The Seeker
Steven pulled at the neck of his sweater, his eyes furtively taking in his surroundings.
Christmas shoppers filled the mall, wrapped up in coats and scarves, and Steven longed for his own coat. He stared at it, clasped in Red's grasp, and scowled. Steven crossed his arms, trying in vain to hide the giant Rudolph knitted onto the front of his sweater Mrs. Forman had given for him to wear in this years Christmas card. He pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, glancing around. The heels of his boots were loud on the tiled floor and he felt his hands pulling at the bright red sweater.
He had almost, almost, laughed in Mrs. Forman's face when she had presented the sweater to him this morning. But Mrs. Forman had been so proud, beaming at him, that he had swallowed down his retort, and accepted the sweater with a strained smile. Seeing Forman and Red, in matching, hand knit sweaters had made the whole ordeal slightly more bearable.
Red had confiscated Eric's and Steven's coats upon entering the Olan Mills Portrait Studio, ensuring that they wouldn't be able to run away. Steven had spent the past twenty minutes thinking of ways to burn Red in retaliation. A small scratch on the Corvette, or maybe cutting the cable right in the middle of the Packers game would be the perfect payback for this terrible, horrible day.
"Oh, isn't this just so exciting?" Kitty asked. She smoothed her own sweater, emblazoned with Mrs. Claus, and smiled around at her men. "I just love Christmas."
"Yeah, it's amazing," Steven muttered. He widened his stance, knees locking. "This line better go quick, I gotta get back to the store."
"Oh, hush, you'll be fine," Kitty said dismissively. She pulled his hands away from the hem of his sweater, patting his shoulder. "Angie can manage the store on her own for an hour or two."
"Yeah, I don't know, Mrs. Forman," Steven said, shaking his head. "She's not the brightest bulb on the strand."
"Ha, ha," Eric said, his own hands attempting to cover the Frosty the Snowman adorned over his chest. "Yeah, she's only been in Point Place for, what, a week? And she's already-"
Eric cut himself off, clearing his throat. His skinny fingers gripped his sweater.
"What?" Steven asked. An intense sense of protectiveness washed over him. The same as when Jackie was upset, or someone made a pass at Donna. "She's already what?"
"Man, are you serious?" Eric said, his green eyes fixed over Steven's head. He groaned, his head dropping back on his shoulders. "As if this day could get any worse."
Steven followed Eric's line of sight. A family of four had entered the Olan Mills Portrait Studio, milling around the entrance, and Steven suppressed a groan of his own as he registered who they were. Timmy Thompson, his little sister Nancy, and parents, all dressed in simple, but respectable Christmas attire. Timmy had the loudest mouth of anyone Steven had ever heard, spreading rumors, and yelling as his regular form of communication so everyone in Kenosha County could hear.
"Shit," Steven said, turning his back. Just what he needed, everyone at school to know that he had willingly worn this godforsaken sweater. "Mrs. Forman, how much longer?"
Kitty rounded on her boys. "I don't know, so, please, for the love of god, quit asking. It's not killing you to be here! We'll be done when we're done!"
Steven stalked off further into the store, hoping to get lost, or maybe strangled, in the rack of clothing hanging against the back wall. He busied himself with the feathered boas, and sequined shrugs, running the materials over his hands.
"Heyyyy! It's Forman!"
Steven looked over his shoulder.
Timmy had finally spotted Eric, and as usual, was yelling his pleasure, his pointer finger fixed on Eric's sweater.
"Oh, my god, Forman!" Timmy shouted, his eyes bright with mischief. "Look at your sweater!"
"Hush!" Mrs. Thompson said, thwacking Timmy up the back of his head. "Kitty, Red! How wonderful to see you!"
"Connie, you're looking…" Kitty started, her voice full of false bravado. Red looked on apathetically, hands deep in his pockets. The Santa Claus on his sweater didn't seem to bother him in the slightest, and he nodded a hello to Mr. Thompson, the men sharing a look that only married men could. Kitty motioned between the family. "Why, you all just look so snazzy!"
