Stacie pulled into Jackies driveway the best she could, took a deep breath and walked up the door. Before she had time to react, Jackie was standing there, two beers in hand, both were open. She handed one to Stacie and pulled her inside. "Glad your here. Chip is in the back. He told me he talked to you today." they came to a stop in the living room. Jackie had her arm around her. Stacie took a quick drink of the beer."I am glad you two had a nice converstation. Everyone is hear, go hang out, dance, whatever the hell you want."
"Ok." she said. Jackie left her side and Stacie. She had to find someone to talk to or something to do so she found a seat beside Carol and began talking.
All she could do was smile and take a sip of beer."Yeah."
"I havn't seen you all evening, have you been hiding?"
"NO." she said annoyed."I've been talking."
"Well, do you want to stop talking and dance awhile?"he pushed his open hand towards her. She was going to say no, but remembered what Jessica told her. Just have fun, afterall, she had known Chip for years, what could it hurt?
She placed her small hand in his big hand. His fingers closed around her hand as he pulled her into a standing postition and out onto the floor where everyone was dancing. He placed both of his hands around her waist as Stacie placed her hands around his neck. They began to move in a slow steady motion. He pulled her closer, but Stacie pulled away.
"So, how has Jackie been getting along? She's so stubborn, she won't tell us what's going on anymore.She might tell us she's fine, when she's really miserble."
"She's been ok. I only see her during the week for our shift. I'm her partner. She's been really fun to work with."
"She said that you were assigned to her truck. She made some joke about wanting to boss you around but you wouldn't let her."
Stacie couldn't help but laugh. It was true, she tried to boss her around in a fun way, but Stacie wouldn't let her."Yeah. She does some crazy things to me sometimes. The otherday, she had me on the ground tickling me!"
Chip began laughing."That sounds like her. And it sounds like she is really getting along. She didn't want to move with us when we moved even though she was having a hard time here. People critized her for her lifestyle. They didn't like how she dressed. But she wasn't about to let them chase her out of town."
Stacie stopped dancing causing Chip to follow suit. She was blown away by what he just told her. "Wh-what are you talking about? Her lifestyle?" she said annoyed.
"I think I've said to much." he started to walk away from her, but Stacie wasn't about to let him. This was something about Jackie she never knew. If she was in so much pain, why the hell did she stay. "Chip." she said grabbing him briskly by the arm."What they hell are you talking about?" he stood there saying nothing. "Bryan," she said using his real name.
"Stacie, there are some things better left unsaid. I've really said to much."
She stood there in shock."Why won't you tell me?"
He leaned in close to her."You don't know?"
"Chip, there are a lot of things that I know, just by guessing. But, what are you talking about?"
"I think you already know. People around here are so close minded. She thought that I would desert her when she told me. But she is my sister, I could never do that to her. We begged her to move with us, make a fresh new start, but she wouldn't. She was so stubborn, she said she wasn't going to give in, wasn't going to let them win. She suffered for awhile, but the people that don't like her keep their distance and she keeps hers."
Stacie stood in shock once again. It was people like this that kept people like Stacie in the closet. We never had anything really bad happen to gay people here, but the ridicule and torments were enough. Jackie really had a lot of nerve coming out like that and then staying if things were really that rough.
"Come on, let's go talk." Chip grabbed her hand and Stacie grabbed another beer on the way out the door. The picnic table outside was the perfect spot to chat. No one was around. Stacie glanced up at the sky, and then over at Chip who lit up a cigarette.
"But, there are some people she won't tell. People I don't think she ever will, like you."
She sighed, "Why won't she tell me?"
"Several reasons. Some I am sworn to secrecy, but one I can tell. She likes you as her partner, she doesn't want to scare you away. I told her you werent like that. You'd hang out with her anyway. But she doesn't want to say anything."
"There is something else that you aren't telling me, isn't there?"
"Stace, I really can't say anything."
"Bryan, tell me."
"Well someone sort of likes someone and is afraid that if they find out about her lifestyle, and about that. She'll scare them away."
