Chapter: 10/11

Chapter Title: Confessus- to confess

A/N I apologise for the lateness. I suck at time management. This is the penultimate chapter. I think the final should be out in a while, and by that I mean probably a few weeks time. Thanks for all the reviews so far, but hey- don't stop reviewing. Once you reach that final word- hit the button okay?

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It was the second time that evening that Jackie had fled from her living room in tears over Hyde. She ran outside into the open air before collapsing down on her porch and breaking down; her body trembled as she cried. All the confusion, happiness and pain she was feeling blended in with her salty tears, escaping her body. A sudden warmth on her shoulder, interrupted Jackie's sobbing and she slowly looked up to see her best friend standing over her.

"Hey, Jackie. You okay?" Donna asked as she sat down next to her. As soon as Donna was within grasping range, Jackie threw herself into her arms and bawled into her shirt. Donna shifted uncomfortably at the quick gesture, before balancing Jackie on side and pushing a few clumps of wet hair that clung to Jackie's face away with a few fingers.

"Donna! Why is this happening? Why is this happening to me?" She cried.

"Honestly, I have know idea what's going on, Jackie. Why are you so upset? Why was Hyde fighting with that guy?"

"I don't know! I'm so confused, Donna. I love Steven. I do. I care about him so much and… he doesn't care about me at all!" Jackie wept. "He said I annoy him. That he's here, because it's convenient. T-that he even listen to my voice! My voice- which I have told sounds like a nightingale's!" Jackie exclaimed, mascara running down her face. Donna held back a few chuckles and shook her head instead.

"Look, Jackie. I don't want to tell you that I told you so… but I told you so. Hyde's not that kind of guy that will fall in love or have a girlfriend. He doesn't even like people- let alone girls." Donna said.

"He liked you. How could he like you and not me?" Jackie declared, a shred of hope cased in her voice.

"That was a long time ago." Donna sighed.

"So? He went after you even though you were with Eric, because he liked you. He really liked you. He danced with you. He kissed you." Jackie said. "He wanted you, Donna- for some bizarre reason. It was obvious."

"He had a crush. A crush that he got over when he realised nothing would ever happen between us, because I love Eric."

"But he doesn't love anyone. Something could happen between us if he only tried. I know it." Jackie cried.

"Crushes don't work out, Jackie. Even if you love a person, they might not love you back. And eventually you'll give up trying. It happens." Donna said as she stood up. "Maybe it's time you give up on your crush too."

"I can't. I-I don't think I can, Donna. It's too hard. I love him." Jackie whimpered.

"You think you love him. But you probably don't. You're living in a high-school crush, Jackie. You have to at least try to get over it, because it'll hurt you until you do." Donna said, as Jackie glanced up at her- a sad expression on her face. Donna gave her a small smile and squeezed Jackie's shoulder comfortingly, before leaving her best friend to think alone.

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"Hyde!" Eric ran after Hyde who was storming through Jackie's kitchen. "Hey, stop man!" Eric said as he grabbed Hyde's shoulder.

"Leave me alone, Forman." Hyde bit out and tried to continue moving, but Eric stood in front of him and looked straight at him.

"What the hell is going on with you, man? I know what Red did was wrong and I'm sorry about that. But don't let him kicking you out of our house screw you up. What's wrong with you? Why are you punching random guys?"

"He was a jackass." Hyde responded, a hint of anger in his voice at the mere mention of the guy that was currently sprawled on Jackie's living room floor.

"So? Kelso's a jackass and you don't punch him… well, okay you do that. But you don't knock him out. You clobbered the guy." Eric asked.

"I'm not going to explain myself to you, Forman." Hyde said, moving forward again, but Eric stopped him.

"Maybe you should. So far you haven't explained anything to me. C'mon Hyde, tell me what's wrong? Why are you doing this? Why are you staying here?" Eric asked.

"You know why. Red kicked me out and I found another place to stay. That's it." Hyde said.

