Chapter 10
"I am not forgiving Steven!" Jackie fumed at Donna. "No way no how," she added shaking her head vehemently.
"Jackie, look I know what Hyde did was drastic but in the end he really did you a favor…." Donna said defending her friend.
"Drastic?" Jackie repeated incredulously. "Drastic? " she said her voice rising loud enough for other people at the Hub to notice. "He kidnapped me, Donna. He didn't forget my birthday besides he didn't do it to be nice. He had no idea about Laurie and Casey. He did it because he's a selfish creep," Jackie said lowering her voice. "Don't you dare defend him to me, Donna" Jackie warned. "Let me just list off some of his transgressions. He thought I was cheating on him with Michael so naturally he didn't even talk to me about it. The only logical thing to do was go out and bang some shanky nurse. Why, because he knew that would really hurt me. Then when I refuse to take him back right away because I didn't want to repeat of what happened to Michael he chooses some biker chick over me; again for the sheer pleasure of hurting me. He must really have loved me because this keeps getting better and better. Over the years he has cheated on me, constantly ridiculed me, refused to even let me know how he feels or where I stand with him, he runs off to Vegas and marries some bleached blonde hooker he's known what an hour? Comes back throws it in my face every chance he gets, lets me fall into a creek with sharp rocks and god only knows what else in it. Tries to sabotage my relationship with Fez not once but many times, and now he's kidnapped me from my own wedding just when I was starting to trust him again. Oops or sorry isn't gonna cut it this time, Donna. I wonder what's next? Setting me on fire?" Jackie ranted slumping back in her chair momentarily exhausted. Donna was staring at her open mouthed partly in amazement and partly thoughtful. "I have other examples, those are just the ones I picked off the top of my head," Jackie assured her. "What's his main complaint about me? I'm loud and I like shiny stuff? Well, that justifies everything doesn't it," Jackie said her voice dripping with sarcasam.
"I never thought about it like that," Donna said in a low voice. "My god, he is a jackass," she said almost to herself. Jackie gave her a slight smile and a clap.
"Its quite impressive when you tally it all up isn't it?" Jackie said beginning to giggle. "I mean what did I ever do to him? Sure I bitchy things fly out of my mouth sometimes but I don't mean them to. And I always feel bad and apologize once I know I've done it. Really what's he got? I tried to bake him cookies, I tried to redecorate his room for him which he totally threw up in my face by the way. Spent all day on it too, the dumbass. I made him lunches for work, I encouraged him to meet his father when he didn't want to and now he has his very own store. He's gotten a hell of a lot more out of knowing me than I do him. Face it, Donna. With all the crap Steven Hyde has put me through over the years, he should be up on war crimes at Gitmo right now," Jackie finished laughing as Donna wiped tears out of her own eyes.
"Wow, I really hadn't thought about it that way at all. I tell you what Eric's Star Wars fetish seems a lot easier to deal with now that I have something else to compare it too. I better do something nice for him," Donna mused taking a sip of her soda.
Yeah, you may have a dweeb but at least he's a good dweeb," Jackie agreed munching on a fry.
"You tool!" Donna screamed as she came into the basement. Eric jumped off of the couch in alarm and hurried over to her side obviously worried at he was the one in trouble. "Not now, Eric" Donna said pushing past him and stalking over to Hyde, almost shaking in fury.
"Is something wrong, Donna?" Hyde asked holding his hands up and scurrying away from her as quickly as his Zen would allow.
"Yeah," Donna snapped. "You could say that. I just got finished having lunch with Jackie. I was even sticking up for you, until I Jackie started listing off the things you did to her. Most of which, I already knew but hearing it all together made me realize that you are a selfish, malicious Jackass!" She screamed into his face.
"Wow, Donna. I know that wasn't your intention but that was very hot," Eric said licking his lips. "Can we go home now?" Eric said wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.
"Yeah, when I'm done here," Donna said turning to smile at Eric before nearly snarling at Hyde. "I don't care what you do. I don't care how you do it. But you will fix this. You will make up for every shitty thing you did to Jackie and you will not let this group break apart or so help me…." She fumed as Hyde swallowed a hard lump that had formed in his throat. "Got it?" Donna said arching an eyebrow at him with dangerous defiance. "Eric, I've got to go to the store. I'm dyeing my hair back. This blonde thing has gotten old. Besides, I hate to admit it but the midget is right. It does make me look sickly," Donna said dragging Eric out the backdoor behind her.
"Not more flowers," Jackie groaned opening up her front door. "Thanks, Hank;" she sighed signing for the bouquet of red roses. "Oh my god another one!" she said incredulously as another delivery man approached her door with the largest floral arrangement she'd ever seen. Hank quirked an eyebrow and muttered something about her being popular before walking away in amusement. "Hey, Billy;" Jackie said with a small smile. "How are the kids? Has Gloria had her baby yet?" Jackie asked as she signed for the huge arrangement.
"Yep. A little girl name Tina. She's a doll," he said beaming proudly. "Well, I'd ask you if you wouldn't mind being set up on a blind date with my brother but I can tell you have other suitors so I won't bother," he said with a chuckle.
