Behind Steven Hyde's Blue Eyes
By: Tokoyami
Author's Note: Wow I have received ten reviews in one day, how exciting! Now that my volleyball and cross-country seasons have ended I have a little bit of time to dedicate my time to writing my fanfictions. My basketball practices will be starting in November, so I better get writing. Thank you Bluephoenix70, ibreak4CSI, Vicky, Jaded-Amaya, benitagarcia, ZenF, anberzen, ResEvilGirl, Darksouled Saiyanphoenix, and YouThinkYouNoeME for reviewing. You were all urging me to update soon, I am writing this chapter just after a day of publishing my last chapter. That is a big improvement for me. The title of this chapter is based off a song by Carole King called, "It's Too Late."
Disclaimer: I do not own That 70's Show or any of its characters. I do not own any of the songs that I am using for my chapter titles.
Chapter Ten
It's Too Late
Jackie finally snapped out of her daze when she heard Red yelling at Eric to mow the lawn. She shook her head and gazed down the road wondering when Hyde would return. Jackie heard the slamming of a screen door. She looked over in the direction of sound trying to find the source of the noise. It was Eric grumbling to himself as he kicked a pebble down the steps. He was muttering something about telling Red to do it himself. He didn't even notice the tiny brunette staring at him until he ran into her.
"Stupid—ooff," Eric grunted as he collided with Jackie as she was trying to get out of his way. In her effort, she accidentally ran into Eric and managed to trip over his feet. She landed flat on her bottom. Jackie just sat there wide-eyed, blinking rapidly. Eric's eyes were just as wide, fearing her wrath. Jackie opened her mouth to speak. Eric cringed and closed his eyes waiting for the barrage of complaints and insults. A few moments passed. Suddenly, he heard a stifled giggle. Then he heard a small chuckle. Next came a few laughs. Finally Jackie was cracking up. Eric opened his eyes in surprise. He decided to laugh with her, glad that she wasn't yelling at him. Finally when the laughter had died down, Eric struck out his hand.
"Here, Jackie, let me help you up," Eric said as he lowered his hand.
"Thanks Eric," Jackie replied as she took his hand and pulled herself up from the ground. She stood up and dusted herself off. Then she turned to face Eric.
"Wow, I was expecting you to yell at me for knocking you over," Eric said nervously.
"Why would I do that?" Jackie asked as she looked at him innocently.
"Well-maybe because I got your clothes dirty?" Eric gulped. Why had he suggested that?
"It doesn't matter, this was on sale anyway," Jackie shrugged, "Besides it was funny to see the look on you face." She imitated his expression from earlier.
"Hey…" Eric started but then changed his mind, "Yeah I guess that was pretty funny, me scared of you." Jackie glared at him. "Okay, okay!" Eric said, "I guess I was scared of you."
"Good, you should be," Jackie smirked.
"Man, that sounded like something Hyde would say," Eric said, "You two have been hanging out, as oddly as it seems, so I can see why."
"Hey, it's not that weird...is it?" Jackie asked with uncertainty in her eyes.
"Well, yeah it is kinda weird after seeing you two have a burn battle practically everyday," Eric answered, "Then suddenly, the next thing you know, you two are best friends and we never see you guys in the basement anymore."
"I guess you are right," Jackie sighed, "Are you bothered that we are friends now?"
"Oh no, well maybe there is less entertainment…" Eric replied, "But it is good to see less fighting in the group. Hey we still got Fez and Kelso for laughs."
"Michael…" Jackie repeated. Her face darkened a bit.
"Speaking of Kelso," Eric said, "I would have thought he would try to get Hyde to back off, being you boyfriend and all-"
"He is not my boyfriend anymore," Jackie stated.
"-he would have got all jealous-What?" Eric asked, "He is not you boyfriend. When did this happen?"
"A few days ago," Jackie answered, "Again it was his fault."
"What did he do this time?" Eric asked, not sure why he cared.
"He cheated on me again at some party," Jackie said quietly, "No surprise there."
"There, there Jackie," Eric patted her back while a few tears ran down her cheeks, "Aren't you getting tired of this routine?"
"YES!" Jackie stopped crying, "You just read my mind. I said it was final a few days ago. No more Michael for me."
"Okay, good for you Jackie," Eric smiled, "But that still doesn't explain Hyde."
"Oh Hyde was there when I saw Kelso cheating on me," Jackie said, "He had driven me there."
"Oh okay, that is very un-Hyde like," Eric said, "But he hasn't been home much, and when he has, he didn't complain. So I guess he is fine. Well listen Jackie I got to mow the lawn before Red puts his foot up my ass. But thanks for not yelling at me."
"Thanks for listening to me Eric," Jackie smiled, "Bye, have fun!" Eric gave her a sarcastic smile and walked towards the garage. Jackie turned and thought of what to do. She had talked to Eric for a good twenty minutes. She decided to go to the basement and wait for Hyde to return. She skipped down the steps and opened the door. She walked in and almost fell again.
"Huh," Jackie looked down and saw a recovering Kelso. How did that happen, Jackie wondered, as she saw his jaw. Then she remembered a hurried Hyde. I guess something serious had happen between them. She ran upstairs to get some ice and band aids for Kelso's jaw.
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Kelso eyes were blurred. He couldn't make out the shapes and colors. But he could feel something cold on his jaw and a soft hand on his cheek. He knew that hand's warmth and softness.
"Jackie?" Kelso asked.
"Yes?"
"Oh Jackie I haven't seen you for a couple days," Kelso said. He vision came back and he could now see Jackie's face filled with concern. He sat up. He noticed that Carole King was playing softly in the background.
"Don't sit up so fast or your jaw will start to hurt," Jackie tried to explain, but to no avail. Kelso yelled out of pain and began rubbing his injury, "Ahh, my eye!"
