Episode 3: On the Town
Rocko sat down on a barstool and waited for the bartender to notice him. As usual when he went out, which was most nights, Rocko's goal was getting a good buzz and getting a hot babe, and he'd heard this new bar was the place to do it. He hoped that for once he'd get the latter, and not just the former. So far his college career had been a disappointment in the ladies department.
The sound of a barstool scraping across tiled floor caught his attention, and he recognised the man taking a seat beside him. "Hey, Kruger, what the hell you doin' here?"
A smirk briefly broke Kruger's perpetual sneer. "Same #^$^%$ thing you're doing here," he snorted as he reached into his jacket for a cigarette. "Hoping to get some." He leered as he stuck the cigarette in his mouth and lit it with a lighter. "Or I'm #$%^$# guessin' that's why you're here. You are a friend of Nitz's, and I kinda wonder about him."
Rocko resisted the urge to smack Kruger in the chops. After all he didn't want to get thrown out before having at least one drink. "Yeah, right. Anyone that hung up on a broad can't be gay."
Kruger laughed. "Yer #^%#$$# right! In fact its #^$^%$ scary the way he chases after that Burton chick."
Rocko rolled his eyes. "You've only had to put up with it for a year. I've had to put up with his googoo eyes for her since junior high." Looking past Kruger, his eyes suddenly widened, followed by an upset "Dammit!"
"Whats your problem?"
"Look who just walked in the door," he responded in an upset tone of voice, pointing towards the door.
Kruger turned to see the bane of much of the male student body of State U., Tekerson Tech, and Central State Junior Community College standing in the doorway. "^&%$$ Evans!" he snarled.
"And you know what that means. Every unattached hottie in sight will be makin' a move on him, and ignoring every other guy around." Rocko looked to the ceiling, shaking his head. "Why me? Is it too much to ask to have one night when I can score?"
"Nuthin' says we have to #$#%# stay around here. Let's go find someplace else."
Rocko grinned widely. "Yeah, yer right! Let's haul ass."
Cal looked up and frowned as he saw Rocko quickly walk out of the bar. He had been going to call him over but didn't get the chance.
"Whats wrong Cal sweetie?" asked Cal's latest lady, a willowy blonde named Carol.
"It's my best buddy Rocko lady. He walked out the door and didn't even say hello!"
Carol patted his arm. "I'm sure he just didn't see you," she consoled.
Cal's expression brightened. "Yeah. I think Rockoguy might not see too good. He's done that before. And sometimes he can't hear too good, because I call him over and its like he doesn't hear me."
Carol just nodded in agreement, not having the heart to tell Cal his "friend" sounded like he was deliberately ignoring him.
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Rocko and Kruger walked along, trying to find a bar to go to. Unfortunately they weren't having much luck.
"Why don't we try that one?" Rocko said, pointing at a place called the Pink Sneaker.
"Because it's a ^$^%$ gay bar, that's why," replied Kruger, a disgusted expression on his face.
Rocko blinked. "Hmmm, so that's why there weren't any chicks in it that time I went in, and the guy at the bar gave me a weird look when I asked if any hot babes had been in that night."
They walked a few blocks further. "How about that one?" said Kruger, pointing to the oddly named Pali O'Mali's
"Can't. Stupid bartender banned me cuz he didn't like how I was warning some guy about the Irish."
"Riiiight," drawled Kruger. It was no skin off his nose if Rocko didn't like the Irish, but he was glad Brodie wasn't around to hear that.
"Guess its gonna have to be the No Name Bar," said a disappointed Rocko. If there was a place in town that could be called a generic bar it was the No Name. That was the idea of the place, a good old fashioned bar where you could get a drink without having to put up with servers in trendy costumes serving trendy drinks to trendy drinkers while trendy music played.
"Ahh, its not so bad," countered Kruger. "At least the drinks are %$^ cheap."
"And there is that waitress with the big hooters," mused Rocko. "What the hell, sure," he said with a shrug of his shoulders, and the pair continued down the street.
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Jesse walked into the Oil Can. The club's name came from its former life as an auto repair shop. Other than sticking a bar and small kitchen near the back, and a slightly raised plywood stage by the front door, the owners had done little to the place. The tables and chairs were old, the floor and walls dingy, and the food crappy. But Jesse wasn't there for the décor. She was there to see Lisa's band, the Wichita Cybermen, perform. ("We originally called ourselves the Wichita Linemen, but then we realised everyone would think we were a country band and changed the name," Lisa had told her.) She shared a smile and a wave with Lisa as she walked past the stage, where Lisa and the band were doing their final checks before starting their set.
Jesse let out a small sigh as she spotted a familiar couple sitting at one of the tables. She wasn't all that surprised to see Nitz and Kimmy, but had kind of hoped they wouldn't be there that night. Oh well, there are worse things in the world than being around the Ditzy Redhead, she thought as Nitz waved her over. "Hey guys."
"Hey Jess," greeted Nitz. "We kinda figured you'd be here."
