In The Beginning
Chapter Twenty Six: Pam's Secret
"My life is a revolving nightmare!"
The boy awkwardly sitting across from a manic Jackie Burkhart nodded, brushing some of his hair off his forehead as he leaned across the couch, picking up his math textbook and browsing through it as Jackie continued, her puffy jacket practically as loud as her as she waved her hands manically through the air, trying to accentuate each and every point.
"She has the worst timing in the world." Jackie crossed her arms angrily across her chest and leaned back on the couch, flipping her hair incessantly as she glanced sideways towards the boy, who was furiously trying to concentrate on a math problem.
She knew he wasn't comfortable with her rambling, but she didn't really care.
"And does she really expect me to forgive her every time she comes waltzing back into my life?" Jackie let a breath of sadness escape her before she glared down at her new imported skirt from Mexico. "I mean, if she didn't bring me back this nice skirt and those pretty earrings, I wouldn't even consider forgiving her." Jackie nodded, satisfied with this as she turned back to the boy, who was red with impatience.
"You know, um," The boy began, placing the textbook on Jackie's lap as she babbled on, "I think we should concentrate on number twelve, since that problem's kind of like the one you screwed up on your last test."
"I didn't screw up." Jackie snorted. "I wasn't paying attention and I forgot to carry the one."
The boy shrugged, pointing to the math problem and placing a piece of paper and a pencil in her hands, which she casually threw down on the couch, along with the textbook, and turned her body towards him.
"And she kicked Steven out, trying to be all motherly." Jackie rolled her eyes with a coordinating snort, "She actually said that I couldn't have boys over the house when she wasn't around. Hello! She's never around! Why should my sex life have to suffer because of her permanent absence?"
"Sex life?" He asked quickly, his eyes darting towards the door, planning an escape from this conversation.
"So now I can't have anyone over the house, because she's always home. She won't leave. I practically had to plead with her to let me come here, and she only let me because it was tutoring." Jackie rambled on incessantly, as the boy gave up, deeming himself hostage as she continued, patting his knee softly, "Besides, once I told her it was you, she was all like, Eric Forman, why didn't you say so?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Jackie shook her head, throwing herself out of her craze as she stopped her tongue from continuing on. She flipped her hair casually, trying to calm down as she sat up straight.
"It's just, that, well," Jackie said slowly, giving in to Eric's moody look.
Before Jackie could continue, Fez and Kelso barged in, throwing a basketball between them as they settled down in their respective seats.
"You're parent safe, Eric." Jackie continued, picking up the textbook with a renewed interest, furrowing her brow with a slight sigh. She hated math almost as much as she hated her mom.
"Parent safe?" Eric blinked widely, standing up quickly, "Hold on, I am NOT parent safe!"
"Sure you are." Kelso laughed. "The only reason my parents let me out of the house is because they know I'm coming to your house. They're always going on and on about how you came in first place at the science fair."
"Really?" Eric's eyes lit up. "Because, I worked really hard for that blue ribbon."
"Yes, Eric," Fez nodded. "Your diorama of the solar system was breathtaking."
"I still think that I should have won." Kelso said angrily as he grabbed a popsicle from the freezer.
"Kelso, you drew a face on a tomato and tried to convince the judges that you discovered a new species." Eric laughed, glancing over at Jackie, who was busy forcing numbers onto her paper. "Don't forget to carry the one." He said sternly, which she gave him an annoyed glance for.
"I did discover a new species!" Kelso said defensively, waving his Popsicle at Eric as he slid back into his chair, "Hello, it's a Mr. Tomato head."
Fez, Jackie, and Eric blinked widely at Kelso, who slopped his tongue across his popsicle innocently.
"It *was* Mr. Tomatohead." Fez corrected. "Until Jackie sat on him!"
"Who puts a tomato on a chair?" Jackie snapped.
"It wasn't just a tomato, Jackie." Kelso snapped back. "He was a person, with feelings. How would you like if someone sat on you?"
"No one would sit on me," Jackie snorted, returning to her work. "I'm not a freakin' tomato."
"But you're kind of small," Fez spoke up.
"And sometimes you get real red." Eric pointed out.
"I do not get red!" Jackie muttered. "It's called blush."
"Yeah, Mr. Tomatohead and I had some good times." Kelso recalled, "Like that time Hyde and I played catch with him. Or that time he rolled all the way down a hill. Good times, man." Kelso laughed as the other three glared at him blankly.
"It was a tomato, Kelso." Eric said slowly.
Jackie and Fez nodded as Kelso looked up, clearly offended.
"God, you people are so insensitive!" Kelso screeched, practically colliding into Hyde as he walked in and Kelso walked out in a huff.