Stacie was beaming. Jackie really did like her. It was just the matter of letting Jackie know about her. She knew how to do it to. She just had to wait until her Monday morning shift rolled around.
Chip interrupted her thoughts, "Stace, I hate to stop your daydreaming, but it's chilly, lets go inside."
The night dragged on slowly. Stacie had beer after beer, chatted up everyone she could and danced with people she knew. She had only seen Jackie twice so far the whole entire night. She even began to wonder what the hell she was doing all the time. Before another thought had time to enter her mind, Jackie walked in, searched for a seat beside Stacie but found none, so she did the next best thing, she plopped down onto her lap.
"Hey Stace, having fun?"
"Yeah, of course."
"Sorry I havn't talked to you much, I've been around, doing things."
"I noticed."
A fast dance song was playing on the stereo. Stacie got into the beat, and so did Jackie. "Wanna dance?"
"What?"
"You heard me. Wanna dance?"
"But, we are two women."
Jackie cut her off, "That doesn't mean a damn thing, it's all in fun. Come on." Jackie stood up, pulling Stacie up to the floor. They began dancing rhytmically eachothers step seemed to be in step with the other. Another fast song came on and the two continued to dance. Stacie wasn't sure if the alcohol was begining to kick in, or if her passion for her was finally kicking in, but she didn't care what people were thinking anymore. Maybe she would come out completly instead of just dropping hints. Maybe it was time to be strong instead of hiding behind the 'closet door'. When she wasn't under the influence she would think about it. Maybe it was time to show her true self.
An hour later, Jackie, Chip and I were all sitting in the living room enjoying another drink. Everyone else had gone home, whether it be a friend who got them, or a cab. I felt bad for staying as long as I had because it was after 1:00, and I was sure they wanted to go to sleep.
"Guys, I really think I should go."
Jackie looked at me wide eyed, "Girl, you ain't going nowhere. I don't feel like scraping you off the road. Besides, I've had to many drinks to think straight, so I really don't think I could save you."
"I feel like I'm overstaying my welcome."
"Please," she began,"I don't care how long you stay here. I have an extra room upstairs and I was thinking that you could spend the night."
Stacie finished the last gulp of beer and almost choked,"Well, I guess I could do that. But, I don't want to stay any longer than you don't want me to."
"Nonsense."
"Stacie, I can call you a cab, that is, if you want me to." Chip said. She looked over at him, and there seemed to be this glint in his eye. He knew something. He knew Stacie better than she thought. He winked at her.
"No, that's ok. I'll just stay the night." Jackie seemed to be gleaming. She leaned back onto the couch. She couldn't believe him. Everything, every single thing he did to her today, every little thing he said to her lead him to what he needed to know. He was working with Jackie! She felt betrayed, yet somehow, she felt happy to know that he really wasn't coming onto her. Well maybe he was, but, not the way she thought he was. Next time she got a chance, she was going to have a very long talk with him.
"Yeah, I'm fine. I just feel funny going up these stairs."
"Well, that's what happens when you've had way to much to drink."she helped stand her up and walk her to the end of the hallway. She opened a door revealing a bedroom with a closet to one end, a few dressers and of course a bed in the middle of the room. Jackie walked in first.
"Well, this is it. Just get comfortable."
Stacie walked in, examining the room. She took another step and tripped once again. Jackie grabbed her holding her steady. Stacie looked up sheepishly."Thanks."
"Un huh." was all she could mumble. Her caramel eyes were staring deeply into Stacies baby blue eyes. They stayed that way for several seconds, but felt like an eternity to her. Jackie leaned forward, her lips meeting Stacies in a soft, tender kiss. Stacie was shocked, but returned the passion. It was quickly interrupted when Jackie pulled away walking to the door.
"If you need anything, I-I'll be in the next room."
"I'm fine, really."
"Do you want something to sleep in?" she asked moving foot to foot," I probably have something that you could wear..." her voice began to trail off.
"That's ok, I'll probably just sleep naked." Jackies eyes got wide, her hand went to her head. Stacie realized she had said the wrong thing at the wrong time. She giggled alittle.
