Chapter 12 – Who do you love?
"I was just interviewing Tiffany about Dex's party," Jackie gabbled nervously.
"Great minds think alike. That's what I'm here for."
"Mmmm, Jackie, who is this fine looking specimen?" Tiffany purred, fixing Nick with a sultry look.
"This? Oh this is… Nick Braddon." Even to Jackie's own ears the introduction sounded unfinished.
"Yeah, I'm her boyfriend," Nick added, sliding an arm around Jackie's waist.
Tiffany looked blankly between the two. "Boyfriend? How can you have a boyfriend if you're engaged?" The redheaded bunny was resentful – was one hunky male not enough for this brunette pipsqueak that she had to bogart another one?
Nick raised a questioning eyebrow at Jackie. "There's been a little misunderstanding," she admitted.
"Well, I think what's written on your bony butt should make things pretty clear," Tiffany interjected.
"How dare you! My butt is not bony!" Jackie gasped. Of course, Nick had to investigate after that. There was an ominous silence as he read Jackie's behind. Jackie winced, waiting for his famous temper to erupt. "Mmmrhumphh," was what she heard instead. She turned on him in disbelief.
"Are you laughing at me?" she cried.
Nick tried valiantly to suppress the merriment bursting to get out. "No, no I wouldn't dream – " – a full bodied guffaw interrupted his denial.
Jackie fumed. Just when she thought she had risen above dating men with the maturity of 8 year olds, she finds out her boyfriend is one of them. As his laughter finally calmed so that he could communicate, he asked "How – how did that happen?" He was too busy wiping tears of laughter from his eyes to see the guilty look flash across her face. "Let me guess – you were sunbathing, right? Oh man, that's got to be one of the best burns ever!"
"Well, actually…" Tiffany began but her revelation ended in a cry of pain as Jackie stepped on her foot.
"That's right, babe – the bastard caught me when I dozed off sunbathing. Let's go home now – I've got what I need here." Grabbing Nick's hand, she started to pull him away from the underdressed females who were starting to wonder what new and scandalous predicament the strange bunny-wannabe had gotten into.
"Hold on a minute, Jackie. I overheard Tiffany say she had seen Sharon with Dex. Miss Anderson, would you be willing to sign a statement to that effect that can be used in a court of law?"
Tiffany wavered, torn between wanting to pay back the foot squashing bitch but not wishing to disoblige a man as attractive as Nick. Her libido made the decision. "I guess I might do that, provided you help me with my statement." She sidled up to Nick and stroked a casual finger down his arm.
Jackie rolled her eyes. Tiffany had too much dirt on her for it to be safe to leave her alone with Nick. "We have a lot to do today, Nick, time being short," Jackie said meaningfully. "We'll need a police officer involved anyhow."
"That's true. Alright, Miss Anderson, I'll be back this afternoon with an officer to take your statement. I can't tell you how much I appreciate your civic conscience in this matter."
"Yes, she's quite the humanitarian," Jackie said snidely.
"I look forward to meeting you again, Mr Braddon," Tiffany said, double entendres dripping from her words. She dealt a parting shot to Jackie. "And I believe I see your owner coming for you, Jackie."
Damn. Jackie turned around slowly for the crowning clash in a morning of awkward confrontations.
Hyde had been distracted from keeping an eye on Jackie by watching Kelso strike out with a witty blonde who picked off his dopey come-on lines like a skeet shooter. When the amusing sideshow was finished he looked over to find the guy Jackie claimed was her boyfriend with his arm around her waist. Without thinking too clearly about what he was going to do or say, he strode towards the couple.
"Jackie!" he called out urgently. She turned towards him with a look that dared him to challenge her. As Nick also didn't look thrilled to see Hyde again, he stumbled for a reason to keep himself in the picture.
"I thought we should brainstorm about how we're going to trap Tanner. I hear time is fast running out for Sharon," he said, addressing them both.
"Jackie told you about Sharon?" Nick asked in surprise.
"Yeah, of course. I'm sure Jackie told you about the dangerous situation I got her out of last night. She was so blown away by my courage that she asked me to help you guys out by watching her back."
"Dangerous? What happened? Jackie, are you OK?" Nick asked anxiously.
"I'm fine, Nick," Jackie said, shooting Hyde a shut-the-hell-up glare. He replied with a play-along-or-I'll-tell-all smirk.
"Just Tanner slipping drugs into her drink. I got her out of there before he could take advantage of her," Hyde said as sanctimoniously as though taking advantage of Jackie was a notion abhorrent to him.
"That bastard!" Nick exploded.
"I know," Hyde said, shaking his head. "The man has no shame. Anyhow, we'd better come up with a new plan. Seems like Jackie's Mata Hari routine isn't going to work out. I mean, how can she pretend she's OK with dating the guy after he tried to rape her?"
"Yeah, that is tricky," Nick said, wrapping his brain around this new obstacle. "Right, let's get going – we'll get some breakfast and work this out."
Jackie realised Hyde had her in a corner. Either let him help or he would take great delight in going into detail about the events of last night. Therefore, when Hyde suggested that Nick go ahead to the diner in his car and he and Jackie would follow in the Camino (after she changed her clothes), she could only force a smile of compliance.
"So, this Sharon must be a pretty special girl," Hyde remarked, adjusting his rear view mirror.
"Yes, she is," Jackie replied shortly, in no mood for conversation.
"Is this her?" Hyde asked, lifting the photo of Sharon from Jackie's purse. Jackie made to grab it back but he held it away from her. "Wow! This girl is smoking hot!" He looked between the photo and Jackie. "Funny, she looks a lot like someone I know."
"Will you just concentrate on driving, please?" Jackie snapped, snatching the photo.
"So you and this girl became pretty close friends, huh? How did that come about."
"She's Nick's best friend – he introduced us and we just found we really clicked. We have a lot in common."
"Really? So not only do you look alike, you think and act alike?"
"What are you talking about? We look nothing alike. We're completely different people."
"Wake up and look in the mirror, Jacks. You both have the same hair, petite build, same shape face and eyes. Let me guess – this Sharon girl is an extrovert, not shy about how gorgeous she looks, dresses like a fashion plate and can talk a blue streak. Am I getting warm?"
Jackie huffed in indignation. "Alright, I've had enough of you and your lucky guesses!"
"I'm just wondering why your Nick is dating a carbon copy of his best friend. Why not just go for the real thing?"
"For your information, Sharon and Nick's relationship is purely platonic. They have been friends since they were little kids."
"Like Eric and Donna?"
"Yes, just like – no, damn it! Oh, shut up," Jackie stormed, turning a cold shoulder to Hyde who only chuckled as he pulled his car up behind Nick's outside the diner.