"What's wrong with him?" Hyde laughed as he took his familiar seat.
"How much time do we have?" Eric laughed, glancing at his wrist. "I'm going to get something to drink, anyone want anything?"
"Beer." Hyde said with a conniving smile.
"Right." Eric nodded dryly, running up the stairs as Fez wandered over to the record player.
"God, I hate this!" Jackie screamed, throwing her textbook on the couch, lying down on top of it, looking up at Hyde, who was smirking.
"Yeah, homework sucks." He nodded. "Which is why I don't do it."
"No, not that." Jackie muttered, sitting back up. "I can't concentrate on anything, not since,"
"Your mom popped back into your life." Hyde nodded, leaning in towards her.
"It's just..." Jackie began, wondering if she should continue.
Hyde had been really patient with her lately, she guessed it was because the whole abandonment thing was kind of his forte. She didn't want to overcrowd him with all this mom stuff though; she didn't want him to feel alienated.
Hyde leaned in closer, so close that Jackie forgot all of her anti- mom thoughts and could only concentrate on the rhythm of his breath, in and out, in and out...
"Just what?" Hyde asked slowly, but all Jackie saw were his lips, moist and inviting, moving slowly with his breath and Jackie couldn't take it anymore.
"Alright, alright." Eric's voice echoed throughout Jackie's brain as he placed his can of root beer down on the table, pushing her to sit up straight and placing the textbook back in her lap, "Let's do some math problems!" He shouted sarcastically.
Jackie rolled her eyes, forcing her mind to focus on the problems before her as Hyde glanced at her oddly, before leaning back in his chair, deep in thought.
"Eric, I can't do this." Jackie sighed, pushing the textbook off her lap, "I'm just not smart enough."
"Jackie," Eric started, clearly used to her lack of self confidence in the academic area, "You almost have it, come on, just one more try."
She looked up at his pleading eyes and nodded in defeat, working on hard on damn number twelve in the textbook as Fez sat down on the lawn chair, striking up random conversation with Hyde, who nodded in reply, barely saying a word.
Jackie bit her lip, sighing hard in frustration as she found an answer, which she practically assumed was very wrong, and handed her paper to Eric, who checked over her answers quickly as Hyde turned to her, about to say something before Eric stood up, clutching the paper tightly.
"Did I forget to carry the one again?" Jackie groaned as she stood up as well, throwing her purse onto her shoulder, trying to tiptoe to see the paper, since Eric was much taller then her.
"You got it right!" Eric said breathlessly.
"What? Are you sure?" Jackie asked instantly.
Eric gave the paper one more look and nodded and the two hugged briefly.
It took Jackie a few seconds to remember who she was and who he was and she instantly pulled back, feigning a look of utter disgust as she smiled inwardly.
"See, you're smart." Fez nodded happily.
"Who ever said I wasn't?" Jackie snapped, looking down at Hyde, who stood up, taking her hand into his, pulling her outside.
Eric sat back down, proud of his teaching skills, and almost shocked as Jackie came back running in, giving him a small kiss on the cheek.
"Thanks Eric." She whispered, before running back out.
Eric would never be a best friend to Jackie, but he would be there for her, and he believed in her, something that her former best friends never did.
Jackie ran back outside to Hyde, who was waiting for her by the basketball hoop, where Donna and Kelso were shooting hoops.
Donna waved to Jackie quickly as she hurried to follow Hyde up the Forman's street and towards the Hub.
"Steven, slow down." Jackie panted as she glided her hand through his, but his pace quickened.
Jackie looked up at his face, which seemed conflicted, and she stopped, forcing him to stop with her, since she was grasping his arm.
"Is your mom home?" He blurted before she could slip in a word.
Jackie eyed him uneasily, but shook her head 'no'.
"She's at work." Jackie said, trying to keep a straight face on.
"Your mom got a job?" Hyde asked in disbelief as they made their way to the Pavilion.
"Yeah, well," Jackie sighed gently, "She's changed."
"Yeah." Hyde nodded unsurely. "Are you ok with that?"
"Sure," Jackie answered slowly, aware of how concerned he was, "I mean, she's actually starting to act responsible. Why wouldn't I be ok with that?"
"I don't know..." Hyde started as they reached her front door, "Maybe because she has a history of running out on you."
"But this time, it's different." Jackie said happily. "I know I've been complaining, but well, I'm happy she's here. And I'm happy she's acting like a real mother. I think she's finally growing up, you know?"
Jackie looked through her purse for her keys and blinked widely at the door knob as she realized the door was already unlocked. Jackie pushed the door open softly, and began to blush wildly as her mother came bouncing towards the door, squeezing Jackie as she ushered the two in.