"Actually its just the one. He cheated on me and I dumped him," Jackie said with a sigh. "Can you put this one out on the patio until I can clear off a spot in here?" Jackie pleaded opening her door wide with a sheepish grin.
"Oh sure," Billy quickly agreed letting out a low whistle as he gazed around looking impressed. "Actually this bouquet isn't from the same guy. We started checking when you became so popular. You've got a new guy after you now," he said sliding open her patio door.
"Is there a card?" Jackie squealed clapping her hands excitedly. When Billy nodded she quickly snatched the note as he put the flowers outside. "Ooh," Jackie said with a grin. "I have a secret admirer. It just as a time and place written on it. Very mysterious. I can tell its not Casey's handwriting so I'm happy. I need to decide on an outfit!" Jackie squealed hurrying off to her room with a small bounce.
"I'll just show myself out. See you tomorrow!" he called with a snigger. How many boyfriends can one girl have? He wondered before getting back to his work.
" Oh. My. God," Donna said as Jackie came out of her bedroom and modeled her new dress for her friend. "You're date's gonna have a hormone induced aneurysm," Donna added with a whistle.
"So I look nice? The make-up, the hair…. it's not too much?" Jackie questioned worriedly. "Everything's covered and its not too tight or anything is it?" she added spinning around to give Donna the full view.
"Its just enough. Don't worry it doesn't say slut it says I'm the hottest bitch you've ever seen; worship me;" Donna assured her friend looking suitably impressed. "You look amazing," she added with a smile as Jackie slightly blushed at the compliment.
"That's what I was going for," Jackie said with an excited clap. "Oh my god, this is so mysterious. Its exciting. I have a mystery date with a guy at an expensive restaurant. What if its finally Mr. Right? If he's hot I'm marrying him on the spot so that he can't get away," Jackie vowed grabbing her wrap from the back of the couch. "You know if things go well, maybe I can help you doll up like this and then, you, me, Mystery man and Eric could go out on a double date. We could really mess with them. It'd be fun," Jackie teased walking out of her apartment with Donna.
"I could never walk in those heels," Donna said shaking her head as they walked down the hall. "But the rest of it does sound kinda fun," she admitted. "You really have no idea who it is? What if he's a freaky pervert or something?" Donna asked her friend worriedly as they got into the elevator.
"Or Fez!" Jackie gasped in alarm. "I have mace," she said after a deep breath. "Pervert. Fez or both I should be covered," she said with as much confidence as she could muster. With a smile and an exasperated sigh, Donna gently frogged her on the arm.
"Hey, Jackie," Hyde choked out walking up to her in the restaurant lobby. "You look nice;" he said adjusting his jacket to hide his embarrassment.
"Thank you," she replied obviously looking for someone. "What brings you here?" she said cocking her head to the side and arching an expectant dark eyebrow at him.
"I….uh… have a date. Hopefully, if she doesn't bail on me," Hyde said hating the way his palms were starting to sweat. Great I feel like I'm sixteen again, Hyde scolded himself only to be pulled from his thoughts by Jackie's girlish chuckle.
"Steven," she began with a grin. "No girl would miss out on a date like this," she said gesturing around. "Its so tasteful and expensive she'd show up even if she didn't like you," she assured him with a grin. "Not that you've ever had a problem with girls not liking you," she said appearing lost in thought for a moment. Why am I trying to make Steven Hyde feel better? I shouldn't care what he thinks or how he feels, Jackie told herself firmly. But you do, he mind told her. Mystery man had better show up soon because it was getting harder and harder to feign indifference when Hyde was dressed up in a suit and tie. She'd feel better if turbo-slut would hurry and show her face. Then she'd take Hyde away from there and Jackie could regain her composure before her date arrived.
"What problem do I have?" Hyde asked thankful his glasses disguised the fact that he was currently admiring the form of his ex-girlfriend. "Aside from the obvious," he added with a crooked grin. He recognized the look Jackie got on her face when she was honestly trying really hard not to burn someone. He'd always found it cute and sexy. Of course, he'd rather be thrown head first into a blazing furnace while listening to ABBA than admit that, especially to her.
"Letting yourself like them back," Jackie said quietly. Expressions flew across her face too face for Hyde to read. "You've got a big wall around yourself. If they try to push past that, you attack first and ask questions later. The more they see of you, the more you seem to grow to hate them. You really should work on that fear of commitment thing. If you don't life's gonna really kick your ass," Jackie teased. Hyde pretended to scratch his nose to hide the smile that was tugging on his lips. If he didn't know any better he'd say that Jackie was flirting with him. However, considering their past he had to consider that she might just be trying to be friendly. Either way was good, he reasoned. She was talking to him and she hadn't kicked him once. She must be getting over her anger or trying to catch him by surprise.
"Duly noted," he said with a snigger. "So, Jackie are we gonna stand here all night or are we going to go to our table?" He said displaying his boyish grin openly and enjoying how she spun around and stared at him in surprise.