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"I'm so tired," Donna mutters as she slams the car door. We just got back from going out for a girl's night with Genevieve. Of course, Donna didn't want to go, but I obviously forced her to.
"I know, I'm pretty out of it, too," I say as we walk up the driveway. I open up the door to the Forman household, and it reveals Eric and Steven, sitting at the table eating ice cream.
"So what I'm saying, man, is that it's not rational for her to keep on staying h-" Steven stops talking as he notices us come in.
Eric gets up. "Hi, Donna," he says, and kisses her, "Jackie," he nods toward me.
I just smile in acknowledgment and glance over at Steven. "What were you guys talking about..?"
"Me?" Steven asks. I nod, because it's obvious. He looks back at me and I can tell he's thinking because he pauses for a few seconds. "I was just talking about Amber. She should... move out of Wisconsin."
"Somehow," Donna comments, "I don't think either of us believe you." She sits down nonchalantly and gives Steven a knowing look.
Steven shoots her a glare. "Donna, why don't you-"
"Hey, hey, hey," Eric butts in, eager to prevent a fight from starting, "You ladies are tired, am I right? How about you get in your PJ's, and me and Hyde'll put a movie in for the four of us."
I'm about to accept the offer, until I hear Donna decline. "Thanks but no thanks," she says. "I've had enough of you two for the day." She points at me and Steven, then walks out the back door. "See you in the morning, Eric!"
"Bye, Donna," he slowly says. "Alright, what about you two? Movie?" he asks.
"Sounds good to me," I say.
"Nah, I think I'll just head to bed," Steven says. I think he just feel awkward around me, after what happened in the garage earlier. God knows I'm being hypocritical I could tell how red my face was when we walked in the door.
Eric looks at me. "Usually, I prefer to not spend my evenings with Satan. But, I think I'm desperate."
I smile, trying to think of something witty to say back, but nothing's hitting me. "At least I'm not... a mama's boy!"
"She got you there, Forman," Steven agrees before heading to the basement.
"Aw, come on. Are we gonna have a debate, or are we gonna watch a movie?" Eric asks.
"I'll go with the second one," I laugh.
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The ending credits come on, and I feel myself yawning.
"Tired?" Eric asks me.
"Yeah," I admit. "I think I'm gonna go downstairs and go to bed."
"Okay," he said. "See ya in the morning."
I head downstairs and think about how nice it was to just hang out with Eric without the stabbing insults. I wonder if I'll ever be able to hang out with Steven that way. No fighting, and no making out. Just friendly gestures and being respectful. Caring, even. Then again, this is Steven I'm thinking about.
Once I make it down the stairs, I hear the TV going. I see Steven, sitting on one of the chairs, watching commercials.
"Um, Steven?" I ask. He jumps when he hears my voice.
"I didn't mean to scare you," I say.
"Yeah, whatever," he mutters.
"So, um," I start. "I hate to bring this up, but-"
"Yeah, Jackie, I'm going to bed," Steven interrupts me, gets up, and starts walking to his room.
"Steven, wait!" I shout.
He turns around and sighs while glaring at me. "Yes?"
"Can we /please/ talk?" I ask.
Steven sighs again. "Whatever." He walks toward me and sits back down. "What's up?"
"Are we just gonna ignore what we did earlier?" I ask.
He rolls his eyes. "Jackie, most people don't address these things so bluntly."
"Steven, I'm serious," I insist.
"Yeah, so am I," he says. "Most people just ignore those things. When people have sex, especially when they usually don't speak, then they usually don't bring it up again."
"Well, I just want to know what's going on between us," I say. "Like, are we still enemies? Friends? ...more?"
Steven sighs and puts his head in his hands. "I don't know, Jackie. Do you really think I care?"
"Yes, Steven, I do!" I shout at him. "Because I remember when we were together you cared! And everybody said that we were best when we were together! And that /must/ count for something!"
He's silent for a moment, then he finally looks up at me. I have this slight hope that he's just going to smile and agree with everything I just said. That he'll just run up and hold me, like I always wanted. But sure enough...
"Jackie, that was the past. This is now. I'm going to bed." He walks to his room and shuts the door.
For a moment, I sit there, stunned. I stare at the TV for about three minutes, then I get up and knock on Steven's door. "Steven?"
"Yeah?" he asks from behind his door.
"...are you happy with your life right now? I mean, really."
I hear him take a deep breath. "If I say no, will you leave me alone?"
"No, Steven." I angrily open the door. "I want you to be honest with me. Are you happy?"
He rolls his eyes at me from his bed, and I can hardly see it. "Really, Jackie?" he asks in an irritable manner. Then he's quiet for a minute. Finally, he answers, "No, not really."
"And were you happy with me?" I ask, eager for an answer.
"Well, I don't know," he says.
"Steven, you were gonna propose to me. You better have loved me. You must have been damn happy," I say sternly.
He's quiet again. "Yeah. I was happy."
I knew it. "Then /why/ won't you accept me into your life again?"
"Because I don't want to be happy or attached to a girl. It's ridiculous, and it's not me. So get out, Jackie." He rolls over.
"No," I say, and I walk over towards him. "Steven, I'm not ignoring this."
"Jackie, there's nothing to ignore," he says, sitting up.
"Yes, there is. There's an entire past, the parts I remember and the parts that I don't. There's what's going on now. And there's what's yet to come. And really, I don't understand why you're like this." I say.
"You've known me for a long time, Jackie, and you know I've always been like this. I don't know how it can be such a shock to you," I hear him say.
"Still, Steven. I don't get it. And I'll never know if I still feel this way because of my memory loss or if it's stuck with me, but I know that I still love you." I look him straight in the eye.
He stares at me. Then, he stands up and faces me. "Jackie, you know I've cared about you in the past. And... I know I care about you now..."
"See? Why is it so hard to accept, then?" I interrupt.
"It's... listen, Jackie. You don't get me. But, I do... care about you. I just have a tough way of showing it. Especially when we're not together," he says.
"Then let's be together," I say as I wrap my arms around him, and we kiss.
Once it's over, though, he steps back. "But you're married."