Chapter Six: Everything Comes Out Eventually.
It was early Monday morning and Jackie sat in her chemistry class and her mind was wandering. She ran excuses through her head as to why she couldn't spend any time with Dawn but none of them seemed as if she would buy it. Jackie unceremoniously tapped her bright pink unicorn pen on her notebook and tried to rack her brain. Ever since Steven told her that Dawn had threatened him to stay away from her she grew very angry and continued to tap her pen even louder. Who is she to think that she has authority over who I hang around with or date. God she's not my mother. Jackie thought.
Jackie yawned has she watched Mr Atkins drone on about balancing chemical equations. Who cares if they balance I mean come on H2O is the only formula we need to know. Hmm I wonder if he knows he has kick me on his back. Jackie sighed as she wrote down the questions on the bored. Even though she was kinda creeped out about the whole Dawn thing she was really happy as Steven had seemed so worried about her. Little things like that made her love him. He was always protective of her even when she used to date Michael. Jackie looked at the clock mounted on the horrible yellow wall and saw that it read 11:53. That meant she had seven more minutes until plan avoid Dawn will be set in motion. She was also slightly excited as she was gonna meet Steven, of course the rest of the gang will be there it didn't matter cos just one of looks sent her body and heart into over drive. Her and Steven were so into themselves that on numerous occasions they almost got themselves busted. But Jackie didn't care lately she really wanted to tell the gang the truth. But she wasn't sure what Steven wanted.
The clock ticked past and it seemed that Jackie was doomed to spend the rest of her life in chemistry but it did have a plus she was able to sort out her muddled brain. Jackie starred up at the clock again. Enough time must have passed by I mean I'm sure it's been an hour. The lunch bell sounded and the whole class breathed in a sigh of freedom. Jackie bolted out the door as she wanted to be sure that she wouldn't run into Dawn. Before Jackie knew it she was almost out the building until the one person she was avoiding called her. Jackie couldn't run as on instinct she had turned around. She was the most popular girl after all she had to know who had called her.
Dawn ran up to her. " Hey I thought I'd never catch up with you. Boy you can walk fast in stacks."
" What can I say it is a good given talent." She smiled. She gave off the vibe that she really wanted to go and she knew Dawn picked up on it.
" Yeah so….Where are you headed?" Dawn casually asked while trying to avoid the masses of students trying to get passed.
" I'm headed off for a quick lunch as I'm so busy with cheerleading and school stuff. I have a huge test this Friday so I probably wont be able to hang out for a while." Jackie said she kinda felt bad but she had to put distance between herself Dawn.
Dawn shifted her weight from foot to foot. " No that's call I can think of a few ways to keep myself occupied!"
" Well well even Dawn has a few secrets!" Jackie wanted to carry on the conversation for a little while as she didn't want to seem as though she was giving her the brush off. She had done this with so many guys but never a girl before.
" Damn right. It's not just you Jackie that has other things going on!" She snorted. Jackie was a little taken back as she had began so politely and now she was boarding on bitchy.
" Well good for you! I guess I see you whenever."
" Yeah! Be careful Jackie." And she walked away. And Jackie didn't feel so bad about ditching her.
Jackie walked to her usual seat on the gangs table in the cafeteria and stopped in her tracks when she saw a bright red rose on her seat. She picked up the rose and smelt it. She ran her hands over the soft petals and smiled. She ran her finger over a thorn and snapped her hand back as she caught it on a thorn. It wasn't that painful and it didn't take the smile off of her face.
" Aw Steven. You can be so sweet sometimes." She whispered to her self. She looked down and noticed a small piece of cream coloured card on the floor and picked it up. She slowly opened the card expecting a little I love you note. Well I love you was a little out there for Steven but she would have settled for an I like you. She read the card and stepped way from the table. She felt an iciness creep over her. She re-read the note in her head. 'Be careful of the thorns they can be such a bitch'.
Donna, Eric, Hyde, Fez and Kelso entered the cafeteria and saw Jackie stood in the middle frozen to her place. They all rushed over and urged Jackie to sit down. Hyde grabbed her hand and pleaded her to tell him what was wrong. Instead she just looked at her feet and everybody's eyes travelled to the fallen note. Donna bent down and picked it up.
" 'Be careful of the thorns as they can be a real bitch.' What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Donna asked the group.
" Hey Jackie are you okay I mean it was probably some dumb freshman." Kelso offered. " I know what it's like to be really good looking and the uggo's of this town just can't appreciate it."
" Kelso I don't think it was a freshman I think this has Dawn written all other it." Eric stated.
Hyde looked a little odd.
" Hyde man what is it?" Fez noticed.
" It's just that this is the second note she has gotten in the same type of writing."
" Hyde why didn't you tell us?" Donna yelled.
" Jackie didn't want me to alright." Hyde said as he looked at Jackie. She was following the conversation but she wasn't talking.
