AN: I am really sorry for the long hiatus. I've been busy applying for jobs since I just graduated from college! Yay me lol. Anyways, this story is almost done believe it or not, only about 3 chapters left so I will try my best to have it finished by the end of next week. I already have the last chapter nearly completed so it really shouldn't be too hard to have it done by then. Enjoy!

A few days after the kiss with Hyde and her argument with Jason, Jackie sat in her living room looking over the a script a writer had given her for the show. Ever since moving to California, Jackie buried herself in her work in order to deal with her problems. When she first realized she should break things off with Jason, she took up extra shifts at the restaurant she worked in at the time just so she wouldn't have to tell him it was over between them.

Now, months later, she was trying to avoid the two guys who held a special place in her heart: her best friend and an ex-boyfriend who she shouldn't even care for after everything he put her through. In fact, she should be furious at Steven for making her feel so confused. Had it not been for him coming out to California, her life would still be simple. Before he re-entered her life, her biggest concern was which script to turn over to her supervisor for the show. Now, however, she was afraid she was going to lose Jason's friendship because she couldn't bring herself to cut Hyde out of her life (especially after that kiss). Unfortunately for Hyde, she would be damned if she lost another friend because of him. She had already done that with Donna and there was no way she would lose control of her life and lose Jason too.

Regardless of her lack of romantic feelings for him, Jackie owed Jason a lot. If it wasn't for him, she would not have been able to make it out here and would have been forced to go back to Point Place with her tail between her legs. He gave her a place to stay for a few weeks and helped her land her job. Also, he restored her faith in love and showed her that not all guys were assholes.

Jackie couldn't help but laugh at the familiar predicament. It's almost as if she has gone back in time and is back in Point Place. No matter what she did or how far she went, her past follows her. She must have been stupid to think she could get away from it all and start over. Leaving everything so unresolved then is the reason she is having to confront everything now. Unfortunately, Hyde and her were not the best at communicating their feelings. She recalls one point in their relationship where things were going downhill quickly. It was right before she got the job offer in Chicago and she knew deep down it was only a matter of time before they broke up for good.

One particular argument they had during this time sticks out to her now. It had started over something silly and quickly escalated to the point of no turning back.

Flashback

Hyde and Jackie were sitting in the basement while Donna and Fez looked at each other nervously. For the past ten minutes, the couple has been arguing about a comment Jackie made about her relationship with Kelso. While the other members of the gang knew better than to talk about Jackie and Kelso as a couple, Jackie knew it was the one thing that she could use in an argument to win. However, this time she might have gone too far.

"You really feel that way?" Hyde asks referring to Jackie's comment of Kelso knowing what she wanted better than Hyde.

"Not all the time, but he at least made it known that he saw our relationship lasting in the long run. I don't know where I stand with you even after all this time."

"Maybe we should go, this seems personal" interrupts Donna motioning to Fez to start heading towards the door.

"No. Sit down," says Hyde "I need someone else to hear how she feels so she can't blame it on me later on."

"Hyde, I don't think-"

"Sit down Donna" he repeats more aggressively. Fez and Donna both retake their seats as the couple stares at each other intently.

Hyde couldn't believe her nerve. Sure he wasn't the perfect gentleman she had always wanted, but he sure as hell was better than Kelso. He wasn't going around cheating on her with every chick in Point Place and having her buy him things just to stay. From the very beginning of their relationship, when they established that they would be monogamous, he knew he would be a better boyfriend than Kelso. He knew this because he genuinely cared for her. He wasn't just in it for the sex, he could get that anywhere. He wanted to be with her because she made him laugh, listened to him and she was one of the most interesting people he knew (which surprised the hell out of him). Yet, even with all the effort he put into their relationship, she preferred Kelso.

"You are making way too big a deal of this Steven. All I said was that for the most part, Michael was willing to give me what I wanted."

"Really? So you wanted someone who cheated on you and hauled ass to California the moment you proposed marriage? If that's what you want then tell me, because I can do that better and faster than he can sweetheart."

"That's not what I meant! You're always twisting my words to make a point" Jackie responded angrily.

"What point? What fucking point am I making? I'm telling it exactly like it is."

"Forget it Steven this is pointless."

"I agree. This," he says motioning between the two, "is pointless. I'm out of here."

"Are you breaking up with me?" she asks.

"I'm just over it Jackie. Honestly, that was the last straw."

"I didn't mean it that way Steven. I just...I just don't know where I stand with you. I wake up everyday anxious because I don't know if you're going to still want to be with me or not. I don't know how seriously you take our relationship."

"Not this shit again. I've been here for two years okay? If you bothered to pay attention before you got with me you would know I didn't stick around for a week much less two years. If you want us to work, you need to get over this "future" complex you have."

With that, Hyde exits the basement leaving the three friends dumbfounded.

Less than a week later, Jackie got the job offer and the rest was history.

End of Flashback

Trying to shake the memory, Jackie starts looking through the script and writing down a few notes for the editor. As she read over the plot summary, she sees that the episode is set around Jo's boyfriend suddenly re-entering her life and wanting to marry her.

'Oh come on' says Jackie to herself, 'talk about art imitating life.'

She throws the script to the side refusing to read any more of it.

Suddenly, Jackie decides that she does need to make a decision regarding her situation. She no longer wants to be that girl she was in Point Place that allows a guy to dictate her life and have so much power over it. These recent feelings she thinks she's developing for Hyde are no more than nostalgia. All the love and concern she had for him during the early stages of their relationship resurfaced after his accident. However, in order to think logically, she needs to think of the guy she left behind in Point Place. That man did not love her and went out of his way to hurt her. That was the guy she needed to confront. If Hyde could made the effort to come to California, he was going to have to make the effort to gain her forgiveness.

Jackie stands up from the couch and walks towards the telephone in the kitchen and dials a familiar number. She nervously starts fidgeting with her fingers as she starts thinking of what to say first. Finally she hears a click on the other end and before the other person speaks, she starts off:

"Hey, it's me. I'm sorry I didn't call you sooner but I've been thinking a lot about what happened and I've been confused by it all. Is there any chance you can come over so we can talk?"

After a few seconds of silence, she hears "sure" from the other line and a wave of relief washes over her.

"Thank you. Um, I'll be waiting for you then."

A second click indicates that the conversation has ended. Exhaling, Jackie hangs up the phone and heads back to the couch to wait for her visitor.