In The Beginning
Chapter Twelve: The Valentine's Day Dance, Part 2
Jackie was extremely anxious about the dance. She even popped some of her mother's sleeping pills, trying to force her eyes shut the night before, since she was dying in anticipation. Jackie stood in front of her vanity mirror, twirling about in the pretty red dress she had picked out for this occasion. She started to unravel the curlers out of her dark locks, when she heard the doorbell ring.
She continued to set her hair, since she knew someone would get the door eventually. The doorbell rang again.
Jackie rolled her eyes, tossing the last curler aside, and started stomping down the stairs as the doorbell rang for the third time that night.
"Lucy, what are we paying you for?" She asked with a snobby rise in her voice, opening the door slightly. "What are you doing here?"
Hyde took off his sunglasses, licking his lips, ever so gently, "Can I come in?"
"If you must." Jackie waved it off, slamming the door behind him as they settled in the living room.
"Jackie, I have some bad news."
Jackie focused on Hyde, as he held his sunglasses tightly in his hand.
"What? Did the government finally answer your letters or something? Are we all doomed?" Jackie began to ramble, glancing every so often at the door, since she knew Kelso would be arriving any minute now to whisk her off to the dance, away from this freak.
"Kelso's not coming."
"What?!" Jackie jumped up, angrily. "Why not? Is he with Pam? I'm going to..."
"I beat him up." Hyde stood up, moving closer to her.
"What, why?" Jackie inched in closer as well.
"Because Jackie," Hyde swooped in, picking Jackie up with one swift movement, so her face was right up against his chest, "I love you."
"Oh, Steven!" Jackie swatted his chest playfully. "I've been waiting for this moment..."
"I know, so have I." Hyde began to slowly maneuver his way up the stairs, finally reaching Jackie's bedroom. "May I kiss you, milady?"
Jackie nodded happily as Hyde laid Jackie down on her bed, covering her neck with kisses.
"Now, Jackie, let's prove our love to each other."
"Yes, Steven, let's!" Jackie jumped up; slowly unzipping Hyde's fly, grinning happily as ....
"What the hell?!" Jackie jumped upright in her bed, wiping the crust out of her eyes. Her heart was pounding, she was all sweaty and sticky, especially in certain places, and she glanced at the clock, noticing that it was already late in the afternoon and the dance would be in a few hours.
She shuddered as she let go of her blankets, which she had grabbed when she was startled awake, and hopped out of bed, immediately deciding that she needed a cold shower, and fast.
Her mind dripped away as she came out of the bathroom, towel drying her hair as she sat down at her vanity. She rested her head on her hands, and looked straight ahead. Her eyes were slightly hollow, from lack of sleep, so she'd have to load up on the concealer tonight.
Jackie had started to unravel her curls, feeling very neurotic since it was classic déjà vu, as the doorbell rang.
Hesitantly, she waited, as she continued to pop curlers out of her hair, spraying each tendril with hairspray, as the doorbell rang.
"Lucy!" Jackie hollered down the stairs. "Answer the door!"
Jackie's eyes widened when the doorbell rang a third time, so she grabbed her new red strappy sandals, that matched her red silky dress and stomped down the stairs, muttering, "Lucy?"
The doorbell rang a fourth time and Jackie forced her way to the door, opening it slowly as she spotted Kelso, grinning widely and swaying back and forth.
"Damn, Jackie!" He screamed, letting himself in as she sat down on the tiny bench in the corridor, slipping on her shoes. "You look hot!"
Jackie grinned up at the innocent, oblivious lush she had been dating for way too long, and upon getting the last strap into the tiny silver buckle, she stood up, grabbing Kelso's arm, "I'm ready."
They walked slowly towards the high school, since they were still fairly early. Jackie stared peacefully at the setting sun as Kelso slipped his hand in hers. His hands were still sweaty and lanky, just like all those years ago at the Winter Dance, and Jackie's smile spread even further when she thought back on how that night had ended, with Hyde walking her home. She wanted to know what his hands felt like, because she couldn't quite remember the few times they had touched...since, well, she was too stupid to pay attention to important details like that back then. She was sure his hands weren't lanky and sweaty. No, Hyde had the type of hands that were made for indulgent hugs. Kelso squeezed her hand tighter, smiling blissfully. A tiny pang of guilt spread throughout Jackie's lungs, because after all, she was technically still with Kelso, but hear she was, thinking about Hyde's hands when hers were entrapped by Kelso's lanky, sweaty ones.
Kelso dropped her hand, causing Jackie to look up at him in confusion.
"Jackie," He started slowly, as they spotted the high school close by, "After the dance..."
"My parents won't be home till midnight." Jackie nodded.
"Well," Kelso paused in thought, and Jackie wondered if he was having second thoughts...
Of course, Kelso didn't know that Jackie wasn't going to have sex with him tonight. She was going to break up with him...
