Chapter Three

Tucker groaned as Jazz pulled him off of the park bench he collapsed after the run Jazz made him take with her.

"Come on lazy bones," Jazz laughed as she took his hand and pulled. "We need to keep your muscles warm."

"You're more evil than Sam!" Tucker complained as he stood and looked at Jazz tiredly. They'd become really good friends within the last few weeks, though Jazz did keep what seemed like a professional distance between them. Tucker was always conscious that Jazz was two years older and Danny's sister. He supposed it was a good thing, but he also wished that Jazz would relax a little more.

He liked Jazz, a lot. She was fun and funny, but the moment she and Tucker relaxed and began to feel happy, she's pull away and start lecturing Tucker about one thing or another. Today she decided that Tucker was out of shape, and as a member of Team Phantom, and as his friend, she decided he needed to work on his physical fitness.

While Tuck thought her sudden demand for fitness was just Jazz's way to be superior and point out that she was older and knew more, Jazz's motives were a little different. Firstly, she had decided that she needed to become a little more active and she didn't want to start a new exercise regimen alone. Secondly, Tucker had become a huge bone of contention, without him being truly aware of it, and Jazz loved nothing better than to get under Danny's skin. And thirdly, Jazz genuinely enjoyed spending time with Tucker. She liked him, a lot, maybe too much she reasoned, but she felt she could handle the strange threads of attraction which found their way into her consciousness.

Sometimes, when they were just sitting quietly enjoying each other's company, Jazz wondered what it would be like to kiss Tucker. She figured he'd probably die of shock on the spot, though she doubted he'd be horrified. She conceded that if she indulged in her curiosity, that things would end badly, and she finally understood why Danny and Sam danced around each other when they were clearly head over heels in love with each other. Being in love with your best friend was frightening…not that Tucker was her best friend, well, yeah he was, but well she wasn't in love with him, she simply had a minor and tiny little crush on him.

Jazz squeezed her eyes shut for a moment as she acknowledged that she had a crush on Tucker. She wanted to cry. Having a crush on Danny's friend just wasn't appropriate, not only that he was too young for her. Yeah, so he was smart and he made her laugh. There had to be more. He dressed badly for one thing and he looked at other girls entirely too much and his mind definitely followed only one track.

"You know what?" she said out of the blue. Tucker looked at her curiously. "We should find you a girlfriend."

"What?" Tucker asked in shock. Not that he'd object, it just seemed strange to hear those words coming from Jazz. He freely acknowledged the fact that he was attracted to her. He wasn't afraid of his feelings, he was afraid of her reaction to them, so he hid them.

Tucker realized that he finally understood why Danny and Sam were stalled, even though he considered the situation completely different. It was scary to risk losing the object of your affection. He had no fear of rejection, he'd been through it a million times, but well if Jazz rejected him, it would mean something. He knew he'd never take the risk.

"A girlfriend," Jazz repeated to him happily. "We should find you a girlfriend."

"Why?" Tucker asked then wanted to kick himself. Yeah, he had to admit, he saw Jazz as his girlfriend even though she wasn't and the reality hurt, the idea that she wanted to find him a girlfriend hurt.

Jazz felt proud that she'd come up with a great way to combat her attraction for Tucker. If he was taken, then he'd be completely off limits. Granted, she would lose a bit of his time, but she was confident that they would be able to remain friends, besides, she wanted to see Tucker happy.

"What we need to do first is work on your appearance," she began as she swiped the hat off his head.

"Give that back!" Tucker growled as she held the red beret away from him.

"You don't need this thing, Tuck," she said. "You cling to it like it's a security blanket or something."

"I like my hat," Tucker told her defensively as he stopped trying to reach for it and waited calmly for it's return. He smiled slightly as he watched Jazz put it on her own head. He knew he'd give her the hat with no problem in exchange for her heart, but he had to put the mushy sentiment aside, he needed his hat.

"You're too confident to rely on this thing," Jazz continued.

"Have you considered, Delilah," Tucker growled as he swiped the hat off her head and replaced it on his head. "That maybe my strength comes from my hat?"

Jazz gave him an amused look. "I don't believe that," she said then swiped the glasses off his face. "Have you considered contacts?"

"No," Tucker said in annoyance as he looked back at her myopically.

