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She saw them.
Under the tacky strobe lights that Larry had put in his apartment.
She saw them make out. And it was a really hot make out too. With tongue.
And god damn it, why was she so hurt? She should be happy for him; he had finally found true love. And Jack and Vicky were happy together. They had moved out, gotten their own place above Jack's Bistro. She was happily married to Phil. So why was she mad?
She watched Jack and Vicky dance together--more like Vicky grind on Jack and them feed each other their drinks; it was almost like she knew Janet was watching and was trying to make her jealous. No, she shook her head. Her and Vicky were friends. Vick would never try to hurt her.
But finally, her chance came. Vicky pecked Jack and murmured something to him--perhaps something about getting another drink--and she left him. Janet took a deep breath and slowly approached him. He was vulnerable, open, just talking to Larry and the boys and sipping his beer and vibing to the music. Finally, she approached him and, once again, just like all the other times she tried to talk to him about something serious over the years, she froze up instantly.
"Uh....hi Jack...."
He smiled at her with that sexy smile that she swore he only reserved for her. "Hey kid, how are you?" And he hugged her. Janet breathed a little content sigh. Jack's hugs were always so warm and welcoming. They felt like heaven. But she recovered and made her move.
"Um...Jack...can we talk? Privately?"
She swallowed when she saw the look on his face. He was taken aback.
"Um...yeah, sure. I think Vicky's talking to her friends anyway."
And he followed her. Janet thought about taking his hand, but resisted temptation just in case Vicky or others were watching. Didn't want to start rumors. Although there probably already were since he was following her and they were walking kind of fast.
They went into Larry's bedroom, shocked that Larry wasn't in here with a girl already, but it was only 9. He had time.
Jack closed the door and Janet walked to the center of the room, trying to move in-between the nudie magazines on the floor and also trying to think about what she was going to say. She kicked herself for being so nervous; she'd been around Jack alone millions of times before, so why was this time so damn hard?
"So what did you want to talk to me about?" Jack smiled his usual happy-go-lucky smile. Janet was so confused. Old Jack would've been thrilled at the prospect of getting his one of his roommates alone in a bedroom, but New Jack saw nothing compromising about this situation at all. How was that possible?
"Uh...Jack...sit down," Janet took his wrists and sat him down on the bed. Jack looked visibly confused now; she'd have to act fast. Should she kiss him? What should she do?
"Jack, um...how are things with you and Vicky?"
"Fine...?"
"And the restaurant?"
"Fine...Janet, what's going on?"
"Jack..." she swallowed. Might as well get it over with. "All the years that we lived together, you made passes at me, but were you ever...truly in love with me?"
Jack laughed, but stopped when he saw Janet turn a little red. "I mean..." he lowered his voice. "I won't deny that I was attracted to you."
"Jack..."
"And Chrissy. And Teri..."
"Okay, Jack..." Janet rolled her eyes, but stopped. "Wait a minute...you weren't attracted to Cindy?"
"Well I would've been, but I feel like that would involve getting me beaten up on a daily basis."
Both of them laughed. Good old klutz Cindy. Jack got serious again.
"But Janet...I always did consider you my best friend."
There it is. Janet's heart sank into the pit of her stomach. Best friend. Usually it was the girl that was supposed to do the friendzoning, but here was a guy doing it to her. It was time to make her move. Vicky and Phil be damned.
They locked eyes. She always felt like she could drown in his beautiful blue eyes. Their lips hovered closer and closer.
"Did you ever consider me...anything more...?" Her lips hovered cautiously close to his. Jack was tempted and he knew that if this was six years ago, he would have kissed her and more, but he was different now. They were different now. He pulled away.
"We can't do this, Janet. You know we can't."
"But...I thought we had a connection..." What a stupid thing to say.
"I mean, maybe we did when we lived together, but...you're married, now, Janet! You're becoming the exact person you always warned me about becoming! Or Larry!"
And he laughed. Her heart sank more.
"I'm glad to know that you think how I feel about you is just a big joke, Jack Tripper," and she stormed out, trying not to let him see her cry.
"Janet! Janet, wait..."
But the door slammed shut. Jack sighed and sat back on the bed and stared at the door. She was drunk. She had to be...
Yes. It was just the booze.