"I-I, I'm going to bed. If you need me, I'm in the next room." she watched as Jackie hurried down the hallway, and listened as her door closed. She did the same to hers and laid on the bed. She was confused, excited, and lovesick all at the same time. First of all, she got what she had been waiting for for years. But just as quickly as it started, it ended. It was almost as if she had scared her away. But Stacie did nothing but return what she was sharing with her. She thought she felt the same, but maybe she was having second thoughts.
Stacie pushed those thoughts out of her mind and undressed. locking her door. She rolled down the sheets, climbing between them, admiring the coolness and the feeling of them against her bare skin. She listened to the clock on the wall ticking and fell asleep.
The first thing Stacie noticed when she woke in the morning was her headache. The second was the strange room she was in. She laid there awhile. adjusting, trying to fight off the headache. She remembered the party, and remembered having way more than she should have to drink. But, it was all in good fun. She couldn't stay mad at herself for having fun. Slowly, her mind drifted back to the kiss.
She thought about how it had happened. She actually thanked herself for being drunk. If she wouldn't have been drunk and tripping all over the place, it would have never happened. But she still couldn't figure out why she hurried off like she did.
She got out of bed, dressed and tried to make herself presentable some how. Her hair looked a mess. The only option she had was to use the rubberband that she found and pull her hair into a ponytail, or braid it, which would take awhile. But, a braid would look better. She used her hands and combed out all the tangles, seperated three sections of hair and braided it. Braiding her waist lenght locks didn't take as long as she thought it would. When she thought she looked fine, she opened the door and ventued downstairs.
She heard faint talking and could smell breakfast. She heard the hiss of the frying pan and knew it was still being cooked. She cautiously walked into the kitchen where Chip was sitting smoking his morning cigarette and drinking his morning coffee. He smiled when he saw her. "Good morning sunshine."
Jackie startled, turned around from the stove and smiled,"Good morning. Did you sleep alright?"
Stacie thought for sure that there should be some tension between them after last nights ordeal. But found none."Pretty good. The bed is really comfortable."
"Must've been better than the one I slept in. I hardly slept at all." Chip said smirking.
Jackie turned around and slapped him."Do you want a cup of coffee? Just help yourself. You can stay for breakfast if you want to."
Stacie grabbed a cup of coffee."Nah, I should get going after I drink this."
"Well don't say I didn't ask." she said going back to making breakfast.
Stacie looked down at the cup and the black liquid. She felt eyes on her and looked up to see Chip staring at her. Smiling.
Well, looks like he knows something. She mouthed,"What?" to him and he just shook his head, smirking. She knew he knew, and he knew she knew. She finished her coffee, avoiding his gaze. She stood up,"Well, I am going to get going. I got a few things to do. Jackie I'll see you on Monday."
"Alright bye girl. Try not to be late."
"Trust me, I will."
"Bye Stace." Chip said lighting up another cigarette.
When she was out the door and to her car, she finally breathed a sigh of relief. She felt weird knowing what happened between the two last night. Sure, Jackie seemed calm, but she didn't seem like herself. She could feel a lot of tension, even though there seemed to be none.The best thing she could do was go home, and carry out out her simple, but yet most effective plan.
About a hour later, Chip walked out of the kitchen clutching his beer. He was talking to some guy. When he finally spotted Stacie he smiled and slyly walked over to her. "Hey girl, glad you made it."
The crowd was slowly starting to thin down. The whole entire EMS Squad was gone, some of Jackies friends were gone. Well, the ones that didn't have way to much to drink. I had quite a few beers and wanted to leave, but I wanted to stay there. Chip was in the kitchen, calling cabs for the people that couldn't safely drive home. I was hoping he would call one for me, but when he walked into the living room, he said Jackie said not to call one. So it looks like I was on my own.
"C'mon Stace, I'll take you to your room." Jackie said ascending the stairway. Stacie followed behind her, her body feeling strange as she started up the stairs. When she hit the last step, she tripped grabbing onto Jackie to keep from falling completly."Well, you've had more to drink than I thought. You ok?"