Mending of the Heart: Jackie's Story

Chapter 6: Reacquainted

The next morning Dianna and Jackie woke up later than they had wanted to and had to go to school without stopping at the creek to get her car. When they arrived at school, Jackie looked around for Eric still worried about how things went with his dad the other day. Just as the bell rung, Jackie saw Eric running into school from his car in the rain. She stopped and waited for him, and they walked briskly to his locker. "Hey, how are you doing today?"

"I'm doing okay, can't believe I woke up so late this morning." Eric said taking off his coat. "Any ways, what about you? Blake came over saying you were missing and not answering your phone."

"Yeah, I went for a run and lost track of time, but it felt nice. It got me thinking I may want to try out for track this year." Jackie chuckled.

"You should. So, where'd you end up?" Eric asked intrigued.

"About twenty minutes out of town by the old shack I told you about."

"Wow, you definitely would be a good runner for the track team. Seriously babe, you have to try out." Eric said locking up his locker and taking Jackie's hand.

"If I do, it'll be for the spring. Since I am just about to finish applying for college, and then we also have finals coming up." Jackie tried to explain.

"I hear you babe; we all have a lot of stuff going on before January comes. I think you're just handling it much different than everyone else." Eric replied with a smile, "anyways, I'll see you at lunch." Eric gave her a quick kiss on cheek, and went to his class as she went to hers.

At lunch, Jackie found Eric waiting for her at her locker. "Hey you, what are you doing?" Jackie asked when she saw him.

"Just waiting for this amazing girl, I know." Eric told her as he wrapped his arms around her.

"Really, well I hope she shows up before you miss lunch."

"She's right here." He whispered into her ear as he kissed her softly on the neck, and pulled her close as they walked down the halls toward their usual picnic table. "So, when Blake came over my house yesterday looking for you, he kind of said I was being a terrible boyfriend to you."

"Yeah, he laid into me about his thought and feelings on our relationship." Jackie sighed.

"So, what do you think about what he said? Do you feel like he does?" Eric asked touching her face gently.

"Nope. But as far as he's concerned, we're talking it out and I'm putting you in your place." Jackie smiled at the thought. "No matter what I said to him, he told me I was lying, so I told him I'd take his advice."

"That's good, because I told him to stay out of it. My relationship with you shouldn't concern him so much." Eric said tugging on her hair that had fallen in her eyes. "I know you well enough to know that if there was a serious problem, you'd make it known to me."

"Yup." Jackie said turning to him and kissing him gently on the lips.

"Well, then at least I know it wasn't my imagination that we were good."

"Are you busy after school today?" Jackie asked absent-minded.

"No, I have the day off and I only have to make a few phone calls to look for an apartment to move into by next month. But never mind that, what did you have in mind for after school?"

"I needed to go get my car. Dianna wouldn't let me get it last night, and then we woke up late ourselves and didn't really have time to get it this morning." Jackie sighed. "I hate not having my car."

"No problem. Is it still at the creek?"

"Unfortunately, yes."

"Consider us retrieving it later." Eric stated. "Plus, we'll also get some time to spend together without stress clouding our brains." Eric tipped up Jackie's chin and kissed her on the lips. "By the way, I really am glad I have you by my side during this confusing time in my life."

"I'm glad I could be here for you." Jackie replied as they got up to throw their trash away. "So, I'll meet you at your car after school?"

"You better be laying on my car in a bikini." Eric laughed. "Wait, no sorry. If you ever do that, make sure I'll be the only guy seeing that."

"I'll keep that in mind." Jackie giggled kissing him good-bye and headed towards her next class.

After school, Jackie met Eric as they planned, and they drove out to the creek. "It's getting so cold lately. I cannot wait for it to snow." Jackie sighed. "All we seem to be getting lately is rain."

"Hopefully, we'll get some by Christmas." Eric said leaning over to kiss her passionately.

"With any luck." Jackie sighed feeling like she was going to melt out of her skin at the very touch of his lips on hers. "Thanks again for bringing me to my car. It beats listening to everyone tell me that I'm not acting like myself lately."

"If it's any constellation, I think your just growing up and no one knows what to think of it. I'm happy with who you are and your choices."

"Thanks, and you know with all that's going on in our lives I just needed to shut it out the other day. And you seem to be the only one who understands that about me."

"I try to, but I know Blake had some points that were true about us."

"What points did he say to you that made you think he was right?" Jackie questioned running her fingers gently through his brown hair.

"I wasn't making enough quality time to spend with you lately. I mean, I know last month was amazing for both of us, but I should be focusing on more than just s*x when it comes to you." Eric said shaking his head. "You mesmerize me with everything you do, and I just want to be as close to you as I can get. Though I know I need to be there more for you like you are there for me when I need you."

