Chapter Four: First Time's a Charm
October 31, 1984
11:59 PM
Hyde barely existed in the outside world, so lost in Jackie's affectionate kisses, her hair blanketing them, her hands holding his face, that he nearly missed her confession.
"God, baby, I missed you so much."
It hit him like a hammer to his chest. "Kiss me," he said, his mouth devouring hers. He couldn't get enough of her, enough of her kiss, her mouth, her tongue. He pulled her closer.
Jackie nodded against him, and Hyde drove his tongue deeper, kissing her with all the verve he could muster.
"Jackie!" Donna shouted, her brow furrowed in what looked more like confusion than anger.
Jackie pulled away from Hyde and covered her guilty lips with four burnt-sienna-painted fingernails. "Oh, my God."
"Oh, God, I think I'm going to puke," Eric divulged, sliding back from the table and dropping his head between his knees. Donna ran over to make sure he was alright as he blew his spaghetti dinner underneath the table.
"Oh, crap." Hyde jumped off his chair, taking Jackie along with him. He set her feet on a nearby chair, and the two stood back and watched in horror as spaghetti continually splattered across the floor.
"Alright!" Kelso exclaimed, his arm around Brooke as she looked on with pure repugnance. "That's awesome. Eric puked in a nightclub!" He chortled at Hyde. "Man, just imagine all the burns this is going to generate for us."
Hyde nodded, almost in awe. "I know. It's crazy. I already have like six in my head."
The bitter sounds of heaving followed by splashing sounds resonated over Cyndi Lauper's voice and elicited shared looks of disgust around the table. Brooke buried her head against Kelso's chest. "Ew. Michael. I can't listen anymore."
"Yeah, I'm thinking it's time to find a new table." Hyde picked Jackie back up, making her squeal before walking away to do just that.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa," Brooke called out, her voice instantly switching to 'mother' tone. "Get back here, Hyde."
"What?" he said innocently, turning around to face her. His eyes were wide, obviously not understanding the cause for the sudden reprimand, his arms still in possession of a giggling Jackie, who also seemed oblivious as she leaned in to nibble on his ear. Hyde closed his eyes, and turned his head, finding her mouth for another kiss.
Brooke stood with her arms folded. "Um, could you please get your lips off my friend and put her down?" she said, in the nicest way possible, causing Hyde to break from Jackie and smile sweetly at Brooke.
"Oh, sure." He looked at Jackie. "I've gotta put you down now."
Jackie's bottom lip jutted forward as she gave him her most adorable, boy-tested pout—which completely had its intended effect. Hyde lightly kissed her lips. "God, you're cute," he whispered, forgetting all about Brooke as he re-claimed Jackie's mouth in another deep kiss.
Brooke tapped her foot and leaned toward the pickled pair as they kissed. "Ahem!"
"You know, you really should listen when she does that. For a librarian, she's pretty scrappy." Disconnecting from Jackie, Hyde frowned at Kelso and then smiled weakly at Brooke, the only chick, besides Donna, who never seemed to be swayed by his charms.
"Fine." He bent at the knees and lowered Jackie until her boots met the floor, only to watch her get whisked away by Brooke.
"Huh. Too bad," Kelso said, sighing loudly as he grabbed a chair from a nearby table and sat down. Hyde did the same, rolling his eyes.
"What's too bad?"
Kelso shrugged. "I really liked Jessica, that's all; she was hot. And we always got free food when she was working. It's too bad she's going to drop you like a bad habit when she finds out you've been Frenching Jackie all night."
"Man, Kelso," Hyde slurred. "Give it a rest already."
"What?" Kelso said, frowning. "I haven't said anything to you all night about Jackie."
"But you will. So, I'm telling you in advance to shut it. See, but then you won't listen; you'll forget and you'll start up again and I'll have to do this…" Hyde frogged his friend.
"Ow, man," Kelso grabbed his arm and began to rub. "Yeah, I'll probably totally deserve it, too. I never listen."
They both shared a nod.
Meanwhile, in the women's restroom…
Brooke leaned into the mirror and used her middle finger to wipe away the excess lipstick that made it past her lip line. "Jackie, you know I love you, but I really think you need to think about what you're doing."
Feeling flushed, Jackie pulled off her red Mounds t-shirt—revealing the cream-colored tank top she wore underneath—and began to fix her hair. "I know," she said, staring into her own dazed eyes. "But, he's just so cute and God, the way he kisses…" Jackie's whine turned into a frustrated whimper accompanied by a stomp, a bounce and a backwards head thrust that prompted Brooke to give her a strange look as she continued. "I remember after we broke up: I would lay in my bed and, after I finished crying, I would pray to God for one more kiss from him." She groaned. "And now I remember why. He's such a good kisser."
Brooke smiled. "I hate when they do that," she said, turning back to the mirror and re-positioning her Nancy Reagan wig, "Get ya with one kiss. Michael does that to me."
"Yeah, Michael was a good kisser, I guess. Oh God, but he was terrible at first. You lucked out; he was all over the place before. It wasn't pretty." The two girls shared a laugh at Kelso's expense and moved to make their way out of the bathroom when Brooke stopped Jackie.
"Hey, before we go out there," Brooke slurred, stumbling a little against Jackie. "I just want you to remember that we've all been drinking and if Colin finds out what you're doing, it's over for you two. And you love him."
Jackie smiled and rested her head on her friend's arm. "I do, don't I. And he loves me."
