A/N : Three things you should know before reading this fic; (1) this is the first time in a couple of years that my fanfic has ventured outside the Buffyverse, (2) I have only seen the first four Seasons of That 70s Show, (3) I am very nervous about posting this story here as I seem to have lost all confidence in writing any characters other than thosefrom Buffy or Angel. I would really appreciate some feedback on this first chapter, so when you've read, please review. Thanx.
Title: To Run & Hyde
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Following the events of 'Jackie Bags Hyde', the couple realise they both made a huge mistake when they said they felt nothing after their kiss. Now Jackie wants to set the record straight, but is it too late for Hyde?
Disclaimer : All recognisable characters from 'That 70's Show' do not belong to me in any way at all.
Chapter 1
"Hey man" Eric greeted his friends as he swung into the basement and took a seat on the couch, "Whatcha whatchin'?" he asked, looking towards the TV.
"Huh?" Hyde said, glancing at him, "Oh, hey Forman. When did you get here? I was just watchin' some TV"
"Yeah" Eric answered, frowning slightly.
Though it might've been understandable that Hyde were so distracted by the television he didn't realise his friend had come in to the basement, that would only make real sense if Charlie's Angels or some other show with hot girls was on TV. As it was, Hyde was either really engrossed by infomercials for cleaning products, or there was something on his mind.
"Okay, so what's up, Hyde?" he asked him, "Last I hear you're taking Jackie on a date" he recalled with a shudder of distaste, "and now you're sitting here staring at infomercials like they're the answer to the universe"
"I was not" Hyde rolled his eyes, "For your information, Forman, my so-called date with Jackie was the disaster I knew it would be, and now I'm just sitting here in a cheerleader-free zone, congratulating myself on a lucky escape" he said, not quite as forcefully as he'd meant to as he got up from his chair and headed to the back of the basement where has old bed resided. It technically wasn't his room back there anymore, since he moved out to live with his Dad, but for emergencies sake Mrs Forman had insisted there be a space in their house for Steven to come back to and he was grateful to her for that.
"For a guy who's congratulating himself, you look kinda bummed" Eric observed from the doorway, "What happened, exactly?"
"It was a first date, Forman" Hyde told him from his position laid out on the bed, hands behind his head, "I know it's a while since you went on one, but I'm pretty sure you should be able to remember how it goes down"
"Oh my God!" Eric gasped over-dramatically, "You made out with Jackie!" he exclaimed, pointing at his friend, "Man, I hope she didn't give you, like, shallow-bitch rabies or something!"
"Just can it, Forman!" Hyde yelled, his tone bordering on seriously pissed off by now, "I don't wanna talk about this, and I don't wanna hear what you have to say about it either!" he said, making his feelings very clear. He'd have stormed out the room if he had some place better to go, and if Eric wasn't standing in the doorway right now.
"Okay, I'm sorry" the other guy said awkwardly, not really understanding what was going on, only that Hyde was really not happy about something. Eric left quickly when his friend yelled for him to clear out of there, though in all honesty, he was worried about him. The pair had been friends since they were little kids, and Eric had watched as they'd grown up and so many girls had passed through Steven Hyde's life. Just because Jackie Burkhart had been added to that list today, Eric had no idea why it should make such a difference.
In his room, Hyde lay staring at the ceiling, thinking over the days events one more time. He'd been flattered but a little annoyed by Jackie's advances that morning, but then he'd just gotten so mad when that Chip guy called her a bitch, and talked about nailing her like she was just some random whore, like Laurie. Jackie was worth way more than that, though Hyde had no idea when he'd started to think so.
Tonight, he and Jackie had gone on their first and only date, which had ended with a kiss. When they pulled away and looked at each other after a brief moment, he hated to see what looked like disappointment in her eyes. All this time saying she loved him and always would, talking about how they should be together forever. In that moment, the fantasy was shattered, for the both of them.
"Did you feel anything?" she'd asked him, "Cos... I didn't feel anything"
He'd stumbled over his reply, torn between the truth and the much simpler lie. For a few moments he'd been prepared to tell her he did in fact like her, that she hadn't been completely wrong, and that maybe they could have something, a relationship of some kind, but in that very same moment it seemed she had the opposite change of heart. She felt nothing for him, nothing real, just like everybody else who ever pretended to care. He screwed his eyes tight shut, wished the world away. He was Steven Hyde, the outcast, the rebel, wouldn't allow himself to be hurt or stepped on. She didn't want him? Fine, he didn't want her either, certainly didn't need her, didn't need anybody in this stupid town!
It didn't take long before Hyde was so mad about the whole situation he'd decided to do what the rest if his family always did when things got tough - he ran.
Jackie was confused, and she didn't like the feeling very much. Life was simple when she was dating Michael, okay so he cheated on her a lot, but at least she knew how to handle that. Now there was Steven, although you could hardly say he and Jackie were together since tonight had been their first, last, and only date together. Still, she found he wasn't half so simple to figure out as Michael, and whilst that seemed to be one of things about him that attracted her the most, it was frustrating as hell for Jackie not being able to make sense of what she or the man she confessed to love was thinking or feeling.
