Last Chapter: I came to a screeching halt as she yelled out "STOP." Outside on the porch, Kelso was making out with Eric's sister.
Default: I don't own That 70's show or anything else said in this story.
A door slam, shoe stomping, girl fighting, and Kelso slap amount of time later, I was again driving. Jackie had just broken up with Kelso. She had quickly unbuckled herself from the El Camino and opened the car door, slamming it behind her. Stomping over to where Kelso was making out with Laurie, Jackie then, with incredible strength, pulled them apart and started yelling. I never moved from my seat as I watched Kelso try to plead with her. He touched her arm sympathetically, and it got him a slap. I laughed. Seriously, I laughed so hard, I wasn't aware Jackie had come back to the car until she cleared her throat.
Jackie didn't say anything all the way back to the Foreman's house, up the drive way or down the stairs to the basement. Eric and Donna were nowhere to be found and Fez was off full-filling his needs. How did I know? He had left a note just incase anyone wondered where he was. Once I sat down on the couch, she threw herself onto me and began crying in to my shirt. I can resist many things a girl does, like pleading or yelling, but once they cry I'm done for. Sub-consciously I wrapped my arms around her like so many times before.
Yes, Kelso had cheated on Jackie before today and yes, she had cried in my arms too, but she never cried this hard. Usually she just let out a few tears and said she's never date him again. Two or three days later Kelso would say he loved her and Jackie would take him back and pretend it never happened. I had a gut feeling that it was going to be different now. Kelso had one too many chances at ripping her heart out. She needed a man who wouldn't betray her or be oblivious to what was going on with her. Good luck on finding someone like that.
Mrs. Foreman had heard the sobs from upstairs and came to investigate. By then Jackie had lulled herself to sleep against my side. I had an arm wrapped around her waist, making sure she wouldn't fall off the couch. "Steven are you down here," She yelled. "Yeah, but be quiet," I said in a hushed tone. Mrs. Foreman tiptoed down and once she saw Jackie cuddled up against my side, she smiled a really big smile. "Kelso cheated on her again," I whispered. Her smile vanished. She shook her head and sighed. "Keep her safe Steven," Mrs. Foreman said seriously.
The basement door clicked shut and I let out that breath I had been holding. Good thing it was only Mrs. Foreman and not Eric or Donna. They would have laughed at my sympathetic ways. Understanding my helplessness for a crying girl was impossible for any male. By any male, I meant Kelso. It seemed he loved seeing girls cry over him. My heart pounded. I had felt this feeling before, but not in such a way as this.
I made a bed for Jackie on the couch. Took off the back cushions and put a few pillows in their place. A blanket, or two, because it was a cold night and another pillow for her head and the only thing missing was a person to sleep in it. I walked back to my room where I had laid Jackie down while I was making her 'bed.' She seemed perfectly content on my tiny cot and fit fine. It was scary how easily I could've just crawled in beside her and slept too. I lifted her up and walked back out to the basement. She shuffled around on the couch as I set her down and pulled the blanket over her. I pushed back a hair that was in her face and then left for my own room.
I tried everything, closing my eyes, reading, switching positions, and just muttering, "go to sleep," but my thoughts just wouldn't put Jackie to rest. It seemed that everything I thought or read about found it way back to her. I knew I was attracted to her by looks, but not by personality. She was, well, obnoxious. Kelso had made her obnoxious. I should be blaming him, but she was the one who dated him and took him back over and over again. My Zen was weakening. I had spent the month building it up to fight against her little touches and sweet remarks. My body was betraying me. I wore my glasses more than ever now. I couldn't let her know that she affected me. I shut my eyes and drifted off thinking about soft, small hands running through my curly hair.
It couldn't have been anything past 11 or 12 that night when a soft knock was heard at my door. "Steven?" A voice said unsure. I got up and staggered towards my door, twisting the knob and throwing it open. Jackie stood there in her jeans and shirt from earlier. Her hair was let loose from the ponytail it was in before and flowed over her shoulders. "Y-yeah," I said. Now my voice was betraying my too. "I couldn't sleep, so I was wondering. Can I sleep with you?" Her voice was small and sounded scared. "I guess you co-." I couldn't finish my sentence because Jackie had her arms wrapped around my neck and her face buried in my chest repeating "thank-you Steven."