Jazz smiled at him gently as she put her hand on the side of his face. "You have beautiful eyes, Tuck." His mouth went instantly dry and he began to wonder if she wasn't simply play him in order to get her way.

"We could grow out your hair a little," she said softly. "Do some cornrows or something."

Tucker shook his head. "I like me like this, Jazz. Why should I change? I think I'm cute as I am."

Jazz sighed as she looked at him. "Yellow long sleeve shirt. Red hat. Green cargo pants. Green combat boots. Hmmmm not really that attractive, Tuck."

Tucker straightened his hat on his head and Jazz replaced his glasses. "Is it really that bad?"

"As your friend," Jazz told him gently as she made sure the glasses were straight. "I am obligated to tell you that while you're not entirely bad, you just don't reach your full potential."

"I-I guess I could try something different," Tucker replied. He was hypnotized by her turquoise eyes, if anyone had beautiful eyes it was her. Sometimes, it scared him to even look into her eyes, partly because he was scared that she'd see right through him, and partly because she was so beautiful it was frightening.

"Really?" Jazz said happily.

"But the hat stays," Tucker warned feeling charmed by her demeanor. "I'm not letting go of the hat."

Jazz put her arm through his as they started walking. "Okay," she said. "We can work around the hat."

"Good," he said then frowned. He loved the feel of her on his arm, he'd grown a few inches so he was just slightly taller than she was, and even though he knew she wasn't she seemed petite, fragile and in need of his protection.

"And then," she continued her stomach and heart twisting at the thought. "The girls won't be able to resist you. In fact, I think the goal will be to find you a date for the Valentines day dance."

"What about you?" Tucker asked then bit his tongue, scared that Jazz would think he was asking her, though he would in a heartbeat if he thought she'd say yes.

"I'll find a date," she answered with assurance. Tucker nodded but wanted to be sick. He didn't want to see her dating someone else. He didn't want to date someone else. He wanted her. He was in so much trouble.

She looked into his eyes, smiled and was instantly captivated. She was in so much trouble. She refused to allow this to happen. She was not going to have a thing for Tucker. She was not going to have a thing with Tucker. She would find him a girl, and herself a boyfriend and that was going to be the end of it.

"Ah look," Danny said coolly as Tucker showed up at the Nasty Burger thirty minutes later. "It's the traitor. Hello, Tucker howse the new best friend."

"Don't be a jerk Danny," Sam growled as she kicked him under the table. "This whole jealous of Jazz thing is stupid."

"Thanks Sam," Tucker said breathlessly as he sat. "She made me go running with her."

Sam raised her eyebrows. "How'd she convince a sloth to run?" Tucker shrugged his shoulders and Sam narrowed her eyes trying to read his expression, but he looked down at the table before she could read anything in his face.

"What have you too been up to?" Tucker asked as he made himself a little more comfortable in the booth. He did his best to make things seem like old times, all the while yearning to be with Jazz and feeling guilty for not wanting to spend time with his best friends.

"Nothing," Danny finally answered as he relaxed and let go of the anger he was holding. He was getting used to spending time with Sam, and though the attraction was excruciating, it was still nice to be with her.

Tucker smiled at the look on Danny's face as he watched Sam walk across the restaurant for their food. He decided it was better not to tease the lovebirds. He knew now how painful unrequited love felt and he just couldn't find pleasure in prodding Danny and Sam.

"You guys going to the V-day dance?" he asked quickly after Sam returned with their orders, deciding maybe he should get them together.

Sam grimaced as she shook her head and sipped at her soda. "I think I'm going to by pass it this year, Tuck."

"You by passed it last year," Tucker teased. She shrugged her shoulders.

"I think we should hang out like we did last year," Danny suggested, remembering how he'd almost found the courage to kiss Sam, maybe this year he'd actually do it and be damned with the consequences.

"If I don't have a date, sounds good," Tucker said quickly. "Jazz thinks I need a girlfriend and.." Both Sam and Danny started choking, Sam on her soda and Danny on his burger. Tucker watched them calmly as they steadied themselves.

"Jazz is going to find you a date?" Sam asked in bewilderment.

"She probably will too," Danny began. "She's got too many connections, she's too popular, knows too many people's secrets and once Jazz sets her mind to something…it gets done."

Tucker frowned at Danny. "You mean you think she's going to have to bribe someone to go with me?"

