Chapter: 7/?
Chapter Title: Rumpus- to interrupt
A/N: Sorry about the tedious notes, but I just wanted to apologise for this chapter's mega tardiness. My computer crashed completely and luckily this was uploaded somewhere for me to post. Thank you for all the reviews so far and thank you for tenaciousluci for the title help!
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"Red." Kitty said, as her husband sat down at the kitchen table with his morning newspaper crunched in one hand.
"What?"
"It's been a few days, Red." Kitty declared. Red looked up at her, confused.
"A few days since what?" Kitty sighed, as she brought a plate of sandwiches and placed them in front of Red. She sat down across from him with a troubled expression.
"Since you kicked Steven out. Red, we haven't even checked up on him." Kitty said.
"Leo said he would let him stay at the Fotohut. I'm sure he's fine there."
"Leo's not the most responsible and reliable person. He once said I was a pretty for a man." Kitty declared and Red laughed. Kitty glared at her husband. "We have to see how he's doing, Red. It's our responsibility to." Kitty said. Red sighed in annoyance.
"No, it's not our responsibility anymore. Dammit Kitty, it doesn't work that way. Steven is not staying in this house for one reason and that is so he'll learn from his dumbass mistake." Red argued. "We're going to look weak if we go and talk to him. You've been sending him food, haven't you? He's got a place to stay. I'm telling you he's fine."
"I don't know, Red. I sent him some food when I could. It was a bit hard the first few days, but I did. For a while. I gave them to Eric, but yesterday Eric just brought them back. I'm worried, Red. Steven, he's…he's like my other son. We took him in our care, because we knew that he didn't deserve to live by himself, live in the conditions that he was. He needed guidance and love and now all we've given him are more pain and more reasons to not trust people. He's a troubled child, Red. He needs us."
"No. He's a mature man. He's almost eighteen for Pete's sakes." Red shouted. He softened his tone after realising that Kitty was upset and put down his newspaper. "Look, I care about Steven just as much as you, Kitty. He is like our son, but…he's not."
"Red…"
"I'm just saying that no son of mine would have been jailed for holding drugs and would've risked this family's reputation. Hyde disgraced us. Hell, Bob made fun of us, Kitty." Red said. "I'm not going to bring him back in this house when he's all drugged up. I'm not going to let him disgrace our family again. Eric already does enough of that with his scrawny body." Just then Eric walked in and was about to walk out quickly hearing Red's last remark.
"You!" Red yelled to make him stop. Eric slowly turned towards his father.
"Yeah?"
"Why isn't Steven taking the food your mom's giving him?" Red asked.
"Um, he doesn't need it, I guess."
"Doesn't need it? Why wouldn't he need food?"
"H-he's living with Jackie." Eric said. Both of his parents' faces scrunched up in shock. "She's got loads of food at hers and money to buy more."
"What?"
"He's living with Jackie?" Kitty exclaimed. Red looked equally as surprised before leaning in to Kitty.
"Who's Jackie?" He whispered.
"The feisty brunette that helped fix your car once." Kitty replied. "The one who said that you should wear a toupee the other day."
"The Burkhardt girl? Burkhardt? Her father's a dumbass! Why is Steven living with them?"
"I guess…well, living at the Fotohut got worse and worse and Jackie, for some reason, offered Hyde a room at her place and well, he agreed to it even though he apparently still hates her. He's living there now." Eric explained.
"Oh." Red said quietly.
"So, Steven decided to move in with Jackie, because he was finding it hard to live at the Fotohut. See, Red. I was right. I told you he was having a hard time. We should talk to him." Kitty said.
"And say what, Kitty?" Red asked. "Steven is going to be fine living with the Burkhardts. It's about time someone else took the strays in other than us."
"Well, actually. He's only living with Jackie. Her parents are out of town for a few weeks." Eric explained and then realised that his comment didn't help the situation.
"Oh no, Red! You've turned him to drugs and sex! Next thing you know he'll be getting a tattoo!" Kitty exclaimed in shock.
"Well actually he…never mind." Eric said, watching his parents' reactions.
"So, Steven's now a coked up Casanova. That's just ducky." Red grumbled.
"Dad, there's nothing going on between him and Jackie. He doesn't even like her."
"And that is exactly why he shouldn't be living with her. It's unhealthy for him to be living all alone in a house with someone he doesn't like and who can't even make lasagne. All that negative energy will drive my poor baby insane." Kitty said.
"Your baby?" Eric smirked.
"No. No, Kitty. I'm not letting him off the hook so easy. He's not coming in this house until we know why he did what he did. I'm not talking to him until then." Red said.
"Red, how will he talk to you about it if you won't talk to him?" Kitty argued.
"Steven will. I know him and when the time is right, he will come and talk to us. Once he puts his stubborn pride aside he will." Red said.
"Dad…" Eric began.
"And you! Don't think you're off the hook either. This house was broken because of drugs and I don't want that to happen again, understand? If I see you or any of those dumbass friends of yours near any drugs in my house, even aspirin, then don't think I won't kick you out too. You'll be out just like Steven, got it?" Red shouted at his son. Eric stood listening and with a grim expression nodded.
"Got it." Eric said, as he turned to leave.
"And Eric!" Eric stopped and slowly turned to look back at his father. Red looked down for a moment before looking back at Eric. "Check up on Steven, okay?"
Eric gave a small smile and nodded. "I'll be seeing him tonight."
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Jackie sat in her lounge watching television when Hyde came over to her and placed a plate in front of her.
