runic-riptide

[runic-riptide]

if you care to find me (janxjackie)

The party was in full swing by the time Jackie arrived. She could see a few other people from the theatre department, but overall she didn’t recognize many of the people crowded into the sorority house. The Kappa Lambda Mu sorority was all fashion majors and a few of them had made the costumes for the theatre department’s performance of Wicked. That led into the current raging after party for the closing night of the show. 

Jackie thought it had gone really well, they’d gotten a standing ovation at the end and thankfully none of the sound equipment had fucked up during the show. As the main sound tech, that had been her biggest worry for weeks. But now it was over and she could enjoy the party.

“Jackieeeeee!” a heavily accented voice called over the music. Jackie was blindsided by a mess of giggling French girl, as Nicky plowed into her side, the Red solo cup in her hand splashing something that smelled overwhelmingly of coconut rum onto the carpet. “You made it!”

Jackie reached out to steady Nicky; how was she still standing in those heels? “Yeah, I couldn’t miss it!”

“Come, we’ll get you a drink! Crystal is mixing and everything tastes wonderful!” Nicky shouted over the din. She took Jackie by the wrist and began leading her through the throng of people towards the kitchen. Jackie waved at Gigi and Heidi, both girls camped out by the snack table that was set up in the living room as she was pulled.

The kitchen had less people but not by much. There was a small cluster of people crowded around the makeshift bar on the island and Crystal was standing on the backside shaking a tumblr full of what looked like UV Blue and edible glitter.

“Miss Methyd! We have a theatre nerd in need of a drink! S’il vous plait!” Nicky hollered. Crystal nodded and dumped the blue mixture into another red Solo cup, handing this one off to an already tipsy looking Brita.

Crystal grinned at Jackie, her makeup already smudged a bit, “What can I getcha, Miss Cox?”

“Um, something fruity? With not too much alcohol?” Jackie replied. She could handle her liquor, but preferred staying sober in large groups. “Thanks!”

“Coming right up!” Crystal smiled and began pouring lemon vodka and Sprite into a fresh tumbler. She shook it lightly and poured the mix into a cup before adding a dash of Apple Pucker and a lime wedge. “Here you go! It’s a Sour Clown! A Crystal Methyd original.”

Jackie thanked her again and took a small sip. It didn’t have much of an alcohol taste and she was grateful.

“Come on, Miss Cox! Let’s go find your people!” Nicky said as she finished pouring more coconut rum into her cup. She took the wrist not supporting a cup and Jackie was pulled back into the main party.

Gigi and Heidi were still by the snacks, Brita was attempting to twerk on the makeshift dance floor, and Aiden and Jaida were standing nearby, badly hiding matching grins behind their own cups. Jackie scanned the crowded room and had to stifle a brief flash of disappointment, as the girl she was looking for didn’t seem to be in the throng of bodies.

Nicky pulled her down onto the cushy couch pushed against the far wall and promptly stretched out, kicking off her heels and laying stockinged feet in Jackie’s lap. Jackie grinned at the younger girl, only Nicky could be so comfortable with someone she’d barely known two months.

“So, tell me Miss Cox, Miss Cox if you’re nasty, tell me...what is up with you and the cheerleader.” Nicky grinned, taking a large gulp of her drink.

Jackie could feel heat creep up her neck and hoped the lights were dim enough to hide the blush. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” she mumbled into her cup.

“Ne ment jamais a une fille francaise, mon petite. It’s unbecoming.” 

“Nicky, you know I don’t speak French.” Jackie groaned. Apparently, they really were having this conversation.

“Never lie to a French girl. We can smell bullshit from a kilometer away.” Nicky translated, grinning smugly.

“There’s nothing between me and-and Jan. Nothing.” Jackie argued, plucking at the runs in Nicky’s tights.

“Please, Jackie, I have known you for what? Two months? Two and a half? It is painfully obvious that you like the cheerleader.” Nicky retorted, taking another sip. “Remember? You slipped and cut the music during the first dress rehearsal when she came out as Elphaba? Everyone turned to look and you turned as red as the skirt you were wearing that day.”

“You remember what skirt I was wearing?” Jackie giggled.

“Of course! Dear Gigi made it for you, said your others were…? Ah, de matrone? Motherly? Matronly!” Nicky yelled, finally finding the right word.

“My other skirts are not matronly! Gigi just likes short skirts.” Jackie argued, slightly offended.

“Yes, they are, dear. Every other skirt you own looks like you got them at a librarian’s estate sale.” Gigi chimed in, taking the seat next to Jackie and tickling the bottom of Nicky’s foot. Nicky shrieked and kicked, nearly upending Jackie’s drink all over her.

