Last Chapter: Jackie liked to please me and I liked to show her that I was grateful. It was the least I could do. The least I could do right now was to protect her.
Default: I don't own That 70's show or anything else said in this story.
Jackie's dad was coming back tomorrow and I needed a plan to keep her safe. I didn't want anything to change. I liked it the way it was. Our secret touches and the late night rituals were a way of life now. Tonight was another example of late night rituals. It was the second night she had slept in the same bed with me, but it felt like we had been doing this forever. She was lying with her head on my chest and I had my hand around her waist gently rubbing it up and down. She seemed to like when I did that. She had just asked me why I was being so quiet and I was contemplating my answer. I needed to ask her. I needed to find out the truth. I had waited this long already.
"Jackie, I-" I was so close to asking her about the abuse, but she had to tilt her head up and kiss me. It was a soft kiss, and quick, but it made me think about how much I wanted tonight. It was probably going to be our last night since her father was coming home. "I'm really tired Steven." She yawned. I guess it could wait until the morning. "You should sleep." I whispered in her ear. Jackie sighed deeply and nestled against my side. Damn it. She was just too cute. I kissed her head and tightened my grip on her waist. "I love you." She said quietly. I froze. She didn't expect me to say it back did she? I wasn't going to no matter what. Jackie couldn't make me.
She fell asleep quickly. It seemed like Jackie was restless and she rolled around a lot. I couldn't stand it anymore so I went to get something to eat. It must have been one in the morning, but sure enough Mrs. Foreman was awake. Those hot flashes! "Is something wrong Steven?" She asked me as I walked into the kitchen. "How do you show a girl you care about her with out saying…you know?" I hope she understood what I meant. I didn't want to go running around saying I cared about Jackie. She turned around, wiping her hands and stared at me. "Do what Eric does; just kiss her a lot." She laughed nervously and went back to preparing the peanut butter and jelly sandwich. One was for her and one was for me.
"I am not going to be all lovey-dovey like Foreman." I stated matter-of-factly. She laughed again and handed me my sandwich. 'Well, I remember when Red and I first started dating. We would sleep together despite what everyone else said and every night he would hold me. Even when we weren't sleeping he would hold me." She was getting into one of her dreamy moods where no one else mattered. Mrs. Foreman continued speaking with her dreamy voice. "We would be standing together and Red would wrap his arms around me or we'd be sitting with a few friends and he's grab my hand and when he did that I knew he loved me."
I listened to Mrs. Foreman continue talking about how she could tell Red loved her. It made me laugh inside knowing that Red used to be a romantic. Knowing that he was discreet romantic made it somewhat understandable. I saw a bit of myself in him knowing we both didn't like to show our emotions, or rather had a hard time showing them. "Steven do you understand what I'm saying?" Mrs. Foreman said with a sigh. "Not really." I stated honestly. She sighed again. "What I'm saying is, just hold her. Show her that you're there and you care. Even if you don't want to say it." The strange thing about what she said was that I could actually do that. Show Jackie I care without saying anything. "Thanks Mrs. Foreman. You're were a…big help." I gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and walked back down to the basement.
Jackie was sitting up on my bed and she looked scared. " I thought you left me." She said with a sniff. "I was upstairs getting a snack. You want the rest?" I asked as I handed the sandwich to her. She took it and nibbled the part I had already eaten off of. "I haven't had PB&J in a long time." Jackie said with a smile. I sat down next to her on the bed and wrapped my arms around her waist. I could show her I cared, even if I wouldn't say it. I had to start tonight, before the next morning blew up in my face.