Chapter: 8/?

Chapter Title: Vulnerus- to be hurt

A/N This is unbeta-ed, because I just wanted a new chapter out soon, so that's why it probably sucks.

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"Oh my God." Jackie said, her voice barely a whisper. She watched as her living room filled with teenagers- teenagers making out, teenagers drinking, teenagers throwing items to each other.

"Not our idea." Donna said, as she came into Jackie's house followed closely by Eric. "This was all his idea." Donna explained, pointing at Kelso who was chugging beer in a corner with Fez encouraging him on. Jackie growled in frustration as she stormed over to her ex-boyfriend.

"Michael!" Jackie shouted. Kelso turned to her and shot her an innocent smile, handing a pack of beer to another student.

"Hey Jackie! This is going to be a great party, isn't it?"

"What the hell do you think you're doing, Michael? I told you that I didn't want a party!" Jackie yelled, stomping her foot.

"Oh. I'm sorry, Jackie. You see, I thought you said that you did want a party." Kelso replied with a smirk.

"Michael…I-I just want to…" Jackie began, but was interrupted by someone yelling from the other end of the room.

"Hey, let's fill the beer in this big fancy bowl!"

"Y-you…ugh!" Jackie groaned in annoyance, as she walked over to the guy holding her mother's precious vase- stomping viciously on Kelso's foot on the way.

"I don't think that was a thank you!" Kelso yelled back.

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"Hey man. How're you?" Eric said, finding Hyde amongst the crowd of people. Hyde, with a newly can of beer in his hand, gave Eric and Donna a small smile. He had been strangely quiet and actually happy for the undesirable party that had allowed him to avoid any contact with Jackie for a good half hour.

The distraction was good. He needed some time to take his mind off the thought of almost kissing Jackie. The girl he was so sure he didn't have feelings for. Hyde looked at Eric, who had his arm securely wrapped around Donna as she snuggled into him.

God, they were so cheesy.

Hyde snickered to himself watching the two acting all lovey-dovey. He would never be like that. He was never going to be Forman. He wasn't going to fall for a girl. No matter how many thoughts, naughty or nice, about Jackie entered his mind; he was never going to let them take over again. Never.

God, what was he thinking almost kissing Jackie? It was Jackie! The antithesis of him.

"Yeah, how's it like living with your lovah?" Donna mocked and Hyde glared at her.

"Very funny. I'm living with Jackie. How do you think I am?" Hyde replied with a sneer, his characteristic cynicism returning.

"So it's not all perky fun?" Donna asked, laughing.

"It's too much perky than fun." Hyde responded.

"Then why are you here, man? One day you're going on about how great the Fotohut is and the next day you're living with Jackie? She's the devil, man. Don't you like hate her?" Eric asked.

"I'm not here, because I like Jackie." Hyde said, just as Jackie neared them with an excited smile.

"Really? Because from what I'm seeing- you kinda do." Donna said in jest. Hyde groaned at the thought that his friends believed he was in love with Jackie.

"Look, I still hate her. And living with her- it's a nightmare. She's driving me insane, okay? Everything with her is, 'ooh Steven! Oh my God, you are like so cool! I'm so pretty! I love you!' I'm starting to watch the Love Boat just so I don't have to listen to her voice!" Hyde mimicked, as Eric and Donna laughed. The three of them completely unaware that the topic of their conversation was eavesdropping onto each and every word they were saying.

"So you don't like Jackie then?" Donna asked.

"Nah."

"So, why are you still staying here? C'mon man. Why don't you just come back to my house?" Eric asked Hyde. Hyde took a chug of his beer and shrugged.

"Even though Jackie's pissing me off, this place beats the Fotohut hands down. I get free food and like three pillows, man. And I'm not going back anywhere where I'm not wanted. And Jackie's fine with me staying here. So, as long as I ignore her voice and pretend to like her, I'll survive. And well she already thinks I have a thing for her, so I'm good for a few more days." Hyde remarked, quickly gulping down beer to drown the lies that came out of his mouth. He wasn't ready to admit his feelings for Jackie to himself, let alone admitting them to Forman and Donna.

Jackie stood still behind a few teenagers that were chatting to themselves as Hyde's harsh words echoed in her mind. She blinked and bit her lip, watching Hyde, Donna and Eric begin to laugh…probably over her. Hints of tears formed in the corners of her eyes. There was a faint crash in the background- one of her dad's statues falling- but Jackie ignored it. Instead she turned around and pushed past the hordes of kids- running away from everyone in the room and from the one person that had hurt her most.

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Jackie leaned against her hallway wall, waiting for the tears to finally fall when she stopped running.

How could he be so mean? How could he disregard everything she'd done for him? How could he not like her?

He had almost kissed her. And for a moment, Jackie thought it was because he did have feelings for her. That everything he had done for her was genuine. But now it was evident to her that he was only reciprocating her feelings for him so he could stay with her for longer and live more luxuriously. So he wouldn't have to go back to the Fotohut and to the Formans.

God, she wanted to just disappear. To be away from the pain that he had caused from a few words. To be away from him.

"What if we put some dog poo in Coach Ferguson's desk?" A football player said, as him and another team player walked into the hall. Jackie looked over at them, quickly wiping her tears. The two didn't notice her and began to create an elaborate prank, while chugging down beer. A small smile appeared on Jackie's face, as she saw the two teammates chat.

One of them was quite cute.

Jackie stood up straight and adjusted her mauve pleated skirt and dark blue t-shirt. She flicked her hair behind one shoulder and checked her reflection in the hallway mirror. She used one finger to wipe the smeared stain of kohl from underneath her eyes and plastered on a grin.

"Hey boys!" She flirted, fluttering her eyelashes at the two as she walked over to them and hooked her arm with the cute football player, leading him away with her back into the crowded living room.

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TBC