"Yeah," she said as she sat down. "No way was I going to pass up a chance to see Lisa onstage."
"How are you two getting along?" asked Kimmy.
"Great," Jesse replied. "Of course anyone would be better than Charity."
Kimmy nodded. "Everyone likes Lisa, so I'm not surprised, and I hear that Charity person was kind of odd."
Jesse grinned. "That's putting it mildly. Frankly I'm surprised I didn't end up going nuts after rooming with her." Seeing a waitress pass by she flagged her down and ordered a beer.
As the trio waited for the band to start they sat and chatted about what was going on around State U. and how their classes were going. They had talked for about ten minutes when the guitarist for the Wichita Cybermen came to the mic and with a simple, "Hi, we're the Wichita Cybermen," started their set.
As the band charged into their opening song Jesse shook her head and smiled. She had surprised herself. She'd actually managed to sit and make small talk with Kimmy without getting the urge to lunge across the table and strangle her.
Seeing her obvious amusement Nitz caught her eye and raised an eyebrow.
Private joke, she mouthed back at him. Turning her attention back to the stage Jesse liked what she saw. It was obvious the quartet had put in a lot of work into their music, as their playing was tight, and the grins on their faces showed they were enjoying themselves. Of course she paid extra attention to Lisa, and seeing and hearing her play live confirmed Jesse's suspicions that she was a great bassist.
The trio clapped enthusiastically as the band's set came to an end. "That's not usually my kind of music," said Kimmy, "but they seem pretty good at that post rock kind of thing."
"And here I thought they were doing neo-prog," replied Nitz.
"Well, I think we can all agree that it's not nu-metal," added Jesse. "And here's the star of our show," she said as Lisa walked over to their table.
"Thank you, thank you," Lisa said, taking a bow.
Kimmy stood up and pulled her cousin into a hug. "It's so great to see you! We go to the same school yet we never see each other, we're so busy!"
"Yeah, we've got to get together more often. So, you guys liked the set?" The others nodded. "Great! So, are you gonna hang around for a bit?"
Jesse shook her head. "Sorry, but I've gotta run. I've got some stuff to read for class tomorrow. Besides, I've seen the guys you're opening for before, and I thought they sucked."
"Aah, that's too bad. I'd kinda hoped you could hang around for a couple of drinks, but I guess school's got to come first."
"Well, one of these days we'll have to sit and knock a few back when we both have the time." Jesse stood up, said "Later guys," and headed for the door.
Nitz stood up as well. "I'll be back in a few minutes," he said. "I need to use the, um, facilities."
"So, how are things going with you and him?" asked Lisa, cocking a thumb at Nitz as he walked towards the washrooms.
"Really well, I think. Nitz is such a nice guy, and he seems to be really understanding about how busy I am."
"Well, I'm sure he's on cloud nine, getting a chance to go out with you. I mean, the guy has had a crush on you forever."
Kimmy's eyes widened. "Nitz...has a crush on me?"
Lisa nodded slowly. "Yeah, for years. Hell, I knew he had one before I even knew who he was. It seemed like every time I'd visit you he'd walk past your place at least once."
Kimmy blushed, a sheepish smile on her face. "Well, I guess that explains why he was always there to help out last year, and why he listened to me go on and on about Mark, and worrying about my auditions and all that."
Lisa wasn't at all surprised that Kimmy hadn't known about the crush. Her cousin was self-absorbed to the point of obliviousness at times. She had told Lisa over the summer about her shock at finding out Mark Johnson, who had been one of the senior Drama students at State U. and who Kimmy had had a crush on, was gay. Lisa had barely stifled her laughter. She had met Mark a couple of times through a mutual acquantance and knew he made no secret of being gay, or having an ongoing relationship with a fellow male student. Yet her cousin had managed to totally ignore the anything but subtle clues about his preference for two years.
Of course it didn't help that Kimmy was always trying to do too many things at once. Lisa often had a hard time believing Kimmy even had time to eat and sleep, let alone have a relationship with someone, given her classes and the numerous activities she took part in. She put such pressure on herself, yet Lisa knew from personal experience that Kimmy often had trouble handling that very pressure. She hoped her cousin would finally realise she needed to ease back a bit before she hurt herself or someone else.
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"'...and if you don't wan' someone grabbin' yer ass then don't wear that,' I told her," said Rocko, prompting roaring laughter from Kruger. Their table was covered with a large collection of empty glasses and bottles, and it was obvious both of them were very drunk.
"Like thish one," slurred Kruger, making a grab for Maria, one of the waitresses, as she walked by. She darted out of the way of his grab and gave him a glare before walking over to the front door, where the No Name Bar's bouncers were standing.
"Guys, could you please toss those two?" she asked, pointing at Rocko and Kruger. "That's the third time the one in the leather jacket has tried to grab me, and the other one keeps dropping stuff on the floor so he can try and look up my skirt."
"I thought you were gonna stop serving them," said the taller of the two bouncers, a heavily muscled man with "MOTHER" tatooed on each forearm.
