Chapter 14

A.N. I want to send a special thank you to everyone who reviewed last week. Your support to my story warms my heart. I'm not going to give the game away as to the ending but I can say I now know where this story is going. Hope you will all stick with me and please, please review – I had no idea how starved for approval I was until I started writing fanfic.

The next morning Eric was practising hoop shots in his driveway when Hyde ambled along.

"Hey Hyde," Eric greeted his friend, as his latest effort bounced off the rim.

"Hey," Hyde returned, intercepting the basketball and effortlessly shooting it into the hoop.

"Wanna play some one on one?" Eric asked. Hyde noticed that his jaw was tensed and he issued the invitation without looking at his friend. Looks like Red's been on his case and turned him twitchy.

"Sure," Hyde agreed. "Usual stakes?"

"Winner wedgies loser," Eric confirmed. They had been playing for about 10 minutes when Eric said, "So, last night, huh? Pretty crazy, right?"

"It was a good night," Hyde replied. "I don't know if crazy is the word I'd use."

"Well, yeah, most of it was good, what with the Star Wars and the burgers and then the circle but there was some craziness mixed in there too." Eric stole the ball from Hyde and shot it hard towards the hoop, slamming his shoulder against Hyde in the process. Hyde did not call the foul but played on a few more minutes before he said "I don't know what you're talking about."

"I think you do, Hyde. I'm talking about my girlfriend." Eric deliberately described Jackie in the most possessive terms available. "I didn't realise until last night just how chummy you two have gotten. Pretty surprising, really, when just a month ago you hated her." As Hyde tried to block Eric's shot, Eric 'accidentally' head-butted Hyde's chin, spun around his friend and made the hoop. "You wanna call foul on that?" It was a challenge, not a question.

Hyde rubbed his chin as he regarded his friend, his anger slowly percolating. "Nah, it's good."

"So, I was just wondering, seeing as how you guys are as compatible as Felix and Oscar, why the hell you two suddenly have your own little private world, complete with in jokes and nicknames?" Eric shot the ball at Hyde's stomach, which he only just caught in time.

"Funny you should mention that," Hyde said casually, dribbling the ball. "I was thinking something along those lines last night when I saw you whispering in Donna's ear. Seems like you two have been in each other's company quite a bit lately, and with less excuse than me and Jackie." Hyde returned the ball to Eric with maximum force; it stung his hands as he caught it.

"I can't believe you have the nerve to bring Donna into this," Eric said, his eyes narrowed. "If I've spent more time with her, it's only because you dumped her and broke her heart."

"Donna told you that I dumped her?"

"Well, no, but it's obvious. You walk around without a care in the world and she's all sad and vulnerable – pretty easy to see who's the villain in this scene."

"No, it's pretty easy to see who's the sap. Donna couldn't give the ass of a rat about me, Forman, not in that way. If she's making you think different, then it sounds like she's found a new sucker to practice her passive-aggressive bullshit on."

"Don't you dare talk about Donna that way," Eric yelled, his face turning red. "You never understood her or… or appreciated her like I did!"

"You're only half right," Hyde's voice lowered to a snarl. "I was the one who understood her and you – well, you're appreciation for her was always pretty obvious. I bet you'd appreciate her brains out if Jackie wasn't in the picture." Who are you really mad about, Forman – Jackie or Donna?

"So you did know I had a crush on her when you started going out," Eric accused. "But you went after her anyway."

"Survival of the fittest, Forman," Hyde countered. "If you wanted her, why the hell didn't you step up like a man and say something about it?"

"Because you're my friend," Eric shouted back, "and a friend doesn't go after another friend's girlfriend."

"Donna wasn't your girlfriend."

"No, but Jackie is." Eric closed the distance between them to an arm's length. "I'm warning you, Hyde, keep away from her."

"What the hell do you think you're doing, Forman?"

"I'm stepping up. Is that manly enough for you?" Eric took a deep breath and said with less anger and more gravity. "I won't let you do it again, Hyde. Jackie is mine; she deserves to be with someone who can treat her with kindness, not the kind of guy who thinks so little of women that he throws them away when he's tired of them."

