That 70s Show fanfic: It Was Only a Matter of Time (8)

[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 8: Facing the Music

It was dark when Donna dropped Jackie off in front of the store. The ride home in the Vista Cruiser had been quiet and very long. Donna hadn't said much and Jackie didn't offer to talk either. The only thing she had said was that it was nice of Mr. Forman to loan Donna the car. Donna waved to her as she got out. Jackie managed a weak smile and shut the door. The Vista Cruiser rumbled around the corner leaving Jacking standing alone under a lone street lamp. She could hear the din of music coming from the store.

This was it, she thought. Time to face the music. The store was empty except for the bizarre looking girl at the register. He hair was sticking out all over and her lips were painted an azure blue. Jackie could tell her hair had once been a brown color, slightly lighter then her own, but it had been dyed a platinum blond and the tips were tinted hot pink and neon green. She didn't seem aware that Jackie had come in, she just sat, chomping on her gum and twitching to the music.

"Is Steven here?" Jackie asked sheepishly.

"Who?"

Jackie looked around, dread growing in the pit of her stomach. She still had no clue what she was going to say to him. She wasn't entirely sure she'd be able to speak at all.

"Steven," she whispered.

"Oh, boss man." The brightly attired girl giggled. She flipped the pages of her magazine not even glancing at Jackie. "He ain't here."

"Do you know when he'll be back?"

"He didn't say. Just said he needed some air."

"Oh." Jackie turned to leave but was startled when the girl suddenly looked up and popped a huge purple bubble with her gum. She eyed Jackie thoughtfully. Feeling self-conscience Jackie smoothed her dress and touched each button checking to make sure they were all done.

The girl snorted. "You must be Jackie."

Taken aback by her tone she went on the defensive. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing'. You are just as I pictured, that's all. I thought Boss Man was exaggerating when he said you were a prissy little twit, but I guess I was wrong. You sure do look stuck up to me."

"Steven said I was stuck up?" A new hurt filled her already injured heart. The girl didn't answer her. Did Steven really think those things about her? she wondered. The girl started laughing-a loud, obnoxious laugh that lit every nerve in Jackie's body on fire. She was laughing at her, Jackie realized. She wasn't used to complete strangers laughing at her. She was far too beautiful for people to laugh at her, but this gum chewing, mismatched freak was doing just that.

"Who are you anyway?" Jackie demanded.

"I'm Missy," she said, all perky all of a sudden. "I work here now."

Jackie gaped at her, for once at a loss for words. She remembered her Zen lessons Steven had given her when she was trying to get over Kelso dating Laurie and was ready to answer with a cool and collected "whatever" when Missy interrupted her thoughts.

"You know, he talks about you all the time."

That threw Jackie. "He does?" A glimmer of hope snuck into her growing gloom.

"Yeah. Just today he said you could do a lot better." That was true, Jackie had to admit. "I think he decided you were just too far above him, class wise. He's going to stick to his own level this time around. Girls like you are just too high maintenance. Now, someone like me…well I won't care if he can't buy me expensive jewelry or take me to fancy dinners. I sure as hell don't care if I ever get married. Meaningless sex is enough to satisfy me. Just the kind of girl the boss man needs after dealing with someone like you." Missy looked up at Jackie's horrified expression and laughed even harder then before. It was a cruel laugh.

Jackie turned and ran for the door, completely humiliated.

"I saw him looking at my legs the other day," Missy called after them. "They are pretty bad ass."

Jackie kept running, not knowing where she was going. Could Steven really like that girl, she thought. The idea scared her so much. This whole time she had imagined Steven sitting in his room alone thinking of her. But maybe Steven had moved on already and his nights were spent curled up with that freak in there. Jackie gagged and felt her stomach heave. She fought back the urge to regurgitate her lunch and wiped the tears from her eyes. She realized she had no idea where she was and looked around trying to get her bearings. She could see a park down the street and wandered over that way. She remembered this place. IT was the playground they hung out as kids, before it was un-cool to swing all day and play tag. She settled into a swing and tried to think of something other then her boyfriend kissing the shapely legs of that color blind bitch in there.

Chapter 9