"I did!" shot back Maria. "But the one in the t shirt keeps grabbing any glass or bottle with even a little bit of booze left in it. He even drank from one with a cigarette in the bottom!"
"Well, looks like we're probably gonna have to do it the hard way," said the shorter bouncer, rubbing the back of his shaved head. The pair walked over to Kruger and Rocko's table. "Okay you two! Time to pack it up for the night."
Rocko stood up in indignation. "This is America buddy! You can't make me leave! I gots rights." He turned to a familiar giant bottle of whiskey he saw sitting at a nearby table. "Isn't that right Bobby?"
"You tell them Rocko," replied the bottle, giving him a thumbs up.
The two bouncers looked at each other, bemused looks on their faces, and shrugged. "Your choice buddy," said the larger one.
"Hey, Bobby, help!" called out Rocko as the bouncers lept at him.
"I'm sorry Rocko," said an apologetic Bobby Whiskey. "But I'm an alcohol induced hallucination, so I'm not much help in a barroom brawl."
"Dammit!" growled Rocko as he took a swing at one of the bouncers.
"Don't worry, Rocko," called out Kruger as he staggered to his feet, brandishing an empty beer mug. "I'll help youse and that identical twin of yoursh who sez the exact same #$^%$ things at the same ##%# time you do out against those four guysh!"
The bartender shook his head as he reached for the phone. As he dialed 911 he hoped the cops got there before the two idiots broke too much, or the bouncers broke them.
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Nitz trod blearily towards the front steps of the police station. Just as he was about to walk up the steps he noticed a figure ahead of him, and his eyes widened when he realised whom it was. "Jesse?"
Jesse was equally surprised. "Nitz, what are you doing here?"
"Rocko," he replied in a disgusted tone. "He called me up to get his butt out of jail. As usual he's been drinking all night, and this time he managed to get in a fight with some bouncers."
"I'm here to get Kruger. Phoned me up a bit ago, saying he got arrested for fighting." Her expression of annoyance matched Nitz's. "I'm surprised he could even remember my number he sounded so wasted. Brodie's at some 24 hour Oliver Stone film festival tonight, so I'm the one who has to come clean up after him."
Nitz's expression changed from annoyance to thoughtfulness. "Hmm, Kruger gets arrested for fighting, and so does Rocko. You don't suppose...."
Jessed groaned. "That they got into trouble together? Oh joy. That's all this town needs, those two teaming up to go bar hopping." She pulled open the police station door. "Well, lets go inside and find out if our worst nightmare has been realised," she sighed.
It didn't take long to confirm that Kruger and Rocko had been arrested together. "We normally would just let them sleep it off in the drunk tank," said the officer manning the front desk. "But tonight we've got a full house, so we're trying to get the less dangerous idiots out of here."
"I don't suppose either of them have enough money in their wallets to bail them out," said Nitz.
The officer reached into a box and pulled out Rocko and Kruger's wallets. "Take a look," he said. A quick look showed Kruger's wallet contained 13 dollars and 62 cents, while Rocko's held 7 dollars and 2 cents, along with, inexplicably, 37 dollars of Monopoly money.
Nitz and Jesse looked at each other, let out a long sigh in unison, and reached for their own wallets.
"By the way we have a debit card machine now, in case you don't have enough cash on you," the officer added helpfully.
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Jesse grunted as she dragged the totally sloshed Kruger towards Chilton Hall. It was becoming a real pain in the behind to keep him on track. "Come on! I'd like to actually get some sleep tonight!"
"Goooood ooole Jesse," Kruger slurred, stumbling towards one of the benches on the quad. "What would we do without ya?" He staggered to the bench and flopped down crookedly on it. "Me, and ole Foureyes Brodie, and Mr. Nitz wit' the hat."
Jesse stuck her hands on her hips and growled in annoyance. "I really don't have time for this. C'mon, get off your butt and let's go!" Her eyes narrowed in what was rapidly becoming anger as he shook his head.
"Uhuh, no way. I gotta tell ya somethin' first."
"Whatever the hell it is, it can wait until tomorrow!"
"Naaaaaah. I gotta tell youse now." He looked down and said in an almost sad tone,"If I wait 'til tomorrow then I won't be ineberated, inebreatin', or whatever it is ya call it, and then I won't tells ya."
Jesse threw up her hands and with a loud sigh sat down beside him. It was obvious the only way she'd ever get him to bed, and get herself to bed, was to find out whatever it was he had to say. "So talk," she said in a resigned tone.
"I love you," he said simply.
She rolled her eyes. "Right, sure. Come on Kruger, let's go." She rose to leave, but he gently grabbed her arm to stop her.
"Itsh true. I've loved you just about from the minute I met ya." He laughed drunkly. "But the only way I could tell you was to get reaaally drunk. And I'm really, really, really, really druuuuuuuunk."
He's actually serious, she thought as she sat back down.
