Wow, almost forgot about this little guy. Sigh I remember when this was just a tiny one-shot, when I wasn't even sure if people would bother to read it. And now look at it! I'm getting into double digit chapters! How time flies…anyway, I am so unbelievably sorry about the long delay in posting. Finals then Christmas then mini road trips sucked up all of my time. But this is a nice long (double digit!) chapter and I would LOVE some reviews!! So please do. I will love you forever!
x
x
x
Chapter 10
Previously…Donna and Jackie get ready to say goodbye to Point Place and the men they love… romantic Jackie/Hyde airport scene, anyone?
x
x
Jackie placed one last blouse into her suitcase before zipping it up and setting it on the floor. She stared at her luggage, the large, bright red suitcase with a matching make-up case and her small backpack. A lot less stuff than she usually brought with her when traveling, but it didn't really matter when she had spent the better part of the last three days wearing nothing but a worn band t-shirt or…well, nothing. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Don't start crying, Jackie," she mumbled to herself. "You just did your make up all nice and cute and you don't want to go on a plane with red puffy eyes." Jackie jumped when the door shut loudly behind her. Donna stood there smirking with her hands on her hips.
"You know, Jackie, I've heard that talking to yourself is a sign of possible insanity. And you're always telling me about how only ugly people can go crazy," the redhead said, holding back her laughter. Jackie glared at her.
"Haha, Donna, you are just hysterical," she said sarcastically. "So much, in fact, that I can't remember why I should give you your going away present anymore." She flipped her hair and cheered up a little at the regretful look that crossed her friend's face.
"You got me a present?" Donna asked doubtfully. Jackie simply nodded before walking to the bathroom to make sure she hadn't forgotten anything. "Wow, hold on a minute," she said, following the girl to the bathroom. "You, Jackie Burkhart, the preppy, snobby, unbelievably selfish cheerleader got me a going away present? What is it, a t-shirt with 'I'd Rather Be Fly Fishing' written across the boobs?"
Jackie snorted. "No, I got you something you could actually use, not something you'd pick out for yourself." Donna rolled her eyes.
"Shut up you midget. Just give it to me," she whined.
"Yes, Jackie. Give it to her," a deep, slightly husky voice said. Jackie threw her hands up in the air in exasperation.
"I thought we were done with this," she sighed. Jackie and Donna stalked to the closet and yanked the door open. Fez crouched next to an empty box, smiling guiltily.
"Oh, hello. I, uh, I did not know you two were in here," he stammered. The girls glared at him. He looked back and forth between them, fear clearly growing behind his eyes. "Okay, I did, but I did not hide in the closet specifically to watch you two exchange your goodbyes." He paused, clearly desperately searching for an excuse. "I am playing hide and seek," the foreign boy finally said. They continued to stare him down. "With Kelso," he added. "See, because I am hiding and he-"
"Juts get out of the closet you perv!" Donna yelled. Fez jumped up in fright and bolted out of the room, yelling something about how much he hated a tease. She shook her head before turning back to Jackie. "Come on, all of my stuff is in the car, my dad's waiting to drive me to Madison. Now give me my present!" she said, pouting. Jackie laughed.
"Donna, you're starting to sound like a spoiled little princess." She smiled and placed her hand over her heart. "I'm so proud!" She opened her backpack and reached in, grabbing something near the bottom. She stood up clutching a brightly wrapped rectangular present. "Here, you big lumberjack," she said playfully, handing over the gift. Donna eagerly accepted it and ripped off the wrapping paper. When she saw what it had covered, her smile faded and tears filled her eyes.
"Jackie, I don't know what to say," she said quietly. She was staring down at a picture in a dark brown frame. Jackie was smiling out broadly from it with her arm around Donna's shoulders, which were covered in a dark grey coat. The redhead (although you couldn't tell because of the blonde wig) had rolled her eyes at the moment the picture was taken, clearly annoyed with whatever the small brunette had just said. Jackie watched Donna's reaction closely.
"Do you remember when I took it?" she asked hopefully.
"Yeah. Of course. It was that Halloween when Eric was a jerk and didn't want to spend any time with me. It was the only time I ever asked you to give me a makeover." She chuckled at the memory. "I thought you were gonna break your legs you were jumping un and down so much." Donna wiped her eyes. "Thank you."
Jackie smiled back at her. "I was going to give you the trench coat I let you borrow that night too, but it just looks so cute on me. And it's perfect for winter in New York. While I'm all alone-" she stopped suddenly. Her throat had, closed up making it harder to continue.