"Yeah. So just promise me you'll stop kissing Hyde, 'cause don't forget, he has someone, too, and she's really nice, and I think she really loves him and…" A hiccup startled Brooke, and she paused, then pointed at Jackie "You have to stop. It's just wrong."
"It's wrong," Jackie echoed, petting Brooke's face. "Got it. I'm going to tell Steven that he has to stop kissing me."
"OK... Wait. No."
Jackie rolled her eyes. "Fine, I'll stop kissing him too, then. Nag."
Brooke smiled.
Both girls stepped out of the restroom to find Donna leaned up against the wall opposite the men's restroom. "Ew, is he still throwing up?" Jackie asked.
"No, he's fine now," Donna slurred, then sighed. "He's just cleaning himself up. Hey, what the hell was goin' on with you and... you know…" She snapped a few times. "Hyde."
Just then Eric stepped out of the restroom, smiling and fixing his Gilligan hat. "I actually found gold flakes in my teeth…you know, from the Goldschlager."
Jackie grimaced at him. "Gross. I hope you cleaned your mouth out after that."
Eric grinned. "Wow, Jackie, that is exactly what I was about to say to Hyde."
After Jackie let out a fake, high-pitched laugh, saying "Oh, my God, Eric! You're hilarious!" and then sneered at him, rolling her eyes, all four made their way over to Hyde and Kelso's new table, where both men sat watching as the DJ continued announcing the names of the finalists in the costume contest.
"…couple number 477: Bill and Regina. Come on, Bill. Don't be shy… And finally, couple number 602: Eric and Donna." The DJ placed his hand over his eyes to block out the glare of the light above him as he stared into near darkness. "Do we have an Eric and Donna? Gilligan and Ginger?"
"Right here!" Jackie shouted, shoving Donna forward.
Donna's face lit up, excited at the prospect of winning the $500 Grand prize. She grabbed Eric's hand and they both ran up on stage, followed quickly by Kelso and Brooke, who ran to the front to cheer them on. Jackie and Hyde, on the other hand, casually stayed back for two entirely different reasons.
Collecting her thoughts, Jackie leaned against the edge of the group's new table when Hyde walked over. The light of the stage against the darkness of the ballroom allowed her to only see his silhouette as he stood before her. "Hey," he said, moving in close, regaining contact with her as he gently took hold of her hips.
"Steven, I think we need to talk about what happened." Jackie moved her head to the side as Hyde leaned in to kiss her, sending his lips instead down a path from her cheek to her ear. "Steven, I have a…" The sudden feeling of his tongue, hot and wet, passing just under her ear forced in a startled breath. "Oh, God, we really should…talk about…" Instinctively, her eyes closed. Her own body seemed unwilling to assist her in denying him; he had always known where to touch her, where to kiss her body, and exactly when to do it. "What happened at the other table…"
"Shh," preceded a thick kiss against her ear, followed by his soft groan. "I like what happened," he whispered. "I think we should make it happen again."
Jackie reflexively swallowed down her nerves as they collected in her throat, deeply entranced by the feeling of his hot breath on her ear and his hands as they pulled her body against his. Every inhale brought her chest into contact with his, stimulating her nipples to harden beneath the thin material of her tank top. "This can only turn out bad, Ste... Oh, God." Her head fell back as his tongue flattened against her neck and slid upward. As his mouth moved closer to hers, Jackie caved—just like he wanted. "Oh, Screw it. Come here," she ordered as she grabbed his face and crushed her lips hard against his, their mouths opening wide for the deeper contact. Jackie moaned as his tongue sensually stroked hers.
"God, Jackie."
"Oh, Steven..."
As Jackie and Hyde made out on one side of the ballroom, Eric and Donna prepared to jump for joy on the other. "And the grand prize goes to… Bill and Regina!"
"Boo!" Kelso yelled as everyone else cheered. "Boo!"
On the other side of the room, Hyde removed his lips from Jackie's to focus on the soft skin near her ear. "Let's go somewhere."
"Why?" she breathed out, her eyes still closed, barely registering much more than the feeling of her earlobe being nipped and nibbled.
"So, we can be alone," he answered. "They're going to be back soon."
"Crap!"
Wide-eyed, Hyde straightened up to look at her. "What?"
"Go!" Jackie immediately shoved him away. "They're back!"
"Oh." Hyde stumbled back into a nearby chair and cupped his palms underneath his chin, his elbows on the table—a guiltier sight he could not make. "Hey," he said, grinning as his four friends walked up. "So, where'd you guys go?"
Eric made a face, sharing it one by one with his three companions. "Uh, up on the big, hundred-foot stage with the gigantic thousand-watt lights beaming down on it."
"Oh." Hyde's guilty grin grew. "Cool..."
Thirty-Six Minutes Later
The gang was seated at their table—Brooke on Kelso's lap and, next to them, clockwise around the table, Hyde, Donna, Eric, and Jackie—all drinking, talking, and laughing as "Rock This Town" by the Stray Cats was thrown into rotation by the club's DJ.
Well, my baby and me
Went out late Saturday night…
"Oh my God!" Jackie jumped out of her seat and ran around the table to Hyde. "Dance with me!"
"Uh..." Hyde looked up at her. "No." He didn't dance, not to this crap.
"Steven, you're my date!" Her temporary, and probably fake, frown turned back into pure excitement. "Fez and I took swing lessons a few years ago, and I never ever get to use them!"
Hyde beamed at her with feigned excitement. "Oh, my God! Really?" His face fell. "No."
Jackie narrowed her eyes. "Fine. I'll go find somebody who will," she bit back snidely before practically skipping off onto the dance floor.
