Tom's POV
January 1989

Jackie came over to my apartment right after work, because she was helping me get my apartment ready for a little dinner party I was throwing. I got a majority of my apartment cleaned up before she got there, but she mostly helped with preparing dinner. Since it was Tuesday, we decided on a Taco Tuesday theme. We got ingredients for build-your-own-tacos with sides of chips and guacamole dip, lime rice, coleslaw, Jackie made macaroni salad, and we thought it would be fun to teach our friends how to make frozen margaritas with the blender that Jackie brought from home. I originally wanted to make grilled vegetables or steak, but I don't have a barbecue and grilling on the stove is never very good.

I had to dig my blue cooler out from my closet, because I finally had a reason to use it. I filled it up with ice and shoved soda cans, bottles of water, beer, and iced teas into it for anyone who doesn't want a margarita. We had the blender with the ingredients beside it on the counter, with a cafeteria-style of bowls of ingredients for the build-your-own tacos, and I put the blue cooler on the kitchen floor just in case it leaked.

I placed a bowl of chips and salsa on my coffee table, which also had some paper plates and napkins for people to use. I wasn't quite sure who was coming, but no one told me that they couldn't come so I was expecting a full house. I heard a knock at the door, and I went to answer it while Jackie was picking out music to play so my apartment wouldn't be awkwardly quiet.

I opened the door and was face-to-face with Doug and Dorothy. I've meet Dorothy multiple times because she and Doug like to host a lot of dinners at their apartment. She has big dark hair, olive skin, and white teeth, and a thick New York accent. Doug smiled and held up a gift of a bottle of wine by his face before he handed it to me.

"Geez, you guys didn't have to," I said. I stepped forward to give Dorothy a friendly peck on the cheek and I welcomed them both in. Jackie walked over to us as I closed the door and Doug started to take off his jacket. "Jackie, this is Doug and his girlfriend Dorothy. Guys, this is Jackie."

Dorothy gave her a forced smile and said, "it's a pleasure to meet you, Jackie."

Dorothy is a very expressive and open person. She lets you know what she's thinking in the moment that she thinks it. Even though her words were kind in this situation, her feelings were not. She did not seem to be very fond of Jackie, and she didn't even give her a chance.

Doug took a step forward and offered Jackie his hand. "Doug Penhall. You work at the District Attorney's office, don't you?"

Jackie smiled at him as she took his hand and said, "yeah. About three years now."

Dorothy gave Doug a stern look so he retracted his hand. "That's cool."

"We have dinner in the kitchen, and some appetizers on the coffee table. We also have a margarita station," I told them.

Dorothy's face lit up after I said that. "I could use a margarita right now."

"Jackie can teach you," I said. I looked over at Jackie and asked, "want to show her?"

"Sure, follow me," Jackie said. She and Dorothy walked over to the kitchen, while Doug and I sunk into a corner of my apartment. He complained about Dorothy, but I let his words go in one ear and out the other. Dorothy is attractive, but she is rude and noisy and has no filter. Doug always complains about her, so I never understand why he has not broken up with her yet.

The door knocked again, and I left Doug to answer it. I welcomed Fuller and his date into my apartment, and gave them the same spiel. Jackie became in charge of teaching everyone how to make a margarita, while I was the host greeting everyone. I felt warm and more relaxed, probably because Jackie kept bringing me margaritas. I definitely got more relaxed and chatty. More people from Jump Street came, including Judy and Ioki, and even people I don't work with that often from other teams. The main purpose of this dinner party was to introduce Jackie to everyone, because they haven't known her as my girlfriend yet. Jackie actually had to push me to do this, I was more than fine with keeping our relationship to ourselves.

Someone knocked on the door again and I rushed to answer it. My apartment was buzzing with people, I couldn't even hear the music that Jackie picked anymore. I was feeling a little overwhelmed, but I was managing. Jackie was in the kitchen talking to Judy about the blender, and everyone was helping themselves to the food that we laid out. I felt like I had a script in my head from how many times I said where and what the food was, and to meet Jackie in the kitchen for margaritas. I felt like it was a good chance to let my friends and coworkers meet her without it being too awkward. This system was working out well.