"Jackie, how was tutoring with Eric?" Her mother squealed happily as she untied her apron, throwing it on the couch as she patted the cushion, asking Jackie to sit.
Jackie looked back at Hyde with a smile, taking the seat under her mother's gaze as Hyde leaned uneasily against the opposing armchair.
"It was good." Jackie said quickly. "Shouldn't you be at work?"
"My boss gave me the rest of the day off, you know, on account of how pretty I am." Pam's hair bounced frivolously as she spoke, and it was very hard for Hyde to hate the woman when she was so aesthetically pleasing. Pam followed her daughter's gaze, toward Hyde, who straightened his composure, looking at Pam squarely as she spoke to him, "Steven, would you like to stay for dinner?"
"Um, well," Hyde stuttered, "Mrs. Forman probably wouldn't..."
"Oh, shoot!" Pam stood up, slapping her knee in remembrance. "I totally forgot! I promised Kitty that we would come by for dinner tonight! And I cooked and everything!"
"You cooked?" Jackie asked in disbelief.
"Not very well, but I tried." Pam confirmed, "Oh well, we could eat it tomorrow, I suppose."
Jackie nodded happily, standing up as Pam went on about how she needed to get ready for dinner now, choose an outfit, and such. She was so oblivious of her daughter and her boyfriend, as she ran up the stairs, leaving the two alone.
"Wow, she has changed." Hyde nodded.
Jackie just smiled happily, something she had been doing a lot for the past few days her mother has been home.
"So I guess I'll see you at dinner." Hyde started slowly, inching towards the door.
"Wait," Jackie looked up the stairs quickly, "Let's go for a walk."
Jackie didn't even need to tell Hyde where to go, he just knew.
They had been sitting in the courtyard for a few minutes, Jackie tracing her thumb over his palm as he stared past her. He could never bring himself to look in her eyes, and it worried her. If she only knew why he couldn't, she probably would have been more flattered then worried.
"Jackie," Hyde said softly as he cleared his throat. It had been hard for him to speak the whole day, ever since he saw what he had seen.
He still couldn't believe what a bad mother Pam Burkhart was.
It was one thing when Hyde's own mother abandoned him.
He knew it was coming, and he knew it was for good.
Pam keeps coming back, allowing whatever hope Jackie still keeps inside her heart to thrive, only to be crushed when she leaves again.
But today, what she did, it takes the cake.
He needed to tell someone...
He wanted to tell Jackie, but he wasn't sure how she would take it.
After school, Hyde went straight to work.
It had been a slow day at the Fotohut, and Leo told him he could lock up and leave early, leaving him with the last of the customers.
As Hyde locked up the store, he caught a glimpse of bouncy, dyed hair, but didn't think much of it, at first.
He made his way down Main Street, walking briskly towards the Hub.
He knew Jackie was having a rough week, with her mom and all, and knew she would be in the basement, working on her schoolwork with Eric, probably dying for some relief from it all.
He ran into the hub, buying a bar of chocolate for Jackie, her favorite kind, and a pop to go, for himself, and ran back out, where he caught another glimpse of the mop of hair, this time, he knew for sure it was Pam. He couldn't help it, but he followed her, down the street and into a pretty empty parking lot.
A single car was parked, or at least it was the only car Hyde could see from where he was hiding, behind a row of bushes, watching Jackie's mother as she greeted the man who emerged from the fancy, parked Lincoln.
The two briefly hugged and then walked off together into the only fancy restaurant in Point Place, and without a second thought, Hyde followed them.
The waiters gave him a dirty look as he sat down by the bar, trying to eavesdrop on the two, shady lunchgoers.
"Does she know yet?" The man asked Pam.
"I don't think so," Pam whispered, so Hyde strained his ears, "No, she doesn't."
"Good." The man chuckled softly. "It'll be much easier that way."
"Do you have the papers yet?" Pam asked greedily.
"I'm still having my assistant draw them up, but soon, Mrs. Burkhart."
"It's Mrs. Parker now." Pam corrected, flashing her ringed finger towards him.
"Oh, yes, I forgot." The man chuckled again, and Hyde didn't like his laugh one bit. "And when exactly in the honeymoon?"
"In two days." Pam said excitedly. "Arthur's taking me to Paris," Pam smiled dreamily, "I love Paris."
"Of course, of course." The man chuckled again, causing Hyde to cringe as he took a sip of his pop. "And what about the girl?"
"Jacqueline?" Pam asked, and Hyde's ears perked up at the name. "Boarding school, of course, up in Vermont."
