OK, I've teased enough. Time to end the doubt as to who Jackie really loves.

Chapter 10

As Kelso's lips pressed against hers, suddenly Jackie felt her body react strongly to his touch – in revulsion. Her stomach dropped, her skin crawled and her heart beat in panic. Kelso sensed her withdrawal and tilted his head back. "Jackie, what is it?"

"I – I can't do this," Jackie replied miserably.

"Why not? Is it because of Hyde? You don't owe him anything, Jackie. He doesn't deserve you." Kelso's grip tightened on her upper arms.

"That's not the point. It doesn't matter if he deserves me or I deserve him"

"Then what is the point?"

"He is part of me. He's in my blood. It doesn't matter if he is rich, poor, black, white, good or bad. I belong to him and I can't run away from that," Jackie said this carefully, as though the realization came upon her as she spoke the words.

"For God's sake, Jackie, will you listen to yourself? You talk about him like he's something you're addicted to. That bastard has already messed up my life, don't let him ruin yours."

Jackie's eyes widened at Michael's angry words. "What did Steven ever do to you?"

"What did he do! Are you kidding me? He got me hooked on dope and turned me into an imbecile! If I hadn't been such a moron I wouldn't have cheated on you and made you unhappy. He would never have been able to steal you from me."

Jackie broke away from Kelso's hold. "OK, I'm getting tired of you guys talking about me like I'm a boosted candy bar. I chose Steven, just like you chose Laurie and Pam Macey and the other 1,001 skanks you screwed. Even if you had been smarter it doesn't follow you would have been any more moral. History has shown the most brilliant people can turn into total idiots when it comes to relationships."

Kelso's face became sullen as Jackie defended the man he had come to hold responsible for his bad choices. "You can't deny he got me started on pot."

"He was just a kid, like you – he didn't know what the consequences would be. He never set out to deliberately hurt you, Michael. Not the way you are doing to him. Admit it – the only reason you are pursuing me is to score against Steven."

"The hell it is! I told you once that from the moment I saw you I wanted to do it with you, and that has never changed. Lately it has just gotten stronger. The only way Hyde enters into the equation is that I don't feel guilty about taking you away from him. I don't owe him anything. Be honest, Jackie – you know he'll never make you happy."

"Don't say that!" As Jackie turned away from him, Kelso caught her hand and pulled her back.

"Look at the facts, princess," Kelso said harshly. "Your love affair with Hyde is circling the drain. Forget the fact that he'll never get off his ass to earn enough to buy you a house - the guy wont even give you the things that don't cost any money. I mean, if he can't even tell you that he loves you, how do you expect your relationship to go anywhere?" Jackie remained silent, her eyes reflecting the pain his words caused her. Kelso softened his tone. "Jackie… Jacks, c'mon darlin'. Stop following your silly little heart and wise up. You and I have so much going for us – we're the same kind. Make the smart choice."

Jackie bowed her head. As Kelso pulled her towards him into his embrace, however, he was prevented by her hands flattened against his chest.

"No, Michael," she said quietly. "No more."

Half an hour later a black El Camino screeched to a halt in front of the house with green shutters. Steven Hyde bounded out of the vehicle, but slowed his pace when he saw the For Sale-Sold sign on the front lawn. So it's true, he thought. Fez's fantastical story about the lengths Kelso had gone to was actually based in fact. Looking up at the beautiful large house, Hyde had a sick feeling that once again he had failed to measure up – the poor orphan from the wrong side of the tracks had gotten in way over his head. Then he thought of Jackie and his expression hardened – he would not go down without a fight.

As he climbed the steps to the front porch, he heard a snuffling noise coming from that end of the porch hidden from view by a beech tree. Looking towards it, he spied Jackie curled up in a white wicker chair, her arms wrapped around her legs as the tears flowed down her cheeks. So wrapped up in her misery, she did not sense Hyde's presence until he crouched down before her. Before he had a chance to ask her if she was still his girlfriend, she threw her arms around his neck and buried her face against his shoulder.

"Where's Kelso?" was all he could think of to say.

"Gone," she sobbed.

"Is that why you're crying? Do you want to be with him?"

"No," Jackie raised her head to look into his eyes. The thought flew through her head that her face would be getting shoulder burn from all the shoulders she had cried on today.

"Then what are the tears for?"

"Because I have broken my best friend's heart," she answered. "And because I am so hopelessly in love with you that it scares me."

Hyde stared down at Jackie, dressed in an inelegant track suit, hair escaping a loose ponytail, red eyed and snot-nosed, and wondered again what this beautiful girl saw in him. He planted his mouth against hers in a possessive kiss that branded her as his. She responded just as passionately, and it was many minutes before they became aware of time and place. Hyde brushed the hair back from her face with his fingers, searching for the words that would take the sadness from her eyes.

"You don't have to be scared," he said huskily. Her eyes pleaded with him to go on, but again the words would not come. Instead he found himself saying "I have to go find Kelso. I'll meet you back at the basement later."