Title: 12 songs by Willie Nelson

Disclaimer: I own little -and nothing of large monetary value like T70show.

Summary: Jackie's summer alone turns into a summer on the phone with the man that she just can't seem to leave behind.

Credit: My muse is sleepy -so I decided to do a little writing exercise to wake it. I'm challenging myself to write

a chapter a day using the titles of the 12 songs off Willie Nelson's album The Great Divide. This is an exercise. I hope

it turns out entertaining as well. So...moving right along...

Song Cred: Last Stand in Open Country -Willie Nelson featuring Kid Rock. I'm having to reach for this one folks. It features Kid Rock for god's sake. So I'm only using the chorus.

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If thou remember'st not the slightest folly

That ever love did make thee run into

Thou hast not loved.

-Shakespeare, As You Like it

"My God! You guys aren't just fooling around. You care about her."

-Eric

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Now it's our last stand in open country

This is my last chance to be with you

This is the last dance for this kind of man

I'm still lookin' for something to prove

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"Hey Hyde man. Have you seen the new front desk girl? She is so hot!" Michael Kelso asked walking up to his friend and ignoring the annoyed look he gave as he went back to working.

Hyde wasn't in the mood for Kelso's crap. His constant girl chasing was the only thing that was worse than his constant talk of getting Jackie back. Did the doofus ever listen to himself? Did he pay attention to his actions? Did he know what the word contridiction meant? Probably no on all counts. So Hyde tried really hard to just do his job and ignore him. The faster he could finish the faster he could go home. And listen to his music and wait for his call.

"Hyde. Man did you hear me?" he flipped his hair in that stupid manner of his and waited for a response.

"Yeah, I heard you." The guys were getting along more since Jackie left as long as Hyde didn't let him get to him with his man whore ways. But it was a challenge on Hyde's part not to let him.

"So answer!" he erupted in a characteristic spurt of Kelso frustration.

Hyde sighed. If they hadn't been friends for a thousand years he swore he would..."Yes Kelso I've seen the new girl."

"And she is so hot."

"I suppose."

Kelso looked at him like he was crazy. Janie, the new girl, had dark hair and buxom figure and he was sure that Kelso would be hounding her for the rest of the summer.

"You suppose? The woman is a goddess! Are you blind man?...." oh Kelso light-bulb look. "Oh I see this is about Jackie"

Hyde didn't like this. He had avoided the straight topic of Jackie all summer. Sure Kelso bragged about how great it was going to be when Jackie came back and picked him. But Hyde refused to take the bait and he would go on to the next subject.

He was also doing his best to hide his phone conversations with Jackie. Just let him think that he was over Jackie. So he wouldn't start plotting. "What? Man are you crazy?"

"Oh yes -crazy like a chinchila -I'm on to your game now."

"What?"

"Oh yes I'm no fool. My brain is like a rusty trap. You think that if you don't date anybody all summer that she will choose you over me -because you think that I won't be able to not share the Kelso love. Ah HA! Gotcha!"

Hyde just looked confused. The boy had figured out something all right, it would have been a great plan, but it wasn't his. "Okay first off -it is fox and steel. You are stupid. And second -I'm not trying to not date anybody. I don't WANT to date anybody."

"Well then I don't want to date anybody"

"You've already dated people." It was so exhausting being his friend. He made him feel like Red. Dumbass, kept repeating in a loop in his head.

"Well that doesn't count....that was before I knew the plan."

"There is no plan Kelso"

"Well I think there is"

"There ISN'T"

"There IS"

"There ISN'T"

"There IS"

"There isn....look Kelso. Let's stop this, it is pointless. And it is time for me to clock out." He took off his coat and went to leave.

"Fine, but just you know that I am on to you. It won't work. THERE IS" he shouted as Hyde made his way through the hotel front doors.

At the last minute Hyde turned around, just before the sliding doors closed shut blocking all sound he shouted back "There isn't" Oh the last word. Don't play with the big boys Kelso -cause plan or no plan you will get beat.

Back in the basement the phone rang twice before Hyde could grab it. "Jackie"

"Hey, I thought maybe you weren't there". Jackie sounded relieved that he was.

"No, I just walked in. I was late getting out of work today."

"Do I want to know why?" she laughed.

"Do I want to even think about it?" he joked back. Even though it was true.

She seemed to pick up on that and her tone turned serious "Is he bothering you that much?"

He considered what to say. Should he tell her that Kelso still pushed his buttons. That most days he still felt like he had something to prove when it came to him. Before it would have been about proving to Kelso that Jackie loved him more -now it was more about proving to himself that he deserved that love. He didn't want to be like Kelso. "No. Look I don't want to talk about him. And not because of any reason you would think. I would just rather talk about you. How was your day?"

"Fine I suppose. Look Steven, I really kinda miss everybody. I was thinking about coming home."

It was what he'd been afraid of. He missed her but he wasn't ready. "Are you sure?"

"Do you not want me to come home?" she sounded angry and confused.

He didn't want that. She had spent enough time feeling like that. "No! Jacks it is not that. It is just - I feel like this is really important. This time apart. I feel like we were just playing before and when we do this -this time - when you come back -if you want to -if you can"

"Steven what are you trying to say?" now she just sounded impatient.

He decided to be honest and suffer the consquences. "That I'm afraid if you come back, you'll remember why you hate me."

"Steven." touched now, hopefully rethinking.

"I miss you. I just don't want to lose you again. When I don't even officially have you back." Would she understand what he was saying? Would she stay?

"Okay. I understand. So I guess I better get to bed -cause tomorrow its back to the beach" She was dissapointed but not entirely unpleased with the conversation.

"I can't wait to see your tan" he laughed.

"Well I guess you can." she laughed back.

"Goodnight Jackie. Love you."

"Night"

A/N: Okay I'm finally into the story. I liked this chapter. Tell me if you do please. Oh and this is a challenge so -if you guys want to suggest I add something or throw in something wacky -tell me and I'll try. Anything to help the muse.