Connie Thompson smoothed her red velvet dress, placing a hand on Nancy's shoulder. "Oh, well, you know, I just like for us to look like a catalog family. One anyone would be proud to display the picture of."
Kitty's smile froze on her mouth. "Uh huh."
Steven rolled his eyes, glad that Timmy hadn't noticed him yet. Steven crossed his arms over his chest, kicking the heel of his boot on the floor. How he longed for this day to be over with.
"Forman?"
A plump saleslady called their name, and Steven pushed away from the rack of clothes, shuffling over to Red and Kitty. A winter forest landscape had been set up, with two fake Christmas trees set to either side. A wooden stool was set in the very center before the backdrop, and Mrs. Forman eagerly slid onto its seat.
"Ok, now, you sir," the saleslady grabbed Red's arm, tanking the coats from his grasp and depositing them on the ground, "you stand here." She positioned Red just behind Kitty, angling his hips to match her shoulders. "And place your hands on her shoulders. Great, yeah, that's perfect.
"Now, you," she grabbed Forman's wrist, yanking him into the shot. She framed Eric next to his mother, leaving a gap right in the middle. "Place one hand in your pocket. No, your other hand. Not all the way in your pocket, just casual, like you're talking with your friends."
"I don't know about you," Eric said, wriggling his hand out of his pocket slightly. "But I do not stand around talking to my friends this way."
"Shut it," Red said, his hands gripping Kitty's shoulders a bit more.
The saleslady ignored Eric's comment, used to hearing snide remarks. She took a couple of steps backward to her camera, fidgeting with the zoom to make sure they were still in frame.
"And last but not least!" Steven resisted as the saleslady pulled him forward. His heels dug into the carpet and he tripped over the excess fabric pooled on the floor from the backdrop. The saleslady placed him in the middle, her meaty hands lingering on his hips as she squared him off to the camera.
"All right, everyone, show time!" she called, racing around them to her camera. Bright lights shone down on them, and Steven was grateful for his sunglasses. Grateful that is until he was forced to remove them, holding them in his sweaty palm.
Timmy Thompson was laughing silently, pointing at Eric and Steven, while his sister Nancy stamped her foot, pinching at her big brothers side.
"Smiles!" the saleslady crooned from behind her camera. Her hands rose and her fingers counted down, "Three! Two! One! Cheeeeeeeese!"
"Cheeeeeeese!" Kitty repeated with what Steven could only imagine was the largest grin she could muster.
"Ok, young man in the back, I need you to smile," She popped up from behind the camera, her pointer fingers digging into the corners of her mouth. Her grin was comic, and Steven sneered in response, hooking his thumbs on his belt.
Red's elbow made contact with Steven's arm. "Smile, dumbass."
Steven gave a closed lipped smile, his chin tilted high and his eyes screaming his pain.
Nancy Thompson watched them from the sidelines, Timmy finally still. Her eyes bore holes at Eric, and she chewed her lower lip, the fingers of her right hand rubbing the fabric of her dress over and over. She swayed slightly on her feet, her eyes never blinking. Steven found himself staring at her, bothered by her complete lack of awareness.
"Ok, last one! Big smiles!"
Steven's cheeks hurt with the effort of holding his smile.
The saleslady rewound the film, removing it from the back of the camera. She sighed, her own smile forced as Mr. and Mrs. Forman approached her. "Your photos should be ready in three days."
"Oh, well, we had a package picked out," Kitty said, ignoring the look the saleslady gave her. They ambled off to the cash register, leaving Steven and Eric to themselves. Red had finally given them back their coats, and both boys slid them over their arms, covering their sweaters with twin sighs of relief.
"Wanna walk around?" Eric asked, edging towards the door. He was still oblivious to Nancy's stare, and Steven wasn't about to point it out to Eric. "I'll give Red the keys to the cruiser, I'll ride home with you."
"Yeah, man, sure," Steven said, zipping up his coat to hide Rudolph. "Jackie's working right now, I wanna stop by, and save the fight if I don't say hi."
Eric hurried off across the small store, skirting around Nancy and Timmy waiting beside their parents for their turn. Red took the keys from Eric, nodding his head. The older man briefly looked at Steven, nodding his head.