He looked at her through his alcohol-induced haze. "Firsh time I saw you, I thought, 'Whatta great pieca ass. Gotta try 'n get somma that.' But then ole Foureyes Brodie an' me started rappin' with ya, and you didn't take any crap from us." That most rare of sights, a genuine smile, broke out on his face. "Not only were you so hot, you had brains, and knew howta use 'em, and you didn't take shit from noone. So I fell for ya, couldn't help myself." He looked back towards the ground again.
"Why didn't you say anything?" she asked softly.
"Cuz I knew you wouldn't feel tha same." He shakily wagged a finger at her. "I could tell." He brought his head up again, looking off into the distance. "Chick like you wouldn't be interested in a $#^$^$ like me. If we did gettit on it wud only last a little bit, for I'd do somethin' thatta make you hate me." He staggered to his feet. "Havin' you as a friend is justbout as good, 'cause I get ta be round ya even if I know I'll never have ya." He laughed drunkenly again and started shuffling towards the front doors of Chilton Hall. "C'mon. Lesh go home. I gotta go take a whiz anyways."
Jesse sighed as she walked after him. She should have guessed Kruger had a thing for her. There had been at least a couple of times when his usual cynicism and nasty wit had seemed just a little bit harsher when her annoyance with Nitz and his Kimmy obsession had come up. Other times there was just something about the way he looked at her when he thought she wasn't looking that had seemed almost like longing. Now she knew that it had been something more than her imagination.
She also knew Kruger was right. She liked him as a friend, but she wasn't particularly physically attracted to him. It was hard enough imagining a one-night stand with him, let alone any sort of extended romantic relationship.
As if my life isn't complicated enough, she thought to herself.
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Nitz gave out a relieved sigh as he and Rocko finally reached the Alpha Alpha frat house. Guiding Rocko back there hadn't been much trouble once he'd convinced his drunken friend to stop singing at the top of his lungs. However, the fact that Rocko spent most of the trip having a rambling one sided conversation with someone named Bobby had kind of freaked Nitz out. Especially when Rocko had thanked Bobby for always being there when he needed him.
At least we won't be waking anyone up, he thought as he rang the doorbell. Loud music blared out of the windows, along with the sound of lots of people all talking at once. A broad shouldered, blonde haired man Nitz had seen once or twice before soon opened the door. His name, if Nitz remembered correctly, was Braun, although Nitz didn't know if that was his first or last name.
"Hey man," greeted Braun. He chuckled as he saw who was with Nitz. "So, Brother Rocko got pissed again."
Nitz nodded wearily. "Yeah, and he got busted by the cops for fighting in some bar. They let him leave because they've got a full house tonight."
"Thanks for bringing him back." Braun turned to Rocko. "Do you need help getting to your room?" he asked.
"Uh-uh," replied Rocko, shakily shaking his head. "But can Bobby come too?" he asked, waving at the air beside him.
Braun stood for a moment in confusion, blinking at the empty space beside Rocko. "Ummm, sure Rocko. Bobby can stay, if you want," he finally answered.
"That's good. C'mon Bobby." With that Rocko made his way unsteadily up the stairs.
Braun shook his head as he watched Rocko walk away. "Anyways, did you have to bail Rocko out?" Nitz nodded. "Wait here, I'll be back in a second." Braun dashed off into the kitchen, and soon came back with a roll of bills. "This should cover it. Its our 'get Rocko out of the can' fund. Knew we'd need it sooner or later."
"Geez, thanks," said Nitz. He'd been worried about getting the money back from Rocko. After all he didn't want to have to ask his parents for more money to cover things this month. They likely wouldn't be too happy with him bailing out Rocko.
"Don't mention it. Besides, most of its Rocko's anyway." Both young men laughed.
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Jesse walked down the hall towards Kruger and Brodie's dorm room. Looking in the open door she wasn't surprised to see Kruger sitting on the edge of his bed, head in his hands. He gave out a loud groan as she walked in.
"Good morning!" she said in a deliberately cheery, and slightly loud, voice.
"Gah, don't #^$%^$ talk so #$#% loud!" He looked up at her, his eyes even more sunken than usual. "I've got a ^^%$@# hangover," he moaned.
"Serves you right," she retorted. "You get me out of bed at 2 a.m. to bust your sorry ass out of jail, which cost me some cash by the way, and I had to drag you back here to make sure you didn't drown in a gutter someplace. So don't expect any sympathy from me." She stifled a snicker as he squinted up at her with a guilty expression on his face.
"I'll pay you back," he grumbled defensively.
"You bet you will." She looked at her watch. "But we'll talk about that later. I've got a class to catch."
As she started out the door Kruger looked up at her. "Hey, uh Jesse?"
"Yeah?"
The embarrased look on his face almost started her giggling. "Did I say anything #%^$^&% stupid last night? You know, when I was drunk."
She shook her head, a wide grin on her face. "Nothing any more stupid than you usually say. Later dude." She walked out the door and headed towards the elevators.
"Guess I didn't tell her," he muttered.
"Tell who what?" asked Brodie as he walked in.
"None of your ##$#%# business!" Kruger snarled as he reached for an ice pack sitting on his desk.