The reason she wasn't all about doing it now wasn't selfish at all, she reminded herself. She didn't want to ruin his night, or hers, and she didn't want him to have to attend the dance alone, and neither should she. Plus, if she did it at the dance, well, that would be messy and mortifying. The last time she broke up with him was easy; finding your boyfriend with Pam Macy's lips on his is a good reason to break up...but she knew Michael wouldn't understand why she's doing it now. She needed his full attention and she needed him away from everyone. And she couldn't be near Hyde when it happened...or...she didn't know what, but it wouldn't be good.
"Kelso, let's just go inside." Jackie said with a smile, slipping her hand back inside his.
"You just called me Kelso." His hand pulled down on hers forcefully, making her freeze.
She turned back to Michael, composing a smile to hide her nervousness, "I did?"
"Yeah." He watched her intensely, searching for signs of guilt.
"Oops!" Jackie said, slapping her head with a ditzy manner. "It slipped." She broke out into a fit of giggles, ones perfected from tons of practice back when she was still friends with Lacey, Stacey, and Pam Macy.
Kelso shook the thought away, plastering that signature goofy grin back onto his face as they walked into the dance, which had a fairly good turnout inside.
Jackie immediately spotted Donna sitting at a table with Eric and Fez, and pulled Kelso along, pushing through a bunch of dancing teens, and finally reaching the table, out of breath.
"Donna, you look great!" Jackie said loudly, over the music. "Which is really, no surprise, since I helped."
Jackie sat down next to Donna, tapping her foot impatiently.
She figured Hyde wouldn't show up to the dance, especially after their fight yesterday, but she was still hoping she would have the chance to apologize.
"You look great, too." Donna muttered, rolling her eyes at Eric as she focused on Jackie.
"Tell me something I don't know." Jackie laughed, scanning the crowd absentmindedly.
"Hyde's coming." Fez said proudly. "That's something you don't know."
Jackie coughed gently, "Tell me something I would CARE about."
"Eric won't ask me to dance." Donna whispered in Jackie's ear.
"Oh, god. Do I have to do everything?" Jackie huffed with a wink and a smile at Donna. "Eric, do you want to dance?"
"Jackie!" Kelso screamed from her side. "I'm your date. Me."
"Look, Michael, I think I see Lacey's boob popping out of her dress..." Jackie pointed toward the crowd, as she peered at Eric, who still didn't give her a reply.
Pleased that Kelso was so easily distracted as he jumped up and said, "Where?", Jackie grabbed Eric's hand, which wasn't so sweaty, but still lanky. "Dance. Now."
"Jackie, I don't dance." Eric said shyly, glancing back at Donna as Jackie pulled him towards the dance floor.
"You do now." Jackie muttered, strategically placing his hands on her hips and shoulder. She could feel him tense up with awkwardness but she smiled warmly to fix that up. "You don't know how, do you?"
Eric didn't say anything as Jackie slowly led them, since it was a moderately slow song.
"Ok, if you want to be with Donna you have got to dance, Eric. Because girls," She said, tossing her head to the side to convey her point, "Like to dance."
Eric saw the group of girls dancing with random guys, looking contempt and happy, and nodded.
"So get over yourself." Jackie muttered. "And ask her to dance." She pushed Eric aside, both of them glancing towards Donna, who was obviously being annoyed by Fez. Kelso had disappeared, but Jackie wasn't surprised, since she had cut his leash off just for tonight.
"Can I cut in?"
Jackie turned around at the sound of his voice, smiling nervously. Eric gave a suspecting, but already knowing smile at the two and walked off towards Donna, extending his hand out, which she gladly accepted.
Jackie's body tingled as he stood there, watching her. He placed one hand on her tiny shoulder, sending a thunderbolt through her chest, and another on the small of her back. It was dark, except for the bright lights coming from the disco ball, so they could barely see each other, but it didn't matter, they could feel each other, as they slowly revolved around.
"You're a good dancer." Jackie said softly, as he twirled her around slowly, capturing her in his arms. She captured the moment in her heart, memorizing it furiously.
"I'm sure Kitty will be glad to hear that." He said, with a mischievous grin. She so wished he would take off his sunglasses, but of course they were on, the one time she wanted them off the most.
Jackie raised her eyebrows in question, resting her head on his shoulder as he continued.
"She's been teaching me how to dance all week."
"Oh..." Jackie said softly, slightly muffled by his chest. She took a deep breath, inhaling that sharp clean smell that had been fading from the jacket she had kept. She was addicted to that smell.
"Listen, Jackie," Hyde's voice broke gently and she looked up, startled.
"Wait." Her eyes softened. "I'm sorry."
"Me too."
She had melted right there and then. The moment would have been picture perfect, if it weren't for her idiot boyfriend, who stumbled towards them, roaring.
"Hyde, man, here you are!" He burped softly. "Come on, Jimmy's selling beer for a dollar a can outside!"
