Jackie stood alone in the driveway. Everybody had already headed back into
the house, but she couldn't budge. Maybe he would turn around. Maybe he
would come back. She felt fresh tears well up in her eyes. He had to come
back. Watching Steven pull away in his El Camino, waving once to his
friends before he was completely out of sight, had been the hardest thing
she had ever done.
Jackie hadn't told him. In the last few weeks that they had all known of his plans she'd had every intention of telling Steven how she felt. But things got in the way. Her fear had got in her way.
She was afraid of how he would react to her feelings for him. She'd already stalked him and professed her love for him and he had rejected her. And before that instant nobody had ever rejected her. That had been a few years ago though. Her feelings for him then had been a lot like puppy love compared to how she felt now. If he had rejected her again it would have crushed her world.
Of course, they hadn't really had much of a friendship back then. Not like the one they had now. Yes, Jackie could say confidently that she had become very good friends with Steven Hyde. A feat not even attempted by most people. They may not ever admit the fact out loud but they were both aware of the connection that had formed between them.
It was a friendship that emerged a year ago, when her father went to prison and her mother had left the country and had never reappeared. After that they had a lot more in common. More in common than either of them had with any of their other friends.
Steven had looked out for her. He had let her stay with him for weeks just so she wouldn't have to stay alone in her monstrously big house. And Steven had even changed her personality.
Jackie had to admit that she wasn't half as materialistic as she once had been. That wasn't really Steven's doing but he had been the one that had given her the strength she had needed to survive in a world completely different from the one she had known her whole life. Without ever saying a word Steven had saved her from herself, not that she would ever let anyone know about it. And now he was gone.
"Jackie?" Brushing the tear away Jackie turned toward the door.
Mrs. Forman glanced questioningly at Jackie's slightly runny mascara then her face turned into an unnaturally bright smile. "Why don't you come inside. I made brownies!"
Looking back towards the empty street Jackie whispered, "Good bye, Steven." Then she followed Kitty into the house.
Jackie hadn't told him. In the last few weeks that they had all known of his plans she'd had every intention of telling Steven how she felt. But things got in the way. Her fear had got in her way.
She was afraid of how he would react to her feelings for him. She'd already stalked him and professed her love for him and he had rejected her. And before that instant nobody had ever rejected her. That had been a few years ago though. Her feelings for him then had been a lot like puppy love compared to how she felt now. If he had rejected her again it would have crushed her world.
Of course, they hadn't really had much of a friendship back then. Not like the one they had now. Yes, Jackie could say confidently that she had become very good friends with Steven Hyde. A feat not even attempted by most people. They may not ever admit the fact out loud but they were both aware of the connection that had formed between them.
It was a friendship that emerged a year ago, when her father went to prison and her mother had left the country and had never reappeared. After that they had a lot more in common. More in common than either of them had with any of their other friends.
Steven had looked out for her. He had let her stay with him for weeks just so she wouldn't have to stay alone in her monstrously big house. And Steven had even changed her personality.
Jackie had to admit that she wasn't half as materialistic as she once had been. That wasn't really Steven's doing but he had been the one that had given her the strength she had needed to survive in a world completely different from the one she had known her whole life. Without ever saying a word Steven had saved her from herself, not that she would ever let anyone know about it. And now he was gone.
"Jackie?" Brushing the tear away Jackie turned toward the door.
Mrs. Forman glanced questioningly at Jackie's slightly runny mascara then her face turned into an unnaturally bright smile. "Why don't you come inside. I made brownies!"
Looking back towards the empty street Jackie whispered, "Good bye, Steven." Then she followed Kitty into the house.