Chapter Two: Bad Timing

Hyde tapped his hands frantically on the steering wheel of the El Camino as he found himself stuck behind a slow driver. His eyes kept moving from the clock on his dashboard to the road. That wasn't helping his hangover much, but the pain in his head didn't compare to the pain in his heart. He just didn't understand Jackie sometimes. How could she throw away what they had? How could she claim to love him yet leave him like this? Hyde steered off toward the shortcut to the airport. As he was driving, he spotted Kelso's car pulled way off to the side of the road between the trees. Kelso, Brooke, and Betsy were leaving tomorrow to live closer to Brooke's mother. Hyde slowed down a little, debating whether he wanted to stop to see if Kelso needed help or find Jackie first. Hyde pulled off to the side of the road. He didn't see any smoke coming out of the car, but something had to have happened and Hyde didn't want to take the chance of just leaving him there.

Hyde got out of his car and jogged over to Kelso's car. He stopped when he saw Kelso talking to someone in the passenger seat. It appeared to be a woman. He couldn't see her face, but her hair was shorter than Brooke's. Hyde shook his head. 'You never quit do you, Kelso?' He thought Kelso was really starting to grow up now that he was a father. When Kelso turned his head to look straight ahead, Hyde saw who was in the car with him. His heart beat frantically. Hyde positioned himself behind a nearby tree, not sure if he really wanted to know what was going on and debating whether or not he wanted to pull Jackie out of the car and set her straight.

Hyde never thought in a million years that he would ever feel so strongly for someone that he would be crazy enough to do anything for her. He went against everything he believed in for Jackie, including taking her to the prom. Kelso had decided to take Pam Macey and that broke Jackie's heart. Hyde hated seeing her so sad, and he hated himself for caring. Jackie Burkhardt was everything he wasn't. She was Miss School Spirit on Ritalin. She was perky all the time and made everything sound exciting. It was annoying. She was annoying. But he needed her. She was that little light in his dark world. She had tricked Hyde into asking her to the prom by pretending to cry. As funny as it was to watch Jackie grovel, he hated to see her cry. Her tears were fake but they worked. That night, Hyde took the most beautiful girl to the prom, but he left with the trashiest when he offered to take Pam Macey off of Kelso's hands so that he could get back together with Jackie.

Hyde even went to jail for Jackie. To prove how cool she was, she stole some pot from her father to give to Hyde. As she was handing it to him, a cop showed up. Hyde ended up taking the fall for her so she wouldn't have to go to jail. Jackie definitely made his life more interesting. Hyde wasn't sure if he could go back to who he was before Jackie came into his life.

Jackie and Kelso sat quietly for what seemed like an eternity. Finally, there was movement: Kelso nodding his head. He watched as Kelso's fingers unbuttoned his shirt. Hyde's eyes widened. He removed his shades to get a better look. Kelso tossed the shirt at Jackie. Hyde blinked a few times, not believing what he was seeing. He saw Jackie reach into the glove compartment, probably looking for a condom. Kelso jumped into the backseat. Was this another one of his nightmares? This couldn't be happening! After all Kelso had put her through, she still goes back to him! Hyde didn't know if he wanted to run to the car and pound Kelso into the ground or just run away. Hyde chose the latter.

He turned away and walked back to his car. He felt like he was moving in slow motion, but everything around him was zooming by him. Hyde climbed behind the wheel and sat in silence for a few moments. He closed his eyes and leaned his head against the steering wheel. He wished that when he opened his eyes he'd be in his room in bed with Jackie in his arms. The passed week would have all been a dream. Jackie wouldn't be on her way to Chicago and she certainly wouldn't be with Kelso. Hyde opened his eyes and saw that his wish had not come true. Hyde felt sick to his stomach. Misery overcame him. His eyes looked at the clock. How was Hyde going to face everyone at Forman and Kelso's goodbye party? Could Hyde keep himself from punching Kelso's lights out? Not likely. But Hyde wasn't going to let Forman down. He'd go for Forman and Forman alone. Forman was Hyde's best friend and was like a brother to him. As much as he busted Forman's chops, he was really going to miss having him around. The circle wouldn't be the same without him. The basement wouldn't be the same without him. Hyde wouldn't be the same without him.

After driving around for an hour, Hyde made his way back to the Forman's house. He walked into the Forman's living room. Donna, Fez, and Kitty were decorating. Fez was hanging up a sign that read "We'll Miss You, Eric."

"Are we not missing Kelso?" Hyde asked. He sure wasn't. All he missed was a chance to punch him in his pretty little face.

"Kelso left earlier than we expected," Donna answered. "Something came up. He was here about twenty minutes ago to say his goodbyes. Sorry you missed him."

"I'm not. Good riddance to him. I'm just sorry I didn't get a chance to tell Brooke what a dog the father of her child is."

"Oh, come on, Hyde," Fez chimed in. "She's sleeping with him. I think she knows what an animal he can be…in bed." He laughed at his own remark. He stopped laughing when the others stared at him silently.

"Do you have a problem with Michael, Steven?" Mrs. Forman asked.