Kelso's breath reeked like alcohol and Jackie turned away as he tried to kiss her, burping again.
Hyde watched on, not showing any sort of reaction as his body was being futhur and futhur pushed away from Jackie's, as Kelso slipped his hands over Jackie's body, groping every inch he could, dipping her lazily as the song ended and the lights came back on.
Jackie pushed Kelso away, as best she could, looking through the crowd, but he was gone. She almost wondered if it was a dream...she had been having a lot of those lately, about him. She pinched herself gently, almost ready to cry when she realized she was very much awake.
"Jackie, baby," Kelso said with a grin, "Damn, you're hot."
She knew it was the beer moving his hands, not him, as he tried to cop a feel of her chest. She pushed his hand away, rolling her eyes and storming off, leaving him to whine behind her.
"Donna, I need to go to the bathroom." Jackie sighed, as she spotted Donna and Eric dancing slowly, even though the music had ended.
"Nice to know," Donna pulled herself slowly from Eric, who was grinning like a little kid in a toy store. Jackie glared at Donna some more and she pulled herself completely apart, muttering to herself.
"Donna!" Jackie whined as they reached the girl's room, and Jackie checked herself in the mirror. "Do you think..." She pushed her hair back against her shoulders, "Do you think that it would be weird if I started going out with Hyde?"
"Yes." Donna said, easily. "Weird. Unnatural. Creepy."
"Donna!"
"What, I'm being honest."
"Don't be honest, be a friend."
"Friends are supposed to be honest with each other, Jackie."
"God, you lumberjack, you make everything so difficult." Jackie turned to face Donna, crossing her arms weakly. "Lie to me, then."
"Jackie," Donna put her arms on Jackie's shoulder, staring straight into her. "Yes, you and Hyde might be weird together. But how will you ever know if you just analyze it all day? You need to go to him, talk to him. Tell him how you feel."
"Like you did with Eric?" Jackie asked coyly and Donna nodded in understanding.
"I know it's hard but..." Donna paused. "It's mutual."
"How do you know?" Jackie asked, her eyes widening. "Did he tell you something?"
"No, of course not." Donna laughed, "He told Eric and Eric told me."
"He told Eric what, exactly?"
"Everything." Donna said, starting to head towards the bathroom exit. "The day you caught Kelso with Pam, Hyde came back to the circle at night and spilled his guts. I guess he couldn't keep it in any longer."
"And you knew this?" Jackie asked angrily. "And you didn't say anything?!"
"I figured you guys would work it out on your own..." Donna paused, "And Eric made me promise not to say anything."
Jackie took a deep breath, simmering down gently.
They both started to walk together back towards the gym, to where the dance was being held. Eric, upon seeing Donna, instantly stood up, demanding that she dance with him, this instant. Who was Donna to argue?
Jackie watched with a proud smile as they slipped off together and saw Fez and Hyde sitting down at the table they had claimed. Jackie adjusted her dress, flipped her hair, licked her lips, and started to walk towards the table, when she noticed someone else was sitting at the table as well. Someone blond. And loud. And dumb. And wearing a really slutty dress. And at that instant when she heard those blood curdling giggles, her jaw dropped.
"Oh, Hyde, you're like, the funniest guy ever!" Pam Macy shrieked, rubbing Hyde's thigh gently as she calmed herself down.
Jackie scanned the room for Kelso, and he spotted her as well, and started to sashay over to her, mumbling something or other.
"Shut up." Jackie said annoyingly to Kelso. "Follow me."
Jackie knew that the best way to make a Kelso listen was to give them, short, easy to understand, directions. Like a dog.
Kelso whimpered and followed Jackie, who picked his arm up and wrapped it around her waist. He squeezed her tight, probably to prevent himself from falling over and stared down Pam Macy's dress, which wasn't such a hard thing to avoid, and grinned over at Hyde.
"You guys having a good time?" Jackie asked loudly, staring straight at Hyde, who's lips were twitching with amusement.
"Hey, Jackie!" Pam said snobbishly. "Hi, Michael." She cooed.
"Hey Pam, I like your chest," Jackie glared at Kelso as he corrected himself, "I mean, dress. I like your dress."
"Really?" Pam giggled. "I can't wait to take this silly little thing off." She patted at her chest playfully, and Jackie saw her hand plunging down Hyde's thigh. He leaned back, not doing a thing about it. What was going on? "I'm sure you can't wait either, Hyde." She winked, taking a sip out of a paper bag, which was obviously hiding a can of beer she probably had purchased from Jimmy. Or maybe she just slept with him for it. Who knows?
"Yeah, well," Jackie started, nipping at Kelso's mouth with hers. "Kelso and I are dying to leave this lame dance, because my parent's are out and you know what that means." Jackie winked at Pam, who giggled right back, jealousy crawling in her laugh.