"Alright, let's blow this joint," Eric said, returning to Steven's side.
The two boys started towards the exit.
"Bye, Eric!" Nancy called, rising onto her toes. She blushed when Eric turned back towards her, a small, shy smile on her rosy lips.
"Bye," Eric called back uncertainly. He pursed his mouth, his hand rising and falling.
Steven led the way out into the bustling corridor. They turned right out of the store, heading towards the food court.
"That was weird," Eric remarked. He snapped a couple of closures on his coat, eyebrows furrowed in thought.
"What?" Steven asked. He sidestepped a mother chasing after a toddler, wrapped like a marshmallow in winter gear. He spotted Jackie behind the register at The Cheese Palace, but she was busy helping a customer, pointing out different cheeses. Steven hooked his thumbs in his pockets. "You wanna eat something? There's a Fatso Burger. Jackie said they found the finger the fry cook burned off."
"I only have, like," Eric said, patting his wallet in his back pocket, "four dollars. No, man, I meant Timmy's little sister."
Steven sighed. He turned away from The Cheese Palace. "Nancy?"
"Yeah, Nancy," Eric said. He followed Steven to the Fatso Burger line. "She's never really talked to me before. Well, she used to, when Timmy and I were both in the scouts, she'd talk to me all the time at meetings Mr. Thompson held for the troop. But then she just stopped. Man, now I find her just staring at me. In the halls, at lunch, whenever I have to go to the front office for a pass. It's weird."
"Yup," Steven said. He found his own eyes seeking out his chick, staring at her interminably as the line edged forward. "Girls are weird, man."
Eric grew suddenly quiet, staring up at the menu. He pursed his mouth, chewing on the insides of his cheeks. They ordered burgers and fries, moving off into the expansive food court to an empty table. Steven sat facing The Cheese Palace, finally catching Jackie's attention. She smiled softly at him, but didn't react any more than that. Ever since Thanksgiving, she had been slightly distant, if not overly polite to him. Their last fight had been hard on the both of them, and the guilt Steven had felt at his words still gripped his heart.
"I found her waiting outside the bathroom," Eric said, taking a sip of his soda.
"Who? Nancy?" Steven asked, forgetting fleetingly that Eric was sitting across from him. Steven unwrapped his burger, clearing his throat and taking a bite.
Squirting ketchup onto his tray, Eric nodded, grabbing some fries. "Yeah, I came out of the bathroom," Eric waved the fires, his eyebrows waggling, "and she was just… There! It was like she had been following me, or something. And then!" Eric jabbed the fries in Steven's direction. "She was there again! Right after Chemistry, just lurking in the hallway."
"Maybe she's got a thing for you, Forman," Steven said, taking another bite of his burger.
Eric ate his fries, his green eyes staring off around the food court. "Maybe."
Steven peered at his watch. "I gotta get out of here soon, Forman, make sure Angie hasn't burned down the store."
"Yeah, ok," Eric said, moving on to his burger. The two ate the rest of their food quickly, gathering their trash onto their trays. They tossed their garbage close to The Cheese Palace, Eric waiting by the fountain as Steven darted into the small store.
"Hey," Steven said, approaching Jackie. She was dusting a display shelf, standing on a small stepladder. Her legs were covered in gooseflesh, and Steven rubbed the palm of his hand over her calf.
"Steven, I'm working," Jackie said, shaking off his hand. Her brown eyes flitted to Todd, and then away again. "You can't feel me up while I'm working."
"Wasn't trying to feel you up," Steven said. "You look cold."
"Oh," Jackie said, coming down the ladder. "I hadn't realized. It's been so busy today. Everyone wants cheese platters for their Christmas parties, and I have three orders to finish after I get the rest of the new products faced."
"Is it just you and Todd?" Steven asked, noting the way Todd had kept his distance since Steven's entrance. The short blond man shot furtive glances at the pair.
"No, Dawn's here." Jackie said, motioning with her chin towards the back of the store. As if right on cue, another cheese maiden entered from the storage cooler, her arms laden with shrink-wrapped sausages.