Hyde spat out his drink, receiving many dirty glares from customers and waiters alike as he pushed his drink away from him, letting the bag, with the chocolate bar, out of his hand, since his fists were now pulsating with anger.
Why didn't Jackie tell him her mother was remarried? Or that she was leaving?
He had enough and was ready to leave, before he caught another sound bite of the conversation.
"I can't wait till I get my hands on that trust fund." Pam laughed happily. "And you're sure you can altar the names right?"
"I told you, I'd have the papers soon." The man nodded. "And then all of your daughter's money will be transferred to your new account."
Pam licked her lips happily, taking a sip of her drink as she stroked the man's hand gingerly.
Now Hyde had definitely heard and seen enough.
He didn't even bother to go back and retrieve Jackie's candy.
He went straight to the basement, knowing she would be there.
How could she not tell him? And how could she let her mother take all of her money?
But when he had seen Jackie's sad face and heard her complaints, it had dawned on him.
Jackie had no idea.
Jackie didn't even know there was money in her name, or that her mother was no longer a Burkhart, but a Parker.
"Steven, what's wrong with you?" Jackie demanded. "You've been acting really strange all day."
Hyde blinked down at Jackie, who had just broken his train of thoughts, as he leaned against the courtyard wall.
"I'm just worried about you, Jacks..." He laughed it off.
She rolled her eyes and groaned, standing up and wrapping her arms around his waist, "You don't have to be. Everything's perfect again. We're perfect. My mom's back and here to stay. I finally get how to do math..."
"How do you know she's here to stay?"
"I just...know." Jackie nodded confidently.
"But she's left before, Jackie. How do you know this time is different?"
"Steven," Jackie looked up at him strangely, "You said it yourself, she's changed."
"It's an act, Jackie." He spat out angrily.
She let go of him instantly, a bitter look spreading across her face, covering up her doubts.
"It is not an act." Jackie said in defense. "She got a job."
"As what?"
"Well, I don't know exactly." Jackie struggled, but quickly shrug it off, "But what else could she have been doing every day this week?"
How about lunching with shady lawyers and conspiring against you?
Hyde wanted to say that, but he held his tongue.
"Jackie, she's abandoned you so many times before, how can you just forget that so easily?"
"It's called forgiveness, Steven."
"It's called being stupid."
Jackie stared blankly at him, casting her nose snobbishly in the air as she ran out of the courtyard and down the street, walking briskly back home.
"Come on, Jackie!"
She turned to face him, red face from chasing after her.
"Don't be so naïve." He muttered. "She's going to leave again, you know she will."
"What is your problem? Why can't you just be happy for me? You know, just because your mother never came back doesn't mean..." Jackie shut herself up out of frustration and cautiousness.
"This has nothing to do with my mother." Hyde frowned. "I'm just trying to help you see your mother for what she really is."
"I don't need your help." Jackie said bitterly, ready to leave again.
"Jackie, what on earth makes you think she's changed? What? Because she's buying you things and cooking dinner for you? It sounds like she's trying to buy your trust." Hyde rambled on, shaking Jackie with his hands, which he had laid upon her shoulders, "Think Jackie, why would she stay? What on earth would make her want to stay here?"
Jackie shrugged his arms off of her, her eyes watering quickly before she took a step back, crossing her arms defiantly. "Me."
"Jackie," Hyde started, ready to apologize, but she just shook her head slowly. He stepped towards her, not sure how to tell her what he had seen earlier, wondering if it was too late to explain. "You can't trust her."
"I'm not so sure if she's the person I can't trust." Jackie said sadly. "Look, Steven, this whole week I've been happy and here you are, making me cry."
"Jackie, I didn't mean to..."
"I don't care." Jackie shrugged. "If you can't be happy for me, then I can't be around you. Your making me doubt things, when I should be enjoying them."
"What are you saying?" Hyde looked at her, feeling very naked as she glanced sadly up into his eyes. He rushed forward, landing his lips on hers before she could speak, but she pushed him off, huge tears falling off her eyes as her voice croaked.
"I have to go." Jackie muttered, wiping her tears and running home, leaving Hyde stranded on one of Point Place's roadways.
Hyde kicked the dirt by the sidewalk, shoving his hands in his pockets as he made his way home for dinner.
He just ruined the best thing he had ever had.
He had started to care – that was the problem.
If he just kept on not caring, not giving a shit about the stupid cheerleader, he wouldn't have followed Pam, he wouldn't have brought it up, and he wouldn't have tried to convince Jackie that she couldn't be trusted.
Maybe he was the one Jackie couldn't trust.
He had managed to break her heart without even trying.
And broke his own in the process.