Hyde made a point to scoff loudly for the others to see. "Like I care." He sat idly by while his date easily found herself another dance partner. The guy she chose seemed more than happy to appease the beautiful brunette begging for a few minutes of his time.
As Hyde glared at the two from his seat, Eric ordered another bucket o' beer.
The waitress nodded. "No more shots?"
"No, I think we're good," Eric said, laughing nervously as he looked around at his friends—his extremely unsupportive friends.
"Why don't you tell her why you don't want any more shots, Mr. Chuck! First name, Up." Kelso yelled across the table and stuck out his tongue. "I'm sure she'd like to know!"
"Man, shut-up Kelso!" Eric unimaginatively retorted. "You…You suck."
At the edge of the table, Hyde sat oblivious to the confrontation. "What the hell is she doing?" Glowering, he stared down Jackie and her new friend, scowling as they laughed and danced. "Man, she doesn't even know that guy. I'll bet Colin wouldn't like that too much."
Eric made a face. "Yeah, Hyde. 'Cause that's what would bother Colin about tonight. The swing-dancing. Not the fact that your tongue was halfway down her throat less than an hour ago."
"Shut up." Hyde sulked in his chair as each couple got up to join Jackie on the dance floor, finally leaving the him hell alone. His drunk fiesta was turning into a complete downer, and he knew exactly why. She had taken her attention away, and her lips, and now he was stuck in a fog, choking on the past that she had carelessly kicked up, that they had kicked up together...
Twenty Minutes Later
"Eyes Without a Face" by Billy Idol echoes through the Grand Ballroom.
I'm all out of hope
One more bad dream
Could bring a fall...
Hyde sat alone at the table with Eric's bucket o' beer all to himself. No one had yet returned from the dance floor, but he didn't mind; it gave him a moment alone to think about what the hell he was doing. He had actually found himself jealous of the guy dancing with Jackie. And it wasn't a mild jealousy. It was a burning, wanting to bash the skinny fuck's face in, type of jealousy. He spent ten minutes watching him get grabby with her hips, watching him stroke her sides as he whispered in her ear, making her giggle. It was bugging the hell out of him, and he couldn't figure out why.
Hyde took another swig of his beer as he stared down at the peeled-off labels of bottles gone by and tried to think of his own girl. But her face was blurry in his mind, and he struggled to see it, figuring her image might snap him out of his own stupidity. Drunk and desperate, Hyde closed his eyes to look for her. To his relief, an image appeared. She was giving him an incredible smile as he hovered over her under the covers, giggling at something he had said, her strawberry blond hair spread over his pillow like wildfire…
"Baby, we can't stay in bed all day," she had said softly, her words cut off by his lips as they covered hers for the millionth time that August afternoon.
Kissing the corner of her mouth as it turned up to smile again, Hyde followed a trail of kisses down to her neck. "Why not?"
"Because it's three in the afternoon. Isn't it supposed to be wrong to be in bed this late?"
Hyde propped himself up to answer her. "Well, I heard that there's a special exception when there's a really hot chick in your bed."
"Ohhh, see I didn't know that." She then smiled so brightly that he couldn't help but smile back. "I love you," she had whispered.
Hyde drew in a deep breath. He was really beginning to hate those words.
Upon his silence, he watched the usual disappointment sadden her chestnut-brown eyes and wondered why she always did this to herself. He never returned the sentiment, not that he didn't want to; he just wasn't there yet. Instead, he did that day what he always did: kissed her sadness away until the next time…
"Steven! So, you're just going to be a bum and sit here all night?" Jackie asked, plopping down next to him.
Hyde kept his head down; looking at her only clouded his mind. "Looks like it," he said.
Her tone softened. "Oh, what's the matter? Are you tired?"
Hyde was a little surprised; she knew him better than he thought. "Yeah," he sighed. "I got up early this morning."
"Poor baby. Well, I bet you'd wake up if you danced with me," she said, her face hopeful.
"Jackie, I said no. I don't want to dance. Why don't you just go dance with your little friend?"
"Because I'd rather dance with you." Jackie gave him a small pout. "Please. Dance with me."
Hyde looked at her, stunned. How the hell did she do that? Those words had come out of her mouth like pure sex, making his heart race and the air liquefy as it entered his lungs. He was about to plant a drunken kiss on her lips when Brooke ran up, nearly in tears.
"Hyde, you've gotta help me!"
He looked up. "What's going on?"
"Michael's about to get into a fight. Some guy grabbed my butt, and Michael's drunk, and there's three of them, and he won't let it go. He's so angry, Hyde. Please."
As Hyde stood, Jackie pushed him in the direction Brooke was pointing, where a gathering crowd was already forming. "Steven, go."
"Crap. Why can't we ever go out without getting into a fight?" he shouted, throwing his watch down on the table. "I always get hit when I'm drunk! And I don't like gettin' hit!"
Jackie shoved him again. "Stop complaining and just go help Michael!"
"Dammit. Grab all your crap, find Forman and Donna, and wait by that exit right there. Hold my watch."
Jackie and Brooke did what he said, finding Eric and Donna quickly; and together, they all waited by the exit. It was only a few minutes later that Hyde and Kelso walked up, a little beaten but smiling.
"We need to leave," Hyde informed them.
Brooke swept her thumb over Kelso's bloody lip. "Baby, why did you do that?"
"I was defending your honor," he replied simply.
She smiled sadly and kissed his cheek. "Aw, well, thank you."
"Hey, I defended your honor, too," Hyde said, frowning. "Don't I get a kiss?"
