Title: That Long Hot Summer
Notes: See? When I put my mind to it, I can update in a reasonable amount of time. There are one or two bits of dialogue in this chapter that I lifted from the show. In my defense they were really good lines, and they fit quite nicely. Thanks again to everyone who reviewed, and my wonderful beta Annie.
Chapter 4
"Good party." Jackie commented as they walked through the crowded kitchen. "Nice turnout."
"Thanks." Jennifer beamed. It was nice to have someone around who appreciated the need for a large number of people at a party. When everyone went home they all had her to thank for such a good time. She indicated towards a group of girls standing at the far end of the family room and said she would introduce Jackie to them.
Jackie was caught up in the sights and sounds of this new place. As much as she loved being the center of attention, there were times when she wanted to have a fresh start, where people didn't automatically think of her as Jackie Burkhardt, the little rich girl. Must be a maturing thing, she thought.
"That's the downstairs bathroom." Jennifer explained absently as they passed a closed door.
"Good to know."
"Oh, not a bathroom bathroom." Jennifer said hurriedly, remembering Jackie had never been there before. "Well, it is…now. But a few years ago it didn't work and Chris's dad took forever to fix it, so it kind of became a hide away with a sink that's just the right height. It's early yet, so there's no line up. Later on there'll be a ton of people waiting outside. They'll usually give you ten minutes or so before the pounding on the door starts."
"Only ten minutes?" Jackie questioned.
"Well, yeah. What fun would it be if you weren't a little rushed?" She said and then added as an afterthought, "Oh, and it's not soundproofed either…just a heads up."
Jackie raised an amused eyebrow, and tucked the information away for future reference. Soon they were standing in front of a group of girls that looked to be the same age as her. All conversation ceased and the group stared as they saw the two girls approach. Jennifer made the introduction and looked a little confused, was that resentment in their eyes?
After a few seconds of uncomfortable silence one of the girls stepped forward, a smile on her face. "Hi Jackie, I'm Allison." The dark-haired girl said and gave the younger girls a small scowl. "How do you like the party?"
Jackie breathed a sigh of relief, she got the impression that she either walked in on a private conversation, or they already didn't like her. Either way, once Allison gave her approval the rest of the girls had followed. In a few minutes they were laughing and talking like old friends.
"I bet you've dated a lot of the football players." One of the girls asked Jackie after she mentioned that she was a cheerleader.
"Nope. I've actually only had one boyfriend. We've together since I was a freshman."
"That long?"
"Well, off and on for a while. But we're doing pretty good right now."
"You look really good together." Megan, one of the quieter girls broke in.
Jackie looked at her for a second, and tried to remember if they had met before. She was about to reply when a strong arm reached around and dangled a bottle of beer two inches in front of her face. She jumped slightly and heard a familiar low, deep chuckle coming from behind her. For a split second, she had the urge to lean back and press herself into his chest. She could imagine the feel of his arm coming to rest protectively around her, his chin resting on her shoulder. That he would whisper a private joke in her ear and just the feeling of his closeness would send shivers down her spine.
But in the next instant she remembered that he wasn't her boyfriend, and he definitely wasn't the one she had agreed to marry and she chided herself for thinking that way. In fact, she found herself getting annoyed at Hyde's little game of always trying to come between her and Michael. Usually he would tell her how stupid she was being, how Michael wasn't mature enough to look after a dog, let alone get married. But now, it was different, she couldn't put her finger on what exactly it was, but somehow she knew that the rules had changed.
"I brought you a beer." He said, still dangling the bottle in front of her. She quickly turned around and saw the corner of his lip was curled up as he tried to control his laughter. She snatched the bottle out of his hand and turned slightly to address the girls in the group.
"Guy's, this is Steven." She gritted, her teeth clenched.
Hyde looked over her shoulder and nodded a brief hello to the now silent and gaping girls. Except for Jackie, who was tapping her foot waiting for him to either get to the point, or leave.
Man, chicks are weird. Hyde thought. One minute you can't hear yourself think and the next they just stand there, staring. He indicated to Chris, who was standing beside him. "We're going downstairs to play pool." Jackie nodded and impatiently waved him off. "And I can't find Fez."
"You lost your friend?"
"Hey, I'm not his mother." He paused for a second and then pointed at her. "And he's your friend too."
"Fine." She sighed. "I'll keep an eye out for him."
"I'd like to remind you I wanted to come here alone."
"You've made that perfectly clear." She nodded and patted his chest for effect. "And if I see Fez, I'll be sure to send him right down."
