Chapter Four: Dawn and Jackie.

It been an entire month since she came home from the hospital and Jackie had been given the all clear from the doctors. She was now able to do all the extra curricular activities she wanted to. Ever since Hyde and Jackie kissed in Laurie's room they hadn't found one moment alone. So Jackie gave up on the idea of the two of them being together and to compensate for the sadness she felt, she began spending less time in the basement and more time with Dawn. After being told by Donna that it was Dawn who gave her CPR she valued Dawn's friendship more.

The two girls sat in the mist of a busy lunch time in Point Place High's Cafeteria at the popular table. Dawn and Jackie were surrounded by other cheerleaders counting the calories in their salad as to not gain weight and meathead jocks who viewed the cheerleading squad as their very own geisha's. Jackie missed the confines of the basement and would rather be sitting there inhaling second hand dope smoke than engage in useless banter with the cheerleading team. Dawn picked up on this and asked Jackie if she was okay.

"Yeah I'm fine it's just…" Jackie paused when she saw Hyde enter the cafeteria. Jackie didn't hide the shock on her face as she viewed him from afar. He never came to the cafeteria he had always said that it was a government ploy to segregate the teenage population. Jackie gazed at him as he followed Eric to a table situated in the middle of the cafeteria. It wasn't a bad place to sit. You weren't popular but you were known of among the elite which was better than nothing in Jackie's eyes. But at that moment she would have given anything to be stripped away of her status as a cheerleader and just enjoy a lunch with her friends.

Dawn looked at Jackie worriedly as she had been staring in the same direction for over five minutes.

"Hey earth to Jackie. Come in Jackie." Dawn said while enthusiastically waving her hand in front of Jackie's face. Jackie snapped out of her daydream and gave a puzzled look at Dawn.

"You started saying something and then you trailed off and started staring off into space towards…" Dawn turned around and followed Jackie's gaze far off into the crowd until it rested on Hyde.

"Ahhhh I understand now you have a crush on Hyde don't you." Dawn said.

Jackie gasped and tried to deny it. "No I don't. I don't know what you are talking about. I do not like Steven."

"Oh is it Steven now I thought it was just Hyde." Dawn replied as she drank from her glass of orange juice.

"Actually it's both. Steven Hyde. His friends call him Hyde and I just started calling Steven when I went out with Michael." Jackie explained. At that point they seemed to be alone on the popular table and the crowd in the cafeteria had decreased.

And their voices grew much louder as they echoed off of the walls.

"And now you like Hyde." Dawn chuckled. She looked over at Hyde and smiled. He was good looking and if she wasn't already involved she would have gone for him herself.

Jackie pulled Dawn towards her as some occupants of the near by tables started to over hear their conversation. Luckily Hyde and the gang were too far away to hear anything.

"Would you keep your voice down people are starting to listen." Jackie whispered.

"Fine we can talk about it later cos I know you aren't telling me the truth. I'll catch up with you later as I have bio now but we can go shopping later." Dawn said as she got up to leave.

"Sure." Jackie said and continued to eat the remainder of her lunch. She watched Dawn leave and then she got up from her table and walked over to Hyde. Even though she thought it was a bad idea she wanted to see him and catch up with the rest of the gang.

Hyde was seated next to Eric who was then seated next to Donna. Fez and Kelso sat on the opposite side of the table. He came in to the cafeteria only to see Jackie. They had been living in the same house for a month and neither got the opportunity to be alone. They were always joined by Fez who couldn't take a hint and Kelso who just followed Jackie around like a puppy dog and it remained impossible to speak to her. Jackie stayed in less and less and it became apparent that Jackie was avoiding him. He saw Jackie when he first came in and he sensed that she was looking at him so he forced himself to stay seated and just wait for her to make the first move. Which she did as Hyde looked out of the corner of his eye and saw Jackie walking towards them.

Of course Eric was the first to notice and like the smart ass he is had to say something.

"Oh look it's the popular cheerleader. Jackie are you sure its ok to grace us with your presence?"

Jackie just looked at him and smiled.

"Well they did warn me that you carry a rabie warning but I thought I'd take the chance."

Kelso jumped up from his seat and immediately called on the burn. Boy can Jackie burn. You can always count on her to put Forman in his place. Hyde thought.

Jackie sat down next to Hyde which created a domino effect as Donna and Eric had to move down to make room for her. Hyde looked at her and wanted to kiss her. From where he was he caught the aroma of roses and baby lotion coming off of her. He slowly shifted his weight which caused his knee to touch Jackie's.

The touch coursed through Jackie's body and then all thoughts of not being with Steven disappeared from her mind. In retaliation she lightly trailed her fingertip down his lower thigh and then began a touching game underneath the lunch table. Above the touching Jackie and Hyde seemed like their usual sparring selves and Donna, Eric, Fez and Kelso were none the wiser.

