Chapter Twenty Six

Jackie opened her eyes and immediately closed them again. Her head was pounding and she couldn't deal with any form of light which could potentially make it pound even harder. She wrapped the blankets snug around her and moved her foot across the bed in search of Steven. She knew they'd argued last night, she knew she'd fallen asleep crying, but that didn't matter right now for all she wanted, or rather needed, was to be in his arms. All her foot found though was emptiness. Steven wasn't there.

Jackie decided that she had to brave the light and attempt to find Hyde. She held her head and slowly sat herself up. As her eyes scanned the room they found no sign of her scruffy boyfriend so she figured he was probably making a coffee, or talking to Eric and the others. She hoped he wasn't still mad about last night. Her thoughts were abruptly cut short when the bedroom door opened. A slender form wrapped in a blanket made its way over to the bed.

"Steven, baby, come give me a cuddle" Jackie purred still holding her head.

"Ewww devil, I'm not your baby and I'm not cuddling you" Eric chided as he sat himself on Hyde's side of the bed.

"Oh Eric, what do you want?" she snapped as she lay her head back down on her pillow. "Where's Steven?"

"I don't know Jackie, that's why I'm in here, looking for him. Got a sore head have we?" he asked, noticing Jackie covering her eyes with her arm.

"Yes Eric I have a sore head. It's New Year's Day, I'm sure half of the world's population has a sore head. But hey, at least I was out long enough to see in the New Year, unlike others I know…"

"Yeah, what was up with me last night? I'm sure someone spiked my drink man…I bet it was Kelso" Eric attempted to defend himself.

"No Eric, your drink was not spiked, you are just too scrawny, you can't handle your alcohol" Jackie teased.

"Oh okay then devil…speaking of handling alcohol…when I had my head down the toilet in the middle of the night I couldn't help but over hear a certain princess and a certain orphan boy arguing…is everything okay with you guys?" Eric asked as he lay his head on Hyde's pillow and turned to look at Jackie. She took her arm off her face and stared at the ceiling.

"Yeah, we argued. I'm such an idiot when I'm drunk Eric. I'm sure we'll be fine though. In fact, I know we'll be fine. My puddin' has come a long way" she said with a small smile.

"You know, for what it's worth Jackie, I'm really pleased for you and Hyde. I like seeing him happy, and you seem to make him happy. I hope it works out for you guys" Eric said as he patted her on the head.

"Thanks Eric, that means a lot. But can you please stop touching my hair…I don't know where your dirty skeleton fingers have been"

Just then Donna walked in the room brushing her wet hair. "There you are Eric, what are you doing? I thought you were gonna get started on breakfast, or should I say lunch" she said as she looked at her watch. It was 12.30 in the afternoon, they'd already wasted half the day.

"Yeah I am Donna, I was just coming to ask Hyde where he keeps his frying pans. But all I found was the devil with a hangover…never a good mix I say" Eric replied as he got off the bed.

"Donna, where's Steven?" Jackie asked. "I need a cuddle with my puddin'."

"Again Jackie, eewwww" Eric quipped.

Donna stopped brushing her hair and looked at Eric nervously. "Um, Jackie, I don't know how to tell you this, but, um, Hyde's gone" she said.

"What do you mean he's gone? Gone where?" Jackie sat up in the bed and stared at Donna, dreading what her friend would say next.

"He's gone with Kelso Jackie, they've gone to California"

"California?!" Jackie screamed. Tears sprung in her eyes. "What did he say? Did he leave a note? Did he try to wake me? What's going on Donna?"

Eric didn't know what to do. He couldn't believe Hyde had done this to Jackie again, so he walked over to her side of the bed and sat down with his arm around her. They both waited for Donna's reply.

"No note I'm sorry Jackie, and I don't think he tried to wake you. I'm so sorry" Donna said as she sat on the other side of her friend and tried to sooth her sobbing.

….

Three hours earlier

Hyde was awoken by a loud ringing in his ear. The phone had been ringing for what seemed like an eternity and it was pissing him off. Who the fuck rings at 9.30am on New Year's Day he thought to himself as he gruffly answered the phone.

