The July morning had started out cloudy but by ten it had cleared up and looked like it was

going to be a nice day. Hot but that was okay since it meant the girls would be wearing next to nothing and the cold beer would taste even better.

Eric wanted to be on the road by 10:30, which was a little early for Hyde considering he'd been up

late last night. Not intentionally. He just couldn't fall asleep. Jackie had stopped by the basement to

confirm their plans for going to Summerfest in Milwaukee and she'd been on his mind ever since.

Everyone was in their usual seats when she came in from the outside stairs. Kelso jumped up from his chair nearest the door.

"Hey Jackie," he thrust out his chest. "Fez and I caught a fish today."

She rolled her eyes and pushed past him to sit next to Fez on the ratty old couch.

"Smooth , Kelso" Hyde drawled, still peeved at her for needing the Summer to decide who she wanted-himself or that idiot. Sure, Kelso was good looking and had been her first boyfriend but

seriously the guy had the i.q. of a turnip.

"We did! We caught a fish. It wasn't very big though," Fez pouted.

"That's nice Fezzy, " Jackie patted his knee which he took as encouragement to slide closer to her. Hyde frowned but Jackie just ignored the foreigner and turned to Donna, her dark ponytail brushing

her neck. Hyde pressed his lips together. He missed kissing her neck. Hell, he missed kissing all of

her. His eyes wandered over her face and down her neck towards …

"Hyde! Hyde-hello!" Eric was waving his hand in front of Hyde's face. "Earth to Hyde!"

He slapped Eric's hand away. "What, Forman? Geez."

"I asked what time you think we should leave tomorrow. The first band starts at one o'clock."

"Man this is going to be so awesome," Kelso grinned. "Music, beer and hot chicks! It can't get

any better!"

He caught Jackie's raised eyebrows and backtracked. "Except that you'll be there, sweet pea, and that makes it even awesomer!"

"Is that even a word?" Donna laughed. Jackie rolled her eyes again. It was amazing they hadn't stayed like that. She was always annoyed with Kelso.

"Whatever, Michael. I can't wait to see Peter Frampton!" she bounced on the couch, clapping

her hands. Fez stared at her chest with an enthralled look on his face so Hyde reached over and

smacked his arm.

"Ai! What was that for you sonofabitch?" he whined.

"Stop staring at her, man. It's perverted," Hyde growled.

Donna and Eric exchanged an amused look.

"Oh, please! Like you don't stare at her! She is a goddess." Fez protested. Jackie flashed him a

smile but deliberately ignored Hyde, which made him decide he needed to do something to get her

attention.

"I don't care about Frampton. He sucks. Let's be sure we're there in time to see Cheap Trick," he grinned.

Jackie's head whipped towards him so fast her ponytail nearly hit her in the face.

"Frampton does not suck! You suck, Steven!"

"Oh, yeah? That's not what you said in the back of the Camino," he smirked.

Kelso made that high pitched girly shriek Hyde found so freakin' funny. Jackie stood up, cheeks

red and amber eyes flashing.

"That was before you cheated on me, you-dumbass!" She grabbed her purse and rushed out,

slamming the door behind her. Kelso was laughing.

"Who's smooth now, Hyde?"

"Yeah, that wasn't exactly clever. You know Frampton is one of her favorites," Donna shook

her head.

"Not the way to win her back, man." Eric agreed, his arm around Donnas shoulders.

"I don't care," Hyde said defensively. "Frampton sucks and I'm not going to lie to get her back."

"And that, my friend" Kelso strutted over towards Hyde's chair. "Is why I will win her back. I

have no problem bending the truth to convince Jackie to chose me."

"Bend the truth? You did nothing but lie to her the whole time you were with her." Hyde stood,

eyes angry behind his aviators. Kelso didn't notice but Fez did.

"Hey-hey. Neither of you are good enough for my Jacqueline. She should be with Fez, who would

treat her like a princess. A sexy, hot princess who will make sweet love to-ai!" he clutched his

arm where Hyde's fist made contact. Kelso just laughed.

"That was a good one, man! I think I heard a bone break!"

"Yeah? You like that?" Hyde raised his fist towards Kelso, who quickly retreated to the other

side of the room.

"Alright, knock it off" Eric rose from the couch. "Let's meet up here at 10:30 and we'll head

out for Milwaukee." He turned to Donna. "May I walk you home, m'lady?"

She gave him a smile and they left together.

Kelso got his car keys out. "Come on, Fez. I'll give you a ride home. See you in the morning, Hyde."

