Sorry guys! It's just that ALL this week I have been working my butt off at work AND school. It's been rough! I'm still exhausted, but I really wanted to write this chapter for you guys already cuz it's almost been a week since my last post.
NOTE: So this is my "laid back" chapter. A lot has happened to Hyde and Jackie, so I decided to just write a nice and simple chapter for them both. Nothing is happening to them much, it's just a regular day for them. Both go on a trip with their friends and it's there that you all get a sense on how mature their relationship is. And how different it is to the one they had when they were young.
CHAPTER 14: "SUSPICIONS" by Tim McGraw
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
October 29, 1983; Saturday
9:47 PM
Some Hotel
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Donna opened the hotel door.
Hyde walked in there first, pushing Forman out of his way. The moment he was inside, he threw the luggage down on the floor.
Jackie let out a gasp. "Steven! All my makeup is in there!" She set down her purse on the armchair.
Hyde grunted and found a chair to sit on. "Thanks for the help again…Erica." He sent his friend a look.
Donna came into the room and placed down a big bag that had wood.
Forman walked into the room, carrying only a bag with him. "You know I strained my arm the other day. Besides, your star girlfriend here didn't help much either. Ever since she started the Weekday News on Channel 4," he said with a weird voice as he made some hand gestures.
Jackie was reapplying her makeup. She frowned at her friend. "What was that?"
"I was doing an impression of you," Forman said as he wiggled his eyebrows.
Jackie made a face. "That was an impression?"
Forman decided not to answer. He knew where this was going.
Hyde shook his head at his stupid friend.
Fez frowned. "So why is it that we rented this hotel again for just tonight?"
"Because the party doesn't start until tomorrow morning," Forman told him.
"So why couldn't we have just come tomorrow? Instead of wasting our money on this hotel that we are only going to use for one night?" Fez didn't understand a thing.
"Because we need to be there bright in the morning if we want good spots. They open up the camp grounds until 7AM. And my Steven doesn't like driving long distances in the mornings," said Jackie as she placed her hands on her boyfriends shoulders.
Forman turned towards the outside. "Where are Fez and Kelso? Shouldn't they be back with the food already?"
Jackie rolled her eyes. "I don't know why you made them in charge of the food, Eric. Knowing Fez will more than likely buy candy and Michael will get nothing but beer."
"Well, it was either giving them that job or having them pick the hotel," Hyde said simply. He looked up at his girlfriend, giving her a Zen look that spoke volumes to only her.
Jackie frowned. She could read his eyes very well. "Good point. I would not have wanted to spend these next two days in some cheesy hotel."
Donna began to walk out of the room. "I'm gonna check out the kitchen to see if they have any brochures. We might be able to order some pizza or something."
Jackie then dashed out of the room as well; however, it was for a whole other purpose. "I'm checking out the rooms."
Hyde made his way to the couch and grabbed the remote control.
Right then Kelso entered the room. Two big bags were almost hiding his face.
"Beer's here!" announced Kelso with an ecstatic voice.
Fez came in right behind him. "And the candy!" A big bag was almost hiding his own face.
Donna came in as well, there was a look on her face. "You morons better have brought some real food cuz the only pizza place they have around here is closed. And I'm hungry."
Brooke came in at that moment with two big bags. "No need to worry, Donna. I made sure these two idiots didn't just buy junk food."
Kelso smirked at her and leaned over to kiss her.
Donna took one of the bags and the two girls disappeared into the kitchen.
Kelso stared after his girlfriend. "Man, I'm so glad that Brooke's mom took the girls for the weekend. It'll give me and Brooke some alone time if you know what I mean." He gave a stupid chuckle.
"And why's that? You want another chance to impregnate her? Having three girls isn't enough?" asked Hyde, not taking his eyes off the TV.
Forman frowned at his friend Kelso. "Yeah, I don't get you, man. You'd think that after getting her pregnant so many times you would remember to…put on your raincoat every time."
"Hey, we're happy to have Betsy, Holly, and Tabitha," defended Kelso. "We don't see them as accidents at all."