Hyde was filled with reluctant admiration for the way Eric was standing up to him, but also furious with his friend for implying he was the kind of bastard who would use Jackie up and then carelessly dispose of her. Or that he thought that was what had happened with Donna. That his best friend could think so little of him brought to life all his own self-doubts, his fears that he would follow in his father's abandoning footsteps.

So Forman thinks he's so much better for Jackie than me – well, let's put his undying love to the test. Maybe there's a good reason he hasn't mentioned Jackie's birthday. Or maybe…

"Relax, Forman," Hyde said, raising his hands in surrender. "What the hell are we fighting about? There's nothing like that between me and Jackie. What you saw last night is just what happens when two people live together. If I was living with Kelso or Fez, it'd be just the same. C'mon, me and Jackie? You know she stands for everything I'm against." Eric looked a little mollified but not fully convinced. "And as for Donna… well, I'm sorry if I was out of line there. She's a great chick, I'm just still kind of bitter about losing her." Eric's expression fully thawed in empathy.

"Yeah, I get that," he said. If Hyde was handing out olive branches, Eric wouldn't refuse. He had no desire to lose his best friend. After all, Hyde was right – all of last night's 'little things' could be explained by the close proximity of the odd couple. The fact that he knew Eric had a thing for Donna when he pursued her smarted, but ultimately it's not like the outcome would have been any different. If Donna wanted to be with Hyde and only saw Eric as a friend, then what difference did it make?

"So, we're cool?" Hyde offered his hand. After a moment's pause, Eric shook his hand and said, "Yeah, sure."

"Good. Look, I've got some things to do now but I wanted to ask you, are you free Wednesday night? Thought maybe we could go bowling or something."

"Wednesday? Sorry, no can do. I've got plans."

"Oh, right. You and Jackie going out?"

"No, it's the night before my sociology test. Donna and I are gonna cram for it together." Eric misread Hyde's smirk and explained defensively, "I really need to raise my grade in that class and Donna is already acing it so it makes sense – "

Hyde held up a hand. "Of course, Forman. It makes perfect sense." He tossed the ball back to its owner. "See you around."

"Yeah, see ya," Eric replied as Hyde walked away. "Hey Hyde! Who won the game?"

"Game's not over yet," Hyde called back.

Eric rolled his eyes. "Hyde and his damn ambiguity!"

………………………………………………

"Hey, kid," the foreman bellowed to his latest employee. "Dump those kegs over there then load these boxes on the red and white truck out front."

The curly-haired young man made his way across to the kegs in question, quickly enough to be obedient but slowly enough to express his contempt for being told what to do by 'the Man'. As he lifted one of the heavy kegs with a grunt, he wondered if any chick was worth this much hard work. Then an image of Jackie's smile flashed before him and he had his answer.

In a way it was the stupidest thing he had ever done, taking a job in a beer warehouse to earn money to buy Jackie a birthday present. After all, he could easily get the money from Jackie without manual labour, but the thought of giving Jackie a gift that was purchased with her own money and cost him no effort seemed like a pretty poor offering. He was determined to show Forman up on Wednesday. He would not only be the guy with the perfect present, he would prove himself to be the only one who remembered her birthday. Then both Forman and Jackie would see who the best man was.

A transistor radio was churning out some classic hits radio station in the background. As an old Frankie Valli song came on, Hyde began to hum along with a new spring in his step.

You're just too good to be true

Can't take my eyes off of you

You'd be like heaven to touch

I want to hold you so much

At long last love has arrived

And I thank God I'm alive

You're just too good to be true

Can't take my eyes off of you

Oh yes. He had it bad.

………………………………………………

"Kelso, what do you think you're doing?" Jackie asked impatiently as she walked through the basement door to find Kelso clumsily stitching fire-crackers onto his jacket.

"It's a new age, Jackie," Kelso said, looping the thread around a small skyrocket. "and it belongs to visionaries like me. I tell you, Jackie, these rocket suits are gonna be the next x-ray glasses."

"But x-ray glasses don't even work."

"Trust me, people are gonna wish my rocket suits don't work!"

As with most conversations with Kelso, there comes a point where anyone who wants to retain their sanity needs to bail out. Jackie had reached that point.

"Look, do you know where Steven is?"

"Sorry, haven't seen him."