Chapter Twenty Six: Pam's Secret
"My life is a revolving nightmare!"
The boy awkwardly sitting across from a manic Jackie Burkhart nodded, brushing some of his hair off his forehead as he leaned across the couch, picking up his math textbook and browsing through it as Jackie continued, her puffy jacket practically as loud as her as she waved her hands manically through the air, trying to accentuate each and every point.
"She has the worst timing in the world." Jackie crossed her arms angrily across her chest and leaned back on the couch, flipping her hair incessantly as she glanced sideways towards the boy, who was furiously trying to concentrate on a math problem.
She knew he wasn't comfortable with her rambling, but she didn't really care.
"And does she really expect me to forgive her every time she comes waltzing back into my life?" Jackie let a breath of sadness escape her before she glared down at her new imported skirt from Mexico. "I mean, if she didn't bring me back this nice skirt and those pretty earrings, I wouldn't even consider forgiving her." Jackie nodded, satisfied with this as she turned back to the boy, who was red with impatience.
"You know, um," The boy began, placing the textbook on Jackie's lap as she babbled on, "I think we should concentrate on number twelve, since that problem's kind of like the one you screwed up on your last test."
"I didn't screw up." Jackie snorted. "I wasn't paying attention and I forgot to carry the one."
The boy shrugged, pointing to the math problem and placing a piece of paper and a pencil in her hands, which she casually threw down on the couch, along with the textbook, and turned her body towards him.
"And she kicked Steven out, trying to be all motherly." Jackie rolled her eyes with a coordinating snort, "She actually said that I couldn't have boys over the house when she wasn't around. Hello! She's never around! Why should my sex life have to suffer because of her permanent absence?"
"Sex life?" He asked quickly, his eyes darting towards the door, planning an escape from this conversation.
"So now I can't have anyone over the house, because she's always home. She won't leave. I practically had to plead with her to let me come here, and she only let me because it was tutoring." Jackie rambled on incessantly, as the boy gave up, deeming himself hostage as she continued, patting his knee softly, "Besides, once I told her it was you, she was all like, Eric Forman, why didn't you say so?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Jackie shook her head, throwing herself out of her craze as she stopped her tongue from continuing on. She flipped her hair casually, trying to calm down as she sat up straight.
"It's just, that, well," Jackie said slowly, giving in to Eric's moody look.
Before Jackie could continue, Fez and Kelso barged in, throwing a basketball between them as they settled down in their respective seats.
"You're parent safe, Eric." Jackie continued, picking up the textbook with a renewed interest, furrowing her brow with a slight sigh. She hated math almost as much as she hated her mom.
"Parent safe?" Eric blinked widely, standing up quickly, "Hold on, I am NOT parent safe!"
"Sure you are." Kelso laughed. "The only reason my parents let me out of the house is because they know I'm coming to your house. They're always going on and on about how you came in first place at the science fair."
"Really?" Eric's eyes lit up. "Because, I worked really hard for that blue ribbon."
"Yes, Eric," Fez nodded. "Your diorama of the solar system was breathtaking."
"I still think that I should have won." Kelso said angrily as he grabbed a popsicle from the freezer.
"Kelso, you drew a face on a tomato and tried to convince the judges that you discovered a new species." Eric laughed, glancing over at Jackie, who was busy forcing numbers onto her paper. "Don't forget to carry the one." He said sternly, which she gave him an annoyed glance for.
"I did discover a new species!" Kelso said defensively, waving his Popsicle at Eric as he slid back into his chair, "Hello, it's a Mr. Tomato head."
Fez, Jackie, and Eric blinked widely at Kelso, who slopped his tongue across his popsicle innocently.
"It *was* Mr. Tomatohead." Fez corrected. "Until Jackie sat on him!"
"Who puts a tomato on a chair?" Jackie snapped.
"It wasn't just a tomato, Jackie." Kelso snapped back. "He was a person, with feelings. How would you like if someone sat on you?"
"No one would sit on me," Jackie snorted, returning to her work. "I'm not a freakin' tomato."
"But you're kind of small," Fez spoke up.
"And sometimes you get real red." Eric pointed out.
"I do not get red!" Jackie muttered. "It's called blush."
"Yeah, Mr. Tomatohead and I had some good times." Kelso recalled, "Like that time Hyde and I played catch with him. Or that time he rolled all the way down a hill. Good times, man." Kelso laughed as the other three glared at him blankly.
"It was a tomato, Kelso." Eric said slowly.
Jackie and Fez nodded as Kelso looked up, clearly offended.
"God, you people are so insensitive!" Kelso screeched, practically colliding into Hyde as he walked in and Kelso walked out in a huff.
