Is Love All or Nothing?

First I would like to thank everyone for the encouragement to keep writing this story. If haven't read comments from previous chapters, I myself have Asperger's Syndrome. No, this is not a firsthand account or story of my life. This is a story I'm writing from my own imagination but some parts inspired by events in my life.

Thank you once again Tigersman for editing this chapter. I hope this is a more enjoyable read for everyone.

*

Keith wakes up feeling really groggy and disoriented. He looks around and sees that he is home in his bedroom but can't remember how he got there. He tries to remember how he got back to his apartment without any success.

"About time you woke up." Keith jumps startled, hearing and seeing Andy at the doorway to his room.

"Wha...what happened last night?"

"What is the last think you remember?"

"Umm, Mark and I arguing about whether he drugged Jackie's drink or not. Jackie came back and started getting into it with me and....then I remember taking a sip of her drink." Keith's eyes widen in fear. "Is Jackie safe? Did that bast-."

"Jackie is safe," Andy interrupts his friend before he asks a hundred questions. "She never drank the Cosmo after you stupidly decided to drink it for her."

Keith shot back the best stare he could in his tired and groggy state. "If it was as stupid of me to drink it, then why is she safe as you say?"

Andy shakes his head at his best friend's stupidity. "Because knowingly drinking a drugged drink is still stupid. You could have just knocked the glass over forcing a new one to be made. There was more than one option."

"Yes there was, but mine turned out the most effective so I win this argument."

Andy just shakes his head at his friend. "You are something you know that." He then walks over to Keith and hands him the piece of paper from Jackie. Keith reads it over and over, making sure he reads it right.

"Is this from Jackie?"

"No, it's from her friend Melissa who wasn't there."

Keith rolls his eyes annoyed. "Can you not give me sarcasm right now? When did she give this to you?"

"Late last night after the bar had cleared out. We were hoping you'd wake up but after it was obvious you'd be asleep the rest of the night so she decided to leave. She had me get her paper and pen and told me to give this to you when you woke up."

Keith just looks at the paper trying to decide what to do. He wants to call her and see what she wants but doesn't know really how to proceed after the events of the previous night.

"Keith, call her."

"And talk about what?"

"Dude, seriously, she wants to thank you for stopping the asshole from date raping her. Stop reading something into it and just call her."

Keith rolls his eyes. "Fine, I'll call after you leave my apartment."

"I'll close the door to your bedroom, but I'm not leaving until I know you called her and agree to meet her and let her repay you."

"Andy! Why are you pushing this? You know I don't respond well when you push me getting together with any woman."

"Except I'm not pushing you into a date. I'm pushing you to let a woman show her appreciation for saving her last night." Andy is just growing more and more frustrated with Keith's stubbornness. "Keith, call her. She also wants to make sure you're ok."

"I don't know Andy. This whole thing is weird and not normal."

"Yes, while that is true, you should still call her and at least let her know you are fine. If you don't want to see her again, just tell her that then. Quit being such a baby and call her."

"Fine!" Keith says in a very annoyed voice. "I'll call her as soon as you give me some privacy." Andy puts his hands up in the air admitting he'll give him some privacy. He closes the door and Keith gets out his phone. He is trying to convince himself that he shouldn't call her but then realizes he will be in an endless fight with Andy about this. He punches the numbers into his phone and listens to it ring a few times. He almost hangs up when Jackie answers.

"Hello?"

"Hi Jackie, it's Keith."

"Hey, how are you feeling?" she says in a nervous voice.

"I'm feeling alright. A little groggy but nothing to complain about."

"I'm glad. Thank you for saving me last night."

"You're welcome Jackie. Any guy would have had the courage to do what I did."

"The courage, maybe, but you actually did it. You drank my Cosmo to prove that jerk tried to drug me."

"Well hopefully this leaves a better impression of me on you."

"It does but I was hoping I could repay for last night."

"Jackie, there is nothing to repay. I just did what any man should do."

"Keith, please let me repay you. I'm not planning on doing something over the top. I just want to take you out to lunch."

Keith looks over at his clock seeing that it is almost eleven. "Lunch does sound pretty good actually right now. Have a place in mind?"

