Author Note: It's all J/E romance….but you were expecting that weren't you?
Chapter 25 - All Glitz and Glam
.•* .•* *•. Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ .•*.• *•
"No, you can't wear that! It screams, I'm desperate and begging." Lydia snatched the sapphire dress from Jackie's hands. The brunette frowned. "I'm not desperate and I'm not begging, jeez, get a job."
Lydia rolled off the sofa and walked to the fridge for a fresh Tab. "Okay Miss Thing, what did you wear for your last New Year's Eve?"
Jackie pressed her finger against her lips and tried to recall and then frowned. "Footie pajamas."
Lydia grinned, "And the year before that?"
Jackie threw the clothes hanger at her friends head. "I hate you."
Laughing, Lydia put the blue dress back on the clothes hanger, "I love you too. Seriously, it's been years since you went out on a big night like this. You have to look….glam and damn… and leave him wanting."
Jackie giggled, "I never heard that expression before." Lydia moved in front of the closet replying, "Because I just made it up. How about this dark green? It will match his eyes and it makes your tan look darker."
Jackie pulled the long evening gown from the closet and held it against her figure as she studied herself in front of the full length mirror. Lydia might have something here. Some chandelier earrings and black heels and Oh!...her new scarf would make an excellent accessory.
Eric Forman was going to have his socks knocked off when he saw her.
.•* .•* *•. Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ .•*.• *•
Eric changed his suit three times. He wanted to wear the gold Christmas tie to give him a little flash, but none of his suits and shirt combinations seemed to match. After giving it more thought, he selected his darkest black suit, a basic white shirt and some gold cufflinks to match the tie.
He liked the image in the mirror. Dashing but not in your face chic. Jackie would approve.
He hoped!
A beautiful corsage was in a plastic container in the refrigerator and he checked three times to make sure his reservations were still at The Villa – they were. Damn, he was more nervous than he could remember. His gut told him this was a big date and don't screw up!
Just a little spit shine on his leather shoes and he was ready.
Or was he really ready?
Only time would tell!
.•* .•* *•. Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ .•*.• *•
TEN!
Jackie was smiling and laughing and the sparkle in her shining eyes was contagious. Eric grinned back in kind and toasted his bubbly champagne flute against hers. The Villa was alive with this undeniable energy and Jackie was in love with the shimmery glitz. The twinkling crystal stars that hung from the rafters reflected back dazzling colors that glittered joy.
Eric picked her up promptly at 6:30 and he looked like a prince. His black suit was a perfect complement to her dark green gown. He presented his elbow and she felt like a princess on the way to the ball.
Dinner was delicious and Jackie felt like she was cocooned in this wonderful bubble of warmth, bliss and happiness. So much had happened over the course of the last few weeks that this festive respite was so very welcome.
Eric felt like he had captured the brass ring of the carnival. He had the prettiest girl at the ball on his elbow and the whispered admiration of his peers. Jackie was stunning tonight (was this night any different somehow?). He flourished in her attention and felt almost like a movie star. He felt as bright as the stars that hung from the rafters.
NINE!
Eric's steak was the most delicious piece of beef he had ever tasted. Jackie's perfume was the sweetest flower he could imagine. They chatted. They conversed. They spoke without words. It was magic.
Jackie's cheeks hurt from smiling so much. Dick Clark had started the countdown and she could hear the cheers from the television that was hiding somewhere near the bar. It was so shocking to believe that eight years ago was the last time she spent a New Year's Eve with Eric Forman. He was so the distinguished gentleman tonight.
She looked at her wrist corsage which was such a surprise. After Eric knocked on her door, he pulled this clear plastic box from the inside of his suit and presented her with the most perfect spray she could remember since High School. Swoon!
EIGHT! Their seats on the mezzanine overlooked the dance floor. Couples were dancing to Bruce Springsteen's "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town" while keeping an eye on the television for the ball to drop in Times Square. Soapy bubbles issued from a corner of the restaurant and the floating drops were dazzling popping spontaneously, creating a great delight for Jackie as Eric would try to catch them on the palm of his hand. The pair laughed and stood up with the other customers – the New Year was almost here.