"What's this, Steven?" She asked with a smile, looking up at him.
"You covered the food last night. I thought I'd do tonight's." He said. He sat down on the couch with a plate of his own.
"You made cheese sandwiches?" Jackie remarked with a smirk. Hyde looked at her before sighing.
"That's all I can make, alright? Mrs. Forman has always made me food. Even when I was six."
"So, I'm not the only one who has never cooked for themselves before." Jackie said looking at Hyde, who rolled his eyes. "Well anyway, it's still really sweet. Thank you."
"So, what you watching?"
"Oh- The Newlywed Game! It's the best show ever!" Jackie exclaimed in excitement and started rambling about the rules of the game in one breath with frequent hand gestures. Hyde watched her in amusement, finding her show more entertaining.
"Uh okay…" He mumbled in between as Jackie kept talking.
"Do you want to play?" Jackie suddenly asked. Hyde looked at her request in disbelief.
"You're kidding me, right?"
"It's fun. They ask the question on the show and we'll try to see if we can guess the answer for each of us."
"I'd rather just eat in absolute silence, Jackie."
"C'mon Steven. Pleaseeee? Guess my favorite color?"
"No."
"Please, Steven?" Jackie said, fluttering her eyelashes.
"No."
"Please?"
"I said no, Jackie. Whatever I'll say you'll just tell me it's right anyway. Like if I said it was pink..." Hyde began, but was cut off by Jackie's squeals of delight.
"Oh my God, you're right! It is pink! Well, actually it's a tie between purple and pink, but you're right! I knew you knew me, Steven!" Jackie squealed and Hyde rolled his eyes.
"This is ridiculous, Jackie."
"Fine, we don't have to play the Newlywed Game." Jackie said, turning off the television. "How about if I just ask you questions and you answer them truthfully?"
"No."
"C'mon, Steven! I'm bored…" She smiled at him before he sighed in annoyance.
"My favorite color is black, okay?"
"No, actually I wanted to ask you something else." Jackie spoke. She paused and took an uncomfortable breath before looking back at Hyde and speaking softly. "I-I wanted to ask why you went to jail…for me?"
Hyde kept his gaze on the plate of food on his lap and shrugged, as Jackie moved closer to him.
"Well, actually I already know why, Steven and I know you're just too afraid to admit it to me." Jackie said. She crossed her arms across her chest and leant back in her chair.
"Really?" Hyde scoffed. "You don't know, Jackie. You don't know anything. You live in a fantasy world where you don't feel any feelings. You don't feel pain, sadness and loss, because you're so into your own mythological thoughts."
Hyde almost wanted to take back his words as he saw Jackie's face fall, her face reflecting pain, but just as soon as the visage had appeared it disappeared and a look of determination appeared on her striking features.
"I knew you were going to say that too." She said in a hoarse tone. "Fine. I knew that anyway. I know you think I'm living in a fantasy world. And I know you don't believe I actually love you and that there is nothing between us, Steven, but you're wrong. Believe me- you're wrong. This isn't a fantasy to me. I do love you. And…I think you love me too and that's why you did what you did." Jackie said, ending with a smile. Hyde took a deep breath and leaned back in his chair. He looked up at her, cocking an eyebrow before snorting in laughter.
"Love you? Jackie, I would rather get run over and be eaten as road kill than ever love you."
"Come on, Steven. You're lying. It's obvious. You like me. I know you do. You did something that someone wouldn't do for a person they didn't care about. You wouldn't be here if you didn't like me." She paused and moved to sit down on the floor next to him with an annoyed expression. "Now say you love me or I'll pinch you!" She threatened and Hyde sniggered.
"No. Okay look, Jackie. I'm thankful that you've let me stay and to be honest I don't know why I'm here. I took the wrap for you, because…I don't really know why okay? But I do know, it wasn't because of love."
"Are you sure? You've never loved before." Jackie asked, grazing her fingers softly over Hyde's hand.
"I'm sure."
"Really?" Jackie asked in a hoarse whisper as she leant in towards him.
"Yes."
"Are you absolutely positive that you have no feelings for me whatsoever?" Jackie replied, moving a foot closer to Hyde.
"Okay, maybe I don't hate you, Jackie. But I don't love you. I don't love anyone." Hyde grunted.
"Well then I guess…" Jackie started, using her finger to position Hyde's head to face hers. "Maybe it's time you found out what it's like to love someone." Jackie finished. She moved in closer, her lips almost touching his as she closed her eyes. Hyde paused in confusion, as indescribable feelings ran rapidly through him. And then he paused for a moment before pushing away all the doubts, fears and thoughts he had aside and leaned in for the kiss that he so desperately wanted.
Suddenly, the clatter of the doorbell echoed across the Burkhart household- crushing the intense moment between Jackie and Hyde. Both instantly opened their eyes in shock, moments before their lips were about to touch. Hyde quickly leaned back, utterly baffled and quickly made sure there were no signs of eye contact between him and Jackie. Jackie sat still on the floor in equal confusion, before the ringing began again. Jackie scrambled towards the door and paused to look back at Hyde for a moment, who turned his gaze away from her when their eyes met, before she slowly opened the door. The door was then forcefully pushed open from the other end and herds of high school kids flooded into Jackie's home- leaving her completely puzzled. The long trail of excited teens ended with Kelso storming through the house with a plastic crown on his head and a pack of beer.
"Let's get ready to party!" He yelled, as the others cheered with him and Jackie watched on in horror as teens filled up her lounge.
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TBC