Chapter 3: Over A Bag Of Marshmallows

"I'm sorry about what happened tonight, Hyde. I had no idea that our supposed date was supposed to suck."

"Whatever, Kelso. I'm just glad that I'm not Fez right now."

"See you tomorrow, bro."

"Later."

So Kelso drove his van off the Forman's garage, leaving me alone standing behind the already parked Vista Cruiser, with events of the past night still pretty much stamped in my head.

A few hours ago the doofus was bragging about his newly installed CB radio in his van to try and butt in on the some of the fast food joint radios and do prank orders on the costumers. At first I thought it was a lousy idea until some chicks with hot voices started to speak over the other line. Me, Fez, and Kelso answered anyway, pretending to be the Mob Squad the whole time. We talked dirty, they talked dirty, and a date was set.

Tonight was a mistake though. By the time we saw them waiting outside the club where we're supposed to meet them, they weren't exactly hot to trot, nice and easy, or foxy. They were just…old. Ugh.

Leaving Fez behind, me and Kelso took off back to Point Place. The first hour inside the van with him was spent in silence, until I asked him if the princess knew where he was. The moron mumbled about, telling me that he lied to her about having his folks over for dinner so he wouldn't be able to spend some time with her.

Damn moron. That lie is way too common for the natural world to believe. He's already cheating on his "girlfriend" with the slut of the century and still hits on other girls behind their backs. For me, of course, the only reason I went with him is because I was bored and I thought beer was a good idea. Now I looked around the Forman's humble adobe and felt more bored than ever.

I sighed and started to walk towards the patio doors. It was late and I was starving, hoping that Mrs. Forman left me something to eat.

But as soon as I slid those doors and got inside, all I saw was her, alone, sitting on the dining table with a cold coffee mug and her back facing me, her shoulders slumped.

My stomach flip-flopped, my hunger turning into nausea, feeling a rush of mixed emotions. I felt ecstatic because I haven't really seen her all day, and a little worried because slumped shoulders aren't exactly a good sign, especially if she does it. Maybe she finally figured Kelso out.

I suddenly felt heat on my cheeks. I couldn't let her see me like this.

"Cat got your tongue for once?" I began, my voice expertly impassive.

Surprised, Jackie's whole body twitched, emitting a little jump from her seat.

"Okay, I got the jellybeans!" she cried, her palms pounding on the table.

Jellybeans? I did a double take. "Excuse me?"

Hearing my tart response, I saw her turn around slowly to face me, giving me a look as if recognizing me for the first time. Then all the color drained from her face.

"Oh, uh…it's only you," Then she went from pale to an angry red. "God, you can't just surprise people like that, Hyde!"

I raised an eyebrow. "Really now? I thought I lived here. Sorry if I ain't the jellybean you're expecting. Not that I want to know anything about it."

Jackie's face flushed even more, so she just sat down, her back turned again. "Now that is just none of your business."

I couldn't help but smirk. Innocence can be cute.

Walking over to the kitchen, I opened the fridge, thinking of making a sandwich, but found there was nothing to look at. I also checked the pots and pans. Empty.

"What happened to all the food?" I asked loudly.

"Mrs. Forman didn't make any dinner," Jackie answered, drinking from her mug.

The whole house sounded mute, looking empty as well. "Where the hell is everybody?"

"Where were you?" she queried tightly. "Didn't you know what happened?"

I was prepared to tell her I was with Kelso and what was supposed to happen tonight, but then I was against it. I was more curious about what Jackie was trying to say.

"Out," I replied. "And no, I don't know what happened."

"Cops caught Eric and Donna doing it in the car. They're at the Pinciottis to tell them that they're already having sex. Mrs. Forman got sick, and I don't know where the others are. I'm just waiting for Donna for some juicy news."

"Well, since Forman ruined everyone's night again, I guess I'm stuck with you," I assumed sarcastically, sitting across her from the dining table.

"Goody," she retorted, rolling her eyes skyward.

Normally I would have made a nastier comeback, but it looked like Jackie wasn't really much like herself. Despite her still trying to be mean to me as usual, she looked like she wanted to be left alone and mope. And those bright pretty eyes were glacial and lost. She was obviously down. Everything in her body language said so.

"Hey Jackie, you all right?" I asked, trying my best not to sound concerned.

She gave me a puzzled look. "Huh? Why do you ask?"

I racked my brain for an answer. "Just…nothing. I mean, shouldn't you be dropping lots of obscenities at me right now?"

She paused, eyeing me strangely, making me cringe inwardly. Then she smirked herself, shaking her head.

"I'm not trying to be funny here, Jackie," I told her, frowning.