Laughing, Brooke rolled her eyes. "Come here. Thank you," she said, giving Hyde a kiss on the cheek and leaving him with a satisfied smile.
"You're welcome. Now let's get the hell out of here..."
Several Minutes Later
Opening a door at the end of a long hallway, the gang found themselves in the Atrium level bar: back where they had begun their journey. An exit led them down a ramp and outside to where the earth seemed under water. It was pouring, and all six friends stood underneath a small awning, taking in the Chicago landscape through a billion thick raindrops.
"So, who's going to get the van?" Kelso yelled over the deafening downpour.
A pentagon of raised eyebrows stared back at him until Eric's slurred words slipped through the thundering noise. "You are. It's your van."
"Yeah, but I'm too drunk to drive, Eric. Whoever's driving us home should have to go get the van," Kelso reasoned. Then he waited, assuming hands would eagerly fly up to drive them all home. But none did. "So, come on, who's driving us home?"
"Not me."
"Not me."
"Not me."
"No way, man."
Hyde was too busy staring at a puddle collecting below his feet to answer. "Hyde?"
"Huh?"
Kelso studied his friend's unsteady stance and blank face. "Do you think you can drive, man?"
"Kelso, I don't think I could walk over to that pole right there," Hyde said, pointing to a small anchoring pole a few feet away.
"Well, what the hell? What's the rest of your excuses?" Kelso angrily asked the remaining four.
"I'm the mother of your children, and I'm not driving, Michael."
"Fine," Kelso turned angrily to Eric. "Eric?"
"Man, I can barely…talk…how the hell…"
Kelso moved on. "Donna!"
"I'm trashed."
"Jackie!"
"I just don't want to."
Kelso scowled at her.
"Oh, and I'm trashed," Jackie added with a giggle. Feeling good, she turned happily to Hyde and for the first time noticed the deep red gash along his cheekbone. "Steven, you got cut."
"No, I got hit. There's a big difference," he replied, as Jackie reached up and smoothed her thumb around the outside perimeter of his wound, sticking out her bottom lip in sympathy.
"You poor baby." She lifted onto her tippy-toes, pulling his head down to gently kiss the clean skin just below his cut, succeeding in making his eyes close as he leaned into her lips. "You're so brave," she whispered, kissing just little lower, and lower…until their lips were moving together in a slow, measured kiss.
The rest of the gang exchanged uneasy glances.
"Michael," Brooke said, "go get the van; we're staying in a hotel. Oh, and take Hyde with you."
"Come on, Hyde." Kelso, rolling his swollen eyes, yanked Hyde away. "We have to get the van." Hyde followed, his eyes still on his ex-girlfriend as he and Kelso disappeared into the rain.
The Chicago Hilton
Room 418
Kelso walked into the plush room first, groaning his approval as he threw himself onto the double bed closest to the door. "Ahhh! This is so much better than the Motel 6!"
Hyde followed, collapsing over both pillows of the same bed. "You're welcome."
"Thank you, Hyde," everyone murmured.
"So how are we splitting up the rooms? Boys and girls?" Brooke asked, sitting down at a small table next to the bed.
Kelso shot up and grabbed her, pulling her down onto the bed with him. "No, mama, you're sleeping with me," he said, leaving growling kisses against her neck and making her smile.
"I don't care what we do, I just want to sleep," Hyde grumbled, pulling a pillow over his head.
Donna rolled her eyes and walked over to him. "Why don't you just give me the key to the other room? Eric and Jackie and I will sleep in there. You three take this one."
Tossing her the keys, Hyde hopped off the first bed and moved to the other one near the bathroom. He lay down and, as he watched Jackie leave with Eric and Donna, he found himself disappointed that she didn't even glance in his direction. Staring at the stained, and seemingly swirling, ceiling above his head, Hyde mulled over the night's events. It had been a strange eight hours, and he couldn't even remember the point at which his mind had crossed over to this drunken world where Jackie reigned supreme.
Hyde rubbed his face with his palms and looked over to find Kelso and Brooke fast asleep in each other's arms, their clothes wet from the rain, their bodies above the covers. He suddenly wished Jackie had stayed; even though he knew it was a terrible idea. He wanted someone to lie with, too. Looking around the room, his eyes passed over the clock: 2:37 am.
"Crap."
Pushing all thoughts of Jackie aside, Hyde grabbed the hotel phone and dialed Point Place. She picked up on the third ring. "Hey, were you sleeping?... Sorry, babe… It was pretty cool… No, I'm still in Chicago. I just wanted to let you know that we're staying the night out here…" Hyde laughed. "Yeah, can't you tell… Oh, man, everything, tequila, beer, Jack… A lot … Pretty fucked up… Uh, Forman, Donna, Kelso, Brooke and uh, Jackie." Hyde swallowed hard, praying he could manage his own guilt. "Yep… Nope… Yep… A hotel room… Kelso and Brooke… In another room with Eric and Donna. What's with the twenty questions…"
To Hyde's disbelief, Jackie stepped into the room as Jessica was talking in his ear. He brought his index finger to his lips, and Jackie simply nodded as she sat down on the edge of his bed.
"Yeah, probably sometime in the afternoon… Why don't you just tell me now… What's so important that you can't tell me over the phone… Fine, whatever… I'm not… OK… I know you do, Jess… OK… Bye."
Jackie smiled as Hyde hung up. "They fell asleep quick," she said, motioning toward Kelso and Brooke.
Hyde didn't bother looking; he just wanted her to leave. Her presence only made him stupid, and it took a brief conversation with his girlfriend to make him realize it. "Yeah. So, what's up? Why'd you come back?"