I opened the door with one hand and had a beer in the other. I felt my cheeks lift when I saw Mickey standing there, and I opened the door wider to welcome her in. All the stress had melted away in an instant.

"Sorry I'm a little late," she said as she walked in. As if on instinct, I gave her a friendly greeting of a kiss on her flushed cheek. I noticed that she was turning heads as she walked through the door, and I closed it behind her.

"You're totally fine," I reassured. She was probably the last to arrive, but it wasn't a big deal. I was just glad that she showed up. I had been looking forward to see her all night. Every time that she is near me, all my cares seem to disappear.

"Wow, it's packed in here. I don't think I've ever seen so many people in this room," she said as she took off her black leather jacket and draped it over her arm.

"I don't think so either," I chuckled. I cleared my throat and gave my speech, "tonight is Taco Tuesday, so we have build-your-own tacos in the kitchen and some sides on the coffee table. We've got drinks in the cooler, I made sure to get Cokes for you, and... uh... I think that's it." I used big gestures toward the kitchen, and I spoke a little louder than I normally do without realizing it.

"Thanks," she smiled. She glanced over to the kitchen and then she gracefully gestured and asked, "who's that?"

I followed her gaze and saw that she was looking at Jackie, who was pouring a green margarita into a cup for Judy. I figured this was the best time as any to introduce the two of them.

I imagined that the interaction would be good, because I've talked to Jackie about Mickey before. I don't think I've talked about Jackie to Mickey much, but Mickey is pretty good about conversing so I assumed that they would get along together nicely. My girlfriend and my best friend, what could go wrong?

"Come on, I'll introduce you guys," I said. I offered to take her jacket and I walked slowly alongside Mickey because she was still in her walking-cast from breaking her foot earlier in the month. Mickey followed me to the kitchen right when Judy was leaving and Jackie was cleaning off the counter. I set my empty beer bottle on the counter and said loud enough for her to hear, "hey, Jackie, there's someone I'd like you to meet."

Jackie's head snapped in our direction and she dropped what she was doing to come up to us. She looked at Mickey before offering a smile. I said, "Jackie, this is Mickey. Mickey, Jackie."

"Oh, Mickey!" Jackie exclaimed joyfully. I finally let myself take a breath because I was a little nervous about them meeting, but Jackie seemed happy to meet her. "I've heard so much about you. You're nothing like I was expecting."

Mickey's smile dropped slightly. Even I was a little confused by that statement. She asked, "I'm sorry?"

"It's not bad.. it's just... it's so funny, all this time I thought you were a guy," Jackie said followed by a cynical laugh.

I scrunched my eyebrows together and leaned away from Jackie in confusion. I guess I do talk about Mickey a lot, but I've never indicated that she was a guy. Jackie even has acknowledged that Mickey is a girl on multiple occasions. That seemed a little rude, but I figured it was just a miscommunication. I didn't want to accuse her of being rude when she probably didn't mean it.

Mickey brought the smile back to her face and all she said back was, "nope."

"Yeah, I never knew that Mickey was a girls name. It's so... unique."

"It's short for Michelle," I butt in. I did not care for Jackie's sudden snippy mood.

"How was I supposed to know that?" Jackie asked loud enough for Mickey to hear, but it was obviously directed towards me.

"I'm pretty sure I've said it," I muttered back.

"Well, I'm sure you've heard a lot about me." Jackie smiled at Mickey and stepped closer to me and held my arm. I reached over to grab a beer from the fridge, because I knew that this was going to be a long night. I raised the bottle up to my lips and looked up at the ceiling before I discreetly got my arm out from her grasp.

"Right, of course," Mickey said. Then she paused and asked, "remind me your name?"

Jackie huffed out, "Jackie."

"That's right." Mickey smiled at her civilly. I couldn't help but smirk a little. Then she gestured to Jackie's black shirt. "I love that top, where'd you get it?"

"At some store in the mall. It's pretty spendy so you probably wouldn't know it," she said while inspecting her shirt. I think this particular shirt has shoulder pads, and a ruffle in the front. It's not my favorite of hers, but I'm not going to tell her that she shouldn't wear certain things. Mickey was wearing a simple black tank top and it looked better than whatever Jackie chose for herself tonight.

