{"id":782,"date":"2012-02-27T00:01:12","date_gmt":"2012-02-27T06:01:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jackofharts.com\/?p=782"},"modified":"2013-02-25T00:19:07","modified_gmt":"2013-02-25T06:19:07","slug":"the-pav","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/?p=782","title":{"rendered":"The Pav"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hello, my name is Jack.\u00a0 From the day mankind first banged a couple sticks together to form a rhythm, music has been one of the most important parts of living for us.\u00a0 It mourns with us when we\u2019re sad, it makes us laugh when we\u2019re happy, and it helps us love when we\u2019ve met the man or woman of our dreams.\u00a0 Music helps make life worth living, and without it the worlds would be a much less interesting to live on.\u00a0 Least that\u2019s my<\/em> point of view.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Pav<\/h1>\n

 <\/p>\n

Jack leaned against the side of the sports car, one hand in his pocket, the other thumb tucked in his belt, under the bright light of twin suns.\u00a0 His Marine Dress Whites gleamed, a pair of sunglasses protected his eyes, and he made certain his body looked as relaxed as possible.\u00a0 It would never do to let her think he was nervous after all.<\/p>\n

The front door of McEntyre House opened and Samantha walked out, her red hair so bright under the suns that it looked afire.\u00a0 A loose black skirt and a white blouse fluttered in the breeze, an alternating blue scarf that matched the one she\u2019s given him adding color to the ensemble.\u00a0 A white cowboy hat topped her head and he breathed in and out several times before even considering an attempt to say a word.<\/p>\n

She stepped down the stairs with a flirtatious gate and he commanded his heart to stop racing.\u00a0 As usual, it ignored him.\u00a0 She stopped in front of him and held her hands behind her back, promoting some of her more impressive features.\u00a0 \u201cSo what\u2019s the verdict?\u201d she asked with an impish smile that set off her freckles.<\/p>\n

Jack made a show of flopping his mouth open and close, giving her the best compliment he could think of.\u00a0 Amazed silence.<\/p>\n

She accepted the compliment with a wry smile and brought a hand forward to pat his arm.\u00a0 \u201cMission accomplished,\u201d she whispered.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Ma\u2019am,\u201d he answered with a waggle of his eyebrows and held an arm out for her.<\/p>\n

She took it and he pushed himself away from the car with the other.\u00a0 He opened the passenger door and helped her into the car with the most helpful hands he could arrange.\u00a0 He scanned her, making a show of making certain all of her clothing was in the car before shutting the door.\u00a0 She waved a finger back and forth at him as he walked around the car, almost as if she didn\u2019t believe he\u2019d just been helping.\u00a0 He answered with an innocent look, opened the driver\u2019s door, and slid in next to her.<\/p>\n

He spread his arms out wide and smiled.\u00a0 \u201cYour carriage<\/em>, my lady, awaits your command,\u201d he said with a sigh as the car lifted up and drove down the driveway.\u00a0 It was<\/em> her turn to plan the evening after all.<\/p>\n

Samantha shook her head in amusement.\u00a0 \u201cBetty, could you drive us to the Pav, please?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course, Samantha.\u00a0 The Pave,\u201d Betty answered from the speakers and pulled out of McEntyre House\u2019s gate.\u00a0 Once on the street, the car pulled up and accelerated into the air.<\/p>\n

Jack furrowed his brow in thought and chewed his lower lip at the unfamiliar term.\u00a0 \u201cWhat\u2019s the Pav?\u201d<\/p>\n

Samantha laid a hand on his arm.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s the kind of place you\u2019d like.\u00a0 It\u2019s a bar at the college where people play music.\u00a0 All kinds of music, whenever and whoever wants to play.\u201d\u00a0 She patted his arm.\u00a0 \u201cYou should know what\u2019s that like.<\/p>\n

A beach and a bonfire came to Jack\u2019s mind.\u00a0 His fingers strummed invisible guitar strings for a moment and he chuckled.\u00a0 \u201cYeah, I think I do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Samantha gave him a knowing nod.\u00a0 \u201cLots of students play there.\u00a0 Big bands too, on special occasions.\u00a0 Sometimes on no<\/em> occasion without warning.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack smiled in understanding.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s one of those hole in the walls where they like to test new songs sometimes huh?\u201d<\/p>\n