"Are you even gonna ask her to marry you?" asked Forman seriously.
Hyde chuckled. "I'm not ready to settle down yet, Eric. No way!"
Hyde raised an eyebrow at his friend and turned to Forman. "Yeah, Forman. Cuz we all know that getting married ties you down a whole lot more than having three kids at the age of 24."
Forman nodded. "Got a point there, my friend."
Kelso, like always, didn't hear the sarcasm. "Exactly." He sat down on the couch next to Hyde.
"So why didn't the wife come again, Fez?" asked Hyde as he went back to seeing the TV.
"She couldn't bare to leave our Candy alone. Plus, she's afraid to travel since she is pregnant again," said Fez with a smile. "My little white dove is such a great mother."
"Well, good to know she's great at something other than--" Forman began to say before Donna came in the room and smacked him upside the head.
"I still can't believe you convinced her to name your daughter Candy," said Donna, trying to change the subject.
Fez smiled. "Well, it was only in the agreement that her full name be Candace."
"What are you gonna name your next child?" asked Hyde. "Jelly?" Hyde, Kelso, and Forman chuckled at the joke.
Fez seriously thought about this. "It is not a bad idea."
All the friends decided not to say anything as they gave each other stares.
Right then, Jackie came running into the room. She gave a little hop and clap. "So the room to the very left is ours. It's perfect for me and Steven." She pointed at each and every one of them as her face turned serious. "No one is allowed to take that room. I've already put our bags in there. Room's taken. Am I clear?"
They all gave a somewhat nod.
However, Hyde was frowning. "When did you take our bags? I didn't see you."
"I was being sneaky so Big Foot and Book Worm here wouldn't fight the room from me. Because even though I can put up a fight, I really didn't want to risk getting squashed or being read to death."
The guys laughed at the small burn.
Brooke and Donna both rolled their eyes.
Jackie went over and scooted between Kelso and Hyde. She turned to Donna. "Donna the middle one could be yours and Eric's. It has no windows so you won't have to be worried about people looking in and seeing what your married to," she said as she made a small gesture towards Forman.
Forman frowned at her and Donna hid back a smile.
Jackie then turned to Kelso. "And yours will be on the far right. It's away from the sun so that way you won't have such a horrible headache in the morning since you'll be the one drinking the most alcohol. Also, it has plenty of lamps in there so Brooke can read."
Kelso and Brooke smiled and thanked Jackie.
Jackie turned to Hyde and gave him a wicked smile. "And ours is facing the ocean, so we can make love as we listen to the waves."
Hyde pursed his lips and nodded. "Good. No one will be able to hear your shrieks as well."
Jackie giggled.
Every one of their friends made an 'eww!' sound.
Fez frowned at Jackie and looked a little bothered. "Where the hell am I going to sleep?"
"On the couch," Jackie said simply.
Fez pouted. "I hate being the seventh wheel."
"Don't worry, Fez, man," Hyde said. "There's gonna be plenty of other losers at the bonfire tomorrow that you'll be able to identify with."
Fez sighed. "I just hope that tomorrow the ladies will be able to resist me. I am a happily married man."
Jackie and Donna exchanged a look and tried not to laugh.
"You guys better eat right away so you can sleep. Cuz tomorrow we're gonna be waking up real early to get those spots. I'm not waiting for any of you guys. As soon as 5:45AM hits, my El Camino is gone and ain't waiting for anybody. And by 'you guys', I really only mean one person," he said as he turned and gave his girlfriend a look.
Jackie gave him a shocked look. "You would leave me alone in this dirty hotelroom?!"
Hyde stood his ground. "I'm not waiting for anybody. So your little butt better get up even earlier to fix yourself up."
Jackie scoffed. "See who convinces Mr. Forman in babysitting Zep for us again." She got up and headed towards the kitchen.
"I'm not kidding, Jackie! On the dot! I'm not waiting for your sorry butt," he called off after her as she disappeared from sight.