"But you are being funny, Hyde," she countered. "It's just so funny when a guy actually tries to even pretend to care about a girl's feelings, especially from someone like you."

I found her reaction a little too abrasive. "Someone like me?"

"Yes, Hyde. Someone like you. I've seen you're type lots of times. The guys who think they know everything about the world, what's behind everything, and not believe a single thing about relationships, leaving women after they got what they wanted. And it just seems that you also caught that virus. You just proved that to me after the whole I-like-Donna incident. "

My eyes narrowed. "Well, I'm sorry if you think of me that way, princess. And I'm sorry if I wasn't able to bag Donna the way I wanted it to be. But I'm being the completely un-hypocritical, authentic guy that's entirely my own. You're exaggerating."

"And you're a heartless burnout who's going to run through half the girls in Point Place—the half that's stupid enough to go out with you."

"That shows how much you know about girls. The more you dump, the more who get in line. You'll just realize what a pain in the ass they are."

Jackie took a deep breath. "How sad that you believe that," she said disdainfully.

"I know that."

"Even sadder."

We glared at each other a moment.

"You know what? Don't take it out on me because everything in your relationship sucks, Jackie," I said without thinking. "It's always about you, you, you. And I'm not exactly the world's happiest camper right now. So just cut me some damn slack."

After that she gave me a hurt look, a look that hit me right in the gut. Then she looked away, a part of her face becoming red again. I gulped, suddenly realizing the mistake I've made, saying an outburst without the slightest consideration.

"Okay, that came out wrong—''

"No, Hyde, you're right," she interrupted, looking back with tears on her eyes. "Just…stop talking."

I didn't open my mouth, fearing I might say something stupid again. I wanted to punch myself back then, but it took everything in my zen to manage my cool.

"It's just that…when I'm with Michael nowadays, I feel so useless," she went on, her voice wobbly. "I'm doing everything I can to keep him, but it just seems like I'm completely blowing it. Ever since he got that stupid van, he was like, 'Oh, we should see other people.' And that really scared me. But I gave him everything. I was three-fourths of a virgin when I met him. I thought we were really happy. Now, it's like I'm with him in person, but his mind is like a million miles away. I don't know what to do."

She buried her face in her hands afterwards. I wanted to say something comforting, but my mind was rather enclosed with the thoughts of assaulting Kelso because of what he's doing to Jackie. I hate seeing her when she's lonely. And now my idiocy just hurt her even more. Making her cry was another strike. I should just tell her everything, but I was completely anxious of what might happen next.

Then I had an idea. I stood up from the table and started to walk to the kitchen. I just hope it'll work.

"Hyde, what are you doing?" Jackie got out. "There's no food, remember?"

"I know what I'm doing, Jackie," I said, pawing through the pantry. Then I got my needed prize, walking back to the dining table and holding the huge bag in front of her.

"Marshmallows?" Jackie said incredulously, wiping her eyes.

"Jumbo-sized, too. Soft textured foods are very easy to chew," I informed her. "And chewing soft foods also helps taking all your inner stress out. I just hope—''

"Give me it!"

Jackie grabbed the bag from my waiting hands, opening it with force that some of its contents spewed out, then eating them three at a time.

"You know, Michael is really an idiot. He doesn't even know who he's missing," she went on between chews. "Look at me. I'm Jackie Berkhart! I'm worth a million bucks and he's still dicking around. I mean, come on!"

I sat across her again and watched her surreptitiously. Despite her full-blown cheeks and her loud chewing, she didn't look so down anymore. In an instant, she was back to her old self-centered self, the rich bitch that I grew crazy for the past couple of weeks.

Then she noticed me looking at her. She froze, putting the bag down on the table, and continued to chew again with a hand covering her mouth.

"I'm sorry, I'm being rude—''

"No, it's fine. Really," I said, cutting her off. "I still have a lot of ground to make up on."

Jackie finally swallowed and gave me a small smile. "It's all right. Actually I do feel a little better now. Thank you Hyde."

I nodded, her smile giving me a warm feeling in my stomach. But obviously, her little Kelso problem is still up in the air.

"Ahem, Jackie, I was thinking about what you said about Kelso, him being a million miles away. But he's just there, trust me. You're not just looking close enough."

"I know he is. And I'm determined to get him back."

I thought of her answer, thinking if she knew exactly what I was saying. I just hope she got what I meant. Honestly she doesn't need me to tell her about what's going on between Kelso and Laurie. It's something she needs to find out for herself.

Because Jackie was right about one thing: Steven Hyde does not believe in relationships. And that's that. Nothing less, nothing more. Even if I had a chance with her, I would blow it. And I'd rather risk not doing it for the benefit of what we have right now, whatever it is. If she dumps Kelso, who knows what will happen.