Samantha patted his arm again and looked up at him with a sly smile.\u00a0 \u201cYou should play.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack chuckled and shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll pass.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her eyes took on a concerned look.\u00a0 \u201cWhy?\u00a0 You\u2019re good.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack shrugged.\u00a0 \u201cI play for friends.\u00a0 Not strangers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Samantha leaned against him and lifted her hat to look up at him through her bangs.\u00a0 \u201cYou could play for me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack chuckled and patted her arm.\u00a0 \u201cI already do.\u00a0 There\u2019s an advantage to dating a girl who has musical instruments strewn throughout the house.\u201d<\/p>\n

Samantha gasped in exaggerated horror.\u00a0 \u201cStrewn<\/em> you say?\u00a0 Strewn<\/em>!\u00a0 Every instrument is placed in the perfect spot!\u00a0 How dare<\/em> you suggest it is haphazard in any<\/em> way!\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack smiled.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ve met your father.\u201d<\/p>\n

Samantha blinked.\u00a0 \u201cOh.\u00a0 Right.\u201d\u00a0 She patted his arm in approval.\u00a0 \u201cGood save.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI do try,\u201d he said as the car nosed down towards the street in front of a parking lot.\u00a0 Jack scanned their surroundings and the slowed to hover, pulled into the parking lot, and found a spot between two luxury cars that looked like they were at least a hundred years old.\u00a0 \u201cWow,\u201d Jack whispered as he opened the door carefully.\u00a0 He needn\u2019t have bothered.\u00a0 The door stopped on its own well short of scratching the other car.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, many of the rich families send people to Churchill,\u201d Samantha said.<\/p>\n

Jack nodded and slid out of the car.\u00a0 He moved around the car quickly and opened the door for Samantha.\u00a0 Even though she really didn\u2019t need it, she accepted his help in getting out with a pat on the arm and slipped her arm through his when he crooked it out for her.<\/p>\n

They made their way out of the parking lot and onto the college grounds arm in arm, and Jack felt an undeniable amount of pride as she guided him through the crowd of students.\u00a0 He scanned them all, wondering why all the men wore black suits of varying cuts and styles.\u00a0 He focused carefully and saw that while many looked store bought, some were tailored to match their owners to the stitch.\u00a0 He scanned the ladies as well who wore different black skirts or dresses and white blouses where necessary, depending on the vagaries of whatever style it was they liked to wear.\u00a0 Almost all of them were tailored expertly.<\/p>\n

Jack nodded in approval of the care somebody took to clothe their kids.\u00a0 Only the alternating blue school scarves, like the one hanging over his Dress White uniform, broke the black and white dress.\u00a0 He would stand out like an albino penguin on parade of course.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t have school uniforms here,\u201d Sam said with a mischievous smile.\u00a0 \u201cBut we do<\/em> have a dress code.\u00a0 Very<\/em> relaxed, I assure you,\u201d she finished with a wink.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis<\/em> is relaxed?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMmmhmm,\u201d she answered with a nod.\u00a0 \u201cCompared to primary and secondary school, this is really<\/em> relaxed.\u00a0 We had uniforms.\u201d<\/p>\n

One of Jack\u2019 eyebrows raised in interest.\u00a0 \u201cOooh, I have got<\/em> to see that<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Samantha slapped his arm and chided him with a waving finger.<\/p>\n

Jack laughed.\u00a0 \u201cSo why the uniforms and the\u2026spook suits?\u201d he asked with a wave of his free arm towards the other students.<\/p>\n

Samantha hugged his arm.\u00a0 \u201cJack, if you want to be taken seriously, dress well.\u00a0 Don\u2019t people treat you differently in your uniform than they did before?\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack shrugged.\u00a0 \u201cWell, people respect the military.\u00a0 I wasn\u2019t military before.\u201d<\/p>\n

Samantha smiled.\u00a0 \u201cAnd people respect a man in a suit.\u00a0 It\u2019s a uniform in every way that this<\/em> is,\u201d she said and patted his Dress Whites.\u00a0 \u201cDress well and people will think well of you.\u201d\u00a0 She waved her free arm towards the other students.\u00a0 \u201cEvery single one of these people are doing something with their lives, Jack.\u00a0 They\u2019re studying to be scientists and business owners and so many other things.\u00a0 They\u2019re planning to make things that will make the worlds better<\/em>!\u201d she finished with an upraised arm.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy?\u201d he asked.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019ve got beautiful<\/em> worlds.\u00a0 Why can\u2019t we just enjoy<\/em> our lives?\u201d<\/p>\n