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"Jackie, lets go," Hyde screamed out to her the next morning. It was almost 6AM. He checked his watch again and gave a curse. "I swear, woman! One more minute and I'm outta here!"
Everyone was waiting by the door, looking impatient and a little frustrated.
"Isn't that what you said five minutes ago?!" Fez demanded as he gave his friend a death stare. "You've warned her fifty times already!"
"Yeah, lets just go," whined Forman.
"We're gonna get bad spots," whined Kelso.
"Jackie!" Hyde was ready to go into the room and drag her butt out.
Finally, she appeared. She looked ready to go. Her makeup and hair looked perfect with her perfect outfit. "Ready," she said in a singsong voice. She reached over and gave her boyfriend a kiss on the cheek.
He rolled his eyes and walked out of the room. "Lets go."
Jackie took a hold of his hand and walked out with him. When he turned and gave her that look that let her know that he was bothered with her right now she gave him her million dollar smile.
He just rolled his eyes again. However, he let his hand relax on hers. It amazed him how easily she could make him forget how bothered he was with her.
The moment they got into his El Camino, she scooted as close to him as she could and he began to drive off. And within a few seconds, he had forgotten why he had gotten so annoyed with her. He looked down at her.
She smiled sweetly at him and gave him a peck on the cheek.
He again rolled his eyes and wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
"Aw," he heard Donna say from behind. "He wuvs her. He weally wuvs her," she said in a baby voice and laughed.
Forman, Kelso, and Brooke joined in. They too were in the back with Donna.
Hyde looked in his review mirror and sent his friend a look. "Get bent." He turned his eyes back on the road. "Fez, what's the address again?"
Fez, who was sitting on the other side of Jackie, pulled out a piece of paper. "1433 North Water St."
"Jackie, get the map and read the directions to me," Hyde told his girlfriend as he made a turn.
Jackie went over to the glove compartment and took out the map.
Kelso gave out a gasp. "You're gonna let her be in charge of the map? Why not me?!"
Hyde rolled his eyes. "You can barely read your own name, Kelso. Why would you think I'd trust you with reading a map?"
"What about me?" Fez gave Hyde a pout.
"I don't want any candy stains on my maps," Hyde told him.
"What about me?" Forman asked.
"I don't want my maps being turned into sailor hats either."
"What about me?" asked Donna.
"You'll be too busy frenching your husband."
"What about Brooke?" asked Kelso. "She's the smartest of us all."
Brooke gave her boyfriend a smile. "Thank you, sweety!" She leaned over and gave him a kiss.
Hyde rolled his eyes. "Look, Jackie and I drive together a lot. She's my navigator. She's good with maps."
Together, all his friends made the 'awww' sound.
Hyde rolled his eyes yet once again. That happened a lot when he was around them.
Jackie beamed. She looked down on the map. "Turn on the next stop. You'll be good for 5 miles. The park should be right in front of us." She put the map back in its spot.
When she sat back, he wrapped his arm around her once again.
After arriving to the park and finding a good parking space, the group of friends headed into the woods to find a good place to set up camp. There were a lot of people there and it seemed almost impossible to find a good place.
Forman, Donna, Kelso, Brooke, Fez, and Hyde all turned towards the one to blame.
Jackie frowned and played the fool. "What?"
They continued to give her the same look.
She rolled her eyes and gave in. "Ok, ok!" She took off her warm jacket and gave it to Hyde. "Hold this for me."
Hyde frowned at his girlfriend. "Why?"
"You'll see." Jackie let out a sigh and fixed her small sweater so she could show a little cleavage. She then turned to Donna. "Are you gonna help me?"
Donna rolled her eyes, but also took off her jacket.
Hyde finally understood and gave his girlfriend a look.
She could tell that he kind of didn't like the idea. "Do you want a good spot or not?"
He sighed.
She smiled at him sweetly then leaned over and gave him a quick peck on the lips. "Be right back." She turned her heal and she and Donna walked towards a group of guys that were located in a very nice area.
Hyde's didn't tear away from the guys. He wanted to make sure none of them tried to make a pass on his girlfriend.
