Jackie's heart dropped as the message ended. She should have known something was wrong as soon as she heard Eric's voice on the answering machine. Besides Hyde, Eric was the one person she hardly kept in contact with. She couldn't believe Steven had gotten into an accident. She also couldn't believe how fast feelings of concern arose. For the last nine months, she had attempted to bury any memory or feeling she had for Hyde, yet here she was, short of breath praying that he was okay.

She ran to her bedroom and searched through her drawers for her address book. It had been a while since she had dialed the Forman's number and did not remember it. It took her several minutes to find it and once she did, she quickly returned to the phone and dialed the digits that would reconnect her with her past. As the line began to ring, she let out a heavy sigh. She didn't know what would happen when someone picked up the other line and was very nervous.

"Mr. Sexy's Pizza, how can I help you?"

"Hello?" replied Jackie confused.

"Yes, hello. Our special today is sexeroni with a side of Fez."

Jackie shook her head. Of course she should have guessed it was Fez, but how could he be pulling pranks at a time like this?

"Fez, can you put Eric on the phone?"

"Yes, may I ask who's speaking."

Jackie was shocked. Had it truly been that long since she had last spoken to her ex-boyfriend that he had already forgotten what her voice sounded like? 'oh hell' she thought, 'this isn't the time to worry about that.'

"Just put him on the phone."

"Fine, no need to be so bossy...wait is this Jackie?"

"Yes Fez it is, now please put Eric on the phone. It's important."

"No one ever calls to talk to Fez. It's always for someone else and I am sick of it. Now good day."

"But Fez-"

"I said good day!"

The phone went silent for a couple of seconds and Jackie couldn't figure out if Fez had hung up or not and just as she was about to put the phone back on the receiver she heard Eric's voice on the other end.

"Hello?" he asked.

"Eric, it's Jackie. I just got your message. What happened to Steven? Is he okay?"

"Hey, yeah he's doing better now. They're leaving him in the hospital for a few more days to run tests on him and stuff but it's not too bad."

"Well what happened? How did he get into an accident?"

"We're actually not too sure. All we know is that he was driving his car and all of a sudden he crashed into another car. The El Camino is completely destroyed but everyone was okay."

"Has he said anything? Is everything fine?"
"He's still pretty out of it from all the drugs they've given him but the doctors say he's going to be alright."
"Oh thank God. From your message I thought it was serious."
"Yeah, I'm sorry about that. I had just gotten the call and was panicking when I called you."
"It's okay, he's your best friend I understand, but..um...why did you call me?"
"What do you mean?" asked Eric.
"I mean I haven't spoken to Steven in almost a year. Honestly, I haven't spoke to you much either. So what made you think to call me?"
"Oh, well you're still part of the group and...well..I never really thought you stopped loving Hyde so I knew I had to call and tell you."
"Well I appreciate you calling me but Eric, I'm not in love with Steven anymore just so you know."
"It doesn't mean you don't love him. Jackie I have to get going now but I'll call you tonight to let you know how he's doing okay?"
"Ok sure, thanks for calling again."
"No problem Jackie."

As she set the phone back on its base, Jackie thought about what Eric said about still loving Steven even if she was no longer in love with him and she figured that would be true for as long as she lived. Even after all the pain she had suffered throughout their relationship, he was her first real love. He had challenged her to step out of her comfort zone and become a person she could be proud of, and even if he did shatter her heart into a million pieces, she could at least acknowledge the impact he had on her.

Even today, almost two years after their relationship ended, she found herself using many things he taught her. Zen, for example, was her "go to" method of emotional protection. By pretending not to care about pretty much anything, as he had taught her to do, Jackie was able to quickly get over many situations which years ago would have destroyed her.

The one thing she was most thankful for was that he had managed to crack the naïve and shallow exterior she once possessed and helped her transform into a woman who saw that the world was more than just rainbows and unicorns. While at first she had blamed him for doing away with her innocent perception of her surroundings, she came to understand that he helped her become someone who was caring, compassionate and strong. These traits, as well as others she'd acquired throughout her time with Steven, helped her survive in a new city on her own.

She would be lying if she said she didn't love him for she knew she did. Deep down she always knew, but the part of her that he had broken wanted nothing more but to fully and completely hate him. That part, the one that no longer knew who that man was, only remembered heartache and disloyalty. It remembered being tossed aside as some blonde bimbo took her place in his lap, his bed and ultimately his heart. The man she saw during her last months in Wisconsin was not the one she had grown to love but a cold-hearted monster who enjoyed hurting her.

And now he was the one who was hurt. Even though Eric had said Steven was going to be alright, she worried about him.

'God Steven how do you always manage to make these feelings come back?' she thought as she headed towards her bedroom for some much needed sleep until Eric called back later.