Samantha shook her head.\u00a0 \u201cAnd wait for someone like the Shang to come take them away?\u00a0 Jack, without people like these<\/em>, studying and figuring out how to build the new technologies, we already would have fallen<\/em>.\u201d\u00a0 She sighed and he saw she didn\u2019t like what she was about to say.\u00a0 \u201cIf everybody who went to college majored in parties and girls, we\u2019d be slaves<\/em> right now.\u00a0 It\u2019s because of people who take life seriously<\/em> that we can defend<\/em> ourselves.\u00a0 Jack, I\u2019m proud<\/em> that you volunteered to fight them.\u00a0 But what would you be doing right now if they hadn\u2019t come?\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack smiled back at her and pulled in a deep breath.\u00a0 People had talked like that to him all his life, and he\u2019d long since stopped letting it bother him.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019d be living a life I love<\/em>, Sam.\u00a0 What more can any of us ask than that?\u201d<\/p>\n

Samantha shook her head.\u00a0 \u201cYou always talk about that life as if it is the best you\u2019ve ever had.\u201d\u00a0 She bit her lip for a bit and shook her head again.\u00a0 \u201cBut what about me<\/em>?\u00a0 What about Betty and Jasmine?\u00a0 Charles and Jay and all the other guys and girls you talk about?\u00a0 Would you really<\/em> rather give all of us up and go back to that<\/em>?\u201d she asked, her voice breaking at the end.<\/p>\n

Jack froze in place, nearly pulling her off her feet.\u00a0 He pulled in a deep breath, let it out, and just stared at her for several seconds as the emotions raged through him.\u00a0 He took his sunglasses off and slipped them into a pocket of his uniform so she could see his eyes clearly and finally nodded.\u00a0 \u201cI honestly don\u2019t know,\u201d he answered and saw pain in her eyes.\u00a0 \u201cBut every morning I wake up I\u2019m giving all of this another try.\u201d<\/p>\n

Samantha blinked in confusion.\u00a0 \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack shook his head to clear it and ran his free hand through the hair on the side of his head.\u00a0 \u201cSam, every night I\u2019m back there when I sleep.\u00a0 I dream of the party and everybody I\u2019ve ever loved back in that place every night.\u00a0 And I know that if I chose to I could stay with them forever.\u201d\u00a0 Her eyes went wide in shock and he nodded.\u00a0 \u201cEvery morning I choose to wake up and leave it behind.\u201d\u00a0 Jack cleared his throat.\u00a0 \u201cSometimes\u2026Sometimes I really<\/em> wish I could stay.\u201d<\/p>\n

Samantha\u2019s lips trembled and he saw fear in her eyes.\u00a0 \u201cThen why don\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack sighed.\u00a0 \u201cBecause the people I knew back then aren\u2019t the only people I dream about.\u201d\u00a0 He patted her arm.\u00a0 \u201cI dream about everybody<\/em> I love.\u201d\u00a0 He smiled and let out a long breath.\u00a0 \u201cAnd the days I most want to stay, those are the days the people I love now<\/em> talk me into giving this life another try.\u201d\u00a0 He shrugged one more time.\u00a0 \u201cI hope that\u2019s a good enough answer.\u201d<\/p>\n

Samantha pulled her arm out of his and brought both hands up to cradle either side of face.\u00a0 She stared him in the eyes and he saw that it was.\u00a0 \u201cJack,\u201d she began and trailed off.\u00a0 She shook her head and he smiled.\u00a0 She cleared her throat.\u00a0 \u201cJack, you\u2019re going to take me home tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack\u2019s smile broadened.\u00a0 \u201cYes, Ma\u2019am.\u201d<\/p>\n

Samantha continued to hold his face in her hands and held his gaze.\u00a0 \u201cAnd tomorrow morning, you will<\/em> have a reason to wake up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack\u2019s smile relaxed and he nodded in her hands.\u00a0 \u201cYes, Ma\u2019am<\/em>,\u201d he whispered with a sigh.<\/p>\n

She gave him one swift nod, ran her hands down his scarf, and turned to slip her arm back in his with a firm motion.\u00a0 \u201cNow we should go in before they fill up,\u201d she said in a firm voice and waved her free hand at the building in front of them.<\/p>\n