Kelso saw this and began to chuckle. "Look at Hyde, man. He looks like he's about to murder somebody right now."
Fez joined in on the laughter.
Brooke gave Kelso a look. "You're not helping, Michael."
"Who said I was trying to?" Kelso continued to laugh at his friend.
The guys turned their attention back on the girls. Jackie stood in the middle of the five guy friends. She was giggling and making comments that had them grinning like a pack of idiots. She threw her head back when one of them tried to make a joke. She looked more than beautiful and everyone in the camp couldn't keep their eyes off of her. The girls stared at her with envy and the guys drooled over the sight of her.
Donna seemed to only be flirting with two of the guys. She really didn't know how to flirt with five girls at the same time.
Several minutes later, the girls finally achieved what they had set out to do. The guys began to move their stuff away from their sight, grinning to the girls like she held some sort of love spell over them.
When they finally were out of sight, Jackie waved her hands over to her friends, signaling them that it was safe for them to walk over.
Brooke placed down her bag and smiled at her petite friend. "Wow, Jackie. What did you say to them?"
Jackie shivered as she remembered. "Don't make me say it."
Fez's eyes grew wide in excitement. "Ooh! Was it dirty?"
Jackie rolled her eyes. "No, Fez."
Fez grew a little sad. "In my mind you said something dirty," he muttered to himself as he walked over to Kelso to help him unpack some of the stuff they had brought.
Jackie shook her head and turned to Hyde, who was preparing the tent.
She noticed what he was doing and she let out a sigh. "Steven, you're doing it all wrong."
He continued to do what he was doing. "Good to know. I always enjoy getting tenting advice from the dear princess of the group."
She placed a palm on her hip. "Do you want my help or not?"
He gave her a look. "When did I ever ask for it?"
Both were soon starting to argue.
Their friends all rolled their eyes. It was times like these that made them not want to take any type of trip with this couple.
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Some hours later, the bonfire had started. It wasn't long after that the dancing began to take place as well.
Kelso and Brooke and Donna and Forman were some feet away, dancing away. There were dozens of other couples as well, having a ball.
Jackie was sitting by their fireplace, alone. Fez had already gone off to bed--due to a stomach ache caused by all the candies he ate. Hyde had gone off into the woods to do some business.
Jackie found herself bobbing to the music. God, she really wanted to go and dance. The music and the mood were perfect right now. Plus, she looked hot. It currently being 40 degrees didn't stop her from wearing the nice little outfit she had on right now.
At that moment, a young man around his mid twenties approached her. He had a sexy smile--and body--on him. "Hey there."
Jackie didn't stare back. She knew the routine. And she wasn't interested, even though the guy was really hot and built. Maybe if she was single…but she wasn't. She was happily taken. She pretended she didn't hear him, and continued to keep her eyes on the crowd and bob her head to the music.
The guy didn't take the hint and sit right beside her. "Hello!" he said almost to her ear.
Jackie sighed and nodded to him as she gave him a quick glance. After that, her eyes darted back to the dancing.
He grinned at her. "My name's Ed."
She nodded and still said nothing.
He leaned in to her. "What's your name?"
She was sick of this now. Obviously ignoring the idiot wasn't working. "I have a boyfriend, Ed."
Ed chuckled. "And what's that to me? I just want to talk."
Jackie snickered. "Riiiight. That's what every guy says."
"But I'm not like every other guy." He scooted a little closer to her. "Maybe I just want to be friends." He gave her a smile.
Jackie couldn't help but roll her eyes at the idiot. "You're not that smart, are you?"
He laughed. He was really digging her honesty. "You're beautiful when you get sassy, you know that?"
That comment made her a little frustrated. "Don't call me that," she said in a serious tone and looked at him straight in the eye.
He frowned at her. "Why? You're boyfriend never tell you that?"
