Despite being newly embraced, Jett still wanted to keep his gig at Nightborn, so he asked Vince to help him hunt, so that he wouldn’t be hungry around a bunch of mortals. Once that was taken care of, he left for the club.
Lucas was planning on being at Nightborn that night, since he wanted to see Jett play. He convinced his friends to come with him; not that they complained about going to the hottest club in town.
Once at the club, Jett met with his band to see if they’d been practicing what he wanted to play, and make some minor changes. The lights reflected off his paler skin a bit, and the noise of the crowd was a touch overwhelming almost. Still, he was enjoying every minute of it, riding the high of heightened senses. When the time came for his set, he began to play, and it was a strong performance that many of the patrons enjoyed, cheering when a favorite came on, or when he finished a song.
Jett found Lucas in the crowd, and focused on him, singing to him, though the crowd would be unable to tell whom he was looking at. When the set was over, he set the mic back into its stand and put the guitar in its, then headed offstage and over to the bar to meet up with Lucas. Lucas and his friends made their way over to meet him, and Jett was greeted with an enthusiastic hug, which was rewarded with a lengthy kiss.
“You were great!” Lucas said, his friends chiming in with similar opinions. Jett smiled.
“Thanks. You know, if there’s anything you ever want me to try and play, you can have Lucas let me know. I’ll see if it can fit in with my set next time I play.”
Lucas’ friends thanked Jett for this opportunity, and the five of them grabbed one of the booths and sat down to just hang out. Unbeknownst to Jett, Jacqueline had ventured into the club that night, and bore witness to his set. Impressed, she had been making her way over to him to congratulate him, when she saw him kiss Lucas. Hey now she thought you’re mine, not his!
Narrowing her eyes slightly, she let the jealousy and possessiveness flood her for a few minutes as she headed to the bar and took a seat. She gave the bartender a drink order, and mulled over these feelings as she waited. Why am I so jealous? she pondered. I have no qualms with him being with Brandon, so why does it bother me so that he’s with this unknown boy? Frowning, she took her drink when it came.
“Bad night?” the bartender asked.
“Hmmm?” she looked up at the blonde man on the other side of the bar.
“You look less than happy, so I assume it’s been a bad night. Date gone bad?”
“No, nothing like that.”
“I’m available to listen, if you need an ear.” she looked around. The bar was mostly empty, since the majority of the people were now on the dance floor. Two other bartenders were staffed, and they were keeping up with the other orders.
“I suppose a good ear is needed.” she said with a slight smile, taking a sip of the drink he’d brought her. She swished the liquid around in her mouth for a bit before swallowing it, then began to speak her peace.
“See that man over there?” she said, pointing to Jett.
“You mean Jett?” she nodded. “What about him?”
“I know him. He and I were lovers once.” the bartender looked surprised at this information.
“No offense, but I thought he was strictly gay.” she shrugged.
“I don’t know about all that, but what I say is true.”
“Alright then, go on.” he said, wiping down the bar as soon as someone nearby left.
“I saw him kissing that guy next to him and I just….”
“Jealous?”
“Yeah, it seems so. Maybe a little possessive too.”
“I don’t know his business with that guy, but I do know he’s got a boyfriend, technically.”
“I know. I met him the other night; he and I get along quite well, and I don’t mind that Jett is with him.”
“Maybe you’re jealous because you don’t know this guy yet?”
“Maybe. To be honest, Jett and I have been apart a long time, through circumstances that were not our fault. We didn’t know how to find one another again or if one another were still alive. I guess I’m hoping I can still have a relationship with him. I want that so badly, I don’t mind sharing.”
“But?”
“But I don’t know this kid. Maybe he means Jett harm, I don’t know.”
“You could always go over there and find out.” she looked startled at the idea of a confrontation in such a crowded place. The bartender tapped the glass.
“It’s not called liquid courage for nothing. I suggest you finish this drink and go over there. It’s the only one that’ll be in your system, as far as I know, so you shouldn’t be drunk and say or do something regrettable.”
“You really think I should?” he nodded. “Thank you..err…umm…what is your name? I don’t think we did introductions.”
“Jim.” he said, offering her a hand. She took the hand, giving it a brief shake and smiled at him.
“Thank you Jim. I’m Jacqueline.”
“Pleasure to meet you. Now, finish up and go confront him. You might surprise yourself with the results.” he turned and went back to tending bar, and she resumed downing her drink. Once she had emptied the glass, she smoothed out her jeans and straightened her top, and headed over to the booth Jett was in.
