Chapter 10:
Monday morning Jackie dropped Eric off at the University of Chicago for his orientation.
After moving his stuff over to her apartment yesterday, they had spent the rest of the evening watching old movies on TV and talking. She had finally left him to sleep on the pull out sofa at almost one that morning.
She felt comfortable with Eric, like she didn't have to change anything about herself for him.
Not like with Michael, when she had to pretend to understand him. Or Steven, when she had to conceal her feelings and give up her wants and needs just to make him more comfortable.
This was different and Jackie spent the rest of her workday grinning from ear to ear.
She got back to the university just in time to make a mad dash for her final. She had two today and two on Wednesday, then she was done for the semester. The next semester didn't start until the middle of January so she would have some time to relax and focus on… other things.
Her second final let out a little bit early, so she went to see if Eric was where they had agreed to meet yet.
She walked quickly through the cold day and headed to the student union building. She could see him through the glass doors even before she walked inside.
He was wearing a tie, a black blazer and tan slacks. She had insisted on helping him pick out an outfit that would make him look professional and she had to admit that her ulterior motive was to see if he would actually agree to letting her dress him.
He did and she was excited about that because it was her opinion that a man should always let the woman in his life dress him, especially for important things.
Jackie Burkhart still had standards
She stepped into the student union building and giggled as she watched him from a few feet away. He was going through several piles of papers, a very serious look on his face. It was really very cute.
He must have felt her watching him because he looked up suddenly and smiled when he saw her standing there.
He watched her intently as she wound around the tables towards him.
She looked very pretty. Her make up done perfectly accented her naturally beautiful features, her hair was curled and she had a purple beret on her head. She was wrapped in a mid thigh length black pea coat and he would see the last several inches of the hem of her purple sweater dress sticking out of the bottom, her legs were covered in black tights and she was wearing black high heeled boots.
"Hi," she said as she sat down across from him, "How was your day?"
"Good, very busy. But I can already tell I'm going to like working here. I got to see the departments classroom and I met my mentor and all the other professors in my department. As you thought I'm the youngest, but one of the other professors is 26 and… he likes Star Wars," he replied, giving her a grin.
She shook her head, "Wow, you and Star Wars. Well, at least you made a friend."
"Yeah, so how did finals go?"
Jackie grimaced, "They weren't fun, but I've been studying my ass off so I'm pretty confident I did well. Are you ready to go?"
Eric nodded and gathered up his papers, "Yeah, let's go."
They headed for the doors out of the student union building.
"Oh my gosh," Jackie said, "It's snowing! We better run to the car, traffic is going to get nasty."
Eric pulled on his thick coat and zipped it up. He offered his arm to Jackie, "Milady."
Jackie positively beamed as she linked her arm through his.
Eric pushed open the door and arm in arm they ran quickly from the building towards Kelso's car.
An hour later they were back in Jackie's apartment.
They had both changed into pajamas and Jackie had just answered the phone in her bedroom.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Jackie, how's it going?" It was Kelso.
"Hi, Michael. How are Brooke and the baby?"
"Good, they're both good. Hey, do you know where Eric is?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah, he's here with me. We decided he should stay with me for awhile since you and Brooke are gonna be busy with the baby and Betsy and all," she said as nonchalantly as possible.
"Oh, really?" He sound like he was on the verge of laughter.
"Is that supposed to mean something, Michael?" she asked crossly.
"Oh, no, 'cept you only have one bedroom!" He laughed, "And you know what that means!"
Jackie rolled her eyes, "I have a pull out couch, you idiot."
"Yeah, but is he using it?"
"Yes, Michael!" She was blushing again.
"You know what?" he asked suddenly serious.
"What?"
"I think it would make sense if you ended up with Eric."
"What?!" she said defensively.
"Yeah, I mean you deserve the best, Jackie, really you do and Eric always was the best guy out of all of us and since Donna's marrying Randy…"
"Michael, did you need something?" she interrupted, he was hitting very close to the mark and she had to distract him.
"Oh, no, I just called to the house and no one answered. We're coming home Tuesday afternoon."
"Alright, well, tell Brooke that I'm making Thanksgiving dinner for all of us and kiss that baby for me."
"Okay, I will."
"Bye, Michael."
"Bye."
Jackie hung up the phone and went back into the living room.