Title: That Long Hot Summer Chapter 9

Notes: I don't even know where to begin…How about a big thank you to everyone who reviewed or e-mailed me during my rather lengthy hiatus. I'm not sure I could say this would have gotten posted if I didn't get them. I hope that the next chapter will be available in a timelier manner. And many thanks to Luci who did a lovely beta job.

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Hyde was pulled out of the warmth and comfort of sleep by the persistent ringing of a telephone. Rolling over, he grabbed his watch off of the bedside table and checked it quickly. He groaned and let the watch drop from his fingers; it was after ten, way too early to be awake. Annoyed and sleepy, he sat up and scanned the room to find the offending noise. Before he could give it a second thought, he brought the receiver of Jackie's pink princess phone to his ear and barked a gruff "Hello".

There was a slight pause before the person on the other end started speaking. "…Hyde? What are you doing answering Jackie's phone?" A confused, but very familiar voice asked.

Hyde winced and let his head fall back against the pink flowered wall.

He was in hell.

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A unicorn laced, pastel pink version of Hell. That was the only explanation for it because his luck couldn't possibly be that bad. But, there was no mistaking the voice on the other line. They had been friends for too long.

And hanging up the phone would only confirm his suspicions.

"Hyde, I know you're there."

"Wrong number?" He tried hopefully. Maybe throw him off a bit. Unfortunately the reply was instantaneous.

"I don't think so buddy."

"Chris, it's not what you think."

"Really? You know when it comes to Jackie you keep saying that. I could go over the details if you want… to let you see how things look from over here."

This was not what he needed right now. It almost made him wish it was anyone else on the other end of the phone. At least then he'd have a fighting chance of talking his way out of this situation.

"You know, you never did answer my question." He said with a hint of amusement.

"Which question was that?" Hyde tried to stifle a yawn.

"How long Jackie's been stringing you along. But I think the answer is pretty self-explanatory now."

Hyde raked his hand over his head. Chris could never let this type of thing go. And now he couldn't even deny there was something going on between him and Jackie.

"Hyde and Jackie sitting in a tree---" Chris starting singing into the phone.

"What the hell do you want?"

"I'd like to speak to Jackie please." Chris asked politely.

"She's not here."

"Hyde buddy, have you been breaking into innocent girls rooms again?" He goaded. "'Cause I've heard about your foreign friend, but I didn't think you'd be involved too."

"Why haven't I hung up on you yet?"

"Because you know I'll just call back."

He would too. Persistent fellow Chris was.

"Hey, let me just ask you one thing."

Hyde sighed and stared at the ceiling, "Whatever."

"Not whatever." Chris was deadly serious with no trace of humour in his voice. "Hyde man, what the hell were you thinking? She's your best friend's girl."

His heart started to beat a little faster.

"So you know that Jackie isn't…"

"Wasn't." Chris piped up.

"Isn't my girlfriend?"

"Yep."

Apprehension grew within him. "And you know that how?"

"Mrs. Forman told me."

A queasy feeling bubbled in the pit of Hyde's stomach. "And you asked her, why?" He didn't really want to know the answer to that one.

"Who do you think I called first?"

"Oh god," He knocked his head back against the wall again. This was bad. This was very very bad. The urge to escape grew very powerful. He threw the covers off and swung his feet to the floor. He looked around the room in a vain attempt to locate all of his clothes.

"…and when she said you weren't there, I asked if you were with Jackie. Which you were, I might add. Then she said that you two were sure together a lot and she always thought you would make a cute couple. Now…who says that if you're already a couple?"

"Chris, we're not…" He switched the receiver to the other ear and tried to reach the pants that were hanging from the bookcase.

"Yeah, you've said," he continued. "But here's the other thing. It's 10 am. On a Saturday. You're answering her phone and I'd bet a lot of money that you aren't wearing any pants." Hyde stilled guiltily and looked down at his naked legs. "And if you are, you're definitely not wearing any socks. Which, in my book, means you're somewhere you shouldn't be, doing something that you know you shouldn't be doing.