"Donna's throwing up. Eric's in there with her. The noises were grossing me out. So, I grabbed the keys to this room and left."
"So, what, you want to trade?"
"Well… I was kind of hoping to just sleep with Brooke. But…" She gave a frustrated sigh in the direction of the sleeping couple and stood up. "Hey, Steven, give me a hand." Jackie tugged and pulled at the blankets beneath her best friend and her first boyfriend, having a hard time as the two grumbled and squirmed. "Help me cover them. It's chilly out tonight, and Michael gets cold easily."
Hyde helped her, and it wasn't long before the engaged pair was buried and snuggled up beneath the covers with Kelso smiling up at his two friends. "I love you guys."
"Yeah, yeah. Go to sleep, man. You're driving us home tomorrow."
"Okay."
Jackie turned to smile at Hyde, but instantly frowned the moment she saw his face. "Come here, Steven." She walked around the bed and grabbed his hand, leading him into the bathroom. "Sit," she ordered, pointing at the sink.
"Why?"
"Sit down. I'm going to clean up your face."
Hyde hesitated, but when she raised her eyebrows at him, he sighed and hopped up on the counter. "You don't have to."
"I want to. Now, sit still." Jackie grabbed a clean washcloth from the towel rack and ran it under warm water. She placed it on his cut and winced when he did.
"Ow."
"Sorry," she said as she dabbed carefully.
Hyde closed his eyes as she cleaned the rest of his face, now warm from the cloth. He could smell her sweet scent and feel her soft presence across his skin. Then he heard a series of clicks and opened his eyes, looking down at the source of the sound. "Jackie, take off your boots. You look uncomfortable."
"I am uncomfortable, but I look good." Jackie stared at him for a moment. "Fine." She turned around and leaned her back up against him for support as she unzipped her boots and pulled them off one by one. Hyde sat behind her and watched her drop three inches in height.
He chuckled.
"Why are you laughing?" she asked as she spun back around.
Unable to take his eyes off her, he touched her face. "You're cute."
Jackie gave him a playful glare and stepped away from him. "Alright, Casanova, you're all cleaned up."
He wanted to say 'whatever' at her dismissal, but it was lost on him tonight, his Zen. Whatever that meant. He wasn't sure anymore. All he knew were three things—he was tired, he was drunk, and he wanted to undress his ex-girlfriend and do dirty stuff to her. As she walked out of the bathroom, her legs fully exposed to him, Hyde had to control his impulses, because they were not hers, and he had to accept that. She had stopped him twice tonight, and damn it… Jessica. Why did he keep forgetting about her? Up until tonight, he had convinced himself that he was falling in love with her, but one drunken night out, and he could barely keep his dick in his pants. It had to be a bad sign.
Returning from his thoughts, Hyde suddenly wondered where Jackie had tip-toed off to. "Hey," he whispered as he jumped off the counter and walked out into the dark hotel room. "Jackie?"
"Turn out the bathroom light," he heard her whisper. "It's too bright." Going back, he flipped the bathroom switch, then made his way through the dark to the foot of his bed, where he guessed she lay.
"Well," he said. "I guess I'll head to the other room now."
"No, Steven, Donna's sick. You can sleep here. It'll be fine. We used to do it all the time, remember?"
To Hyde's ears she sounded so young and innocent. In the dark, she was the same girl he remembered, which made this dangerous. "Yeah, Jackie, I don't think that's going to work this time."
"Don't worry. I just want to sleep, Steven. I'm really tired, and all the alcohol has my head spinning."
"Yeah, me, too." Hyde started to climb onto the bed when he suddenly stopped. "I can't Jackie. My clothes are soaked, and I can't sleep with them on. I'm just going to go to the other room."
"No, no. It's OK. I'll stay on my side. You have boxers on, right?"
"Yeah."
"OK, then, see. Just…come on. We'll be fine." Hyde stood up and pulled his t-shirt off, dropping it on the floor, and peeled the wet pants off his legs, leaving him dressed in boxers and a thermal undershirt. Dropping a knee onto the bed, Hyde slowly slid into the bed like he was sliding into third base, making Jackie giggle.
"It's like a slumber party," she said.
"Great." As he hesitantly slipped under the covers next to Jackie, Hyde wondered if people typically wanted to nail her at her slumber parties, because if so, then, she was right, this was exactly like one. With that, he rolled away from her and inched toward the very edge of the bed, determined to go to sleep as quickly as possible.
"Hey, Steven, do you remember that time when Mr. and Mrs. Forman caught us sleeping in your bed, and Eric was..."
"Jackie," Hyde interrupted. "No more talking. Go to sleep."
"Okay." A minute went by. "Hey Steven?"
Hyde sighed. "What?"
"Do you remember the game we used to play when we couldn't sleep?" she asked.
"Yes."
"You want to play? I can't sleep."
"You haven't even tried, Jackie."
"Yes, I have. Now, come on, Steven. Roll over."
Hyde groaned, but rolled over nonetheless. "Dammit. You better fall asleep after this." He needed her to sleep—he wasn't sure how much longer he could resist climbing over to her side of the bed and feeling his way up her skirt, again. He could practically taste her on his tongue as he settled in, propping his head up with his arm. "Just a few minutes, and then we go to sleep."
Jackie squealed quietly, still mindful of the occupied bed on the other side of the room. "Okay! Um, OK, I got one. The Rolling Stones or Led Zeppelin?"
