In The Beginning
Chapter Nineteen: The Return of Pam
Jackie pushed Hyde inside, sliding the door shut behind her as Eric and Donna popped their heads up from the kitchen table. Eric shrugged, picking up his sandwich for another bite, but froze abruptly when he saw Hyde's hand intertwined with Jackie's as they stood there, shivering.
"Eric, honey," Kitty called as she walked in, furrowing her brow in horror as she spotted the two lovebirds, dripping on her just washed kitchen floor. "You two!" She pointed at Jackie and Hyde accusingly, scaring them slightly. "Don't move." She ran back out the kitchen door.
"Forman, your mom's kind of crazy." Hyde laughed as Eric slowly dropped his sandwich, staring straight back at Hyde. "I guess it's genetic..."
"Why are you two holding hands?" Donna asked, breaking into a smile. "Are you...no...wait," Donna began to laugh, clamping her hand over her mouth to shut herself up. "That's weird."
"Says the lumberjack!" Jackie sniped, releasing Hyde's hand as she wiped some rain from her forehead.
Kitty came running back in, laughing gently as she gave Hyde and Jackie each a towel. "Steven, dry off and go change." As Jackie wrapped the towel around her body, shivering slightly, Kitty took a hold of her hand, instructing her to follow.
Hyde gave Jackie a quick smile, before disappearing into the basement as Jackie followed Kitty through the living room and upstairs, into what she assumed was Laurie's bedroom.
"I'm sure we can find something for you to wear in here..." Kitty laughed, opening up Laurie's drawers, and wincing at what she found, "Oh, dear." She shut the drawer quickly and rummaged through another, pulling out a sweatshirt and sweatpants. "I'm sure Laurie won't mind. She never wears anything this loose anyway."
"Thanks, Mrs. Forman." Jackie grinned, taking the clothes from Kitty.
"Now, you change in here and put your wet clothes in the laundry basket in the hallway. I'll throw them in the dryer when I get the chance."
Jackie smiled appreciatively as Kitty shut the door behind her. Jackie slowly tore her wet clothes off, slightly uncomfortable as she put the warm gray sweatpants over her damp underwear. Oh well, she wasn't about to borrow a pair of Laurie Forman's underwear. Who knows what venereal diseases she could catch?
Jackie threw the sweatshirt over her head, sighing happily as she found an elastic tie in a bowl on Laurie's desk and put her wet hair back. She wrapped her wet clothes in a ball, her fingertips grazing the doorknob, as she took a look back at Laurie's bedroom. She stepped away from the door, placing the wet clothes on Laurie's desk chair softly as she investigated the room. It was a lot like Jackie's, pink and girly. Jackie noticed that Laurie used a lot of the same hair products as her, which was really no surprise. Laurie may be a whore, but she has amazing hair. Jackie glanced at the door, deeming it ok to open the drawer that Kitty had before. Jackie laughed, upon finding the box of condoms, trashy lingerie, and cigarettes in Laurie's dresser.
Jackie tiptoed over to Laurie's nightstand, taking a seat of her bed, which was pretty comfy. She opened up a jewelry box, sifting through gleaming silver beads and earrings. Her eyes locked on a familiar piece of jewelry, a tiny bracelet with a heart hanging from it. She squinted her eyes to read the engraving, which said, "Luv ya, babe – MK."
Michael Kelso.
Jackie felt her fist tighten over the bracelet, pulling back the sleeve of her sweatshirt to see the very same bracelet on her wrist.
"Jackie," Hyde's voice called, knocking on the door, and opening it at the same time. Jackie slammed the jewelry box shut, still clutching Laurie's bracelet. "Is everything ok?"
"I was just, um, looking for socks." Jackie stood up quickly, holding her hands behind her back as she batted her lashes at him.
"Oh," Hyde said slowly, staring at her with suspicious eyes. He turned to Laurie's dresser, rummaging through a drawer and shut it, turning back to face Jackie and her fake, plastered smile. He held up a pair of socks, throwing them to her. She watched them fall on the ground, still smiling.
Hyde gave her a bewildered look, kneeling down to pick up the pair of socks on the floor. He stood back up, directly in front of Jackie, towering over her. He held the socks up to her nose and she scrunched her nose up, keeping her smile on as she tried to slide the bracelet up her sleeve.
"Jackie," He said with annoyance, "I thought you said you needed socks."
"I do." Jackie hopped on the bed, falling backwards. She felt the bracelet fall from her hand and nervously straightened up, straining her hands backwards, roaming through the blanket to find the bracelet. "Can you put them on for me?" She asked suggestively, sticking her bare feet out, scrunching her face up in disapproval as she noticed how chipped her pedicure was.