"What's wrong with him?" Hyde laughed as he took his familiar seat.
"How much time do we have?" Eric laughed, glancing at his wrist. "I'm going to get something to drink, anyone want anything?"
"Beer." Hyde said with a conniving smile.
"Right." Eric nodded dryly, running up the stairs as Fez wandered over to the record player.
"God, I hate this!" Jackie screamed, throwing her textbook on the couch, lying down on top of it, looking up at Hyde, who was smirking.
"Yeah, homework sucks." He nodded. "Which is why I don't do it."
"No, not that." Jackie muttered, sitting back up. "I can't concentrate on anything, not since,"
"Your mom popped back into your life." Hyde nodded, leaning in towards her.
"It's just..." Jackie began, wondering if she should continue.
Hyde had been really patient with her lately, she guessed it was because the whole abandonment thing was kind of his forte. She didn't want to overcrowd him with all this mom stuff though; she didn't want him to feel alienated.
Hyde leaned in closer, so close that Jackie forgot all of her anti- mom thoughts and could only concentrate on the rhythm of his breath, in and out, in and out...
"Just what?" Hyde asked slowly, but all Jackie saw were his lips, moist and inviting, moving slowly with his breath and Jackie couldn't take it anymore.
"Alright, alright." Eric's voice echoed throughout Jackie's brain as he placed his can of root beer down on the table, pushing her to sit up straight and placing the textbook back in her lap, "Let's do some math problems!" He shouted sarcastically.
Jackie rolled her eyes, forcing her mind to focus on the problems before her as Hyde glanced at her oddly, before leaning back in his chair, deep in thought.
"Eric, I can't do this." Jackie sighed, pushing the textbook off her lap, "I'm just not smart enough."
"Jackie," Eric started, clearly used to her lack of self confidence in the academic area, "You almost have it, come on, just one more try."
She looked up at his pleading eyes and nodded in defeat, working on hard on damn number twelve in the textbook as Fez sat down on the lawn chair, striking up random conversation with Hyde, who nodded in reply, barely saying a word.
Jackie bit her lip, sighing hard in frustration as she found an answer, which she practically assumed was very wrong, and handed her paper to Eric, who checked over her answers quickly as Hyde turned to her, about to say something before Eric stood up, clutching the paper tightly.
"Did I forget to carry the one again?" Jackie groaned as she stood up as well, throwing her purse onto her shoulder, trying to tiptoe to see the paper, since Eric was much taller then her.
"You got it right!" Eric said breathlessly.
"What? Are you sure?" Jackie asked instantly.
Eric gave the paper one more look and nodded and the two hugged briefly.
It took Jackie a few seconds to remember who she was and who he was and she instantly pulled back, feigning a look of utter disgust as she smiled inwardly.
"See, you're smart." Fez nodded happily.
"Who ever said I wasn't?" Jackie snapped, looking down at Hyde, who stood up, taking her hand into his, pulling her outside.
Eric sat back down, proud of his teaching skills, and almost shocked as Jackie came back running in, giving him a small kiss on the cheek.
"Thanks Eric." She whispered, before running back out.
Eric would never be a best friend to Jackie, but he would be there for her, and he believed in her, something that her former best friends never did.
Jackie ran back outside to Hyde, who was waiting for her by the basketball hoop, where Donna and Kelso were shooting hoops.
Donna waved to Jackie quickly as she hurried to follow Hyde up the Forman's street and towards the Hub.
"Steven, slow down." Jackie panted as she glided her hand through his, but his pace quickened.
Jackie looked up at his face, which seemed conflicted, and she stopped, forcing him to stop with her, since she was grasping his arm.
"Is your mom home?" He blurted before she could slip in a word.
Jackie eyed him uneasily, but shook her head 'no'.
"She's at work." Jackie said, trying to keep a straight face on.
"Your mom got a job?" Hyde asked in disbelief as they made their way to the Pavilion.
"Yeah, well," Jackie sighed gently, "She's changed."
"Yeah." Hyde nodded unsurely. "Are you ok with that?"
"Sure," Jackie answered slowly, aware of how concerned he was, "I mean, she's actually starting to act responsible. Why wouldn't I be ok with that?"
"I don't know..." Hyde started as they reached her front door, "Maybe because she has a history of running out on you."
"But this time, it's different." Jackie said happily. "I know I've been complaining, but well, I'm happy she's here. And I'm happy she's acting like a real mother. I think she's finally growing up, you know?"
Jackie looked through her purse for her keys and blinked widely at the door knob as she realized the door was already unlocked. Jackie pushed the door open softly, and began to blush wildly as her mother came bouncing towards the door, squeezing Jackie as she ushered the two in.