It was WB demanding that Hyde be on the 11.45am flight out to LA to meet with a prospective new band. Dammit! That was the last thing Hyde wanted to do today, he'd planned on spending the first day of the New Year in bed with his chick making up after their earlier fight. But WB wasn't having it, he wanted this band and he needed Hyde in LA to see them perform at a New Year's Day festival. Hyde was pissed off, but he knew he couldn't let WB down, his dad had been good to him and he would only be away from Jackie for three days, he was sure he could handle that.

Hyde hung up the phone and rolled over to Jackie. She was fast asleep so he pulled her into his arms and kissed her face. He hoped she would be okay with him today…surely last night's words were just drunken words that they could get over. He watched her sleep in his arms and wished she'd wake up.

"Jackie, Jackie, wake up babe" he whispered into her ear. He tried kissing her neck and tickling her sensitive spots but wasn't going to wake up any time soon. Dammit he thought as he moved her back to her side and got up to get ready to go.

Hyde showered and stuffed some clothes into a duffle bag. He wasn't taking his suits, fuck that he thought, if he had to be in LA at a concert on New Year's Day he was dressing how he wanted to, he wasn't gonna look like a corporate idiot.

He made his way through the lounge and noticed Kelso up, dressed, and folding up blankets. "Hey Kelso, what's up man" he mumbled as he continued on his mission to the kitchen for coffee.

"Hey Hyde, how awesome was last night man? Me and Fez didn't get home til 6am! Met up with some hot single chicks who…" Kelso started.

"Whatever Kelso, I don't really care, I need a coffee" Hyde cut him off. "I've gotta be at the airport in an hour."

"So do I! Where are you headed?" Kelso said as he followed Hyde into the kitchen.

"LA man, it really bites. Gotta go meet with some new band…Red Hot Chili something or rather…" Hyde said as he flicked the kettle on and pulled out a coffee cup.

"Bro we're probably on the same flight out! It'll be like a boys trip…yeaaah! You gotta stay with me dude!" Kelso was excited.

"Yeah whatever Kelso" Hyde was less than enthusiastic.

He made his coffee and went back into his room to try and wake Jackie again. She still couldn't be woken so he went to his draw and pulled out a pen and paper. He hated writing notes, they were so fucking girly, but he had no choice.

Jackie,

Hey man, WB called and has ordered me to go to LA to meet a band. I'm on the 11.45 flight out there and I can't fuckn wake you up. I've thought about putting you in a cold shower but I kinda like living and don't wanna die today. I'll be back in 3 days so I reckon you should stay here and wait for me, that way I can phone you (you still haven't given me your home number y'know). Get the key to the place off Eric and make sure those idiots have gone before I get back…you're in charge. Oh hey, I'm gonna stay at Kelso's so you could phone me if you like?

Hey, about last night, I'm sorry for swearing at you and making you mad. I don't wanna fight with you babe. You said I never apologise for the shitty things I've done to you, but I want you to know that I will spend my life showing you how sorry I am. I wish you would wake up so that I could show you now.

I hope you know how I feel about you babe. You are no worse than bowling, and I recently decided I love bowling. I think I'm gonna miss you when I'm gone. I'll call you tonight.

Steven x

P.S. No one sees this letter Jackie, I MEAN IT!

P.P.S. I hope you can get all that make up off my fucking pillow case

He stuffed the note into an envelope, sealed it before placing it on the night stand next to Jackie. He lent down to kiss her goodbye, fuck I don't wanna go. Hyde took one last look at Jackie before grabbing his bag and walking out of his room.

When he went to place his cup in the kitchen Donna was in there getting herself a water.

"What's up Donna, how's Forman feeling today?" he asked.

"He's still fast asleep" she replied. "He was puking all night so I'm not surprised, he'll probably sleep til lunchtime". She rolled her eyes before downing her water.

"Hey so, WB called, I gotta go to LA man and I can't wake Jackie. I've left her a note, can you make sure she gets it?" he asked.

"You're going to LA now?" Donna said as she placed her glass in the sink and turned to face Hyde. "Don't you think Jackie will be pissed?"

"I don't wanna go, at all, I have to go, its my job man. I've explained everything in the note anyway. Just tell her I'll call her tonight and make sure Forman gives her the key to this place…she'll be staying here when I'm gone. Got it Donna?" he asked as he put his bag over his shoulder.

