Title: Innocent Games  - Game 3

Disclaimer: That 70's Show is not mine.  These characters are not mine.  The game?  Not mine.  The idea?  Not really.  But the words –yeah my mom and dad taught them to me. 

Summary: Through a series of games – Jackie and Hyde discover their feelings for one another.  But will the gang discover them first?

A/N: Again the idea has been lifted from others – but it is still my spin.  And darn it – I have never really played this game either.  Why the heck have I never played any games?  This one isn't that hard to figure out though so I think I managed.  Please grace me with your thoughts when you finish.

The silence of the basement was almost deafening.  Hyde sat in his chair staring blankly at Jackie, his thumb steadily tapping on his knee.  He was trying to compile a list of things he hated in his head to kill the boredom.  And stop himself from lunging across the room on top of the small pixie just to alleviate it.  The FBI, greeting cards, those little sugar packets at the Hub that said Not for resale on the side – like anyone was trying to work that angle, Jackie's annoyingly pink toe nail polish.

Jackie sat on the far end of the couch staring at Steven.  She tried to keep her mind occupied –tried to make herself look away –but she couldn't.  He kept tapping on his leg, which just drew her attention to his thighs.  Which made her think of how they felt under her.  Or over her.  Or… oh god this was useless.  Think of something un-Hyde she told herself.  Unicorns, rainbows, baby ducks, shaving cream…yeah that would be a welcome addition to his toiletries.  She would have to buy him some.  But the unscented kind because she loved the way he smelled.  Like soap and incense and …well this wasn't working.  She just wanted him to lunge over the table and kiss her. 

But the reason they were fighting their urges sat between them humming a little tune and flipping through a car magazine engrossed.  "Oh my, do hot babes really enjoy sitting on top of cars?" Fez asked looking toward Jackie as she and Hyde quickly averted their eyes to pre-picked spots around the room.  "Jackie I've never seen you sit on top of a car in your bikini?  Why not?"

Jackie laughed.  "Fez, they pay those women to do that?  No one likes sitting on top of a car half naked."

"So if I paid you?" He began.

"NOOO" she rolled her eyes.  Glancing back to Steven who had now picked up his own magazine. 

"Oh no matter – I will see you in your bikini without the car today anyway." The foreigner clapped.

That got Steven's attention, Jackie noticed. Pleased despite her better judgment.

"WHat?" he asked barely hiding his less than apathetic response.  Good thing Fez was the only one here.  Eric would have noticed.  And Donna too.  But they were thankfully spending the day with Bob re-bonding after her summer away. 

Fez continued undeterred.  "I get to see Jackie almost naked!"

Jackie smirked at the still enthused boy and looked to Steven.  He had replaced the look on his face with the Zen mask.  "Steven, Fez wanted me to go to the pool with him today since Donna and Eric are away."

"So why didn't he ask Kelso?" He responded a little put out.  He was planning on sneaking away today or leading the two dummies somewhere so he could be alone with her.  And she was leaving him?  Not that he should care but…

Jackie gave him a look that said simmer down.  But at the same time she was excited at the uncharacteristic display of emotion.  Maybe he was ready to tell someone.  She was sure if he wasn't at least thinking about it he would have tried to call it off.  I mean they couldn't go on hiding this forever.  Could they?  And she didn't think she wanted to end it.  "Michael got banned from the pool last year remember?  For stealing that kids water wings?"

Fez laughed.  "I will never forget that mother coming up behind him and dragging him over and making him apologize to that little girl."

Hyde smiled.  Yeah he remembered that now.  Well at least Kelso wouldn't be tagging along with them, ogling Jackie in her bathing suit. He remembered the one she was wearing that day. It was a navy blue one with a white stripe down the side.  He forgave himself for knowing this because she was hot –but…

"So let's go already." Fez whined like the poor girl from the pool. 

"Okay – you go ahead and get in the car.  I'll be right there, I just need to…" she searched for something "fix my hair first." Well as lame excuses go that one was passing. 

Fez ran off. 

"So I guess I'll see you later." She offered scooting closer to his chair on the couch. 

Hyde looked at her mouth, registered the words and couldn't help going in for the kiss.  It was slow and more casual than their usual go for the gusto kisses –because they were on a time frame.  Well that was his excuse for the lingering quality anyway.  She moaned and he almost reciprocated.  He pulled back and looked her in the eye.  "You know I have nothing better to do today."

