Last Chapter: Jackie pulled away reluctantly and followed her "fiancé" back home. Hyde watched them turn the corner before trying to find his way back to where he was staying.
Default: I don't own That 70's show or anything else I talk about in my story.
The rusty red door was peeling and Hyde stood at the entrance. He was facing the decaying red menace of a door. It dared him to pick at the paint. Hyde reached out a hand and picked at the paint. A small piece flicked off and Hyde felt a little better. He picked at another piece and it come off and floated to the floor. He dug his nail under another piece and ripped it off the door.
There was significant gap from where the paint was chipped off. Hyde stared at it for a moment before noticing that it oddly looked like the letter "J." He sighed deeply and pulled the door open. Upon realizing it was locked, he buzzed Russell and asked to be let back in. A buzz sounded and Hyde pulled the door open and trudged up the stairs. He didn't like that he wouldn't know where Jackie was tonight.
Hyde's mind, being elsewhere, barely gave him the mentality to pick his feet up at he walked. Going up the second flight of stairs, Hyde's foot didn't make the step and he tripped. His knees hit into the stairs and Hyde hissed in pain. "Shit," he yelled out. He rolled over and sat on the step, holding his knee. Blood was coming through is jeans on both legs. He rolled them up and saw gashes just slightly under both knees. He sighed deeply and pulled his pants back down.
Hyde began up the steps again, paying more attention to picking up his feet. The blood was trickling down his leg and he felt it soak into his socks. Coming to the door, Hyde paused and looked down. The front of his pant legs were blood soaked. His legs were also shaking and stinging in pain. He knocked on the door and listened to Russell moving around inside. The door soon opened and Hyde awkwardly stood in the doorway being examined.
"Whoa! Steven, who did this to you?" Russell asked, ushering Hyde into the apartment. Hyde shuffled into the kitchen.
"I did," He said as he hopped up onto the counter next to the sink. He rolled up his pants and winced as they brushed the wound. He grabbed a towel and wet it. He placed it gently on top of the cut and felt a good pain feeling rush through him. Russell stood in the doorway and watched. He leaned against the door and was shaking his head.
"That girl, the one you're up to get back, you had better marry her," Russell said before walking off. Hyde heard the TV come on in the living room and he smiled. He didn't think it was a bad idea actually. He pushed the idea away and tended to his wounds. He would have to really heal tonight as to not be in pain tomorrow.
After cleaning himself off and bandaging his legs, Hyde found his room and bed. He felt immensely tired and just fell onto the bed. He kicked off his pants and slept in his boxers and shirt on top of the covers. The cold air felt nice against his skin as he listened to the television through the wall. His room was close to the door and he heard numerous people enter and leave for a period of what seemed like hours.
Just as Hyde was about to fall asleep, he heard what sounded like a knock. He opened his eyes for a moment and closed them again, feeling sleep overwhelm him. The knock came again and then another. He sat up and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. The knocks were gentle and quiet. He pulled himself out of bed and gripped the wall as he pulled himself to the door. His legs were shaking and he felt the cuts open up under his bandages.
The bug wooden door stood at the end of a long hallway with a small peephole in the center. Hyde looked through and saw someone familiar on the other side. He quickly unlocked the door and opened it.
"Jackie!" He said surprised. Jackie quickly ran into his chest. "Steven, I got scared. I can't sleep if I don't have you there," she sniffed. Hyde nodded and closed and locked the door behind him. He led Jackie to his room and he flicked on the light. Jackie sat down on the bed, and Hyde closed the door. A gasp came from behind him.
"Steven! What happened to your legs?" She asked loudly. Hyde shushed her and sat next to her on the bed. He was too sleepy to explain and he shook his head. Jackie didn't ask anymore and she was pulled back onto the bed with Hyde. He held her in his arms as he started to drift back in to sleep. Jackie's gentle breathing made it easier for Hyde to sleep. He felt calmer around her; like things were going to be all right. The world was at peace when she was in his arms. Hyde smiled and nuzzled Jackie's neck lovingly.
The next morning Hyde rolled over and stretched a leg clear across the bed. His legs burned but he didn't care. There was that warm spot on the bed that just made him forget his pain. Hyde yawned and sat up. He wiped at his eyes and patted his hair down on his head. He looked around the room for a moment, taking it in. He yawned again and scratched his back. That was when Hyde realized that Jackie wasn't next to him anymore.