"Um, no." Hyde threw the socks at Jackie's lap, rolling his eyes as she frowned.
"Steven, I don't think you should be in Laurie's room." Jackie grinned as she felt the tiny chain in her hands, grasping at her frivolously.
"I second that." Laurie called out, throwing her purse onto the bed, staring at Jackie with slight annoyance.
"Oh, Laurie, you should be used to finding random guys in your room." Hyde snickered, walking towards the door.
Laurie stuck her tongue out at him and turned back to Jackie as she took off her coat. "Is that my sweatshirt?"
"Your mom...said you wouldn't mind." Jackie hopped off the bed, clutching the socks with her free hand. "My clothes were wet from the rain. If it's a problem..."
"It's fine." Laurie shut her bedroom door, making Jackie more aware of where she was. "What's your name again?"
"Jackie." Jackie said flatly.
"Oh, that's right." Laurie took off her shirt, revealing a tiny tank top underneath. She threw the shirt onto her bed and began to unlace her boots as Jackie shifted her feet nervously. "You're on the freshman cheer squad, right?"
Jackie nodded, stepping towards the door.
"Listen," Laurie said as she threw her boots in her closet. "I'm sorry about the whole...Kelso thing."
"It's ok, really." Jackie said as she stuffed the socks into the pocket of the sweatshirt, fingering the cold, metal bracelet in her hand. It became looser in her hand as she realized she had no reason to be mad about it...Michael wasn't her boyfriend anymore. "I found this on the floor." Jackie stuck her hand out, and Laurie shrugged as she took the bracelet and threw it on her desk.
"Well, I just wanted to say sorry." Laurie said with a smile, which quickly turned sour, "Now get out." She opened the door for her, and Jackie nodded sheepishly, scowling gently as Laurie tapped her shoulder.
Jackie looked up at Laurie anxiously as Laurie smiled maliciously, "Why were you up here with Hyde?"
"Um," Jackie grinned brightly, "We're dating."
Laurie nodded in understanding, but tapped Jackie again, grabbing her attention, "Does that mean you're done with Kelso?"
Jackie just rolled her eyes, walking on ahead, only stopping when she felt the breeze of the door being slammed shut behind her.
"Jackie," Laurie called as she opened the door again, throwing the ball of wet clothes, which Jackie caught quickly, throwing it into the basket Kitty had asked her to.
Hyde was leaning against another door, which Jackie guessed was Eric's room, since it had a huge GI JOE poster across it.
"Have a nice chat with the resident slut?"
"She apologized." Jackie said simply, as they walked downstairs and to the basement together. Eric and Donna were still eating upstairs and Fez was doing some family bonding with his host parents. Jackie and Hyde quietly entered the basement, where Kelso was angrily playing with a bouncy ball, thrashing it against the wall and catching it. He only looked up when Hyde grabbed Jackie's hand, guiding her towards his room, the spare room in the back of the basement.
Jackie never really had the chance to really look around it before, and she took her time gazing at Hyde's stack of Rolling Stone's and MAD's, his bottle of old spice by the bed, and patted his Spiderman pillowcase jokingly as she slipped Laurie's socks over her bare, cold toes and sat on the cot.
"You think he'll get over it?" Jackie whispered as Hyde started up a record in a pretty busted up record player by the tiny desk, where Jackie noticed a small, black book.
"He will." Hyde nodded, taking off his blue sweatshirt and throwing it on top of his desk, covering up the book that Jackie had been eyeing. Jackie's lips twitched into a smile as Hyde sat next to her, his shoulders flexing in the poor lighting. She placed her hands on his bare shoulders, pulling down on his white wife beater with her fingertips.
"Steven, did you mean what you said?" Jackie asked quietly, as his lips grew closer to hers. "Are we a couple now?"
"We're dating, yes." Hyde nodded. "But we're not going steady, I'm not your boyfriend, we're just..."
"Dating." Jackie nodded. "So, don't you think that since we're dating, you should..." Jackie's eyes lit up, "Take me out on a date!"
Hyde pulled back, flustered. "I suppose..."
"Yes!" Jackie pumped her fist in the air. "I know exactly what dress I'm going to wear. My red one, it's so cute! And my hair? Oh my god, what will I do with my hair? I guess it really depends on where you take me...I need to know, Steven." Jackie rambled on as Hyde groaned, taking the top Rolling Stone from the stack and flipping through it as she continued. "Because if we're going out to eat, I can just curl it...but if we go to the movies, I,"
"We're going to the movies." Hyde grumbled, throwing the magazine back. "This way," He groaned as he leaned back against the wall, "You won't have to talk."