No, she thought. Quite the opposite. All of her life, every guy either called her hot, cute, pretty, or gorgeous. They only saw her for who she was on the outside. Hyde had been the first person and only person to call her beautiful. And his voice was always sincere whenever he said it. And whenever Hyde would say that to her, there was something that told her that he wasn't just meaning on her physical appearance. The knowledge of that just sent butterflies all along her stomach. And this guy had just come in and called her that, with a tone that was no where near her Steven's.
Ed still wasn't taking the hint. He wrapped his arm around her. "You know, sweetheart? I could be a better man for you. I would call you beautiful every day."
Jackie gave him a death stare. "What happened to being 'friends', Ed?"
He chuckled and snuggled closer to her. "Never said anything about not wanting benefits."
She pushed him away. "I suggest you get the hell outta here before--"
"Before what?" he asked, not believing that anything bad would happen to him if he tried to make a pass on her. "What'll happen?"
"Me," came a voice from behind them.
Ed swung his head around and found a frustrated looking dude with sunglasses on.
Hyde took a step towards this tool sitting right by his girlfriend. "Is there a reason as to why you're trying to make a pass on my girlfriend?"
Ed saw that this guy could seriously hurt him. He stood up immediately, a little worried. "I didn't know. She never said anything about having a boyfriend, man."
Jackie was now standing up as well. She rolled her eyes once she heard this.
Hyde hadn't seen her roll her eyes. He took another step towards the guy and was now face to face with him. "I don't believe you."
Ed continued to act dumb. "I swear, man. We've been talking for a couple of minutes now and she never said a word about having a boyfriend! Just ask her!" He was really hoping that this big boyfriend would take his anger out on his girlfriend instead. It was her fault anyway. What taken girl would wear that kind of clothing in late October? And even if she were taken, why would she put them on when the boyfriend was here with her? That had been the reason why Ed hadn't believed Jackie when she said she had a boyfriend.
Hyde didn't tear his eyes away from Ed. He stared him down. "I don't have to ask her questions I already know the answers to."
Jackie was beaming now. She felt a warmth rush through her as she heard the tone of confidence in his voice.
"So you better get your ass outta my face in the count of four before I start knocking your teeth out," Hyde warned.
She walked over to him and placed her arm around his shoulder. She didn't want him to get into a stupid fight…even though his attitude right now was really turning her on.
Hyde relaxed a little to her touch. However, it wasn't enough to cool him down completely. "One…"
Ed raced out of there without a second thought.
Hyde's jaw clenched. He wanted nothing more than to run after the little tool and punch him to the ground.
Jackie smoothed her hands on his face. "Calm down, hunny. He's not worth it."
Hyde looked down on her, a serious face marked all over him. "I leave you alone for five minutes…"
Jackie grinned. "What do you expect, Steven? I'm the hottest girl here!" She gave him a peck on the cheek and took his hand. "Let's go dance." She started leading the way.
And as they made their way into the middle of the dance floor, Hyde couldn't help but notice all the pigs that were starting to stare at his girlfriend up and down. So, to make sure that none of them tried anything stupid, he wrapped both arms around her from behind her and pulled her as close to him as possible.
Jackie felt his reasons for holding her so tightly as they made their way through the crowd. She caught about five guys staring at her boobs. It seemed as if they didn't notice the muscular guy standing right behind her. So, when she found a good spot, she turned around and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him down to her lips. She wanted to make sure that everyone knew she was with him. And that all of her attention was dedicated to only him.
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It was nearing four o'clock the next day and the party was beginning to die down. Jackie felt more than exhausted and she told the others she wanted to pee before she headed to bed. So, she took her best friend with her into the woods.
However, that wasn't at all the reason as to why Jackie wanted to go deep into the woods for. She seriously wanted to tell Donna something.
"Donna, can you keep a secret?" Jackie asked in a most serious tone.
Donna's face fell and stopped dead in her tracks. "Oh, my god. Jackie, are you pregnant?!"
Jackie's face fell as well. "No!"
Donna sighed. "Oh, thank God!"
Jackie shook her head. "I'm no longer dating Michael, remember? This is Steven!"
Donna nodded. "I know. So, what's up?"
"I'll tell you, but first you gotta promise me you won't tell anyone!"