"Yeah okay Hyde" she said eyeing him suspiciously.

"Come on Kelso, we gotta go" Hyde yelled into the lounge. Kelso jumped off the couch and picked up his bags.

"Awwww come 'ere Big Red, I'm gonna miss you" Kelso said as he wrapped his arms tightly around Donna. "Tell Eric I said goodbye and that I'll catch up with him soon k?"

"For sure Kelso. You take it easy and leave those poor California girls alone okay?" she joked as she straightened up his jacket.

"Can't promise you that" he winked back at her.

"I'll catch ya later Donna, say bye to Forman and Fez for me. And make sure they don't fuck up my apartment okay?" Hyde said as he walked out into the hallway.

"Yip no problem guys" Donna said as she watched them walk to the lift. She closed the door and went back into the lounge where Fez lay sleeping with a big grin on his face. She hated to think what that pervert could be dreaming about.

Donna crept through the lounge and into Hyde's bedroom contemplating her next move. She had heard Hyde and Jackie fighting last night. She heard Jackie yelling and crying, and she heard Hyde swearing. Her friend had been through enough with this guy and it was up to her to stop this rollercoaster. She tiptoed over to Jackie's side of the bed and picked up the envelope on the nightstand. She looked down at Jackie in her peaceful slumber. I'm sorry Jackie she thought as she crept back out clutching the letter, but it's for your own good.

…

Jackie furiously grabbed all her personal effects off the bathroom vanity and threw them into her bag. She wiped her tears away with the back of her hand and turned to face Donna and Eric. "So we have one fight and he leaves, again? That asshole…I can't believe I thought it would be different this time" she said as she stormed back into the bedroom.

"Jackie, you need to calm down, I'm sure there's a perfectly good explanation for this" Eric said trying to calm her down. He knew, deep inside, that Hyde wouldn't do this to Jackie again. He had seen the two of them together, something just didn't add up.

"And what kind of explanation could that be Eric? Nothing justifies him just up and leaving without a word. I've been a fool, a fool that thought the love of her life had finally changed. Well I'm not hanging around here…I had a fabulous life before he walked back into it and messed it all up" she cried as she shoved the last of her clothes into her suitcase. Her heart was completely broken and she had to get out of that apartment.

"Just please stay here with us Jackie…I don't think you should be on your own" Eric pleaded. He wanted to wring Hyde's neck for doing this.

Jackie zipped up her suitcase and grabbed her coat off the chair. She hadn't showered, or done her hair and make-up, but she didn't care. She would look as ugly on the outside as Steven had made her feel on the inside. "No Eric, I want to go home, I need to be on my own" she said before looking at Donna. "You've been quiet Donna…I suppose a thousand 'I told you so's' are floating through your head?"

She was right, Donna had been quiet, not knowing what to say to a broken Jackie. She was tempted to run and grab the letter, but she knew the pain Jackie felt now would be a lesser form of the pain she would inevitably feel further down the track. "Jackie, I'm just so, so sorry" she whispered. "I hope you're gonna be okay". She watched as Jackie did up her coat buttons and threw her handbag over her shoulder.

"You have nothing to be sorry for Donna, you didn't do anything. In fact, you told me what Steven was like but I chose to give him the benefit of the doubt. I'm such an idiot" Jackie said sadly.

"Do you want me to come with you? We could get some movies and eat junk food?" Donna asked, standing up in front of Jackie.

"No, I need to be on my own. In a couple of days I'll be back to my fabulous former self, don't you worry" Jackie said as she brushed past Donna and made her way to the main door. "Please say goodbye to Fez you guys, I can't believe he's slept through all my screaming and crying."

"Will do Jackie, hey we'll call you later okay?" Donna said as she enveloped Jackie in a hug.

"Please do Donna" Jackie said as the tears began to fall again. "I'll see you both later k?"

"Yeah devil, we'll be in touch" Eric rubbed Jackie's back and watched her walk out the door and let it slam behind her.

What the fuck just happened Eric said to himself as he looked around Hyde's apartment and rubbed his head. How the hell did it come to this?