Standing there and watching him buy her groceries was unbearable for her. She would definitely not be out of their lives if she didn't do something about it. Maybe forcing an abortion wasn't the way to go. Maybe all she had to do was keep her on the same path as she was already going. Jackie already looked bad as it was; so maybe she really wouldn't have to do anything after all.
"You know what I'm sure that she's doing alright on her own. I really don't think that you need to buy her any groceries." Valerie said.
"Yeah you would think that but in actuality if I don't do this than I know that she won't do this for herself." He said.
"You don't know if she has actually gone shopping or not." Valerie said.
"Oh I know that she hasn't gone shopping. She came in here to buy yogurt in which she didn't have enough money for. I'm sure that she hasn't gone shopping." Hyde said.
"If she doesn't want to take care of herself then that's her problem." Valerie said.
"No it's my problem too. I should have made sure that she was going to the doctor and I should have been checking on her this whole entire time but I didn't. I should have been responsible this whole entire time." Hyde said.
"That's her fault that she wasn't doing what she was suppose to do." Valerie said.
"No it's my fault as well. I have been ignoring and avoiding her these last two weeks. I need to make some sacrifices Valerie." Hyde said.
"What kind of sacrifices?" Valerie asked.
"Valerie I can't marry you in six months. I'm sorry but I now have a kid to worry about and there's no way that I can get married to you in six months without abandoning my child." He said.
"What do you mean? Are you calling off the wedding or are you dumping me for your ex?" She asked.
"I just want to put the wedding off for awhile. At least until I can help Jackie out; I have to make sure that she is going to be financially secure." He said.
"Hyde, I think that I should go now." Valerie said.
"Valerie wait..."
Valerie walked off angry and upset. There was no way that her wedding was getting put off because of some pregnant ex. She had to get her out of her life for good. She knew that if she just bowed down to his request to put the wedding off that there would be no wedding. Valerie had talked to her mother about her latest situation standing in her way. There was a reason why she had to marry him soon. Her mother had told her to make sure that she snagged him as soon as possible. So she set out to carry out her master plan. She was able to charm herself right into the group. Jackie had been gone the whole summer and it gave her plenty of room to work her magic. She didn't think that she would really come back; but she did. She came back pregnant and since then everything had gone down the hill for Valerie. There was no way that she was going down without a fight. She wasn't going to loose to some snobby ex cheerleader. Valerie had remembered Jackie from school. She was always so smug and nasty. She had everything while Valerie got nothing.
"Hey Val, what's up?" Donna asked.
"Oh nothing really. I'm just going to go home." Valerie said.
"Oh okay; have you seen Hyde?" Donna asked.
"Um yeah...he's inside buying groceries for Jackie." She said.
"Why's he doing that?" Eric asked.
"It seems as though she hasn't been taking care of herself." Valerie said.
"I knew that I should never have let her move out of the house." Donna said.
"Donna it's not your fault; it's mine for not telling my parents about her pregnancy." Eric said.
"Will you two just shut-up. It's neither of your faults; it's Jackie's fault. Everyone seems to forget that Jackie is the one that hasn't been taking care of herself. Jackie needs to just grow-up and stop trying to be the center of attention." Valerie said and then walked off.
"I wonder what that was all about?" Eric asked.
"I don't know maybe she got into a fight with Hyde." Donna said.
They saw him walk out of the store with bags in his hands. They walked over to him and asked him if Valerie was alright. He told him that he called off the wedding for now until he could help Jackie out. Eric agreed while Donna was enraged with his solution on how to handle Jackie.
"That was wrong of you to call off the wedding." She said to him.
"Donna, it's really none of your business. You saw Jackie; she looked horrible. Jackie can't afford to live in that house all by herself. As soon as I know that everything is alright and that she is financially secure, I'll marry Valerie." He said.
"No you won't. Don't you see; this part of Jackie's little plan to get you back. Yes she's my friend but even I can tell when she's up to something." Donna said.
"Donna, I don't care. She needs help and I'm going to help her; no matter what." Hyde said.
