Chapter 3

Jackie was gone and everyone was back in the basement. Hyde sat in his chair and focused on today's events through the discretion of his sunglasses.

Hyde's P.O.V

What was going on with Jackie today? I know something went really wrong in New York, but what? And why do I even care? This is Jackie, or was Jackie.

End P.O.V

Donna brought him out of his thoughts.

"Hey Hyde, have you seen Jackie today?"

Hyde looked over at Donna and let out a loud sigh.

"Yeah, she came by today, I was the only one here."

Eric let out a laugh

"Oh Man! I'm sorry, alone with the devil."

"ERIC!" Donna screamed "Was she okay?"

Hyde spoke with caution "No, she was even worse than last night, she was hardly talking, I tried to talk to her cuz she was really, really, really quiet. She wasn't even talking about the mall or cheerleading."

Everyone let out a gasp.

Hyde continued "I know it's pretty bad, when I sat beside her she tensed up and wouldn't look at me. Something happened to her in New York, and I don't know, but whatever happened, it was probably really bad man."

Everyone looked a little shocked, but to no one's surprise Fez was the first one to speak.

"My poor beautiful little flower, maybe she will be so overwhelmed with grief that she will run to me"

Everyone held a small sad smile, but nobody said a word.

Jackie

As Jackie entered her house she quietly walked over to the couch and sat down. But there were no more tears, she had cried them all out, all that was left was Jackie Burkhardt, a shadow of her former self. A living, breathing, sleeping, human being; however the emotions she no longer possessed. Tired of all the drama Jackie walked out the door and wandered aimlessly, letting her feet carry her and her thoughts flow.

For how long Jackie walked, she didn't know, all she knew was that she ended up at the mall. 'Why not?' Jackie thought, as she ventured inside.

Inside a place that once felt so homey, she felt lost and out of place. Jackie walked in and looked around. Not really eager to shop, Jackie walked over to the bench and sat down. And there they were, hundreds of people, thousands of lies, secrets, and truth's waiting to surface. Jackie wondered if any of them were as juicy as hers. She watched a little boy beg his mother for a toy until she gave in. She wondered if the mother was happy. She watched two different lovers, two Goths, decked in black, tattoo's, and piercing's, and two prep's, fully clad in the latest designs. She wondered if they were in love, and if appearance affected love. She saw a girl wandering the mall staring straight ahead. She wondered if she was like herself.

Tired of observing, Jackie got up and walked in to a random store, she forgot the name, something like Shelly's or Amanda's. Jackie had 20$ to her name. What could she buy with 20$? Jackie left the store, shopping just wasn't an option anymore. It wasn't an escape; she couldn't pretend to be okay anymore.

Sighing, Jackie sat down on the old, smelly bus. Something that would of bothered her before, but now felt like she belonged to it and in it. Jackie decided to head for Donna's. She really didn't feel like seeing anyone but she had to keep up appearances didn't she? Hyde had almost gotten in, and he was just Donna's friend, what would happen if her best friend got it? Jackie shuddered at the thought. The bus came to Jackie's and she got off, walked a little, and came to the house of Donna.

Tiredly Jackie ringed the door bell and was greeted with the face of Mr. Pinciotti

"Well hello there Jackie, I bet you're lookin' for Donna, she's over at the Foreman's."

"Thanks Mr. Pinciotti."

Jackie sighed and went into the basement for the second time that day. She didn't feel as disturbed anymore, it was pointless to feel like that anyway, it happened, and there's nothing I can do about it. People move on, it's been done before, why am I having trouble being strong then?

Jackie walked in the basement and sat on the couch between Fez and Eric. The conversation immediately stopped. 'Well at least they're not obvious' Jackie thought sarcastically.

Hyde leaned forward in his chair when Jackie came in to the basement, curious to see how she was doing. He got a glimpse of a Jackie with her guard down, confused and hurting, and she reminded him of him, how he used to feel. And he wanted to be the one who could help her.

"Jackie, how are you, we heard from Hyde you were acting strange and unlike yourself" Donna asked with obvious concern.

Jackie sat quiet for a little while 'Quick, think Jackie think, tell them what they want to hear'.

"Yeah, I'm okay I was just being weird this morning, I went for a walk and I'm fine now." Jackie said, plastering on a smile.

'Good, just act normal and put on a smile every once in a while, they'll never know the difference.'

Apparently this was good enough for the gang as they all nodded their heads and went on reading magazines and watching t.v. But Hyde noticed that soon after they all turned their heads, Jackie's smile fell right off her face and once again she was staring at the wall. She was playing them all, keeping her secret deep inside, and Hyde knew it was slowing eating her away. Slowly claiming her sanity and chasing her up the walls, leaving her stranded. It's a terrible way to go.

End Chapter 3.

A/N: Next time, what happens when someone gets too close? I also wanted a readers input, do you want Jackie to get sort of emo and start cutting herself, OR continue on? Cuz I have tricks up my sleeve if she's kept regular, you choose.