Title: That Long Hot Summer
Notes: Thank you so much for the reviews on the last chapter. I was concerned about the ending, but by your comments I know I made the right choice. Maybe once this is all finished I'll do an "out takes" chapter, and let you see how Chapter Five might have ended. And, of course, many many thanks to Annie who took time out of her busy school schedule to look this over.
Chapter Six
"But I don't want to." Jackie whined, as she stomped out of the Forman's kitchen and headed for the stairs. "Can't it wait until tomorrow, when Fez gets back?"
"No, and you should have thought of that before you ate the cookies." Hyde said as he followed behind her.
"How was I supposed to know they were a bribe?"
"Jackie, she gave me a beer to go with the cookies."
She stopped and shrugged her shoulders "Maybe that happens a lot here."
"It happens nowhere." He pointed her towards the closed door and gave her a small shove. "Be brave grasshopper."
Jackie took a deep breath, put on her best cheerleading smile and threw open the door.
~*~
"Come on Eric, it's Star Wars…your favourite."
She had been at it for over half an hour. It started out as a friendly invitation, extended on the unfair persuasion from Mrs. Forman to get her son out of the house before his father killed him. However, once it became clear Eric wasn't buying, it quickly degraded to a lot of begging and pleading.
"And it's at the drive in," she continued. "So you can turn it up real loud."
"Fine." He sighed dramatically. "But only if I drive."
Her smile at a job well done quickly faded when she heard Hyde yell shotgun, and claim the passenger seat for himself. She looked at him incredulously, and was aggravated further by his struggle to keep from laughing. Shooting him a glare, she turned, stomped out of the room and yelled over her shoulder that she would be waiting for them in the car.
Jackie stared out of the window as Eric drove the short distance to the Drive-In. She had spent a lot of time trying to reconcile what almost happened that night in Kenosha. If Jennifer hadn't have walked into the room, she had no doubt that she would have let Steven kiss her. And if she was being completely honest, she would have let him do a lot more too.
Instead, she spent the rest of the evening gossiping with Jennifer and her group of friends, and spent the drive home trying to engage Fez in conversation. After they got back, she had tried her best to avoid the basement and anything else that might put her in close, secluded contact with Hyde. A resolve that was strongly tested by the rising heat of the Wisconsin summer; the basement was the only place that was reasonably cool.
She slumped back against the seat and watched as Hyde joked with Eric. It wasn't fair; he could be all calm and cool, while she was trying anything to make herself stop thinking about him.
~*~
The Point Place drive in had four screens and a central hub that housed concession booths, washrooms and a variety of arcade games. Their theatre was packed to capacity, probably due, she thought, to the clear skies, warm evening and lack of anything better to do.
By the time they found a space and got settled, they only had to wait a few minutes before the movie started. Jackie watched Eric's eyes light up when the first titles started scrolling on the screen. Her job was finished; he was out of the house and looked happy enough. Too bad she had to sacrifice her Friday night to do it.
She glanced over at Hyde, who was slumped against the door, leaning his head on his balled up fist. At least she wasn't the only one here against their will. I wonder what he would have been doing tonight? She thought absentmindedly, until she realized she shouldn't care.
She groaned inwardly, this has got to stop.
~*~
VADER: You're a part of the Rebel Alliance...and a traitor. Take her away!
"You know, this movie would have been a lot better if they had just shot her right then." Jackie said.
"Shorter, not necessarily better." Hyde argued.
"What?"
"Guys?" Eric looked at the two of them. "Do you mind?"
They mumbled apologies and remembered they were here for their friend, who actually liked this silly movie.
~*~
Jackie got Hyde's attention, motioned towards Eric and rolled her eyes dramatically as she watched him mouth the dialogue along with the actors.
LUKE: The Force?
BEN: Well, the Force is what gives a Jedi his power. It's an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us. It binds the galaxy together.
She stifled a giggle and thought it was probably for the best that Donna wasn't around to witness this.