He thought about it. "Huh. You got better at this. Um, Zeppelin," Hyde answered. "No, wait. The Stones."
Jackie wiggled. "See, isn't this fun? Now, it's your turn," she said, patting him on the chest.
Hyde let out a long sigh. "Um… Uh… lip gloss or nail polish?" he submitted with zero enthusiasm.
"Oh, my God. Well, I don't know."
"Just pick one."
"Hm." Clicking her tongue, Jackie pondered over her choices. "Well, I guess...Wait, can I still have clear nail polish?"
"No."
"Oh. Then I'd have to choose lip gloss, and I would just have to wear gloves forever, and oh god, never wear open-toed shoes again. How awful. Okay, it's my turn... Kissing me then or kissing me now. Although, I'm sure they're both amazing, you can only to pick one."
Hyde gulped, his breath labored beneath his response. "Jackie, maybe I should go."
"Just answer me," she said so softly. "I want to know."
He was rocking unsteadily on the edge. "Now," he answered, fighting the urge to reach out, to pull her close and put them both out of this misery. "Now or then, Jackie?"
In the dark, the sounds of their heavy respirations grew thunderous, and it was only intensifying.
"Come on," he said. "I want to know."
"Now." Before Jackie could process the word that so heatedly came out of her own mouth, Hyde grabbed her waist and yanked her body toward him, pausing when they reached each other. Jackie closed her eyes, lost in the familiar feeling. This room could have so easily been the basement; the bed could have so easily been his old cot, and tonight, he was the same. And so was she.
Hyde groaned. "I want you so bad, Jackie." She could hear him struggling for breath as he choked out his words, as the air beneath the blankets grew incredibly warm. "I need to get out of here."
Instinctively, her fingers found the curls at the nape of his neck. The nurturing side of her wanted to comfort his obvious torment; for it was hers, too. She struggled for her own breath and fought against her own body as it seemed to betray her, gravitating ever-so-slowly toward his.
"I think you should go, too," she whispered. A whimper fell from her lips as her fingers tightened their grip on his hair, and before she knew it, the sheet rocketed toward the ceiling, replaced immediately by Hyde's body before settling back down in a cool wind.
Jackie gasped at the suddenness, at the tingle of his mouth on her neck, but raised her knees in response as he settled so naturally between her thighs. "Steven," she panted. Unable to see his face—her eyes still unadjusted to the dark—she could only feel his hot breath moving across her cheek as he spoke, his weight heavy against her. "Steven, this is so wrong."
"Do you remember when we broke up that last time?" he asked, his voice gravelly yet soft.
"Yes," she replied, almost absentmindedly. His hips felt so good between her legs that Jackie released every thought—except the one that told her to let him inside—and began to gently move her own.
His entire body engulfed hers, pinning her to the bed with nearly all his weight as he pushed back against her and whispered into her ear. "I wished for one more night with you."
"Oh, Steven…" Ending his struggle, she found his mouth in the dark...
August 19, 1977
It felt to have her arms and legs wrapped tightly around him as he walked them both into his room. His arms held her torso securely and squeezed her tighter with each kiss that she placed on his neck; the moans emanating from deep inside his chest told her that she was making him feel good, too. It was only a moment later that she felt herself gently fall backwards as he laid her down on the little basement bed. She giggled while she watched him run back to shut and lock his door.
Returning as quickly as he left, Hyde climbed over her. "What are you laughing at?" he growled against the ticklish bend of her neck.
"You," she said, giggling again before turning rather serious. She reached up to smooth her hands over his coarse beard, watching his eyes smile down at her; she had melted beneath him at the sight. "You're cute," she said.
He frowned at her response. "Cute?"
"HOT," she said, fluttering her eyes upwards to accentuate her point.
Hyde grinned down at her now. "Yeah, I like that better," he said, before giving a deep kiss so intense, so passionate, that her belly churned with butterflies. Her knotted summer blouse was the first article of clothing to come off, followed by his t-shirt. And as they kissed, his hands began to roam the way they always did during their many make-out sessions that summer. But this time was different, things were becoming more heated and his fingers were heading farther south toward the zipper of her pants. The feeling of his hand—still cold from their tryst by the fridge—now touching the delicate flesh beneath her panties caused her to gasp. "Steven."
Hyde stopped and pulled away to look at her, his eyes glassy with desire. "What's wrong?"
She watched his face as he registered the reason for her concern. Sighing loudly, he dropped his head on her shoulder. "Come on, Jackie. We don't have to go all the way. I just..." In her ear came a deep sigh of frustration followed by several kisses. "...want to feel you. We've been making out for two months."
"I want to feel you, too. Steven; I want to go all the way."
Hyde's head popped up. "You do?"
"Yes," she answered, pulling him back down for another kiss. "I do…"
1984
"Oh, Steven."
Her words had tickled his lips. They came just as his hand, resting flat on her stomach, made its way up her ribs and cupped her bare breast. As he squeezed, Jackie, her breath coming in deep, frustrated-sounded heaves, tried to whip down the covers.
"No," Hyde said, stopping her. "They'll see."
"It's hot."
"You're hot," Hyde groaned, kissing her neck as he finally got her top above her breasts, his hands eagerly rubbing over every inch of exposed skin. But through his fog, he could see that she was struggling for air. "Here," he said, lifting the covers on the side facing away from the other bed, instantly bringing Jackie back to life. She moaned as the cool air hit them and pulled off her tank top.
"Kiss me, Steven," she demanded.
