Disclaimer: I own nothing from That 70's Show.
Hyde stared at Jackie. She had just asked him if he wanted to be her boyfriend. It was a question he had been asking himself for months, but had never vocalized. It was a question that he had avoided at all costs.
And he wanted to keep avoiding it, but here he was standing in front of Jackie being asked directly. He could blow her off, but her question bothered him. She had valid reasons for thinking he wanted to be with her. The most recent of which was still dancing in the club probably terrorizing a new innocent girl. She asked him why he would call himself her boyfriend if he didn't want to be. The truth was he didn't know.
He couldn't come up with a reason. He honestly didn't know the answer. It felt like there were a million reasons. He knew it would make the dude go away. He didn't like her with other guys. He cared about her, more than any other girl. The list was never-ending, but none of the reasons seemed like answers to the questions swirling around in his head or the one very specific question Jackie had for him.
Hyde looked down at Jackie and realized that there was one single reason that stood out above the rest. One he had been ignoring for a long time. He wanted to be her boyfriend. And of course she had figured it out before him and asked him point blank. They had both been walking around it for so long, and he was tired of it. He was tired of thinking he wasn't enough for her. Maybe it was still true, but he was working so hard. And Jackie believed in him –she was always the only one who believed in him.
Hyde took a long drag of his cigarette gathering his thoughts with the action.
Jackie wanted so badly to say something. She wanted to yell at him, to shake him, to grab him and kiss him. She wanted so badly for the boyfriend and girlfriend characters that they had been playing all night, and really for the past few months, to become a reality. But she had put it out there to him so many times and he'd turned away every time. She wouldn't beg. This was it. His answer here was the answer that she would live with forever.
"Maybe," Hyde said throwing his cigarette on the ground and stomping it out.
"What does 'maybe' mean?" Jackie asked. It wasn't the answer Jackie was hoping for, but it was better than she expected.
"It means…I don't know," Hyde said. He saw her face fall and he quickly continued, "It means…yes, of course I want to have a…a….relationship with you Jackie. We hang out literally all the time and you're the coolest chick I know, not to mention you're so hot, but it also means I don't know how to be in a…relationship with you."
"I'm the coolest chick you know?" Jackie asked walking closer to Hyde. She had a sultry look in her eyes and her hips swayed more than necessary in her slow approach.
"That's what you got from all that?" Hyde asked looking at her skeptically.
"Yes," Jackie said taking the final steps to stand right in front of Hyde. She lifted her arms and wrapped them around his neck. "And do you know why? It's because that's the part that told me you want to be with me."
"Jackie," Hyde groaned and tried to move away, but her arms locked tight around his neck not letting him go. "I just told you it's not a good idea."
"No, you said you don't know how to be in a relationship. You didn't say anything about it not being a good idea."
"It's the same thing."
"No it's not. It is a good idea and it doesn't matter if you don't know how to be in a relationship. I'll teach you."
"I'm not Kelso. I'm not going to fawn all over you and follow you around like a puppy."
"I wouldn't be here with you if you were Kelso. I know you well enough to know what I'm getting into. And I want this Steven. Don't you?"
Jackie had leaned in as close as possible during their conversation. Her whole body was pressed against his. Her lips were ghosting over his and he could practically feel her breath mixing with his. His eyes were on Jackie's, but her eyes were locked on his lips.
"More than anything," Hyde said.
With Hyde's answer, Jackie's eyes shot up and met his. Her eyes pure surprise and happiness. That look was enough to push Hyde into action. He didn't think about boyfriend status or relationships, Hyde just moved to close the space between them doing what he had wanted to give in to since prom night months ago.
Hyde's lips were on Jackie's and for the first time he didn't pull away. In fact, he was the one leading the kiss. Jackie recovered from her shock and kissed back ferociously. Her hands moved from Hyde's neck into his hair.
As Jackie's hands went up, Hyde's went down. Both were on her hips in a tight grip pulling her closer. Hyde's tongue pushed against Jackie's closed lips and without hesitation she opened them instantly.
Hyde had wanted this for so long he couldn't believe it was happening. He didn't know how he ever had the will power to pull away because in that moment he never wanted it to end. Both were quickly getting lost in the kiss. Months of anticipation and yearning had escalated to this moment.
One of Jackie's hands moved down Hyde's chest. When it reached the bottom hem of his shirt Jackie let her hand rest on the warm skin underneath the fabric. Jackie was content to rub small circles with her thumb, but when she felt Hyde move his mouth down her jaw Jackie's fingers dug into his skin trying to pull him closer.
Hyde's mouth was leaving a hot trail down her neck until he reached her pulse point. Hyde sucked hard on the skin bringing out a throaty moan from Jackie.
"Yeah man!"
At the noise, Jackie and Hyde jumped apart in surprise. They looked toward the people waiting in line to get into the club where the voice had come from. A large group of guys was staring at them and a few were cheering them on.