Jackie leaned back as well, putting her hand on his shoulder. He wrapped his arm around her loosely, smiling as she played with his hand with her own.
"So, ask me."
"Ask you what?"
"Ask me out for our date!"
"I thought I just did."
"No!" Jackie pulled his hand fiercely. "You didn't ask."
"But what's the point of asking of you already know."
"Because then I have the option of saying no."
"You won't say no."
"How do you know?"
Hyde rolled his eyes, taking Jackie's hand forcefully, "Jackie, do you want to go to the movies with me tomorrow night?"
Jackie pursed her lips, staring blankly at him, "I'll think about it."
"Real funny." He nudged her softly.
"I'm serious." Jackie continued, crossing her arms. "I don't know if I would want to be seen in public with you." Jackie's brain practically malfunctioned as she realized how unfunny that was, how sensitive they both were about that very fact. Hyde then wished he had worn his sunglasses, because Jackie could see the let down in his revealed eyes. Jackie lifted her hand up to his cheek, stroking him softly. "I mean, I don't know if I could handle it." Jackie continued, kissing Hyde's neck softly as he listened in shock. "The temptation might be too much." She could feel him start to break into a smile as she kissed his neck further, letting tiny kisses land on his chin and finally his lips as she pulled back, "I mean, I might just jump you right there in the theater."
"I understand." Hyde nodded, "We can just hang out here."
Jackie laughed bitterly, grabbing his Spiderman pillow and banging it on his chest. "Yes, Steven, I will go to the movies with you tomorrow."
He shoved the pillow aside, placing his hand on Jackie's thigh, sending chills throughout her body as he kissed her neck gently, as she had done before.
"Jackie!" Donna came running into the room. "Oh my god, ew."
Hyde groaned, pulling back from a guilty looking Jackie.
"Sorry..." Donna said, laughing softly. "Jackie, Mrs. Forman and I were talking about your situation..."
"Situation?" Jackie raised her eyebrow, relieved when she felt Hyde's hand slip into hers.
"Well, um," Donna became quiet. "My mom went to go visit some family in California, so the spare room is empty at my house." Donna smiled happily. "The room's pink, it'll feel just like home!"
Jackie looked back and forth between Hyde and Donna. Hyde was shaking his head sadly as Donna nodded hers with happiness.
"Your parents weren't sleeping in the same room?" Hyde asked quietly.
"No, my mom moved into the spare a few months ago." Donna shrugged. "So, what do you think, Jackie?"
"What do I think?" Jackie stood up quietly, looking down at Steven with uncertainty.
"Donna!" Eric came running into Hyde's room as well, "My mom wants to see you and Jackie, like, now." He sighed, groaning as he looked around the tiny room, "Why are we hanging out in here?"
"We weren't 'hanging out'." Hyde grinned as Eric feigned disgust.
Jackie and Donna just rolled their eyes, leaving the boys be.
Jackie smiled softly at Kelso, who was staring at the TV screen, barely acknowledging Jackie's presence as she made her way up the stairs.
Kitty ran into the two girls, "Donna, why don't you go back to the basement, sweetie? I'll be down there in a second to talk with you."
Jackie and Donna exchanged confused glances, as Donna did what she was told, heading back downstairs.
"Oh, dear." Kitty embraced Jackie quickly, whisking her back to the kitchen.
"Mrs. Forman, what's going..."
Jackie felt her jaw literally drop as she saw a large bush of luscious brown waves flip around in the kitchen, watching with awe as the woman, who the hair belonged to, brought a cup of coffee up to her lips, laughing at something Red had said.
"Mom?" Jackie blinked widely, "What are you doing here?"
"Jacqueline, darling!" Her mother stood up quickly, running to her side. "How are you, baby?"
Jackie felt her body go numb at the unfamiliar affection she was receiving as he mother hugged her tightly.
"Let me take a look at you." She held Jackie tightly still, "Gorgeous, of course."
Pam flipped her hair back, smiling back at Red and Kitty, who were seated at the table, "It comes from my side of the family."
Red and Kitty nodded, out of friendliness, as Pam turned back to her daughter.
"It's Jackie now." Jackie said slowly. "No one calls me Jacqueline anymore."
"Oh, that's right." Pam said with a shrug. "I forgot."
