Just Another Day
Summary: Jackie and Hyde try to improve their relationship, but it starts to struggle instead, especially when Kelso sees his chance to finally get Jackie back. Takes place in the summer between season 5 & 6, before the whole 'Brooke' thing. J/H, J/K, E/D.
Disclaimer: Alas, I do not own a single thing.
a/n: ok. . . review!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and feedback is appreciated!!!!!!! the next few chapters will be kind of angsty.. but still good.. and I know this story is so dramatic.. but that's how I do it!
Chapter Seven Get Over It, Kelso
"What's wrong with you Hyde?" Roy asked as he put the last of the clean dishes back in their place.
"Man, I'm so tired." Hyde yawned.
He really didn't want to lie to Roy.
"And," Hyde began, letting the sponge drop from his hand as he faced Roy, "Jackie's all alone at her house, and I kind of want to be with her. Can I leave early?"
"Of course!" Roy said, but then smacked himself. "Oh, but I forgot. My supervisor is coming down to check on us. He won't be too happy if you're not here."
"Damn." Hyde scratched his head for an idea. "What time will he be down here?"
"I'd say within an hour."
Hyde had been watching his wrist watch carefully, making sure that exactly an hour after he left Jackie he would return to her. Give a minute or two.
"Alright, let me call Jackie and I'll stay here, but only for another hour."
Roy nodded as Hyde made his way to the payphone in the hallway of the hotel.
***********
Jackie hadn't slept in so long.
She felt so peaceful, so well rested.
Until the obnoxious ringing of the phone woke her up.
Her eyes popped open and she ran to the phone in the kitchen.
Her memory was foggy, what had happened before she passed out?
"Jackie?"
"Hey you." She yawned.
"I was starting to panic. I've been calling for like, five minutes."
"I was sleeping, sorry."
"It's ok." He paused. "I was just calling to make sure you were ok."
"I'm fine." Jackie opened the fridge, and then closed it, indecisively.
"Um, is Kelso there?"
Jackie's eyes opened wide, and she stammered slightly, as she recollected her semi breakdown earlier that night. "I'm not sure, Fez. Let me check."
Jackie held the phone to her chest and screamed out loudly. "Michael!"
She waited a minute. Nothing. "Nope, not here."
"I guess he's just out cruising then. Thanks anyway."
"Sure." Jackie hung up the phone, stretching her arms upward.
She glanced at the clock, realizing Hyde would be there any minute.
She went upstairs to her bedroom and started to unbutton her shirt, distracted by how warm her house had become. Who turned the heat on? Michael, maybe?
Jackie was about to take her shirt off, when she heard a loud rustling noise and looked up to see Michael Kelso, throwing a bunch of things back onto her desk. Including her diary.
She quickly buttoned her shirt up, while screaming, but it came out sounding scratchy, "Michael, what the hell are doing?"
"I tripped. Over your desk." He laughed nervously. "I was cleaning it up."
Jackie flipped her curls back over the collar of the shirt as she finished buttoning enough buttons to cover her bra up, but still exposing some neck skin.
"Why didn't you come down when I called you?" Jackie asked quickly. "Wait, were you reading my diary? AGAIN?"
"Um," Kelso paused and nodded.
"Michael!! A diary is a private thing!"
"Jackie, I was just worried about you. And since you never talk to me anymore. . ."
Jackie let her look of anger curve into a smile.
"It's ok. Just, ask me next time instead of snooping around."
"Deal." Kelso tapped his foot impatiently and sat down on the edge of her bed. "So, you called me?"
"I guess you didn't hear." Jackie, in the heat of the moment, forgot how big her house can seem and how it's practically impossible to hear people call you from downstairs, even when they were screaming. "Fez called, looking for you."
"Oh."
"Yeah." Jackie suddenly felt really uncomfortable and sat down next to him, but tense and away from his body.
Kelso looked like he was about say something, when the phone rang again.
Jackie jumped up and grabbed her phone, twisting the cord in her nimble fingers.
"Jackie, what the hell!" Hyde's voice boomed out.