"I don't want to talk about it," Hyde muttered. "He's gone now and so is Jackie and they both need to stay as far away from me as possible." It hurt for him to say that. He had to turn away from the others so they wouldn't see how he really felt.

"Eric's going to be here soon," Donna said. "Wanna help us decorate?"

"SURPRISE!" everyone exclaimed. Eric's eyes widened and his mouth dropped.

"Wow! A surprise party for me! I'm so surprised! Gosh, this…this is such a surprise. I had no idea--"

"Your mother told you, didn't she?" Red Forman cut his son off.

"Yeah," Eric admitted.

Hyde was on his fourth beer by the time the party officially started. He just wanted to get this sentimental stuff over with. Hyde decided to put an end to it himself. All he wanted to do was go to his room and dig into his stash. "Hey, Forman," he said, punching Forman in the arm.

"Ow," Forman squealed.

"Listen, have a safe trip, teach lots of children, and don't drink the water." With that said, Hyde walked away.

Instead of going to his room as he planned, Hyde found himself in the basement sitting at his usual chair. There were so many memories in this basement. Jackie on his lap, Jackie sitting on the washing machine, he and Jackie making out on the couch. Hyde slouched in his chair and took a swig of his beer. Even after seeing her with Kelso, he still couldn't forget about her. All he could think about was her. If only he could hate her. He just wanted to hate her.

"Hey." Hyde looked at the stairwell. Forman made his way to the couch.

"Hey."

"What was that all about?"

Hyde started to panic, thinking he was daydreaming out loud again. "What was what about?" he asked.

"That sorry excuse for a goodbye."

"What? No good?"

"Come on, man, we've been through a lot together. I deserve more than 'don't drink the water,' don't I?"

"I punched you. What else do you want?"

"Do you even care that I'm not going to be here anymore?"

"Well, my heart is broken--"

"Hyde," Forman cut him off. "Be serious, okay? Just this once. I know you're upset that Jackie's gone--"

"Never mention her name again!" Hyde yelled. Forman's eyes widened.

"Okay," he gulped. "I'm sorry. You're upset. I shouldn't have brought it up."

"I'm not upset. I'm glad she's gone. Her and Kelso can enjoy their new life together."

"What? No, Hyde, Kelso's with Brooke not Jackie."

"Yeah, well, Kelso decided to have one last go with Jackie before he left with Brooke."

"What! That's crazy! No, no, you're confused."

"I know what I saw, man."

"You saw them?" Hyde nodded.

"And they didn't even have the decency to do it somewhere classy like a motel. They did it in his car."

"I--I'm sorry, man."

Hyde shrugged. "Whatever. Kelso was smart not show his face here."

"Hyde, I want you to have Donna!" Forman blurted.

"What?"

"Look, I'm not stupid. I don't know when I'm coming back. I know Donna is going to eventually want to move on. If she does move on, I want it to be with you because…deep, deep down…you're a good guy."

Hyde laughed. "You're drunker than I am, aren't you?"

But Forman wasn't laughing. "I'm serious. I know you love Jack…" he trailed off when Hyde gave him a look. "but one day, you're going to want to move on, too. I know how you used to feel about Donna, and if those feelings arise again, I want you to know that…that it's okay…if you…go for it."

Hyde contemplated Forman's suggestion. As Forman said, Hyde had once had a thing for Donna. They grew up together and had become good friends through the years. Donna was like one of the guys, but once she turned fourteen, the redheaded tomboy turned into a foxy siren. She was still like one of the guys, but she also turned a lot of heads, including Hyde's. Hyde made many attempts to steal Donna's heart, but she made it very clear that it belonged to Eric. Hyde knew that it always would. Just like his heart would always belong to Jackie. Frustrated with himself for still being hung up on Jackie, Hyde threw his empty beer bottle across the room.

"Or not," Forman said, shrinking down into the couch.

"I'm sorry, man, I'll clean that up later."

"It's all right. Look, um, maybe--"

"I just hate her so much right now!"

Forman narrowed his eyes. "What did Donna do to you?"

"What? I'm not talking about Donna."

"Oh."

Hyde sat back down in his chair and leaned his elbows on his knees. "Why did she have to come into our lives? Why did she choose me when it was Kelso all along?" Hyde laughed. "This isn't going to be a repeat of last night with me complaining about Jackie. It's over for good this time." Forman nodded his head. Hyde looked at his friend. "It ain't gonna be the same without you, man. Fez is gonna have to be the new butt of my jokes." Forman laughed. Hyde extended his hand out to his friend. "I'm gonna miss you…bro." Forman's eyes watered.

"I'm gonna miss you, too, man." The two friends arose from their seats and hugged.

"Take care of yourself, man." Forman nodded. He walked up the stairs. Hyde sat back down and turned away, not wanting to watch his friend leave. "Hey, Hyde, can I ask you something?"

"Yeah?"

"If Jackie didn't leave, what were you going to do?" Hyde's jaw clenched as he debated whether or not to ignore Forman's question. "Nevermind. It's none of my--"

"I was gonna ask her to marry me."