She finally understood what everyone else were saying about how people weren't supposed to be awake at "ungodly hours" of the day. It was 5am, and Jackie would like to think that this was an ungodly hour as she looked at herself in the mirror because her hair looked like Satan sent his minions to mess it up.
She got up and looked out the window, instantly feeling cheerful as she saw that the ground was covered in snow. That meant she could wear her favourite sweater!
Jackie showered quickly, excited to start the day. She decided that she was gonna start writing down her Christmas wish list so she could place it on her father's desk before she leaves the house.
She opened her drawer to get one of her lazy-day shirts seeing as she wasn't leaving the house any time soon. She stuck her hand in and grabbed the first item of clothing her hand could reach. And, of course, fate decided to have a laugh because in her hand was Hyde's old Zeppellin shirt.
Jackie stared at the shirt in her hands. She didn't like wearing it in the mornings when she was fully conscious of her decisions. She would let herself wear the shirts sometimes at night, when she had bad days, or when she was sad. She would tell herself that she didn't get enough time to choose what to wear to bed, and the shirt just happened to be there. It wasn't at all because of the fact that she couldn't talk to Steven anymore, nor was it because talking to Steven was the only thing that made her feel better. It really wasn't.
No. It was Hyde now. It was Hyde now to her, it should be.
It was silly, she had thought, not calling him Steven anymore. Saying his name alone would make her lips tremble. It held so many emotions, every time she'd call him by that name when they dated (yes, even when she would boss him around). It helped, though. She guessed it was because she could go back to pretending that they both really hate each other.
The shirt had been washed countless of times, but it somehow still smelled like him. She hated that. It made it even harder to pretend. With a defeated sigh, she started to put the shirt on. If Jackie was going to go against her better judgement and wear the shirt anyways, no one had to know.
"Is everyone ready?" Donna looked around excitedly, her hands clasped together.
"Oh, are we putting a price limit on this?" Jackie asked "Cause I like getting stuff— especially if it's really shiny. I'm not gonna accept anything that doesn't at least glisten."
"Hey, you accepted my cheeseburger wrapped in tinfoil once." Hyde replied, doubtful.
"That doesn't count, Hyde." Jackie rolled her eyes. Was he serious? "You have a lot of nerve bringing that up after you screwed our relationship over."
"Me?" Hyde said incredulously "I'm not the one fooling around with Kelso here-"
Jackie was about to snap at Hyde when Kelso got in the middle of them, with both of his hands up, "Alright, enough, enough. Now, I know you both know that my hunkalicious bod has been a big bump in the road in your past, creepy relationship, but it's over now, and you two have to knock it off."
"Uh, Kelso's right." Donna said slowly with her eyebrows furrowed. Jackie scoffed. Sure he was.
"Whatever." Hyde snorted as he started to stand up "I'm outta here."
"No, you are not." Donna raised her eyebrow at him. "We're drawing names for secret santa now, stop being a baby."
"Can we just get this over with?" Hyde groaned.
The group started to write their names on a piece of paper and folded it in two halves. Jackie was getting nervous. She hoped she wouldn't get Hyde, because God knows what she'd give to him if she drew his name from stupid helmet. It was going to be even more awkward between them if that would happen. Plus, he'd probably make fun of whatever it was that Jackie would get him, and she was having none of that.
"So we put it in the helmet and we both pick a paper from it, yes?" Fez asked eagerly, obviously excited to do something new today.
"Yeah, here." Donna put her paper in the helmet and handed it to Fez. They all each put their names inside the hallow of the helmet. "Eric, you go first."
"Don't mind if I do, Donna!" Eric grinned "I know the Force will be with me as I draw a name out-"
"Just draw a freakin' name, man." Hyde said impatiently.
"Fine," Eric huffed. Her friends were so whiny, Jackie thought.
Eric put his hand in the helmet, took a piece of paper and unfolded it. "Huh. Could've gotten worse."
Jackie gulped before putting her own hand in the helmet. Please don't let it be Hyde, please don't let it be Hyde. She pulled her hand back out and hastily unfolded it.
Donna P, the paper read. Jackie let out a sigh of relief. Good, Donna she could handle— anyone, actually, just not Hyde.
The rest of the group passed the helmet around. It went from Donna to Hyde, to Fez, and finally, to Kelso.
"Man, this is way too easy!" Kelso exclaimed happily while reading the name from the paper he just drew.
"Does that mean you got Fez, because everyone knows all Fez wants is candy and Playboy magazines." Fez grinned at him. "I am not saying this to give a hint to whoever has picked me."
"I'm not telling! That's not allowed" Kelso said, and looked around for confirmation. "Right?"
"Yes, Kelso. Right. Now, I don't think there's gonna be any rules about what gifts to give" Donna looked pointedly at Jackie "Just make sure not to get anything stupid, okay? Oh, and we exchange gifts on Christmas Eve. We're spending it at Eric's house right?"
"Donna, I think my mom would want you guys to spend it anywhere else." Eric snorted "She'll probably cook for all of us anyway, without asking so. She loves me most, though."
As if on cue, Kitty Forman entered the basement with a basket full of dirty clothes. "Oh hi, kids!"
"Hello, Mrs. Forman." Everyone greeted her in unison. Jackie had always taken a fond liking towards Eric's mom. She remembered seeing how Kitty fussed over Eric and the others the first time she came over. Jackie had felt confused and shocked. Her mom had never been like that towards her, nor had her dad. They were always away for some meeting, or a party, or whatever else a politician and a socialite does.