Rocko sat down on a barstool and waited for the bartender to notice him. As usual when he went out, which was most nights, Rocko's goal was getting a good buzz and getting a hot babe, and he'd heard this new bar was the place to do it. He hoped that for once he'd get the latter, and not just the former. So far his college career had been a disappointment in the ladies department.
The sound of a barstool scraping across tiled floor caught his attention, and he recognised the man taking a seat beside him. "Hey, Kruger, what the hell you doin' here?"
A smirk briefly broke Kruger's perpetual sneer. "Same #^$^%$ thing you're doing here," he snorted as he reached into his jacket for a cigarette. "Hoping to get some." He leered as he stuck the cigarette in his mouth and lit it with a lighter. "Or I'm #$%^$# guessin' that's why you're here. You are a friend of Nitz's, and I kinda wonder about him."
Rocko resisted the urge to smack Kruger in the chops. After all he didn't want to get thrown out before having at least one drink. "Yeah, right. Anyone that hung up on a broad can't be gay."
Kruger laughed. "Yer #^%#$$# right! In fact its #^$^%$ scary the way he chases after that Burton chick."
Rocko rolled his eyes. "You've only had to put up with it for a year. I've had to put up with his googoo eyes for her since junior high." Looking past Kruger, his eyes suddenly widened, followed by an upset "Dammit!"
"Whats your problem?"
"Look who just walked in the door," he responded in an upset tone of voice, pointing towards the door.
Kruger turned to see the bane of much of the male student body of State U., Tekerson Tech, and Central State Junior Community College standing in the doorway. "^&%$$ Evans!" he snarled.
"And you know what that means. Every unattached hottie in sight will be makin' a move on him, and ignoring every other guy around." Rocko looked to the ceiling, shaking his head. "Why me? Is it too much to ask to have one night when I can score?"
"Nuthin' says we have to #$#%# stay around here. Let's go find someplace else."
Rocko grinned widely. "Yeah, yer right! Let's haul ass."
Cal looked up and frowned as he saw Rocko quickly walk out of the bar. He had been going to call him over but didn't get the chance.
"Whats wrong Cal sweetie?" asked Cal's latest lady, a willowy blonde named Carol.
"It's my best buddy Rocko lady. He walked out the door and didn't even say hello!"
Carol patted his arm. "I'm sure he just didn't see you," she consoled.
Cal's expression brightened. "Yeah. I think Rockoguy might not see too good. He's done that before. And sometimes he can't hear too good, because I call him over and its like he doesn't hear me."
Carol just nodded in agreement, not having the heart to tell Cal his "friend" sounded like he was deliberately ignoring him.
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Rocko and Kruger walked along, trying to find a bar to go to. Unfortunately they weren't having much luck.
"Why don't we try that one?" Rocko said, pointing at a place called the Pink Sneaker.
"Because it's a ^$^%$ gay bar, that's why," replied Kruger, a disgusted expression on his face.
Rocko blinked. "Hmmm, so that's why there weren't any chicks in it that time I went in, and the guy at the bar gave me a weird look when I asked if any hot babes had been in that night."
They walked a few blocks further. "How about that one?" said Kruger, pointing to the oddly named Pali O'Mali's
"Can't. Stupid bartender banned me cuz he didn't like how I was warning some guy about the Irish."
"Riiiight," drawled Kruger. It was no skin off his nose if Rocko didn't like the Irish, but he was glad Brodie wasn't around to hear that.
"Guess its gonna have to be the No Name Bar," said a disappointed Rocko. If there was a place in town that could be called a generic bar it was the No Name. That was the idea of the place, a good old fashioned bar where you could get a drink without having to put up with servers in trendy costumes serving trendy drinks to trendy drinkers while trendy music played.
"Ahh, its not so bad," countered Kruger. "At least the drinks are %$^ cheap."
"And there is that waitress with the big hooters," mused Rocko. "What the hell, sure," he said with a shrug of his shoulders, and the pair continued down the street.
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Jesse walked into the Oil Can. The club's name came from its former life as an auto repair shop. Other than sticking a bar and small kitchen near the back, and a slightly raised plywood stage by the front door, the owners had done little to the place. The tables and chairs were old, the floor and walls dingy, and the food crappy. But Jesse wasn't there for the décor. She was there to see Lisa's band, the Wichita Cybermen, perform. ("We originally called ourselves the Wichita Linemen, but then we realised everyone would think we were a country band and changed the name," Lisa had told her.) She shared a smile and a wave with Lisa as she walked past the stage, where Lisa and the band were doing their final checks before starting their set.
Jesse let out a small sigh as she spotted a familiar couple sitting at one of the tables. She wasn't all that surprised to see Nitz and Kimmy, but had kind of hoped they wouldn't be there that night. Oh well, there are worse things in the world than being around the Ditzy Redhead, she thought as Nitz waved her over. "Hey guys."
"Hey Jess," greeted Nitz. "We kinda figured you'd be here."
