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Chapter 4:
Jackie woke up the nest day dreading her task.
She could not believe she got stuck with babysitting Eric Forman all weekend.
This was not how she wanted to spend her weekend. Reluctantly she dragged herself out of bed and began to get ready.
Michael told her that Eric's flight would arrive at O'Hare at 8:30 that morning, so she woke up at 6:00 so that she could shower and curl her hair.
She wasn't trying to make herself look nice for Eric Forman; she was just trying to make herself look nice period. She would have done it no matter who it was, she liked the feeling of people who hadn't seen her in some time marveling over how she hadn't changed a bit and she was still as beautiful as ever.
Jackie may have been more responsible and grown up, but she was still Jackie Burkhart and beauty was still important to her.
She was ready to leave the house by 7:15. She figured it would take an hour to get to the airport and find the correct terminal. She grabbed the keys to Michael's car and headed downstairs.
Jackie quickly realized that maybe she should have woken a little earlier, even for a Saturday traffic was bad and by the time she had made it to the airport, parked the car, and was walking through the crowded hallways it was already 8:48.
Walking briskly through the crowded terminals, Jackie checked the arrivals board and saw that his plane had arrived on time. Picking up her pace, she headed towards the terminal his plane had landed at.
Eric was standing near the payphones, getting ready to call Kelso and make sure he remembered that he needed to be picked up from the airport.
He was expecting Kelso to be late at best so he looked at his watch, resolving to call at nine if he still hadn't shown up.
"Hey, freak. Long time no see," a strangely familiar voice said from behind him.
Eric turned around to find Jackie Burkhart standing three feet away from him.
"Devil," he replied coolly.
He looked at her, seeing hardly any change at all in the girl who he always found so annoying. She was still as good looking as ever, yes, he admitted it before, Jackie was hot.
Short, small frame, long, dark hair expertly curled, perfectly applied make up on a face that didn't really need it, wearing a lacey skirt and blouse and high heeled boots.
"Fashionably late I see. Did Kelso forget how to drive?" he asked.
Jackie rolled her eyes, "You're so weird. Michael and Brooke went to Brooke's mom's for the weekend, so he asked me to pick you up and take you to their house."
"Well, lead the way then, Vader," Eric gestured for her to show him the way out.
Jackie giggled, and for some reason Eric found himself smiling down at her affectionately.
It was strange to see someone so familiar in a place that was so unfamiliar, but it also made him feel at ease.
He followed Jackie through the crowded airport, picking up his baggage along the way.
"You didn't take much with you, huh?" Jackie asked, indicating the knapsack and suitcase he was carrying.
"I left a lot of stuff behind. A buddy of mine is going to ship it out for me when I get to where I am going," Eric replied.
"And where is that?"
Eric shrugged, "Don't know yet."
They walked into the parking garage. Eric loaded his baggage into the trunk of the car and climbed into the passenger's seat.
Jackie climbed in next to him and buckled up before she started the car.
"So… how was Africa? I bet it was dirty," Jackie said, making a face.
Eric smirked, "Yeah, a little dirty, but I had a really good time."
"I'll say, you stayed for what? Two and a half years?"
"Yeah."
"Why?"
"It was a great opportunity and a really good experience."
"Is that the only reason?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. She pulled out of the parking garage and into the bright, sunshiny morning.
Eric sighed exasperatedly; Jackie was fishing for information.
Nosy little brat, he thought.
"Jackie, don't play stupid, I'm sure Donna told you all about the letter."
Jackie shrugged, "Actually, Michael told me."
Eric looked confused.
"Donna told him and he told me."
"Oh?"
Jackie didn't seem to want to discuss the reasoning behind this as she changed the subject, "I thought you were only supposed to be gone a year."
"I wasn't ready to come back."
"Oh."
They fell silent for a long while before Jackie started talking again.
"Yeah, I'm working as a paralegal right now."
"That's what my mom said."
"Oh? Well, anyway, I'm also going to school. I've decided to become a lawyer."
"Hmmm, you're loud, bossy, and like to argue. Yes, I see why you'd make that career choice." Eric said sarcastically, falling into the old burn pattern.
Jackie frowned, "Yeah, well maybe things have changed for me too, you know."
Eric could sense her defensiveness, and felt a little bad, "Yeah, I know, I'm sorry."
Jackie was quiet again for a few minutes, "Your mom told you about Steven?"
"Yeah."
"Yeah… I guess we are both got screwed, huh?"
Eric thought about this silently for a moment, "Yeah I guess we did… You know, we don't have to rehash old memories. Like you said, things have changed. I'm sure we can find something else to talk about… maybe… just not about your hair, ok?"
He looked over at her a smiled
Jackie smiled back, "Yeah, really cute, Forman."
"Yeah, I know I am. I tried to tell you but you just wouldn't listen," he teased.
Jackie laughed again. Eric rather liked the sound, it wasn't so annoying anymore for some reason. Maybe it was because she was laughing at what he was saying and not giggling over Kelso or Hyde.
They talked about Eric's teaching job in Africa and how school was going for Jackie until they reached Kelso's house.
When they pulled up Jackie helped Eric carry his things inside and into the den. The pull out couch had already been set up presumably by Brooke.
"Wow, this is a nice house. Kelso's really done well for himself. Who would have thought?" Eric remarked, amazed that their clueless friend would be able to survive without parental supervision.
Jackie smiled, "Michael's grown up a lot too- well, as much as he can I suppose. But, anyway, ummm…" She felt suddenly awkward.
Eric watched her as she stood there trying to think of something else to say or decide what to do next.
"If I'm keeping you from something, don't feel obligated to stay here and entertain me," Eric told her, "I'll be fine, I'm actually really tired, you know, 15 hour flight and the time difference."
"Oh! Yeah, you're right, you should probably get some rest. Uh, well, I live only three blocks down and my phone number is by the phone in the kitchen if you need anything."
Eric nodded and smiled, "Thanks a lot, Jackie."
She smiled back, "Sure."
She turned to go away. Eric sat down on the bed and pulled his shoes off.
Jackie turned back around just as she was about to disappear through the door.
"Hey, Eric?"
"Yeah?"
"It's really good to see you."
"Oh, well, thanks. It was nice to see you too."
She smiled again and this time she left.