SEVEN! Jackie could feel the buzz in the air. Eric snagged a couple of fresh flutes of champagne from a passing waiter and took Jackie's half full glass and replaced it with new. She smiled at his thoughtfulness and adjusted the silly party hat on his head. In turn, Eric grinned and straightened her rhinestone plastic tiara. "You look like a princess." He said kindly. She looked up at him, "I feel like a princess." "You want to dance again?" He hoped she would say yes. Jackie did want to dance all night long but her tiny feet were killing her. Eric was a great dance partner and surprised her with some of his moves – they weren't a bit lame at all! "Maybe later?" He grinned, "I'm counting on it!"
SIX! Eric put an arm around Jackie's slim shoulders as they both shouted out the countdown with the restaurant crowd. Jackie felt like she was soaring on her very own magic carpet and Eric was Aladdin.
FIVE! He had to catch his breath. The lights that shimmered and glimmered cast his date in an ethereal sheen. Eric was stunned by Jackie's beauty and he was equally stunned that she was standing with him in the last seconds of 1987. He was a lucky guy.
FOUR! Jackie was buzzing with adrenaline. She couldn't remember feeling this excited since high school prom and at that time didn't really recognize what she was feeling. Now, Jackie could appreciate these emotions since they were so vibrant and thrilling.
THREE! Eric tossed back the remainder of his champagne and set the delicate glass on the small table they shared. He weaved his fingers with Jackie's smaller ones. She grinned at him and squeezed back. It was almost here. A brand new year. A brand new start on life.
TWO! She took a deep breath and watched the crowd as they put metallic party horns and foil blow outs between their lips. The cone shaped hats were moving with the music and excitement was almost infectious. Eric and Jackie turned to each other and simultaneously shouted, "ONE!" The famed ball dropped in Time's Square and strains of Auld Lang Syne were beginning to be sung.
Balloons and confetti rained from the rafters as couples cheered and kissed good wishes for the brand new year. "HAPPY NEW YEAR"
She smiled.
He smiled back.
Jackie set her champagne flute down on the table as two warm hands cupped her face. Jackie's little heart started banging in her breast. Suddenly she felt like a young girl again, only she wasn't some-teen-year old, but a mature woman who was secure in herself and if Eric Forman didn't kiss her right now, then he was going home alone with a badly bruised shin!
Eric looked at the luminous eyes that had darkened as he touched her face. God she was so amazing. He bent his head to hers. This wasn't going to be some social kiss. No good bye kiss. This was a date kiss and it was all his. Jackie was only going to think about him, Eric Forman, date extraordinaire.
She saw the kiss coming and smiled and suddenly, Eric was kissing her, not on her cheek but with his fingers framing her face and his thumb brushing her jaw. Her head fell back and his kiss burned along the column of her throat only to encompass her mouth again as his tongue swept against her lips.
His arm wrapped around her shoulders as her hands slipped over his suit, the wool fabric soft under her fingers. This was not a Steven Hyde kiss. No kiss could be like Steven's, but this was definitely a 10 ½ on the kiss-o-meter scale.
Jackie hadn't expected to like kissing Eric as much as she did, so she and kissed him back which probably shocked him down to his toes. His lips were parted when she warmly returned the New Year's Eve kiss. Auld Lang Syne was still being sung in the background and he was the recipient of a firm and warm and welcoming smooch.
Stopping for a much needed breath, Eric looked at Jackie and grinned. He was awake to everything. The noisemakers and swirling smells of Jackie's perfume.…the champagne that lingered on his lips from her kiss to the sensations of the universe that unfolded in front of him.
He was alive…more alive than he could remember. Eric didn't want this first moment of the new year to end. It was a fresh beginning that gave him hope. Kissing Jackie Burkhart in the mezzanine of The Villa restaurant was the most symbolic gesture Karma could give him.
He finally had hope for the future - Eric Forman actually had a future! Hot damn!
¸.•*´ `*•.¸ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ¸.•*
A/N: Okay okay….so this chapter was totally self-indulgent and I had a great time writing it and I'll admit it was short. Keep your panties on, the next chapter is longer