"Yeah," she said as she sat down. "No way was I going to pass up a chance to see Lisa onstage."
"How are you two getting along?" asked Kimmy.
"Great," Jesse replied. "Of course anyone would be better than Charity."
Kimmy nodded. "Everyone likes Lisa, so I'm not surprised, and I hear that Charity person was kind of odd."
Jesse grinned. "That's putting it mildly. Frankly I'm surprised I didn't end up going nuts after rooming with her." Seeing a waitress pass by she flagged her down and ordered a beer.
As the trio waited for the band to start they sat and chatted about what was going on around State U. and how their classes were going. They had talked for about ten minutes when the guitarist for the Wichita Cybermen came to the mic and with a simple, "Hi, we're the Wichita Cybermen," started their set.
As the band charged into their opening song Jesse shook her head and smiled. She had surprised herself. She'd actually managed to sit and make small talk with Kimmy without getting the urge to lunge across the table and strangle her.
Seeing her obvious amusement Nitz caught her eye and raised an eyebrow.
Private joke, she mouthed back at him. Turning her attention back to the stage Jesse liked what she saw. It was obvious the quartet had put in a lot of work into their music, as their playing was tight, and the grins on their faces showed they were enjoying themselves. Of course she paid extra attention to Lisa, and seeing and hearing her play live confirmed Jesse's suspicions that she was a great bassist.
The trio clapped enthusiastically as the band's set came to an end. "That's not usually my kind of music," said Kimmy, "but they seem pretty good at that post rock kind of thing."
"And here I thought they were doing neo-prog," replied Nitz.
"Well, I think we can all agree that it's not nu-metal," added Jesse. "And here's the star of our show," she said as Lisa walked over to their table.
"Thank you, thank you," Lisa said, taking a bow.
Kimmy stood up and pulled her cousin into a hug. "It's so great to see you! We go to the same school yet we never see each other, we're so busy!"
"Yeah, we've got to get together more often. So, you guys liked the set?" The others nodded. "Great! So, are you gonna hang around for a bit?"
Jesse shook her head. "Sorry, but I've gotta run. I've got some stuff to read for class tomorrow. Besides, I've seen the guys you're opening for before, and I thought they sucked."
"Aah, that's too bad. I'd kinda hoped you could hang around for a couple of drinks, but I guess school's got to come first."
"Well, one of these days we'll have to sit and knock a few back when we both have the time." Jesse stood up, said "Later guys," and headed for the door.
Nitz stood up as well. "I'll be back in a few minutes," he said. "I need to use the, um, facilities."
"So, how are things going with you and him?" asked Lisa, cocking a thumb at Nitz as he walked towards the washrooms.
"Really well, I think. Nitz is such a nice guy, and he seems to be really understanding about how busy I am."
"Well, I'm sure he's on cloud nine, getting a chance to go out with you. I mean, the guy has had a crush on you forever."
Kimmy's eyes widened. "Nitz...has a crush on me?"
Lisa nodded slowly. "Yeah, for years. Hell, I knew he had one before I even knew who he was. It seemed like every time I'd visit you he'd walk past your place at least once."
Kimmy blushed, a sheepish smile on her face. "Well, I guess that explains why he was always there to help out last year, and why he listened to me go on and on about Mark, and worrying about my auditions and all that."
Lisa wasn't at all surprised that Kimmy hadn't known about the crush. Her cousin was self-absorbed to the point of obliviousness at times. She had told Lisa over the summer about her shock at finding out Mark Johnson, who had been one of the senior Drama students at State U. and who Kimmy had had a crush on, was gay. Lisa had barely stifled her laughter. She had met Mark a couple of times through a mutual acquantance and knew he made no secret of being gay, or having an ongoing relationship with a fellow male student. Yet her cousin had managed to totally ignore the anything but subtle clues about his preference for two years.
Of course it didn't help that Kimmy was always trying to do too many things at once. Lisa often had a hard time believing Kimmy even had time to eat and sleep, let alone have a relationship with someone, given her classes and the numerous activities she took part in. She put such pressure on herself, yet Lisa knew from personal experience that Kimmy often had trouble handling that very pressure. She hoped her cousin would finally realise she needed to ease back a bit before she hurt herself or someone else.
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"'...and if you don't wan' someone grabbin' yer ass then don't wear that,' I told her," said Rocko, prompting roaring laughter from Kruger. Their table was covered with a large collection of empty glasses and bottles, and it was obvious both of them were very drunk.
"Like thish one," slurred Kruger, making a grab for Maria, one of the waitresses, as she walked by. She darted out of the way of his grab and gave him a glare before walking over to the front door, where the No Name Bar's bouncers were standing.
"Guys, could you please toss those two?" she asked, pointing at Rocko and Kruger. "That's the third time the one in the leather jacket has tried to grab me, and the other one keeps dropping stuff on the floor so he can try and look up my skirt."
"I thought you were gonna stop serving them," said the taller of the two bouncers, a heavily muscled man with "MOTHER" tatooed on each forearm.