"Why did I lie!" Jackie asked herself frustratedly as she paced up and down her bedroom, a stuffed unicorn clutched to her chest, "Why was I suddenly so scared!"
"Who are you talking to?" a voice asked from the doorway, making her friend jump.
"Donna!" Jackie gasped, "Oh my God, I so need your help!" she said as she ran over, dragging the red-head into her room and shutting the door behind her.
"Geez, Jackie, I kinda hoped you'd be a little less crazy now Hyde paid attention to you" Donna shook her head as she sat down on the end of the bed and watched her friend continue to pace the floor, unicorn still firmly in hand.
"Oh, he paid attention to me" Jackie smiled dreamily, "all afternoon, and it was beautiful, Donna, I mean we didn't talk all that much but it was just... nice, y'know?"
"A nice time with Hyde?" her friend considered, "Yeah, I believe that, but without talking or making out? That's just a weird date for anybody"
"Well, there may have been kissing" Jackie admitted, looking almost shy about it, "Or, more specifically, one kiss"
"Okay, like a real kiss?" Donna checked, overly aware of how her friend had been throwing herself at Hyde these past few weeks. There was no way to know if Jackie was exaggerating or fantasising or what.
"Yes, a real kiss" she insisted, "Donna, we are talking about the hottest, most incredibly amazing kiss of my entire life" she said, looking entirely serious as she stood before her friend and explained it.
"Wow" the red-head looked impressed, "I don't remember him being that good a kisser..." she trailed off as Jackie's eyes went wide, "but that was a long, long time ago, and we don't need to talk about that" she muttered.
"Donna, focus!" Jackie demanded, "I am having a serious problem here! Steven kissed me, and I kissed him, and it was so amazing and then..."
"And then?" her friend checked cautiously, wondering if she really wanted to know what happened next. Okay, so she'd come over to Jackie's house purposefully to comfort her following her date that most likely would have ended in disaster, after all Hyde had been making it pretty clear he wasn't interested. Whether that were true or not, Donna couldn't say for sure, but she had a fair idea that the date would end badly and that Jackie would need her.
"And then, I did the most stupid thing ever!" he petite brunette exclaimed, "I looked at him and he looked at me, and it was just like in my head. I waited for him to say something magical but nothing happened. So I asked him if he felt anything"
"And he said no?" Donna sympathised, feeling bad for her friend, no matter how deluded she was.
"Actually, I said no first" Jackie admitted, "but only because I could tell he was going to say it too, and I couldn't take the pain! Argh!" she made a frustrated sound as she flung herself face down on her bed, throwing her pink fluffy unicorn aside, "I hate this!"
"Jackie, I know it's tough, but hey, maybe it's a good thing that you finally accept Hyde doesn't feel that way about you" Donna told her as she put a comforting hand on her back, "Now you can move on"
"But I don't wanna move on, Donna" Jackie said sadly as she looked up at her friend with tears in her eyes, "I wanted everything to be perfect, I so wanted him to feel like I do"
"I'm sorry that he doesn't, Jackie" she said, putting an arm around the girl and giving her a hug. It was weird but the poor girl seemed more pained over Hyde's rejection than when Kelso cheated on her. This was the second time she'd cried today, and all because Hyde had said he felt nothing for her. It seemed it'd finally sunk in, which was good, and yet seeing her friend in so much pain didn't thrill her.
Donna couldn't imagine how awful it must be to love someone who didn't feel the same. She was lucky to be with Eric, knowing that he loved her unconditionally, just like she loved him. He'd been so sweet today, despite the argument they'd had over their respective fathers barbecues. In the end all that mattered was that they cared a great deal about each other and always would.
"I still wish my Daddy could buy him for me" Donna heard Jackie mutter, and that made her smile.
"Yeah, well, right now my Dad can't afford to buy me anything" she sighed, and the brunette scrambled into an upright position.
"What?" she checked, "Donna, what happened?"
"My Dad's store is going out of business" the redhead admitted, "He's going bankrupt"
"Oh my God!" Jackie gasped, "Oh Donna, I'm sorry" she apologised, feeling bad, "I mean here I am all wrapped up in my problems, which are way smaller than yours! I can totally get Steven one day, I mean, come on, he can only hold out so long. Nobody can turn down someone as pretty as me forever" she said matter of factly, "But poor, poor Donna" she said, hugging her friend who smiled at her almost twisted kindness.
It was dark when Hyde slipped back into the Forman's basement and took one last look around. He had has stuff all packed into one bag on his back, and an envelope in his hand which he left on the table. It had no name on it, it wasn't for anyone specific after all, he just didn't want anybody to worry about him like Donna or Mrs Forman. He cared about them and didn't want to frighten them by just leaving without a word.
As for Jackie, he realised now what an idiot he had been, and how impossible it would be now to keep on being around her, knowing she felt nothing for him when he felt so much for her. He closed his eyes and sighed before stepping back out of the basement and hurrying up the steps. Out in the driveway he took a moment to glance back at the Forman's house where he had been so happy for a while, before turning and heading towards the nearest bus stop. He wasn't sure where he was going yet, but it was far away from Point Place, that was for sure.
To Be Continued...