Abandoning her mouth only to pull off his own shirt, Hyde slipped an arm beneath her waist and groaned at the feeling of skin finally meeting skin. Propping himself up, he lowered the zipper of her skirt and yanked the sinful thing off her legs…
1977
"Are you okay?" Hyde asked, searching Jackie's mismatched eyes for the answer. There was nervousness there, and her lips were rubbing fretfully together. She was naked now, under his covers, but he was still in his boxers. It was the furthest they had ever gone. "Do you want me to stop?"
"No," she answered, her tone muted. "I'm just nervous. I've never been with anybody besides Michael. But I want you to be my second, Steven."
Hyde stared down at her. He was pretty positive that "second" was the best he was ever going to get or had ever gotten before. He wasn't exactly hanging around with virgins, and Jackie was probably as close as he would ever come. In fact, she appeared so innocent and troubled that that's how he chose to treat the situation—like her first time. "I'll go slow."
"Okay. Do you think, maybe," she swallowed before her eyes fell away from him, "…never mind."
"What?"
"Well," she said after a moment, "I had always dreamed that my first time would have candles and music and a banner but instead, Michael and I just did it real fast 'cause my parents were coming home. It was... disappointing."
Hyde forgot to be "first-time supportive guy" and quickly reverted back to being himself. "Yeah, that's not going to happen. First of all, I don't like candles and second, I'm not doing it to music. I think that might be the dumbest thing I've ever heard." He scoffed at the thought and then watched displeasure flash over Jackie's face, her eyes flicking away from him. "Fine," she said. "Let's just do it."
They hadn't even done it yet, and she was already disappointed.
Hyde sighed, feeling like the dirt bag he knew he was. "Jackie," he said, dropping his forehead to her shoulder, "I didn't…Crap. I don't have candles, or a… freakin' banner," he said through clenched teeth.
To his surprise, Jackie giggled and reached up to comb her fingers through his beard. "I don't need everything, Steven. Can we just have one?"
"I don't know what…I mean," Hyde shut his eyes. His dick was stiff and aching as it pressed against her bare flesh, and he wanted to do whatever the hell would make her happy. "Crap, okay." He slipped out from underneath the covers and quickly flipped through his record collection, getting more and more frustrated with each one, pissed at his own excellent taste in music. "Damn it."
Jackie giggled at his frustration and at the extremity that pointed right at her through his boxers, practically ordering her still. "Hurry, Steven."
"Oh. Okay, I got it." He threw a record on and returned back to his cot, climbing under the covers with her. "The Stones," he said as the gentle strings of a guitar began to thrum. "It's all I've got that won't scare you."
Childhood living
Is easy to do
The things that you wanted
I bought them for you...
Jackie smiled. "I love it, Steven."
"Shh, no more talking," he whispered. Laying a gentle kiss on her lips, Hyde quickly removed his boxers and settled back in between her thighs. He couldn't help but notice how nervous she looked. "You're sure, Jackie?"
She nodded. "I'm sure." The anxiety never left her eyes but instead became more intense as he lined himself up to enter her. He kept their eyes locked as he slowly sunk into her, needing three slow thrusts to become fully buried. He watched Jackie's eyes softly close and as her head fell back, Hyde silently wished he had been her first…
Wild horses
Couldn't drag me away...
1984
Jackie looked up at Hyde, surprised by her own nervousness; they hadn't been this intimate in over five years, not to mention she was cheating on the man who promised to one day marry her. Thoughts of Colin didn't stay long, though, driven away by a past that so desperately wanted reprieve.
Her eyelids lay closed as her skin soaked in the feeling of his skin, his arms and hands, his lips, so intoxicating as he leaned down and opened his mouth over hers. They were connected, joined in every way but one, and it seemed all that mattered in the moment.
"Now, Steven," she whispered, and he slowly pushed inside her, her lips parting at the full feeling of him.
"Fuck, I missed you," he whispered, his weight falling on her, moving ever-so-slightly inside her, until he propped himself up. They were still for a moment as they stared at each other in the near blackness, both bitterly aware that they had just ruined everything they had for this feeling.
Jackie slipped her arms up around Hyde's neck and pulled him down, needing to hold him. She wanted to smile, having fantasized about this moment so many times—just one more with him. "Ohhh, you feel good." She gripped him tightly with every limb, enveloping him to make the closest possible physical connection as he began to rock his hips again...
1977
Jackie's soft, sweet whimpering nearly sent Hyde over the edge, sooner than he had hoped. Slowing down, he moved to kiss her deeply, but the feeling of her tongue alone almost made him come. So, he pulled out of her and began to feverishly kiss her chest, making her whimper again the instant he pressed several fingers against her slippery, velvety-soft sex, circling and rubbing, harder and harder. "God, Steven. Come back."
"Hold on," he said, his mouth focusing on her breasts, slick with fresh sweat that he had so enthusiastically generated. "Damn, Jackie, you're going to make me come too fast," he groaned.
"Just come here," she demanded, exhausted and out of breath, "I don't care. I just want you inside me. God, Steven. Come here!" she yelled.
Hyde complied and grunted as he thrust back inside her, almost forcefully, causing her head to fall back in satisfaction, her brunette locks splayed wildly across his Spiderman pillowcase. "Fuck, Jackie. I'm going to come."
"Harder, Steven," she pleaded, pulling his head down for a kiss. "Harder."