Hyde didn't do anything, but Jackie was sure he was reacting somewhere deep inside...probably in the same place he keeps his soul.
"So, why don't you leave now?" Pam asked suspiciously.
"Well," Jackie laughed nervously. "We were just coming to say goodbye, actually."
"Bye." She heard Hyde mutter, and was satisfied when he tensed up and slid away from Pam's roaming hands.
"Bye." Jackie said angrily, pulling Kelso with her as she stormed out. "Come on, Michael, we're storming out of here."
"Ok." He mumbled, "But, Jackie, I don't feel so..."
Jackie jumped back in horror as they reached the parking lot, waving her hands around in disgust as she saw spots of vomit sticking to her new shoes. Thank god she had jumped back when she did, otherwise it would have been all over her dress too. Jackie noticed a chuck right by her leg and started to whine angrily as Kelso keeled over and puked again.
Jackie didn't even bother to make sure he was ok.. puke was gross and it was on her. She gave Kelso a dirty look as she walked back inside the school, storming towards the bathroom.
"Jackie,"
Jackie turned around, to see Pam Macy, holding onto Hyde's side.
"I just wanted to apologize." Pam said loudly, and all the people in the hall looked up to see what the queen of the bitches could possibly be wanting forgivness for.
"For what?" Jackie asked, staring at the stains that were forming on her dress.
"Is that puke?" Pam laughed, pointing at her dress. "Ew..."
Jackie shrugged, crossing her arms, as she saw Kelso running towards her, practically pushing her over. "Ok, I'm ready to do it now!" He screamed with excitement and everyone in the hallway began to laugh.
"Michael..." Jackie whined, stomping her foot.
Before she could continue, Pam shrugged and pushed ahead of Hyde, who watched on with everyone else.
Kelso went to Hyde's side, sloppily, as Pam inched her nose in Jackie's direction.
"Jackie, I'm truly sorry."
"For what?" Jackie stomped again, a huge "twhap!" coming from her heels on the tiled floor.
"Well," Pam smiled maliciously, "For having sex with Kelso. For spreading rumors about you. For letting you believe that you actually had a chance at being as cool as me, when you're obviously just a big, fat loser."
Jackie couldn't believe her luck, as a chuck of vomit fell off her dress and on the floor, causing laughs and 'ews' all around.
Jackie felt her anger rising to a new time high, "I. Am." She felt her arm rising up and her feet freezing to the ground. Everyone else disappeared, and all she was stupid Pam Macy, giggling about and squirming as she backed off from the dried vomit on the floor, "Not. Fat!"
Pam shrieked even more with giggles, but blinked widely, as Jackie's arm naturally collided into her jaw. Pam staggered back, wincing as Jackie shook her arm out, ready to punch her again. Tiny droplets of blood started to drip down Pam's dress and she began to tear.
"Oh my god, my dress!" Pam shrieked. She looked up at Jackie, who was laughing herself, and lunged at her. They both toppled over to the chants of "cat fight". Jackie threw her arms in front of her, blocking Pam's scratched and without knowing what else to do, she pit Pam's shoulder, hard.
Pam fell off of Jackie, grabbing her shoulder, "You bit me!"
"You deserved it, you whore!" Jackie screamed back, trying to spit the taste of slut out of her mouth.
"I am not a whore!" Pam screamed back, ready to attack again.
Jackie rolled over with laughter, putting her arms up again, "So, you just sleep with other people's boyfriends for the fun of it?"
"No." Pam said slowly, a cruel smile spreading across her lips. "Like you even care about Kelso."
Jackie's arms fell to her side, lifelessly, and she slowly realized they were in a middle of a huge, breathless crowd, watching this all go down.
She stared straight ahead, at Hyde and Kelso, who were both watching with stern looks. Jackie realized that between puking his guts out and getting over here, Kelso had sobered up a little, and it showed.
"Whatever." Jackie said dismissively, as she kept her eyes on Hyde. She felt him watching, him telling her that she was ok, and she took a deep breath and went on, "At least I'm not white trash who slept with her own cousin for practice!"
Jackie had stashed this vital information about Pam when she had first discovered it, back in 7th grade, for future reference. It came in handy, now, as Pam's eyes flashed open with anger and she came lunging for Jackie again.
"He was only my cousin by marriage!" She screamed, as she punched Jackie hard.
Jackie felt her eye twitch at Pam's touch and then the sound of running as her head began to fill with random memories. Jackie heard a teacher yelling and Kelso's voice, as well as Hyde's, and could feel her body being shifted upright. Her eyes shut, as things became hazy, and everything faded to black as she heard one final voice shoot through the darkness.
"I'll watch her."
She could feel herself grinning lazily, or as much as a half-passed out, half beaten up girl could grin.
She forced her eyes open again, grinning wider in pain as she saw the familiar curly haze of hair, and drifted off again to darkness, slightly happier then usual.