"What are you guys up to?"
"Oh, we just drew names from the helmet because we're doing Secret Santa this year." Fez said explained avidly.
"Well, that sounds like fun! It's nice to see you kids doing something Christmas-y on Christmas." Kitty placed the basket on top of the washing machine and looked around the basement with a frown on her face. "What month is it down here, is it not December yet? Where are all the Christmas decorations? Eric?"
Eric squirmed under his mother's stare, "Uh, well, I don't know, mom? You're usually the one who puts the decors up, so I thought we weren't gonna have any in the basement."
"Eric," Kitty gave an exasperated sigh "You're putting up decorations tomorrow. I will not have a dull looking basement in my house during Christmas season!"
"But, m-om." Eric wailed.
Jackie rolled her eyes and grabbed the opportunity that presented itself on her face, "Don't worry, Mrs. Forman, I'll make sure these morons will decorate the basement. We'll have it looking like Santa's living room by tomorrow night!"
"Butt out, Jackie, you don't even live here" Hyde said irritatingly over everyone's grumbles of protest.
"Why do you keep telling everyone not to participate? Stop being such a Grinch." Jackie snapped back, trying to mask the hurt in her voice. "Besides, it's gonna make Mrs. Forman happy, right, Mrs. Forman?"
"Yes, thank you, Jackie." Kitty smiled made her way over to where Jackie was seated, gave her a kiss on top of her head, and turned to Hyde "Now, be nice to her, Steven, or I'll hide your beer stash from you."
"You wouldn't." Hyde's eyes turned into slits behind his sunglasses.
"Try me." Kitty laughed while skipping up the stairs.
"Great." Hyde said coolly, choosing to stay zen. Jackie knew better though, she knew that she was getting in his nerves even though his face remained to look as if he was bored and didn't give a damn about anything. She had learned that much when she had been with Hyde for awhile.
"Anyway," Jackie said, paying no attention to what Hyde had just said "We can pick up Christmas decorations for the basement tonight or tomorrow afternoon. Donna, you can come with me."
"Fine, but we're not going clothes or shoes shopping, okay?"
"But you need a wardrobe upgrade since you're not blonde anymore." Jackie replied. Donna decided to go back to being a redhead before Thanksgiving. Jackie had feigned disgust when she first saw her, because, well, who likes a redhead, right? But secretly, it made her a little bit happy about Donna's decision. It had felt like everything was slowly falling back into place. Hyde had smirked at her then, she knew that he knew what was going on in her head. Jackie was denying it if Hyde decides to ever bring it up.
Donna rolled her eyes, knowing better than to start an argument with Jackie. Jackie smiled in content. No one can say no to Jackie Burkhart!
"Oh, oh, guys!" Kelso scrambled up to his feet excitedly "I have an announcement to make!"
"Ooh, did you crash that old guy's backyard again last night?" Fez asked, his full attention on Kelso.
"No," Kelso said indignantly "Remember how I kept bugging Brooke to spend Christmas with me so I can be with her and Betsy? Well, I was talking to Brooke last night, and guess what?"
Everyone stared at him expectantly, but Kelso was looking back at the group with the same expression in his eyes.
"Gee, what, Kelso?" Eric asked sarcastically.
"She agreed! I knew Brooke couldn't resist my good looks." Kelso laughed in delight. Jackie squealed excitedly with a big smile on her face. She missed Betsy. She was so cute, just like her godmother.
"That's great, Kelso!" Donna exclaimed, genuinely happy for him. "When are they coming over?"
"Tomorrow afternoon, probably." Kelso replied and pointed to both Jackie and Hyde "You two better get your act together cause you're taking Betsy out on a date."
"What?" Jackie said incredulously. She was not taking Betsy anywhere with Hyde. He'll probably ruin it by being grumpy the whole day.
"I'm not going anywhere with her!" Hyde said, his voice rising a little. He was trying to stay calm but Jackie could tell that he was panicking. It made Jackie feel a little smug to see that she still had that effect on him, but she tried to shrug it off.
"Well, too bad, you have no choice." Kelso lifted his chin up to the air with his eyebrows slanting up "Because when I made you Betsy's godparents, taking her out together was part of the deal. I chose you guys for a reason, besides having complete faith in both of you, I also think you're more fun than Eric and Donna."
"Hey!" Eric and Donna said in unison.
Jackie smirked. Yeah, that was true. "Fine, I'll take her out, Kelso, don't worry she's gonna have so much fun!"
"I'm going just to prove that I'm better than Forman." Hyde sighed in resignation.
She raised her eyebrow at him, not believing what he just said. Sure, Hyde, she laughed in her head. It was going to be an interesting day out, and Jackie tried to ignore the hard pounding in her chest as she stuck a tongue out at Hyde. He wasn't the only one that knew how to be zen. After all, he was the one who had taught Jackie how.
[Author's Note: Hi guys! This is my very first Jackie x Hyde fic, and I'm extremely nervous about it. I was originally going to post the fic on December, completed but I feel like if I don't post it online, I'd stop writing midway. Again. And so, here it is! I hope you guys like it so far! I'm planning to publish two parts every week so the fic will be done before Christmas. Reviews and faves will be appreciated greatly! Hehe, also if you guys have a suggestion, do drop by my inbox! ]