Dawn brought the sausage over to Jackie, dumping the merchandise onto a small cart. She puckered her mouth, hands on her hips. "Here's the last of the new shipment. Phil said that he would be bringing another box tomorrow." Dawn looked around the store. "Though I have no idea where we'll put it all."
"I'll leave you to it," Steven said, taking a step back. "I gotta get to the store, see how Angie's doing."
"Ok," Jackie said, moving the stepladder down the shelving display. She placed her hands on her hips, turning to look to her boyfriend. "I'm really busy here, I'll see you later, Steven."
"Are you going to come by after your shift still?" Steven asked. Dawn had unfolded a second stepladder and was taking over where Jackie had left off, moving product, and dusting the shelves. Steven noted the way Dawn looked at the both of them, her feather duster revolving slowly in the same spot. Steven cleared his throat, lowering his voice so only Jackie could hear him. "You haven't seen Grooves in its full glory yet."
Jackie took a deep breath. "We'll see."
Steven licked his lips, longing to touch her again. "Yeah, alright."
Jackie seemed impatient for him to leave, and Steven didn't wait around for her to ask him to. He mumbled a goodbye, turning on his heel. He met Eric at the fountain, walking towards the exit. A part of him wanted to turn back, to get that last check of Jackie, to see if she was looking at him too. Hope Springs Eternal Jackie's voice sang in his head. But unlike Lot's wife, he wasn't desperate to be turned into a pillar of salt, so Steven didn't look back. He walked out into the Wisconsin winter, Eric at his side.
-x-
Jackie and Dawn pulled the heavy metal grate down over The Cheese Palace's entrance, the both of them working together to hold it down, as Todd turned the lock on either side of the grate with his key. He stood slowly, as the two girls released the gate, and Todd motioned for them to follow.
"Paychecks are here," Todd said. He stooped behind the counter, opening the safe. "There's a little something extra too, for Christmas."
"Yes!" Dawn exclaimed, grabbing her check from Todd. "There are a cute pair of boots I've been eyeing all week."
Jackie took hers, folding it in half. "Thanks, Todd."
Todd slammed the safe door closed, spinning the lock a couple of times. He placed a hand on either of the girls shoulders. "Don't go spending it all in one place now, ladies."
Dawn rolled her eyes. "Yes, dad."
Jackie shot Todd a look as he began to massage his fingers over her shoulder, his pointer finger edging over to her bare skin. Todd's hand fell back, as if scalded.
"I for one," Todd said hurriedly, flipping off the store's main lights. He followed them through the back room to their lockers, "will be spending this money on the next lessons to earn my nidan black belt. My instructor says that I am progressing well through my courses."
Jackie and Dawn shared a look as they slipped on their coats.
Todd planted his feet, bending his knees. He flexed his arms, his face tense with concentration.
"Pretty soon," Todd continued, oblivious to the girls silent laughter, "I'll have to go up to Kenosha, to a bigger dojo. I've almost outranked Sensei Peter."
"Wow, that's totally awesome." Dawn said, laughter leaching through her words.
Todd grinned, coming up from his pose. He nodded his head, as if to say, he already knew.
"I think so too," Todd said. He slipped his own coat over his shoulders, zipping up the down jacket to his chin.
Jackie barked a laugh, slapping a hand over her mouth. She grabbed her purse, slamming her locker closed. She stuffed her check into her purses depths, slinging the bag over her shoulder.
"Come along, ladies, while the night is still young!" Todd called. He waited for them by the door leading out to the employee's hallway. Todd jingled his keys in his hand, nodding them through the door.
Dawn and Jackie followed Todd, waiting in the hall as he closed and locked The Cheese Palace's employee entrance behind them. The three of them left together, hurrying down the hall towards the parking lot. Their footsteps echoed in the tiled hall, bouncing back at them. Snow had begun to fall again, covering the parking lot in a crisp sheet of powder white, and Jackie bid the other two a quick farewell, running cautiously across the parking lot towards the Lincoln.
She blew warm arm into her hands, sliding behind the Lincoln's steering wheel. Fumbling with the keys, Jackie started the engine, flipping the defrost on to full blast. Cold seeped through her coat, and her bare legs were icicles.