Chapter Twelve: The Valentine's Day Dance, Part 2
Jackie was extremely anxious about the dance. She even popped some of her mother's sleeping pills, trying to force her eyes shut the night before, since she was dying in anticipation. Jackie stood in front of her vanity mirror, twirling about in the pretty red dress she had picked out for this occasion. She started to unravel the curlers out of her dark locks, when she heard the doorbell ring.
She continued to set her hair, since she knew someone would get the door eventually. The doorbell rang again.
Jackie rolled her eyes, tossing the last curler aside, and started stomping down the stairs as the doorbell rang for the third time that night.
"Lucy, what are we paying you for?" She asked with a snobby rise in her voice, opening the door slightly. "What are you doing here?"
Hyde took off his sunglasses, licking his lips, ever so gently, "Can I come in?"
"If you must." Jackie waved it off, slamming the door behind him as they settled in the living room.
"Jackie, I have some bad news."
Jackie focused on Hyde, as he held his sunglasses tightly in his hand.
"What? Did the government finally answer your letters or something? Are we all doomed?" Jackie began to ramble, glancing every so often at the door, since she knew Kelso would be arriving any minute now to whisk her off to the dance, away from this freak.
"Kelso's not coming."
"What?!" Jackie jumped up, angrily. "Why not? Is he with Pam? I'm going to..."
"I beat him up." Hyde stood up, moving closer to her.
"What, why?" Jackie inched in closer as well.
"Because Jackie," Hyde swooped in, picking Jackie up with one swift movement, so her face was right up against his chest, "I love you."
"Oh, Steven!" Jackie swatted his chest playfully. "I've been waiting for this moment..."
"I know, so have I." Hyde began to slowly maneuver his way up the stairs, finally reaching Jackie's bedroom. "May I kiss you, milady?"
Jackie nodded happily as Hyde laid Jackie down on her bed, covering her neck with kisses.
"Now, Jackie, let's prove our love to each other."
"Yes, Steven, let's!" Jackie jumped up; slowly unzipping Hyde's fly, grinning happily as ....
"What the hell?!" Jackie jumped upright in her bed, wiping the crust out of her eyes. Her heart was pounding, she was all sweaty and sticky, especially in certain places, and she glanced at the clock, noticing that it was already late in the afternoon and the dance would be in a few hours.
She shuddered as she let go of her blankets, which she had grabbed when she was startled awake, and hopped out of bed, immediately deciding that she needed a cold shower, and fast.
Her mind dripped away as she came out of the bathroom, towel drying her hair as she sat down at her vanity. She rested her head on her hands, and looked straight ahead. Her eyes were slightly hollow, from lack of sleep, so she'd have to load up on the concealer tonight.
Jackie had started to unravel her curls, feeling very neurotic since it was classic déjà vu, as the doorbell rang.
Hesitantly, she waited, as she continued to pop curlers out of her hair, spraying each tendril with hairspray, as the doorbell rang.
"Lucy!" Jackie hollered down the stairs. "Answer the door!"
Jackie's eyes widened when the doorbell rang a third time, so she grabbed her new red strappy sandals, that matched her red silky dress and stomped down the stairs, muttering, "Lucy?"
The doorbell rang a fourth time and Jackie forced her way to the door, opening it slowly as she spotted Kelso, grinning widely and swaying back and forth.
"Damn, Jackie!" He screamed, letting himself in as she sat down on the tiny bench in the corridor, slipping on her shoes. "You look hot!"
Jackie grinned up at the innocent, oblivious lush she had been dating for way too long, and upon getting the last strap into the tiny silver buckle, she stood up, grabbing Kelso's arm, "I'm ready."
They walked slowly towards the high school, since they were still fairly early. Jackie stared peacefully at the setting sun as Kelso slipped his hand in hers. His hands were still sweaty and lanky, just like all those years ago at the Winter Dance, and Jackie's smile spread even further when she thought back on how that night had ended, with Hyde walking her home. She wanted to know what his hands felt like, because she couldn't quite remember the few times they had touched...since, well, she was too stupid to pay attention to important details like that back then. She was sure his hands weren't lanky and sweaty. No, Hyde had the type of hands that were made for indulgent hugs. Kelso squeezed her hand tighter, smiling blissfully. A tiny pang of guilt spread throughout Jackie's lungs, because after all, she was technically still with Kelso, but hear she was, thinking about Hyde's hands when hers were entrapped by Kelso's lanky, sweaty ones.
Kelso dropped her hand, causing Jackie to look up at him in confusion.
"Jackie," He started slowly, as they spotted the high school close by, "After the dance..."
"My parents won't be home till midnight." Jackie nodded.
"Well," Kelso paused in thought, and Jackie wondered if he was having second thoughts...
Of course, Kelso didn't know that Jackie wasn't going to have sex with him tonight. She was going to break up with him...
