Title: Aftershock (4/?)
Notes: Thanks to everyone who's taken time to review, I really appreciate it. More notes at the end of the chapter.
"So there's this list of, like fifteen camps that we're 'encouraged' to attend over the summer. I just don't know if I can do it this year." Jackie had been pondering the decision for the last twenty minutes; needing only the occasional sound of encouragement from Hyde to continue her rant.
True to his word he called back the next day. Donna wasn't sure what shocked her more; Hyde asking to speak to Jackie, or Jackie willing and excited to answer the phone. She knew her friend was well on the way to recovery when she was unceremoniously dismissed from the kitchen with a wave of Jackie's hand.
"You could go to a couple, just for the change of scenery."
"Steven, you hate cheerleading."
"I don't--," he started. "…well, yes. I do. But as long as you don't expect me to get all involved, it's cool. Jackie, it's something you enjoy and put a lot of time into; I think you should go."
"I'll think about it."
Both were happy that this call lacked the awkwardness of the previous evening. There were no promises of undying love, or vows to change everything about themselves to please the other. There was only an unspoken agreement to see who they were, to accept the quirks and differences in personalities.
Out of the blue she asked, "Did you want to come by tomorrow, maybe go for dinner?"
He cursed the fact that he had to work so much this week. It had seemed like a good idea at the time; get away from the house, take his mind off of Jackie and make some money while he was at it. "I've got to work all week, I'd ditch, but that would leave Kelso in charge, and you know how much he likes fire." He apologized.
"Oh," she tried not to sound hurt. "how about Saturday?"
"I can do Saturday." He agreed "Pick you up at seven?"
"I'll even let you buy me dinner."
"Thanks" he said dryly.
"You're getting off easy. Especially when I know how much you've been working." She teased. "Anyone else I'd expect expensive presents."
"Lucky I'm not everyone else, 'cause you'll probably get another burger in a shinny wrapper."
"Oh, boy. I can hardly wait." She said sarcastically.
"Only the best for you." He quipped back.
"Steven?"
"hum?"
"Will you still call tomorrow?"
"Depends. Do you want me to?"
"I think I would."
"Then it looks like I'll be calling." He was secretly pleased she wanted to continue their conversations. "Can't promise when, 'kinda at the mercy of the man, you know."
"Whatever."
~*~
Sometimes the conversations were short, stolen moments when Hyde wasn't busy at the hotel, other nights they would spend hours chatting. By Saturday they were both looking forward to, and dreading their date.
Hyde paced his small basement bedroom, it was six-thirty, half an hour before he was supposed to pick up Jackie. He wasn't supposed to be this nervous; it wasn't like they'd never gone out before, and they had spent almost every evening on the phone together. It should be just like riding a bike. Right?
He threw his hands up in frustration and checked the clock again, six-thirty five. This was getting him nowhere. It was just a date. "A date that would probably change the rest of my life, one way or another." he thought as he continued to pace the room.
He forced himself to wait a few more minutes before he headed over to the Pinciotti's house. There was a slight fluttering in his stomach that steadily increased with each step closer. He took a deep breath as he ascended the front steps, but before he could reach out and ring the bell, the door flew open. "Hi Steven." She said shyly, fingering the bottom of her jacket.
"Hey Jackie" he paused as he noticed the flush of her cheeks, "sorry, I'm early." He finished lamely.
"That's Ok, I've been ready for a while." She said, biting her lower lip, trying to fight the awkwardness.
They stood looking at each other, waiting for someone to make the next move. Finally Hyde cleared his throat and suggested they should go. He led the way to the waiting El Camino and opened the passenger side door for Jackie to get in. He shook his head at their uneasiness as he walked around to the driver side.
Once seated behind the wheel he relaxed and started driving towards the centre of town. They decided against anything fancy and settled on grabbing a burger. "But not at the Hub" was Jackie's only request.
The dinner turned out to be better than either could have hoped for. There was a vibe between them, like for the first time they were on the same level. Before either realized, they had been sitting in the diners corner booth for over two hours.
"Do you think she wants us to go" Hyde whispered conspiratorially as he watched the waitress pass their table for the third time in as many minutes.
She tilted her head to the side, "Anyone else and I'd think that was a line."
"How do you know it's not?"
"You're not the type."
"What type is that?"
"The type that flirts. You're more straight to the point."
"I can flirt." He said, trying to sound offended.
"Sure you can." She said as she gathered her coat and slid out of the booth. He watched as she made her way to the front of the diner, and when her back was turned he threw some bills on the table and hurried to catch up to her.
He found her waiting just outside the door, a slight smirk on her face. "So now what?" she asked.
"Don't know, never really thought it through that far." He shrugged. "Could go for a drive, see a movie, wander around…"
"Walking's good." She said as she slipped her small hand into his. They strolled down the street, fingers intertwined, browsing at the shop windows.
"I hope you appreciate this, I don't walk around aimlessly for just anyone." He said, breaking the silence.
"s'ok. I don't hang out with just any scruffy guy either."
She led them down the street, towards a small deserted park where the sounds of the town were muted by the thick grove of trees. She released his hand and wandered towards a green picnic table that sat at the edge of the park. He stood still and watched as she threw a cheeky grin over her shoulder. Now he was convinced she was flirting; all of the looks and small touches during the evening had to mean something.
He watched as she hopped up onto the edge of the picnic table and started swinging her legs aimlessly. Twenty five feet of park grass separated them, and he was at a loss as to what to do. Earlier in the evening he was sure that things would proceed slowly; a date once a week for a while, just to get used to each other again. But now, he didn't know where they stood.