"Ew," Jackie said. "What are you nerds looking at."
"Him giving it to you good," one of the guys said.
"What did you say," Hyde said taking a step closer.
"Nothing," the guy said throwing his hands up. "Nothing, man."
Hyde stopped approaching, but he continued to glare at the guys in line. Jackie took Hyde's hand, but he remained still staring at their hecklers. It took everything in her not to point out the boyfriend-like move.
"Let's go back inside," Jackie said.
"Whatever," Hyde said. He paused and looked down to their hands clasped together.
Jackie worried that he would pull away, but instead Hyde interlaced their fingers and started walking towards the entrance to the club.
To Jackie's surprise, Hyde didn't start leading them to the table. Instead, he went inside and just looked down at her.
"Will you dance with me?" Jackie asked.
Hyde took a deep breath and said, "Okay."
Jackie pulled Hyde onto the dancefloor. The music was just a few verses into Lady by Styx. Jackie placed her arms loosely around Hyde's neck and closed her eyes swaying to the music. She smiled as she felt Hyde's hands on her hips pulling her closer and swaying along with her. The music was beginning to escalate and Jackie was happy to get lost in the sounds around her and the feel of Hyde's body pressed against hers.
As another song wrapped up, Jackie lifted on to her tippy toes and kissed Hyde. She had meant for it to be a light peck, but neither one of them was willing to waste a kiss. Jackie leaned into the kiss until she was out of breath.
"Let's take a break," Jackie said pulling away from Hyde. "I'm getting tired."
Hyde nodded and they headed back to the gang still sitting at the table. Eric and Donna were making out and Kelso and Fez were looking at girls around the club.
Hyde pulled up a chair from the next table over and sat down. Hyde looked up at her questioningly. Jackie hesitated for a moment before making up her decision. She sat down in Hyde's lap wrapping an arm around his neck.
Hyde moved his arms around her waist pulling her closer. No one at their table even looked over at them.
They stayed that way in silence content watching the club goers around them until Forman came up for air and looked at his watch.
"We need to go," Eric said. "It's almost midnight. My dad's going to kill me."
"Relax, Forman," Hyde said. "We'll go now."
"I don't want to go," Fez said. "There are many hot women here who do not mind Fez looking."
"They'll be more hot women at home too," Forman said. "No let's move."
"Now I just know that's a lie," Fez pouted, but got up from his seat at the table.
Forman stood up and started gesturing towards the door. Jackie rolled her eyes and got off Hyde's lap. She was about to start walking to the door, but she felt hands on her hips pulling her closer.
Jackie looked behind her and smiled at Hyde. They trailed behind the rest of the group slowly making their way back to the car. By the time they made it outside, there was a considerable distance between them and the rest of the group.
"Are we going to tell them?" Jackie asked.
"Tell them what?" Hyde countered.
"Well…" Jackie started, but then trailed off. She wasn't sure what to call what they were because they never actually talked about it. "…us."
Hyde just shrugged.
Jackie took a deep breath and tried not to worry. She knew Hyde was going to have a huge issue with commitment and defining the relationship. This wasn't a big deal.
"Hurry up," Forman yelled at them from the car.
Jackie and Hyde picked up their pace heading towards the car. Jackie went in first and Hyde followed. Forman had the car started before Hyde had fully closed the door.
Jackie had slid into the middle seat and placed some distance between her and Hyde, but as soon as the door was closed Hyde put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer to him. Jackie smiled to herself at the gesture, but then she was surprised to feel Hyde's fingers on her chin angling her head towards him.
Hyde leaned down and kissed Jackie. It wasn't a soft kiss. Hyde's tongue was lapping at her lips asking for more. Jackie didn't hesitate, she opened her mouth and leaned in.
"My eyes!" Eric yelled seeing the pair in the rearview mirror.
"What the hell!?" Donna yelled.
Hyde smiled, but didn't pull back from the kiss.
"You're giving me needs," Fez said.
With that, Jackie pulled away and scrunched up her nose. Hyde looked over at Fez who was sitting on the other side of the bucket seat. Hyde punched him in the arm without hesitating.
"When did you two start doing that?" Donna said.
"It's new," Jackie replied with a coy smile.
"What the hell, man!?" Kelso said trying to turn around from the passenger seat. "Jackie's mine!"
Jackie gasped and was about to yell at Kelso, but Hyde stepped in.
"No she's not."
"Well maybe not right now!"
"You fucked that up, man, not me," Hyde said.
"Well, I'm not a fan of this," Eric said gesturing between the two of them with one hand and keeping the other on the steering wheel.
"We don't give a shit, Forman," Hyde said.
"So this is going to continue to burn our eyes, then?" Eric asked.
"Yeah, so get used to it," Hyde said leaning back down to kiss Jackie.