The reason she wasn't all about doing it now wasn't selfish at all, she reminded herself. She didn't want to ruin his night, or hers, and she didn't want him to have to attend the dance alone, and neither should she. Plus, if she did it at the dance, well, that would be messy and mortifying. The last time she broke up with him was easy; finding your boyfriend with Pam Macy's lips on his is a good reason to break up...but she knew Michael wouldn't understand why she's doing it now. She needed his full attention and she needed him away from everyone. And she couldn't be near Hyde when it happened...or...she didn't know what, but it wouldn't be good.
"Kelso, let's just go inside." Jackie said with a smile, slipping her hand back inside his.
"You just called me Kelso." His hand pulled down on hers forcefully, making her freeze.
She turned back to Michael, composing a smile to hide her nervousness, "I did?"
"Yeah." He watched her intensely, searching for signs of guilt.
"Oops!" Jackie said, slapping her head with a ditzy manner. "It slipped." She broke out into a fit of giggles, ones perfected from tons of practice back when she was still friends with Lacey, Stacey, and Pam Macy.
Kelso shook the thought away, plastering that signature goofy grin back onto his face as they walked into the dance, which had a fairly good turnout inside.
Jackie immediately spotted Donna sitting at a table with Eric and Fez, and pulled Kelso along, pushing through a bunch of dancing teens, and finally reaching the table, out of breath.
"Donna, you look great!" Jackie said loudly, over the music. "Which is really, no surprise, since I helped."
Jackie sat down next to Donna, tapping her foot impatiently.
She figured Hyde wouldn't show up to the dance, especially after their fight yesterday, but she was still hoping she would have the chance to apologize.
"You look great, too." Donna muttered, rolling her eyes at Eric as she focused on Jackie.
"Tell me something I don't know." Jackie laughed, scanning the crowd absentmindedly.
"Hyde's coming." Fez said proudly. "That's something you don't know."
Jackie coughed gently, "Tell me something I would CARE about."
"Eric won't ask me to dance." Donna whispered in Jackie's ear.
"Oh, god. Do I have to do everything?" Jackie huffed with a wink and a smile at Donna. "Eric, do you want to dance?"
"Jackie!" Kelso screamed from her side. "I'm your date. Me."
"Look, Michael, I think I see Lacey's boob popping out of her dress..." Jackie pointed toward the crowd, as she peered at Eric, who still didn't give her a reply.
Pleased that Kelso was so easily distracted as he jumped up and said, "Where?", Jackie grabbed Eric's hand, which wasn't so sweaty, but still lanky. "Dance. Now."
"Jackie, I don't dance." Eric said shyly, glancing back at Donna as Jackie pulled him towards the dance floor.
"You do now." Jackie muttered, strategically placing his hands on her hips and shoulder. She could feel him tense up with awkwardness but she smiled warmly to fix that up. "You don't know how, do you?"
Eric didn't say anything as Jackie slowly led them, since it was a moderately slow song.
"Ok, if you want to be with Donna you have got to dance, Eric. Because girls," She said, tossing her head to the side to convey her point, "Like to dance."
Eric saw the group of girls dancing with random guys, looking contempt and happy, and nodded.
"So get over yourself." Jackie muttered. "And ask her to dance." She pushed Eric aside, both of them glancing towards Donna, who was obviously being annoyed by Fez. Kelso had disappeared, but Jackie wasn't surprised, since she had cut his leash off just for tonight.
"Can I cut in?"
Jackie turned around at the sound of his voice, smiling nervously. Eric gave a suspecting, but already knowing smile at the two and walked off towards Donna, extending his hand out, which she gladly accepted.
Jackie's body tingled as he stood there, watching her. He placed one hand on her tiny shoulder, sending a thunderbolt through her chest, and another on the small of her back. It was dark, except for the bright lights coming from the disco ball, so they could barely see each other, but it didn't matter, they could feel each other, as they slowly revolved around.
"You're a good dancer." Jackie said softly, as he twirled her around slowly, capturing her in his arms. She captured the moment in her heart, memorizing it furiously.
"I'm sure Kitty will be glad to hear that." He said, with a mischievous grin. She so wished he would take off his sunglasses, but of course they were on, the one time she wanted them off the most.
Jackie raised her eyebrows in question, resting her head on his shoulder as he continued.
"She's been teaching me how to dance all week."
"Oh..." Jackie said softly, slightly muffled by his chest. She took a deep breath, inhaling that sharp clean smell that had been fading from the jacket she had kept. She was addicted to that smell.
"Listen, Jackie," Hyde's voice broke gently and she looked up, startled.
"Wait." Her eyes softened. "I'm sorry."
"Me too."
She had melted right there and then. The moment would have been picture perfect, if it weren't for her idiot boyfriend, who stumbled towards them, roaring.
"Hyde, man, here you are!" He burped softly. "Come on, Jimmy's selling beer for a dollar a can outside!"
