What was he doing again? What was he watching?
Questions that have been coming to his mind of late. Especially in the situation that he finds himself in now.
Sitting down alone inside of her parent's basement all alone just staring silently at the television screen.
An usual sight for every other occupant in the house to see on most nights just allowing him some space.
Just allowing him to have time alone to his thoughts. But of late he knew exactly why they were leaving him along.
She had left. One week ago his ex girlfriend had left Point Place heading hundreds of miles away to stay with her mother in California.
An ex that had been on his mind for so many months ever since they had broken up. A woman that many thought was perfect for him.
So perfect where he would hear the rumors. How they were made perfect for each other. How they looked to be the perfect couple.
Oh how wrong they were. They weren't perfect. The evidence from their break up had proven this. The cracks had been revealed for all those to see.
Cracks that he couldn't help but think about for this past week. These cracks that would always be there.
The very same cracks that he continues to think about on this night just staring blankly at the television set in front of him paying absolutely no attention to what is playing across the screen.
Only on this night things were different. He was not alone. No another is with him. A young brunette laying nearby fast asleep a couch cushion away from him.
A girl that he couldn't help but feel sorry for. Feel truly sorry for what has happened to her through the years.
A girl that was much like him in some ways but not in ways any would be proud of. To not brag over. They both have had their hearts broken.
She just had her's broken more. A girl that had also watched her boyfriend leave town in what he considered to be a cowardly move. Even if he would never say it out loud.
A girl that he has seen time in and time out throw her heart and soul out there for the taking on a silver platter only to have it be thrown right back in her face.
Only to have her heart shattered into millions of pieces by the very same man each and every single time.
Something nobody should ever have to endure. Something nobody should ever have to experience but he couldn't help but admire her.
Admire her from seeing how strong she came out each and every single time. To come out as though she had been reborn again in a few ways.
Boosts in confidence not allowing anyone to put her down. Heck it showed when she would just shrug it off as though it meant really nothing to her to begin with.
God he wished he had that type of confidence sometimes. Even for just a little while. The confidence to stand up for himself.
Something that he still lacked. Even if he has stood up to his father a couple of times over the years.
Unknown to his knowledge as though his body was reacting on its own was answering his call. Answering his prayer as he glances at the young brunette by his side finding a loose piece of her hair right in front of her face.
This loose piece of hair that his hand is reaching towards now to tuck away before he quickly catches on causing his hand to come to a drastic halt when he feels her hair within his fingers causing his eyes to go wide.
Soft hair. So soft. Hair that he wanted nothing more to let go and retract his hand hoping to not awake her.
This young woman that he now can't help but stare down at thoughts forgotten. Thoughts that suddenly come to focus on this young woman in front of him.
This girl that he had been seeing in a new light for the past year now. This truly beautiful young woman in front of him.
A girl that for the first time he can't help but observe. Observe finding what would attract any guy to her.
She was truly beautiful in every possible way. A very pretty face. A perfect smile. Heck even her pouts were cute whenever they made an appearance across her face.
Long beautiful straight hair that any girl would kill to have. The perfect package in his opinion. But that wasn't what made her perfect to him.
No there was something else. Something that he has never spoken to anyone before. Words that he would never speak until this night.
Until they escape his lips in almost a faint whisper that could only be heard from a very close distance away as he tucks the loose piece of hair behind her ear causing her lips to curl upward.
This beautiful smile that he can't help himself from returning before he quietly reaches around to grasp the back of the couch.
" I'm sorry. I'm really sorry Jackie. You didn't deserve this to happen to you."
Keeping his eyes locked onto her face seeing absolutely no sign of her awakening at all letting out a silent sigh unable to keep his eyes from glancing back up towards her hair remembering just how soft it felt in his hands suddenly having this sudden urge to touch her releasing his grip on the couch slowly Eric moves his hand upward towards her face before his brain quickly kicks in causing him to bring his hand to a complete stop and return it to where it once came as he shakes his head.
What am i doing?
Looking back over towards her face seeing her looking almost peaceful with no signs of distress anywhere in sight letting out a sigh slowly Eric brings his hand back forward to rest his hand firmly down on his leg as he turns his body back forward to stare at the television screen.
" You shouldn't have to go through any of this. You should be with someone that will treat you right. Treat you like the princess you are. The others may not see it. Heck i didn't see it at first but somewhere inside is a heart made of gold.