"No," Danny said as he shook his head in quick denial. "I'm just saying that Jazz accomplishes what she sets out to do. Sam and I will miss you."

Sam frowned at Danny. "Wait," she said. "Maybe I want to go to the dance. You might not believe it, but sometimes, on rare occasions, I do like to get dressed up and be seen and admired."

Danny smiled at her softly and considered telling her that he admired her every time he saw her, then told himself that since Tucker was sitting there, it was better that he kept the statement to himself. He sighed slightly, who was he kidding, he was a chicken.

"You know," Tucker said feeling slightly perverse and throwing out the window the mercy he'd felt earlier. "You two should just go together." Sam looked at Danny almost hopefully and he shrugged one shoulder.

"I'm game," Sam said quickly as she looked at Danny. The corners of his mouth twitched and she smiled.

"Okay," Danny began. "It's a date." They smiled at each other a moment and Tucker fished his PDA out of his pocket. He should have been happy for them. He'd been working them up to a moment like this for what seemed like forever, but the victory lost it's edge, all he could think about was Jazz and how she didn't want him, and would never want him. For the first time ever, Tucker sank into a depression, a trough of sadness he just couldn't crawl out of, and he wished…for only a moment, that he'd never knocked on Jazz's bedroom door.

Sam caught the look on Tucker's face and her happiness faltered slightly. She gave him a questioning look and he gave her a confused look then returned his attention to his PDA.

"Tuck!" Jazz said as he stood at his locker changing his books after lunch. She hugged him quickly, not noticing that the everyone in the hall had gone quiet shortly before whispering questions about why Jazz was hugging the techno geek…what was his name? Tom, Ted, Tudder? It's definitely Tudder. She's Danny's sister that's who they know each other. Oh, then it's nothing. Interest waned.

Tucker looked at Jazz and smiled, his heart had lightened considerably since she dropped the bomb yesterday that she wanted to find him a girlfriend. Tucker was a sensible person, pragmatic and sometimes logical. He reasoned that he wanted Jazz, but maybe it was better her way. Things could never really last between them even if she managed to return his feelings, and it would leave a nasty tension in his friendship with Danny when things fell apart. He decided he could still have her friendship, and as long as he had that, it was enough. He'd heard Sam say the same phrase often enough in reference to Danny, but his situation warranted the sentiment more than Sam's, after all Danny loved Sam in return.

"What are your plans for the afternoon?" Jazz asked as she pressed herself close to Tucker, mostly for her own comfort, but partly to shield their conversation from the busy hallway.

"I-I don't think I have any," Tucker answered as he tried to kick start his mind which was focused on Jazz's body pressed up against his. He could feel her breast against his back, grinding all coherent thought to a stop.

"We'll go shopping!" she told him excitedly. "I'll wait for you at my car and we can just go as soon as school gets out."

"Sounds fun," Tucker agreed as he turned and met Jazz's smile. His breath caught at the soft expression in her eyes. She searched his face for a moment, her expression full of gentle affection as she adjusted his glasses and straightened his hat.

"I'll see you later then," she said then kissed his cheek, which short circuited Tucker's brain the rest of the way, then turned to leave. Coming face to face with Danny who looked at her with wide eyes.

"Hey little brother," she said quickly and cheerfully as he kissed his cheek then bounded away. She looked back quickly at Tucker who was holding his hand to the place she'd planted the kiss and mentally kicked herself. She shouldn't have done that, but it was the lesser of two evils. It was either kiss his cheek or his lips and she couldn't do the latter…ever. She closed her eyes. The sooner she found him a girlfriend, the better, and someone for herself maybe even sooner.

She entered her afternoon class, chemistry then looked around thoughtfully. Her eyes lit on Peter Rodgers. He was nice, got good grades, had a good reputation and Jazz knew she liked him. She took a deep breath and walked toward him. She was going to have a date for Friday night, and hopefully Peter would prove a satisfactory boyfriend. She sighed, wishing her feelings for Tucker were more reasonable and that she didn't have to do this.

Tucker stood beside Jazz in a large department store as she sorted through a rack of shirts. He felt decidedly grumpy and Jazz was just a little too perky for his mood. Of course she was perky because she had a date Friday night.