She smiled and saw through his act.  She wouldn't push though.  "Wanna come?"

"Might as well." He pulled away, going in his room for his seldom used swim trunks.  They were the only shorts he'd ever wear.  And he'd only wear them for the opportunity of seeing half naked girls.  Half naked Jackie, his mind raced, nothing he hadn't seen before.  But last summer she had been going out with his best friend and he had hated her.  Today she was, well he didn't know what she was, but things were certainly different. 

They walked to the car and Fez looked surprised when he slid into the back seat.  "Hyde you are coming to the pool?" 

"Yeah man, I figured I might meet a chick."

Jackie met his sunglass-covered eyes in the rearview mirror and he smirked. 

15 minutes later they had reached Point Place's community pool.  It was relatively dead.  The lower grades, which were the main residents of the pool throughout the summer, had registration today.  They all started school next week.  Jackie shuddered.  She didn't want to go back to school.  She had the irrational fear that once school began she would be forced to go back to normal.  Like the principal would call her in his office and demand she forgive Michael and stop seeing Steven.  The summer had been so wonderful and that was the last thing she ever wanted to do.  But it was just a matter of time before Steven got tired of her.  Before he figured out that she had developed feelings for him and broke their rule. 

"Come on Jackie, last one in is a rotten tomato". He called jumping into the deep end before they could correct him. 

Hyde grabbed a lounge chair and plopped down.  She placed her beach towel and gear down beside him.  She went to lie down, grabbing her lotion before taking her cover up off. 

"Aren't you going to go swimming with Fez?" he asked.  Beginning to think that maybe watching Jackie sunbath all day might be bad for his health.  

"And ruin my tan?" she asked willing to play the shallow act to make him squirm. 

"Come on guys!" Fez hollered from the deep end.  Besides to Senior Citizens sitting on the steps of the kiddy pool they were alone.  "I'm bored."

Jackie sighed.  She didn't really think she was going to get out of getting wet when she had agreed to go with Fez.  He was such a kid at heart.  She sat up and lifted her peasant top over her head, revealing her favorite bathing suit.  It was a white bikini that showed the perfection of her carefully developed tan.  She knew she looked good but it was nice to hear Fez's gasp and see Steven's thinly veiled lust anyway. 

"You coming?" she asked coyly. 

"Not yet" he muttered under his breath and rushed to the bathroom to change into his swimsuit among other things. 

When he got back Fez was splashing Jackie with water and she was shrieking. 

"Stop Fez, stop it –you'll get my hair wet."

Hyde smirked.  Just like Jackie to get into a pool not wanting to get her hair wet.  He noticed she swam closer to him as if for protection and wondered when she had started trusting him with her hair issues. 

"Steven make him stop." She whined, circling behind him.  Amazed when he actually put out a hand to Fez to do just that.  She looked up at him with an old Jackie adoration. 

"Fez, seriously man, stop." He waited a beat then turned around to Jackie.  He let his true emotions (attraction was the only one he was willing to label but there may be more) show for about four seconds as he swam nearer. "Seriously man?  If anyone is going to mess her hair it is going to be me." Then he put his hand on her head and dunked her. 

6 seconds later, Jackie bounded out of the water hair in her eyes and fuming.  Damn, Steven Hyde.  She should have known better.  The more things change the more they stay the same.  And by the same token she couldn't stay mad at him.  She could though get revenge.  Jumping on his back she used all 95 of her pounds to somehow force him under the water.  When he came back up and shook her off he was the one with the sour face.  "There -now we are even –you ruin my perfect locks and I ruin your stupid white fro."

To Fez they must look like they always did.  Just a pair of enemies picking on each other.  But her and Steven could tell the difference.  He didn't know when fighting had become flirting but it had.  And he couldn't seem to stop himself.  "Oh you will pay for that brat"

"Oh yeah?" she questioned bravely but swam away. 

"Hey guys –stop fighting.  You are frightening away the people." Fez piped in, pointing to the old couple that was now leaving the pool.  They were alone.  "Ooh guys lets play a game". 

Jackie and Hyde groaned. "Fez haven't you had enough of games lately?"