Her heart dropped.
Did he find out Kelso was here? Oh my god, not again with this, she thought.
"Hello to you too." She said, in her old, bitchy tone.
"I've been calling for like, 10 minutes! First no one was picking up, then it was busy. I thought something happened to you. . ." Jackie's heart raced as he paused, realizing he was being a little too free with his words.
"Oh, Steven!" Jackie whimpered. "You *do* care!" She said this dryly, but inside she felt like she was going to burst with happiness. She looked back at Kelso, who shifted his eyes back at her.
Jackie was almost ready to jump back on the old wagon.
She was going to say, "Well, Steven, Kelso's here, so I'm fine."
Let the old 'jealousy' card play out, manipulating Steven so he would pay more attention to her. Fight for her.
But for some reason, she didn't have it in her.
"I was so tired. I fell asleep. And then Fez called, which is why the line was busy."
"You slept?"
Jackie thought that Hyde didn't notice things. But he did. He just didn't mention them.
For instance, he noticed how she was always half asleep, how her eyes would suddenly close, and the dark circles she hid with pounds of concealer.
He figured she wasn't sleeping much.
"Not very long." She said. "So are you on your way?"
"Actually,"
Jackie's breath escaped her and she groaned loudly.
"Jackie, I'm so sorry. I want to be there right now, you know that. But, Roy's supervisor is coming downstairs and if no one else is around, Roy and *I* could get fired. It's just one more hour, promise."
"Promise?" She leaned back onto the couch as Kelso watched her intently.
Hyde sighed in confirmation. "My quarter's almost done, Jacks. See you soon."
Before Jackie could say anything, the line clicked, and she realized Steven's money was used up. She threw the phone down and looked back at Kelso.
"Boyfriend troubles?" Kelso asked with a laugh.
Jackie looked up at him in disbelief. "I don't know. Why don't you consult my diary?"
Kelso put his arm around her, feeling every muscle in her tense at his touch.
"Jackie, we need to talk."
She nodded and turned to face him, pushing his arm aside.
"I have a lot of questions for you and I want you to be honest." Kelso said, with a serious face.
"Go ahead." Jackie sighed. She kind of knew this was coming. You can't break down in front of someone and expect them *not* to ask you why you did it. Well, maybe Steven wouldn't ask. And that's kind of half the reason she loved him. And hated him.
"Why are you down lately?"
"I have no idea. Next question." Jackie said sharply.
"Why didn't you ask Hyde to help you turn the heat on?"
"I didn't want him to worry about me." Jackie said, shrugging. "Thanks, for turning it on."
"No problem." Kelso paused. "Jackie, you're obviously not happy here."
She looked at him blankly.
"Why don't you move back with Donna? She's your best friend, she'll understand."
"Oh my god." Jackie stood up, bits of anger rising.
She was so sick of this.
So sick of everything.
Sometimes she wished everyone would leave her alone. EVERYONE.
"Jackie, I didn't mean to upset you. . ."
"God damn it! I am not a child. I can take care of myself. Look, I've been living here for a few weeks and I'm fine! So what if the heat wasn't on? I was trying to save some money, ok?"
Was this her explosion? Kelso and Jackie had this same thought in their minds.
"Ok." Kelso stood up quickly. "Listen, Jackie. . ."
"Kelso, why are you here?" As soon as she said his name he knew she was really angry. She had been switching between Kelso and Michael. Michael when she was in a good mood; Kelso when she was in a bitchy mood.
"I came to see you."
"Why?" She stomped her foot.
"Jackie, I still love you."
Jackie's anger broke out and she let out a sympathetic laugh.
"I love Steven." She said, her eyes lowering. "I'm sorry."
"But," Kelso said quickly in defense. "If you love Steven, I mean Hyde, then why do you hide your true feelings from him? Why do you pretend to be so strong? Why do you never let him help you, Jackie? He's killing you, don't you see it!"
Jackie stared at Kelso long and hard, shocked at how hard his words hit her.
Is Steven killing her?