Jack looked up to see the name \u201cThe Pav\u201d written in large letters above the twin doors that were held wide open enough that two individuals arm in arm could walk through with ease.\u00a0 He cleared his throat, breathed in, breathed out, and reminded himself to enjoy the moment.\u00a0 Today had been a good day to wake up.<\/p>\n

They walked into the bar to the music of a band on the stage and Jack scanned to find all of the exits as usual when entering an unfamiliar building.\u00a0 One never knew when an exit might come in handy after all.\u00a0 A few people sat at the bar, nursing drinks held in their hands, and several more danced on the cleared dance floor.\u00a0 A few of the dancers were couples, though most were just groups of ladies having fun.<\/p>\n

Jack and Samantha walked up to the bar and ordered their drinks.\u00a0 Jack chose something local, willing to try anything once.<\/p>\n

\u201cHold your drink at all times,\u201d Samantha warned as the bartender slipped it to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy?\u201d Jack asked as he did exactly as told and picked it up.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe penny here,\u201d Samantha said with a wink.<\/p>\n

Jack looked around in confusion.\u00a0 \u201cWhat\u2019s that?\u201d<\/p>\n

Samantha sighed.\u00a0 \u201cIf you set your drink down, someone might drop a penny in and then you\u2019ll have to save the queen from drowning by drinking the whole glass.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack blinked and looked around for any coins on the bar.\u00a0 He found one and focused on it, seeing the Queen\u2019s face on it.\u00a0 \u201cOh.\u00a0 Right.\u00a0 Remind me to get water after this.\u201d<\/p>\n

Samantha laughed.\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s cheating.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack chuckled.\u00a0 \u201cIf you ain\u2019t cheating, you ain\u2019t winning.\u201d<\/p>\n

Samantha patted his chest. \u00a0\u201cYou really don\u2019t believe in following the rules, do you?\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack shook his head firmly.\u00a0 \u201cNothing good\u2019s ever come out of following them for me.\u00a0 But I\u2019ve always profited from breaking them.\u00a0 Assuming no one\u2019s hurt of course.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course,\u201d she said and reached for the drink the bartender slid her way.<\/p>\n

Jack looked away to scan the interior of the bar, this time really studying the dance floor and stage.\u00a0 Both were made of real wood if he was seeing it right.\u00a0 An unused piano and drum set filled much of the stage, while a man with a guitar sang about how some poor man\u2019s wife cheated on him with his dog and stole his best friend.\u00a0 Or maybe it was the other way around.\u00a0 The singer wasn\u2019t the best Jack had ever heard and mumbled some of his words.\u00a0 The guitar playing was good though so he was willing to cut the guy some slack.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey!\u00a0 I picked my drink up!\u201d Samantha\u2019s outraged voice shouted.<\/p>\n

Jack turned back to see a man in a scarf like theirs standing far too close to Samantha and he mentally lashed himself for letting his attention waver.<\/p>\n

\u201cToo late, sweetheart,\u201d the man said.\u00a0 \u201cIt was on the bar when I tossed the penny.\u201d<\/p>\n

Samantha stepped right up to the man and Jack saw the bristling anger in her posture.\u00a0 \u201cNo it wasn\u2019t!\u201d<\/p>\n

The man gulped, but stood his ground.\u00a0 \u201cYes it was,\u201d he growled and Jack saw the man step forward and bring a hand up towards her mug.\u00a0 And that was it.<\/p>\n

Jack lashed out faster than most people could follow, latched onto the man\u2019s throat, and pulled him away from Samantha.\u00a0 He held the man high enough that the man had to stand on his tiptoes to keep from choking.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet go of me!\u201d the man squeaked in outrage and Jack felt the crowd watching him.\u00a0 He only had a few seconds to finish this before they would do something.\u00a0 And most likely they would do something to the person they didn\u2019t know.\u00a0 Him.<\/p>\n

Jack cocked his head to the side.\u00a0 \u201cDid you toss the penny after she lifted it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo!\u00a0 There\u2019s rules and I\u2019m following them,\u201d the man said in an outraged squeaked.<\/p>\n

Jack\u2019s eyes narrowed at the response and he shook his head as he heard the man\u2019s heart racing.\u00a0 He focused and a bead of sweat began to appear on his temple. He felt the man breathing hard.\u00a0 \u201cKid, you just lied to me,\u201d he said in a calm conviction meant to bring the crowd to his side.\u00a0 \u201cAnd trust me, I know<\/em> you did.\u00a0 So why don\u2019t we try this again?\u00a0 Did you, or did you not, toss the penny in a drink its own made clear was not participating in the game?\u201d<\/p>\n