"So Jackie why haven't you been coming to the basement and allow me to turn you on with my face that is like a stallion." Fez said as he slurped his soda.

Jackie was so lost in the moment as Hyde slowly caressed her thigh that she didn't even hear Fez's question. And her response was a giggle. All the gang looked at her including Hyde. Jackie grabbed Hyde's hand and pulled it away from her thigh as he was getting dangerously close to an off limits area. Hyde groaned as she did this and pulled his hand away and drank his soda. Jackie composed herself and replied.

"Well Fez as tempting as that is I have really started to hang out with Dawn."

"I thought you already did." Donna said.

"Yeah she was on the squad but I never really spoke to her outside cheerleading. So I thought I return the favour of helping me by hanging out with her." Jackie explained.

"So you view this as some kind of service." Hyde said from beside her.

"Well if that is what you call service you really need to take some tips from the girls that hang out by the drive in. They wear skimpy outfits and know how to make me pleased." Fez argued.

"Fez they are hookers. They expect a fee for their service." Eric tried to tell his friend.

"Yeah well girlfriends and Laurie would do it for free!" Jackie interrupted and Hyde smiled at her. Even Eric gave her a pat on the back for that burn.

"Hey Jackie I'll pay you if you wanna do it!" Kelso said but received a triple punch from Donna, Eric and Fez. Hyde was gonna punch him as well but his hands were kinda busy having fun with Jackie's legs under the table.

"Anyway as I was saying." Jackie continued. "I really like her and I think we'll be good friends. She is so nice and she likes the same things I like."

"Oh so she likes giving it away at the movies too!" Eric said as a way of getting her back for earlier.

Dawn stood by the entrance to the cafeteria and had been watching Jackie ever since she pretended to leave. She looked at the way Jackie and Hyde were with one another and knew she had been lying. When they go out later Dawn is gonna make sure that she tells her everything. Her father told Dawn to keep an eye on her and that is what she is going to do. And if that meant keeping her away from guys like Hyde than so be it. She wanted to be extra close with her considering that one day she will be her step mother or maybe not. Who's to say Jackie will be around. Dawn left the cafeteria with a smile on her face and went to class.

Hyde was wandering around the abandoned halls of Point Place High he should have been in class but he never paid much attention to class anyway. So he figured he'd learn much more if he were to snoop around the school. Hyde looked on at all the high school drones as he peered into a classroom. It took him a few moments to notice a pretty dark haired girl seated in the back row. She had a huge smile on her face and was passing a note to a girl seated next to her. Hyde took a closer look and saw that it was Jackie. He backed away from the classroom but then decided that skipping class doesn't have to a total waste. He walked back to the class and tried to get Jackie's attention through the glass window. It took a few minutes but Jackie finally gazed up and saw Hyde. Suddenly her features were flooded with a look of lust and then pain as she pretended to have a stomach ache in order to get out of class.

Hyde walked away from the class towards the janitor's closet and decided that he'd surprise her when she'll come out. Hyde waited in the dark room for a few minutes until her heard her footsteps. He didn't have to worry pulling the lunch lady into the closet as he knew what Jackie's steps sounded like, light with a little tap at the end. Hyde ran his hands through his hair in amazement the fact that he knew things about Jackie, things he didn't need to know but did. It was amazing the impact she had since she walked into his life and should tell her.

Hyde silently opened the door and shot an arm out of the closet and pulled an frightened Jackie in. As soon as Jackie set foot inside she new Hyde was in there and immediately wrapped her arms around him. He instinctively pulled her closer and placed a soft kiss upon her lips. A kiss that said hello and I missed you. But Jackie didn't want to just say hello and deepened the kiss. Hyde wasn't going to complain as he slipped his hands underneath her unicorn T-shirt and slightly grazed her skin. Jackie felt the heat radiating from his hands and yearned for more contact. She leaned into his touch and brought her hands down so that they rested on his stomach. Hyde continued to caress her back as they allowed the kiss to envelope the both of them. Finally Hyde pulled back panting. Jackie leaned up towards Hyde and placed her forehead against his.

" How did you know it was me?" Jackie asked as she played with the curls of the back of his head.

Hyde looked into her eyes and replied. " I just knew." And he grabbed her face again and kissed her with every amount of passion he carried in his body. Jackie responded with every bit of love she had and maybe more. Their tongues danced in their mouths and created an internal battle that neither cared if they won or lost. Jackie lightly nipped at Hyde's lower lip which caused him to moan into her mouth. They made out for the entire period. Words were exchanged but mostly they concentrated on the feel of each other's bodies. Hyde was filled with such lust that he thought every urge he had to rip Jackie's clothes off and make love to her in the closet.