They were laughing about something or another when she approached. She cleared her throat and then spoke. “You did wonderfully, Jett. You’re very talented.”
At the sound of her voice directed at them, they all looked over. “Jacqueline.” Jett said, moving his arm from around Lucas. “I’m glad you enjoyed the performance. Have a seat?” he said, gesturing to the empty spot next to him.
“Don’t mind if I do.” she responded, sliding into the booth and moving up close to Jett.
“Jacqueline, this is Lucas, Adrienne, Kevin, and Jen.” he said, indicating each person as he spoke. They all nodded hello, but it was clear they were all wondering who this mystery woman was. Jacqueline put her arm through Jett’s and leaned up to give him a peck on the cheek. Lucas looked to Jett. “Who’s this?”
“This is Jacqueline. She’s – ”
“I’m his lover.” she interrupted, smiling at him. Jett sighed a little, but didn’t correct her. Lucas looked hurt. Jacqueline pointed to him. “I saw the two of you kissing. Are you involved somehow?”
“He’s my boyfriend; and yes, Brandon knows about him. No, Brandon doesn’t mind.” he turned to look at Lucas, who looked sincerely flattered about having been referred to as Jett’s boyfriend, something that hadn’t happened before. The others in the group had a range of emotions, from annoyed to angry.
“Jett.” Jacqueline said looking up at him. “Did you want to head back to my place? Now that I’ve got it in order, I’d like to show it to you.”
“I can do that – if Lucas doesn’t mind?” Lucas shook his head.
“Go ahead. We can meet up later.”
“Alright.” he leaned over to give Lucas a kiss. Jacqueline slid out of the booth, and Jett followed suit. He waved goodbye to the group of four and left the club with Jacqueline.
“What was that all about?” he said once they got outside.
“I’m sorry…I guess I got a bit jealous. I thought maybe there wouldn’t be room for me in your life if you had both Brandon and that boy.” she stopped and looked at him. “Are you angry?”
“No. I don’t think I could ever be truly angry with you.” he said, tilting her head upwards to look at him. “You’ve been such an important part of my life, and now that you’re back in it, I have no intention of losing you again. You’ll stay a part of my life – whatever it takes.”
“Oh Jett…you’re a sweetheart, you know that?” she leaned up to kiss him. They were mid-kiss when a shout sounded behind them.
“Hey! You!” Looking up, they noticed Kevin storming over, fury in his eyes. Once he got up to them, he decked Jett in the face.
“What was that for?” he growled.
“Fuck you, man. How dare you do this to Lucas!”
“Do what? I’ve been honest with him from the get-go.”
“Not about her, apparently.”
“If he has a problem, he can speak to me. You don’t speak for him.” Kevin punched Jett again, and Jacquline could see he was starting to get pissed off.
“Lucas is my bro, and I’ll protect him from the likes of scum like you. If you cared about him at all, you wouldn’t lead him on like you have been. You’d dump this floozy and that guy you must not care about since you picked up Lucas!”
Kevin readied another punch. Jett moved Jacqueline out of the way, and caught Kevin’s arm before he could get the full force of his punch out.
“Let me go, asshole!”
“So you can hit me again? I don’t think so.”
“You deserve it!”
Jett twisted Kevin’s arm and spun it around, jerking it up behind his back, and kept one hand on the opposite shoulder, forcing him away from his own body.
“Let him go!” came a chorus of other voices. Adrienne, Lucas and Jen were running towards them.
“What are you doing to him?” Jen cried. Jett let him go. Kevin promptly spun around and attacked Jett again.
“Kevin, stop!” Lucas called out, trying to hold Kevin back. Jett caught Kevin’s fist and held it. He looked at Lucas.
“Call me later, if you want. Right now I need to get out of here – I don’t want to hurt your friend.” he pushed Kevin away and took Jacquline’s arm, turned around, and headed for the parking lot so they could get their vehicles and leave.
“Kevin, you ass!” Lucas said. “I’m fine with whatever arrangement Jett wants, as long as he spends time with and cares about me; which he does.”
“I just don’t think you deserve that trash. You deserve someone who focuses on you, not twelve other people or whatever.”
“Just drop it, ok? I’m fine with it. Confused a little, but fine with it. Come on, let’s go get something to eat and calm you down, okay?”
“Fine.” he grumbled, and got up. The group walked to the parking lot. Lucas noted that Jett’s car was already gone as they headed for Adrienne’s SUV. Lucas sighed inwardly. He would have to call Jett later to make sure Kevin didn’t hurt him. If he hurt Jett, our friendship might be in some trouble he thought.