Jackie couldn't remember the last time she had seen her mother this sober and this happy. Her mother had been coming in and out of the house for years since her big birthday party, but she was sure this time it was for good.
"Whatever." Jackie mumbled, all of a sudden very aware of her disheveled appearance. She poked some hair behind her ears and licked her chapped lips.
"You ready to go home?" Pam asked merrily. "It's quite late."
"Home?" Jackie's eyes lit up magically. "Daddy's not selling the house?"
"Not for a few weeks, darling." Pam said, flashing a sincere smile that still managed to creep Jackie out. "But, we'll find an apartment until you finish high school."
Jackie stared at her mother blankly.
She never really knew her mother that well, but from what she knew, this wasn't her mother. Her mom wasn't this nice, this sober, or this charming. And she definitely wasn't here to bond with Jackie...she could only be here for one reason. Money.
Jackie wasn't sure what money or where it was coming from but she bet her mother had a few sugar daddies' hidden around Point Place. Maybe she planned on selling Jackie into slavery, or to a pimp, for some hard cash. Jackie wasn't quite sure...but there was something about her mother's new mannerisms that made her seem very untrustworthy.
"Let me just, um, say goodbye to my friends." Jackie said wearily as her mother nodded gleefully. Jackie looked at Red and Kitty, who just smiled as well, and walked back downstairs with an added stress on her worn out heart.
"Jackie, what's going on?" Donna asked quickly as she looked up from the couch, where her and Eric were sitting. Kelso was gone, luckily, as Jackie stood by Hyde, tapping his shoulder. He looked up at her, his sunglasses firmly in place.
Jackie still felt numb as she turned to Donna, muttering something inaudible.
"Jackie?" Donna gave her a worried look.
"My mom's upstairs."
"Oh my god, really?" Eric jumped up, remembering how good Mrs. Burkhart had looked at Jackie's birthday party way back when, "Do I look ok?" He asked Donna, who kicked him hard. Eric frowned, taking his seat back as Jackie leaned against Hyde, who was looking up at her with slight concern.
"She's back from Mexico." Jackie said to Donna flatly. "My dad's not selling the house for a few weeks. We're going to find an apartment."
"That's great, Jackie!" Donna said loudly. "Now you won't have to move! And you won't have to live with me." Donna frowned. "I mean..."
"It's ok." Jackie laughed. "I don't think you could handle living with someone like me."
Eric and Donna nodded in agreement.
"I wouldn't be able to handle your jealousy, anyway." Jackie said simply. "It's not my fault I'm burdened with this face!" Jackie pointed to her cheeks, looking down at Hyde, who knew this was her way of coping.
"Right." Donna nodded. "Thanks for sparing me from your amazing good looks. I don't know what I would have done."
"You're very welcome!" Jackie beamed, falling into her old habits of covering her emotions up. "Well, I have to go. I can't believe my mom's back!" Jackie ran up the stairs, slowing down as she reached the top. She smiled when she saw Hyde walking up the stairs quietly, yelling to Donna and Eric that he was getting a drink, though they knew he wasn't.
"Jackie,"
"Yes, Steven?"
"Are you...do you..." He paused, not sure how to word himself. "Nevermind."
"Steven, I'm fine with this, I mean, it solves a lot of problems, right?"
"Yeah, but your mom..."
"She's back and she's genuinely happy to be here."
"Right..."
"And she's here for me, and even though every time she comes back, she leaves again, I think that this time it's for real."
She looked at Hyde, pleading for some confirmation of this thought.
But seeing as how this was Hyde, that's not what she got.
"Jackie, you know that's probably not true..."
"Listen, Steven," Jackie said angrily, forcing tears back into her skull, "Just because your parents plain out ditched you doesn't mean mine will." Jackie's eyes bulged with guilt and she grabbed Hyde's hand, quickly apologizing, "I didn't mean that..."
"Whatever." He pushed her hand aside. "See you tomorrow night?"
"Steven, I..."
"Jackie, it's cool."
She stared at him blankly, looking back at the kitchen as her mother called for her, turning back to say something more...but he was already down the stairs and gone.
Jackie knew it wasn't cool.
How could she say that?...
Because she knew her mother would leave again...it's just how things are.
"Jackie, let's go, darling!"
"Coming, mom!" Jackie put on a fake smile, heading towards her mother's voice, ignoring the conflicting pains in her chest and the strain on her eyes.
She didn't think she could handle it if her mother left her again.
What was worse, was that she didn't think she could handle Steven being upset by her.
She needed to make it up to him.
She needed to show him she was sorry, for everything.
And she would, tomorrow.