"I was thinking Red Robin. It has been a while since I have been there and Melissa hates going there for some odd reason."

"I haven't been there in a while either. Would you like to meet me there at one? I just woke up and need to get cleaned up."

"That sounds perfect. It will give me time to get rid of Melissa...ow!"

Keith chuckles at her saying ow. "Let me guess, Melissa is there and isn't happy she is being ditched."

"Yeah, I don't see why she is so mad."

"I don't either. Tell her to leave you alone or else I won't help set her up with a nice guy."

"She's actually taken and been with her man for almost a year surprisingly. OW! Stop hitting me Melissa!"

"I think I should let you go before I get you into more trouble," Keith says laughing.

"Ok, I'll see you at Red Robin at one. Bye Keith."

"Bye Jackie."

"Now was that so bad?" Andy says through the door.

"Not as bad as it's going to hurt if you don't leave within the next five minutes."

Keith arrives at Red Robin at 12:45 to get a table. It is pretty busy inside but he is seated right away in the back of the restaurant. He sends a text to Jackie letting her know he is there early and got table in the back. Five minutes later she appears wearing a modest light blue t-shirt that still shows off her womanly curves and blue jeans. He stands up to greet her and she gives him a tight hug.

"Thank you for coming and thank you again for protecting me," Jackie says as she slowly pulls away from Keith with a huge smile on her face.

"Thank you for inviting me for lunch," Keith says as they separate and sit down and look at the menus. Their waitress comes by asking what they want to drink. Keith orders water while Jackie orders Sprite.

"Not a pop drinker?" Jackie asks.

Keith shakes his head. "I don't like anything carbonated. It just tastes and feels weird in my mouth."

"That's interesting. What else do you drink besides water?"

"Beer obviously, Gatorade, orange juice and chocolate milk. What else do you like to drink besides Sprite and Cosmopolitans?"

"I sometimes drink beer but I prefer Cosmos. I don't really do any other mixed drinks. When I remember to have breakfast, I usually have orange juice."

"What do you do for a job that has you sometimes forgetting to have breakfast?"

"I work in a distribution center for a drugstore chain. I have to be there at six in the morning. I've had the job since I was eighteen." "Did you get the job to help pay for college?"

"I actually got the job just so I could move out on my own. I never went to college."

"Why didn't you go to college?"

"My parents weren't able to save any money for a college fund and I didn't want to take out student loans and struggle to pay them back. I found this job right after I graduated from high school and they have treated me very well. I've been working there for seven years."

"That makes sense. I had a partial scholarship that paid for a good amount that ended up going full-ride after my sophomore year. I guess I'm lucky in that I don't have much to pay when it comes to student loans and will have what is left paid off within the next couple of years."

The waitress comes by asking for their food order and both of them forgot to even look at the menu. The waitress says she'll give them a few minutes to look at the menus so they can decide. "Guess we got a little lost in the conversation," says Jackie with grin on her face.

"I guess we did," says Keith also grinning.

Jackie knew what she wanted right away but kept her menu up to make it look like she was still deciding so she could get a better look at Keith. He has short dark brown hair and wears glasses. He looked clean shaved and has no scars that she can notice. He was wearing a simple red t-shirt so she could see his arms. There weren't any defined muscles but he didn't look skinny either. She knew from standing next to him that he was at least six inches taller than her.

The waitress came back and they both had decided what to order. Jackie got a chicken salad while Keith ordered a barbeque burger but asked for there to be no cheese, mayo, or tomato. They handed their menus to the waitress and when she walked away Jackie was intrigued why Keith ordered what he did.

"Why did you ask for so much to be taken off your burger?"

Keith knew that these questions were gonna come as many people over the years asked him this type of stuff when they saw him order at restaurants. "I'm a bit of a picky eater and I know what I like and don't like. I've never liked tomatoes and cheese and mayo on burgers; they just don't go well with me."

Jackie is starting to get the idea that Keith isn't just any normal guy. "You're a very interesting person Keith. In what other ways are you picky?"

"You'll just have to wait and find out. The list is long and I don't feel like talking about it."

"So are you saying you'd like to hang out more?"

The question shocked Keith for a second because he realized how he had phrased his last statement. Then he realized that there was no reason he and Jackie couldn't hang out with each other. "Yes, I would like to hang out with you more and develop a friendship."