"Oh okay. So because he kicked you out, you moved in with the devil?" Eric remarked sarcastically.

"She's not the devil. Look, Forman. I didn't move in with Jackie, because Red kicked me out."

"Then what was it?" Eric asked.

"Jackie wanted to do me a favour and offered her place. I accepted—because she owed me and I was hungry. That's all." Hyde replied tersely.

"Why would Jackie owe you something?" Hyde looked at Eric and his enquiring eyes and shrugged. "Come on tell me, man. I'm your best friend. When you were homeless and your whore mother ran out on you- who was the one that offered his place? His food? His money to you?" Eric claimed and then pointed at himself. "Me. It was because of me, Mister. You like owe me. You owe me an explanation."

"Stop being a girl." Hyde declared.

"Start being a man." Eric retorted. "Just tell me, man."

Hyde chewed on his lip before taking a deep breath and finally speaking. "Fine. Jackie owed me, because the stuff I was carrying when I got arrested—it was hers."

"What?!?" Eric exclaimed.

"She was trying to impress me or whatever and bought the bag. We were arguing and this cop came over and he found it. And… and I told him it was mine."

"So it wasn't yours at all?" Eric declared and with a pause later. "So that's why you moved in with, Jackie. Because she was the reason you got kicked out of my house in the first place!" Eric said as Hyde nodded.

"Yeah."

"So you punched that guy, because you…" Eric began and Hyde sighed. "Wait, I don't get that one. What does he have to do with your arrest or being kicked out? Did that guy gave you a wedgie in 4th grade or something? Why?"

"No. That wasn't it. I just… he was pissing me off."

"He was only flirting with Jackie. Why would that piss you…" Eric began and then realisation slowly hit him. Pieces seemed to fit and as soon as the 'click' happened in Eric's mind, he covered his mouth quickly with his hands as a big "GUH!" noise escaped. Hyde raised his eyebrow at Eric in confusion, before Eric slowly removed his hand off his mouth and exclaimed, "Oh my God, you like Jackie!"

Hyde was totally taken aback by Eric's words and chuckled uncomfortably to himself. "What? No! I don't like Jackie!"

"It all makes sense, man. Why you went to jail, why you're living with her, why you hit that guy… you're in love with Jackie!" Eric shrieked.

"No, I'm not." Hyde said, looking down at the marble floor.

"Yes, you are." Eric said, with a massive grin across his face.

"You're crazy, Forman. I don't love Jackie. I don't love anyone." Hyde declared emphatically.

"Well- I think you do. And her name is Jackie!" Eric said. "God, I can't believe you like Jackie."

"I-I…you swear you won't tell a single person, Forman. Not even Donna. Or I will kick your ass!" Hyde declared, making a fist with his hand to emphasise the extent of the promise. Instead of cowering in fear, Eric grin grew even wider.

"So you do like her!" He declared and then moved closer to Hyde and sang in his face, "Hyde and Jackie, sitting in a tree… K-I-S-S-I…" His song was interrupted by a hard punch to his arm. Eric shrunk down in pain and looked up at Hyde with a 'what the hell' look.

"Not a person, Forman." Hyde said.

"Ow. I get it. I won't tell anyone, okay?" Eric said, rubbing his arm. "I won't tell anyone you're in love with Jackie!"

And then he was met with another punch, as Hyde glared at him and made his way out of the kitchen. "Whatever, man."

"Hey Hyde." Eric called out.

"What?"

"In all seriousness. You know Red will let you move back in if you tell him the truth. He just wants to know why you had the drugs. Tell him the truth, man."

"Forman…"

"Just think about it, okay?" Eric ended, before moving past Hyde out of the kitchen. Hyde stood still for a moment before sitting down on one of Jackie's bar stools, thinking about what Eric had said.

Maybe he should move back in with the Formans and out of Jackie's life- a life he could never fit in.

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TBC