Title: Hotel California
Disclaimer: Don't own, ain't getting paid
Pairing: J/H, E/D
Rating: Pg -13
Archive: If you want just ask – I will freely give.
Summary: Summer before Season 5. Jackie and Hyde accompany Eric on his quest to get Donna back. AU – Eric gets over his wallowing a lot sooner and the gang minus Fez spend the end of the summer in Cali.
Credit: The Eagles –Already Gone
AN: Okay guys - The new season is about to start. I can't wait for some new inspiration. Hope you guys continue to like this one in the meantime. Tell me if you do please.
Well, I heard some people talkin'
just the other day
And they said you were gonna put me on a shelf
But let me tell you I got some news for you
And you'll soon find out it's true
And then you'll have to eat your lunch all by yourself
Cause I'm already gone
And I'm feelin' strong
I will sing this vict'ry song,
Well I know it wasn't you who held me down
Heaven knows it wasn't you who set me free
So often times it happens that we live our lives in chains
And we never even know we have the key
But me, I'm already gone
And I'm feelin' strong
I will sing this vict'ry song
'Cause I'm already gone
Jackie and Eric sat across from one another in a Hub like eatery somewhere just outside of California. Jackie was tired and bored. The road trip had been pretty uneventful. But it would be over by nightfall. Across from her Eric tapped on the table with his knuckles annoyingly. She noticed that he seemed to grow more nervous the closer they got. He was driving everyone, himself included, crazy.
After that first night on the road, Jackie had had no opportunities to be alone with Steven. She still didn't know how he really felt about her. They had been having a good time with each other without talking. Steven didn't make promises. At first, she had thought that was a good thing. In the past she had always been burned by pretty lies. At least with Steven she didn't have to worry about that. But the closer they got to California and her past, the more she wished she was more certain about the future.
Michael was, most likely, hooked up with some beach bimbo. But on the offset chance that he wasn't –she didn't want to have to worry about his advances. She wasn't about to take Michael back. She would always love him, but they were over. They just weren't right for each other.
It was immensely funny who she thought might be right for her. He was ordering their lunch. He would probably deny vehemently any idea of a romantic destiny between a rebel and a cheerleader. Scratch that she thought glancing in his direction; he was THE rebel and she was THE cheerleader. They were both good at what they did.
"So what is going on with you?" Eric asked snapping her out of her reverie.
"What?" she asked instantly worried that he could see the feelings written all over her face.
Eric had never been that good at the obvious though. "Why aren't you nervous about seeing Kelso?"
Jackie sighed. "Because I don't care Eric. We are over."
"I don't believe you."
"What's not to believe?" Jackie rolled her eyes.
"You guys have been on again off again for like ever. The same as me and Donna. I thought you wanted to marry him. And now you are telling me that you are just going to let that go? You don't love him anymore?"
Jackie could tell that he really wanted to see a parallel between the two couples. And last year she would have reveled in the comparison. But not anymore. Eric and Donna were meant to be. But Michael and Jackie weren't. It had taken her a long time to see that. "Eric he left me. He ran off to California to avoid marrying me. Why would I take him back?"
"Because you love him. Because you belong together" Eric offered lamely, as if even he couldn't pretend that was a good excuse.
She knew Eric wasn't trying to help his friend. Or give her a hard time like the whole gang used to after she took Michael back after cheating on her. He needed Donna advice and he was willing to take it wherever he could. For once she wanted to be unselfish and help. "Michael isn't Donna, Eric."
Defensively Eric snorted. "Did I say she was?"
What was taking Steven so long? She thought. Eric and she should never be forced to bond. "I didn't mean it like that. You guys are so good together. You had a bad year. But you love each other. You have always been there for each other. Me and Michael never really had that."
"Cause of all the cheating and stuff, and the- you bossing him around and…" Eric joked.
Jackie interrupted angrily. "Yes. Yes Eric, I'm a bitch and he is a slut. And who else would ever love us?" She knew he didn't mean it but the burn hit a button.
Before he could apologize Hyde returned with the food. He sat down and immediately noticed the tension. "What did I miss?"
"Nothing." She answered not wanting to get into it with him around. He'd probably only piss her off more by keeping up appearances. She knew he had to pretend to hate her if they wanted to keep it secret. But she didn't want to keep it secret. That fact combined with her lack of sleep and Eric's attitude sent her running for the safety of the ladies room.