Kelso's breath reeked like alcohol and Jackie turned away as he tried to kiss her, burping again.
Hyde watched on, not showing any sort of reaction as his body was being futhur and futhur pushed away from Jackie's, as Kelso slipped his hands over Jackie's body, groping every inch he could, dipping her lazily as the song ended and the lights came back on.
Jackie pushed Kelso away, as best she could, looking through the crowd, but he was gone. She almost wondered if it was a dream...she had been having a lot of those lately, about him. She pinched herself gently, almost ready to cry when she realized she was very much awake.
"Jackie, baby," Kelso said with a grin, "Damn, you're hot."
She knew it was the beer moving his hands, not him, as he tried to cop a feel of her chest. She pushed his hand away, rolling her eyes and storming off, leaving him to whine behind her.
"Donna, I need to go to the bathroom." Jackie sighed, as she spotted Donna and Eric dancing slowly, even though the music had ended.
"Nice to know," Donna pulled herself slowly from Eric, who was grinning like a little kid in a toy store. Jackie glared at Donna some more and she pulled herself completely apart, muttering to herself.
"Donna!" Jackie whined as they reached the girl's room, and Jackie checked herself in the mirror. "Do you think..." She pushed her hair back against her shoulders, "Do you think that it would be weird if I started going out with Hyde?"
"Yes." Donna said, easily. "Weird. Unnatural. Creepy."
"Donna!"
"What, I'm being honest."
"Don't be honest, be a friend."
"Friends are supposed to be honest with each other, Jackie."
"God, you lumberjack, you make everything so difficult." Jackie turned to face Donna, crossing her arms weakly. "Lie to me, then."
"Jackie," Donna put her arms on Jackie's shoulder, staring straight into her. "Yes, you and Hyde might be weird together. But how will you ever know if you just analyze it all day? You need to go to him, talk to him. Tell him how you feel."
"Like you did with Eric?" Jackie asked coyly and Donna nodded in understanding.
"I know it's hard but..." Donna paused. "It's mutual."
"How do you know?" Jackie asked, her eyes widening. "Did he tell you something?"
"No, of course not." Donna laughed, "He told Eric and Eric told me."
"He told Eric what, exactly?"
"Everything." Donna said, starting to head towards the bathroom exit. "The day you caught Kelso with Pam, Hyde came back to the circle at night and spilled his guts. I guess he couldn't keep it in any longer."
"And you knew this?" Jackie asked angrily. "And you didn't say anything?!"
"I figured you guys would work it out on your own..." Donna paused, "And Eric made me promise not to say anything."
Jackie took a deep breath, simmering down gently.
They both started to walk together back towards the gym, to where the dance was being held. Eric, upon seeing Donna, instantly stood up, demanding that she dance with him, this instant. Who was Donna to argue?
Jackie watched with a proud smile as they slipped off together and saw Fez and Hyde sitting down at the table they had claimed. Jackie adjusted her dress, flipped her hair, licked her lips, and started to walk towards the table, when she noticed someone else was sitting at the table as well. Someone blond. And loud. And dumb. And wearing a really slutty dress. And at that instant when she heard those blood curdling giggles, her jaw dropped.
"Oh, Hyde, you're like, the funniest guy ever!" Pam Macy shrieked, rubbing Hyde's thigh gently as she calmed herself down.
Jackie scanned the room for Kelso, and he spotted her as well, and started to sashay over to her, mumbling something or other.
"Shut up." Jackie said annoyingly to Kelso. "Follow me."
Jackie knew that the best way to make a Kelso listen was to give them, short, easy to understand, directions. Like a dog.
Kelso whimpered and followed Jackie, who picked his arm up and wrapped it around her waist. He squeezed her tight, probably to prevent himself from falling over and stared down Pam Macy's dress, which wasn't such a hard thing to avoid, and grinned over at Hyde.
"You guys having a good time?" Jackie asked loudly, staring straight at Hyde, who's lips were twitching with amusement.
"Hey, Jackie!" Pam said snobbishly. "Hi, Michael." She cooed.
"Hey Pam, I like your chest," Jackie glared at Kelso as he corrected himself, "I mean, dress. I like your dress."
"Really?" Pam giggled. "I can't wait to take this silly little thing off." She patted at her chest playfully, and Jackie saw her hand plunging down Hyde's thigh. He leaned back, not doing a thing about it. What was going on? "I'm sure you can't wait either, Hyde." She winked, taking a sip out of a paper bag, which was obviously hiding a can of beer she probably had purchased from Jimmy. Or maybe she just slept with him for it. Who knows?
"Yeah, well," Jackie started, nipping at Kelso's mouth with hers. "Kelso and I are dying to leave this lame dance, because my parent's are out and you know what that means." Jackie winked at Pam, who giggled right back, jealousy crawling in her laugh.