After they left Hyde turned on the tv, alone and mad at himself for pissing Jackie off. He'd only

wanted to get her a little riled up so she would notice him. She'd been giving him the cold shoulder

on and off ever since-well, since he royally screwed things up by sleeping with that nurse.

After Kelso fell off the water tower and she said she "might" still have feelings for him he thought

he had a chance with her. But ever since their disastrous camping trip when she admitted to

playing him and Kelso against each other he'd been pretty pissed at her. When she announced

she was taking the Summer off for some "me" time and to decide who she wanted to be with he

was frustrated and thought "screw her". But damn if he still didn't think about her all the time.

Except for the old black and white tv tuned to Johnny Carson the house was quiet. Red and Kitty

had gone to bed and Forman wasn't back yet. Sighing, Hyde rolled a joint and lit up. God, Jackie

could still get him worked up. He needed to relax or he'd never get any sleep tonight. Not that

he'd been sleeping much since they broke up. As much as he hated to admit it he really missed her.

The basement door opened and Eric jumped over the back of the couch. "Hey, did you save any for me, man?"

Hyde passed him the joint and they finished it in silence while Bob Uecker cracked Johnny up

with stories about his inglorious baseball career. Funny stuff.

"So what's up with Jackie?" Eric asked, practically laying on the couch now. Hyde was quiet

for so long that when he spoke he had to force his eyes open.

"I don't know, man. If she isn't pissed at me, she's ignoring me. I don't know which is more annoying."

"Well, you know I find everything about her annoying," Eric started, holding up his hand when

Hyde glared at him. "But you sure seem to like her so can I give you some advice?"

Hyde snorted. "Advice from you, Forman? Didn't you break up with Donna because she wore

your promise ring around her neck? And didn't you refuse to get back together after she and

Casey…"

"Ok, ok. I get it." Eric scowled. "But haven't we always gotten back together? Even when I

do incredibly stupid things?"

Hyde thought for a few minutes. "Yeah, ok. So, Donnas' an idiot too." He rubbed the back of

his neck. "Guess you've got a point, Forman. What's your advice for getting Jackie back?"

Eric sat up. It was rare for Hyde to take anyone's advice so he had to make it good. He spread

his hands as if making a presentation and cleared his throat.

"Don't make her mad."

Hyde scoffed. "That's it? That's your brilliant advice? Don't make Jackie mad. Jackie's always

mad about something. Geez, Forman."

"Yeah she's mad 'cause you piss her off! How about trying to be nice to her?"

"Be nice? Nice?" Hyde stood up, nearly knocking his chair over. The little buzz he had going

was gone. "I'm not nice, Forman. Where have you been? Besides, if I start acting all nice she'd

think I was nuts. Or that I'm caving. And I'm not caving. I said I was sorry and she can take it

or leave it," he practically snarled.

Eric looked at him with an impassive face then said, "Looks like she's leaving it, man."

Hyde's shoulders slumped and he sat down in his chair suddenly exhausted. Forman was right

and he didn't know what to do.

"Listen, man-if you care about her and you want to be with her-tell her," Eric said.

"I did. She knows how I feel."

"Does she? 'Cause Donna says Jackie cries herself to sleep every night."

Hyde's head came up. "She does? Crap." His gut twisted. He hated it when women cried but

he couldn't stand it when Jackie did.

"I know this isn't my business but you really hurt her. I don't think she really wants to be with

Kelso but she knows what she'll get with him."

"Yeah, a lying cheat," Hyde said. Eric only raised an eyebrow in response.

"I never lied," Hyde mumbled.

Eric stood up. "Well, you know what I think, for what its worth. Girls like it when you treat them special and we all know Princess Jackie eats that stuff up. It worked for Kelso."

"I'm not buying her a stupid unicorn or…"

Eric shook his head. "Now you're just being stubborn. You don't have to buy her anything

although it wouldn't hurt. Just be nice to her. It's worth a shot, isn't it?" Eric was serious and

curious too. He's never seen his best friend so torn up over a girl. "That is if you really want

her back."

"Yeah," Hyde's head was in his hands. "I do. I want her back. Thanks, Forman."

Eric slapped him on the back and vaulted over the couch. Once at the stairs he turned back.

"Are you sure? 'Cause this is Jackie we're talking about."

Hyde grinned. "Yeah, I'm sure."

"Ok then. Goodnight," and Eric was up the stairs. Hyde headed for his room where he spent a

restless night trying to think of ways to let Jackie know he still wanted her –without having to

actually say it.