Melting: Chapter 2
Author's Note: Please, please, please review if you have any opinion of this story what so ever. If my writing is getting cliché or redundant, please feel free to let me know. If you think my characterization sucks at life, let me know. If you like it, that'd be nice to hear too, just please let me know something! Alright, now that the begging is over I just want to thank all of you for reading, I hope you enjoy…
Disclaimer: Not Mine
She'd been in the city a few weeks. It had taken a number of days just to talk herself into rejoining the world, and it was only her gnawing hunger that had gotten her out of her room so quickly. Now she was starting to find a routine, and that was nice because the fewer chances she had to think would mean the fewer chances she had to remember how alone she was.
She was auditioning all day, every day, for any studio that would see her. Then she'd found a job serving drinks in a slightly sleazy bar. The regular clientele was pretty rough. Gross middle-aged men, smelling of stale alcohol and cigarettes as they groped her freely, and left tips based entirely on skin exposure, rather than on the quality of her service. She felt demeaned, and was sure that Donna would be ashamed of her, if Donna cared enough to know what she was doing, but she made enough to eat a little and stay in her hotel. So, she didn't complain; besides, she had no one to complain to.
She had already gotten a few calls from Kitty. She'd been flattered that Mrs. Forman was worried about her, like a mother would be. Apparently Donna and Fez had been upset not receive any goodbye's, but frankly Jackie was surprised they'd noticed she was gone. But she told Kitty to tell them she was sorry and missed them. At least half of it was true. And somehow every time Kitty tried to mention Steven, Jackie managed to steer the conversation away. She was sure he didn't care that she was gone, and she couldn't handle hearing any news of his newlywed bliss.
Surprisingly, the last time Kitty called Red had asked to talk to her. He'd asked if she had enough money. She said she found a job. He asked if she felt safe. She assured him she had pepper spray in her purse and kept her door locked at all times. He told her to be careful. She promised that she would. He said to make sure she stayed in touch. He said the house was too quiet. She said she missed him too.
And that had been it. And when she hung up, she had cried for hours.
She'd been in LA about a month when she finally got an audition call back. It was for a small independent film being done by a no-name, fresh-out-of-film-school director. It would barely pay for her week's rent at the hotel, but it was a start.
Coming out of her second reading, she realized she nailed it. Necessity can be great motivation.
Luckily, the director was flexible and shot her scenes around her shifts at the bar. The whole process went quickly, and after the last day of filming the director had followed her to work, to celebrate with a drink the completion of his first film. He'd bought her a few drinks too, told her she was great. He told her he knew she'd be a star.
She slept with him.
Even though she knew he was lying.
But she just didn't want to be alone anymore.
She woke up the next morning without him beside her. She was relieved he was gone. Somehow, even when he was on top of her, looking at her like she was the most beautiful girl he'd ever touched, she looked back at him and barely recognized this man. And she had never felt lonelier.
She figured life just sucks that way sometimes.
The next call from Kitty brought news of Eric's return. Kitty sounded like she was walking on clouds. But she said something about wishing her other babies would come home too. Jackie knew that she was included in that wish, her and Michael and Laurie. She was grateful. A moment of mother's genuine love can seem to transcend the miles, and for a second she felt slightly warm around the edges.
Eric had taken the phone at one point. They talked for a good hour about the last bit of his adventure abroad and about her movie and the beach. She'd been surprised at how easily the conversation came between them. Perhaps that's why she had gotten up the nerve to finally ask about Steven.
"Oh, he's Hyde. Doesn't say much that isn't to insult someone else. But he seems alright. Content if not happy."
Somehow that news made her feel even colder inside.