That 70s Show fanfic: It Was Only a Matter of Time (6)

[jennickels]

It Was Only a Matter of Time
by jennickels (aka Jen Connelly)
That 70s Show
Jackie/Hyde
rating: PG-13

Jack and Hyde work through their problems after Hyde finds Kelso in Jackie's Chicago hotel room (AU after season 7 finale). [start from the beginning: Chapter 1]

don't own... wish I did, but I don't. No infringement intended.

Chapter 6: A Little Help From Our Friends

Jackie picked up the phone after 4 rings. She half hoped it was Steven on the other linebut the voice that said "hello" was definitely a girl.

"Oh, hi, Donna," she mumbled.

"My dad said you called earlier…"

"Uh, yeah, I did. I just wanted to… I mean, I need…I…" Jackie trailed off.

"Are you okay?" Donna asked.

"Oh course." Jackie tried to sound cheerful but it was hard, what with all the crying and all. She sniffled.

"I talked to Hyde yesterday," Donna told her. "He's pretty upset. What the hell happened, Jackie? Why was Kelso in your motel room?"

Jackie broke down and started bawling. "Nothing happened, I swear."

"Well, I'm glad. And I didn't think anything did, but Hyde does."

"I know."

"You need to talk to him."

"I don't think he will ever look at me again," Jackie sobbed. "He hates me. I could tell from his look."

"He doesn't hate you, Jackie. He was just hurt and confused and angry. I don't blame him, but now he is just miserable. He just mopes around the house or works all day."

"He misses me?" Jackie asked, hopefully.

"Duh." Donna waited a minute for Jackie to grasp that bit of info. "So are you coming home or what?"

"I can't," Jackie started.

"Why not? Don't throw I all away for some stupid job."

"It's not that, Donna. I quit my job three days ago. I'm out of money and about to lost this room. I was calling-" Earlier it had sounded like a perfectly reasonable thing to do, to call her friend for help. But now that Donna was on the line, Jackie was finding it hard to ask. She hated sounding needy, hated to be reminded that she had little money any more.

Donna jumped in and saved her from asking. "You need someone to come get you? Why didn't you just ask, Jackie?"

"Thank you, Donna. Oh," she said, remembering something, "please don't tell Steven I'm coming home."

Donna sighed. "I won't."

Jackie hung up the phone and stared around the small motel room. The couple next door were very loud and very into what they were doing. This place sucks, Jackie thought. Why did she ever think she could be happy here? There was nothing left to do but wait for Donna to rescue her. Her bags had been packed for two days and she was just about out of money. Her stomach clenched tighter as she thought about what she would say when she saw Steven again. She was afraid he would just turn and walk away, not wanting to hear her out. Donna had said he still loved her, but Jackie was doubtful. Hw could he love her after this? Even if she hadn't done anything wrong. She wasn't sure if Steven would believe her and she didn't think she could convince Michael to confess the truth. She pulled her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. She let the tears come feely. There was no use trying to stop them, that only made it hurt more. She missed Steven so much. All she could think about was holding him in her arms. She wanted to feel the soft cotton of hi t-shirt against her cool skin, feel his warm breath cascade over her face, smell his aftershave and that hint of cologne she got him that he never admitted to using. She just wanted things back the way they were.

"Why did I ever try to get him to commit like that?" she asked out loud to the empty room. Hyde wasn't the type of guy to admit he wanted something like that. You just waited around long enough and eventually things worked out, that's who he did things. He either left or he stuck by you, proving that he was willing to commit. She couldn't just leave well enough alone, could she?"

Okay, she thought. I will go to the record store and march right up to him and say… She couldn't think of anything that sounded half way decent. She could just break down in tears and make him feel so sorry for her he would scoop her up in his arms and apologize for being a jerk. No, that wouldn't work. Steven was too smart for that. After a few other scenarios that sounded just as lame, she concluded that there was no way to prepare for that meeting. She would just have to go in there and face him and it would come to her then. Jackie buried her face in her knees and waited for Donna to arrive.

Chapter 7