde's insecurity toward Jackie and himself. They weren't dealing with the problem so I had to do something.
Next chapter: Hyde is ready to pick up stakes and go home. He has given up. Has Jackie?