On their first official date.
Chapter Nineteen: The Return of Pam
Jackie pushed Hyde inside, sliding the door shut behind her as Eric and Donna popped their heads up from the kitchen table. Eric shrugged, picking up his sandwich for another bite, but froze abruptly when he saw Hyde's hand intertwined with Jackie's as they stood there, shivering.
"Eric, honey," Kitty called as she walked in, furrowing her brow in horror as she spotted the two lovebirds, dripping on her just washed kitchen floor. "You two!" She pointed at Jackie and Hyde accusingly, scaring them slightly. "Don't move." She ran back out the kitchen door.
"Forman, your mom's kind of crazy." Hyde laughed as Eric slowly dropped his sandwich, staring straight back at Hyde. "I guess it's genetic..."
"Why are you two holding hands?" Donna asked, breaking into a smile. "Are you...no...wait," Donna began to laugh, clamping her hand over her mouth to shut herself up. "That's weird."
"Says the lumberjack!" Jackie sniped, releasing Hyde's hand as she wiped some rain from her forehead.
Kitty came running back in, laughing gently as she gave Hyde and Jackie each a towel. "Steven, dry off and go change." As Jackie wrapped the towel around her body, shivering slightly, Kitty took a hold of her hand, instructing her to follow.
Hyde gave Jackie a quick smile, before disappearing into the basement as Jackie followed Kitty through the living room and upstairs, into what she assumed was Laurie's bedroom.
"I'm sure we can find something for you to wear in here..." Kitty laughed, opening up Laurie's drawers, and wincing at what she found, "Oh, dear." She shut the drawer quickly and rummaged through another, pulling out a sweatshirt and sweatpants. "I'm sure Laurie won't mind. She never wears anything this loose anyway."
"Thanks, Mrs. Forman." Jackie grinned, taking the clothes from Kitty.
"Now, you change in here and put your wet clothes in the laundry basket in the hallway. I'll throw them in the dryer when I get the chance."
Jackie smiled appreciatively as Kitty shut the door behind her. Jackie slowly tore her wet clothes off, slightly uncomfortable as she put the warm gray sweatpants over her damp underwear. Oh well, she wasn't about to borrow a pair of Laurie Forman's underwear. Who knows what venereal diseases she could catch?
Jackie threw the sweatshirt over her head, sighing happily as she found an elastic tie in a bowl on Laurie's desk and put her wet hair back. She wrapped her wet clothes in a ball, her fingertips grazing the doorknob, as she took a look back at Laurie's bedroom. She stepped away from the door, placing the wet clothes on Laurie's desk chair softly as she investigated the room. It was a lot like Jackie's, pink and girly. Jackie noticed that Laurie used a lot of the same hair products as her, which was really no surprise. Laurie may be a whore, but she has amazing hair. Jackie glanced at the door, deeming it ok to open the drawer that Kitty had before. Jackie laughed, upon finding the box of condoms, trashy lingerie, and cigarettes in Laurie's dresser.
Jackie tiptoed over to Laurie's nightstand, taking a seat of her bed, which was pretty comfy. She opened up a jewelry box, sifting through gleaming silver beads and earrings. Her eyes locked on a familiar piece of jewelry, a tiny bracelet with a heart hanging from it. She squinted her eyes to read the engraving, which said, "Luv ya, babe – MK."
Michael Kelso.
Jackie felt her fist tighten over the bracelet, pulling back the sleeve of her sweatshirt to see the very same bracelet on her wrist.
"Jackie," Hyde's voice called, knocking on the door, and opening it at the same time. Jackie slammed the jewelry box shut, still clutching Laurie's bracelet. "Is everything ok?"
"I was just, um, looking for socks." Jackie stood up quickly, holding her hands behind her back as she batted her lashes at him.
"Oh," Hyde said slowly, staring at her with suspicious eyes. He turned to Laurie's dresser, rummaging through a drawer and shut it, turning back to face Jackie and her fake, plastered smile. He held up a pair of socks, throwing them to her. She watched them fall on the ground, still smiling.
Hyde gave her a bewildered look, kneeling down to pick up the pair of socks on the floor. He stood back up, directly in front of Jackie, towering over her. He held the socks up to her nose and she scrunched her nose up, keeping her smile on as she tried to slide the bracelet up her sleeve.
"Jackie," He said with annoyance, "I thought you said you needed socks."
"I do." Jackie hopped on the bed, falling backwards. She felt the bracelet fall from her hand and nervously straightened up, straining her hands backwards, roaming through the blanket to find the bracelet. "Can you put them on for me?" She asked suggestively, sticking her bare feet out, scrunching her face up in disapproval as she noticed how chipped her pedicure was.
