Title: 12 songs by Willie Nelson

Disclaimer:  I don't own.  I rent.

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: Oh God am I only on song 5?  And you know, Willie wasn't thinking of me and my story when he put these songs in order.  I know this is an exercise and the point is to make it work but damn. Okay I'll stop venting now.  Tell me what you think guys.  I love you all for it – I hope you know that.

Song Cred: I'll be there for You.  Featuring Sheryl Crow (Just F.Y.I –I'm not pimping for her or anything)

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True, we love life, not because we are used to living, but because we are used to loving.  There is always some madness in love, but there is also always some reason in madness."

                                                                                                      -Friedrich Nietzsche
 

"That is the price you pay for docking your love boat in Jackie Vallarta."

                                                                                                      -Hyde
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It's the way that you kiss me

It's the way that you don't

It's the way that you'll miss me

When you swear that you won't

There's a feeling you give me

When we talk on the phone

God, I hope you out live me

So I'm never alone

And whatever you do, I will be there for you

Through the thunder, the wind, and the rain

And whatever you do, I will promise to you

I will be there

I'll be there for you

I may lack social graces

But I won't swallow my pride

See there are millions of places, I could be

But I'm here by your side

Though, there's nothing to guide us

We will weather the storm

Till the heavens divide us

I'll keep you from harm

And whatever you do, I will be there for you

Through the thunder, the wind, and the rain

And whatever you do, I will promise to you

I will be there

I'll be there for you

"Steven" Jackie whined.

"What?" he faked ignorance.

"You know you want to." She insisted for the millionth time.

"No.  No actually I don't."

"Please?" trying to use the sugary little girl voice now to win him over.  It wasn't as effective without the accompanying lip pout.

"Nope, not gonna happen."

"But Steeeeeeeeven" she needled.  He thought about continuing to deny her.  He laid his head down on his bed (Kitty had convinced Red to get him a phone down here so he wouldn't have to sit around the kitchen annoying them) and listened to the announcer on WZZK introduce a new song.  It was one of his favorites these days; it was one of the few country songs he knew that ended without the guy losing the girl. 

"Jackie what makes you think that I would want to get up from the relative comfort of my private bedroom, go into the drab basement where anyone could show up and bug me –just so I can watch Laverne and Shirley with you?"

Jackie paused, seemingly to mull it over.  Then came up with the only answer that would ever get him to do exactly that "because you love me."

He laughed, actually laughed.  Damn it, it was true.  But he had to at least put up one last-ditch effort to be a man and not a pansy.  "It is a stupid show."

She laughed too, and he could so tell that she knew she had him. "Just turn it on".

He was already doing it, pulling the cord as far as it would go.  "Now tell me again how you are all the way over there and this shit still comes on at the same time?"

"I don't know Steven.  I guess it is just the magic of television.  Don't question it.  OOH look Shirley's boyfriend Carmine is on this episode."

Hyde rolled his eyes.  Great, that guy was a pansy and Jackie was so into him.  She fancied herself very Shirley like and was always finding ways to make Donna the goofy Laverne.  "I don't see how you could think this show is realistic.  That guy is supposed to be like this big tough guy and he dances.  Tough guys don't dance."

"You dance". She scoffed.

"I do not dance." 

"Then what the hell were you doing at the prom or the Valentine's dance?"

Well those had been exceptions. "Well it is not like I enjoyed it.  That guy enjoys it.  He is a freak."

"You didn't enjoy dancing with me?" uh oh she was getting offended.  He couldn't attack Carmine and dancing.

He quickly began to cover.  "Of course I enjoyed dancing with you.  But it was the you part not the dancing."

That one got her.  "Oh"

"Anyway – and those dumb neighbors.  Who would live by those guys?  They are idiots.  And they are always chasing around girls and you can't even understand that short one.  Who would be friends with these people?"

"Steven it is just a show.  And we are missing it.  Now shush and we will talk during the commercials."

He shushed.  And 7 minutes later Shirley and Laverne were knee deep in some slapstick misunderstanding and Jackie's attention was his again.  "So can I talk now?"

"Yes".

"So how is the beach?"

"Same old same old".

"Are the guys leaving you alone?" he asked.  He had no right too, but he asked.  And he tried really hard not to hold his breath while waiting for her to answer.

"Yep". She answered.

"Why don't I believe that?" Trust was trust but there was just no way that was the truth.  Jackie was beautiful.

"Well you see I've changed a lot since the last time you saw me."

"Really?  How?"

Her amused tone didn't help the believability of her forthcoming lie.  "Well I've developed this skin problem and I've stopped conditioning my hair.  Yep – I'm just a dog now.  Be glad you got rid of me when you did."

"Jackie I…"

"Shush the shows back on"

He couldn't believe her sometimes.  She was always surprising him with how much she had changed.  The old Jackie could never even joked about being ugly.  20 minutes later the show was wrapping up and Jackie began to talk again.

"So what is going…"

"Shut up I'm trying to read the credits". He joked mimicking her enthusiasm for the ridiculous situation comedy.

"Steeeven".

He laughed.  "You know working in a factory is never that glamorous right?  I mean that isn't what you are going to study in college."

"No Steven.  God no."

"Good because I don't want to be married to a line worker." He continued the joke.  Jackie joined in until about the point where he mentioned matrimony.  Then she got quiet.  It was a good quiet though.  Like she was afraid he would take it back.  "So back to the conversation we were having earlier.  Exactly how are you keeping the men at bay?"

She laughed again.  "I tell them that I'm gay."

He almost choked on his cola.  "YOU WHAT?"

She was enjoying his shock. "Oh yeah, didn't I tell you?  I've switched sides.  Why do you think I'm watching Laverne and Shirley on a Friday night?"  She was laughing so hard he thought she might explode.

He smirked hoping she could feel it through the phone and grudgingly admitted she had got him.  "You'd miss me."

"No I wouldn't." she was a really bad liar.  Her voice would always go up a little at the end of the sentence.

"Well you may not miss me exactly –but you would miss the way I kiss you." It was nice teasing her again about intimate things.  He had gotten that back somewhere over the phone line. 

"Mayyyyyybe" she said as if it really was up for debate. 

"Oh you would eventually." He assured.

"Maybe I do already"

Well that shut him up.  Was she saying that if she came home he would get some lovin?  Cause he would face just about anything to kiss those lips again.  He had spent about 2 hours each night listening to the radio absolutely convinced he would never get to again and now she was saying that he would.  If this is where situation comedies led –he would watch more T.V.  Hell when did Mork and Mindy come on?  "You do?"

She hesitantly answered, "I do."

"I miss you too Jackie".

"Well that is just silly.  If I came home we wouldn't have to do all this missing."

He sighed.

"I know, I know, space, time, healing blah blah blah". She sounded tired of hearing it. 

He wondered silently how they were going to keep avoiding a fight about it. 

"You know tough guys aren't supposed to worry about things like that.  Maybe you do like to dance Carmine". 

He laughed.  If she was back to joking they had avoided the fight again.  At least for another night.  "Yeah well Say goodnight Shirley."

"Goodnight Shirley.  I'll call you tomorrow."

"I'll be here."  He hung up the phone with a smile. But it soon vanished.  Why didn't he want her to come back?  And how long was she going to take no for an answer? 

A/N:  Next chapter –conflict.  What do ya think?