That 70s Show fanfic: Homecoming (13)

[jennickels]

Homecoming
by jennickels (aka Jen Connelly)
That 70s Show
Jackie/Hyde
23,369 words
rating: PG-13

Twenty years ago Hyde left Point Place without so much as a look back. What happens when he suddenly finds himself back in town and trying to restart his life?  Will his friends take him back? 

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

Chapter 13: Second First Date

After much persuasion, Hyde finally convinced Jackie to let him pay for the entire meal. They ate steak and shrimp at the same sports bar he had lunch in the week before. After a couple peach daiquiris Jackie finally started to loosen up. Hyde was feeling pretty good himself. Jackie threw her head back, laughing. In the course of the conversation they had agreed to each tell an embarrassing story from the past twenty years.

Hyde had just finished his. He had told her about the time the girls had gotten him these awful fuzzy blue bunny slippers as a gift when they were about five and six. They insisted he wore them every morning during breakfast. As if that wasn't embarrassing enough he accidentally ran out the door to take them to school still wearing them and even went in to talk to the principal that way. They never let him forget it and he was sure Jackie wouldn't ever forget it either, but it was so nice to hear her laugh.

She reached across the table and squeezed his arm. "That is priceless," she giggled. "I'm not sure I can imagine you in fuzzy slippers, though. Did you get any pictures?" She started laughing hard again.

"Ha, ha," he said, smiling widely. Jackie was still holding his arm. Hyde felt an electric current run up his arm from the point of contact. He tried not to shiver and silently wished she wouldn't let go. "Your turn, now," he mentioned. Jackie suddenly quit laughing and straightened her blouse.

"I don't do embarrassing things, sorry," she said, smugly. Same old Jackie, Hyde thought.

"Come on, you agreed-"

Jackie scrunched up her face, thinking. "Um, no, sorry. Can't think of anything," she said. They both stared at each other trying to keep straight faces. Hyde covered his mouth when he couldn't contain his smile anymore. Jackie started giggling again and put her hands over her face. "Fuzzy bunny slippers," she sniggered.

Hyde shook his head and rolled his eyes. "Well if you aren't going to keep your end of the bargain then I'm leaving. You can figure out how to pay for this…" He picked up the slip the waiter had left and looked it over. "…$75 bill." Jackie tried to stop laughing but just when she got herself under control a new wave of giggles swept over her. "Fine," Hyde said, getting up to leave.

"No, Steven, I'm sorry," she tried to say with a straight face. "I'm not laughing at you, I'm laughing with you," she snickered.

"But, I'm not laughing." He was smiling, though. He just couldn't help himself. God she looks beautiful, he thought. He never would have left her sitting there. In fact, he was trying to figure out a way to keep this date going on forever.

"Ok. I thought of one," Jackie said after finally getting her giggles under control. "One time, when Steve was about ten, I was in a rush to get him to school so I wouldn't be late and he had this stupid report he kept reading to me while I was trying to iron my skirt. Anyway, I noticed it was late so we ran out the door and I didn't notice until I was at work that I had forgotten my skirt. I spent the whole day convincing people that my slip was a fancy new skirt." Hyde noticed red creep across her cheeks. He ran his tongue across his teeth, trying not to laugh.

"All right, no more embarrassing secrets," he said. He pulled his wallet out of his pocket and motioned for the waiter to take the bill. Jackie stared into the remains of her daiquiri, stirring it with the straw. "So what do you want to do now?"

She sighed. Not a good sign, Hyde thought. "I should probably be getting home."

Hyde checked his watch as the waiter returned. "Thank you," he said, tossing a five dollar bill onto the tray. "Come on, Jackie. It's only 10 o'clock. We could go see a movie or something."

They both got up and headed towards the door. Jackie seemed to consider his offer. "I don't know," she mumbled.

"Ok, I'll take you home, if that's what you want," Hyde sighed. Jackie glanced over at him and he gave her his most pathetic look he had-the one that never failed to get Kelly to smile or Karrie to laugh.

Hyde opened the door and helped Jackie get in. A few blocks away Jackie grabbed his arm. Startled, Hyde almost ran off the road. "What?" he asked.

Jackie pointed off to the right. "Let's go miniature golfing," she said excitedly. Hyde groaned. "Please." Jackie was bouncing in her seat like a little girl. Hyde couldn't resist her. Truth was he would have done anything, even sit through a play about unicorns just to spend a little more time with her. He turned into the parking lot. The place was almost empty but it didn't close until midnight. Hyde paid for two balls-Jackie picked the pink one. She was so predictable sometimes.