His pace hastened until he was virtually slamming into her, delirious as Jackie vigorously sucked on his tongue, hopefully coming beneath him, because the moment a vulgarity flew from her innocent mouth, Hyde lost his battle…
1984
Taking his time, Hyde rolled Jackie over onto her belly and began to lay leisurely, drifting kisses up the long length of her spine, starting with the small of her back. The fear of being discovered had forced them to go slowly, taking their time with every movement. His elbows resting on the bed, Hyde slipped both hands underneath her chest to cup her breasts as his lips and tongue carved a path toward her neck. Sweeping her long locks aside, he laid tender kisses just below her hairline, making her giggle and making him smile. "You're still ticklish here," he whispered.
She giggled again, wiggling beneath him. "Steven."
"Shh, we're going to wake them," he whispered as he brushed his lips over her shoulder blade, finishing with a thick, wet kiss.
Below him, Jackie tucked her hands beneath her cheek. "It feels like we're kids again, scared of getting caught by the Formans."
Hyde smiled. "Yeah, well, I'm not scared of Kelso; Donna and Brooke maybe."
Jackie's giggling turned to a soft moan when Hyde spread her thighs apart, aligning himself against her. Her hips rose to meet him, and just as he was about to sink back inside, Jackie rolled over.
"Wait. I want to see you," she said. "Your face." Fitting him back between her thighs, Jackie cupped her hands over his jaw line as her thumb passed deliberately over his chin and lips, and then as her index finger swept down the bridge of his nose. "God, Steven. I used to be so in love with you," she whispered.
"Me, too..."
1977
Hyde collapsed beside Jackie, both of them exhausted and satisfied. With her only remaining energy, Jackie rolled over and straddled him, leaving lazy afternoon kisses over every inch of his chest. "Mm, Steven. That was nice. I think I want to do it again," she teased, staring up at him through her lashes, her tongue lightly dragging over his skin. "And again," she added with a smooch.
"Just give me a sec. I'll be right there."
Suddenly curious, Jackie tucked her hands beneath her chin and looked up at him. "Steven, how many girls have you slept with?"
Hyde frowned. This type of questioning never turned out well for him. "Some," he said, warily.
"But how many?" she pressed.
"Jackie."
"A lot?"
"Some."
"More than five?"
He hesitated. "Yes."
"Less than ten?"
"Way less."
Jackie considered that for a moment. "I've only ever been with Michael," she said, pouting, then asked, "Is it better with girls who have more experience?"
Sighing, Hyde sat up, bringing her with him, and cupped her face in his hands. "More experience doesn't mean better, Jackie." Then his expression softened. "You were perfect." He gave her a small kiss that quickly led to a deeper one as they both laid back and took advantage of the long summer afternoon…
1984
Beneath flowery Hilton Hotel covers, he sealed his mouth over hers, muffling her cries, as he pumped in and out of her. Maybe it was the wrongness of their union, or the risk of getting caught, or maybe it was the news that he had loved her after all, but Jackie had never come so hard.
"Yes, Steven. Harder," she whimpered into his mouth as he kissed her. "Harder."
Hyde hushed her. "I'm going to come, Jackie. I need to pull out."
"No," she whined. "I'm on the pill. Harder."
He gave Jackie several forceful thrusts as her orgasm peaked, and when her body weakened, high on the endorphins, Hyde planted himself deep and grunted, his hips jerking wildly.
"Fuck...Fuck, Jackie," he whispered against her lips.
Delighting in his pleasure, holding him until he finished coming, Jackie gave him a little kiss, then nudged him to the side, watching him collapse in exhaustion beside her.
Silence prevailed as Jackie rolled to her side against him, naked as a Jaybird, for neither knew what to say.
It was a few minutes later that Hyde kissed her forehead. "I think I should go sleep in the other room."
Jackie nodded. Their minds cleared of lust, reality settled in. The two of them in a single bed, added with their guilty affects, would most certainly stir up trouble. They had already been stirring it up all night and the last thing they needed was four extra helping hands. "Yeah. I think that's probably a good idea." She found her clothes and put them on as Hyde dressed and gathered his things. He was heading for the door when Jackie called out to him in a whisper. "Hey, Steven?"
Hyde returned to the bed. "Yeah?"
"C'mere," she said, persuading him to lean down with a wave of her hand. She couldn't let him go, not without settling one last issue. There was no way she was going to deny herself of this, this thing that some skank from Vegas had taken from her five years before.
As Hyde placed a knee on the bed, Jackie grabbed his shirt and pulled him down for a kiss. Conveying every emotion ever felt for this boy, she slid her tongue inside his mouth and amorously connected with his, her lips guiding his in tender, pressing strokes. He caught on quickly—sensing exactly what it was she needed—and responded in kind; maybe he needed it, too. His fingers glided through her hair to cup her head and pulled her nearer with one shared understanding: this had to be their last. It had to end here.
Mercifully, he pulled away and said not a word as he briskly walked out the door.
"Bye, Steven," Jackie whispered.
The Next Morning
Thursday, November 1, 1984.
11:47 AM
The Chicago Hilton
Room 420
Steven Hyde opened one eye and groaned. Looking around, he found himself in a plush bed, in a plush room—he peered out the window—with a view of Lake Michigan. Beside him was another bed just like his, and it was occupied. The image of long red hair on one pillow and Forman's swollen face on the other made him sigh with relief.
Sitting upright, Hyde nearly screamed from pain as he grabbed his pounding head. "Damn." He squinted at the clock. It was almost noon, probably near check-out time, so he made a mental note to call the front desk soon.
Lying back down, he went over the events of the night before. Everything seemed to get a little fuzzy around "Thriller" and a bunch of dumbass zombies. Then Hyde groaned, placing his palms regretfully over his eyes.
Jackie.
Crap.
What the hell did he do?