Chapter 1: A Relationship

Point Place WI, February 12 1980 4:52pm Fez and Jackie's Apartment,

Fez was happy with his life, he had an awesome job as a shampoo boy at the Point Place hair salon and his boss Collette promised she'd teach him to cut and style hair on their down time so Fez could move up to the title of hairdresser at the beauty shop. He also lived with his dream girl Jackie Burkhart and now after over eight years he'd finally won her over and she'd agreed to be his girlfriend. So far they hadn't done it, but they'd only been dating a month and Fez hoped it would be soon. He had also been saving up for his own car, and now finally had enough to buy something sensible, or cool but really crappy he wasn't sure what yet. One of his best friends Eric Forman had just returned to Africa and had all sort of tales as well as some African candy Fez especially appreciated. Yes things were going good for Fez.

"Lucy I'm Home!" Fez called sniggering as he walked into his apartment he shared with Jackie. He always loved to say that when he got home it always made him laugh. Jackie was sitting on the couch with a box of tissues crying while watching the tv. She was wearing a blue off the shoulder top and a white jean skirt that slit at the knee.

"Oh, Jackie my sweet what's wrong? Why are you crying?"

"Hey Fez," She answered "I was just watching Donahue, there was a beautiful story on about this really nice girl who fell in love with a bad boy, who was actually really sweet but he couldn't seem to commit, and so they're relationship fell apart and it's just so sad." She sighed and clicked the tv off, "How was your day?"

"It was good," He answered trying not to think about the fact that the story she was crying over sounded a lot like her relationship with Steven Hyde. "Collette's really been helping me out I know I'll be a hair stylist in no time!"

"That's great Fez!" Jackie said getting up to give him a hug. "Oh Donna called she wants everyone to come over for a welcome home supper for Eric, just a small thing at the Forman's."

"That sounds nice," Fez said "an occasion for me to wear my new cologne!"

"Sure...but maybe not quite as much this time?" Jackie asked wrinkling her nose.

"You got it doll," Fez said noticing her flinch ever so slightly at the word "doll." She quickly covered it up with an award winning Jackie smile.

"Well I need to got get ready we'll leave in a half hour?" She said heading to the bathroom already.

"Sure." He said. He went to the kitchen and grabbed a beer and sat down on the couch knowing this would be a long half hour.

The Forman Residence 5:17pm same day

Steven Hyde had just finished watching a disturbing episode of Donahue. It reminded him a little too much of the situation he had just gone through with Jackie the past year. He didn't like to think of Jackie or the past year. Everything had just gotten screwed up so fast and before he could even stop it all and say no this was not what he wanted not at all, it was already ruined and he didn't know how to fix it. Sure he'd broken up with his stripper wife but by then things with Jackie seemed beyond repair, and now she was dating Fez. He'd been over this past year in his head a thousand times and now he'd finally decided to let go of his anger and try to become her friend again. It was hard because there were so many things still left unsaid but now that she was dating Fez and doing well with her career he just wanted to support her and help her be happy. Even so it still hurt (which of course made him angry because Steven Hyde didn't do hurt) so he didn't like thinking about it.

He was trying to get her out of his head when a great distraction walked through the basement door. "Hyde you need to go get ready, everyone will be here by 6:00, and I want everything to be perfect for Eric!" Donna Pinciotti scolded him. "And don't be upstairs bugging Mrs. Forman about her cooking, we'll all get to try everything at six when dinner starts!"

"She kicked you out of the kitchen didn't she?"

"Yes! I was only trying to help, how am I supposed to know she has all these deviations from the real recipes and puts in her own "kitty flare"!?" Donna complained dropping down on the couch next to Hyde. "What are you doing anyway?"

"Watching Donahue." Hyde replied.

"Oh man! Was that the episode with the girl who cheated on her boyfriend with his dad and his uncle? I really wanted to see that one?"

"Well you're in luck I think that one is tomorrow's episode. Today was about some girl who fell in love with a bad boy and he couldn't commit then their relationship fell apart. Completely useless episode," He grumbled.

"Hmm..."

"Hmm what?!" Hyde asked irritated.

"I didn't say anything." Donna answered looking innocent. He raised an eyebrow at her.

"It's just, hmm maybe you seem a little more irritated than usual because of life imitating art and all that..."

"If you're referring to my relationship with Jackie, you can just go upstair and bother Mrs. Forman because it's not the same at all."

"Ok maybe not but it still bothers you doesn't it? Do you ever think about what might've been with you and Jackie if this past year had gone differently?"

All the time "No never." Hyde said curtly.

"Hmmm..."

"God what now?"

"It's nothing, just that I've seen the way you to look at each other sometimes, and maybe if you just talk-"

"No. I'm not talking to her any more about it the past is the past besides she's with Fez now."

"Sure," Donna said slowly "But I don't think she's happy with him."

"What makes you say that?"

"The way she acts the way she talks the way she looks at you."

Hyde didn't answer. He'd noticed that to but he'd just figured it was all in his head illusions created by his regret. Now Donna saw it too.

"Why are you so Pro me and Jackie right now anyway? This past year you acted like you couldn't care less." Hyde asked her deflecting her questions back on her.

"I know," She sighed "I haven't been the greatest friend to either one of you this year and I think it's because with Eric gone and us broken up I was depressed. The other half of my heart was an ocean away..."

Hyde raised his eyebrow "That's vaguely poetic."

"Yeah I've been more poetic and just generally happier since Eric came back. I've been doing a lot of soul searching, and I havn't really liked what I've found. But now that Eric's back it's like I was frozen and I'm thawing out a degree at a time with every joke he makes, with everytime he kisses me, every time he makes me smile for no reason." She said blushing and smiling to herself. "Anyway I feel like as I've gotten happier each day I want the people I love to be happy as well. Which includes you and Jackie. But I think I'm gonna head upstairs and see how Eric's getting ready. And You get ready to Hyde." She gave him one last pointed look then ran back upstairs.

Hyde pondered what Donna had said as her got ready. She really had seemed happier lately and a better friend. Who knows maybe things would get back to normal but more importantly was she right about Jackie?