Disclaimer: I, sadly, do not own That '70s show.
The story is inspired from the song "Have You Seen Her Face?" by The Byrds.
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Steven Hyde was puzzled. Life had an odd way of shooting you down.
On the one hand, he had just lost the love of his life - wait, he did not ever
love her, it was a slip, on his part - but on the other, he had gained
a voluptuous, sex-driven blonde stripper for a wife.
"You thinking about Jackie?"
Hyde looked up to see the face of his best friend and worst enemy,
Michael Kelso.
"What are you doing here, Kelso?" Hyde asked, trying to stop himself
from throwing a punch. "Shouldn't you be in Chicago, screwing
Jackie right about now?"
Kelso sighed as he fell into the couch in the basement.
"Look Hyde, for the last time, I'm sorry. But again, nothing happened!"
"Yeah, whatever. I don't care. Whatever happened there means
nothing to me now."
Kelso eyed his friend. Now, he had known Hyde all his life, and he knew
that when Hyde was pissed, it was best to leave him alone. Kelso's eye
was living proof. But still, Kelso also knew Jackie had gotten to Steven.
She had somehow clawed her immaculately polished fingers into
his life, just as she had with Kelso, years ago. So, as a friend, Kelso
felt it was only right that Hyde knew everything, the truth.
"You're only saying that, because you want to think that it's over.
You love her, man. I saw that for the last two years. That doesn't
just go away."
Hyde snickered softly. Did he really have to take this from Kelso? The self-appointed womanizer of Point Place?
"That's real rich, Kelso. Look, it's because of you this happened. It's because
of you that I cheated on her before, and it's because of you, that I am stuck
with a whore of a wife. So, why don't you just get bent!"
Hyde felt good. Now he knew why Red yelled all the time. It was
completely therapeutic. But just as he got up to leave, his eyes
focused on another pair of eyes in the basement. Eyes filled
with tears.
"...Sam..." Hyde froze. He was sure she had just heard everything. "Look I didn't -"
"No, I heard everything. And I don't have to hear your bullshit to know
that you meant every word. Well, don't worry, because this 'whore' is leaving."
Sam threw one more teary look at him and exited out of his life forever.
Hyde sank back into his chair. So, this was the karma actually kicking in.
He had lost Jackie, then got Sam. And while Hyde was so caught up in his
loveless marriage, karma got to work. Now, he had nothing.
"Wow, Hyde...I am... wow, even I didn't see that coming."
"Shut up, Kelso."
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Jackie Burkhart was completely fine.
Despite that in the past week, she had lost everything
that was important to her, she was completely fine.
Despite that while she had lost everything,
and a curvy anonymous blonde had gotten
everything, Jackie was fine.
She really was.
Right?
Jackie sighed. Who was she kidding?
"Jackie, are you in there?"
"Donna, what are you doing here? I thought you and Eric left for Madison last night."
Jackie, though surprised, was overjoyed to see her best friend. She really
needed someone.
"Well, we were going to. But that dillhole, Eric, just had
to spend one more night with his mommy. What a wuss," Donna replied.
"What a surprise...So, you guys are good," Jackie said looking at her friend. Donna was positively glowing.
"Yeah...I'm just so glad he's home from Africa," Donna admitted. "But let's not talk about Eric. How are you?"
"I'm completely fine! I just bought the new issue of Cosmo, so all's well in the world," Jackie gushed.
Donna stared at the beautiful fawn-like figure in front of her. Jackie Burkhart, no matter how annoying
and superficial, was still her best friend. And, it broke Donna to see the brave front Jackie had put up.
The girl had been played with, way too much.
"Look Jackie, I just heard some news from Kelso, that I thought you should know...Sam left Hyde," Donna revealed quietly.
Jackie's heart stopped.
"When? Why? What happened - How dare she-" Jackie screamed. She could feel her heart racing. What the hell was going on?!
"I don't know what happened. But she left this morning, for good...Jackie, are you okay?"
Donna knew this was a blow. She, herself, had so many questions for Hyde.
Jackie didn't answer. Everything was crumbling around her. She was falling.
"JACKIE!"