That 70s Show fanfic: It Was Only a Matter of Time (11)

[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 11: Give and Take

Jackie paced back and forth across Donna's bedroom. Her nerves were so raw she jumped every time a car went by outside. Donna watched her from the bed, waiting for her to calm down and tell her what was wrong. Jackie kept wringing her hands and muttering to herself.

"Maybe I shouldn't have come back," she said, quietly.

Annoyed, Donna asked Jackie what was wrong.

"Have you seen the girl that works with Steven? I think there is something going on with them."

"You're nuts."

"They seemed pretty chummy to me." Jackie had gone back to the record store last night, determined to go inside this time. She had passed by four times earlier in the day but chickened out each time. She hadn't seen Steven in the store any of the times before but she knew he was there. His El Camino was always parked out front. The last time, though, the time she finally resolved to go in, she saw him sitting there on the couch. The shade on the door was down but she could see through the crack at the edge. Steven and that bitch, Missy, were having a circle and they seemed to being having a lot of fun. Steven was laughing harder then he ever laughed with her. Mostly when she was with him he would just let out little snickers and snorts. She didn't even know Steven could laugh.

Missy kept reaching over and touching his arm and leaning close to him. A couple times Steven even reached over and brushed her crazy hair off of her face. It was all Jackie could do to keep from barfing right there. She had gone back to Donna's and cried for most of the night. Donna had worked a late shift at the station and she had no one to talk to. When she heard a car door she thought Donna was home, but when she looked out the window she saw Steven standing in the Forman's driveway, staring into space. He seemed to be deep in thought. Jackie had bit back tears. Seeing Steven was harder then she thought it was going to be. She was scared he would see her in the window but couldn't tear herself away. She looked for any sign that he had been with that freak, but didn't see any. He looked tired and after a few minutes he shook his head and went inside.

Steven had been in the hose earlier, just before Donna had left for work. If he had shown up three minutes earlier he would have caught her sitting in the Pinciotti's kitchen, eating a jelly sandwich. She had just gotten to the top of the stairs when she heard a knock on the door. Donna answered it and Jackie was shaken to hear Steven's voice. He wanted to know if Donna had seen her. Donna kept her promise and told him now. Jackie felt so confused. First that Missy girl said that Steven thought she was stuck-up, then he showed up looking for her. Than, again, last night he looked really happy with the freak. She wondered what Steven was thinking about. Maybe he didn't miss her as much as she had thought or hoped.

"Jackie, this is getting ridiculous," Donna was saying. "Just go talk to him."

She shook her head. "I just can't. I don't know what to say."

"Ugh, I give up. It doesn't have to be this complicated. The two of you are making this out to be more then it has to be. You both have big egos and misconceptions about relationships. You both think it is about doing things your own way. Relationships are about compromise. You have to give and take, Jackie. If you want to be with him then you have to quit pestering him about marriage and stuff. He's not that kind of guy."

"But, if he won't marry me, how do I know he loves me and wants to be with me in the long run?"

"Because he will be there. You guys were together for almost a whole year. I thought that was a good sign he was willing to stick it out with you. That's the longest I've ever known Hyde to be with one girl. I think you are the first girlfriend he has ever had."

"But-"

"Give him time, Jackie. You can't push or coerce a guy like Hyde into doing anything. That is just going to make him defensive and turn away from you. He's only 19, for crying out loud. He doesn't want to get married yet. Give him a chance to just get used to being in a steady relationship, maybe that will turn him around on the marriage thing. And for God's sake, quit sneaking around with Kelso." Donna laughed and slapped Jackie on the knee, trying to get her to smile. "Look, I have to go work now. Hyde will probably be at the store all day, so why don't you go see him. If that slut is there then just tell her to get lost. You kicked Laurie's butt, I bet you could take her, too."

After Donna left Jackie sat for a long time thinking about what she had said. Why was she pushing the marriage thing so much? She heard a car door slam and couldn't help but look out the window. The El Camino was parked in the drive again and she saw Steven's back as he went into the house. A few minutes later he came out with Mrs. Forman. She hugged him and handed him a plate of cookies. He smiled at her, the way he only smiled at Mrs. Forman…or Jackie. She heard him say he had to get back to work and then he got back in the car. This is it, she thought. He's heading back to the store and she knew she was going to have to confront him. She looked in the mirror, checking to see if her make-up was all right. Perfect. She smiled at her reflection and tried to make it look less fake then she felt it was, then she hurried out the door.

"Oh, Jackie," Mrs. Forman called, startled.

Jackie halted. "Mrs. Forman."

"Steven didn't say you were coming for a visit."

"Um, well, I didn't exactly tell him I was coming."

"Oh, a surprise. How sweet. He just went back to work. He said he could only grab a quick bite. It must be really hopping over at the record store." She sniggered at her little joke. Jackie didn't get it.

"Um, I have to go now," Jackie said as she walked away.

"Okay, honey. Go surprise Steven. He needs a good surprise. That boy hasn't stopped moping since you left. Down right lonely, if you ask me."

Jackie smiled and waved bye. IT was only 5:30, but it looked "happy hour" had started a little early in the Forman house. Now, if only Jackie could keep her courage on the walk to the store. I'm going to do this, she kept saying to herself, over and over.

Chapter 12