Chapter Five
Jackie woke up with a warm body lying next to her. At first she couldn't remember who it was. Then she remembered how utterly lonely she had been feeling the night before. The combination of that with a very stoned Eric had been enough to get them to sleep together. Usually she and Eric slept on opposite sides of the bed. Now his arms were wrapped around her as he stirred in his sleep.
"Donna...." she heard him murmur and she wriggled out of his grasp like she was on fire. She got out of the bed and threw a blanket over her naked body. She then moved on to the bathroom to take a quick shower before going to work. She didn't realize that Eric was now awake.
He also got out of bed and pulled on a pair of boxers. He was going to be at work until six that night and Jackie would be at her own work until god knows when. The events of the day before were slightly blurred, but he could still make out the look on Donna's face when he saw her standing on his front step. Remembering the hopeful, adoring expression on her face was enough to make him cringe. Had he done the wrong thing by not giving her another chance? He didn't know yet, but it wasn't like being a bartender at Fez's club took a lot out of him. He would have plenty of time to think about it there.
Jackie's POV
I was sitting at my desk hard at work that afternoon. I was going to have to stay late that night if I was going to finish the sketches for Laurie by the next morning. When Laurie had asked me to sketch out some lingerie designs for the upcoming charity fashion show, I had been ecstatic. I couldn't wait to see my clothing designs on other people. I was too engrossed in my work to hear the door to my office swing open and footsteps nearing my desk. Finally I snapped out of my reverie when I heard someone clearing their throat beside me. Startled, I jumped when I looked into the icy blue eyes of Steven Hyde.
"How did you get in here?" I demanded in a shrill voice, "God, that's what my secretary is for. To keep people like you out."
"Am I distracting you from your work?" he asked in a teasing voice, then picked up my large sketching notebook.
"Give that back." I snapped, making a futile attempt to snatch the book back from him.
"I'd like to see you in this." he commented. He had flipped a few pages back to pair of very revealing lacy white lingerie.
I flushed slightly at closed the notebook, "Did you need something, Steven?" I asked skeptically.
"You." he replied without hesitation. I had to cover my mouth with one hand to hide the smile I knew my forming across my lips. Steven was in rare form this morning and it was very entertaining. But it would take more than that to get me to forgive him.
"I'm married, Steven." I reminded him, and, even though it was a lie, I couldn't resist, "And I love Eric."
"No you don't." he said in a knowing tone that never ceased to irritate me. He had always understood me better than anyone else and I knew he wasn't believing a word I was saying.
"Yes I do." I retorted, "In fact, Eric and I had a very lovely time together last night. In our bed." I added emphatically.
Steven Hyde raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. God, I loved him so much there was nothing more I wanted to do than wrap my arms around him and kiss him passionately. But I was going to be realistic this time. I was going to be Zen, the way Steven had taught me to be over five years ago. If I made him believe that I didn't love him anymore, maybe he would take off again and leave Eric and I alone. Then everything would go back to normal. Even if I wasn't sure that I wanted it to.
"I have work to do." I told him when he continued to remain silent, "Please leave."
He sighed at shot me a look of anguish, "All right, Jackie, I'll go." he told me, "But this isn't the end. I will come back and next time I'm not going to leave so easily."
I don't know what came over me but I couldn't help but call after him, "Why now, Steven? You didn't love me enough before to stay with me. Why should this time around be any different?"
He turned back around, his eyes revealing so much regret and agony it almost hurt to look at him, "I always loved you, Jacks. With every bone in my body. And I know that deep down you've known it all along."
"No, I haven't." I whispered softly to myself as I watched him walk out the door.
Hyde's POV
Later that night, Donna came back from her job interview. It was somewhere around a quarter after six, I think. They told her that they really liked her work and had a position open for her. She was so happy, which was a good thing. After she had gotten back from her episode with Eric, she had been an emotional basket case. At least she was more her old self now.
Fez and Kelso came back from Fez's club a little before Donna. Kelso had gotten a job at the club and Fez had offered me a job there as well. But I told him I was going to look around a bit first. However, my main priority was getting Jackie back. She had been very spiteful and callous at her work that day. I had already tried to win her back with two different approaches and both had failed. If I wanted Jackie to see that I still loved her, then I was going to have to pull out all the stops in my performance. Gifts, love notes, god knows what else I was going to have to do before she came back to me. But there was no doubt in my mind that was would. I had seen it in her eyes that day, the fury and hurt tainted by a love that refused to fade away.
"Jackie's still angry," I told my friends once they were all settled in the hotel room, "And you know what? I can't blame her."
Donna spoke up in a gloomy voice, "Eric and I were supposed to get married. And I just left without even warning him. I guess I don't blame him either."
"We've been through all this." Fez said impatiently, "What we need is a plan?"
"Plan?" Kelso repeated blankly.
Donna tossed her long red hair over her shoulder and a grin lighted up on her face, "You guys, remember how Jacks used to always make up those crazy schemes and get us involved somehow?"
"Yes..." I said, starting to see what she and Fez were getting at, "So we have to out scheme the Queen of Scheming?"
"That's right." Donna smiled smugly, "And I know we can do it. All we need to do is think one up."
"I could see it happening." Kelso said slowly, "We'll be a great team. Donna's the brains, Fez has the connections to Jackie and Eric, Hyde's the one with all the guts and I supply all the charm and charisma."
Fez laughed, "And Jackie doesn't know Donna is here, right?" he asked and we nodded in confirmation, "Good. I'm sure we can somehow use that to our advantage."
Before we could forge ahead and begin planning, Donna's cell phone rang. She snatched it off the coffee table and turned it on.
"Hello?" I watched the placid look on Donna's face turn to one of surprise, "Eric? How did you get this number?" after another pause she turned to Fez, who had an innocent grin pasted on his face, "From Fez? Come over? I guess I could."
I looked from Kelso to Fez, whose mouths were open in surprise. Eric had just found out about Donna's return the previous day and he was already calling her to invite her over. What could he possibly want?
"Sure, I'll be there in about ten minutes." she hung up and tugged at her hair nervously, "I guess we'll have to put this plan-making business on hold." she said, "Eric's wants me to come over."
"Did he say why?" I asked. She shook her head and jumped off the chair she had been sitting in.
"I wonder what he wants." Fez murmured, "He seemed very distracted at the club today."
I had no clue what Donna would find when she returned to Eric's home either. It was hard to say whether I thought it would be good or bad. I guess all Fez, Kelso and I could do was wait for Donna to bring back some news when she got back from Eric's.
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Okay, there is a strong possibility of an intimate scene between Eric and Donna in the next chapter. But I will only put this in if I get five reviews for chapter five. And, one of the character's secrets will also be revealed in the next chapter IF I get those five reviews. But if I don't, I guess you'll all just have to suffer, lol. So R/R if you want more.