Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I do not own any of That 70's Show characters.

Author's Note: This takes place after Jackie's dad goes to jail.

Chapter 1: The Fight

It was a usual Friday night. We were all hanging out in Forman's basement watching Gilligan's Island. Eric, Donna, and Fez were on the couch. Me and Kelso sat on the chairs across from each other. Jackie was in her usual spot: on my lap.

"Ugh, he's so annoying. If I was on that island, I would seriously kill him," Jackie said, referring to Gilligan.

"Shut up, you cold-hearted bitch," Fez spat at her. "He has feelings too, you know."

"Fez man, he's not even real," I explained to him.

"It doesn't matter. Why does everyone have to pick on poor Gilligan? He's a good guy. He deserves love. He deserves Tina. Oh, Tina!" Fez exclaimed, breaking into tears. He laid his head against Donna's shoulder as she tried to comfort him.

"There, there Fez. Tina does like you. She just doesn't know it yet," Donna told him, patting his back. He wrapped his arms around her, secretly trying to feel her up.

"Oh, Donna. Have you been working out lately?" Fez asked her, running his hands up and down her arms. She pulled away quickly and punched him in the arm. "Ow, Donna!" Fez shouted, rubbing his bruised arm.

"And to answer your question, yes I have. At least somebody noticed," she said, eyeing Forman.

"I was going to say something. It's just that…" he paused, "you know… uh… yeah."

"Nice save, Eric," Kelso teased him while opening his third popsicle.

"Shut up, Kelso. And stop hogging all the popsicles!" Forman snatched the popsicle from Kelso's grasp. They began to fight over it.

"So, Steven, what time are you picking me up tomorrow night?" Jackie asked, rubbing my chest seductively. She always did that when she's up to something.

"Picking you up for what?" I asked her.

"We're going dancing, remember? You said you would take me."

"No I didn't."

"Okay, I said you were taking me." I shook my head. There is no way I'm going to some stupid club where I'm forced to listen to some crappy dance music.

"Sorry, Jackie. I'm not going," I told her, gently pushing her off my lap so I could get up. I walked over to the fridge to get myself a popsicle. The pixie followed me.

"C'mon, Steven. You never do anything special for me," she pouted.

"Never did anything special? I shaved me beard off for you!" I reminded her.

"Yes, I know," she said, caressing my face. "And I appreciate it. I just wanted to pick something fun to do for our date."

"But you always get to pick what we do on our dates. Why can't I pick something for a change?"

"Because you'll pick stupid stuff to do," she told me, looking disgusted.

"What are saying? What I like to do is stupid to you?" I questioned her.

Everyone turned to stare at us. "Oh, this should be better than Gilligan," Fez stated.

Jackie ignored them. "Look, that's not what I mean. I'm saying that getting high while listening to your weird records, is not a date!" she shouted, shaking her finger at me as if I was a little kid.

"If you think I'm just a stupid pot head, why are you still going out with me?"

"That's not what I meant, and you know it," she said softly as she wrapped her arms around my neck. "I just want to be with you."

"Yeah, I know." I flung my arm around her waist, holing her close to me. "But, I'm still not taking you dancing."

She glared at me. "Ugh! I hate you!" She pushed me away and stormed out of the basement. I just stood there like an idiot.

"I say, dump her man. She's evil," Forman told me.

"Yeah. You should dump her, Hyde," Kelso said. "Just send her to me. I know how to please her."

"Hey, Kelso," I called out to him.

"What?" I punched his arm. "Ow, man. You need to stop doing that," he told me as he rubbed his arm.

"Well, you need to realize that Jackie's not you girlfriend anymore. She's mine."

"Didn't look that way a minute ago," Kelso said stupidly.

I waved my fist in his face. "You want another one of these? I'm handing them out for free, man."

"All right, all right. I'm sorry, Hyde. Just don't hurt the face. It gets me the chicks." I shook my head. He's not worth my time. I grabbed my jacket and left the basement.

I got into my car and drove off. I was driving aimlessly until I spotted a run down bar just up the street. I parked my car in front of it and looked at the sign. It read: Working Man's Palace. I shrugged my shoulders. Well, I needed a drink.

I walked in and the smell of smoke, loud laughter, and music blaring form the juke box, seemed to greet me. My kind of place. Jackie wouldn't step one foot in here. I could here her now. "Ew, Steven. This place is so dirty. Poor people. Can't expect much from them." I shook that thought away. I got to stop thinking about her. Just for one night.

I walked over to the counter and ordered myself a beer. The bartender was a fat, middle aged guy with a scruffy beard. It reminded me of mine. I miss my beard. I took a sip of my drink.

I started to look around the bar. A few guys were playing pool on one side. On the other side, guys were just sitting at some tables, with a glass of beer in each of their hands. In the corner, I noticed some guys playing poker while a waitress served them their drinks. She was pretty hot. Nice body, blonde hair that was held in a messy ponytail. She looked up at me and noticed that I was staring. I quickly looked away.