The man licked his lips in fear and Jack could tell he had the crowd around them wavering.\u00a0 \u201cI did not!\u201d the man lied again.\u00a0 \u201cAnd what\u2026what do you care?\u201d the man squeaked.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re not from around here.\u00a0 Why should we let you manhandle us!\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack had to give it to the man.\u00a0 He was good at rabblerousing, and he felt the crowd slipping back away from him. \u00a0He would have to move quick.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy should I care if you slip a micky into my girlfriend\u2019s drink?\u201d Jack asked and was rewarded by confused silence from the crowd.\u00a0 He\u2019d used a term they didn\u2019t understand here.\u00a0 Jack sighed.\u00a0 God bless the diversity of language.\u00a0 A few people understood though, and he heard them explaining.\u00a0 As the words flittered through the crowd, he heard them gasp in outrage at the charge.\u00a0 Maybe he could salvage this after all.\u00a0 It was time to strike.\u00a0 \u201cYou trying to get lucky tonight?\u00a0 You picked the wrong person.\u201d\u00a0 That<\/em> they all understood, even the man in his hand.<\/p>\n

The man swung his arm out towards the drink again and Jack lashed out with his free hand to grab the man\u2019s wrist, tight enough to make the man squeal in pain.\u00a0 \u201cNo spilling the evidence,\u201d Jack said and felt the crowd turn dark around him.\u00a0 He\u2019d just accused one of their own of a very bad crime and was graduating to full on multiple joint locks.\u00a0 If he was wrong, he was going to be in trouble.\u00a0 Looking at the man\u2019s desperation though, he wasn\u2019t wrong.<\/p>\n

\u201cBarkeep!\u201d Jack bit out.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t the right word here he knew, but he figured whatever the guy was would get the reference and the adrenaline in his system was really making it hard to focus on his words.\u00a0 The big burly man pouring drinks for everybody rumbled over and glared at Jack.\u00a0 Jack looked down at the drink still in Samantha\u2019s hands.\u00a0 \u201cDo you have the equipment to test that?\u201d<\/p>\n

The bartender followed his eyes and looked back at Jack.\u00a0 \u201cYes, Sir,\u201d he said, reached beneath the bar, and pulled a small wand out.\u00a0 He slipped it into the drink and the end of it promptly turned bright red and an alternating wail of alarm emitted from it.\u00a0 Jack felt the crowd\u2019s rage shift from him to the man he held and knew he\u2019d won.<\/p>\n

The man lashed out with his free arm and his legs, trying to scratch and kick Jack in places he really didn\u2019t want to be hurt.\u00a0 He deflected the arm with the elbow attached to the hand around the man\u2019s neck, and twisted to deflect the kicks as well.\u00a0 He wrapped one leg around both of the man\u2019s legs, locked them together, and brought the man down on the floor hard enough that his head thunked on the wood floor.\u00a0 The man\u2019s eyes rolled up in his head and he fell unconscious.<\/p>\n

Jack disentangled himself and rose back up to his feet with a slow and purposeful motion.\u00a0 He tucked a thumb in his belt and slipped his other hand into a pocket, making a show of being non-confrontational towards anybody.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t need a fight, and didn\u2019t want<\/em> a fight.\u00a0 Of course, the chances of anybody fighting with him over that pile of filth were pretty much nil.\u00a0 Still, it always helped to make a show of the fact that you weren\u2019t looking for one.<\/p>\n

He smiled at Samantha.\u00a0 \u201cWell, I can see what you mean about watching your drink here,\u201d he quipped.<\/p>\n

She pulled her hand from the drink and the bartender took it, placing it well behind the bar for safekeeping.\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s\u2026not normal,\u201d Samantha said, her voice quivering very slightly.<\/p>\n

Jack scanned the crowd quickly, noting that they were following the conversation closely.\u00a0 He would have to make certain not to insult them in general.\u00a0 \u201cI would gather that.\u00a0 Still, it only takes one predator to hurt a lot of people.\u201d\u00a0 He felt the crowd agree and begin to disperse.\u00a0 He\u2019d timed the words just right to diffuse them, with her help setting up of course.<\/p>\n

\u201cJack?\u00a0 Where did you learn to do that?\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack shrugged.\u00a0 \u201cMilitary trains us to do a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n