"Um, no." Hyde threw the socks at Jackie's lap, rolling his eyes as she frowned.
"Steven, I don't think you should be in Laurie's room." Jackie grinned as she felt the tiny chain in her hands, grasping at her frivolously.
"I second that." Laurie called out, throwing her purse onto the bed, staring at Jackie with slight annoyance.
"Oh, Laurie, you should be used to finding random guys in your room." Hyde snickered, walking towards the door.
Laurie stuck her tongue out at him and turned back to Jackie as she took off her coat. "Is that my sweatshirt?"
"Your mom...said you wouldn't mind." Jackie hopped off the bed, clutching the socks with her free hand. "My clothes were wet from the rain. If it's a problem..."
"It's fine." Laurie shut her bedroom door, making Jackie more aware of where she was. "What's your name again?"
"Jackie." Jackie said flatly.
"Oh, that's right." Laurie took off her shirt, revealing a tiny tank top underneath. She threw the shirt onto her bed and began to unlace her boots as Jackie shifted her feet nervously. "You're on the freshman cheer squad, right?"
Jackie nodded, stepping towards the door.
"Listen," Laurie said as she threw her boots in her closet. "I'm sorry about the whole...Kelso thing."
"It's ok, really." Jackie said as she stuffed the socks into the pocket of the sweatshirt, fingering the cold, metal bracelet in her hand. It became looser in her hand as she realized she had no reason to be mad about it...Michael wasn't her boyfriend anymore. "I found this on the floor." Jackie stuck her hand out, and Laurie shrugged as she took the bracelet and threw it on her desk.
"Well, I just wanted to say sorry." Laurie said with a smile, which quickly turned sour, "Now get out." She opened the door for her, and Jackie nodded sheepishly, scowling gently as Laurie tapped her shoulder.
Jackie looked up at Laurie anxiously as Laurie smiled maliciously, "Why were you up here with Hyde?"
"Um," Jackie grinned brightly, "We're dating."
Laurie nodded in understanding, but tapped Jackie again, grabbing her attention, "Does that mean you're done with Kelso?"
Jackie just rolled her eyes, walking on ahead, only stopping when she felt the breeze of the door being slammed shut behind her.
"Jackie," Laurie called as she opened the door again, throwing the ball of wet clothes, which Jackie caught quickly, throwing it into the basket Kitty had asked her to.
Hyde was leaning against another door, which Jackie guessed was Eric's room, since it had a huge GI JOE poster across it.
"Have a nice chat with the resident slut?"
"She apologized." Jackie said simply, as they walked downstairs and to the basement together. Eric and Donna were still eating upstairs and Fez was doing some family bonding with his host parents. Jackie and Hyde quietly entered the basement, where Kelso was angrily playing with a bouncy ball, thrashing it against the wall and catching it. He only looked up when Hyde grabbed Jackie's hand, guiding her towards his room, the spare room in the back of the basement.
Jackie never really had the chance to really look around it before, and she took her time gazing at Hyde's stack of Rolling Stone's and MAD's, his bottle of old spice by the bed, and patted his Spiderman pillowcase jokingly as she slipped Laurie's socks over her bare, cold toes and sat on the cot.
"You think he'll get over it?" Jackie whispered as Hyde started up a record in a pretty busted up record player by the tiny desk, where Jackie noticed a small, black book.
"He will." Hyde nodded, taking off his blue sweatshirt and throwing it on top of his desk, covering up the book that Jackie had been eyeing. Jackie's lips twitched into a smile as Hyde sat next to her, his shoulders flexing in the poor lighting. She placed her hands on his bare shoulders, pulling down on his white wife beater with her fingertips.
"Steven, did you mean what you said?" Jackie asked quietly, as his lips grew closer to hers. "Are we a couple now?"
"We're dating, yes." Hyde nodded. "But we're not going steady, I'm not your boyfriend, we're just..."
"Dating." Jackie nodded. "So, don't you think that since we're dating, you should..." Jackie's eyes lit up, "Take me out on a date!"
Hyde pulled back, flustered. "I suppose..."
"Yes!" Jackie pumped her fist in the air. "I know exactly what dress I'm going to wear. My red one, it's so cute! And my hair? Oh my god, what will I do with my hair? I guess it really depends on where you take me...I need to know, Steven." Jackie rambled on as Hyde groaned, taking the top Rolling Stone from the stack and flipping through it as she continued. "Because if we're going out to eat, I can just curl it...but if we go to the movies, I,"
"We're going to the movies." Hyde grumbled, throwing the magazine back. "This way," He groaned as he leaned back against the wall, "You won't have to talk."