She had been staring at herself in the mirror for about 5 minutes when she heard a knock on the door. Thinking it was some girl wanting to use the restroom, not just hide from her life, she called out "you can come in."
From behind the door she heard a muffled "Ummm, no I can't."
It was Steven. Although she would never have dreamed in a million years he'd be checking to see if she was alright. "Steven?"
"Yeah Jackie, are you okay in there?"
Good old Steven, he made such a good white knight. Even though he had insisted that he wasn't "that guy". "I'm fine."
"Look Eric said he was giving you a hard time. But that is no reason to hide in a bathroom. Eric gives you crap. That is what he does."
Jackie knew that. It was her role in the group. They all picked on each other, but her even more so. She didn't know why all of a sudden that was making her sad. "I know"
"Since when do you care?"
Since we started making out, was the immediate answer that came to her head. So that must be it. She cared because she liked Steven. And she was afraid that he could never like her because Eric didn't. And because Fez and Michael had. And because she was the exact opposite of Donna and that was his type. "I don't" She lied.
"Then what is going on?"
I like you, she thought. I like you a lot. And I don't want to go to California and see Michael. Because maybe that will remind you of why you don't like me. Maybe Eric is right and I belong with Michael. That thought was enough to make her cry.
"Jackie? Jackie, damn it! Would you come out here? I look like a perv standing outside of the girl's bathroom."
She didn't answer and didn't move from her spot. She wondered briefly if he would leave her if she refused to come out. Maybe she could get one of the maids to come pick her up and take her home.
"Jackie" the door demanded more insistently.
She opened it a crack but stayed firmly behind the barrier. "Go away Steven."
"What did I do?"
"Nothing, just go away."
"I'm not sitting in this place all day just because you got your feelings hurt. We are making it to California tonight. I don't care how much you and Eric hate each other."
"I'm not going." She informed the space.
Hyde's fingers suddenly grabbed the frame, pushing it open and forcing his way in. "What!?"
Jackie found herself retreating, going to sit in the small chair beside the sink. It was as far away as she could get now that her hiding place was breached. "I'm not going."
Hyde scratched his beard in a way that seemed to say "you are incomprehensible". "Did you slip and hit your head?"
"Look I just don't want to go anymore. I'll call my father and get a plane ticket home. I don't know what I was thinking – I mean salt air is not good for my complexion. And besides I already have a tan." She insisted innocently.
"What did Eric say?" Hyde asked. "Cause I obviously didn't hit him hard enough –if you are this pissed."
Jackie began to answer. But stopped when she heard what he said. "You…You hit him?"
Pausing himself to seemingly consider his actions, he answered "Yeah. I mean – you know. Just cause he is freaked out and depressed doesn't mean he should pick on people."
She smiled. Maybe he could like her, even if Eric didn't. Maybe he already did. "He didn't upset me."
Moving closer to her seat he looked down at her "Then why aren't you coming to California?"
She stood up and closed the remaining distance between them. Lifting her hand to pick imaginary lent off his faded concert tee, she replied. "Eric said I belonged with Kelso."
Putting his hands on her waist he barked "SO?"
His angry tone revealed something and she couldn't help but feel hope because of it. "I don't want to belong with him." She stated for him as much as herself.
"Then you don't." Hyde assured, lifting her chin to place his lips against hers.
The kiss was consuming and more tender than any that had come before it. Usually things were more heated with them. She wondered if he noticed how sweet he was being. He couldn't have or he would have turned on the Zen by now. She intensified the kiss by trailing her fingers through his hair, just in case.
He pulled back anyway and stared at her for a moment before cracking a smile. "You know…?"
Jackie held her breath, wondering if he was going to acknowledge what was developing between them or convince her she was imagining it.
"I don't think I've ever made out in a girl's restroom before."
Jackie laughed in relief. It wasn't the confession she wanted. But it wasn't a brush off. He was once again making her feel better. "Steven!"
He laughed momentarily and jumped out of her way when she tried to hit him. "So –are you done pouting? Can we go now?"
Jackie looked at the man she was starting to fall for. She thought about what Eric said and knew that most of her outburst had been her projecting. And if she ran now – she would just be delaying the inevitable. She had to face what she had had with Michael. And what she could have with Steven.