"You don't realize it but you are. I really haven't told anyone else about applying for colleges, because I don't want to get their hopes up." Jackie explained. "Then there's yesterday, when everyone else seemed to panic, you knew I'd be found. Though I would have liked to see you looking."

"I went to the old mill and looked all around there for you. Ace called me to tell me they found you, but that you seemed upset with everyone crowding you, so I felt it'd be better to stay clear." Eric reassured her. "I know when your upset and pushing people away, the best thing to do is to let you calm down."

"Yeah. I just hope my parents are not too upset with me."

"I'm sure they won't be. You parents care so much about you, and let you live your life happily. The one who seems to try and control you is Robert."

"I know." Jackie said pulling him closer to her and kissing him deeply. "I feel the same way about you. I can't seem to get close enough to you."

It felt like one swift movement, and they were in his backseat kissing passionately. Before she could think clearly, Eric had slipped his hands under her shirt and unhooked her bra. Jackie followed suit by pulling his shirt over his head. Eric seemed to be taking forever taking her top off, but Jackie was just focusing on his lips brushing against her skin and lips. The electricity that was passing between them was unbelievably high.

Eric just continued to run his hands along every curve of her body, eagerly grabbing her closer to him. Jackie had slid her hands under the waistband of his jeans pulling him closer to her. When she slid her hands around to undo the button, Eric pulled his head up from kissing her. "Now who's eager this time?" He chuckled as she kept working his button. "Babe, slow down a little. We got all night."

"I know I just want to be close to you." Jackie breathed heavily.

"We got plenty of time for this." Eric said sitting up more.

"So, let's make the best of it." Jackie sighed.

"Believe me we will." Eric smiled helping her sit up. "I just want us to talk some more before we let things go too far again. Believe me I want you more than ever, but I think we should really think about slowing this part down between us."

"Why fight what we started?" Jackie asked climbing onto his lap. "We definitely have a connection and serious heat between us. All I want to do is be closer just once more, before we slow down."

She didn't give him a chance to reply. She began kissing him more passionately pouring all her desire for him into the kiss. Before he could protest, she removed her shirt and pressed against him. Eric didn't fight it any more, he pulled her close, and sliding his hands under the skirt she had borrowed from Dianna that morning, and slid her underwear off. They made love like it was their first time, with so much passion and desire passing between them.

Later that evening, Jackie went home happy. When she entered the house, she found Natalie in the kitchen making dinner, with all the other kids downstairs. "Hey mom."

"There you are sweetie. Are you okay?" Natalie greeted her daughter with a hug and an examination.

"I'm better than okay. I just went for a run yesterday to clear my head, and it worked. I think I'm going to be able to finish all my current tasks with ease now. Then I can actually get into the holiday spirit."

"That's good honey." Natalie replied letting go of her daughter. "Just do me a favor?"

"What's that?"

"Go upstairs and put some cover-up on that hickey on your neck before your dad comes in the house." Natalie smiled. "At least I know he makes you happy, but your dad isn't ready for you to grow up just yet."

"Will do." Jackie replied running up the stairs to her room. When she came back downstairs, she had taken a shower and changed into her pajamas. Luckily, she had timed it perfectly, and Natalie had just called all the kids to supper. After Natalie and Liam put the little ones to bed, Jackie sat down in the parlor with them.

They talked briefly about what has been bothering her, and after they finished, Jackie swallowed hard. "Speaking of Eric, I guess his dad told him he has to find a place to live by next month. He's looking into apartments around town, but that will require him to get another job. So, I was wondering if it's possible... Could we let him stay here until he leaves for college?" Jackie had to say her thoughts quickly.

"Well, honey. Your dad and I will have to talk about it. Then we'd have to talk to Eric about it. If we decide to go along with that thought, we'll definitely have to set up some rules due to the fact that you two are dating." Natalie replied a little shocked.

"Have you talk to Eric about this idea?" Liam asked.

"Well, no. I wanted to propose it to you two before I tell him. Do you think it would have been better to run it by him first?" Jackie was surprised.

"Well, do you really know what's going on with his finances and what not? Or are you just figuring with him only working part time he'll be struggling?" Liam kept up the questioning.

"I see your point. I'll talk to him tomorrow." Jackie said getting up.

"If he's free sometime this week, have him come over. I'd like to see him again anyways. You know have a man to man conversation." Liam explained.

"Okay, well I'm going to go to bed. Good night." Jackie said as she walked up the stairs to her room. She was hoping that her parents would allow Eric to live there somewhere. When she went to bed, she fell asleep quickly that night.