She walked over to me, slowly. She took a seat next to me. "Haven't seen you around here before," she said.

"Yeah, first timer," I replied, taking another sip of my beer. She was even prettier up close. This wasn't the first time a girl tried to flirt with me while I'm going out with Jackie. Kelso's not the only one who could get the ladies. I usually just shrug them off. I didn't want to hurt Jackie. But, right now, she isn't one of my favorite people.

"It's nice to see a fresh face around here. It gets kind of boring after a while," she said. I nodded. "I'm Janet Metzler. So, are you going to tell me your name, or do I have to guess?"

"Steven Hyde."

"Steven, eh?"

My body seemed to tense up a bit. "No. Just call me Hyde," I said, seriously. "I hate when people call me Steven."

"Yeah. You don't look like a Steven," she replied, looking me over. "I think Hyde fits you just fine."

I grinned at her. This is what I needed. A cold beer and a nice person to talk to. I didn't need somebody bitching at me all the time. "You want another one?" she asked me, pointing at my empty glass.

"Sure."

"Hey, Uncle Jeff," she called out to the bartender, " get this guy another drink. On me." she winked at me.

I don't know how long I sat there, but it didn't matter. I was enjoying myself. Me and Janet talked for a while. She told me about her parents. Her dad ran out on her when she was little and her mom remarried and wanted her to move to Florida, but she decided to live with her uncle, instead.

"Why the hell do you want to stay here?" I asked her. I always found it weird when people want to live in Wisconsin, of all places.

"This is where I grew up. It's my home. Besides, my stepfather's an ass. So, what's your story?"

I told her about my crappy parents and how the Forman's took me in when I was left an orphan. "I can't talk to my friends about this. Each of them have at least one parent who gives a damn about them."

"Yeah, I know what you mean. I tried to talk to my boyfriend about these type of things, but he just didn't get it. I broke it off after a while. Do you have a girlfriend, Hyde?"

"Yeah. Her name is Jackie."

"What's she like?" She looked at me curiously.

"Well, she's rich, bossy, spoiled, and bitchy. Oh, and she never shuts up."

"Then, why?" she asked.

"Why, what?"

"Why are you with her?"

"Trying to figure that out myself. I don't know. There's just something about her. Well, whatever it was, I think it's starting to fade."

"You want to know what I think?" I looked at her. "I don't think you and this Jackie girl belong together." I just stared at her. Was she right?

I got up from my stool. I was getting ready to leave. "I've got to go," I told her.

"Hold up," she said, grabbing a pen from her apron. She scribbled something on her napkin and handed it to me. It was her number. "Keep in touch, Hyde." She got up and walked away. I stuffed the napkin in my pocket and left the bar.

* * *

I made my way back to Jackie's. I was practically living in her house since her dad's in jail and her mom won't leave Mexico. Jackie didn't want to be alone. So, I would spend probably about every other night in her house. We'd have sex until we were both left exhausted. Then, we would fall asleep in each other's arms. It was nice, you know. But, I had a feeling that tonight wasn't one of those nights.

I crept into her dark bedroom. I tried to sneak in, hoping that she was asleep. She wasn't. She turned on her light and glared at me. "Where were you?" she asked, folding her arms across her chest.

"Just out," I said, simply. "Look, Jackie. You win. I'll go dancing with you."

"Really?"

"Yeah, sure. But, I'm not dancing all night. And don't even think that I'm going to shake it to ABBA," I told her firmly.

"Okay, Steven. You don't have to shake it for me. I just want you to be there." She pulled me down for a kiss. "Are you coming to bed?"

"Yeah. Let me get ready." I sat on the edge of the bed, my back to her. I remembered about Janet's number. I reached into my jacket pocket and pulled out the napkin. Usually I would just throw it away, but I decided to keep this time.

I threw my clothes aside and got into her bed. I moved closer to Jackie, wrapping my arms around her, securely. I do have feeling for Jackie. Or is it just physical attraction? Is Janet right? Do we not belong together? We're complete opposites. We fight all the time about the stupidest things. We use to hate each other. How the hell did we last this long?

"Good night, Steven," she said softly, interrupting my thoughts. "I love you."

She always did that. She always tries to trick me into saying it back. I can't. No matter how many times she says it to me, I will never say it back to her. I just can't. "Night Jackie," I whispered in her ear. She sighed loudly. She was obviously disappointed.

With all these different feeling inside of me, I didn't know what to do. My life was so simple before me and Jackie got together. She complicated things. She confused me. But, I do know one thing for a fact.

I wanted to see Janet again.

* * * * * * * *

Ah, my first shot at angst. Sorry, if it's short. Hopefully it'll be good. Chapter 2 is on its way, but I need to know what you guys think of it so far. R & R please. I thrive on reviews!