Stuck In The Middle
Chapter 6 – Could've Been
Disclaimer – I don't own anything having to do with That 70s Show, or Tiffany's "Could've Been". However, as a suggestion if you want to listen to the song as you read, I prefer the cover of this song by Giana Nguyen best. Enjoy!
"Alright Hyde, let's go," David said as he walked out of his future self's apartment. "I've only got one last thing to show you before you wake up out of your coma," he explained.
Hyde followed closely behind. "So, uh, has she….ummm..." he cleared his throat. "Is she uh…" He kept stammering over his words, he didn't know how to ask David the question he wanted to ask. Thankfully, David spoke up.
"Are you trying to ask me if Jackie has been by your bedside this whole time?" David asked him. Hyde just shook his head yes, not able to form words. David smiled at him. "Yes," was all he said. "How long has it been?" He asked David. "It's been about three days," he replied. "Wow," Hyde replied. That was a long time for Jackie to stay somewhere without a shower or changing her clothes.
"Ok, let's go!" David said, and then snapped his fingers. Hyde then found themselves standing in front of an unfamiliar house. He followed David inside, and found himself in an unfamiliar living room. He then saw himself sitting on the couch in the middle of the room, watching TV. He looked older, with some gray in the beard that he had grown back.
"So I have taken a pretty big jump into the future. After Jackie left for Chicago with Jake, you saw very little of her. So I'm jumping ahead 11 years and the year is now 1998," David explained.
Hyde let out a low whistle. "Wow, so I'm 38 here. At least I moved on up and bought a house." Hyde said. David smiled at him. "Just watch!"
The flowers you gave me
Are just about to die
When I think about
What could've been
It makes me want to cry
Hyde turned his attention to his future self sitting on the couch. He looked over when someone else walked into the room, a woman much younger than his future self walked into the room. He was about to make a comment to David about still having it and being able to nab hot babes, he realized who had walked into the room.
"Betsy Kelso?" He asked David. There was no denying it was her. She was the perfect mix of Kelso and Brooke, and thanks to her parents, was a beautiful girl. David just smiled and pointed towards the scene in front of them.
"Hey Uncle Hyde," Betsy said as she sat down next to his future self on the couch.
"Hey Betsy Pie," he replied, looking over at her. "What are you doing here? Its Thanksgiving weekend and a Saturday night. Shouldn't you be out with your high school friends you haven't seen over the past college semester?" He asked her.
"Nope. I'm watching the younger kids tonight while you guys all go to your high school reunion," she answered him.
"Oh Betsy, that's not necessary. I told Donna and Eric and your mom and dad and Fez and Caroline that I would watch the kids while they all went," Hyde said to her.
"No way Uncle Hyde, you're not skipping your twenty year high school reunion." She said.
It's really ok Betsy, I have no reason to go. I'm not married, I don't have kids, nothing to brag about," he said to her.
"Sure you do Uncle Hyde. You have a successful business and chain of record stores. And you have a beautiful and smart god daughter to brag about," she said with a smile.
Hyde grinned back at his god daughter. "It's really ok, all the people I want to talk to from high school, I see almost every day," he said.
"Are you worried about seeing her?" Betsy asked suddenly.
"I have no idea what you're talking about," he said as he crossed his arms over his chest.
"Uncle Hyde, I've know you all my life, and you have been my favorite Uncle my whole life. I know you better than you think I do. I know Aunt Jackie is going to be there, and I know that's why you're trying to avoid your high school reunion." She said.
"You're too smart for your own good, you know that? You're lucky you got your mom's brain, and not your dad's," he said to her.
"Have you seen her at all recently?" Betsy asked.
"Nope. Not since your high school graduation party a year and a half ago. And even then we didn't have a conversation. She would barely look at me."
"So then you can go to your reunion tonight and just avoid her like you have been for the last eleven years," Betsy said. Hyde just sighed. "It might be easy for her, but it's not that easy for me," he said. Betsy smiled at him. "Trust me, it's not that easy for her either."