He chastised himself for feeling jealous. It wasn't like she was breaking plans with him for some other guy. He always spent Friday nights with Danny and Sam, but well lately things between them had started to change. It was slight but they seemed more aware of each other's feelings, a little less clueless and a little less in denial, and he considered that maybe he should leave them alone. The thought of Jazz going out with anyone other than him, made his insides ache.

"How about this one?" Jazz asked as she held up a long sleeve teal sweater to Tucker's chest. He scrunched up his face and shook his head. Jazz gave him a look of exasperation.

Tucker followed her around the store as she loaded his arms up with clothes and then pushed him off toward the dressing room. He said nothing as he changed into the first outfit. Blue jeans and a long sleeved shirt that matched his hat. It had a yellow strip running around the chest, and he mused that it at least was sort him.

Jazz was perusing a rack of tee shirts, reading the slogans on the front with amusement when Tucker appeared beside her, looking a little uncomfortable and very uncertain.

"Oh Tuck," she said as she smiled and straightened the sleeves. Her heart thumped a few times. "Big improvement."

"Yeah?" he asked, he'd left his hat in the changing room, and he felt a little weird. But the look in Jazz's eyes as she looked him up and down, made him want to buy the jeans and the shirt and a million more just like it.

"Yeah," she answered wistfully, unable to disguise the appreciation in her voice. "You look different and good."

"Not so nerdy huh?" Tucker asked his stomach flipping as he held her gaze.

"Definitely not so nerdy," Jazz agreed. "You should get it. Wear it to school tomorrow." She swallowed hard. Tucker nodded his head then went to try on more clothes, though Jazz had fought for her composure and won. She remained irritatingly distant and superior during the rest of the trip, making Tucker feel more like he was a project than a friend.

"Now," Jazz said as she twined her arm around his as they walked through the mall, carrying a bag full of new clothes. "We need to do something about your glasses."

"I really like my glasses, Jazz," Tucker told her. "And you know I don't feel comfortable with contacts. I tried them once. Didn't work for me."

"When?" Jazz asked. "I've known you forever and I've never seen you without glasses! In fact I think you've been wearing the same frames since you were thirteen. It's time for a change Tuck." Tucker sighed and acknowledged that Jazz could probably sweet talk him into anything.

They were standing at a store looking at glasses when Jazz smiled. "Look at her," she said as she pointed to a girl standing alone by the fountain. "That's Ashley Beauregard. She's available. Really sweet. Think you'd be interested?"

Tucker looked toward the girl in question and frowned. He knew Ashley. He'd admired her long legs from afar ever since she started wearing mini-skirts in the seventh grade. She was pretty. He'd always liked her, though there were few girls he didn't like.

"She's not very bright," Tucker told Jazz as he searched for some kind of flaw. He didn't want to date Ashley. He didn't want anyone except the person he knew he could never have. Even so, it didn't make sense for him to date someone he didn't want.

"Okay," Jazz said. "That's fair. How about Tiffany?"

"Too sort," Tucker told her.

"Alberta," Jazz suggested, her mind going through the names of girls she knew weren't attached.

"Too Canadian," Tucker answered.

Jazz gave Tucker a strange look. "Alberta isn't Canadian!"

Tucker shrugged his shoulders as he looked at glasses frames and picked out a pair almost identical to the ones he was wearing. "Sounds Canadian to me."

"Not those," Jazz said as she plucked the frames from his hands. "What's wrong with Canadians."

"Nothing," Tucker answered. As he let Jazz slide a different pair onto her face. She swallowed hard as she looked at him.

"Well?" he asked.

"Perfect," Jazz said softly then pulled the frames off his face and buried them back on the shelf.

"Wait," Tucker complained as he reached for them. "If they're perfect, why put them back."

"Maybe you don't need to change your frames," Jazz told him weakly. The frames were the kind with almost no rims around them, they seemed almost not there and it changed him too much, made him look older, more sophisticated, too cute.

"I like these," Tucker said as he examined the frames, though he liked the look on Jazz's face when he'd tried them on. He wanted to see that almost hungry look again.

Jazz was about to object to the frames, telling him they were all wrong as he walked to the counter, but then she was saved by the bell by Tucker's cell phone. It was Danny he was having ghost problems and needed help. Jazz said nothing more as she ran with Tucker to the car, deciding that it was better not to try to talk Tucker into anymore changes. He was becoming far too attractive to her.