Hyde didn't do anything, but Jackie was sure he was reacting somewhere deep inside...probably in the same place he keeps his soul.
"So, why don't you leave now?" Pam asked suspiciously.
"Well," Jackie laughed nervously. "We were just coming to say goodbye, actually."
"Bye." She heard Hyde mutter, and was satisfied when he tensed up and slid away from Pam's roaming hands.
"Bye." Jackie said angrily, pulling Kelso with her as she stormed out. "Come on, Michael, we're storming out of here."
"Ok." He mumbled, "But, Jackie, I don't feel so..."
Jackie jumped back in horror as they reached the parking lot, waving her hands around in disgust as she saw spots of vomit sticking to her new shoes. Thank god she had jumped back when she did, otherwise it would have been all over her dress too. Jackie noticed a chuck right by her leg and started to whine angrily as Kelso keeled over and puked again.
Jackie didn't even bother to make sure he was ok.. puke was gross and it was on her. She gave Kelso a dirty look as she walked back inside the school, storming towards the bathroom.
"Jackie,"
Jackie turned around, to see Pam Macy, holding onto Hyde's side.
"I just wanted to apologize." Pam said loudly, and all the people in the hall looked up to see what the queen of the bitches could possibly be wanting forgivness for.
"For what?" Jackie asked, staring at the stains that were forming on her dress.
"Is that puke?" Pam laughed, pointing at her dress. "Ew..."
Jackie shrugged, crossing her arms, as she saw Kelso running towards her, practically pushing her over. "Ok, I'm ready to do it now!" He screamed with excitement and everyone in the hallway began to laugh.
"Michael..." Jackie whined, stomping her foot.
Before she could continue, Pam shrugged and pushed ahead of Hyde, who watched on with everyone else.
Kelso went to Hyde's side, sloppily, as Pam inched her nose in Jackie's direction.
"Jackie, I'm truly sorry."
"For what?" Jackie stomped again, a huge "twhap!" coming from her heels on the tiled floor.
"Well," Pam smiled maliciously, "For having sex with Kelso. For spreading rumors about you. For letting you believe that you actually had a chance at being as cool as me, when you're obviously just a big, fat loser."
Jackie couldn't believe her luck, as a chuck of vomit fell off her dress and on the floor, causing laughs and 'ews' all around.
Jackie felt her anger rising to a new time high, "I. Am." She felt her arm rising up and her feet freezing to the ground. Everyone else disappeared, and all she was stupid Pam Macy, giggling about and squirming as she backed off from the dried vomit on the floor, "Not. Fat!"
Pam shrieked even more with giggles, but blinked widely, as Jackie's arm naturally collided into her jaw. Pam staggered back, wincing as Jackie shook her arm out, ready to punch her again. Tiny droplets of blood started to drip down Pam's dress and she began to tear.
"Oh my god, my dress!" Pam shrieked. She looked up at Jackie, who was laughing herself, and lunged at her. They both toppled over to the chants of "cat fight". Jackie threw her arms in front of her, blocking Pam's scratched and without knowing what else to do, she pit Pam's shoulder, hard.
Pam fell off of Jackie, grabbing her shoulder, "You bit me!"
"You deserved it, you whore!" Jackie screamed back, trying to spit the taste of slut out of her mouth.
"I am not a whore!" Pam screamed back, ready to attack again.
Jackie rolled over with laughter, putting her arms up again, "So, you just sleep with other people's boyfriends for the fun of it?"
"No." Pam said slowly, a cruel smile spreading across her lips. "Like you even care about Kelso."
Jackie's arms fell to her side, lifelessly, and she slowly realized they were in a middle of a huge, breathless crowd, watching this all go down.
She stared straight ahead, at Hyde and Kelso, who were both watching with stern looks. Jackie realized that between puking his guts out and getting over here, Kelso had sobered up a little, and it showed.
"Whatever." Jackie said dismissively, as she kept her eyes on Hyde. She felt him watching, him telling her that she was ok, and she took a deep breath and went on, "At least I'm not white trash who slept with her own cousin for practice!"
Jackie had stashed this vital information about Pam when she had first discovered it, back in 7th grade, for future reference. It came in handy, now, as Pam's eyes flashed open with anger and she came lunging for Jackie again.
"He was only my cousin by marriage!" She screamed, as she punched Jackie hard.
Jackie felt her eye twitch at Pam's touch and then the sound of running as her head began to fill with random memories. Jackie heard a teacher yelling and Kelso's voice, as well as Hyde's, and could feel her body being shifted upright. Her eyes shut, as things became hazy, and everything faded to black as she heard one final voice shoot through the darkness.
"I'll watch her."
She could feel herself grinning lazily, or as much as a half-passed out, half beaten up girl could grin.
She forced her eyes open again, grinning wider in pain as she saw the familiar curly haze of hair, and drifted off again to darkness, slightly happier then usual.