"I'm glad," says Jackie feeling a little sad that Keith only wanted to friends but realizes not everything between them started off on the right foot. "Let's toast to the start of a great friendship."

Keith smiles and raises his cup. "To the start of a great friendship." They clank their cups and take a drink.

Keith tells Jackie about his job and the people he deals with. Jackie shares some stories of her own about her work. They continue the small talk about their jobs when the waitress comes back with their food. Keith cuts into his burger and it is cooked the way he likes. They continue to make small talk while they eat.

"How was your burger?" Jackie asks.

"It was good. Not the best I've had from Red Robin but nothing to complain about. How was your chicken salad?"

"It was really good. I didn't think I would eat the whole thing up but I did," Jackie says, trying to give an innocent smile.

"I think you're a bigger eater than you're letting on." Keith says with a smirk on his face.

"What makes you say that?" says Jackie, trying to keep up the innocent act.

"You attacked that thing like I attacked my burger. You were either really hungry or you enjoy food as much as I do. Something tells me it is the latter."

"Umm," Jackie tries to think of a way to respond to that but words fail to come to her. "I guess you caught me. I am a bit of a foodie."

"There is nothing wrong with being a foodie."

"I guess...but I do tend to eat more than most women and therefore am not the skinniest either."

"Jackie," Keith reaches across the table and grabs her hand, "you are beautiful. Don't let society or anyone push you to be skinny or make you think because you have a little more weight you are not beautiful. You are beautiful and amazing just the way you are." Jackie couldn't help but blush at the compliments Keith was giving her. "That is part of the reason why I couldn't help but stare at you most of last night."

Jackie withdraws her hand from Keith's. "You were staring at me while I was on my date?"

Keith realizes he again has said a little too much. "Yes." He realizes there is no way out of this. "I was staring at you the whole time. You looked great last night and I was jealous of the guy that was on a date with you."

Jackie sits there for a few minutes thinking about what Keith is saying. Keith just sits there knowing there is nothing more to add without doing more damage.

"Well, I guess I can't be completely mad because you did notice that Mark tried to drug my drink."

"I did, but I admit I still shouldn't have stared."

"Keith," Jackie reaches and grabs his hand, "I can't be mad at you because you did save me from that rapist. Let's just admit that things have been awkward between us since I first introduced myself to you."

"There have been some awkward moments between us, but I'm glad that I'm getting to know you." Jackie smiles really big and can hardly contain her excitement. "What is your work schedule like during the week?"

"I work from six in the morning until two in the afternoon Monday through Friday. Why do you ask?"

"I was wondering if you wanted to hang out during the week. I don't know if you're comfortable with spending more time with me."

Jackie can't help but beam with happiness. "Keith, I'd like nothing more than to spend more time with someone I trust."

Keith is very happy with Jackie's response. The waitress comes by and drops off the bill. Jackie, true to her word pulls out her credit card and slips it in. "I told you I'd pay for today."

"Yes, you did, but I think I should pay next time or make the meal."

Jackie looks surprised. "You're saying you'd cook for me? I'd thought you said you just want to be friends? That is pretty romantic for just friends."

Keith laughs realizing how it can be taken that way. "I guess you're right but since when is making burgers on a George Forman grill romantic?"

Jackie couldn't help but start laughing too. "You have a point. What day were you thinking about hanging out?"

"Well I was thinking Wednesday. I shouldn't be stressing by then and it gives you plenty of time to back out if you want to."

"I'm not going to back out Keith," Jackie says still laughing. "If we can survive this beginning, we can survive anything."

"Yes we can."

The waitress comes back to pick up the bill with the credit card and a few minutes later she comes back with the receipt and Jackie's card. She leaves a generous tip for the waitress but doesn't show Keith the amount.

"I don't want this to end," Jackie says feeling depressed.

"This is just the beginning Jackie. How about we meet up at Ruby Tuesday on Wednesday around six thirty? We can get to know each other more. I'd like to hear about your family and stuff."

"Sounds like a great idea," Jackie says with a big smile.

After that they decide to get up and leave. They walk out but Keith continues to walk Jackie to her car.

