Encounter: Chapter 7

Can You Hate Me More?

Author's Note: Sorry, I'm dragging. I no longer have a personal computer, so I'm using my parents' and it isn't the most consistent of systems. I am unsure of this chapter so feedback would be fantastic. Please, love it or hate it, let me know what you think. And as always, I hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: Not mine.

"Jackie! What the hell?"

Hearing Jacob's voice, Jackie sprang away from Hyde's embrace, and he could instantly see the shame and guilt pinken her pretty cheeks. He sighed, knowing things had just gotten a lot more complicated.

Jackie took a few small, tentative steps towards her fiancé, and winced as he backed away, face wrinkled in disgust. "Jacob, I am so sorry. I can explain." She pleaded with her eyes, trying to bring him in closer. "Really. Steven and I, well, there's, ummm…" She suddenly felt a great wave of panic as she realized she couldn't explain. She didn't know where or how to start. And having been put in his position so many times herself, she couldn't help the tears welling up in her eyes. For an instant she thought she might be sick. This wasn't like the accidental kiss with the cheese guy. She had eagerly accepted this kiss, wanting it, wanting Steven. She was now officially a cheater, and she hated what she had become.

"Please, Jacob. Me and Steven – we have a lot of history, messy history. We were in love, I should have told you. I'm sorry."

Hyde's attention lingered angrily on her use of the past tense. What the hell did she mean by "were"?

"It was a mistake, Jacob. Please believe me."

Hyde felt a throbbing of anger in his ears, and bitter bile rise up in his throat, as he watched she who had pleaded with him just moments before, now plead with another, begging for forgiveness, calling his kiss a mistake. He felt rage shudder through his chest, not only at her and this situation, but at himself. He had done it again. He'd let her make him stupid. She had this way of creeping into his brain and wiping out all sense, and just stupefying him. Standing now, watching her, he rediscovered his hate for her, and didn't shed a tear for the love and lust and want he was letting slip away.

"Yeah, Jacob. It was a mistake. Temporary Insanity."

Jackie's head snapped in Hyde's direction. She knew that tone. And it scared her.

"I mean sure, Jackie is hot. And I wouldn't have been sad if I'd have hit that one last time. But she isn't worth it, not for me anyway. Best of luck to you though, man. And I'll keep my fingers crossed that she doesn't become a pathetic, boozed up whore. I hear it's partially genetic, and well, you've met her mom."

Jackie let out a slow breath. Though her chest stung a little from his words, he could do worse. So she fixed him with a gaze that showed her hurt, but also challenged him.

Their eyes were locked intensely, not leaving each other's forthe tiniestsecond. Not even when the creak of Hyde's door added yet another player to the scene. The triangle became a square.

"What's going on?" Sam's voice sounded as naturally confused as ever as she looked from her husband to Jackie and back again.

"Nothing, baby, go back to sleep." Hyde's stare never broke from Jackie.

"But I'm not tired," Sam's whine was accompanied by a pout Hyde didn't bother to see.

His eyes flickering, bearing deep into Jackie's, he placed a sneering smirk upon his lips and replied with careful innuendo, " Well, baby,I'm sure I can find a few ways to wear you out."

Sam's face brightened and turned smugly to Jackie, who finally broke her eyes away. Looking down as she teared up once more, she realized how it hurt just as much knowing that he wanted her to suffer as anything he ever said. Looking back up to find his blue eyes still poundingly focused on her, mocking her weakness, she felt as if she couldn't breathe.

"Go to hell, Steven. And take your stupid whore with you."

And then she stormed through the tension and out of the basement.

Jackieraced out into the night, running as soon as she hit the edge of the Forman driveway, uncaring that Jacob was behind her, scrambling to catch up. Even as he called her name she made no effort to slow down. She needed to get as far away from Steven Hyde as possible, even if it was 3 in the morning.

She heard his heavy breathing as he ran up to her, but it wasn't until he caught her arm that she turned her fuming eyes upon him.

Jacob dropped his hold in surprise at the intensity that marred her gorgeous features, and her face visibly softened apologetically.

"I am sorry, Jacob. I know I've said it a lot, but it's true. I meant it, kissing Steven was a mistake. It wasn't fair to you, It isn't who I am." Jackie looked down at the cracked sidewalk, the dried brown blades of grass poking defiantly through the gray cement. She breathed deeply, then looked back to his eyes. "But sometimes I think I still love him. And sometimes I know I still hate him. And either way, it is obvious that I am not over him, or what we had. And until I am, I can't offer you what you signed up for, what you deserve. I'm sorry, Jacob; but I can't marry you."

Placing a small kiss on his cheek, and a beautiful ring in his hand, Jackie turned and continued to walk into the night, all alone.