Jackie sighed as she collapsed onto the couch, then looked at Kelso speculatively. He was one of Steven's best friends; maybe he would know what he was up to. "Michael, have you noticed anything odd about Steven lately?"

"Now that you mention it, he hasn't been frogging me much these last few days."

"So then you've seen him around lately?"

"No… oh wait, that must be why!"

"Michael," Jackie said in a long suffering groan, "do you know where Steven is going in the afternoons? Both Saturday, Sunday and yesterday afternoon he's nowhere to be found and then he comes home late at night smelling all sweaty and… beery."

"Sweat and beer? Well, it's pretty obvious what Hyde's been up to," Kelso concluded with a knowing grin. "About time he got back in the saddle. Him and Donna have been over for ages."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean he's back on the slut circuit. Wild parties and girls drunk enough to put out without a fight – yep, that's the Hyde we know and love."

"What? Steven's not that type of guy. He would never take advantage of a girl like that." For some reason, the image of some intoxicated skank plastered over her Steven revolted Jackie. Wait a minute, her Steven? Where did that come from?

Kelso let out a roar of laughter. "Oh, Jackie, Jackie, so sweet and naive. I forget you've only known Hyde since he's been with Donna. But before he was man-trapped, that guy was the biggest player in Point Place – next to yours truly, of course." Kelso settled back, eyes misty with reminiscence. "Ah, I remember those days well. We'd hit every party happening in one night and take bets on who could get with the most girls. And I have to admit, even though I am easily the best looking guy in this town, Hyde usually won. Mainly because he played it smart. He could tell by looking at a girl just how wasted she was. He used to say 'pour enough liquor into 'em and they'll give it away like pickled crackers at the Piggly Wiggly'. Of course, if you found one who was drinking because she'd just been dumped by her boyfriend, now that was hitting the mother lode!"

"Stop!" Jackie held her hands over her ears. "I don't want to hear any more. If Steven ever did those… things, I know he would never go back to those habits. He's not that kind of man." Grabbing her purse, Jackie charged out of the basement door before her ears could be further corrupted.

"Huh," Kelso said in surprise. "What's she so upset about?"

………………………………………………

As she ran up the stairwell, she saw Eric walking up the driveway with Donna. They seemed to be deep in conversation but as soon as they noticed Jackie they broke off their discussion in a guilty manner. Oh my God, Jackie thought to herself, her suspicions going haywire. I can't believe it – this can only mean one thing. She noticed Donna would not meet her eyes and Eric looked flustered. They're planning me a surprise party!

"So," she said archly. "What were you two talking about?"

"Um… well, we were just…" Eric began.

"That is, Eric was just saying…" Donna stammered.

"That's OK, guys. Whatever it was, why don't you just surprise me with it later," Jackie said with a wink.

"Uh… sure, honey," Eric said. "So, are you coming or going?"

"Going. I just came to see if anyone knew what Steven was up to these days but Kelso just about gave me a headache with all his stupidness about how Steven was probably out at wild parties trawling for tarts. I mean, that's just crazy, right?"

"I don't know," Eric said with a shrug. "That was his M.O. pre-Donna." Eric was too caught up in his own guilt to notice Jackie's face fall. He and Donna had been discussing tomorrow night's study session. Donna had just suggested maybe if they finished in time they could go and see Star Wars again, an invitation very tempting to Eric's Jedi-loving heart. Yet somehow he had the feeling going to a movie alone with Donna would sink him deeper into this moral swamp he currently found himself in. He told himself that it was innocent as they were "just friends", but the fact that he did not want Jackie to know about it pointed to something else.

"Well, I guess I'd better get going," Jackie said, kissing Eric on the cheek. "After all, I'm going to need my beauty sleep – tomorrow is a big day." And so saying, she walked away leaving Eric and Donna puzzled as to her meaning.

………………………………………………

"Steven, where have you been," Jackie said with a frown as Hyde walked through her front door.

"Had things to see, people to do," Hyde said glibly, tossing his jacket onto the coatstand.

Jackie sniffed her delicate nose in his direction. "Eww, Steven, you smell rank. Seriously, what have you been up to? Why have you been coming in so late the last four nights?" She followed Steven up the stairs to his bedroom.