Samantha shook her head.\u00a0 \u201cNo, I\u2019ve seen military moves.\u00a0 Those weren\u2019t military.\u00a0 Where did you learn them?\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack raised an eyebrow and his smile turned proud.\u00a0 She really was a smart one.\u00a0 \u201cI trained some when I was a kid, learning to control and\u2026coexist with my body and all that mystical mumbo jumbo the dojo hojos practice,\u201d he said with a sly grin.<\/p>\n

She ran her fingers up the scarf hanging down his chest.\u00a0 \u201cAnd your reaction times.\u00a0 Where did you learn them<\/em>?\u201d\u00a0 Emerald eyes stared at him.\u00a0 \u201cYou reacted to him before<\/em> he moved.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack pulled in a long breath, buying time, and let it out again with a nod.\u00a0 \u201cWhat can I say?\u00a0 Master Richardson taught me to trust my feelings.\u00a0 They usually mean something in my subconscious has picked up something my conscious mind hasn\u2019t yet.\u00a0 The tense of a muscle, the intake of a breath, the flick of an eyelid, whatever.\u00a0 They\u2019re all signs that we don\u2019t have time to analyze.\u00a0 If we listen to the urging of our subconscious though, that did<\/em> notice them, sometimes it can appear as if we are moving before<\/em> they are.\u00a0 When in fact we simply noticed they were tensing up, and moved in time<\/em> with them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Samantha walked her fingers onto his collar with a smile.\u00a0 \u201cMaybe.\u00a0 How old<\/em> are you, Jack?\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack sighed, this time in acceptance.\u00a0 She had finally asked the right question.\u00a0 \u201cNot very,\u201d he whispered back.\u00a0 \u201cI really did<\/em> grow up with Taylor and Jennifer and all the others.\u00a0 I really don\u2019t look much younger than I am right now.\u00a0 Maybe in a few decades it\u2019ll be noticeable, but not yet.\u201d<\/p>\n

Samantha nodded and brought both hands up to wrap them around his neck.\u00a0 \u201cSo you don\u2019t age, do you?\u201d<\/p>\n

He bent down and tickled her ear with his breath.\u00a0 \u201cNo, Ma\u2019am.\u201d<\/p>\n

She giggled and slapped his arm.\u00a0 \u201cStop that.\u201d\u00a0 She chewed her lip for a moment.\u00a0 \u201cSo how long?\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack shrugged.\u00a0 \u201cI took the last of the Peloran treatments on my twenty-fifth birthday.\u00a0 My body hasn\u2019t aged a day since,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n

Samantha nodded slowly in thought.\u00a0 \u201cAnd that\u2019s<\/em> when you got your reactions.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack shifted from one foot to the other.\u00a0 \u201cWell, to be fair I always<\/em> had good reactions.\u00a0 But they did<\/em> start getting better then.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd that\u2019s why you always make such a show out of being casual and easygoing?\u00a0 You don\u2019t want to move too fast by accident.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack smirked.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s a bit of an art to fit in without making it look<\/em> like I\u2019m trying to fit in.\u00a0 Master Richardson was a real artist.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I see that artist in you.\u201d\u00a0 She sighed.\u00a0 \u201cAnd I think I finally see why you love that other life so much.\u00a0 You could have been a boy there forever.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack sucked in a deep breath and beamed at her.\u00a0 \u201cAnd that<\/em> is why\u2026\u201d He trailed off, waited for her eyes to open wide in a question, and pounced down to kiss her.\u00a0 Her body melted into his and time seemed to fade away around them as he focused on the only important thing in all the worlds.\u00a0 Her.<\/p>\n

He didn\u2019t know how much later it was, but some time after that he felt it was time to come up for air.\u00a0 He pulled away and scanned the room, looking for whatever it was that had caught his attention.\u00a0 It didn\u2019t take long to spot Betty in full Marine Dress Whites at the far end of the bar standing in front of two peace officers and another cyber.\u00a0 The two cybers looked at each for a second, communicating at cyberspeeds, and the other one glanced at him with a smile before turning to the peace officers.\u00a0 Jack concentrated and their words came into focus.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe man on the ground tried to drug her drink,\u201d the cyber reported with a wave of her hand towards Jack and Samantha.\u00a0 \u201cThe gallant young marine stopped him, very gently I might add.\u00a0 He did nothing wrong.\u00a0 We should arrest the unconscious one now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Ma\u2019am,\u201d one of the officers said and both began moving through the crowd.<\/p>\n