"I did!" shot back Maria. "But the one in the t shirt keeps grabbing any glass or bottle with even a little bit of booze left in it. He even drank from one with a cigarette in the bottom!"
"Well, looks like we're probably gonna have to do it the hard way," said the shorter bouncer, rubbing the back of his shaved head. The pair walked over to Kruger and Rocko's table. "Okay you two! Time to pack it up for the night."
Rocko stood up in indignation. "This is America buddy! You can't make me leave! I gots rights." He turned to a familiar giant bottle of whiskey he saw sitting at a nearby table. "Isn't that right Bobby?"
"You tell them Rocko," replied the bottle, giving him a thumbs up.
The two bouncers looked at each other, bemused looks on their faces, and shrugged. "Your choice buddy," said the larger one.
"Hey, Bobby, help!" called out Rocko as the bouncers lept at him.
"I'm sorry Rocko," said an apologetic Bobby Whiskey. "But I'm an alcohol induced hallucination, so I'm not much help in a barroom brawl."
"Dammit!" growled Rocko as he took a swing at one of the bouncers.
"Don't worry, Rocko," called out Kruger as he staggered to his feet, brandishing an empty beer mug. "I'll help youse and that identical twin of yoursh who sez the exact same #$^%$ things at the same ##%# time you do out against those four guysh!"
The bartender shook his head as he reached for the phone. As he dialed 911 he hoped the cops got there before the two idiots broke too much, or the bouncers broke them.
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Nitz trod blearily towards the front steps of the police station. Just as he was about to walk up the steps he noticed a figure ahead of him, and his eyes widened when he realised whom it was. "Jesse?"
Jesse was equally surprised. "Nitz, what are you doing here?"
"Rocko," he replied in a disgusted tone. "He called me up to get his butt out of jail. As usual he's been drinking all night, and this time he managed to get in a fight with some bouncers."
"I'm here to get Kruger. Phoned me up a bit ago, saying he got arrested for fighting." Her expression of annoyance matched Nitz's. "I'm surprised he could even remember my number he sounded so wasted. Brodie's at some 24 hour Oliver Stone film festival tonight, so I'm the one who has to come clean up after him."
Nitz's expression changed from annoyance to thoughtfulness. "Hmm, Kruger gets arrested for fighting, and so does Rocko. You don't suppose...."
Jessed groaned. "That they got into trouble together? Oh joy. That's all this town needs, those two teaming up to go bar hopping." She pulled open the police station door. "Well, lets go inside and find out if our worst nightmare has been realised," she sighed.
It didn't take long to confirm that Kruger and Rocko had been arrested together. "We normally would just let them sleep it off in the drunk tank," said the officer manning the front desk. "But tonight we've got a full house, so we're trying to get the less dangerous idiots out of here."
"I don't suppose either of them have enough money in their wallets to bail them out," said Nitz.
The officer reached into a box and pulled out Rocko and Kruger's wallets. "Take a look," he said. A quick look showed Kruger's wallet contained 13 dollars and 62 cents, while Rocko's held 7 dollars and 2 cents, along with, inexplicably, 37 dollars of Monopoly money.
Nitz and Jesse looked at each other, let out a long sigh in unison, and reached for their own wallets.
"By the way we have a debit card machine now, in case you don't have enough cash on you," the officer added helpfully.
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Jesse grunted as she dragged the totally sloshed Kruger towards Chilton Hall. It was becoming a real pain in the behind to keep him on track. "Come on! I'd like to actually get some sleep tonight!"
"Goooood ooole Jesse," Kruger slurred, stumbling towards one of the benches on the quad. "What would we do without ya?" He staggered to the bench and flopped down crookedly on it. "Me, and ole Foureyes Brodie, and Mr. Nitz wit' the hat."
Jesse stuck her hands on her hips and growled in annoyance. "I really don't have time for this. C'mon, get off your butt and let's go!" Her eyes narrowed in what was rapidly becoming anger as he shook his head.
"Uhuh, no way. I gotta tell ya somethin' first."
"Whatever the hell it is, it can wait until tomorrow!"
"Naaaaaah. I gotta tell youse now." He looked down and said in an almost sad tone,"If I wait 'til tomorrow then I won't be ineberated, inebreatin', or whatever it is ya call it, and then I won't tells ya."
Jesse threw up her hands and with a loud sigh sat down beside him. It was obvious the only way she'd ever get him to bed, and get herself to bed, was to find out whatever it was he had to say. "So talk," she said in a resigned tone.
"I love you," he said simply.
She rolled her eyes. "Right, sure. Come on Kruger, let's go." She rose to leave, but he gently grabbed her arm to stop her.
"Itsh true. I've loved you just about from the minute I met ya." He laughed drunkly. "But the only way I could tell you was to get reaaally drunk. And I'm really, really, really, really druuuuuuuunk."
He's actually serious, she thought as she sat back down.