"What's going on here?" Jackie and Hyde whipped around at the voice, relieved that it wasn't Hyde.
"Eric," Jackie choked up slightly and flung her arms around him.
Eric staggered back with slight confusion, but hugged Jackie back, stroking her hair gently. "Jackie, Donna's downstairs."
Jackie looked up at him, smiling earnestly and went down the stairs in search of her best friend for help.
"Kelso, what the hell did you say to her?" Eric stared at Kelso, who just shook his head at what just happened.
"How I feel." Kelso muttered.
"Man, what are you doing? Hyde is your best friend." Eric knew Kelso could be selfish sometimes, but this was too much. Not to mention, Jackie was in hysterics. I mean, she *hugged* him. Jackie doesn't hug Eric Forman.
"I love her, man."
"She loves him." Eric said. "So, get over it before you tear the group apart. Now, I'm going to go downstairs and talk her out of blabbing to Hyde." Eric said firmly, heading back out the door, leaving Kelso upset and dumbfounded.
*******
"Jackie?" Donna asked in a huff from the bottom of the stairs. "What's wrong?"
Jackie hugged Donna, sobbing gently.
Donna led her to the couch, sitting them both down and patting Jackie's head to comfort her.
Jackie finally lifted her head up, and averted her eyes to the ground as Eric came down the stairs.
"Jackie," Eric started, sitting on the other side of her. "Kelso's an idiot."
"I'm not so sure about that." Jackie whispered as Donna and Eric exchanged enraged glances.
"Jackie, please, listen to me." Eric said firmly. "Don't tell Hyde about Kelso coming here tonight. Don't tell Hyde what he said."
"I won't." Jackie promised, looking up at him.
"That a girl!" Eric said, holding out his arms for her, amused.
Donna looked on with slight confusion as Jackie hugged Eric.
"Let's not make this a routine now." Jackie said as they parted.
"I know we have our difference, Jackie, but I'm always good for a hug." Eric said happily.
Jackie nodded and then looked at Donna who nodded happily.
"Now, I know you won't want to talk about this, but what did Kelso say to you?" Donna asked.
"And don't say nothing." Eric said quickly.
Jackie laughed dryly, Eric looking at her with support. "He told me he loved me. I told him I loved Steven. Then he asked me how I could love someone and not be honest with them. He said that Steven was *killing* me and I didn't even know it."
Eric let these words settle in, "So if Kelso loved you, why wasn't he honest with you when the two of you were dating?"
Jackie nodded, "That's true."
"See, Jackie, Kelso's just bitter that you chose Hyde over him." Donna insisted.
"Don't let him get to you." Eric added.
"Thanks guys." Jackie said quickly. "Now Hyde is coming over, so why don't you two get out of here?"
The three of them laughed and Jackie let them out. She started to go back upstairs to slip into something more comfortable, but realized Kelso was still in her bedroom.
"Jackie, I'm sorry." Kelso said quickly. "Eric said some stuff that made me think. And as much as I hate doing that, I realized that I'm not really in love with you."
Jackie smiled at him, placing her hand on his. "I know."
"I love you, but not like that."
"Same here."
"Really?" Kelso asked excitedly.
"Michael, I'll always love you - as a friend." Jackie insisted, hugging him quickly.
"Good." Kelso said as he got up, letting go of her. "Then let me give you some advice, as a friend."
Jackie nodded for him to continue.
"If you keep everything inside, you're going to go crazy." Kelso said confidently. "My mom goes to a head doctor, I could give you her number."
"A psychologist?" Jackie asked with slight temptation. "I'm not a psycho, Michael."
"Really? Because the girl who was collapsing and crying downstairs a few hours ago seemed real happy to me." Kelso laughed. "Just think of it as a diary that can actually talk back to you."
Jackie nodded, figuring that at least it was an option.
"Now I better leave before Hyde gets back." Kelso laughed, embracing Jackie in a hug.
"Too late." Jackie said with a gasp as her eyes locked with Steven Hyde's, who was standing in her doorway, with a disappointed look on his face, which quickly faded into anger.