"Anyway, I thought it might be something you could put on your coffee table so that when you have guests over, they can ask about it and you can tell them what a wonderful person I am," Jackie said quietly, feeling herself beginning to choke up. Donna smiled through her own tears.
"Come here you midget," she said as she pulled her best friend into her arms. Jackie hugged her back tightly, knowing that the moment she let go, everything would change.
x
Hyde drove slower than he knew he should if he wanted to get Jackie to the airport on time. But he really didn't. Deep down, he was hoping for a storm, or at least a rainfall heavy enough to delay her flight for a couple of hours. Or days. But the sky was a perfectly clear blue above him, streaked with wispy clouds that looked so much like feathers. The weather was really pissing him off. It was the middle of February, for Christ's sake. There was always hail this time of year in this part of Wisconsin, especially Point Place. But it seemed the town was finally getting its revenge on the man that had vandalized it endlessly without remorse. Damn sunshine, Hyde thought angrily. And there wasn't traffic, either! What was wrong with this place? He eased up on the gas pedal, just a little, and glanced down at Jackie, who was resting her head on his shoulder. Her eyes were closed, but he knew she wasn't asleep.
"Steven, I'm gonna miss my flight if you don't speed up," she mumbled. He responded by letting up on the gas even more. Jackie sat up and smacked his shoulder lightly. "Hey," she said with a slight frown. Hyde sighed and sped up, still hoping for that storm. She smiled and reached out her hand to turn on the radio. He groaned loudly as Elton John filled the car, the piano keys bouncing off of the windows. Of course, Jackie's face lit up and she clapped her hands excitedly.
"Oh, Steven, this is my favorite song," she said dreamily.
"Of course it is," Hyde responded dryly, trying to tune out the sickening, lovey-dovey lyrics being sung oh so gently.
But oh how it feels so real
Lying here with no one near
Only you and you can hear me
When I say softly, slowly
"Oh, Steven, you know you love this song," Jackie joked as she reached out to turn the volume up. Hyde's hand shot off the wheel and intercepted.
"I don't think so, Jacks," he said. He was about to change the station when Jackie's breath suddenly filled his ear. The El Camino swerved slightly.
"Please let me listen, Steven," she whispered. Hyde swallowed and gripped the steering wheel more tightly. Her hand was now resting on his thigh, caressing him gently.
Hold me closer tiny dancer
Count the headlights on the highway
Lay me down in sheets of linen
You had a busy day today
Hyde's breathing sped up. "Baby, I can't really drive when you're doing that," he said to her, trying not to groan when her hand moved farther up his leg.
"Do you want me to stop?" she asked softly, her voice a little deeper than normal. And the sexiest thing he had ever heard.
Blue jean baby, L.A. lady, seamstress for the band
Pretty eyed, pirate smile, you'll marry a music man
Ballerina, you must have seen her dancing in the sand
And now she's in me, always with me, tiny dancer in my hand
"No," he whispered. "But I do want you to change the station." Jackie leaned away from him and moved her hand back to her own lap before reaching out to turn the dial. Hyde stared at her, annoyed that she wasn't touching him anymore.
"Fine," he muttered, turning back to the road. He knew Jackie was rolling her eyes.
"Steven, if I didn't stop, we would have been killed in this car in a fiery crash and I am much too young and beautiful to die," she said. "And besides, I changed the station for you." Hyde ignored her, but she kept trying. That was what he loved about her. "Steven," she said in her sing-song voice that she knew annoyed him more than anything. "You can't ignore me forever. I'll just keep talking and talking and talking-" Hyde pulled Jackie's face towards his and captured her lips hungrily, tangling her fingers in her silky smooth hair. Too soon he had to pull away, but when he saw that he was now driving on the wrong side of the road, he know it was a good thing he had. He glanced over at her and smiled when she turned up the radio, where one of the few songs that they both loved was playing.
I could stay awake just to hear you breathing
Watch you smile while you are sleeping
While you're far away dreaming
I could spend my life in this sweet surrender
I could stay lost in this moment forever
Every moment spent with you is a moment I treasure
Jackie sighed. "I love this song. It's so romantic." Hyde glared at her.
"Hey. Don't turn this into one of your little sappy, knight-on-a-white-horse-rescuing-a-princess fantasy songs. I may let you listen to Elton John in this car but I will not just sit here and allow you to taint Aerosmith." Jackie glared at her boyfriend and crossed her arms angrily.
"I'm not tainting anything. This song is freaking beautiful and you know it Steven Hyde. The man is singing about how much he loves his girlfriend. So much, that he's willing to give up sleep for the rest of his life just so he can spend every moment making wonderful memories with her. And don't you dare try to tell me that's not what he's singing because it is." She shook her hair and turned away from him to watch the passing scenery.
