(Forman's Basement – Hyde)

Hyde sat alone on his tiny chair near the washing machine, pretending to watch the television, but he found that his thoughts distracted him from doing anything.

He thought about what had happened a couple of hours ago.

Why did he cover for Jackie, didn't he want to expose her fight with him that ended up with her in the shower? Didn't he want Donna and Eric to get a laugh at her expense? He supposed that he didn't say anything, because he had realized how strange the fight with Jackie was. It wasn't even really a fight, it was sort of fun, while he was tickling her or putting her in the shower he didn't think anything about how he never would let something silly like wanting gummy bears that out of hand.

Why had he not realized, while Jackie was rubbing her wet body all over his, that it wasn't the gummy bears he really wanted to get out of the fight? He really just wanted any contact with anyone, even Jackie.

He shuddered at that thought, Jackie is annoying as hell, she probably didn't want the gummy bears either, why did she insist on tickling him then? Why did he let it go on for so long?

Hyde was confused and was intent on answering his confusion that he didn't here the basement door open.

Anne had walked in with a small bundle of things in her arms, she looked at Hyde and knew right away that she should leave him to his thinking. So she just laid down on the couch, her feet were the closest things to Hyde and she fidgeted trying to get comfortable. Soon she was contently lying on the couch, with her bundle of things underneath her head acting as a pillow, she started to watch the television.

Anne had a certain awareness of Hyde's state, and even though she was whole hearted watching the TV show, she had a sixth sense of knowing other's plights without putting any effort into knowing.

Hyde was still thinking. He understood now that he was just lonely, he hadn't had sex in months, and the usual gang was really boring after a while. He figured he was just too lazy to get up and go find those few others he would connect with, those sleazy girls that would just conform to what he wanted them to be for those hours he wanted to be a different person. So he came to the conclusion that since he didn't really know Jackie very well, he subconsciously allowed her to manipulate him into fight/playing with her, just so he could have a little liveliness in his day.

Hyde finally realized there was someone else in the room with him. He hadn't known when she arrived and he didn't want her to know that he hadn't realized she was there. So he figured being zen would protect him, from being found out.

"What are you doing here?"

Anne shifted her head away from the television and towards him, "Jackie's taking a nap." She answered vaguely, Hyde gave her a slight look of confusion, She explained more, "Well I can't practice when she is sleeping, the piano echoes throughout the house."

Hyde nodded, that's considerate of her he thought, no one respects his basement room, they all come down while he is sleeping and make a ruckus so he can't get back to bed.

"Something on your mind?"

Hyde was startled, He didn't really want to look over at Anne who was sitting up on the couch so she could look at him better. Hyde put on his zen mask yet again and raised his eyebrows above his glasses like he didn't understand the question.

Anne slightly shook her head and looked down, "You don't have to tell me." She looked back up at him, "But it might be to your advantage if you did."

Hyde was really confused, is there a way that she could know what he was thinking about? No he shook that thought from his head.

"To my advantage huh?"

Anne nodded, "I've seen guys like you a million times," She scoffed, "You hold in everything, not letting anyone in on your secrets, until you explode one day and kill all your coworkers." She said this rather calmly and softly smiled when she finished.

"I don't have any secrets." He brushed this accusation off. Anne stood up and plopped the bundle she had as a pillow on his lap, she started walking up the stairs,

"Whatever you say, Mr. Implosive."