"Dammit, it's cold!" Jackie muttered to herself, shivering. She rubbed her hands together, watching the ice that covered the windows finally begin to melt.
"You're listening to Hot Donna, on WFPP The Sound. It's a chilly one out there folks-"
"Gee, you think, Lumberjack?" Jackie yelled at the radio, shivering. Warm air began to pour from the vents and Jackie angled them all onto her body. "Oh, god, that's nice."
"-heavy snow, and low temperatures are in the forecast. The National Weather Service for Kenosha County is warning of a possible blizzard. Bring in your pets and plants! Now here's a hot new track from Foreigner."
Melted ice dripped down the windshield, and Jackie flipped on the wiper blades, flinging ice off the glass and into the snowy lot. She put the car in reverse, backing up out of her spot. Jackie passed by Dawn, still waiting in her frozen Mustang. The girls waved to each other, Jackie hurrying out of the lot and onto the highway.
Well I'm hot blooded,
Check it and see.
I've got a fever of a hundred and three.
Jackie carefully maneuvered the car into town, subconsciously leaning forward over the steering wheel. Driving in ice always made her nervous. The Lincoln had already caught a patch of black ice, hydroplaning for three heart stopping seconds before gaining traction again. In that time Jackie had seen her future pass before her eyes, and how bleak it had been. It was enough to give her nightmares.
She brought the Lincoln to a slow stop at the stop sign. Grooves sat on the corner, just across the street, and Jackie considered Steven's invitation. The wiper blades cut a path across the windshield, filling the cabin with its steady beat.
Grooves was brightly lit, though its parking lot was nearly empty. Jackie glanced at the time, understanding why. Fifteen after ten.
The Camino was parked in front of the low roofed building, and Jackie angled the Lincoln next to it, leaving the wipers sloping across the windshield. She pulled her coat closer around her body, hurrying out of the warm car towards Grooves warm interior. Her wedges slid across the icy sidewalk and she skated, grabbing the door handle to catch her fall, a yelp escaping her lips.
Steven looked up at her entrance from his perch behind the counter. Zeppelin blared from the speakers. Steven reached behind him, turning down the volume on the control board behind him.
"Hey!" Steven called. A small smile lit up his face, and Jackie found herself smiling back. He stood from his stool, coming around the side of the counter.
"Hey," Jackie said back, dumping her purse on the listening pit's blue couch.
Angie waved at her through the office's window, and Jackie waved back, giving Steven's sister a terse smile. She still hadn't forgiven the witch for trying to get her Steven fired.
"Didn't think you'd come," Steven said as he neared her. His face looked hopeful, his sunglasses clipped to his collar. "Nice surprise."
Jackie shivered, her bare legs covered in goose flesh. Her eyes took in the finished store. "You were right, I haven't seen Grooves in its full glory."
"Jackie!" Angie called, exiting the office. "It's so great to see you. Steven has been moping about since he got here. It'll be nice to have him able to function. Well. As much as a dope head can, at least."
"I have not," Steven spat, defensively. He took up Jackie's purse, bringing it over to the counter and taking his seat on his stool.
Angie leaned close to Jackie. "Yes, he has."
Jackie nodded. "I am pretty amazing."
"So, what's up with the outfit?" Angie said, her dark eyes taking in Jackie's uniform. "Is there another sausage festival in this town?"
"Oh," Jackie held open her coat. Cheese wafted off her clothes, filling the warm air with the scent of moldy Gorgonzola. "I work at The Cheese Palace."
"I sure hope to God they're paying you enough money," Angie said, walking over to the register. Her nose was twisted in a sneer.
Jackie shrugged, following after Angie. "Enough to support my lifestyle, and that's all I care about right now."
Angie nodded. She glanced at her wristwatch, tapping her free hand on the counter. "I wish these people would hurry up. I have a date tonight."
"Oh, yeah?" Steven asked, looking at his sister suspiciously. "With who?"
"No one," Angie replied, coquettish.
"Hey, dimwits!" Steven called to a pair of teens loitering by the rock section.
"What?" one of them yelled back.
"Either pick out a record, or get out!" Steven yelled, tossing his hand up. "We're closed!"