Mickey leaned back against the kitchen counter and said, "well, it looks great on you."

"I know," Jackie said with a tilt of her chin. I didn't like the way she was talking to Mickey... but she wasn't saying mean things? Is this how girls get along or fight? I don't get it. I was completely lost in the conversation, and my multiple beers and margaritas were not helping the matter.

"I wish I could pull it off. I would not be as confident as you to wear something so bold," Mickey added. I could not figure out why Jackie looked like she had smoke coming out of her ears. That was a compliment... right?

Then Jackie asked with a snappy tone, "do you want a margarita, Mickey?"

"I don't—"

"Oh, that's right," she interrupted her. "You don't drink. My Tommy told me about that. That's so weird. Are you pregnant or something? An alcoholic?"

My Tommy?

Mickey's eyes grew wide and she said, "no."

"I had to ask."

"No, you really didn't," I stated. I began to glare at Jackie. Why was she being such a bitch? And since when has she called me her Tommy? I am no one's Tommy. I am my own Tommy.

"Don't worry, it's nothing to be ashamed of. Lots of people don't drink. But I couldn't imagine not being able to drink. You're really missing out."

"I don't think I am," Mickey said.

"But hey, you're not completely useless. You are an automatic designated driver."

My head felt fuzzy but I decided to really step in again. "Come on, just because she is sober doesn't mean she is obligated to drive anyone home. There are taxis."

"Whatever," Jackie chuckled and sipped on her drink.

This was a bad idea. I'm never doing this again. I finally decided it was time to break them up. I said, "hey, Jackie, could you turn up the music just a little? I can't hear it anymore."

"Sure," she said and stepped toward me before she planted her lips on mine. I was a little taken back by the affection, but then she walked into the sea of people in the living room. I was still trying to figure out why she was so hostile toward Mickey.

I turned to Mickey and said, "I'm so sorry about that. I didn't know she was going to be like that."

"It's okay." Mickey brushed it off.

"Can I get you a Diet Coke? Or a mock tail?"

"What's a mock tail?"

"It's the margarita without the alcohol."

Her pure, red lips half smiled. "Sure."

I finished my beer and rubbed the back of my hand against my lips before I placed the glass bottle in the sink to deal with later. I grabbed a couple of glasses from my cabinet and ran a lime wedge around the rims of the glasses and taught Mickey how to dip the rim in sugar. Once we did that, I moved on to the actual drink.

"Again, I'm so sorry. I don't know what's gotten into her," I said to Mickey as I washed the blender in the sink. I hated that I had to apologize on Jackie's behalf.

"It's fine." Mickey shrugged. She's too cool about this, I would have been mad. I am mad.

"I just wanted you guys to get along."

Mickey didn't really seem to care that she butt heads with Jackie. Jackie really wasn't keen on meeting her in the first place. I guess I was the only one who wanted them to meet.

I nodded towards the freezer as I was drying the blender. "Can you grab the frozen limeade, please? It's Minute Maid."

"Where is it?" She asked.

"In the door."

She opened the freezer door and found it quickly. She handed me the frozen cylinder and I poured it into the blender, followed by orange juice, grapefruit juice, and ice cubes. I placed the lid on the blender before I blended the drink until it turned into a light green slushy. I poured the drink into our respective glasses and we tapped our glasses together in cheers.

Mickey took a sip and she beamed up at me. "This is really good."

I teetered toward her a bit as I took a sip of mine and nodded in agreement. I decided to make myself one too, just so she wasn't the only one. My lips pursed together from the sourness of the tangy fruit juices, but it was delicious and refreshingly cold.

For the duration of the party, I remained attached to Mickey's hip. Wherever she went, I went. At one point, she left to get herself another mocktail and I kept looking back at her. When she spoke, my eyes gravitated towards her like a magnet. I'd have to pause when she was fluttering her to-the-sky lashes at me. I feel like I'm constantly on the cusp of fighting myself to not kiss her. One more drink and I might do just that. I don't know if she feels the same as I do, but honestly, we could be together if she wants. It's really up to her. I was praying for just one night with her. Even when I am with Jackie, I'm still left only thinking of Mickey.

