The next morning, Jackie awoke to a sunny sky outside. As she combed her hair back into a loose ponytail, she noticed the wide smile that was playing across her face. It was a new day, and it really felt like a new start for her. The Jackie that she was at this time yesterday was gone, and she had been brought back to life.

"Jackie, would you like some yogurt for breakfast?" Fez called from the kitchen.

She padded out of the bedroom and into the open living room. "I think I will make pancakes, actually. Would you like some?" she asked him through the opening between the two rooms.

"You're going to cook?" She nodded in response. "Sure, I love pancakes. Especially the syrup, it's like candy."

Jackie laughed cheerfully and went to work mixing the batter in the small kitchen. Fez propped himself up on a stool and watched as she artfully sifted the flour into a big mixing bowl. The telephone rang suddenly, breaking the comfortable silence that had settled throughout the apartment. Fez reached across the counter and answered it while Jackie retrieved eggs from the refrigerator.

"Eric! How are you?" Fez said excitedly. Jackie looked up, trying not to let the excitement she felt bubbling inside show in her face. "Oh, sure, she's right here."

Her roommate looked confused as he handed the receiver to her. "Hey."

"Hey," he said simply, relieved to finally hear her voice again.

"Are you going to have to abandon me again?" she asked lightly, a slight teasing tone in her voice.

"Again?" Fez mouthed to her. Jackie turned around, giving herself as much privacy as she could manage in the cramped quarters.

"No, I promise I won't," he sighed. "No classes today, just hanging out. Thinking. What are you doing?"

"I'm cooking, believe it or not. Making pancakes."

"Mmm, pancakes," he mused. "I miss real food. I can't believe you're cooking."

"Haha," she said sarcastically. "So, what are you thinking about?"

"Promise you won't laugh?"

"I promise."

"I was thinking about you. I really had a good time talking to you last night. You filled this void that has really consumed me lately," he confessed.

"I know what you mean," she whispered. "Is it weird that I miss you all of a sudden?"

"Yeah, it's weird, but it's nice."

"Look, I'm going to feed Fez and pay him to get out of here. Can you call me back in an hour when I have some privacy? I really want to talk to you some more when I don't have an audience," she pleaded softly.

Eric smiled. "I can do that. I'll talk to you in an hour."

"Counting the minutes," she sighed as she listened to him disconnect. Hanging up the phone, she silently turned back to the task at hand. Fez looked at her with a raised eyebrow, but she said nothing. Minutes later, she laid a plate of fluffy flapjacks in front of him, but still didn't say a word.

"What's going on, Jackie?" Fez asked.

"Nothing, just doing the dishes."

"Why is Eric calling you? You don't even like each other."

"Things change, Fez."

"Overnight?"

"Sometimes," she answered. "Do you have plans for today?"

He nodded. "I'm taking a girl I met at the salon to the movies. In fact, I should probably get out of here. She's hot, so maybe I can get a little action. Don't wait up."

"Fez, it's not even noon."

"I said, don't wait up. Now, good day."

"Whatever," she relented carelessly as he whisked past her and out the front door. Jackie hurriedly cleaned up the rest of the kitchen before throwing herself on her bed. She pulled her simple black telephone next to her pillow and closed her eyes to wait. The next thing she knew, she was waking herself out of a nap to answer the phone.

"Hello?" she answered huskily, her bedroom voice in full effect.

"Did I wake you?" he asked, the tone of her voice stirring an attraction inside.

For nearly three hours, they talked. Eric knew that his telephone bill would be ridiculous, but he didn't care. As long as he heard her voice on the other end of the line, it was like only they existed. Nothing else mattered except his words to her and her words to him.

"Is it wrong that I wish you were here?" she sighed.

"Is it wrong that I wish I was, too?"

"What's going on with us, Eric?"

"I don't know, J."

"J?"

"I'm sorry, I don't know, it just popped out."

"I like it," she giggled.