"Jackie, how was tutoring with Eric?" Her mother squealed happily as she untied her apron, throwing it on the couch as she patted the cushion, asking Jackie to sit.
Jackie looked back at Hyde with a smile, taking the seat under her mother's gaze as Hyde leaned uneasily against the opposing armchair.
"It was good." Jackie said quickly. "Shouldn't you be at work?"
"My boss gave me the rest of the day off, you know, on account of how pretty I am." Pam's hair bounced frivolously as she spoke, and it was very hard for Hyde to hate the woman when she was so aesthetically pleasing. Pam followed her daughter's gaze, toward Hyde, who straightened his composure, looking at Pam squarely as she spoke to him, "Steven, would you like to stay for dinner?"
"Um, well," Hyde stuttered, "Mrs. Forman probably wouldn't..."
"Oh, shoot!" Pam stood up, slapping her knee in remembrance. "I totally forgot! I promised Kitty that we would come by for dinner tonight! And I cooked and everything!"
"You cooked?" Jackie asked in disbelief.
"Not very well, but I tried." Pam confirmed, "Oh well, we could eat it tomorrow, I suppose."
Jackie nodded happily, standing up as Pam went on about how she needed to get ready for dinner now, choose an outfit, and such. She was so oblivious of her daughter and her boyfriend, as she ran up the stairs, leaving the two alone.
"Wow, she has changed." Hyde nodded.
Jackie just smiled happily, something she had been doing a lot for the past few days her mother has been home.
"So I guess I'll see you at dinner." Hyde started slowly, inching towards the door.
"Wait," Jackie looked up the stairs quickly, "Let's go for a walk."
Jackie didn't even need to tell Hyde where to go, he just knew.
They had been sitting in the courtyard for a few minutes, Jackie tracing her thumb over his palm as he stared past her. He could never bring himself to look in her eyes, and it worried her. If she only knew why he couldn't, she probably would have been more flattered then worried.
"Jackie," Hyde said softly as he cleared his throat. It had been hard for him to speak the whole day, ever since he saw what he had seen.
He still couldn't believe what a bad mother Pam Burkhart was.
It was one thing when Hyde's own mother abandoned him.
He knew it was coming, and he knew it was for good.
Pam keeps coming back, allowing whatever hope Jackie still keeps inside her heart to thrive, only to be crushed when she leaves again.
But today, what she did, it takes the cake.
He needed to tell someone...
He wanted to tell Jackie, but he wasn't sure how she would take it.
After school, Hyde went straight to work.
It had been a slow day at the Fotohut, and Leo told him he could lock up and leave early, leaving him with the last of the customers.
As Hyde locked up the store, he caught a glimpse of bouncy, dyed hair, but didn't think much of it, at first.
He made his way down Main Street, walking briskly towards the Hub.
He knew Jackie was having a rough week, with her mom and all, and knew she would be in the basement, working on her schoolwork with Eric, probably dying for some relief from it all.
He ran into the hub, buying a bar of chocolate for Jackie, her favorite kind, and a pop to go, for himself, and ran back out, where he caught another glimpse of the mop of hair, this time, he knew for sure it was Pam. He couldn't help it, but he followed her, down the street and into a pretty empty parking lot.
A single car was parked, or at least it was the only car Hyde could see from where he was hiding, behind a row of bushes, watching Jackie's mother as she greeted the man who emerged from the fancy, parked Lincoln.
The two briefly hugged and then walked off together into the only fancy restaurant in Point Place, and without a second thought, Hyde followed them.
The waiters gave him a dirty look as he sat down by the bar, trying to eavesdrop on the two, shady lunchgoers.
"Does she know yet?" The man asked Pam.
"I don't think so," Pam whispered, so Hyde strained his ears, "No, she doesn't."
"Good." The man chuckled softly. "It'll be much easier that way."
"Do you have the papers yet?" Pam asked greedily.
"I'm still having my assistant draw them up, but soon, Mrs. Burkhart."
"It's Mrs. Parker now." Pam corrected, flashing her ringed finger towards him.
"Oh, yes, I forgot." The man chuckled again, and Hyde didn't like his laugh one bit. "And when exactly in the honeymoon?"
"In two days." Pam said excitedly. "Arthur's taking me to Paris," Pam smiled dreamily, "I love Paris."
"Of course, of course." The man chuckled again, causing Hyde to cringe as he took a sip of his pop. "And what about the girl?"
"Jacqueline?" Pam asked, and Hyde's ears perked up at the name. "Boarding school, of course, up in Vermont."