When the party was over and everyone was starting to leave, Mickey offered to stay back and help. However, before I could answer, Jackie waved her off and said, "no, we got it."

Mickey hesitated, but all I could do was give her a sympathetic smile to show my appreciation for her offer. When she left, Jackie shut the door. She sighed and said, "I never thought they would leave."

"They weren't here that late," I tried to defend them. She can't complain if we were the ones who invited them over with an idea that was hers to begin with.

"I know... but I just want to spend some time with my boyfriend," Jackie said. She walked over to me and locked her fingers behind my neck and my hands found her hips. We rocked back and forth softly together. If we start dancing, I might have to stop myself from whispering Mickey's name.

I asked her, "how'd you like my friends?"

"They were... interesting."

"What about Mickey?" I asked. Based on being an outsider to their conversation, it was not very civil.

"She seemed fine." Jackie shrugged.

"Just fine?"

"What do you want me to say? Why do you want me to like her so much?" She asked.

"She's my best friend. Of course I want you to like her."

Jackie shrugged again. "I don't dislike her. I just don't have a reason to like her."

"Come on, be nice."

"What? I am."

"You are not."

"Look, I can see from the way that she looks at you that she likes you. I just find it a little sad that she is into a man who has a girlfriend and will never look at her like that. It's kind of pathetic, really."

"Hey, woah, where's this comin' from?" I asked and let go of her hips. I took a step back and I felt her fingers slip away from my neck. My eyes gazed at her coldly.

"Let's stop talking about her." Jackie tried to brush it off.

"No, we are gonna have a discussion about this," I snapped and she finally listened. I rarely put my foot down, but this was one of those times. "You weren't nice to her and you disrespected her the entire night. That's unacceptable and I'm not going to tolerate that, Jackie."

"You spend a lot of time with her, especially at work and it drives me up the wall. You've blown me off to hangout with her before, and I'm sick of it. Just... when we are together, spend time with me, okay?"

"I see where you are comin' from, but I'm gonna do what I want with my friends."

"I'm your girlfriend. You shouldn't do stuff I'm not comfortable with you doing."

"Like what? Spendin' time with my friends? News flash, Jackie, I'm not gonna choose between you and my friends." I took another step back.

"What has gotten into you tonight, huh?"

"Nothin' has gotten into me."

"You just seem upset."

"Oh, I'm overjoyed," I said sarcastically. "Can't you tell?"

"You're never here. I feel like I barely see you."

"You know how demandin' my job is."

"Of course I know that. But you've been so secretive... I hate this person you've become. I felt like I used to know you so well. Now... It's hard to know what you're thinking."

My eyes widened at the accusation. "Who I've become? I haven't changed."

"Yes, you have!" She yelled out. "I am all that you need, and I am meant to be yours."

"You have been takin' me for granted ever since we started dating. I give and I give and I give... you take and you take and you take... This little game you've been pullin' me through is never ending."

"This isn't what I want. You are what I want. You are who I want to share my life with, but they are keeping you away from me."

"Haven't I given enough?!" I demanded to know. Her voice quieted but her ears were turning red. I took a breath and asked, "haven't I given enough for you? What more do you want from me? What more do you want to take from me? You expect me to take my heart and my dignity and just throw it aside for you?"

"You used to show me that you loved me! You used to hold me every night, and now I guess that doesn't matter anymore. You—you don't even touch me anymore. I can't remember the last time we had sex. I've had to get on my knees and beg for you. Please, don't make me beg. Your eyes have been slowly fading day by day. I fell in love with you. With you. And you're gone!"

"You know just how to get under my skin," I hissed through my teeth.

"And you used to like it!" She nearly screeched.

"Let's quiet down, my neighbors can hear us," I replied coolly.

Jackie sighed and rubbed her eye. "Look, we've been drinking. Can't we talk about this in the morning?"

"No. I want to talk about it now," I said firmly. I blinked at her slowly.

"What do you even want to talk about, Tom? What is there to discuss?" Her voice was still raised.