"I like games."

"You would." Hyde sighed.  Although he wouldn't mind a little game of save the drowning girl right about now.  He was pretty good at mouth to mouth.  He gave Jackie an eyebrow raise as Fez looked away.  She looked confused.

"Oh I know – we can play Marco Polo."

Jackie's look compounded.  "They have Marco Polo in your country?"

Fez laughed. "Oh no we have no water –Kelso taught me last summer."

Hyde couldn't find it in his heart to deny his friend when they had finally found a game he knew, so he agreed. "Fine Fez, we will play."

"Oh goodie.  Who wants to be it?"

"I'll be it" Jackie eagerly stated. 

Hyde and Fez swam to the opposing corners and closed their eyes.  Hyde had always felt like an idiot playing this game.  The few times he had ever played it he had always been it.  That way you were just watching other people make fools of themselves.  But at least in this situation he'd be hunting Jackie and not Eric or Kelso. 

"Marco" Fez called out. 

"Polo" Hyde heard Jackie respond from somewhere near the left side of the pool.  He began to swim in that direction.  Fez did the same.  When he was as near as he could tell to the middle of the pool he called "Marco".

"Polo" Jackie said again.  She had glided past them as they headed near her original position.  Being small and a strong swimmer had always given her an edge in this game.  Steven seemed to pick up on her switch but Fez continued in the opposite direction.

Hyde could tell Jackie had changed sides and turned around.  He swam lightly listening for any sign that she was pulling the trick again. 

Jackie rested her head against the deep end wall.  She watched Steven swim towards her listening intently like a hunter stalking prey. She raised her hand out to grab the side of pool.  She was in way over her head. 

Fez was on the opposite side now –staying quiet –thinking that he had won and not wanting to give away Jackie or his positions by calling out Marco. 

Jackie glanced back from checking his position and noticed that Steven was upon her.  She began to swim away when his arm shot out grazing her stomach.  She had played this game a thousand times in Cheerleading camp and at the country club with fellow socialite kids and never once had it seemed anything but innocent.  Treading water here though it was far from.  She noticed she had closed her eyes and opened them.  To her surprise Steven's were still closed.  He had gotten her –it was his turn – he could.  But he didn't. 

Steven hoped that Fez was still searching blindly because he himself could not bear to check.  With his eyes closed and his hand around Jackie's naked waist things just felt so real.  Super sensitive and really good. His rational mind told him that real was not what he was supposed to be feeling.  Him and Jackie were just playing around –pretending.  He added a second hand, skimming it around her ass, coming to rest on the small of her back and pulling her to him.  He heard her gasp, before sound was impossible because his mouth was on hers in a possessing kiss. 

Jackie frantically clutched at Steven's bare arms.  They were wet and soft and she suddenly wondered if his back would feel the same.  Opening her mouth and seeking his tongue with hers she let her hands wander there.  It was.  She followed the ridge of his spine all the way down and thanked whatever God there was that a blind Fez was their only audience.  She didn't think she could stop this, she didn't think she would even care if the whole school marched in right now and cried a unanimous 'Ewgh'.  Steven was so good at this. 

From the other side of the pool they heard a water splat and Fez's frustrated "Marco". 

Jackie looked into Steven's now open eyes and he pulled away.  She stood there still in the circle of his arms and kept silent.  He let go and swam back a few strokes.  She breathed in deeply and responded with a low "Polo". 

Steven swam back to her grabbing her arm and saying "Marco" he sounded strange when he said it but she couldn't figure out why. 

"Damn". Fez called, swimming up beside them. 

Hyde let go.  He tried to focus on sugar packets again and not the bulge in his trunks.  He wondered briefly if these games were getting harder or if it was just him. 

Jackie waded toward the ladder and climbed up.  She sat down toweling off and thinking about that kiss.  She wondered if Steven would ever admit he felt something.  She wondered if she had the guts to ask.  He was so stubborn and she was tired of putting herself out there when it came to love. 

"Come on Jackie." Fez called.  "Come back and play – if you don't get back in the water how are you ever going to score?"

A/N:  Okay I still need ideas.  I know you guys are holding out on me.  You are playful people – you aren't like me –you didn't waste away your childhood being elitist and too cool to participate.  Come on? 

And did you like?