She chose that moment to beckon him over with a small smile. With only a slight hesitation, he stepped forward and crossed the distance between them. She didn't seem fazed by his movements so he stepped closer, in between her legs and let the tips of his fingers brush her thighs.
He couldn't help but stare at her; the moonlight glinting off her hair reminded him of their first date. She was happy then; sitting on the hood of her dad's car, looking up at the stars. On impulse he leaned in and gently brushed his lips against hers, the warmth of a first kiss flooding his senses. He pulled back a fraction of an inch to gauge her reaction and seeing her closed eyes and slightly parted lips he closed the gap between them once more.
He slowly traced the outline of her lower lip with his tongue and tentatively used it to probe her parted mouth. With a slight moan she returned the pressure; causing him to wrap one arm around her slender waist and pull her closer. He couldn't believe how much he had missed this, missed her. He pressed his body closer to hers, craving contact between them, wanting to make up for lost time.
He felt her body stiffen and felt her hands push on his chest. "Steven…I can't…" She looked up at him, her eyes' as wide as saucers. A look of mortification crossed her face and she hopped off of the picnic table and started to walk away from him.
He grabbed at her coat sleeve as she passed, but she shrugged him off and kept walking, stopping only when she reached the dark recesses of the park. Her figure blended into the shadows, but he could see the slight shake of her shoulders that betrayed her emotions.
Hyde was at a loss; one minute he held the girl of his dreams in his arms, and the next she had forcibly ripped herself out of his grasp. He walked closer to where she was standing. Sensing his presence she turned around, a wounded look on her face.
"What happened back there?" he questioned.
She paused to collect her thoughts before answering. "I know it's silly and childish, but…I'm sorry. I can't get past it, I thought I could…" she played with the zipper of her jacket, lacking the courage to look him in the eyes. He took a step towards her and reached out to still her trembling hands. Quickly she took a step backwards, out of his grasp. With a sigh, he stopped and shoved his hands into the pockets of his coat.
"Jackie, what is it?" He asked in a soft tone, not wanting to scare her.
"It's just-" she looked off into the trees, working up the nerve to tell him the truth. "When you kissed me…I couldn't stop thinking that I wasn't the last girl you've kissed and that lead to all of the other things." She looked at him with unshed tears in her eyes and shrugged her shoulders. "It's stupid, I know but it brought it all back."
He tried to fight the urge to walk over and wrap his arms around her, but it was useless. Just like every other time she was hurting, he ached to be the one to make it right. Slowly, he walked to where she was standing and gently pulled her into his arms. "Oh, Jackie" he whispered as he softly stroked her hair.
"I'm so sorry Steven." She mumbled into his jacket.
They stayed, wrapped in each others embrace, drawing comfort from the other for few minutes. Gently, Hyde relaxed his hold and looked into her eyes.
"Jackie, I'm going to ask you something and you're not going to like it. But I want you to think about it and answer the question, Ok?"
She looked at him puzzled, but nodded her head in agreement.
"Did you feel the same way when you were with Kelso, and why is it different with me?" He knew she was going to tell him not to compare the two, but he needed to know why this was different. How she could take Kelso back without hesitation, and couldn't look at him for months.
She quickly opened her mouth but no sound came out, just as quickly she snapped it shut. Why was it different? She couldn't deny the violent reaction she had, and he was right in assuming it was never like that with Michael. Why would Stevens' one time mistake be worse than everything Michael had done to her over the years. Her head spun at the thought.
It wasn't the betrayal, she had gotten over that as much as anyone really could. And she believed him when he said it had never happened before. She also knew in her heart it would never happen again. That he loved her was a given, even if he couldn't say the words. So if it wasn't him, it must be her.
She chewed her bottom lip, lost in thought. Was it…no, she dismissed the random thought as it quickly as it entered her mind. But still…the idea was processing in her head. It was crazy…
Forever. That was the difference. She wanted him to choose her, and she wanted it to be for forever. That he was with another woman meant he didn't feel the same, and that hurt, more than she wanted to admit. With Michael she had never actually believed they would stay together. Every time she thought about their future it was in a 'get-back-together' sense, never the 'wake-up-every-morning-and-see-him' feelings she got with Steven.
She almost laughed; is this what they meant by puppy love? All of the years with Michael were nothing more than a school girl crush?
Everything was different with Steven. There was an intensity between them that couldn't be denied. When they were together-- there were sparks, lots of sparks. She knew it the first time they kissed and it had been building since. Now she was aware of the power they had to hurt each other. He was trying to fix what they had, by giving her space, not pushing, letting her find the answers for herself.
Now it was her turn.
She quickly pulled Hyde by the lapels of his coat so that there were only a few inches separating them. With a slight smirk she snaked one hand to the back of his neck and guided his head down towards hers. She stopped before their lips could touch and looked up into his eyes. If she looked past the surprise, she could see everything she felt at that moment, every emotion that she had, reflected back in his eyes.
"I love you Steven Hyde." She said as her lips descended on his.
To be continued…More long-winded authors notes:
Really, I want to say thanks for all of the feedback. This little number is now firmly set in my own little AU world, so no need to worry about spoilers.
Also, you may have noticed that some characters are missing. This is because a) the story is really only about Jackie and Hyde and b) because I'm not that comfortable writing the rest of the gang. Will anyone else make an appearance? Unless it's Donna or Kitty, probably not. How much of the story is left? My plan is for two more chapters and an epilogue (which has already been written). After that there will probably be a few Interludes – One chapter pieces that are set in between the last chapter and the epilogue.