Okay, now seriously folks, I'm gonna hold off on updating until the weekend but for now I will leave you with this lovely chapter!
Chapter 12:
Early the next morning Jackie woke up a little disoriented about where she was before she turned her head and saw Eric, eyes closed, still holding her tight.
She smiled, Oh yeah…
"Good morning," Eric said.
"I thought you were still asleep," Jackie said, turning around in his grasp so that she was facing him.
Eric opened his eyes and placed a kiss on her forehead, "I've been awake for a little while."
"I guess we better get up, I'll take you to the school."
Eric groaned and buried his face in her neck, "So comfortable, don't want to move."
Jackie giggled, "Me neither, but we have to. Then we'll go over to Michael's after you get out of work."
Eric pulled back from her neck and kissed her cheek, "Okay, but…"
Jackie looked at him quizzically, "What?"
"Can we do this again tonight?" He looked almost sheepish asking.
Jackie smiled brilliantly and nodded, "I was counting on it."
They got up and began getting ready for the day, sneaking kisses in between showers and breakfast and getting out the door.
Jackie dropped Eric off with a passionate, lingering kiss before she headed to work. She grinned widely and hummed to herself as she drove along the busy city street.
She couldn't explain it but she just felt…good, really good. Better, in fact, than she had in a long time.
Jackie only had to work until noon and since she didn't have her last two finals until tomorrow she thought she'd head back home and do some last minute studying before she went back to pick up Eric.
Almost as soon as she got home there was a knock on the door, sighing as she got up from her desk she walked over and pulled the door open.
"Hi, Jackie."
"Oh my God… Donna!" Jackie said in surprise.
The tall redhead, who she once considered her best friend, stood on the other side of the door.
"I'm sorry, I know I should have called but I was in town looking at wedding dresses and I- can I come in?"
Jackie nodded, dumbfounded, "Sure, sure, come in." She opened the door wider to let the other girl in.
Donna stepped in and followed Jackie over to the small bistro table set up just off the kitchen.
Jackie motioned for her to sit down.
"So… you're shopping for your wedding dress?" Jackie started.
Donna nodded, "Yeah…"
"Um… not to be rude, Donna… but what are you doing here?"
Donna looked nervous, "Oh, um…well, I just… Jackie, I know I haven't been very good friend these past couple of years…"
Jackie tried to hold back her scoff but she couldn't help it.
Donna looked down, "See, because of that I wanted to ask you in person…"
Jackie waited.
"I really do feel awful about us not talking anymore, Jackie… and I want that to change. And look, I don't have any other female friends and you and I promised each other a long time ago… so I was wondering if you would be my maid of honor?"
Jackie grinned, she loved weddings after all, "Oh Donna, of course-" then she stopped, she remembered Point Place, she remembered Steven and his whore, and all the pain and betrayal and memories she experienced. Then she remembered Eric, her one last shot at happiness.
"Jackie-"
"No, hang on a second, I don't understand Donna. I mean, things have changed, you know? You don't have anyone else to ask so you just settle on me? Your former best friend that you haven't talked to in eight months? And maybe twice before that since I left? Yeah, maybe we did promise to be each other's maids of honor a long time ago but look at us now. We never talk anymore, we aren't even friends anymore!"
"I know that, Jackie." Donna looked down at her hands.
"Then, why? Why all of a sudden you show up here like nothing? Do you even know me anymore? Do you even care? What do you mean you have no female friends? You were so keen on making Sam your new best friend two years ago, why not ask her?!"
Donna sighed, "I knew this was going to be difficult…"
"You're damn right it's going to be difficult!" Jackie exclaimed, "Donna, you were my best friend and you sold me out for some Las Vegas stripper and for what? I loved Steven, Donna, really, really loved him and when I needed you the most you were not there, you betrayed me."
"I know, Jackie," Donna whispered sadly, "I really do."
They were silent for a time.
"Maybe I should go…" Donna said, starting to get up.
"No, Donna, hang on," Jackie said, "Look… I don't know where all this is coming from. I really don't blame you anymore. I'm over it. I guess it's just old frustrations. Sit down."
Donna looked relieved as she sat back down.
"You have every right to still be mad if you wanted to, Jackie. I did all those things you accused me of and for what it's worth I am truly sorry. I was wrong and if I could change it I would."
Jackie nodded, "I know, it's okay."
"So…" Donna started, but Jackie interrupted.
"Actually, Donna, while we are being honest here… I have something I have to tell you. And if after I tell you this and you don't want me to be your maid of honor anymore I understand. But also, I just want you to know I didn't do this out of spite of for any type of revenge on you and maybe if I still considered us best friends things wouldn't have happened this way. And I really think that everyone has grown up and apart and things are just-"
"Jackie. Jackie! You're babbling, just tell me. What is it?" Donna asked.
Jackie took a deep breath, "Donna… Eric is back."
Donna's eyes widened, "Eric? Back? Where? When? How do you know? Oh my God."
"He's here in Chicago actually," Jackie began to get nervous but then remembered her resolve that things were different and she really didn't have loyalties to the girl sitting across from her anymore, "Donna, he's staying here… with me." Jackie put extra emphasis on that last bit.
"With… oh…" Donna had a look on her face that showed she understood. "I see. You… and Eric…oh…"
"Yeah," Jackie said, "And look Donna, I'm sorry if that hurts you, it wasn't my intention. To be honest I didn't really consider you at all because of how things have been for the past two years."
Jackie held her head up and refused to let her gaze waver as she watched an array of emotions pass over Donna's face. Donna looked around the room and took in the still rumpled pull out bed and the suitcases in one corner and the men's clothing flung over the back of the armchair.
Finally Donna looked back at Jackie, "I'm not mad."
"Good, cause you have no right to be."
Donna nodded, "I- does he make you happy?"
Jackie thought about this only briefly, they weren't even really together but she knew that that was only circumstantial, and she realized right then that she wanted to be with Eric and only Eric.
"Yes."
"How long have you-?"
"Not long," Jackie said, not wanting to clue Donna in to the fact it had only been three days and one heavy make out session, "I never expected this to happen. But it did and I- I think I'm falling in love with him, Donna."
Donna had a look of surprise on her face, "You falling in love with Eric? But I thought you hated him? I'm sorry but this is all so... wow."
Jackie shook her head, "A lot has happened to everyone in these past two years, Donna. People change… even me."
She shrugged.
Donna seemed to need a moment to take this all in, so Jackie waited patiently.
Her own thoughts reeling with the fact that she just admitted to Eric's high school sweetheart, the woman he almost married, that she was falling in love with him.
In love with Eric.
Jackie smiled. For the first time, everything that came with being in love felt simple, being in love felt… right.
"Jackie… I still want you to be my maid of honor," Donna said, drawing Jackie out of her thoughts, "Please, Jackie? For old times sake?"
Jackie thought for a moment, "Yes, Donna, I will be your maid of honor."
Donna beamed, "The wedding is January 1st, Point Place Community Church, two o'clock. Of course, I'll be back down so we can get your dress and I have to pick mine up. Plus, I have your number… I will keep in touch," she said almost apologetically.
"I'd like that, Donna."
"And… I'm happy for you and Eric, I really am," Donna said, "I've been over him for a long time, I was just shocked."
"I know."
"Will you bring him with you to the wedding? I'd like everyone to be there together."
Jackie nodded, "Sure, I'm sure he'd like that."
"Jackie…"
"Yeah?"
"I'm sorry for everything. I'm sorry things went the way they did."
"Don't be, Donna," Jackie said, picking up Donna's hand and squeezing it comfortingly, "I'm not."