“Arrete ca! Devil child! The audacity of you!” Nicky cried, scrambling to sit up straight. 

“So what’s the tea? What’s the dish?” Gigi said, ignoring Nicky’s remarks.

“Jackie is refusing to acknowledge that something’s up with her and the cheerleader. You know, the one. Elphaba?” Nicky replied, outrage at Gigi forgotten in favor of gossip.

“Ahhhh, yes. Jan, Miss Jan Sport. Theatre major extraordinaire and cheerleader 24/7.” Gigi grinned at Jackie. “There is definitely something up.”

“There is nothing! I swear!” Jackie complained. She grabbed Nicky’s cup from her. “I am not nearly drunk enough to be talking about this.”

Jackie took a large gulp and tried not to cough as the rum burned down her throat. She really did not want to talk about this. She’d done four productions with Jan and every time Jan was the only one she’d noticed during the shows. She was… captivating. Her vocals were astounding, nearly the entire department was jealous of her ability to belt high notes like they were nothing. And during the dry runs, she was beautiful. Her long blonde hair falling over her shoulders, brown eyes lit up with love for her craft. Her passion was enthralling and Jackie fell a little bit more in love with her every performance. Not that she’d ever tell Jan any of this, being a behind the scenes kind of girl. The only interactions they’d had were when Jackie needed to set up her mic. But the brilliant smile she got from Jan was worth the limited moments she got to spend with the other girl.

“That’s a lie and you know it, Jackie.” Gigi snorted. “You look at her like she hung the moon and it’s obvious to everyone but Jan, apparently.” 

“Good, I’d prefer if it stayed that way. She barely knows I exist anyway. I’m just a sound tech, as long as she sounds good, that’s all she needs to know about me.” Jackie replied.

“And you’re just as oblivious, dear.” Nicki continued as if Jackie hadn’t spoken. “We all see the way she looks at you as well.”

“Looks at me? Jan doesn’t look at me. I think you’ve spent one too many nights staring too hard at your sewing machine, Nicky. You must be going blind.”

“Oh, she looks at you alright.” Gigi smirked. “In fact, she’s looking at you right now.”

Jackie started and nearly dropped her stolen drink. It took a good amount of her willpower not to start looking around for the other girl. “Ha ha, Gigi, very funny.”

“Oh, it is no joke, mon petite. Jan’s by the entryway to the kitchen, staring at you like she’d rather have something other than liquor on her lips.” Nicky grinned smugly.

Jackie swiftly cast her eyes to the kitchen, trying not to move her head too much. Gigi and Nicky were right. Jan was standing there, staring directly at her. She looked gorgeous. No remnants of the green makeup remained and her blonde hair was pulled into a loose bun, tendrils curling over shoulders bared by a sleeveless black dress. Jackie’s cheeks burned as Jan smiled, noticing Jackie staring back. Jackie swiftly lowered her gaze, taking another large drink of rum.

“Well? Go over there! She obviously wants you to!” Gigi encouraged.

Jackie shook her head. “She could be looking at you or at Nicky. I’m telling you, there’s nothing about me to stare at.”

“Un autre mensonge, mon petite. There is plenty about you to stare at. If you weren’t so devoted to your international studies, I’d have snatched you to model for me already. Those legs, that neck, the dignity with which you hold yourself. I’d have the best model in Kappa Lambda Mu, if you wore my clothes.” Nicky countered, not sounding nearly as drunk as she looked.

“I agree.” Gigi continued. “You have a lovely face and your body would look wonderful draped in silks.”

“Now who’s lying, ladies?” Jackie replied, nervously. 

“You. I thought that was what we were talking about, non?” Nicky asked Gigi.

Jackie went to take another drink and found her cup empty. She was already buzzed, the alcohol thrumming pleasantly under her skin. But she wouldn’t risk having to pass Jan to get back to the kitchen for another. She stood and sat the empty cup on the coffee table. “I’m going to get some air.”

“Air?” Gigi teased. “Looks like you’re thirsty to me, Miss Cox.”

