This chapter is tiny but I liked it alone so here it is…

Chapter 9:

That afternoon found Jackie and Eric lounging around her apartment.

They had just gotten finished with lunch that Jackie had made for them. Eric found that she had been telling the truth. The grilled chicken pasta she made could give his mom's cooking a run for her money.

Now they were sitting on the sofa in her apartment the TV on in the background but they were more focused on their conversation.

"So I think I'll probably go down to Florida for Christmas, make it up to my mom that I haven't called yet," Eric was saying.

"Why haven't you called yet?"

Eric shrugged, "I didn't want to have to go live with them again and I knew they would be worried about me once I came back, you know, how I'd live and all. I mean they're retired and I need to be taking care of myself. This way, yeah, they'll be mad, but they will see I have a job and I can be on my own."

Jackie nodded, "I understand."

"And thank you again for offering to help me. It really means a lot to me."

Jackie smiled, "Oh, don't worry about it. It's nothing."

Eric shook his head, "No, it is. I mean, I just show up and barge into your life. I don't even know if you have, you know-" he stopped.

"What?" Jackie asked.

"I don't know if you have a boyfriend or anything, I don't want to intrude-"

"Oh, no!" Jackie exclaimed, "You're not, I don't. Have a boyfriend, that is. It's just me…"

She blushed. Good job, Jackie, she thought to herself sardonically.

She couldn't remember the last time anyone made her feel so nervous and giddy at the same time. Jackie wasn't used to stumbling over her words.

"Oh, okay," he replied, looking at her intently.

His gaze unnerved her, so she changed the subject.

"So, um, I guess tomorrow I'll take you to the university? I have work at eight. What time do you need to be there?"

"Orientation is from seven until four both days and then Wednesday I have paperwork which will probably take up a couple of hours or so…"

"Okay, that's perfect," she smiled, "I'll drop you off before I go to work. I have my finals on Monday and Wednesday from one until five, so I work only half days at work this week. I can take you tomorrow and Tuesday and if you don't mind waiting around until five we can come home together-" she stopped abruptly, thinking about what she just said.

Eric smiled at her.

She took a moment to regain her composure, "I have to give Michael back his car so he can take you on Wednesday. Then I have the rest of the week off."

"Sounds good to me," he said.

"Good," she looked at the clock on the wall, "so what do you want to do the rest of the day?"

"Maybe we should go back to Kelso's and get my stuff," he said, "You know, bring it back here."

"Okay," Jackie said.

She still couldn't quite wrap her head around her attraction to Eric.

She had known him since she was four, and even if she did like him she had never been so nervous in front of a guy she liked.

Jackie never had a problem letting a guy know she was interested but now she was finding it difficult. She knew she would have to bite the bullet soon, she couldn't allow herself to continue acting like such a fool.

Eric was watching her again.

He would have paid anything to know what she was thinking, the look on her face was pensive but also she looked determined about something like she had just made a decision.

She must have realized she didn't make a move to get up because she almost visibly shook herself.

"Okay, let's go," she said.

"Right behind you," Eric said. Right behind you, admiring the behind of you, he thought to

himself. Watching as Jackie got to her feet and swayed slightly on her heels.

He got up too and followed her out the door.