The sweet words you whispered
Didn't mean a thing
I guess our song is over
As we begin to sing
Hyde looked over as a group of teens walked into the room just then, as did his future self and Betsy, preventing him from asking Betsy about what she had just said.
None of the kids looked familiar to him, but he could figure out they were his friends kids. There was a tall lanky kid who was the spitting image of Kelso when he was 17. There was another brunette who looked about 14 and just like a younger Betsy. There was also a tall lanky boy with Eric's build, but Donna's red hair who looked about 17. There were also two girls with dark skin and blonde hair, one looking about 16 and the other about 14. He figured they were Fez and Caroline's kids, since his future self had mentioned the two of them earlier.
"Hey sis," the tall lanky brunette said to Betsy. "We're going to The Hub, you want to join us? Or are you too cool for us since you're not in high school anymore," he said to her.
"I'm actually baby sitting the younger siblings tonight Matty," Betsy told him. "Sorry. Otherwise I would join you guys."
"No, you go out Betsy. I'll stay with the kids," Hyde replied.
"Awww really? Thanks Hyde!" The lanky red headed boy replied. The younger sister of Betsy and Matty giggled. "You just want to hang out and ogle Betsy, Ryan." She said. "Shut up Kelsey, or we won't let you hang out with us," Ryan sneered back at her.
"No guys, Hyde is not staying with the kids. He is going to his high school reunion with the rest of our parents," she said firmly.
"You don't give up, do you Betsy" He said to her. She just smiled and shook her head no.
"Come on Betsy, let Hyde stay here. I haven't seen you since September!" The older, dark skinned blonde said to her. "I've been stuck hanging out with dumb and dumber here,"
she said motioning to Matty and Ryan. "And the bobsy twins," she said motioning to Kelsey and younger dark skinned blonde. "And Kelsey and Tiffany are too young for me," she pouted.
"Matty is your boyfriend and Kelsey and Tiffany are only two years younger than you. Stop being so dramatic. I'm sorry Julie," Betsy said. "But Hyde really needs to go to his reunion, or he will really regret it. I know I would."
"Whatever. I'm not going to stand here and argue. Let's go guys," Matty said as he took Julie's hand and ushered the gang out the door. As soon as they walked out the door, Eric and Donna walked into the room, followed by Kelso and Brooke.
"Wow Hyde, nice of you to dress up for the reunion," Eric said. Hyde looked down at his jeans and Led Zeppelin t-shirt. "Just like high school," he said with a smirk.
"Ok Betsy, Brittany is down in the basement right now along with Jennifer and James. Fez and Caroline should be here any minute with Jack. Are you sure you want to baby sit them?" Donna asked.
"Of course, Donna. You guys go have fun," Betsy said as Fez and Caroline walked through the door with their youngest son. Jack. He ran down to the basement as soon as they walked in the door.
"Alright, let's get this show on the road!" Eric said. Hyde didn't budge from his spot on the couch as his friends started walking away.
"Hyde, you coming?" Donna asked him.
"Yes, he is," Betsy said firmly as she poked him in his side and then started pinching him. "I'll keep doing this unless you go!" Betsy said.
"Alright, alright! You can be just as annoying as your father," he grumbled as he walked over to his friends and out the door. Betsy sat on the couch with a smug smile on her face, before she got up and walked towards the basement to see what the kids were up to.
David then snapped his fingers at Hyde, motioning for them to follow his future self and friends out the door. "This is going to be good," Hyde muttered to David as they followed behind.
Could've been so beautiful
Could've been so right
Could've been my lover
Every day of my life
Hyde and David walked into the Holiday Hotel behind his future self and their friends. "Of course this is where my twenty year reunion would be. Point Place is so cheap," he said.
He watched himself and his friends walk in and take over a table. He walked over to stand by the table with David. He watched as his future self went straight to the bar. No surprise that his future self probably turned into an alcoholic once Jackie was out of his life for good.