Jack smiled at the men and stepped back, bringing Samantha with him, to clear the officer\u2019s way.\u00a0 The officers tipped their hats in thanks and Jack returned them with a tip of his own cowboy hat.<\/p>\n

\u201cI could have taken care of him you know,\u201d Samantha whispered in his neck as the officers picked the unconscious form off the floor.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I know.\u00a0 But this was best.\u201d<\/p>\n

Samantha looked up at him with a curious look.\u00a0 \u201cHow so?\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack shrugged.\u00a0 \u201cWrong or right, if you made the scene you would be remembered as the student who made a scene.\u00a0 I<\/em> on the other hand am an outsider here.\u00a0 I took the attention of the room so it is me<\/em> they will remember, not so much you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Samantha nodded in approval.\u00a0 \u201cDo you always think that far ahead?\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack chuckled.\u00a0 \u201cNever.\u00a0 I just do what feels right, and look back to find out why when I\u2019m done,\u201d he finished with a smile.<\/p>\n

Samantha examined him for several seconds.\u00a0 She was about to say something when the next act came on stage.\u00a0 Her eyes sparkled at the sight and Jack turned to see what the excitement was about.<\/p>\n

His brow furrowed in interest at the first three musicians.\u00a0 One carried in a bass violin taller than she was and two others sat down at the drum set and piano that seemed permanent parts of the stage.\u00a0 Three more walked on after them, one with a saxophone and two with trumpets.\u00a0 Jack cocked his head to the side, trying to figure out how that combination of instruments would sound.\u00a0 He\u2019d never seen anything like this before.<\/p>\n

A seventh person walked onto the stage as the drums began to beat out a rhythm. The final arrival carried no instrument and made her way to the microphone as the bass violin joined the drums, rapid pulls on the bow filling the bar with its deep resonance.\u00a0 The piano began to play, mixing in with the other two instruments and Jack blinked as he tried to figure out where this was going.\u00a0 Then the trumpets and saxophone began to wail and his jaw dropped in amazement.\u00a0 Finally, the singer joined in, singing some crazy lyrics about cats dancing on Mars.<\/p>\n

Jack shook his head in amazement as the college students took to the dance floor with a relish.\u00a0 He turned his focus on the saxophone and marveled at the way its player made the instrument sound.\u00a0 He listened as they flew through the musical chords, at what sounded like random, with individual instruments taking front stage whenever they felt like it.<\/p>\n

The bass violinist made a show of stepping away from her instrument and twirled it to the cheers of the dancers.\u00a0 The drum player performed a quick solo of crazy drumming, and the twin trumpets stepped forward to run up and down the scale in a crazy intertwining melody that Jack could barely follow.\u00a0 The pianist came to his feet, kicked his bench back, and took center stage for almost half a minute, banging away a tune Jack had never heard before.\u00a0 It all went by so fast, Jack had trouble just categorizing what he was hearing.\u00a0 It was some kind of jazz, but he\u2019d never heard anything<\/em> like this before.<\/p>\n

In the end, it was the saxophone that trapped him though.\u00a0 The saxophonist\u2019s fingers blurred across the keys as he danced forward and took the stage for a few seconds, and the wail of the saxophone filled Jack with longing.\u00a0 The solo ended and the saxophonist faded back to let the trumpets take over again.<\/p>\n

Jack took a deep breath and shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cWhoa,\u201d he whispered and turned to look at Samantha.\u00a0 At her obvious curiosity he smiled.\u00a0 \u201cI have got<\/em> to learn how to play that instrument,\u201d Jack said and pointed at the saxophone.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s beautiful!\u201d<\/p>\n

Samantha shook her head in amusement and patted his arm.<\/p>\n

Filled with the music, Jack took a long sliding step away from Samantha and held out one hand in a wordless request for a dance.\u00a0 She answered in kind, taking his hand with a knowing smirk, and they followed the other students onto the dance floor.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Hello, my name is Jack.\u00a0 From the day mankind first banged a couple sticks together to form a rhythm, music has been one of the most important parts of living for us.\u00a0 It mourns with us when we\u2019re sad, it[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-782","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-2304-forge-of-war-1stdraft","uentry","postonpage-1","odd","post-author-jack"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/782","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=782"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/782\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1845,"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/782\/revisions\/1845"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=782"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=782"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=782"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}