Jackie shook her head and made for the front door. More people had arrived and she was bumped several times on her way outside. Finally, she slipped through the door and shut it behind her, leaning back against it and sucking in a large breath of cool spring air. She moved to sit in one of the several papasan chairs dotting the porch and removed the light hoodie she’d been wearing. The breeze felt wonderful on her heated neck and Jackie closed her eyes, inhaling. She sat for a few minutes like that, letting the breeze wash over her as the dull thud of bass thudded against the inner walls of the house. When she opened her eyes, she noticed that the fairy lights strung up along the porch had come on and smiled at the whimsical twinkling. She could leave right now, she’d Ubered here, so she could call another. She could put tonight and Nicky and Gigi’s words behind her, not having to worry about seeing Jan again until the fall production. But her legs felt tingly and the breeze was so nice. She could spare a few more moments before pulling out her phone. Her eyes slipped shut again, just as she heard the music quickly rise and fall in volume and the front door shut.

Jackie opened her eyes and was caught in the stare of another pair of brown eyes gazing back at her. Her throat closed and the breeze suddenly felt frigid on her exposed skin. Jan was standing there, staring back at her, a small smile on her face.

“Hey,” she said, just loudly enough to be heard over the faint music. “I thought you’d left.”

“No,” Jackie croaked. She swallowed and tried again. “No, just needed some air.”

Jan nodded and gestured at the chair next to her. “Mind if I sit? It’s boiling in there.”

“Sure,” Jackie replied. “It is pretty packed.” She hoped her voice didn’t sound as nervous as she felt.

“It was nice of the Kappas to throw this for us. We worked hard on the show.” Jan commented as she sat down. The breeze carried the scent of her perfume to Jackie and she could smell lavender and cedar.

“You guys did all the work. Long nights rehearsing and all. And performing for all those people.” Jackie shrugged, shaking her head to rid her nose of the smell.

“Don’t underestimate yourself. We didn’t have hardly any mishaps with the sound this show and none at all on opening or closing night. I don’t know much about the sound aspect, but that couldn’t have been easy.” Jan smiled.

Jackie laughed, “It’s just a bunch of button pressing, really. Not hard at all.”

Jan shrugged, “You’d know better than I do, but I still think you did an amazing job. You always make sure everything works as best as you can.”

Jackie blinked, stunned. “There are plenty of techs who do what I do.”

“Yeah, but none of them ever get my mic set up right. You get it right every time. From day one. When we did Rent?”

“You remember that?”

“Of course. I was so convinced I’d spend the entire run through majorly uncomfortable because the mic set up was wrong. I was pleasantly surprised when everything felt fine. I asked the production techs about you and requested you ever since.” Jan smiled, curling her long legs up into the chair.

“Wow, uh, thank you? Glad I could help?” Jackie laughed. Her blush was back in full force and she wished the fairy lights were red or pink so she could blame it on them. “You were amazing in Rent, by the way. Your Maureen was awesome. I’d hoped you would keep performing.”

Jan’s eyes lit up, “Thank you. I love theatre and singing, I couldn’t see myself doing anything else.”

Jackie couldn’t think of anything else to say and the conversation tapered off. Jan was still looking at her though, fairy lights reflecting in her brown eyes. Nervous at the scrutiny, Jackie dipped her head, “What? Do I have something on my face?”

Gentle hands moved her head back up and tilted her face towards Jan. The younger girl leaned forward and lightly pressed her lips to Jackie’s. They were only there for a second, but Jackie’s breath hitched at the light pressure. “Yeah, you did. Me.”

Jackie swallowed and reflexively swiped her tongue along her bottom lip. She could taste honey and hoped it was from Jan’s lip chap. “Uh. What. What was that for?”

Now Jan sported a blush and finally dropped her gaze. “I thought- It was stupid, I just thought that maybe you, uh, liked me? But I was wrong, I’m so sorry, I’m not usually so forward-”

Jackie cut her off by kissing her again. She felt Jan gasp, and her eyes slipped close as Jan’s lips began moving against her own. Jan did taste like honey and Jackie thought it was the sweetest thing she’d tasted all night. The kiss felt like it lasted forever and eventually Jackie was forced to pull away, inhaling large gulps of the cool night air. She could feel that her face was flushed and saw a matching one across Jan’s.

“You weren’t. Wrong that is. I’ve, uh, liked you since Rent. I just thought that you wouldn't notice me, me being behind the scenes and all.” 

“I’m glad I wasn’t wrong.” Jan replied, grinning wide. “Would you want to get coffee tomorrow? With me?”

Jackie grinned to match, “Yes. Yes, it’s a date?”

“Yeah, a date.” Jan moved closer to Jackie. “But I’d really like to keep kissing you now. You taste like coconut rum and it’s my favorite.”

Jackie leaned forward again and pressed her lips to Jan’s once more. It looked like she’d have to thank Nicky for the stolen drink tomorrow. After her date.