"Alright, alright, I promise."
"Not even your skinny ass husband."
Donna rolled her eyes. "Jackie! Just tell me!"
Jackie sighed. "Ok." A smile spread across her face as she told Donna the news.
When she was done, Donna's face had lid up and she seemed to be bouncing up and down as well. "Oh, my God! Jackie, you're brilliant!"
Jackie nodded. "I know! So…do you think Steven'll like it?"
"Jackie! He'll love it!"
Jackie clapped. "Oh, I'm soooo excited! I can't wait to tell him."
"When does it take into effect?"
"Late February."
"Oh, my God." Donna just couldn't stop smiling. "I can't wait to tell Eric."
"Well, you have to. That is…until February at least."
"Jackie, he's my husband. I tell him everything."
Jackie rolled her eyes. "Oh, please. As if he tells you everything."
"As a matter of fact, he does."
"So, I bet you know about his and Steven's road trip that they took a couple of weeks ago."
Donna frowned. "He went on a road trip a couple of weeks ago? When?"
"Sometime in late August."
Donna was thinking back. "He told me that he and Hyde were gonna go to Florida to visit his grandma."
"Yeah, that's what Steven told me he told you to cover up."
"How come he didn't tell me?" Donna was getting a little annoyed.
"Because he was getting sick of you and wanted a break. That's what Steven told me."
At that she turned her heel and walked away.
Both girls went back to their site, as one of them fumed with anger.
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Hyde was staring at it once again. He was twirling it between his fingers, just thinking.
Forman had changed into his sleeping clothes and was getting into his sleeping back. "Man, when are you gonna stop staring at that thing?"
Hyde shrugged. "Til I know when I'm gonna give it away."
"Why don't you just do it now? What are you waiting for?"
"The right moment, I guess." Hyde let out a sigh as he continued to admire what was on his hands.
"You and your right moments," Forman muttered. "Just do it already and get it over with. I mean, you bought it a couple of weeks ago. You dragged me with me and made me lie to my wife about where I was going. And you know how I am about me lying to Donna. I can't do it for long. She finds out. And then I'm doomed. So, just do it already." His voice was getting higher and higher with every word said.
Hyde gave his best friend a look. "Will you keep your voice down, Forman? Kelso and Fez will hear you from the other tent. And if they find out I'm gonna seriously kick your ass." He put the object back to a safe place.
And it was a good thing that he had, because right at that moment Donna and Jackie entered the tent. Jackie happily walked over to her boyfriend and joined him in his sleeping bag, a wicked grin spread across her face.
Donna, however, carried an angry look on her own face.
Hyde saw it and grinned. "Uh, oh. Someone's in trouble." He turned to Forman, was looked scared to death.
Donna ignored her friend's comment. She was still giving her husband the look. "You and me, outside. Right now." She didn't wait for his response. She walked out of the tent.
Forman cursed under his breath. "Crap." He left the tent after her.
Hyde wrapped his arm around Jackie. "What was that about?"
Jackie turned to him. "They're about to get in a fight, just like I hoped."
He frowned. "Why?"
"Because I've been dying to be alone with you all day." At that, she leaned over and began to savage his lips with her own.
Hyde rolled her over so that she was in the bottom. God, she tasted good. So, so, so, sooooo good. His hands made their way to cup her ass and before he knew it they were both lying naked and starting to make love to each other.
She nibbled on his ear the way he liked it.
It always amazed him how well she knew him. Inside and out. He was close…it was just around the corner…the complete satisfaction.
Ok, question you guys can answer in the feedback: what does "He was close…it was just around the corner…the complete satisfaction" mean? It has NOTHING to do with sex...LOL!
NEXT CHAPTER is appropriately titled: "At Last" by the WONDERFUL Miss Etta James. (It is the ONLY chapter titled after an oldie)
PREVIEW: everyone KNOWS this song so I don't have to say a THING!!! LOL!
EIGHT MORE CHAPTERS MORE TO GO!!! (I'm both excited and saddened by this fact... )