Hyde loved to watch her sleep. It was probably one of his favorite ways to pass the time with his girlfriend. Softly, he brushed a lock of near-black hair away from her face and placed a feather-light kiss on her forehead. Her lips curled into a peaceful smile. God, she was beautiful. Jackie usually looked gorgeous, but there was something about how she looked in the morning sunlight with her hair tousled from sleep, not wearing any make-up that made his breath catch in his throat.
She'd spent the night again. It was the second week in a row that Jackie had slept in his bed, and all they'd done was sleep. It wasn't like they hadn't ever done it. Hell, that used to be what occupied most of their time together. But after their month long breakup had ended a few weeks before, Jackie had made it clear that she wanted to take their relationship at a slower pace.
Being fine with not having sex with her took Hyde by surprise. Well he wasn't thrilled with the idea but if it was what Jackie needed for a while he could deal with it. It meant that he actually cared about her feelings. A scary thought when he was supposed to be the guy that didn't care about anything. Somehow Jackie had burrowed into his heart and she just wouldn't leave. At least he hadn't become completely soft though. No, then he would be Forman.
The basement door creaked open and Hyde strained to hear who dared to interrupt the morning silence. He prayed that it wasn't Mr. or Mrs. Forman. They would be less than pleased to discover his girlfriend in the bed beside him, again. His worries were dissipated when he heard the television being switched on and the sounds of muffled teenage voices.
Letting out a relieved sigh he nudged Jackie, trying without success to wake her up. She rolled over onto her side, somehow managing not to knock Hyde or herself off of the tiny bed, and continued to sleep. Then her eyes shot open and without any warning she bolted off of the cot and ran through the door. She didn't even spare him a glance in her haste.
Eric appeared seconds after the slamming of the basement door and cocked an eyebrow at Hyde. "What was Satan –"
"Watch it, Forman." Hyde gave his friend a threatening look.
Two bony hands shot up in surrender. "Okay, okay. But why did she run out of here half naked and get sick in my garbage can?"
"Dammit." Hyde didn't grace Eric with any answers or even grab a shirt on his way out of the room. It wasn't the first time that Jackie had been sick after spending the night with him. In fact, it was the third time that week and he was worried about her.
He found Jackie leaning over the Formans' trash can, still emptying her stomach of what few contents it had left. Lifting her hair out of the way and placing a hand on her back to rub small soothing circles, Hyde waited for her to finish.
When she was done he opened his mouth to say something but she beat him to it. "Steven, if you ask me if I'm okay I'll kick you."
A defiant look crossed his rugged features. "Are you-"
Her bare foot connected with his shin hard enough that an involuntary yelp escaped his lips. With that she wiped her mouth and marched toward the Pinciotti house. He grinned shamelessly as he called after her, "C'mon Jacks. It was a joke."