"Did you hurt your eye when you hurt your jaw?" Jackie questioned while taking off his ice pack to get a better view of his face.
"No, I just poked it when I trying to touch my jaw," Kelso replied. Same old Kelso, Jackie thought.
"Stupid Hyde…" Kelso muttered to himself while continuing to rub the same area. At the sound of Hyde's name, all of Jackie's attention was focused on Kelso.
"What about Steven?" Jackie asked while handing the ice pack to Kelso, so he could hold it to his face.
"Nothing," Kelso tried to shrug it off.
"Michael, what about Steven," Jackie asked more firmly.
"Since when did you call Hyde "Steven" anyways?" Kelso questioned while turning to face her.
"Since a few days ago," Jackie stated, waiting for the answer of her previous question.
"Why?" Kelso asked suspiciously.
"First answer my first question, Michael," Jackie said refusing to answer.
"Okay, okay," Kelso gave in, "Hyde punched me in the face." He mumbled some curse under his breath, which Jackie ignored.
"Oh my god! Kelso are you okay?" Jackie asked quickly, relieved to see him nod, "I know that Steven can punch hard when he is mad. You must have done something really bad to piss Steven."
"Will you quit calling him Steven?" Kelso asked forcefully.
"Michael, Steven is my friend now, I will call him whatever I want," Jackie squinted at Kelso, "He doesn't have a problem with it, and neither should you."
"I do have a problem with it!" Kelso shouted while standing up.
"Why!" Jackie yelled back while looking up at him.
"Because Jackie…" Kelso stammered, "Because you're my girlfriend. And you only called me by my first name." Jackie stared at him disbelievingly. Did he not know that she had saw him cheating on her?
"Michael, I am not your girlfriend," Jackie said quietly, "You broke us up."
"When did I do that?" Kelso asked, afraid of the answer.
"When you cheated on me, Michael," Jackie looked him straight in the eye, daring him to deny it.
"So Hyde told you, huh?" Kelso said, beginning to become angry, "He saw me cheating and ran to you, telling you everything, hoping to steal you away from me. So is that why you have been calling him Steven and hanging around with him. Is he your boyfriend now, huh?"
"First of all, no Steven is not my boyfriend," Jackie began answering his questions, "Second of all, he did not see you cheating on me and ran to me. I saw you cheating on me. The only reason Steven saw it was because he drove me there. And he is not trying to "steal me away." I don't even think he likes me that way."
"Then why have you guys been hanging out so much?" Kelso asked glaring at her.
"Because he has been comforting meover the last few days," Jackie replied, "Steven was making sure that I don't waste my tears on you like I used to. And through his actions, we became friends."
Kelso just stood there staring at her. At the only girl he had ever truly loved. His eyes roamed over her brown hair, cascading in soft waves. He looked into her beautiful tranquil eyes. Over her lovely creamy skin and shapely figure. Kelso yearned to be with her again. How could he throw his relationship with Jackie away, just to have a few make-outs with other girls? How could he be so stupid?
"So you're not going to take me back this time?" Kelso asked hopelessly.
"No, Michael, I am not taking you back," Jackie said sadly, "You and I just weren't meant to be together. We have different ideas and we are going different places. It's-"
too late baby, now it's too late
Though we really did try to make it
Something inside has died and I can't hide
And I just can't fake it
Jackie had stopped speaking when she had heard what song was playing. She realized the track was "It's Too Late," by Carole King. She thought that the song would describe what she was trying tell Kelso. Jackie looked at Kelso. He seemed to be listening to the lyrics as well.
"What I am trying to say Michael," Jackie continued, "Is that you and I had some great times. But something has happened and it isn't the same. I think it is time that we both moved on." Kelso slowly nodded. They both paused to listen to the song again.
There'll be good times again for me and you
But we just can't stay together
Don't you feel it too
Still I'm glad for what we had
And how I once loved you
And it's too late baby, now it's too late
Though we really did try to make it
Something inside has died and
I can't hide it I just can't fake It
The song ended a few seconds later. The lyrics seemed to be sinking into both their heads. Both Jackie and Kelso knew that they would never be together that way again.
"You will always be my first love Jackie," Kelso voice cracked slightly. He quickly looked away.
"And you will always be my first love, Michael," Jackie whispered, "But a chapter of our lives has ended. But another has begun. Our chapter as great friends is just starting. I will always go back and remember the times we had together. Thank you for the time we spent together as lovers. But now let's start our time as friends." She smiled weakly at the man in front of her, knowing she would never stop loving him. It was just a different love she felt now.
"I guess you are right Jackie," Kelso agreed quietly, "But I will still hit on you and try to grab your butt because that it just me, Kelso. I grab pretty ladies' butts." Jackie giggled softly, "Also Jackie, I think Hyde might be feeling differently for you, so I might get jealous. But I am going to try to move on, I promise." With that he moved forward and embraced Jackie. Slowly she returned the hug.
"Thank you for the wonderful memories," Kelso whispered in Jackie' ear and kissed her on the cheek. With that, they both parted and gazed at each other, closing another chapter in their lives. Suddenly, Jackie knew where she had to be.
"I am going to go find Steven," Jackie said before turning to leave, "Sorry that he punched you."
"Ohh, it's okay," Kelso shrugged, " I kind of deserved it."
With that Jackie smiled and turned and ran up the basement stairs. Kelso stared after her, feeling both sad and happy at the same time.
Author's Note: Finally Jackie and Kelso have talked. I really wanted them to end things properly. Again sorry I haven't updated in over a month. Thank you all you faithful readers, I wouldn'tbeen able to finish this story without you. The next chapter will focus on Jackie and Hyde, finally! Again, I am open to suggestions. Please review and I will update as soon as possible.