Author Note: Short but sweet…

*

Chapter 14 – A Date With Ferris

Eric managed to get off work early that Friday. He took the Honda to a car wash and got the interior cleaned and the car waxed. He wanted this to be a perfect movie date. The only thing he didn't like about his car was the bucket seats. Oh, well, it was a first date after all!

Jackie was waiting for him in her garden. She meditated and listened to the quiet tinkling fountain. A drive in movie was more spacious than a theater but she was still confined to the parking area. She could do this. Eric was her friend. So why did you wear a sexy peach blouse and tight jeans? Jackie almost went back and changed her clothes.

Eric honked as he pulled up against the curb. Jackie locked her house and then opened the gate as Eric was walking towards her. She looked like a tall cool drink of water for a thirsty man. The peach colored blouse made her eyes brighter than usual and those pants! They hugged every curve that Eric never noticed until now. He could almost kick himself for being a doofus!

Jackie locked her gate and smiled as Eric opened the door. She slid in and noticed that he had the interior detailed. It smelled like Turtle Wax and that "new car smell "from a car wash. He did that for her! She smiled happily.

"Did you have a good week?" he asked as he pulled out into traffic.

"Yeah, your dad got my car fixed cheap and I've been busy with summer bouquets. Business will pick up again around Labor Day."

Jackie noticed that Eric was wearing a new shirt and some dark jeans. Were those new Reeboks? '"You're looking handsome today Eric."

Eric felt his ears turn red. "Thanks. You look very beautiful too."

Jackie blushed. "Thanks."

An uncomfortable silence settled in the car until they got to the drive in. While waiting in line, Eric turned. "I didn't mean to say that you looked more beautiful than you usually do…it's just that tonight you look really…really…great." Internally, he groaned – way to screw up Forman!

Jackie bit her lip. "Eric, I'm no good at this. I totally appreciate the compliment, really. It's just that I'm looking for the insult that usually follows." She turned her head to look out the window at the marquee: Ferris Bueller - starring Matthew Broderick and Alan Ruck.

"Jackie, I'm not good at this either. If I say anything that remotely sounds like an insult I'm sorry. I'm still new to this dating thing."

Jackie looked back over. "Is that was this is? A date?"

Ooops! Eric scrambled for a reply. "It can be. Do you mind?"

She looked pensive. "I don't think I'd have to worry about you. I mean I know your parents and there's Fez and Michael…."

"All who would kick my ass if I hurt you in any way shape or form." He added with a smile. Say yes! Just say yes!

She looked at him with those big glowing eyes and then she smiled. "Okay, it's a date. But don't go thinking I'm easy!"

"I would never think that in a million years." He promised.

"Good, because I'm not." She added for reinforcement.

*

They chose Ferris Bueller because it had a school teacher theme that Eric was really interested in. Eric adjusted the speaker so it was in his rear window and lowered his seat so he could see the screen. Jackie kicked off her shoes and got comfortable. "Wait. What about the crappy popcorn you promised?"

Eric groaned. "You would have to wait until I was comfortable wouldn't you?"

She frowned. "Hey, you promised me a crappy movie with popcorn. Deliver up mister!"

Eric waved his hand, "I'll be back. What do you want to drink?"

"Um, something diet… but not root beer."

"Okay, butter on the popcorn?"

She smiled sweetly, "Oodles of it please."

Eric walked between the rows of cars to the concession stand. So far so good, she was amicable to calling this a date and she looked smoking hot! A plus for him was the popcorn didn't have to be "air popped" and dry. He liked lots of butter too! This was going to be a great evening.

*

It was sometime at the halfway point of the movie and after they finished the popcorn. Eric stretched his legs and yawned stretching his arms. The Honda wasn't exactly the best car movie date vehicle. He stretched his right arm out and laid it on the back of Jackie's seat.

Jackie felt him rest his arm on the back of the car seat and softly trail his fingertips down the back of her neck. She shivered slightly as a tingle ran down her spine. His absentminded fingers toyed with a lock of her hair and she felt butterflies in her stomach.

She reached back and took his hand out of her hair and pulled it down onto the console between them. "That tickled." She said turning back to the screen but never let go of his hand.

Eric smiled to himself. This was nice. No, it was more than nice. She laughed at the same things he did and was shocked when Ferris jumped on the float in the middle of the parade and started rocking out. She hated the school official that was trying to hunt down Ferris and felt bad for Ferris' friend Cameron, who lost his dad's car into the trees.

It seemed like the movie ended way too early. Eric wished there was some place he could take her that wouldn't make her anxious. Point Place wasn't exactly a booming town in the terms of entertainment. The best he could do would be a nice drive or back to her apartment.

*

Eric ended up taking the long way home. They chatted about the movie and laughed about Kelso getting hit in the eye with a water balloon. It was all too soon that Eric pulled up in front of Jackie's apartment. He opened the car door for her and she just stepped into his arms.

One slim arm snaked over his shoulder and the other cupped his cheek. She kissed him the softest yet hottest kiss he could ever remember. Every nerve in Eric's body was on alert. Her mouth slanted and he closed his eyes – he could feel the tug of attraction in the pit of his stomach. For 39 heated seconds, Eric thought he had died and went to heaven.

She gently broke the kiss and laid her forehead against his shoulder. "You make my heart skip a beat and I don't know if the butterflies are anxiety or because I really… really like you Eric."

She had left him breathless when she pulled away. He smiled and kissed the top of her head. "God, I hope it's not anxiety because I feel it too!" Jackie laughed softly and put her hand on his chest. Eric wrapped his arms around her.

"Jackie, I really like you a lot. I'm going to take this slow because being a dumbass I'll probably screw something up at some point but you have to trust me on this. I will never hurt you."

"I do trust you Eric. I have to trust myself first." She looked up at him and he could have just drowned in her colorful eyes. "I'm not going to ask you in…I'm just going to say good night and hope that we have another date…someday."

He smiled and her heart melted. "I'll call you tonight and we'll talk about that okay?"

"I'd like that very much." She held his hand as she walked to her gate. He waited while she unlocked it. She paused, turned around and said. "You are such a gentleman and while I may not deserve it…I really appreciate it." She squeezed his hand and closed the gate behind her.

Eric waited until she was in her apartment and he grinned like a little boy. This was the best night ever!

*

Jackie dried her hair in a towel and pulled back the sheets. This evening had been extraordinary. It started out as two friends going to watch a movie and became a date! After Disaster Derek, she didn't think she'd be ready to go out again but Eric was the perfect gentleman.

When they kissed, Jackie felt like a teenager experiencing the rush of adrenaline, anticipation, the breathlessness and the butterflies that come with that first real date. The kiss – Eric had a great mouth and she wanted more. It was crazy because she hadn't thought about kissing anybody in years…but she wanted to kiss Eric.

"I'm hoping it's you."

"It's me. I wanted to thank you for the date." She replied bashfully.

"I was supposed to call you first."

"I couldn't wait." She couldn't – really she couldn't!

"Are you working tomorrow?"

"Just a half day at the hospital and a couple hours in the store. You know, we can hang out at your place too."

"Are you going to bring your sofa with you?" he teased.

"No and quit asking." She laughed. "Oh, yeah… your futon is very uncomfortable."

"You could have called a cab…." He reminded her.

"Yeah, smart guy…like I wanted to go home right then."

"Oh, it was my charming personality that persuaded you to stay."

"You fell asleep! You said …come sample my futon…and fell asleep! I didn't even know your address."

"Ah…this is sounding familiar. I ran out of gas and someone didn't want to give me her address…"

"Eric, you are a doofus. Good night."

He laughed, "Good night Jackie."

*