"Sorry, Jacks, but it's against my policy to explain myself to others. As far as I'm concerned, there's only one person who has the right to ask me that sort of question – my girlfriend."

"But you don't have a girlfriend."

"My point exactly – I'm answerable to no-one. Of course, if you're going mad with curiosity, you could always apply for the position. I am currently reviewing applications."

Jackie was too busy wondering if Hyde's quip meant he was exploring all the other potential girlfriends out there that she missed the reference to herself but Hyde took her lack of response as lack of interest and his manner cooled from jovial to brusque.

"You'd better get to bed, Jackie," he said gruffly. "I'll see you tomorrow."

Jackie looked disappointed. She hadn't spent any quality time with Hyde in four days and she was surprised by how much she had missed him.

"Um… OK, but I was wondering… that is, would you mind listening to me give a speech before you go to bed?"

"A speech? Why so formal? Doesn't 'goodnight' say it all?"

"I have to give a three minute oral presentation on this Steinbeck novel for my English class tomorrow and I just need someone to practice on."

"Three minutes?" Hyde said. "Alright, I'll come find you after I shower."

"Oh, thank you, Steven. Now, don't judge me too critically 'cause this is only a first draft and it's not easy to summarise a whole book in three minutes – not that I had to do the whole book because it is so long. Seriously, you could use it as a doorstop. I'm covering the last third which is the part they made the movie out of with James Dean as the hot, bad brother and – what are you doing."

"Taking my shirt off," Hyde replied, pulling his T-shirt over his head to reveal washboard abs and hardened pectorals lightly covered in chest hair. Jackie swallowed hard at the sight.

"Steven! Stop… stripping while I'm in the room," Jackie's voice had risen quite a few notches. Hyde regarded her wide eyes and rapid breath and smirked as he read the telltale signs of female arousal. There was some hope here after all.

"Well, if you don't want to stick around for the full show, then you'd better stop flapping your mouth and get your fine little butt out of my room." He started to unbutton his jeans.

Jackie woke out of her trance with a squeak and dashed out of his room, followed by the sound of Hyde's low chuckle.

Twenty minutes later, Hyde found her pacing nervously in front of the fireplace. Too distracted to notice his presence, she was muttering under her breath, "C'mon, Jackie, get a grip. You can do this."

"Does public speaking make you nervous?" Hyde asked, startling Jackie.

"Yeah," she admitted. "The first time I had to do it I introduced myself as Backie Jurkhart. Now every time I talk in front of a crowd, I'm afraid I'll do it again."

Hyde couldn't help laughing at Jackie's spoonerism. "Well, you can always try that old trick of imagining your audience in their underwear."

Instantly she had an image of Steven wearing nothing but a very tight pair of white boxers. Blushing furiously, she said, "Let's just get this over with." Picking up her notes, she drew in a deep breath.

"East of Eden is a classic great American novel which - "

"Show us some skin!" Hyde cat-called.

Jackie gave him a look. "…a classic American novel – "

"Call that a classic? The Naked Lunch – now that was a classic!"

"Steven, what the hell are you doing?" Jackie fumed.

"Heckling," he replied. "I'm toughening you up for the real thing."

"Steven, this is not amateur night at the Comedy Club. This is a book report and there is no heckling with a book report!"

"My mistake," Steven apologised with a smarmy smile. "Pray continue."

"East of Eden is a classic great American novel which has as its central theme the battle between good and evil, both in the world and inside a person. It tells the tale of two brothers who are like Kane and Abel in the Bible. Aron is the good son who is his father's favourite. Everyone loves him. Cal is the brother who is always getting in trouble. He both loves his brother and is terribly jealous of him because everybody loves him so much, plus he's sweet on his brother's girlfriend. The main action is when Cal tries to make his father love him by giving him a present – "

"A present?" Hyde repeated, jerking awake.

"Yes – he works really hard and makes all this money by investing in bean crops or something and then tries to give the money to his father but it all goes wrong. His father rejects the gift and then Cal does something terrible which will lead to his brother's death."

"Aron dies?" Hyde repeated in a distressed voice.

"You're really getting into this, aren't you?" Jackie said in amusement. "Yes, he dies in the War."

"So because this bad seed Cal gives his dad a gift his brother dies? What kind of crazy book is this! What's it trying to say – that giving presents is evil? Steinbeck must have a hell of a problem with Christmas."