His friends all seemed to find an old classmate to find and talk to, but his future self sat at their table alone, drinking. He watched as a girl walked towards him, recognizing her as Kat Peterson.
"Hey Hyde," she said. "Long time, no see," she purred.
"How you doing Kat?" He asked her.
"Oh, you know. Got married to a rich guy. Had a couple of kids. My marriage sucks. He cheats, I cheat. My kids annoy me most of the time, so the nanny takes care of them. How about you?"
"Just working, really." He replied.
"Still hang out with Eric and Kelso and Fez, I see. I can't believe Donna actually married Eric," she said.
"Yea, they were meant for each other." Hyde said.
"What about you? I mean, you and Jackie Burkhart were pretty hot and heavy for a while."
"Yea. The two of us were obviously not meant to be." He said.
"Hyde, I know you and I were a quick fling. But the way you were with me, and how you were with Jackie were totally different. You really loved that girl. Everyone that knows you, knew that," she said. "Speak of the devil," Kat said as she looked up.
Hyde looked over to see Jackie walk in on the arm of Jake. He knew his future self's breath caught in his throat, because his did when he saw her. She was thirty seven years old, but looked like she hadn't aged a day. She only got more beautiful with age, apparently.
She kissed Jake on the cheek as he walked over to see some jock buddies from the football team. Jackie then looked around, searching for her friends. Her eyes then landed on his future self and Kat sitting at a table together.
Could've been so beautiful
Could've been so right
I'll never hold what could've been
On a cold and lonely night
Hyde held his breath as she walked towards the table his future self sat at.
"Hello Steve," she said.
Kat looked back and forth between the two for a few moments. "Ok, well it was nice catching up with you Hyde. Come find me later if you want to have some fun," she said with a wink.
"You and Kat again?" Jackie asked. "Last I heard she was married to some millionaire."
"Yea, apparently their marriage sucks," he said.
"So, how have you been Steven?" She asked. "I'm glad to see you here. And that you're not wearing those stupid sunglasses."
Hyde sighed. "Why are you making small chat with me Jackie? We have barely spoken in eleven years," he said.
"There's always an opportunity to mend broken friendships, Steven."
"Were we ever really friend, Jackie?" He shot back.
Hyde rolled his eyes from where he stood with David. Apparently he couldn't even be vulnerable nineteen years into his future.
"Ok Steven, I'm sorry. I'll just leave, and we can continue to act like we have for the last eleven years, like the other doesn't exist," she said as she started to stand.
"No, Jackie, wait. I'm sorry," he said. "Don't leave."
She sat back down and gave him a small smile. "How are Robert and Christine?" He asked her.
Jackie's eyes lit up at the mention of what Hyde assumed where her kids. "Great! Robert is ten and playing baseball and loves it. Christine is nine and taking ballet, which she also loves."
"Are you working?" He asked her.
"No. Jake wanted me to stay home with the kids. So, I do," she said a little uneasy.
The memories of our lovin'
Still linger in the air
Like the faded scent of your roses
They stay with me everywhere
"Jackie, are you happy?" He asked her.
Jackie seemed to hesitate at the question his future self asked her. As Hyde stood with David, he could see the sadness in her eyes. But she tried to cover it up quickly.
"Yea, of course I am Steven. I have a wonderful husband. My kids are my everything. I would be so lost without them. They're the reason I get up every day." She finally answered.
"Jake is good to you?" He asked. Jackie just shook her head yes. "So you got the perfect life you always wanted. I'm happy for you," Hyde said to her. "Taking me out of the equation got you all of that. So, I'm glad it all worked out for you."
"Steven, I miss you. Every day. But you weren't willing to give me the life I wanted. You can't be angry for me finding that happiness elsewhere with another man," she said.