"Nice, Steven," Angie said. The two teens hurried out of the store, muttering to one another, and tossing back dirty looks. Angie rounded on her brother. "You know, if you read any of the literature on how to properly run a business, you'd know, rule number one, the customer is always right. Rule number two, you don't yell at the customers!"
"Oh, whatever," Steven said. He opened the register, taking out his cash drawer. "Who are you going on a date with? You can't just date anyone in this town, y'know."
Angie sighed, turning towards the office. She fielded off Steven's cash drawer, ignoring his question. "Would you mind finishing this up? I really am late. I left the books open for you; all you have to do it count and write down what you have. Think you can manage?"
"I don't appreciate the attitude. I used to do this for Leo all the time," Steven said, propping the cash drawer on his hip. "Quit treating me like a common criminal."
Angie shot Steven a look that clearly stated what she thought of him and disappeared into the office. She returned with her coat and bag, slightly out of breath as she half-jogged across the store towards the ext. "I'll see you guys tomorrow!"
"Have fun on your date!" Jackie called.
"Don't encourage her, Jackie," Steven said.
Jackie feigned innocence. "What?"
"You know what."
Steven locked the door behind Angie, flipping the sign over to read Closed. Jackie trailed behind him to the office, leaning against the doorjamb. She watched Steven pull the books closer to him, counting the money from the register.
Zeppelin had come to an end, the tone arm clicking as it settled back in it's cradle. Jackie spun around, idling up and down the aisles as Steven worked. She could just see the top of his curly head through the office's window, bent low over his work.
Selecting a record from a milk crate, Jackie replaced Zeppelin, bringing the tone arm down to the first track. She turned up the volume, taking up the cardboard sleeve and reading the back.
"No!" Steven yelled from the office. His head poked around the door. "Turn this crap off!"
"Shut up and work!" Jackie responded, turning up the volume so the Captain and Tennille pulsed from the speakers.
Jackie sat on Steven's abandoned stool, cupping her chin in her palm. She stared blankly at the cardboard sleeve, spinning it on the counter by the corner. The air in Grooves was stifling warm, the opposite of how Steven liked it. Must have been Angie, Jackie thought, fleetingly picturing how lithe and skinny Steven's sister was. Jackie slid her fur coat from her shoulders, draping it across the counter.
Love
Love will keep us together
Think of me babe, whenever
Singing softly along with Toni, Jackie eyed the posters covering the walls around her. A full wall of Led Zeppelin was directly across from the counter. Aerosmith, Judas Priest, and Eric Clapton. Everywhere she looked was Steven's influences. Spinning around on the stool, Jackie let her hand drop hard onto the glass counter top. Cassette tapes lined the wall behind the counter, organized seemingly randomly, but Jackie knew Steven knew where every single tape was. He had a system, a way.
Jackie stood, the balls of her feet aching from wearing wedges all day.
You
You belong to me now
Ain't gonna set you free now
Jackie crossed her arms under her chest, gliding around the store. She flipped through the soft rock section, smirking when she noticed that Steven had marked the Pat Boone albums with a hastily scrawled R at the end of his name. She ran the tips of her fingers over each milk crate, remembering the night the gang had gotten together to steal them.
Lately it felt like everyone was going their separate ways. Eric and Donna were in a limbo, dating, but with no regard to their future. Who knew where it would take them. Michael was busy becoming a cop, and when he wasn't, he was off with Betsy and Brooke, attempting to become a father. And Fez… Jackie didn't want to think about Fez. If anyone should be a hairdresser and beauty consultant, it was she.
Whatever
Young and beautiful
But someday your looks will be gone
When the others turn you off
Who'll be turning you on?
"So what do you think?" Steven asked, startling Jackie out of her reverie. She spun towards him.
"It looks nice," Jackie acknowledged, "now that everything's out of boxes."
Steven looked around the store. He hooked his thumbs on his belt buckle. Jackie fell onto the listening pit's couch, tucking her legs up under her. She rubbed absently at her ankles, pulling at the laces of her wedges. Steven sank onto the cushion beside her, jostling her with his weight. One of his hands, warm and clammy, settled onto her knee.