My question is; is she worth it?"

Hyde collapsed on the bed as his knees buckled at the question. He tried to rub away the ache that had started to develop behind his eyes. Was Jackie worth it? He didn't even want to start thinking about that. He had a plausible explanation before last night.

But last night changed everything.

Couldn't say she was only an annoying addition to his existence. Couldn't say he tolerated her at the best of times. Couldn't even say he was keeping her company while Kelso was gone. Couldn't say a lot of things he might have been able to yesterday. Today he was being forced to realize he might be sacrificing a lifetime of friendship for a girl. And not just any girl.

Had to be Jackie.

A wave of warm air against his bare feet made him raise his head from where it rested in his hand. The figure standing in the doorway took his breath away. Fresh from the shower, dressed only in his T-shirt, Jackie was gorgeous. She blushed slightly as he continued his obvious appraisal, and gamely lifted the hem of the shirt to reveal more of her naked leg.

It was worth it.

No matter if it all falls apart in the next day or week or month. Right now…today; she was worth it all and more.

But she needed to lose the shirt and he felt he was just the man for the job.

"HYDE!" Chris' voice snapped him back to reality.

"What?"

"Put Jackie on the phone."

Hyde shrugged and held the receiver out to a confused Jackie. "It's Chris; he'd like to talk to you." She gave him a strange look but brought the pink phone to her ear.

"Hello?" She asked hesitantly. Hyde watched as the cutest look of confusion spread over her face.

"Oh yeah, …he knows."

Her eyes went wide, but she didn't say anything other than the usual pleasantries. Hyde crawled back under the covers as he listened to the half conversation. Apparently they were going to another house party in Kenosha. Jackie seemed excited about it and said she couldn't wait to see Jennifer again.

He had almost allowed the comforting weight of sleep overcome him when Jackie lifted the covers off the bed. "Nope, no pants." She giggled at whatever Chris said and lowered the sheets back over him.

"I'll let him know about next week. See you soon, and say hi to Jen for me." She placed the phone back in the cradle and sat down cross-legged on the bed. "He says next time don't answer the phone, you never know who it will be." She paused. "Do you think he'll tell anybody?"

Hyde rolled onto his side and ran a finger idly over her knee. "Nah, I trust him to keep quiet."

"Then why do you have that look on your face?"

He drew a figure eight on her thigh as he mulled over what to say. "He talked to Mrs. Forman before he called you."

She took a quick breath. "Oh."

"Yeah," He nodded in agreement. "She didn't say anything, but I'm pretty sure she knows I'm not there right now."

"But that doesn't have to mean you're here either." She said hopefully.

"Maybe, I guess." He shrugged. "But it's not going to take long before she starts putting things together. And I don't know if you know this, but Kitty can't keep a secret."

Jackie laughed. "Oh I know. You have no idea how much stuff I could burn Eric with."

He smiled at her but couldn't shake the feeling that everything might come crashing down on them way too soon.

"Oh for heavens sake," She said and picked up the phone.

He tried to stretch over to the table and stop her. "What are you doing?"

"Don't worry." She slapped his hand away and started dialling a familiar number. "Hi, Mrs. Forman? It's Jackie. Could I speak to Steven please?" She paused, listening to the reply they knew would be coming. "Oh, that's strange…he was supposed to drive me to work today…you haven't seen him all morning?" Jackie looked over at Hyde, who scowled and gave her the finger. She stuck her tongue out at him and quickly moved to avoid a swat.

"I don't know where he would be either…Oh, wait—He's pulling up the drive now. Thanks Mrs. Forman. I'll talk to you later." She ended the call cheerfully and stretched out on the bed. "See? No problem."

"Different problem." He reached over and pulled her closer to him. Slowly and seductively, his gaze turned downwards. "You're going to be very late for work."

To be continued.