He looked at her through his alcohol-induced haze. "Firsh time I saw you, I thought, 'Whatta great pieca ass. Gotta try 'n get somma that.' But then ole Foureyes Brodie an' me started rappin' with ya, and you didn't take any crap from us." That most rare of sights, a genuine smile, broke out on his face. "Not only were you so hot, you had brains, and knew howta use 'em, and you didn't take shit from noone. So I fell for ya, couldn't help myself." He looked back towards the ground again.
"Why didn't you say anything?" she asked softly.
"Cuz I knew you wouldn't feel tha same." He shakily wagged a finger at her. "I could tell." He brought his head up again, looking off into the distance. "Chick like you wouldn't be interested in a $#^$^$ like me. If we did gettit on it wud only last a little bit, for I'd do somethin' thatta make you hate me." He staggered to his feet. "Havin' you as a friend is justbout as good, 'cause I get ta be round ya even if I know I'll never have ya." He laughed drunkenly again and started shuffling towards the front doors of Chilton Hall. "C'mon. Lesh go home. I gotta go take a whiz anyways."
Jesse sighed as she walked after him. She should have guessed Kruger had a thing for her. There had been at least a couple of times when his usual cynicism and nasty wit had seemed just a little bit harsher when her annoyance with Nitz and his Kimmy obsession had come up. Other times there was just something about the way he looked at her when he thought she wasn't looking that had seemed almost like longing. Now she knew that it had been something more than her imagination.
She also knew Kruger was right. She liked him as a friend, but she wasn't particularly physically attracted to him. It was hard enough imagining a one-night stand with him, let alone any sort of extended romantic relationship.
As if my life isn't complicated enough, she thought to herself.
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Nitz gave out a relieved sigh as he and Rocko finally reached the Alpha Alpha frat house. Guiding Rocko back there hadn't been much trouble once he'd convinced his drunken friend to stop singing at the top of his lungs. However, the fact that Rocko spent most of the trip having a rambling one sided conversation with someone named Bobby had kind of freaked Nitz out. Especially when Rocko had thanked Bobby for always being there when he needed him.
At least we won't be waking anyone up, he thought as he rang the doorbell. Loud music blared out of the windows, along with the sound of lots of people all talking at once. A broad shouldered, blonde haired man Nitz had seen once or twice before soon opened the door. His name, if Nitz remembered correctly, was Braun, although Nitz didn't know if that was his first or last name.
"Hey man," greeted Braun. He chuckled as he saw who was with Nitz. "So, Brother Rocko got pissed again."
Nitz nodded wearily. "Yeah, and he got busted by the cops for fighting in some bar. They let him leave because they've got a full house tonight."
"Thanks for bringing him back." Braun turned to Rocko. "Do you need help getting to your room?" he asked.
"Uh-uh," replied Rocko, shakily shaking his head. "But can Bobby come too?" he asked, waving at the air beside him.
Braun stood for a moment in confusion, blinking at the empty space beside Rocko. "Ummm, sure Rocko. Bobby can stay, if you want," he finally answered.
"That's good. C'mon Bobby." With that Rocko made his way unsteadily up the stairs.
Braun shook his head as he watched Rocko walk away. "Anyways, did you have to bail Rocko out?" Nitz nodded. "Wait here, I'll be back in a second." Braun dashed off into the kitchen, and soon came back with a roll of bills. "This should cover it. Its our 'get Rocko out of the can' fund. Knew we'd need it sooner or later."
"Geez, thanks," said Nitz. He'd been worried about getting the money back from Rocko. After all he didn't want to have to ask his parents for more money to cover things this month. They likely wouldn't be too happy with him bailing out Rocko.
"Don't mention it. Besides, most of its Rocko's anyway." Both young men laughed.
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Jesse walked down the hall towards Kruger and Brodie's dorm room. Looking in the open door she wasn't surprised to see Kruger sitting on the edge of his bed, head in his hands. He gave out a loud groan as she walked in.
"Good morning!" she said in a deliberately cheery, and slightly loud, voice.
"Gah, don't #^$%^$ talk so #$#% loud!" He looked up at her, his eyes even more sunken than usual. "I've got a ^^%$@# hangover," he moaned.
"Serves you right," she retorted. "You get me out of bed at 2 a.m. to bust your sorry ass out of jail, which cost me some cash by the way, and I had to drag you back here to make sure you didn't drown in a gutter someplace. So don't expect any sympathy from me." She stifled a snicker as he squinted up at her with a guilty expression on his face.
"I'll pay you back," he grumbled defensively.
"You bet you will." She looked at her watch. "But we'll talk about that later. I've got a class to catch."
As she started out the door Kruger looked up at her. "Hey, uh Jesse?"
"Yeah?"
The embarrased look on his face almost started her giggling. "Did I say anything #%^$^&% stupid last night? You know, when I was drunk."
She shook her head, a wide grin on her face. "Nothing any more stupid than you usually say. Later dude." She walked out the door and headed towards the elevators.
"Guess I didn't tell her," he muttered.
"Tell who what?" asked Brodie as he walked in.
"None of your ##$#%# business!" Kruger snarled as he reached for an ice pack sitting on his desk.