Forty-five minutes and eighteen holes later and the two were stumbling out of the front door. They had soon realized that "MissingLinks Mini Golf" had an adult night every Friday. They served beer and cocktails to anyone over twenty-one and no one under eighteen was allowed. Hyde had to cut Jackie off after three beers and two more daiquiris. He knew he had one two many and felt a little tipsy trying to help Jackie to the car. Just let us make it home alive, he prayed with a chuckle.

Not wanting the night to end, Hyde chose to drive around the back roads of Point Place. After a few times around the old quarry road Jackie begged him to stop-she felt sick. Hyde pulled off onto a barely visible dirt path. Both sides were overgrown with weeds and small brush. Twenty years and he still remembered where it was. Branches slapped the side of the car as he cautiously followed the old access road. Finally the trees cleared and he could see fence circling the quarry below them. He turned right and followed the fence for a few minutes until they were in a little clearing overlooking the town. He remembered bringing lots of dates up here when he was in high school.

They both got out and sat on the hood of the car watching the twinkling lights of Point Place below them. Jackie shivered but Hyde had no jacket to offer her. Instead he slid closer and put his arm around her. She didn't push him away. Hyde took a deep breath, trying to slow his breathing. This feels good, he thought. Jackie leaned her head on his shoulder. He rubbed her arm, trying to warm her up.

"This wasn't so bad," she said softly, still leaning her head on his shoulder. "I had fun. It's kind of hard to be mad when I keep picturing you in fuzzy bunny slippers."

"Ugh. Enough with the slippers already," he laughed. "I should have never brought that up."

"No, it was sweet. You were always cuter when you let your vulnerability show through." She looked up into his eyes. Hyde tried to catch his breath as he looked at her. She reached over and grabbed onto his shirt sleeve pulling him in closer. The kiss lasted only a moment but it was enough to send a shiver down Hyde's back. Even his toes tingled from the lightest touch of her lips. Jackie lingered close to his face for a few seconds longer then pulled away, putting a hand to her mouth. She blushed and jumped off the car.

"I never liked kissing you when you had a beard," she said absently, fidgeting with her blouse. I'll shave it off, Hyde thought, whatever will make you do that again. He rubbed the back of his neck. It was the alcohol, he told himself. That was the only reason she kissed him-she was drunk. Letting out a long sigh, he hopped off the car and opened the door for her. She looked sleepy. He checked his watch and it was almost one in the morning. Where had the time gone, he wondered.

Hyde pulled into Jackie's driveway about thirty minutes later. They sat for a few minutes, each lost in thought. Hyde took a deep breath, gathering a little courage. "Can we do this again?" he asked.

"I think I'd like that," Jackie answered. "Maybe without so much alcohol, though." She opened the door and almost fell getting out. Hyde decided he better walk her to the door. She leaned into him as she struggled to keep her balance. She snorted loudly, then covered her mouth and giggled. Hyde felt like he was sixteen and trying to sneak his date home after a big party without her dad finding out. He kept waiting for a light to turn on and the door to fly open but the street was quiet and dark.

Jackie steadied herself, leaning on the door and found her keys. Hyde wasn't expecting anything, he was just happy she was smiling and seemed to genuinely enjoy the evening.

"I'll call you," he said, turning to leave. Jackie caught his sleeve, stopping him.

"Steven-" Hyde turned around and couldn't stop himself. He walked right up to her, cupped her face in his hands and kissed her. He kissed her with a passion he hadn't felt in years. And she let him. He had expected her to struggle, at least a little, but instead she leaned into it; kissing him back. After a few minutes, she pulled away. Hyde felt embarrassed. He had no right to kiss her like that. Jackie licked her lips and stared at his chest. She was holding onto his shirt sleeves still.

"I'm sorry," he mumbled. "I shouldn't have done that."

"It's okay, Steven. I wanted you to." She started to pull him in for another kiss but this time he resisted.

"Jackie, it's not that I, uh, don't want this, but, no offense or anything, you've had a little too much to drink and I don't want you to regret this in the morning," he blurted. His head was foggy and he wasn't entirely sure he had made sense. Jackie looked hurt. "I'll call you tomorrow and we can talk, okay?" Jackie nodded. Hyde pecked her on the cheek and squeezed her hand as she let it fall from his arm. As he walked back to the car he heard the front door click shut.

His heart racing, he pulled back out onto the street. He hadn't felt that aroused in a long time. It took every ounce of will power to keep from following her into the house. It was better this way, he told himself. Take it slow. She has to forgive you first, he thought. It was a start, though. She had kissed him and liked it. He smiled as he turned out of the housing development.

Chapter 14