Jackie leaned back as well, putting her hand on his shoulder. He wrapped his arm around her loosely, smiling as she played with his hand with her own.
"So, ask me."
"Ask you what?"
"Ask me out for our date!"
"I thought I just did."
"No!" Jackie pulled his hand fiercely. "You didn't ask."
"But what's the point of asking of you already know."
"Because then I have the option of saying no."
"You won't say no."
"How do you know?"
Hyde rolled his eyes, taking Jackie's hand forcefully, "Jackie, do you want to go to the movies with me tomorrow night?"
Jackie pursed her lips, staring blankly at him, "I'll think about it."
"Real funny." He nudged her softly.
"I'm serious." Jackie continued, crossing her arms. "I don't know if I would want to be seen in public with you." Jackie's brain practically malfunctioned as she realized how unfunny that was, how sensitive they both were about that very fact. Hyde then wished he had worn his sunglasses, because Jackie could see the let down in his revealed eyes. Jackie lifted her hand up to his cheek, stroking him softly. "I mean, I don't know if I could handle it." Jackie continued, kissing Hyde's neck softly as he listened in shock. "The temptation might be too much." She could feel him start to break into a smile as she kissed his neck further, letting tiny kisses land on his chin and finally his lips as she pulled back, "I mean, I might just jump you right there in the theater."
"I understand." Hyde nodded, "We can just hang out here."
Jackie laughed bitterly, grabbing his Spiderman pillow and banging it on his chest. "Yes, Steven, I will go to the movies with you tomorrow."
He shoved the pillow aside, placing his hand on Jackie's thigh, sending chills throughout her body as he kissed her neck gently, as she had done before.
"Jackie!" Donna came running into the room. "Oh my god, ew."
Hyde groaned, pulling back from a guilty looking Jackie.
"Sorry..." Donna said, laughing softly. "Jackie, Mrs. Forman and I were talking about your situation..."
"Situation?" Jackie raised her eyebrow, relieved when she felt Hyde's hand slip into hers.
"Well, um," Donna became quiet. "My mom went to go visit some family in California, so the spare room is empty at my house." Donna smiled happily. "The room's pink, it'll feel just like home!"
Jackie looked back and forth between Hyde and Donna. Hyde was shaking his head sadly as Donna nodded hers with happiness.
"Your parents weren't sleeping in the same room?" Hyde asked quietly.
"No, my mom moved into the spare a few months ago." Donna shrugged. "So, what do you think, Jackie?"
"What do I think?" Jackie stood up quietly, looking down at Steven with uncertainty.
"Donna!" Eric came running into Hyde's room as well, "My mom wants to see you and Jackie, like, now." He sighed, groaning as he looked around the tiny room, "Why are we hanging out in here?"
"We weren't 'hanging out'." Hyde grinned as Eric feigned disgust.
Jackie and Donna just rolled their eyes, leaving the boys be.
Jackie smiled softly at Kelso, who was staring at the TV screen, barely acknowledging Jackie's presence as she made her way up the stairs.
Kitty ran into the two girls, "Donna, why don't you go back to the basement, sweetie? I'll be down there in a second to talk with you."
Jackie and Donna exchanged confused glances, as Donna did what she was told, heading back downstairs.
"Oh, dear." Kitty embraced Jackie quickly, whisking her back to the kitchen.
"Mrs. Forman, what's going..."
Jackie felt her jaw literally drop as she saw a large bush of luscious brown waves flip around in the kitchen, watching with awe as the woman, who the hair belonged to, brought a cup of coffee up to her lips, laughing at something Red had said.
"Mom?" Jackie blinked widely, "What are you doing here?"
"Jacqueline, darling!" Her mother stood up quickly, running to her side. "How are you, baby?"
Jackie felt her body go numb at the unfamiliar affection she was receiving as he mother hugged her tightly.
"Let me take a look at you." She held Jackie tightly still, "Gorgeous, of course."
Pam flipped her hair back, smiling back at Red and Kitty, who were seated at the table, "It comes from my side of the family."
Red and Kitty nodded, out of friendliness, as Pam turned back to her daughter.
"It's Jackie now." Jackie said slowly. "No one calls me Jacqueline anymore."
"Oh, that's right." Pam said with a shrug. "I forgot."
