Chapter 6:

Jackie and Eric had spent the rest of the afternoon and early evening walking around downtown Chicago. Jackie was pointing out important and interesting places and telling him about the kinds of things she and Kelso and Brooke did in their free time.

It was almost eight o'clock by the time they had made it back to the neighborhood Jackie and the Kelso family lived in.

"There's a great little diner down the street from my apartment. Did you- did you want to go get some dinner? My treat," Jackie offered as they neared Kelso's house.

"Yeah, sure, I am getting kind of hungry," he said.

He had actually had a really good day walking around with Jackie. She wasn't lying when she said she had grown up too and he found out that she was really great company. Their conversations never lulled and she didn't talk about herself nearly as much as she used to, and when she did it mainly had to do with what was going on with school or work. All in all it was really nice to be around someone he was familiar with and could now actually talk to like a friend.

Jackie smiled, "Great!"

She pointed the car in the direction of the diner and they were pulling into a parking space in a matter of minutes.

They were immediately shown to a booth and given menus.

"Wow. You have no idea how strange it is to be eating food that wasn't killed ten minutes ago or freeze dried," Eric mused, "I'm going to go into a food coma after this."

Jackie stuck out her tongue, "You're awfully brave to have stayed in Africa for so long. I never would have been able to do something like that."

Their waitress came around and took their orders.

"You know something? You're really not the devil," Eric admitted suddenly.

Jackie smirked, "I'm glad you think so, gives me the element of surprise."

"O-kay, maybe I was wrong about that one," he said, "but really, Jackie, thank you for today it was nice."

"No problem," Jackie said, "it's fun to hang out with someone other than Michael and Brooke. I mean, don't get me wrong they are both great but I really don't have any other friends here. Just co-workers I maybe have drinks with once in awhile."

"Awww, am I really your friend?" he teased.

"Yeah, just don't tell anyone," she retorted, laughing. "I'm serious though, you're- you're good company."

"Well, thank you. So are you."

Jackie blushed and it made Eric swell with something that felt like triumph that he could make her blush like that.

They were about halfway through their meal when Jackie asked the question he had been deciding the answer to all day.

"So, what are you going to do, Eric? Are you going to go to your parent's?"

He shook his head, "No, I don't think I am. Though I will have to call them eventually and tell them I am back in the States-"

"Wait, they don't know you are back?" Jackie asked in surprise, "Oh, Red is so putting his foot up your ass!" She began to giggle hysterically.

Eric nodded in agreement, "Not to mention my mom is going to be crying for hours on end. Anyway, I have friend back in Africa whose father works at the University. He said his dad had offered me a job on the faculty when I called before I left the airport to tell him I would be coming out here. I started teaching adults after I decided to stay in Africa, and since I stayed so much longer than anticipated I was awarded an master's equivalent in education."

Jackie's eyes widened, "Oh my gosh! Eric, are you serious? That is great! You're only 22 and you have a master's degree? And to take a job at the University of Chicago? I bet you'd be the youngest professor on staff!"

"Well, I won't be a full professor just yet. Because it is an equivalency degree, I'll have to spend two years working with a professor in the same field. I'll get to teach some classes but I'll have work on research and a dissertation within that time to be award full professorship," he told her.

"That's still amazing, Eric. Are you going to do it?

"You know, I've been thinking about it ever since my friend's dad offered… and I am going to do it. Like I said before, I have no obligations to anyone but myself and at least I have friends here," he smiled at her.

"Awww, am I really your friend?" she mimicked him.

"Yeah, just don't tell anyone."

After they finished their dinner they headed back to Kelso's house. It was nearly ten.

Jackie opened the door and they walked into the dark house. Jackie flipped on the hallway light.

"Well, I guess I better let you get some real rest," Jackie said, shifting from foot to foot as they stood in the hall, "Michael and Brooke will be back tomorrow afternoon so…"

"Are you doing anything tomorrow?" he asked before he could stop himself. He winced inwardly that he sounded so eager. What was with him?

Jackie looked up, "Oh, no. Um, actually I was thinking- do you maybe want to go to a movie or something? There is a new horror movie out, Evil Dead or something like that."

For some reason something that Kelso had once told Eric about horror movies and girls crept into his mind.

When he didn't answer her right away Jackie flushed with embarrassment. She suddenly felt insecure and her stomach fluttered.

"Only if you want to. If not then that's okay-"

"Oh, no. I mean, yeah-" Eric shook his head, "I mean, no, I do want to go. That sounds great."

Jackie smiled brightly, and Eric briefly wondered why he ever thought she was the devil, she really was too beautiful to be evil…

"Okay, I'll come back at about nine? The theater in this neighborhood has ten AM showings. That way we can go before they get back."

Eric nodded, his mouth almost too dry to speak, "Okay, I'll see you in the morning then."

"Okay," Jackie made a motion towards him like she was about to hug him. Instead she rose on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek, "Good night, Eric."

It was only after the door was closed and Jackie was gone that Eric finally spoke.

"Good night, Jackie."