" Anyway since when did you and Jackie confide in each other and why is it that every time Jackie is in some sort of distress you are always the one to take care of her and hold her hand?" Donna enquired
Hyde just looked at her and then at Jackie. Surely he didn't need to tell them why. They had been so careless about the way they looked at spoke to each other recently that they must have known. But Donna had a look on her face that said she wasn't backing down. Before Hyde could say anything it was Kelso who realised what was going on.
" Ahh, Nah nah nah, Hyde you and Jackie aren't together are you?" Kelso accused.
Jackie looked up and saw the sadness in his eyes. For the first time since they had got there Jackie spoke. " I'm sorry Michael we didn't mean to tell you this way."
" And when did you mean to tell me." Jackie looked at Hyde. " That's what I thought Hyde man how could you do this to me. You dogged me man!".
" Really man. I can't help the way I feel about her and we are together now and all of you is just gonna have to get used to it. Kelso you say I dogged you. What about all the times you cheated on Jackie you didn't care then so what's different now." Hyde growled.
" That was different and you know it!" Kelso yelled.
Eric was in between the two of them and urged each of them to back off. " Come on guys there is no point in fighting." Eric tried to reason. " I know that the idea of Hyde and Jackie is the worst possible pairing ever, in the history of the world, I mean it is just plain wrong, I think I have been made blind by the sight…"
"Forman." Hyde butted in.
" Anyway there is nothing we can do about it. O.K." He said as he addressed everyone.
" I guess I am kinda happy for you!" Donna reluctantly said.
" Whoa Donna I said there was nothing we could do about it I didn't want you to bless it." Eric quickly said. Donna hit him and he rubbed his arm.
" Well I think that Jackie be best suited to me but I guess I am fine with it. You son of a bitch."
" Thank you Fez. I think." Jackie said. She grabbed onto Hyde's side and he held her.
" Well I guess you know how I feel about it!" Kelso growled.
" Yeah well if you keep voicing your opinion you are gonna know how I feel about it." Hyde threatened.
" Right so we have cleaned up this surprise now we should worry about who sending Jackie these notes." Donna suggested.
Jackie took control. " Look guys I appreciate the fact that you are worried about me but it is probably an old date that can't take a hint. I mean I have guys throwing themselves at me everyday. I'm sure it is nothing to worry about."
" Fine. But you need to tell us as soon as something happens. If you think you see someone or get another note. Alright!" Donna ordered.
Jackie looked at Hyde. " I will. So you guys will stop worrying?" Jackie asked batting her eyelashes.
" Yes!" They all yelled and ate their lunch.
Dawn walked out of her biology class and saw out the corner of her eye Jackie, Hyde and Eric. She stared at them as they passed her by. She noticed Jackie look up but Hyde put his arm around her and Dawn saw her look down again and carried on walking. Eric just threw her a casual look with more undertones than a Led Zeppelin song. She knew how they viewed her now as an outsider. Dawn pulled herself together and realised she didn't really care what Jackie thought of her. She was popular and beautiful and had the one thing that would destroy Jackie, she had her father. Dawn walked over to her locker and pulled it open. She placed inside her books and grabbed a mirror and brush she began fixing her hair. She pulled single strands of hair around her face and pulled the rest back into a sleek ponytail. She checked herself in the mirror again and satisfied with her hair she placed her mirror and brush back into her locker. She smiled to herself and decided to give Jack a little surprise at the house.
She walked off and smiled at Donna as she passed her by with a spring in her step. Her smile was returned with a scowl from Donna. But that didn't allow the 'my shit don't stink' smile to slide from her face and she exited the school building.
Dawn got into her car and the smell of leather greeted her. Her eyes darted towards a picture of her and Jack on their trip to New York. He had told Jackie and Pamela, God did she hate saying her name, that he had a business trip and had to go to his New York office. But instead he took her to view all the sight of New York and to top it off he told her he loved her for the first time. Dawn drifted back to reality and stared at the picture she held in her perfectly manicured hands. Now one can ever take that day away from me or the future I am able to have with him.
She started the car and pulled out of the school parking lot and began her drive to the Burkhart house.
Jack sat at his desk looking at an endless list of numbers and slammed his coffee mug into the mahogany desk making his coffee spill onto the table and all over his work.
" Shit." He yelled in to the empty room, well what he thought was an empty room. Dawn appeared near the doorway. She was dressed in a red silk night gown that ended just above the knee. She wore scarlet lipstick and red stilettos that drove him crazy.
" Hello lover." She beckoned. Jack complied and slowly slid up from his chair and walked towards Dawn.
"Well well aren't you a naughty cheerleading skipping school! Tut tut. Ms Dewater. What will the team mates say?" He teased her as he caressed her back. He slowly slid his hand down her thigh and heard a breath escaped her lips.
"Well I'll have to tell them that I have to some time out on account of me being ill!" She said as he kissed her neck.
"Oh and what do you have?"
"I'm love sick and the only cure is some good old fashioned TLC." She said huskily.
" Well no need to worry! I think I should take you to bed?" Jack said as his eyes waggled towards the bedroom. He picked her up and headed towards the bedroom.
" Wait what about Jackie?" Dawn asked as she tried to not giggle as Jack was tickling her arms.