"You ok?" Steven asked.
Ever since Thanksgiving Jackie had been trying to prove Steven wrong. That she wasn't punishing him for how he had hurt her feelings. But even she knew she was failing. She had been hot and cold towards him, going through phases of intense affection, and cold standoffishness. Annoyance lit into her like a virus, souring her moods at times that didn't even make sense to herself.
"Yeah," Jackie said, nodding her head. She could convince herself. As her mother said, Fake It Till You Believe It. "Yeah, I'm ok."
Steven's hand was moist on her skin. "We ok?"
Jackie's eyes met Steven's. She covered his hand with her own, drawing her lower lip between her teeth. She didn't know what they were. But she would soon. The LOPPS Christmas party was in two days. Either Steven shaped up and became the man she knew he could be, or she cut the tether stringing them together.
"Yeah, Steven, we're ok." Jackie said. She desperately wanted to believe it true.
A genuine smile lit Steven's face. He cupped her face, drawing her to him for a kiss. Jackie wondered how he had believed her so quickly. But maybe that's just how men operate.
Jackie kissed Steven in return, leaning into his touch. She was taken back, to that summer, their summer, of making out on the ratty couch in the Forman's basement. It was easy to forget about the rest, the messy bits that had come after. When they had first started this, there was nothing to ruin, except Jackie's makeup with their intense make-outs.
Heat pooled between her thighs, that all too familiar ache Steven induced upon her body pulsing at her sex. Jackie moaned softly, breaking away to come back straddling Steven's lap.
"Oh, god, yes," Steven moaned back, tugging her cheese maiden cap off of her head. His hands dropped to her thighs. "I've fantasized of taking you in this outfit. Bending you over… Pushing your skirt up your thighs."
Jackie rolled her hips over him. She brought her hands to her body, first cupping her breasts, than teasing him with the laces at her bodice. Pulling gently on the ribbon, Jackie watched Steven's expression, lust taking over his features.
Steven pushed up against her, pressing his erection into her center. "God, I want you."
"Take me, Steven," Jackie whispered, pulling apart her bodice.
It was passionate, and quick, hard and soft. All the good qualities of their love making rolled into one go. Jackie lost herself in the moment, losing herself in the feeling. The couch was soft under her; Steven was hard over her. She cried her orgasm, coming harder than she remembered coming in a long time. Her legs wrapped about his waist, holding him to her, as her hips moved of their own accord, drawing the last of her quaking pleasure from her body.
Steven pulled back from her, motioning for her to stand. He turned her back to him, and said, "Get on your knees on the couch."
Jackie complied without complaint. She spread her knees wide, teasing Steven with the view of her perfectly rounded ass, giggling when Steven lightly spanked her, taking her hips in his hands. Watching him over her shoulder, Jackie tossed her hair out of her eyes. God he looked so sexy, panting slightly, and staring at her like she was the sexiest thing he had seen.
"God, I'm going to use this for a while," Steven said, taking her in. He came closer, sliding into her with a groan. "Fuck, Jackie," Steven moaned. He adjusted his grip on her hips, pushing her cheese maiden uniform up her hips. Jackie's eyes drifted shut as Steven began to move, and she whimpered wantonly.
They were both sweaty when Steven spilled himself inside of her. He leaned over her back, cupping her breasts as he kissed her shoulders.
Jackie pulled away, turning to face Steven. His hot semen dripped down the insides of her thighs, mingling with her own slick arousal. They kissed, a kiss full of unspoken wants.
"I love you, Steven," Jackie whispered, pressing her forehead to his. Steven's arms tightened around her. He kissed her cheeks, the tip of her nose.
"Yeah, baby, I know," Steven whispered back, kissing her mouth.
-x-
The LOPPS Christmas Party is almost here!
Also, I couldn't find really anything about The Cheese Palace, since in the show Jackie seemingly just quits working, even though her family is now broke and poor, and Steven isn't the type to just hand her money. I can't fathom why Jackie would quit her job, especially while she is now supporting herself. So yeah, long explanation short, Jackie still has this job while she's still in high school.
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