"No, it wasn't the gift, it was the motive behind the gift," Jackie explained. "Cal gave it with the wrong motives – he was trying to take away the love that belonged to his brother. After his brother dies he suffers the most intense guilt."

"Oh great," Hyde muttered. "Something to look forward to."

"You know, Steven, you remind me a bit of Cal," Jackie said thoughtfully.

"What? You think I'm an evil present-giver too?"

"No, but Cal is described as someone who is stuffed full of every good thing and every bad thing at the same time. I think you are like that. From what our friends say, you've got a track record of doing really good things for your friends but then today Kelso was telling me about some bad things you've done in the past."

"What did that dumbass say about me?" Hyde said angrily.

"That's not important. I'm just trying to say that I think you have the potential to be someone amazing – but you could just as easily go the other way. So you should watch your step, that's all."

Hyde drew in a deep breath; his head was spinning. It was like God had read his intention and sent this angel-faced messenger with The Book Report of Dire Warning. "So is that the end of your little speech?"

"There's just one part left." Jackie resumed her speechifying voice. "The book ends on a hopeful note. As his father lays dying – "

"Great, more death," Hyde muttered.

" – he says to Cal "Timshel" which is Hebrew for "thou may" which is used in the context "thou may triumph over evil". It is his way of saying that even though his father can never really forgive him for what he did and Cal will suffer the most crushing agonizing guilt for the rest of his life – Steven, stop groaning, I'm almost done – that he has the power to triumph over the evil impulses in him. There! That wasn't so bad now, was it?"

"It made – a real impression."

"Oh, I'm so glad you liked it," Jackie said happily. "Well, I'll let you get to sleep now. I hope I get some sleep tonight; I am so excited about what Eric is going to surprise me with tomorrow that I'm sure I won't be able to close my eyes."

"Er.. what do you think Forman is going to do for you?"

"Well, I caught him talking with Donna all secretive and guilty-like today so it's obvious they are going to throw me a surprise party." Jackie jumped up and down at the very thought but then put a hand over her mouth. "Oh, I probably shouldn't have told you that I know; I promise I will act totally surprised tomorrow." Hyde had a sudden vision of Jackie waiting patiently to be surprised by her boyfriend. He imagined how shattering that moment would be when she realized that her boyfriend had forgotten, just like her parents always had, having opted instead to spend his time with the girl that he had pined over since kindergarten. So lost was he in his thoughts he barely noticed when Jackie lightly pecked his cheek and floated upstairs, dancing on air.

That night Hyde was the one who could not sleep. The déjà vu of plotting to take away the girl that was in love with his best friend kept him restlessly tossing in his bed. One minute he would be thinking To hell with it, everyone already thinks I'm the kind of scum that would do it anyway but then he would hear Jackie's voice saying "I think you have the potential to be someone amazing." It was not until near dawn that his exhausted body finally gave his tortured consciousness a rest.

He was no closer to a decision when he woke up that morning. He made his way downstairs to find a note from Jackie saying she had to leave for an early cheerleading practice but that she'd see him at school. The opportunity for him to set up his present for her was so perfect it was like fate was giving him a wink and a pat on the back. Setting his jaw, he pulled out a large box from the high shelf of his bedroom closet (out of the reach of curious midgets) and made his way to Jackie's bedroom.

He would have been able to hold on to his resolve if it had not been for the look on Jackie's face at recess. She kept gazing at Eric in this hopeful way, just waiting for him to acknowledge her special day. Unfortunately, Eric was too caught up in arguing with Kelso about who would be the victor in a fight between Luke Skywalker and Spiderman that he never noticed his girlfriend's behaviour. Hyde saw the moment when it occurred to Jackie the true reason why Eric had not wished her a happy birthday; it was just before she stood up and made her way to the to the girls' bathroom, moving quickly before any moisture could fall from her eyes.

"Hey Forman," Hyde said grimly, placing a heavy hand on his friend's shoulder. "We need to talk."

A.N. Caution: Jackie's book report should not be taken as an accurate summary of East of Eden. I skewed her interpretation slightly to fit in with my story. I do recommend reading it, however; it is one of my favourite books.