"Your apparent hatred for the people in my life."

"God, that's not what I said," she groaned.

"Then what did you say?"

"I just don't like how all of your attention is directed to your friends."

"I don't feel like I do that at all."

"Well, not all of your friends, all right? Just Mickey. One of my friends saw you out with her the other night."

"Is that what this is about?" I asked, my voice lowering. "Jackie, I told you what we were doing. We were getting dinner to discuss the details of a case. That's all it was."

"That's it?"

"That's it. Don't worry about her, okay? You are the only girl I'd ever want in my life. I'd never ever hurt you. I swear on every star." I crossed my heart.

I saw her fight back a smile but she argued, "you're such a smooth talker. You always know what to say, which makes it hard for me to believe you."

"I still don't understand what your problem is with her anyway," I said. Jackie is exhausting.

"Why does it matter?" Jackie asked.

"It matters to me."

"Why should I care about her?"

"Because I care about her," I replied sternly. I pointed to my chest and my eyes narrowed at her. "She's softer than you. She doesn't constantly remind me of how much I screw up. She listens to me. She calms me down."

Jackie bit her tongue and swallowed the words she was about to spit out at me. Finally she asked, "where do you think we can go from here?"

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"I mean, will our love grow? Do you think there's a future here? Do you see a future with me?"

I exhaled softly and scratched the back of my head to stall. "I don't know. Honestly, I don't know. My mind is hangin' on by a thread here, Jackie."

"I don't think I can be with a man who makes me feel second best. I don't want to stick around just to wait and see."

"You're making me pick between you and Mickey?" I asked in disbelief. I felt like a dead man crawling. Anything I say would dig me deeper into a hole.

She was silent, but I could see in her eyes that my statement was correct. She was acting like such a child. That was not fair. How could I pick my girlfriend over my best friend, or my best friend over my girlfriend?

"You know what?" I chuckled humorlessly. I needed time away from her to recollect my thoughts. I marched to the front door and opened it wide. I stared daggers at Jackie and commanded, "get out."

"You're kicking me out?" She asked with her eyebrows raised.

"You drive me out of my mind and I need some space."

"Tom, I really don't want to have another fight with you again—"

"Then don't," I interrupted.

"—it seems like we are making up more than we are intimate with each other," she finished. "It just seems like you always have something on your mind, and it's not me."

"Jackie, please leave."

"Tom, can we not fight anymore? Please." Her voice broke softly, like she was close to tears. But I wasn't going to let her manipulate me.

"Out," I said softly.

"Please, Tommy. Don't leave me alone, you are the only person I trust. Don't give up on me now."

"Out," I said again, trying to keep my temper under control.

"How am I supposed to get home?"

"Take a cab."

"I can't believe you are kicking me out. I am the best thing that has ever happened to you—and you're kicking me out. You must know that there will never be anyone else for you. No one else will love you as much as I do."

I simply looked at her impatiently and waited for her to leave my apartment. I opened the door a bit wider to get the message across, because she obviously wasn't paying attention to my words.

"Are you going to go hide out in the woods again and drink yourself into a stupor?" She asked. Last time we had a big fight, I took my tent and camped out in the woods for an entire weekend just for some peace. I feel at peace when I'm out in nature, and drunk off my face.

I clenched my jaw and said dryly, "don't let the door hit you on the way out."

She stared back at me and dropped the paper plates that she had collected, which caused flying chunks of leftover taco and sour cream to splatter on my floor. I could feel my ears get red from how irritated I was getting. She brushed past me, and as soon as she stepped out of my apartment I shut and locked the door. I continued to clean up from the party by myself in silence. When I was done, I grabbed one of the tequila bottles from the kitchen and tossed the lid before planting myself on my couch for the rest of the night.

This should have been my first red flag. Jackie was definitely the jealous type, and if she was making me cut off my friends, I know that she isn't the one. Why was I still with her? I don't know. I have no reason to break-up with her, because couples fight all the time. I guess I was being a little sensitive and dramatic. We'll see how far we can go.

Thank you so much for reading! Hope you enjoyed this original Tom chapter! 🥰
Next chapter will be Tom's version of Study Break! 🥳