Summary: Jackie and Hyde try to improve their relationship, but it starts to struggle instead, especially when Kelso sees his chance to finally get Jackie back. Takes place in the summer between season 5 & 6, before the whole 'Brooke' thing. J/H, J/K, E/D.
Disclaimer: Alas, I do not own a single thing.
a/n: ok. . . review!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and feedback is appreciated!!!!!!! the next few chapters will be kind of angsty.. but still good.. and I know this story is so dramatic.. but that's how I do it!
Chapter Seven Get Over It, Kelso
"What's wrong with you Hyde?" Roy asked as he put the last of the clean dishes back in their place.
"Man, I'm so tired." Hyde yawned.
He really didn't want to lie to Roy.
"And," Hyde began, letting the sponge drop from his hand as he faced Roy, "Jackie's all alone at her house, and I kind of want to be with her. Can I leave early?"
"Of course!" Roy said, but then smacked himself. "Oh, but I forgot. My supervisor is coming down to check on us. He won't be too happy if you're not here."
"Damn." Hyde scratched his head for an idea. "What time will he be down here?"
"I'd say within an hour."
Hyde had been watching his wrist watch carefully, making sure that exactly an hour after he left Jackie he would return to her. Give a minute or two.
"Alright, let me call Jackie and I'll stay here, but only for another hour."
Roy nodded as Hyde made his way to the payphone in the hallway of the hotel.
***********
Jackie hadn't slept in so long.
She felt so peaceful, so well rested.
Until the obnoxious ringing of the phone woke her up.
Her eyes popped open and she ran to the phone in the kitchen.
Her memory was foggy, what had happened before she passed out?
"Jackie?"
"Hey you." She yawned.
"I was starting to panic. I've been calling for like, five minutes."
"I was sleeping, sorry."
"It's ok." He paused. "I was just calling to make sure you were ok."
"I'm fine." Jackie opened the fridge, and then closed it, indecisively.
"Um, is Kelso there?"
Jackie's eyes opened wide, and she stammered slightly, as she recollected her semi breakdown earlier that night. "I'm not sure, Fez. Let me check."
Jackie held the phone to her chest and screamed out loudly. "Michael!"
She waited a minute. Nothing. "Nope, not here."
"I guess he's just out cruising then. Thanks anyway."
"Sure." Jackie hung up the phone, stretching her arms upward.
She glanced at the clock, realizing Hyde would be there any minute.
She went upstairs to her bedroom and started to unbutton her shirt, distracted by how warm her house had become. Who turned the heat on? Michael, maybe?
Jackie was about to take her shirt off, when she heard a loud rustling noise and looked up to see Michael Kelso, throwing a bunch of things back onto her desk. Including her diary.
She quickly buttoned her shirt up, while screaming, but it came out sounding scratchy, "Michael, what the hell are doing?"
"I tripped. Over your desk." He laughed nervously. "I was cleaning it up."
Jackie flipped her curls back over the collar of the shirt as she finished buttoning enough buttons to cover her bra up, but still exposing some neck skin.
"Why didn't you come down when I called you?" Jackie asked quickly. "Wait, were you reading my diary? AGAIN?"
"Um," Kelso paused and nodded.
"Michael!! A diary is a private thing!"
"Jackie, I was just worried about you. And since you never talk to me anymore. . ."
Jackie let her look of anger curve into a smile.
"It's ok. Just, ask me next time instead of snooping around."
"Deal." Kelso tapped his foot impatiently and sat down on the edge of her bed. "So, you called me?"
"I guess you didn't hear." Jackie, in the heat of the moment, forgot how big her house can seem and how it's practically impossible to hear people call you from downstairs, even when they were screaming. "Fez called, looking for you."
"Oh."
"Yeah." Jackie suddenly felt really uncomfortable and sat down next to him, but tense and away from his body.
Kelso looked like he was about say something, when the phone rang again.
Jackie jumped up and grabbed her phone, twisting the cord in her nimble fingers.
"Jackie, what the hell!" Hyde's voice boomed out.