Don't want to close my eyes
I don't want to fall asleep
Cause I'd miss you baby
And I don't want to miss a thing
Cause even when I dream of you
The sweetest dream will never do
I'd still miss you baby
And I don't want to miss a thing
Hyde smiled. She was so hot whenever she argued. Her passion and conviction radiated from her small body with such force you could almost taste it. That was what he loved most about her. Her passion. She was the only person he knew who cared about things, really cared. She would do anything for the people she loved and he felt special knowing that he was one of them. Probably the most important one. He had never been special before she made him special. So he didn't fight her, just this once. He reached out to her, took her hand and gave in.
"Fine. It's a damn romantic song, all right?" She still wouldn't look at him. He sighed and rolled his eyes. "If it were possible, I would stay awake for you, okay?" Hyde said quickly, half-hoping she wouldn't hear him. And of course she did. but her radiant smile made his pansy, Forman moment worth it.
"Aww, Steven. you're so sweet," she said and kissed him on the cheek. Her smile grew when he grumbled, clearly annoyed with himself for his emotional moment.
Lying close to you feeling your heart beating
And I'm wondering what you're dreaming
Wondering if it's me you're seeing
Then I kiss your eyes
And thank God we're together
I just want to stay with you in this moment forever
Forever and ever
Jackie watched Steven as he drove. His profile contrasted sharply with the pale sky outside. He hadn't worn his sunglasses since the night he told her everything. She was still so amazed by that. He was finally growing up, finally brave enough to trust her completely. She scooted closer to him and rested her head on his shoulder, smiling when he automatically placed his hand on her knee. She leaned up to whisper in his ear.
"I love you."
Don't want to close my eyes
I don't want to fall asleep
Cause I'd miss you baby
And I don't want to miss a thing
Cause even when I dream of you
The sweetest dream will never do
I'd still miss you baby
And I don't want to miss a thing
Hyde smiled. "I love you, too," he murmured, kissing the top of her head.
I don't want to miss one smile
I don't want to miss one kiss
I just want to be with you
Right here with you, just like this
I just want to hold you close
Feel your heart so close to mine
And just stay here in this moment
For all the rest of time
Don't want to close my eyes
I don't want to fall asleep
Cause I'd miss you baby
And I don't want to miss a thing
Cause even when I dream of you
The sweetest dream will never do
I'd still miss you baby
And I don't want to miss a thing
Don't want to close my eyes
I don't want to fall asleep
I don't want to miss a thing
x
x
The airport was crowded. Jackie pushed her way through the crowd while Hyde followed, carrying her suitcase. She was fine when she got to the front of the line to purchase her ticket. She was fine when they took her suitcase away. She was fine as they walked to security. But she realized that the only reason she was fine was because he was still with her, holding her hand. Jackie stopped abruptly.
"What are you doing?" Hyde asked.
"You have to go," she said, pulling her small hand out of his warm one. He looked confused.
"Go where?"
"Away. Home. Anywhere, just," she ran her fingers through her hair. "You can't be here." Hyde shook his head.
"No, Jackie, you basically ordered me to stay with you until got on the plane so I could watch it take off. You said you wanted to stay with me for as long as you possibly could. And you also said that if either of us suggested that I leave before your plane does, you would kick me. Which doesn't really make a lot of sense if you really think about it."
Jackie blinked repeatedly. Her eyes were stinging and she could feel a tingling in the back of her throat. "Steven, you have to go right now," she said looking at the pale tile floor, trying not to cry.
"Jackie,-"
"If you don't leave now, I won't be able to get on the plane," Jackie said loudly. Hyde stopped talking and looked at her closely. "If you're still here when they call my flight, I know I won't get on the plane," she said more quietly. She glanced up at him. "I have to go back. Please let me go back," she whispered. He stepped towards her and pulled her into his arms. She fell into him, finally letting go of the sobs that had threatened to come out all day. Jackie wrapped her arms tightly around Hyde's waist, holding him as close as she possibly could. He cradled her head, buried in his neck, and ran his fingers through her hair.
"Okay," he said softly, "I'll go." He kissed her hard, memorizing the feel of her hot lips on his, of her small body beneath his hands. Much too soon, she pulled away, wiping her eyes.
"Okay, well…bye, I guess," Jackie said uncertainly. Hyde smiled at her awkwardness. He squeezed her hand one last time.
"Bye." She managed a small smile before turning around and walking away from him quickly. Hyde stood frozen in the grey airport, staring at the place where his Jackie had been, long after she disappeared.
x
Happy holidays everyone!!!