He then got into his car and drove off.
"Um...Donna we have a problem." Eric said.
"What's that?" She asked.
"We came with Hyde and he just drove off." Donna said.
"So who's parents do you want to call yours or mine?" She asked.
"Well I think that you should call your dad." Eric said.
She nodded in agreement and went over to the payphone.
Valerie pulled up to her house and got out of the car. She ran inside to be greeted by her mother.
"I'm so glad that you're home. I cant' wait in just six more months you'll be married." She said.
"Forget it mother. It's not going to happen; and do you know why it's not going to happen because of her. It just seems as though I can't win when it comes to her. You know what mother, I'm just going to go ahead and give up. I just can't win when it comes to Jackie Burkhart." Valerie said.
"No you can't give up yet. You have to marry Steven Hyde." She said.
"Why do have to marry him?" Valerie said.
"You'll find out after you marry him." She said.
"I don't know mother." Valerie said.
"Trust me I know what I'm talking about." She said.
He pulled up onto her driveway. The house was totally dark and the curtains were drawn. He got out of the car and took the groceries out of the back. He walked up to her door and knocked on the door. He was surprised when she opened the door. Her hair was now out of a pony and her eyes looked lifeless and tired. She wasn't wearing any make-up; she was so pale looking.
"Hyde what are you doing here?" Jackie asked.
"I thought we could have dinner together." He said.
"Hyde I just got done eating." Jackie said.
"Oh really; what did you have to eat; yogurt?" He asked.
"I told you that I wasn't really that hungry." She said.
"Well that's alright cause I am.." Hyde said.
He started to come through the door with the groceries.
"What are you doing?" She asked him.
"I was going to make some dinner if that's alright with you." He said.
"It's not alright with me. Please just go away." She said.
"I'm not going anywhere." He said.
"Why can't you just listen to me when I say that I'm alright?" She asked.
"Jackie have you taken a look in the mirror lately." He asked.
"Go to hell." She said.
"Yeah sure but not until I make dinner. By the way, why is it so dark in here?" He asked.
"The electricity is not on?" She mumbled.
"What did you say? I couldn't here you." He said.
"I said that the electricity is not on." She said.
"Why isn't it on?" Hyde asked.
"I'm trying to be conservative." She said.
"Bullshit; you can't afford to turn the power on. Huh?" He asked.
"Okay I'll admit that I've had to cut back on some luxuries but other than that, I'm doing alright." She said.
"Okay I'm going to use the bathroom." He said.
"You can't do that either." Jackie said.
"Why not?" He asked.
"It's not on either." She said.
"Oh let me guess, it's also a luxury." Hyde said.
"No it's just that I haven't gotten around to turning it on." Jackie said.
"So how are you going to the bathroom and showering?" He asked.
"I use the neighbor's bathroom." Jackie said.
"Who's your doctor and when is the next appointment?" He asked.
"Um...well...uh..."
"You haven't been to the doctor yet because that's also a luxury right?" He asked.
"Um...well..."
"Jackie why haven't you gone to the doctor?" He asked.
"I just haven't had any time." She said.
"Well when are you going to go?" He asked.
"Soon I promise." She said.
"Can I use your phone or is it also turned off?" He asked.
He saw the look in her eyes and knew the answer.
"I'll be right back." He said.
He then walked over to the neighbor's house and used their phone. He got the electricity, water, and phone turned on in less than an hour. He went back over to her house. She was sitting quietly in the living room. Her hands were folded in her lap. He came over to her and felt her forehead. Just what he thought; she had a fever. He went over to the bags of groceries and pulled out a can of soup and medicine. He gave her the medicine and then made the soup.
"How did you know that I wasn't feeling good?" She asked.
"I guess I just took a really good guess. Your soup is done; I'll go get it." He said.
He walked over and got her, her soup. After she was done, he helped her into her bed and then he put the groceries away. He couldn't believe that she was living here with absolutely nothing. He had no other choice but to move in here with her until she got back on her feet.