A.N.OK, all I hear these days is when is Hyde going to take off the blinkers and finally get it – well, just bear with me for two more chapters and I promise I will make the wait worth it. Thanks again for all the reviews and please keep them coming.

Chapter 16

"Sshh, Eric! Keep your voice down," Donna hushed.

"You've gotta be kidding me! It's not possible! Blue and Jackie are as different as day and night. They're like opposites of each other!"

"Or the other half of each other," Donna mused. "What amazes me is that Jackie has been playing drums for 6 years and no-one ever knew – not even her parents! Can you imagine that? It makes me wonder how well you can really know a person."

"Well, you know that old saying – still waters run deep."

"That would make Jackie the Mariana Trench."

"Okay, you know I spend geography trying to figure out if Mr Masterson's hair is a toupee or not, so I'm just taking your word for it that is a particularly deep spot." As a thought occurred to Eric, he shot up from his reclining position in shock. "Donna! Hyde is falling for Blue!"

"You're just realising that now?"

"But he doesn't know Blue is Jackie! And he hates Jackie! Hyde is falling for the girl he hates!" Eric shook his head in disbelief. "No further evidence is required to prove that Jackie is in alliance with dark and powerful forces."

"Yeah, well, I've never bought that Hyde hates Jackie. I mean he talks the talk, but all she has to do is turn on the waterworks and he folds like a cheap road map."

A grin grew across Eric's face. "Holy crap – Hyde is sweet on his sworn enemy and he doesn't even know it. That's it, I'm nominating this the best burn in the history of the basement's burns."

"I'll second that nomination," Donna agreed. "Now remember, Eric, no one can know this secret."

"Well, of course not. Then Hyde would find out and our fun would be over. Oh, I'm looking forward to watching the zenmaster squirm."

"No, dumbass! No one can know because then Jackie would know I told her secret and I'd have to become a cheerleader."

"That's not so bad," Eric said slowly as he fantasized Donna doing a cheer spelling out "Eric is a love machine". Donna turned his face towards her by a hard grip on his chin so that startled green eyes looked into forceful green eyes.

"Eric, I swear if I become a cheerleader you will pay for every single humiliating minute of it. This is my promise to you."

"Hey, my word is like oak, Donna. Stronger than oak – it's titanium steel. It's a gingsu knife. If someone put a gun to my head I'd tell them to pull the trigger and stop wasting my time, OK? Secret squirrel?" Donna judged she had scared him sufficiently and released his chin.

"Alright then," she conceded. She heaved a great sigh of relief. "Oh man, it is such a relief to finally tell someone this secret. Honest, it was just eating me away inside to have information this incredible and not be able to tell anyone." She leaned over and kissed Eric's cheek. "I feel so much better now," she said as she snuggled down in Eric's bed and closed her eyes peacefully. But Eric's eyes remained wide open and his face took on a strained expression as though he felt the weight of Jackie's secret transfer from Donna to himself.

The next day the gang were once again hanging out in the basement. Donna had coaxed a reluctant Jackie to join them in spite of yesterday's spat with Hyde, promising Jackie would not have to stay long and then the two girls would leave for a jamming session at Trevor's. The girls were giggling and whispering to each other on the couch, which was increasingly upsetting to Fez who hated to be left out of girl talk.

Kelso and Hyde were watching TV – or at least Kelso was and Hyde was pretending to, trying to block out Jackie's presence from the corner of his eye, her whispering voice from his ears. He couldn't understand why every little thing she did and said today just seemed so… hypnotic. He couldn't even accuse her of trying to get his attention, as she had said hardly two words to him when she came in and had since been huddled with Donna, not throwing him a single look. A glance over at Forman made him think that maybe it wasn't just him who felt the pull, judging from the way Eric was staring at Jackie like he'd never seen her before.

"What are you looking at, Forman?" he finally asked in irritation.

Eric jumped. "What? I wasn't – I don't know anything!"

"Well, that's a given," burned Jackie. An appreciative chuckle escaped from Hyde. For the first time that day Jackie looked at him and they shared an evil smirk at Eric's expense.

If they found burning sweet, Eric found revenge even sweeter. "So Hyde, when are you planning on hooking up with Blue again? Her band's playing tomorrow night, isn't it?" Eric took pleasure in the startled jerk Jackie gave.

"Yeah, I thought I'd drop by tomorrow night. Haven't seen her since last Saturday."

"Must be tough only getting to see her when her band is playing," Eric said. "I wonder what she gets up to during the week?" He turned to Jackie with a devilish grin. "Hey, I bet Jackie would know. You know, them being so close and all."

"Donna, we have to leave for the mall now," Jackie said in a loud voice, jumping to her feet and pulling her friend with her. "You're makeover won't wait a minute longer."

"I resent that and let's go," Donna replied, shooting a warning glare at Eric. But Eric was on a roll and not ready to stop yet. Plus he figured if he could trick Jackie into revealing her secret, it would let him off the hook about keeping it.

"Oh, you two are off to the mall?" Eric said, knowing where they were really headed. "Hey, I can give you a lift if you like."

Jackie eyed Eric with surprise. "Let me get this straight. You are actually offering me helpful assistance in the form of transport, the sort of thing one friend would do for another?"

"Sure," Eric answered with a knowing grin. "Is there a problem with that? You are going to the mall, aren't you?"

Jackie studied Eric thoughtfully, her eyes flitting to Donna's anxious face and then back to Eric. She came to a decision.

"Alright, Eric. Let's go." Now it was Eric's turn to look surprised as Jackie picked up his car keys and tossed them to him. "But I know Donna wants to walk there to burn off the calories from that milkshake she wolfed down at lunch so I'll meet you there, OK Donna?" Donna frowned at Jackie but agreed, figuring this was Jackie's way of sending Donna to the rehearsal to let the band know Jackie would be delayed.

Eric followed Jackie to the Vista Cruiser, wondering why she had accepted his offer. He was starting to feel a little nervous when Jackie ordered him coldly to "Get in!". If she had added a "Dumbass" it would have been a perfect impression of Red at his most disgruntled.

Once they were both enclosed in the car, she turned her angry blue-green eyes on him.

"She told you!"