Her heart dropped.
Did he find out Kelso was here? Oh my god, not again with this, she thought.
"Hello to you too." She said, in her old, bitchy tone.
"I've been calling for like, 10 minutes! First no one was picking up, then it was busy. I thought something happened to you. . ." Jackie's heart raced as he paused, realizing he was being a little too free with his words.
"Oh, Steven!" Jackie whimpered. "You *do* care!" She said this dryly, but inside she felt like she was going to burst with happiness. She looked back at Kelso, who shifted his eyes back at her.
Jackie was almost ready to jump back on the old wagon.
She was going to say, "Well, Steven, Kelso's here, so I'm fine."
Let the old 'jealousy' card play out, manipulating Steven so he would pay more attention to her. Fight for her.
But for some reason, she didn't have it in her.
"I was so tired. I fell asleep. And then Fez called, which is why the line was busy."
"You slept?"
Jackie thought that Hyde didn't notice things. But he did. He just didn't mention them.
For instance, he noticed how she was always half asleep, how her eyes would suddenly close, and the dark circles she hid with pounds of concealer.
He figured she wasn't sleeping much.
"Not very long." She said. "So are you on your way?"
"Actually,"
Jackie's breath escaped her and she groaned loudly.
"Jackie, I'm so sorry. I want to be there right now, you know that. But, Roy's supervisor is coming downstairs and if no one else is around, Roy and *I* could get fired. It's just one more hour, promise."
"Promise?" She leaned back onto the couch as Kelso watched her intently.
Hyde sighed in confirmation. "My quarter's almost done, Jacks. See you soon."
Before Jackie could say anything, the line clicked, and she realized Steven's money was used up. She threw the phone down and looked back at Kelso.
"Boyfriend troubles?" Kelso asked with a laugh.
Jackie looked up at him in disbelief. "I don't know. Why don't you consult my diary?"
Kelso put his arm around her, feeling every muscle in her tense at his touch.
"Jackie, we need to talk."
She nodded and turned to face him, pushing his arm aside.
"I have a lot of questions for you and I want you to be honest." Kelso said, with a serious face.
"Go ahead." Jackie sighed. She kind of knew this was coming. You can't break down in front of someone and expect them *not* to ask you why you did it. Well, maybe Steven wouldn't ask. And that's kind of half the reason she loved him. And hated him.
"Why are you down lately?"
"I have no idea. Next question." Jackie said sharply.
"Why didn't you ask Hyde to help you turn the heat on?"
"I didn't want him to worry about me." Jackie said, shrugging. "Thanks, for turning it on."
"No problem." Kelso paused. "Jackie, you're obviously not happy here."
She looked at him blankly.
"Why don't you move back with Donna? She's your best friend, she'll understand."
"Oh my god." Jackie stood up, bits of anger rising.
She was so sick of this.
So sick of everything.
Sometimes she wished everyone would leave her alone. EVERYONE.
"Jackie, I didn't mean to upset you. . ."
"God damn it! I am not a child. I can take care of myself. Look, I've been living here for a few weeks and I'm fine! So what if the heat wasn't on? I was trying to save some money, ok?"
Was this her explosion? Kelso and Jackie had this same thought in their minds.
"Ok." Kelso stood up quickly. "Listen, Jackie. . ."
"Kelso, why are you here?" As soon as she said his name he knew she was really angry. She had been switching between Kelso and Michael. Michael when she was in a good mood; Kelso when she was in a bitchy mood.
"I came to see you."
"Why?" She stomped her foot.
"Jackie, I still love you."
Jackie's anger broke out and she let out a sympathetic laugh.
"I love Steven." She said, her eyes lowering. "I'm sorry."
"But," Kelso said quickly in defense. "If you love Steven, I mean Hyde, then why do you hide your true feelings from him? Why do you pretend to be so strong? Why do you never let him help you, Jackie? He's killing you, don't you see it!"
Jackie stared at Kelso long and hard, shocked at how hard his words hit her.
Is Steven killing her?