~*~
LUKE: She's rich.
Chewbacca growls
HAN: Rich?
LUKE: Yes. Rich, powerful! Listen, if you were to rescue her, the reward would be...
"See?" Jackie said and pointed towards the screen. "Pays to be rich. People will always rescue you if you have money." Eric scowled at her. "What?" She questioned, and resumed watching the picture.
~*~
LEIA: (finally) Aren't you a little short to be a stormtrooper?
Luke takes off his helmet, coming out of it.
LUKE: What? Oh...the uniform. I'm Luke Skywalker. I'm here to rescue you.
LEIA: You're who?
"Some rescue." Hyde said.
Jackie nodded in agreement, "As if a scrawny little thing like him would be able to waltz in there and rescue her. Get a life!" She yelled towards the screen.
"Would you two shut up!" Eric shouted.
Jackie and Hyde looked at Eric, then each other and finally back to Eric again; too stunned by his outburst to retort. Jackie gave Hyde a questioning look before folding her arms and resting her chin on the top of the front seat. They sat in silence for a minute before Hyde tapped her on the shoulder and pointed towards the concession stand. "Come on."
She scrambled gratefully out of the Vista Cruiser and followed as Hyde threaded his way around the parked cars, finally emerging on the outer edge of the parking lot. She fell into step beside him as they followed the wooden fence that surrounded the area and lead to a common concession stand.
"He could be a little nicer to me." Jackie said suddenly, "I gave up my Friday night to haul his butt out of that dank basement."
"Yeah, you're a saint." Hyde said sarcastically.
"Yes, I am." She retorted. "And I really don't understand his obsession with this stupid movie."
"Thing with Forman is; he thinks of himself as Luke Skywalker."
"Oh my god, that's so sad." She glanced over at him, "So that makes you…"
"Han Solo, baby." He smiled and waggled his eyebrows at her.
"Yeah, whatever. Although…" She studied him for a second. "You do have the same unwashed, scruffy scoundrel thing going on."
"Thank you."
"Only you would take that as a compliment."
"How many girls do you think came here to watch Luke?" He grinned when she didn't answer. "Exactly."
"Still doesn't explain his little temper tantrum back there."
"He was afraid of missing his favourite part."
Jackie stopped walking and looked at the screen where she saw the princesses quickly kiss the hero's cheek for luck, and then bury her head in his shoulder while they swung across the gaping crevasse. She swung her head around to look at Hyde. "Wait a minute, he thinks Luke and Leia are destined to be together?"
"Yep."
"Where would he get that idea from?"
"Hell if I know. Why do you care?"
"I don't." She said defensively. "It's just obvious that she's going to wind up with Han Solo."
"Maybe in your world." He said and noticed a group of people coming towards them. He tugged on the back of Jackie's shirt to back her up a step and get them off the shale path and out of the way.
"Look. Two people don't rub each other the wrong way like that, without an underlying sexual chemistry."
She looked over at Hyde, who was staring at her like she had suddenly grown two heads.
"What! It's only in every book and movie ever made."
"Yeah. Anyway. He likes to think that whatever happens in his life can be applied to Star Wars. Including the happily ever after with the princess."
"And in his fantasy world the princess is…" She gave him a questioning look.
"Donna."
"Donna as Princess Leia? Puh-lease." Jackie tossed her hair over her shoulder. "If anyone is the princess, it's m--." She stopped once she realized what her admission implied; her and Steven were the ones that should be together.
"No one would ever argue your position as Princess." He said quietly from beside her.
She wondered what he meant by that. Usually, if he was trying to burn her, he would come right out and say it; or, he would get that happy-evil look on his face. But this time he just stared at her, almost…softly, like he wanted to say more, but couldn't. It was times like this that she knew there was a side of himself that he tried not to let anyone see.
Feeling the need to say something, but not quite sure of what to say; she reached out and lightly brushed an invisible speck of dirt from his T-shirt, buying time. From under her lashes she watched a confused look spread over his features, his eyes followed her lingering fingertips.