Hyde watched his future self sigh. "I miss you too, Jackie. I struggle every day with the decisions I made. But Jackie, we were just kids when you tried to force me to grow up, and I wasn't ready. "
"I gave you another opportunity eleven years ago. And you still wouldn't take that chance with me. I gave you several opportunities Steven. I couldn't wait for you forever."
"I know that Jackie. I took complete advantage of thinking that you would. It was stupid of me."
Jackie smiled her dazzling smile at him. "Yup! Dumbass," she said with a chuckle. His future self couldn't help but smile at the dumbass comment.
"I dream about you," he said. "I dream about what our life could have been. It could have been great," he said.
Jackie gave him a small smile. "I do too, Steven. I do too."
Every time I get my hopes up
They always seem to fall
Still what could've been is better than
What could never be at all
"Ok, well. Where us everyone else? I can't wait to see Pam Macy. I hope she's fat now," Jackie said.
Hyde watched his future self laugh with Jackie as she sat and talked with him a little longer. He couldn't believe how beautiful she still was nineteen years into the future. There was no doubt in her mind that she would always be beautiful. The words she had said to his future self were ringing in his ears.
"I gave you another opportunity eleven years ago. And you still wouldn't take that chance with me. I gave you several opportunities Steven. I couldn't wait for you forever."
The words kept playing over and over in his head. He couldn't shake it. And he knew it was true.
"Well Steven, it was great to see you and catch up with you. I'm glad you came. I didn't think you would. I do need to get back to Jake though. I promised if I ran into you, that I wouldn't spend too much time with you," she said.
Hyde sighed. "I can't say I don't blame him. If I was a bigger asshole, I would totally be trying to lure you into a room right now," he said honestly.
Jackie laughed. "Well, it sounded like Kat Peterson was pretty interested in getting a room with you. Maybe you should go find her," she said with a small smile. She stood, and then leaned over and kissed him on the cheek, dangerously close to his mouth. "Bye Steven."
And as quickly as she had walked up to him, she was gone in the crowd of people.
Could've been so beautiful
Could've been so right
Could've been my lover
Every day of my life
Could've been so beautiful
Could've been so right
I'll never hold what could've been
On a cold and lonely night
"Ok Hyde, that's it!" He heard David say next to him.
"Wait, what?" He asked him. "That's it? How could that possibly be it?"
"Well, you and Jackie will run into each other a few more times in the future. Kids graduations, funerals. But you never have much of a friendship past this. This is the most interaction between the two of you after she leaves for Chicago with Jake."
"This is bullshit! I can't believe this!" Hyde yelled.
"Hyde, this is the life you chose when you didn't choose Jackie," David said to him. "Jackie doesn't stay in your life. You need to accept that."
Hyde just stood in the room of his twenty year reunion, eyes scanning the crowd, when his eyes landed on the person he had been looking for. Her arm was hooked through Jake's, and she was smiling and laughing. She was happy, but he could tell she wasn't in love. And he knew Jackie believed in true love, it was what she was always chasing. Her parents had a loveless marriage, and he knew she didn't want that future for herself. She wanted to be in love, and she wanted that guy to be just as much in love with her. He was giving her that loveless marriage by not choosing her.
But, she was happy. And as much as he loved her and could love her, he wasn't sure he could ever make her happy with the life of marriage and kids she also wanted along with that true love.
"Ok Hyde, the time has come," David said, interrupting his thoughts.
"Huh?" Hyde asked. "Time for what?"
"It's time to choose. Do you choose Jackie, or not?"
"I have to choose now?" He yelled.
"Yes, it's almost time for you to wake up!" David exclaimed. "So what's it going to be Hyde? Do you choose Jackie or not?"
The question kept ringing in his head. It wouldn't stop. He knew he had to make the choice, but he still didn't feel ready. How could he make such a life changing decision? He was still only nineteen years old!
"So what's it going to be Hyde? Do you choose Jackie or not?"
How could I hold what could've been
On a cold and lonely night?