"What's going on here?" Jackie and Hyde whipped around at the voice, relieved that it wasn't Hyde.
"Eric," Jackie choked up slightly and flung her arms around him.
Eric staggered back with slight confusion, but hugged Jackie back, stroking her hair gently. "Jackie, Donna's downstairs."
Jackie looked up at him, smiling earnestly and went down the stairs in search of her best friend for help.
"Kelso, what the hell did you say to her?" Eric stared at Kelso, who just shook his head at what just happened.
"How I feel." Kelso muttered.
"Man, what are you doing? Hyde is your best friend." Eric knew Kelso could be selfish sometimes, but this was too much. Not to mention, Jackie was in hysterics. I mean, she *hugged* him. Jackie doesn't hug Eric Forman.
"I love her, man."
"She loves him." Eric said. "So, get over it before you tear the group apart. Now, I'm going to go downstairs and talk her out of blabbing to Hyde." Eric said firmly, heading back out the door, leaving Kelso upset and dumbfounded.
*******
"Jackie?" Donna asked in a huff from the bottom of the stairs. "What's wrong?"
Jackie hugged Donna, sobbing gently.
Donna led her to the couch, sitting them both down and patting Jackie's head to comfort her.
Jackie finally lifted her head up, and averted her eyes to the ground as Eric came down the stairs.
"Jackie," Eric started, sitting on the other side of her. "Kelso's an idiot."
"I'm not so sure about that." Jackie whispered as Donna and Eric exchanged enraged glances.
"Jackie, please, listen to me." Eric said firmly. "Don't tell Hyde about Kelso coming here tonight. Don't tell Hyde what he said."
"I won't." Jackie promised, looking up at him.
"That a girl!" Eric said, holding out his arms for her, amused.
Donna looked on with slight confusion as Jackie hugged Eric.
"Let's not make this a routine now." Jackie said as they parted.
"I know we have our difference, Jackie, but I'm always good for a hug." Eric said happily.
Jackie nodded and then looked at Donna who nodded happily.
"Now, I know you won't want to talk about this, but what did Kelso say to you?" Donna asked.
"And don't say nothing." Eric said quickly.
Jackie laughed dryly, Eric looking at her with support. "He told me he loved me. I told him I loved Steven. Then he asked me how I could love someone and not be honest with them. He said that Steven was *killing* me and I didn't even know it."
Eric let these words settle in, "So if Kelso loved you, why wasn't he honest with you when the two of you were dating?"
Jackie nodded, "That's true."
"See, Jackie, Kelso's just bitter that you chose Hyde over him." Donna insisted.
"Don't let him get to you." Eric added.
"Thanks guys." Jackie said quickly. "Now Hyde is coming over, so why don't you two get out of here?"
The three of them laughed and Jackie let them out. She started to go back upstairs to slip into something more comfortable, but realized Kelso was still in her bedroom.
"Jackie, I'm sorry." Kelso said quickly. "Eric said some stuff that made me think. And as much as I hate doing that, I realized that I'm not really in love with you."
Jackie smiled at him, placing her hand on his. "I know."
"I love you, but not like that."
"Same here."
"Really?" Kelso asked excitedly.
"Michael, I'll always love you - as a friend." Jackie insisted, hugging him quickly.
"Good." Kelso said as he got up, letting go of her. "Then let me give you some advice, as a friend."
Jackie nodded for him to continue.
"If you keep everything inside, you're going to go crazy." Kelso said confidently. "My mom goes to a head doctor, I could give you her number."
"A psychologist?" Jackie asked with slight temptation. "I'm not a psycho, Michael."
"Really? Because the girl who was collapsing and crying downstairs a few hours ago seemed real happy to me." Kelso laughed. "Just think of it as a diary that can actually talk back to you."
Jackie nodded, figuring that at least it was an option.
"Now I better leave before Hyde gets back." Kelso laughed, embracing Jackie in a hug.
"Too late." Jackie said with a gasp as her eyes locked with Steven Hyde's, who was standing in her doorway, with a disappointed look on his face, which quickly faded into anger.