"You don't have to walk me to my car."

"I don't have to, but I want to. I want to make sure you're safe while you're with me."

Jackie can't help but feel even better about being with Keith, even if only as a friend. She opens her door, but turns towards Keith. "Thank you for having lunch with me."

Keith approaches her and hugs her tightly. "It was my pleasure. I can't say no to free food and beautiful company."

Jackie hugs him even tighter after that compliment. She slowly lets go of him. "I'll see you Wednesday at six thirty."

"Text me when you get home. I want to know you got home safe and sound."

"I will. Bye Keith."

"Bye Jackie."

They separate and Keith goes towards his car. He looks back at Jackie's car as she drives out of the parking lot and onto the main road. "This is either going to end up well or bad all over again. I really hope this ends well this time," he says to himself.

Jackie gets home ten minutes later and sends Keith a text saying she is home safe and sound. Five minutes later her phone beeps with a message from Keith saying he's glad and can't wait to see her again. Jackie sits on her couch with a huge grin on her face. Her day is going so well she just has to talk to her best friend about it. She texts Melissa for her to get her ass over to her apartment as soon as possible.

"I'm sorry Keith, but what you just had was a date."

Keith rolls his eyes at Andy. "First, I'm not ready to date again right now. Second, that was not a date. It was just two new friends having lunch and getting to know each other."

"Dude," Andy says while shaking his head, "it may have started out as a not a date but it turned into a date as you told me you held each other's hands."

Keith grabs his bottle of Gatorade that is next to him on the bench by the basketball courts at their apartment complex and takes a big drink from it. "How about I call it two friends hanging out and you can call it a date to yourself? You'll never get me to agree that it was a date."

"You know you're impossible sometimes. How can you be so stubborn?"

"I learned from the best," Keith says with a grin on his face.

Andy shakes his head and rolls his eyes. "I guess I'll just have to ask Jackie on Wednesday."

"Who says we are going to the Brownstead? You think I'm just gonna let you ask her whatever questions you want?"

"Oh come on!" Andy says very frustrated and angry. "What are you protecting her from anyway?"

Keith lets out a big sigh. "I'm not protecting her, I'm protecting myself."

Andy recognizes that tone and knows where his best friend's head is at. "Keith, why can't you let go of what happened between you and Jillian? What happened happened and there is nothing that is going to change that."

"I know," Keith says, quietly looking at the ground.

"Why do you keep letting it get you down then and maybe mess up something great that can happen with Jackie?"

"Because it's my fault that things between me and Jillian went south. I wrote that stupid letter and left it at her apartment door for anyone to read. And just so happens two of her friends did read it. I can't blame her for thinking I'm crazy. Her friends certainly think I'm crazy."

"That is not going to happen with Jackie. You know I'm not letting that happen again and I don't think you'd do something like that ever again anyway. You need to stop beating yourself up over that. It's not healthy."

"If I were a normal person I probably would have stopped thinking about it and beating myself up, but I'm not normal. I can't help that those thoughts come back to me whenever they decide to. The guilt is still there and I can't get rid of it. I know she'll never forgive, but even if she did, I still don't know if I can forgive myself."

Andy puts a hand on Keith's shoulder. "I get that it is hard for you and I will never understand how your mind works. That being said, you should not let this affect how you feel about Jackie and how you want to pursue her."

"I know you're right but convincing myself to not let this affect me is different."

"Everything will work out Keith. Besides, I like Jackie a lot more than I ever liked Jillian for you."

Keith smiles and lets out a little laugh. "What makes you like Jackie more than Jillian already?"

"She's not stuck up, she appreciates you, and is willing to put up with your social awkwardness."

"True, she does, and she hasn't put up with anything yet."

Andy looks at Keith's eyes from the side and sees something he hasn't seen in a long time. "You really do like Jackie don't you?"

"More than I want to admit and that is why I'm scared. I don't think I could handle it if things go bad."

"So he asked you out on another date?" Melissa screams in a high pitched voice with excitement.

"It's not a date Melissa. It is just two new friends getting to know each other and me repaying him," Jackie says, grabbing Melissa by the arms, trying to calm down her friend. "Lunch with him today wasn't a date anyway."