Jackie tried to pull away.

" Steven I have to go. I have English next and I can't miss it I have a presentation to give." Jackie pleaded as he continued to kiss her neck. Hyde released her and opened the door for her to leave but Jackie flung herself in his arms and began kissing him again. She couldn't get enough of him and she so desperately wanted to stay. Hyde pulled away.

" Look Jackie you really have to go now. But before you do can we talk first?" Hyde asked.

Jackie had a bemused look on her face. " Steven Hyde wants to talk. Wow this must be important." Jackie said as she smiled.

" Look we have been avoiding each other for months and I just want to know what the hell lunch time was all about?"

" Steven do really need me to tell you? I want you and you want me." Jackie answered.

" Yeah I want you….but is this just to get back at Kelso or.." Hyde didn't even get to finish as Jackie jumped in.

" Not everything is about Michael you know. I dumped the loser and now I want to be with you. I don't know what you want but I want to be with you and only you!" Jackie said as she starred up into Hyde's eyes. Hyde didn't say anything and Jackie lifted her hand from Hyde's arm and started to leave. Hyde stopped her and smiled.

" I want to be with you and you only too!"

Jackie smiled her famous Jackie grin and pulled Hyde into a hug. She gave Hyde a sweet kiss and left the closet but before she did she threw Hyde a look that let Hyde know that he had nothing to worry about.

Hyde waited a few moments and then left the closet. He looked up and down the hallway and made sure the coast was clear before he walked towards his locker. Hyde was in a state of peace and tranquillity mixed with heat and pleasure just being with Jackie gave him a high that pot couldn't compete with although it was a close second. Jackie always amazed him.

She's come along way from the spoilt brat I used to know……now she's the girl I want to be with. Hyde couldn't help but laugh. Then he thought about what they'll tell Forman and the others which caused him to laugh harder.

Hyde's laughter was broken by a set a footsteps that seemed to be coming towards him. He turned around but didn't see anything. He then went back to rummaging through his locker. He closed it and almost jumped when he saw Dawn standing in front of him. But luckily Hyde's natural Zen ability made him look like he knew she was there all along.

" Hey Hyde." She said while inspecting him. He was nicer to look at up close and personal.

" Hey." Hyde replied remaining Zen. Knowing that she and Mr Burkhart were at it like rabbits behind Jackie's back made it harder for him to look at her.

" So you and Jackie……never knew you liked rich bitches like her." Dawn coldly said as she closed his locker and took a step closer to him. In what Hyde thought was an invasion of space he took a step back.

" What are you talking about I thought you and Jackie are friends?"

" Yeah we are it's just I never thought she was your type." She said as she moistened her lips in a seductive manner but Hyde didn't even flinch.

" And what did you think was my type….you!" Hyde shot back.

Dawn took out a nail file and began to file her nails as she spoke.

" Well yeah I mean I am better than Jackie in everyway. Why wouldn't you like me more than Jackie?"

Hyde just looked at her he didn't even need to answer that question as there was no comparison between Dawn and Jackie.

"I don't see why it is any of your business if I date Jackie anyway?" Hyde said.

" It's just I know what you are like Hyde. The rebel without a cause that likes to fuck all the pretty girls he sees and then leave them like they were shit. I don't want you to do that with Jackie. She's stupid and young and wouldn't get over it." Dawn bit.

Hyde was getting really angry and didn't know what Dawn's problem was.

" You know what I don't view Jackie like that. She is the only girl I have ever cared about I would never hurt her. You know you give her little credit she is a lot more capable of defending herself then you know." Hyde said back with just as much anger he felt.

Dawn however didn't back down and she was determined to back Hyde back off of Jackie for good.

" Hyde leave Jackie alone…..and I wont destroy you." Dawn threatened.

" Does Jackie realise that you aren't her friend just a sad bitch that needs to be taught a lesson?" Hyde said.

Dawn looked at him. " I guess she doesn't seeing as she's dating a bum. You now I really care about Jackie and what happens to her and I think you are bad news."

" Why don't you let Jackie decide that. She's a big girl now. She knows that I ……" He was gonna say something that he'd regret in front of Dawn and decide to keep quiet. And then it dawned (no pun intended) on him that he did love Jackie and she didn't know it.

Dawn laughed. " You what Hyde…….cat lost your tongue. Keep away from Jackie or there will be consequences and trust me you don't want to go up against me."

The bell rang and all the students poured out from the classrooms and into the hall. Hyde tried to catch up with her but the sea of students made it hard for him to see her. He walked back to his locker and slammed the door. He didn't know what to do all he knew is that he had to sort this out.