"I wanted to thank you for looking out for me last weekend. You're a good friend Steven."
"Just watching out for myself." He shrugged.
"No, it was more than that." Jackie insisted and stood on her tiptoes to brush a quick, soft kiss against his cheek. "Thank you." She finished, but the words came out as a mere whisper as she once again found herself within inches of his mouth. She closed her eyes at the tingle that started to work its way down her spine.
Slowly, she fell back onto her heels, never expecting he would follow. They froze in that position, almost, but not quite touching. A war of wills raged in both of them, all too aware that the next movement would decide which path was chosen. They could back up and walk away, knowing that the other would never mention it again. Or, they could choose the other option; give in to the impulse and risk the consequences.
Risk getting caught.
She ran her tongue over her now dry lips and tried to control the thunderous beating of her heart. She was just about to throw rational thought aside when she felt the lightest flutter of a kiss against her jaw. Goosebumps appeared on her arms despite the warm humid air that lingered long after sundown. Her head tilted of its own accord, and allowed him the opportunity to place a kiss along the downy soft ridge of her ear lobe.
It was nothing like she had experienced before. Blood rushed in her ears; making her think the ocean was only a step away, legs that were usually sure in their movements felt as weak as a newborn. A fluttering sensation in her stomach quickly spread towards her legs and she resisted the urge to mould herself to his side and do anything necessary to alleviate the pressure.
All without her lips ever touching his.
She shuddered at the thought of what she would feel if she moved her head the slightest bit, and let her own mouth seek his. She knew it would be the end of her pathetic attempt to deny she wanted him. More importantly, she knew there would be no stopping, no going back.
It wouldn't end with just one kiss.
In a move backed by desire, she pulled her head away only long enough to claim his lips with her own. At the first touch, memories of another time came flooding back and she tried not to let the moan that was building escape her lips. There was no awkwardness, no light caress to test the waters or pulling back to ask a silent question of permission. Just exhilaration from the forgotten feel of skin against skin.
She brought her arms up around his neck, and continued the bruising embrace. Minutes passed before the frenzied actions slowed and became languid, sensual. They took turns exploring the others mouth, lost themselves in the sensation.
Through the fog that had settled over her mind, she heard the boisterous sounds of laughter that could only be made by a group of teenagers. Unwilling to make the first move, she was grateful when Hyde gently pulled them backwards, further into the dark shadows of the perimeter fencing.
She wound up standing in between his legs as he leaned against the wooden fence, she could feel the heat radiating between their bodies. Her heart started to hammer in her chest, and she was sure he would be able to feel it. He placed a series of kisses along the column of her neck, stopping only to give her a sly grin and switch to the other side. She shivered as the rough hair of his newly grown beard brushed over her skin; and when he was finished she impatiently sought his mouth and gave him a demanding kiss.
The goosebumps returned when the arm that was circling her waist moved and he started to run his hand over the swell of her breast. She nipped his lower lip and allowed her own hands to roam free, trailing fingertips down his neck and over his shoulders; wandering down his side and resting on the waistband of his pants. Without thinking she let her hand drift lower, but Hyde's quick hiss of breath brought her back to reality.
She quickly broke the kiss and snatched her hand away. Taking a small step backwards she swallowed deeply and tried to control her rapid breathing. She risked a small look at Hyde and was relieved to see he looked as affected as she was.
"We should probably…" She bit her lip hesitantly and pointed towards the concession stand.
Hyde pushed himself off of the fence. "Yeah."
"You know…in case Eric wonders about us."
"Uh huh." He agreed.
A long silence followed and neither moved towards the brightly lit building.
"He doesn't even know we're gone, does he?" She asked.
Hyde reached over and brought her body towards his. "Not a clue." He said, before claiming her mouth once again.
To be continued…More A/N: I'm expecting the next update will take at least 2 weeks, maybe even longer. Going on vacation.