Hyde spat out his drink, receiving many dirty glares from customers and waiters alike as he pushed his drink away from him, letting the bag, with the chocolate bar, out of his hand, since his fists were now pulsating with anger.
Why didn't Jackie tell him her mother was remarried? Or that she was leaving?
He had enough and was ready to leave, before he caught another sound bite of the conversation.
"I can't wait till I get my hands on that trust fund." Pam laughed happily. "And you're sure you can altar the names right?"
"I told you, I'd have the papers soon." The man nodded. "And then all of your daughter's money will be transferred to your new account."
Pam licked her lips happily, taking a sip of her drink as she stroked the man's hand gingerly.
Now Hyde had definitely heard and seen enough.
He didn't even bother to go back and retrieve Jackie's candy.
He went straight to the basement, knowing she would be there.
How could she not tell him? And how could she let her mother take all of her money?
But when he had seen Jackie's sad face and heard her complaints, it had dawned on him.
Jackie had no idea.
Jackie didn't even know there was money in her name, or that her mother was no longer a Burkhart, but a Parker.
"Steven, what's wrong with you?" Jackie demanded. "You've been acting really strange all day."
Hyde blinked down at Jackie, who had just broken his train of thoughts, as he leaned against the courtyard wall.
"I'm just worried about you, Jacks..." He laughed it off.
She rolled her eyes and groaned, standing up and wrapping her arms around his waist, "You don't have to be. Everything's perfect again. We're perfect. My mom's back and here to stay. I finally get how to do math..."
"How do you know she's here to stay?"
"I just...know." Jackie nodded confidently.
"But she's left before, Jackie. How do you know this time is different?"
"Steven," Jackie looked up at him strangely, "You said it yourself, she's changed."
"It's an act, Jackie." He spat out angrily.
She let go of him instantly, a bitter look spreading across her face, covering up her doubts.
"It is not an act." Jackie said in defense. "She got a job."
"As what?"
"Well, I don't know exactly." Jackie struggled, but quickly shrug it off, "But what else could she have been doing every day this week?"
How about lunching with shady lawyers and conspiring against you?
Hyde wanted to say that, but he held his tongue.
"Jackie, she's abandoned you so many times before, how can you just forget that so easily?"
"It's called forgiveness, Steven."
"It's called being stupid."
Jackie stared blankly at him, casting her nose snobbishly in the air as she ran out of the courtyard and down the street, walking briskly back home.
"Come on, Jackie!"
She turned to face him, red face from chasing after her.
"Don't be so naïve." He muttered. "She's going to leave again, you know she will."
"What is your problem? Why can't you just be happy for me? You know, just because your mother never came back doesn't mean..." Jackie shut herself up out of frustration and cautiousness.
"This has nothing to do with my mother." Hyde frowned. "I'm just trying to help you see your mother for what she really is."
"I don't need your help." Jackie said bitterly, ready to leave again.
"Jackie, what on earth makes you think she's changed? What? Because she's buying you things and cooking dinner for you? It sounds like she's trying to buy your trust." Hyde rambled on, shaking Jackie with his hands, which he had laid upon her shoulders, "Think Jackie, why would she stay? What on earth would make her want to stay here?"
Jackie shrugged his arms off of her, her eyes watering quickly before she took a step back, crossing her arms defiantly. "Me."
"Jackie," Hyde started, ready to apologize, but she just shook her head slowly. He stepped towards her, not sure how to tell her what he had seen earlier, wondering if it was too late to explain. "You can't trust her."
"I'm not so sure if she's the person I can't trust." Jackie said sadly. "Look, Steven, this whole week I've been happy and here you are, making me cry."
"Jackie, I didn't mean to..."
"I don't care." Jackie shrugged. "If you can't be happy for me, then I can't be around you. Your making me doubt things, when I should be enjoying them."
"What are you saying?" Hyde looked at her, feeling very naked as she glanced sadly up into his eyes. He rushed forward, landing his lips on hers before she could speak, but she pushed him off, huge tears falling off her eyes as her voice croaked.
"I have to go." Jackie muttered, wiping her tears and running home, leaving Hyde stranded on one of Point Place's roadways.
Hyde kicked the dirt by the sidewalk, shoving his hands in his pockets as he made his way home for dinner.
He just ruined the best thing he had ever had.
He had started to care – that was the problem.
If he just kept on not caring, not giving a shit about the stupid cheerleader, he wouldn't have followed Pam, he wouldn't have brought it up, and he wouldn't have tried to convince Jackie that she couldn't be trusted.
Maybe he was the one Jackie couldn't trust.
He had managed to break her heart without even trying.
And broke his own in the process.