Hyde looked like he was about to say something, but one more glance over at the gaggling group behind her made him leave. She turned back towards the girl she had been talking with and smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry Megan, he has no manners. What were you saying?"
"Hmm?" The girl said as watched one of the football players walk by. "Oh, I don't remember, must not have been important."
~*~
Hyde was glad to be in the cool confines of the basement, where the sounds of the party above him were muffled by the wood paneling and light brown shag carpet. He was surprised to see twin overhead lights illuminated the pool table that stood in the centre of the room. The last time he had been there a single swinging light bulb was the only source of light. He complemented Chris on the good job his father and he did on renovating the area.
They had been playing for over an hour before the topic of Jackie crept into their conversation.
"So that's the chick you went to jail for."
"I did not go to jail for her." Hyde said emphatically.
"Sure. You wanna try your luck again?" Chris waved his hand towards the racked balls sitting at the end of the pool table. Hyde shook his head and opened one of the extra beers they had brought down with them. He watched as Chris broke, sinking one stripe and dispersing the rest of the balls on the felt surface.
"I suppose this is the same Jackie you didn't take to your junior prom either." Chris said absently as he surveyed the table.
"Hey! She cried."
"Uh huh. Bet she was real grateful too." He winked as he knocked the nine ball into the side pocket with a satisfying thunk. Getting no rise out of Hyde, Chris picked up the blue square of chalk and applied a thin layer to the tip of the poor cue. "Seems to me, like she's found your softer side, and you; always the hero, coming to the rescue. Guess it was just a matter of time before the two of you couldn't stay away from each other, huh?"
He had raised the bottle to his lips by the time his mind registered what Chris was saying. Slowly, the weird conversations of the evening were starting to come together. No no no, he thought. Anyone but Jackie. Jackie represented everything he hated, how could his friend think that he would like someone like her? They had nothing in common, they didn't even like each other, they fought at every opportunity. Couldn't anyone see that?
"…I mean, yeah I'm a bit surprised. 'Cause, man? She's a cheerleader, not your usual type." Chris continued as he walked around the pool table and lined up his next shot. "Twelve in the corner. But she really grows on you."
"Yeah, like an uncontrollable tumour." Hyde muttered.
Chris looked up from the table. "What?"
"Nothing. Chris, Jackie and I aren't-- Do you honestly think you can make that shot?" Hyde asked when he noticed where Chris was aiming.
"Piece of cake." He grinned as the cue ball sailed down the rail and tapped the purple ball sending it neatly into the pocket. He rested the cue on the side of the table, leaned over and whispered, "So, is she good in bed?"
Chris took the open mouthed stare and flushed face as a negative. "Christ, you two haven't done it yet! How long has she been stringing you along?"
"Whoa, I think you've got the wrong—" Hyde tried to break in.
"Hey, I'm just asking." He raised his hands in surrender. "You used to be forthcoming with this sort of information."
"Look man it's not—" His extremely contrary reply was interrupted by a very happy, but slightly drunk Fez, who came bouncing down the basement steps.
"Oh my god." He said once he had reached the bottom. "I think I am in love."
Hyde looked at Fez in disbelief, not just because of his antics, but because he did not want to have this conversation in front of him. It was bad enough Chris had jumped to the wrong conclusion; he didn't need Fez getting involved as well. "Chris, this is my friend Fez. He's not from around here." He hoped that would explain everything.
"Who's the lucky lady?" Chris asked as he picked up his cue and considered his next shot.
"I do not know her name, but she is a goddess."
"Where'd you meet her?"
"Meet? Oh no, I have just been admiring from a far." Fez shook his head emphatically.
"Well what does she look like?" Hyde asked with an impatient tinge in his voice. Maybe if they found this girl Fez would stop acting like a moron.
Fez sighed and, with a far away look in his eyes, described the girl. "A goddess." He finished.
"Oh yeah." Chris and Hyde said at the same time, bright smiles on their faces. "She's been everybody's goddess."
"So what you're saying is she's easy?"
"Fez," Hyde started. "she makes Pam Macy look like a choir girl."
"So what you're saying is I have a chance." Fez's smile grew brighter.
"Hey man, anything's possible."
"Come on, I'll introduce you." Chris said.
Hyde breathed a sigh of relief as he watched his two friends climb up the stairs. There were some things he didn't want to discuss with Fez, and this misunderstanding about Jackie was one of them. Fez would go and blow the whole thing out of proportion, like always, and leave him to pick up the pieces. He could only hope that Chris would get distracted and forget the whole thing between now and the time he came back downstairs.
"We'll continue our discussion later." Chris called over his shoulder, as the door to the basement closed behind him.
To be continued…