Jackie couldn't remember the last time she had seen her mother this sober and this happy. Her mother had been coming in and out of the house for years since her big birthday party, but she was sure this time it was for good.
"Whatever." Jackie mumbled, all of a sudden very aware of her disheveled appearance. She poked some hair behind her ears and licked her chapped lips.
"You ready to go home?" Pam asked merrily. "It's quite late."
"Home?" Jackie's eyes lit up magically. "Daddy's not selling the house?"
"Not for a few weeks, darling." Pam said, flashing a sincere smile that still managed to creep Jackie out. "But, we'll find an apartment until you finish high school."
Jackie stared at her mother blankly.
She never really knew her mother that well, but from what she knew, this wasn't her mother. Her mom wasn't this nice, this sober, or this charming. And she definitely wasn't here to bond with Jackie...she could only be here for one reason. Money.
Jackie wasn't sure what money or where it was coming from but she bet her mother had a few sugar daddies' hidden around Point Place. Maybe she planned on selling Jackie into slavery, or to a pimp, for some hard cash. Jackie wasn't quite sure...but there was something about her mother's new mannerisms that made her seem very untrustworthy.
"Let me just, um, say goodbye to my friends." Jackie said wearily as her mother nodded gleefully. Jackie looked at Red and Kitty, who just smiled as well, and walked back downstairs with an added stress on her worn out heart.
"Jackie, what's going on?" Donna asked quickly as she looked up from the couch, where her and Eric were sitting. Kelso was gone, luckily, as Jackie stood by Hyde, tapping his shoulder. He looked up at her, his sunglasses firmly in place.
Jackie still felt numb as she turned to Donna, muttering something inaudible.
"Jackie?" Donna gave her a worried look.
"My mom's upstairs."
"Oh my god, really?" Eric jumped up, remembering how good Mrs. Burkhart had looked at Jackie's birthday party way back when, "Do I look ok?" He asked Donna, who kicked him hard. Eric frowned, taking his seat back as Jackie leaned against Hyde, who was looking up at her with slight concern.
"She's back from Mexico." Jackie said to Donna flatly. "My dad's not selling the house for a few weeks. We're going to find an apartment."
"That's great, Jackie!" Donna said loudly. "Now you won't have to move! And you won't have to live with me." Donna frowned. "I mean..."
"It's ok." Jackie laughed. "I don't think you could handle living with someone like me."
Eric and Donna nodded in agreement.
"I wouldn't be able to handle your jealousy, anyway." Jackie said simply. "It's not my fault I'm burdened with this face!" Jackie pointed to her cheeks, looking down at Hyde, who knew this was her way of coping.
"Right." Donna nodded. "Thanks for sparing me from your amazing good looks. I don't know what I would have done."
"You're very welcome!" Jackie beamed, falling into her old habits of covering her emotions up. "Well, I have to go. I can't believe my mom's back!" Jackie ran up the stairs, slowing down as she reached the top. She smiled when she saw Hyde walking up the stairs quietly, yelling to Donna and Eric that he was getting a drink, though they knew he wasn't.
"Jackie,"
"Yes, Steven?"
"Are you...do you..." He paused, not sure how to word himself. "Nevermind."
"Steven, I'm fine with this, I mean, it solves a lot of problems, right?"
"Yeah, but your mom..."
"She's back and she's genuinely happy to be here."
"Right..."
"And she's here for me, and even though every time she comes back, she leaves again, I think that this time it's for real."
She looked at Hyde, pleading for some confirmation of this thought.
But seeing as how this was Hyde, that's not what she got.
"Jackie, you know that's probably not true..."
"Listen, Steven," Jackie said angrily, forcing tears back into her skull, "Just because your parents plain out ditched you doesn't mean mine will." Jackie's eyes bulged with guilt and she grabbed Hyde's hand, quickly apologizing, "I didn't mean that..."
"Whatever." He pushed her hand aside. "See you tomorrow night?"
"Steven, I..."
"Jackie, it's cool."
She stared at him blankly, looking back at the kitchen as her mother called for her, turning back to say something more...but he was already down the stairs and gone.
Jackie knew it wasn't cool.
How could she say that?...
Because she knew her mother would leave again...it's just how things are.
"Jackie, let's go, darling!"
"Coming, mom!" Jackie put on a fake smile, heading towards her mother's voice, ignoring the conflicting pains in her chest and the strain on her eyes.
She didn't think she could handle it if her mother left her again.
What was worse, was that she didn't think she could handle Steven being upset by her.
She needed to make it up to him.
She needed to show him she was sorry, for everything.
And she would, tomorrow.
On their first official date.