When I looked back at her again, I was stupefied for she was looking at me with those intense eyes, as if trying to get something out of me. And it's not in the form of insulting me. It was as if she wanted to know something.

I cringed under her gaze. Was she giving me an opening?

"Jackie, uh, I want to tell you—''

Then she went across the table and covered my mouth with my hand. "Do you hear that?"

I rolled my eyes, peeling her fingers out of my face. At first I didn't hear anything until I heard Forman and Donna's voices outside.

"Listen, I gotta go home right now," Jackie declared, standing up. "It's getting late."

"Didn't you just say you were waiting for Donna?" I recalled.

"Well…yeah, I was. But I'm really exhausted right now. I just want to go home and sleep this whole thing off."

Suddenly I didn't want her to leave. "You sure you don't want me to let Forman drive you?"

"No, I'll just walk home. I don't think Michael even knows I'm here," she added with a curl on her lip.

Hearing her answer, I just gave up. "Okay, let me walk you to the door."

Jackie's eyes went wide. Even my statement took me by surprise. But I managed not to show it as I stood up from my seat, beginning to walk ahead of her.

"What, are you just gonna stand there?" I said, looking at her over my shoulders.

"Y-yeah, right."

Jackie followed me on my heels, crossing to the living room, opening the door. She brushed past me, walking until she was outside standing on the porch while I leaned on the door. We stood in front of each other for a while, both of us obviously feeling awkward.

"So, um…" she stammered. "Aren't you supposed to say something a while ago?"

So she was expecting me to say something. What was I even thinking, telling her what I feel about her? I don't even know what the hell I'm feeling. Except for the feeling that my jeans are suddenly too tight when I smelled the scent of perfume her fingers left on my face.

"What? Oh, that. Uh, I wanted to tell you…to take care of yourself, that's all."

She looked a little disappointed. "Oh, okay," Then she brightened up again. "Thanks again Hyde."

"For what? The marshmallows?"

"No. I'm really sorry about what I said to you earlier. I just insulted you and you still made me feel better about some things, even in an unorthodox kind of way. I really appreciate it."

I waved a dismissive hand. "Forgotten it. I understand that you're stressed. No big deal."

Jackie smiled again. Tiptoeing on her heels, she kissed me on the cheek, a slight brush of her lips against my skin. The warm feeling on my stomach became stronger, and suddenly I remembered the exact same moment back at prom night, on how she looked so beautiful that night, and how inwardly giddy I was on the fact that I was her date…

When I was towering over her again, I gave her one of my cynical smiles. "Didn't you tell me you weren't going to do that again?"

She blushed, a shy smile etched on her face, but at least she didn't look away. "Yeah, I remember. Do try telling me that often, okay?"

I nodded. "Sure. Whatever."

"Good night, Hyde."

"Night, princess."

Jackie chuckled a little, then she turned around and began walking to the road. I watched her until she disappeared from plain sight, then I closed the door shut.

Back at the kitchen my eye caught the still-open bag of marshmallows on the table. I sat down and popped one in my mouth, thinking. The recollection suddenly started to make an automatic rewind in my head until it became a mantra, making me more lightheaded than what The Circle has to offer.

In my gut, though, something still didn't feel right. What she had shown me earlier was practically outside of the whole Kelso situation. And for some reason I sensed that there is still something else behind it. I just couldn't figure out what.

And the "jellybean" thing? Creepy. Chicks can be aliens.

But if it wasn't for the Wisconsin sweethearts, I definitely would've kept her here longer. Just to see her smile.

Forman went in from the patio, looking really tired, until he saw me waiting for him. His exhausted demeanor suddenly turned into a bewildered countenance.

"Why are you looking like that, Hyde?" he asked, confused.

A grin formed in my face, taking one more from the bag. Nothing beats having her around to argue with and a bunch of marshmallows to eat when you're feeling down. Yep, the puffy things just did the trick.

Because as of right now, I'd become something that I actually hated. A mushy pantywaist like this one right here.

"Nothing, man. Take some of these and tell me how the Pinciottis handled your situation."

……

Heeheehee! Lovely. So if you noticed, I used an episode from Season 2. I sorta continued it, if you know what I mean. :p

As for the whole jellybeans thing, that is for you to figure out what Jackie was thinking at that time. Answers will be posted on the next chap.

Thanks for all the reviews! I love that you guys said that I got the characters right. I have a really hard time doing so. And I hope you love this chapter, because today I was kinda out of my element. College midterms just finished. But I'll do my best to update more. Who wouldn't if some people said your story is good, right?

Still, chocolates for everyone! Reviews please and thanks:p