" Jackie is staying at the Forman's so we don't have to worry about being interrupted."
" Well we have been busy." She giggled as he whisked her into the bedroom and tossed her on the bed.
Jackie sat with Donna as they waited for the rest of the guys. Jackie was picking at her gypsy dress while Donna was just staring into space. Jackie noticed the look of wanting on her friends face and she knew what she wanted to ask. Donna looked like she was about to say something but then brought her hand to her lips and stopped. Donna didn't know what to say, she didn't want to talk about Dawn or the creepy stuff that has been happening so she decided to talk about one of the only things Jackie did talk about boys. Jackie was starting to get annoyed as she had done it three times. Jackie hopped off of the wall and turned to face her friend.
" Look Donna I know what you wanna ask so just ask it ok!" Jackie ordered. She placed her tiny hands on her hips as she did this and that stifled a laugh from Donna. Jackie glared at her and Donna just laughed again.
" Ok. What I wanna know is how come you two never got together sooner? I mean why didn't you get together when you had that stupid crush on him. You did kiss him right and then you said you felt nothing what the hell was that all about?" Donna said quickly.
" Donna I wanted you to ask one question not half a dozen. God how much knowledge do you need to fit in that lumberjack head." Jackie said.
Donna slid off the wall. " Fine forget I asked."
" No, no I'll tell you. The reason I lied about the kiss cos I had it drummed into my head that Steven didn't like it or feel anything so I lied first so I wouldn't get hurt."
" But didn't you get hurt anyway when Hyde said he felt nothing!" Donna stated.
" Yeah but….I didn't look stupid!" Jackie continued.
" Yeah well you sound like you do!"
Jackie looked offended and the turned serious. " Donna do you think Steven and I make a great couple?"
Donna shifted closer to Jackie and put her arm around her. " You know what I do! But don't tell Eric he'll think I went over to the dark side or something." She laughed.
Jackie looked up at her friend and smiled. " Really?"
" Yes really. You guys as odd as it seems bring out the best in each other. When you….." Donna didn't know how to put it but continued anyway. " When you died Hyde was really upset. We all were but you could tell that he had a really hard time with it and that he had strong feelings for you."
Donna's words brought tears to Jackie's eyes and Donna held her tighter.
" Donna I love him. I love Steven and I don't know what I would do if I ever lose him." Jackie sighed.
" Don't worry. I know he hasn't told you but he loves you too. You can tell just by the way he is when he is with you."
Jackie just buried her head in Donna's shoulder.
Donna wanted to lightened the mood. " So how has it been living with the Forman's and having Eric as a house mate and having Hyde just live two floors below you."
Jackie looked up and smiled. " Terrible Eric has some weird morning ritual and living with Steven is unbearable. Do you know who much I want to have sex with him, and I don't know if you've noticed but you can't get a moment of privacy."
Donna laughed. " Yeah I know and any other urges you have to do with Hyde can you keep to your self please."
" Shut up!" Jackie laughed.
Jackie stood by the door to the El Camino and was being held by the love of her life. She felt each warm caress as his fingertips stroked her shoulder. She felt the softness of his lips as they kissed and didn't want to let him go. Meanwhile Eric, Donna, Fez and Kelso were inside the car watching. Well Fez was watching and Kelso was complaining about how Jackie could have picked Hyde over him and Eric was preaching about the devil to Donna. Finally Donna couldn't take it anymore and shouted out the window.
" Cut it out we have to get home. Jackie you will see Hyde later after you pick up some stuff and Hyde as the driver of this car, please get your tongue out of her mouth!" Donna yelled.
Neither Hyde nor Jackie took any notice and continued kissing. Donna just shrugged as she listened to same old crap from the other three occupants of the car.
Jackie pulled back. " Steven I will see you later. I have a surprise for you."
Hyde was suddenly intrigued and pulled back. " Really?"
" Yeah I do! And I think your gonna like it. But you have to leave now and I'll come by later."
Hyde let her go and kissed her once more. A soft sweet peck on the lips. He let her go and walked back to the car.
" Thank God!" Donna cried as they drove away.
Jackie walked up to the front door and noticed that door was opened. Maria must have left the door open She thought as she walked in to the house. Jackie almost had to look twice at her own home. It looked so different to her. The piano was on the other side of the room and the living room looked so much bigger than Jackie remembered. She walked up the stairs and heard a slight giggle coming from one of the bedrooms. She slowly crept up down the hall. She felt really weird as she was doing this in her own house. Perhaps she had spent to much time at the Forman's considering when she visited her own house she felt like a stranger. Jackie followed the sound down the hall to the master bedroom. That can't be right. My mom is out of town and that's my daddy's room It then dawned on her that the rumours she had heard about her father were true. She had heard that he had slept with other people but she had never believed them as he was her father.
Jackie felt herself stiffen as she approached her fathers room. She slowly opened the door and saw her father and Dawn kissing on his bed. She didn't know what to do. She was in total shock and wasn't sure what she even saw. Her father was kissing Dawn's neck so he didn't see her enter his room but Dawn did and she smiled at Jackie and then continued to kiss him.
