Author Note: …what happens when Mr. 681977 meets Miss 33058….read and find out…..

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Chapter 10 – Wanted

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"God, I am so embarrassed. How do I face him now? I just want to hide under a rock!" Jackie had pulled the upstairs telephone into the hall closet.

Brooke replied, "Well honey, you don't know that he knew what you were doing. Do you?"

"Brooke, I was circling potential ads with big red hearts so yeah, I think he knew what I was doing."

"Okay, there is nothing wrong with looking at the personal ads. I do it; I want to see what people are looking for and sometimes just to get a good laugh. But that's not why you're calling me. So what is it really about?"

In a hushed voice Jackie answered, "He kissed me again and oh Brooke, it was tender and wonderful… but it was meant for Donna."

"Jackie, if he's kissing your lips, why would you think it was meant for Donna?"

"Because… they just broke up! I'm the rebound girl. He's thinking about her and kissing me…it's a classic Cosmo article. I'm the middle of a Donna-Eric sandwich."

"Jackie, you are not a rebound girl. I think Eric kissed you because he likes you. There's no secret that he looks at you like you're special."

"Excuse me if I don't believe you and this closet is starting to get stuffy. I think Mrs. Forman has a dead animal in here or something."

"Wait, you're calling me from the inside of a closet? Honey, come over and we'll talk. I'll be waiting for you."

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Eric sat down and looked at the ads Jackie had circled. It was astounding at the number of men looking for woman and singles just looking for someone.

One article with a circle read:

SWM Looking for single woman for romance.

6'2, 180 lb with good job call me for

Good time. 118527

Eric read one that Jackie had drawn a heart around.

White male looking for a girl to talk to

hang out, mess around with, and possibly date

Call me baby – I'm ready 257963

He looked at several more that she had marked up and wondered why someone as lovely as Jackie was resorting to the want ads for a date. Eric decided to see how this dating thing worked.

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Kelso had taken Betsy to his mom's when Jackie stopped by. Brooke had the day's paper and wanted to see what Jackie was interested in. Jackie circled the same ad's she found in Red's paper.

"Look at this one. He's just looking for a girl to talk with or maybe date… That's all I'm looking for - somebody that doesn't know all my baggage and isn't going to judge me." Jackie explained.

Brooke looked at the advertisement. "Well, how does this work?" Jackie folded the newspaper. "I can contact the newspaper and give them this number 257963 and they will give me a phone number or I can write a letter and contact the guy that way. It seems pretty simple."

"But honey, these are strangers. You have no idea about their backgrounds…they could be ex-convicts. You don't know."

Jackie pushed her hair behind her ear, "Everyone is a stranger until you meet them. Plus, I would only meet them in a very public place."

Brooke looked at all the single men looking for women. "Jackie…but what about Eric?"

"What about him? We're good friends." Until he kissed her that way. She wanted more of that from someone who wanted her. Some guy who just wanted to be with a "nobody" like Jackie Burkhart.

Brooke sighed, "Okay, I can see you have your heart set on this but promise me one thing."

Jackie smiled, she was glad Brooke was on broad with her plan." What do you need?"

"Let me look at the ads you choose and offer my advice. I don't want you to end up with a sleaze ball like Casey Kelso."

Jackie laughed. "Deal. I'm going to go back and call the newspaper and make a love connection."

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Jackie went back to school and Eric went back to work. Jackie had found two ad's she felt had possibilities and called the newspaper for the mailing address. This Friday, she would hopefully get a response and a first date!

She had tactfully avoided Eric and spent the remainder of the weekend working on her replies to the personal ads. This was going to be exciting.

Eric got home on that Friday night with a bag of mail stacked against his front door. Smiling, he picked it up and carried it into his apartment. There were no messages on his new answering machine so he got a soda and began opening the letters.

Dear 681977

That's my lucky number. I'm a single woman and I live in the Point Place suburbs, I don't have any scars and I'm a light drinker. I can rock your world if you let me. Write back soon

Bertie #330586

Eric decided to put Bertie it the Good pile. He found a lime colored envelope and opened it next.

Dear 681977

I am a down to earth girl and I only eat organic foods. I hate loud music but love smooth jazz and some homemade wine. I'm 36-24-36. I have three kids but they should be no problem.

Alexis # 331879

Sorry Alexis, I'm sure you're nice but you are going in the Nope pile. Eric spent at least an hour reading and ended up with six good letters and the remaining 32 were awful. What had Jackie gotten herself into?

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Jackie received a letter from 257963 with a phone number. She looked at the heart shaped ad and it turned out to be the hang around possibly date guy. Okay, she would see how this "hanging out" would go. Where would she hang around at? This was going to take some thought.

"Brooke, it's the white male looking for a girl to talk to hang out, mess around with, and possibly date guy. I think I want to try this. Where should I meet him?"

"Jackie, if you're sure you want to do this…try and do it at some open public place. You know, where you won't be alone."

"Funland?"

"God, no! Go to the park or something. This guy could be a pervert or a really nice guy but don't take chances."

"I know the roller rink! I haven't skated in years and there are lots of people there." Jackie replied.

Brooke answered, "That would be perfect. Let me know how it goes!"

"I promise!"

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Eric didn't know what to do with the letters he got because he was concerned about what Jackie was doing looking at the personals in the first place. Did she reply to one of the circles ads? Who could he ask?

Brooke! Brooke was her best friend and she would know!

The Vista Cruiser was on a direct course to Kelso's house.

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"Eric, you know I can't divulge the secrets of my best friend even if I think she is doing something stupid." Brooke pushed a glass of ice tea across the table.

Eric set the newspaper on the table. "Would you like to play a little game? I'll just ask some generic questions and you can answer them or not."

Brooke lifted her eyebrow. "I like games. Let's do this."

Eric pointed to the circled and heart outlined articles. "Do any of these look familiar to you?"

"Are you asking me if my friend is checking out the personal ads? Then the answer is yes and it's the one with the heart. He sent her his phone number and she's planning on going out with him tomorrow."

Eric's eyes widened. "Doesn't she know how dangerous that is?"

Brooke replied, "I know! Look at this new one in Wednesday's paper. Mr. 681977 says, Point Place single guy, there's a new Obi-Wan in town and I'm looking for a princess. What kind of woman would respond to an ad like this?"

Eric coughed uncomfortable, "Actually about 38 women did."

Brooke gasped. "You placed an ad?" Eric pulled the newspaper with his ad towards him. "Wow, it does look sad and I actually got women to answer this."

Brooke scoffed. "No way. You know what this means?"

"What. I'm clueless here."

Brooke got a big smile on her face. "You call one of those women; get her to go to the skating rink with me and Michael as a double date and we'll spy on this guy Jackie picked out. Let's see what kind of guy he is."

"I don't like the idea of spying on her, but I think she does need some kind of chaperone. Okay, I'll meet you there with Bertie."

"Bertie?" Brooke laughed, "What kind of name is that?"

"Well, she doesn't have scars and promises to rock my world, so I guess we'll all find out tomorrow!"

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