I mean look what he has done to you. You've been lied too,cheated on,had your heart broken so many times by that idiot but you've had the heart to forgive him and for what to happen? Him to repeat the same damn cycle. If anyone in this house is a dumbass it's him."
Shaking his head slightly taking a quick glance over towards his side finding her unmoving from her spot sending her a sad smile slowly he returns his head back forward.
" You gave everything to him. Your heart,your mind,your body,and this is the thanks you get in return?
It's not right. You're like the perfect girlfriend in every way. Sure you may seem bossy at times but doesn't that show just how much you care? I mean Don…."
Bringing his head back to rest against the back of the couch seeing an image of Donna coming into his mind closing his eyes after a few seconds vanquishing the thought away taking a deep breathe Eric opens up his eyes and looks up towards the ceiling.
" I mean Pinciotti did that sometimes. It did help me. It really did. She helped give me the confidence to stand up to Red and for that i will always be thankful for.
But if this week has taught me anything it was we were both wrong about them. The more and more i've thought about it the more i've come to realize Donna and I were not meant to be. We're just too different. We want different things and i don't see her making any sort of sacrifice along the way."
And there it was. As like the quote may the words set you free. This weight that he was feeling being lifted off from his chest.
To feel get these things off of his chest. And it felt good. So damn good that his lips curl up into a brief smile before his eyes return down to look over at Jackie.
" If you asked me months ago, I would have told you, I would do anything for her. Just like i know you would have done the same for him.
I mean you got a job as a cheese maiden just to be with him. You defied your father following what you're heart told you to do instead of taking the easy way out and what exactly has he done for you? Nothing. Absolutely nothing."
Feeling a small surge of anger running through him before he knows it his hand reaches down into his shirt to grab a hold of a concealed object.
An object that many had thought would never be seen again. A ring. A promise ring to be more exact. A promise ring that is still attached to a makeshift necklace.
An very unusual sight but something that had been seen before. In fact the two occupants in the room had seen this before.
This necklace that is suddenly yanked off from his neck breaking the chain in half as he gently caresses the ring within his fingers with his eyes staring down towards the small piece of metal.
" You know when i got this for Donna, I really wasn't trying to hold her down. I really was just making a promise to her. A promise to always love her through good and bad but i guess she just didn't feel the same.
When Kelso came with me to purchase one for you, I couldn't help but feel the universe was playing this sick joke. He didn't buy the ring to make a promise to you.
I don't think he will ever have the courage to do so. No i think he was just doing it to ensure he would get whatever he wanted from you as bad as that may sound. I brushed this to the side thinking otherwise but i guess we were the fools in the end."
In a sudden move rearing back Eric unleashes the ring out of his hand soaring through the air at the television screen causing the ring to bounce off the screen with a cling and land down on the carpet nearby.
Closing his eyes briefly taking a long deep breathe opening his eyes turning his gaze away from the barely seen necklace on the carpet slowly he turns his attention back over towards Jackie.
" I know this probably won't mean much to you but i'm sorry. I'm really really sorry. I should have stuck up for you so many times when everyone else were being idiots but i won't make that mistake again. I'm always on your side rooting you on. Always remember that."
Doing his best to not wake her being as careful as he can quietly Eric gets up from his seat and makes his way around the couch towards a nearby chair grabbing a hold of a blanket that had been laying over one of the chair's arms before very gently he lays the blanket across her body leaving no part of her uncovered except for her head.
Except for her face that he finds still with a peaceful expression firmly across it's features causing him to smile before turning on his heels quietly he makes his way up the stairs with only the sound of the stairs creaking under his weight giving him away.
Creaks that get silenter and silenter by the second until he disappears through the open doorway closing the basement door silently behind him.
Closing the door silently unaware that down below another facial features change drastically. Change drastically as she listens to the sound of his footsteps going up the stairs causing the smile across her face to drop even more by the second before just as she hears the basement door closing suddenly Jackie snaps open her eyes revealing a pair of watery eyes.
Watery eyes that she starts to rub as she sits upright before she turns her head to look up the stairs where Eric had just went with an known feeling in her chest.
This unknown and foreign feeling that was making her heart beat faster into her chest until the point she feels it about to burst.
A feeling in which she has never experienced before. Not with Kelso. Not with any boy that she had a crush on before. Nobody.