January 3rd 1980
Jackie walked up to the big building that Leah's card directed her to. She looked up a bit bewildered and opened the door. A secretary well-dressed was perched at the front desk.
"Can I help you?" The secretary asked.
"Yea. I'm Jackie Burkhart and I'm here to meet with Lea Cevenchy." Jackie said to the secretary smiling real big.
"Okay. Down the hall to the right. Take the elevator up to the 8th floor," The secretary replied.
"Great thanks!" Jackie said walking towards the elevators.
"Jackie got a job offer to shop!?" Kelso practically screamed at Fez.
Fez, Kelso, Hyde and Eric were hanging out at Fez and Jackie's apartment.
"Yea. She headed out this morning around 8 am." Fez replied.
"Can we all stop talking about Jackie?" Hyde asked annoyed at the topic of conversation.
"Sure man," Eric said. "So have you told Kitty you are moving out?"
"You're moving out man?!" Kelso asked Hyde. Hyde shook his head yes. "Man, I miss everything."
"So move back from Chicago! Then you'll know what's going on. Besides, we need a handsome man back here to pretty up point place," Fez said smiling and trying not to give away that he had a total crush on him.
What are these feelings that I am having? I've always enjoyed looking at Kelso. I mean who doesn't? Look at that big piece of man candy! Ayi!
"I know Fez, but Brooke wants the baby closer to her mom," Kelso said.
"Isn't Betsy like one now? You are Brooke have been taking care of her pretty much yourselves. I don't see why you guys need her mom still," Eric said.
"Eric, you're right! I mean she's my daughter and I haven't killed her yet! I mean that's gotta be a good sign and I am pretty sure I saw a wanted sign for a librarian at the Point Place Library when I was driving in! Brooke could go back to work!" Kelso said excitedly!
"Well, I gotta get out here. I'm going to take a look at that apartment," Hyde said standing up to leave.
"Mind if I go with you?" Eric asked.
"Yea, sure man. Come on." Hyde replied waving his hand signaling Eric to follow.
Hyde is driving over to the apartment. It's complete silence just like he likes it. Eric of course couldn't stand the silence. He was curious about Hyde and Jackie anyway. He couldn't just keep the questions to himself.
"So… you and Jackie?" Eric started.
"There is no me and Jackie, Foreman. So I'm not sure what you are implying." Hyde said looking disgruntled.
"I saw the way you were looking at her on New Year's." Eric retorted.
"And? I look at a lot of people Foreman. Not sure what you are trying to get at." Hyde replied rolling his eyes behind his sunglasses.
"Yea but you seemed kind of happy when Fez and her broke it off that night." Eric continued to push.
"Pfft! Jackie and Fez man that was a living nightmare waiting to happen." Hyde said pulling up to Grooves.
"Yea. Maybe. Why do you care if it would be?" Eric replied getting out to the car.
"I don't." Hyde said walking into Grooves.
"Okay. Sure whatever you say." Eric said following Hyde into the store.
"I don't. Now drop it Foreman before I have to drop you." Hyde replied with a serious look on his face telling Eric to stop pushing.
January 4th 1980
Jackie strolled over to the basement that morning. Donna, Eric, Hyde and Kelso were hanging out.
"Hey Jackie how did the job go?" Donna asked somewhat bewildered.
"Fine. Fine. I'm really excited! I filled out the paperwork yesterday and they gave me my first client. Only problem is… it's Stacy Wannamaker I'm shopping with her later this afternoon." Jackie said looking a bit down.
"Oh no." Donna replied.
"Yea." Jackie said chewing on her bottom lip.
"Why does everyone look so freaked out?" Kelso asked looking out of loop as always.
"That's the girl Jackie went all wack-a-do on. Pretending she was marrying Edwardo… the Prince of Mexico if I'm not mistaken." Eric replied waggling his eyebrows.
"Who's Edwardo?" Kelso asked.
"Fez just pretending." Donna replied to Kelso's question.
"Anyway… I have to find her a gala dress and if I don't make sure she gets what she is looking for I could be fired before I even start." Jackie said looking down trodden.
"There are galas held in Point Place?" Donna asked bewildered.
Jackie shook her head yes.
"Huh, who knew in this little ole town," Donna replied shrugging her shoulders.
"Well you had a good shot!" Eric said getting up and heading to the door. Kelso and Donna got up to follow him.
"Wait! Where are you guys going?" Jackie asked.
"We're dropping Kelso off at the bus station." Donna replied.
"Oh fine don't help me with my problem!" Jackie said throwing her hands up in the air.
"Okay." Eric said and they all walked out.
"Wait, who is the actual Prince of Mexico? How do we know it's actually not Fez?" Kelso asked as they all walked out the basement and closed the door.
Jackie sat in the lawn chair opposite of Hyde. He was looking at the TV. The room felt awkward. This was the first time the two had been in the same room with each other since Chicago.
"So…" Jackie began. "I heard you are moving out." It sounded more like a question than a statement.
"Yea. I looked at the apartment above Grooves and it seems alright." Hyde replied looking at her from the corner of his eye.
"Well I think that's great Steven. I'm really happy for you." Jackie said sincerely.
What was her game? Sounding sincere. Looking really hot. Wait! What?
"Yea okay." Hyde said sarcastically.
"I mean it Steven. It's very grown up of you." Jackie said looking down at her lap. "It seems we are both growing up." She looked up to find him staring at her.
"Yea…. Thanks." Hyde said.
They sat there staring at each other for a bit. The feel of the room seemed to shift from awkward to hot.
"Have you told Mrs. Foreman yet?" Jackie asked trying to say something to move on from the awkward situation.
"No not yet. I'm planning to tell her tomorrow. Got an escape route and everything." Hyde said.
"Oh yea, what's that?" Jackie asked.
"Leave." Hyde said plainly making Jackie chuckle.
"Well I should get going. I have to meet Stacy in a half hour and I want to get there early. You know make a good impression." Jackie said getting up.
"Sure." Hyde said his eyes following her as she left.
Hyde sat in silence his head spinning.
What just happened? He and Jackie had a decent if somewhat short conversation. She looked good too! Damn! Why was she so hot? Where are these feelings coming from? I don't have feelings, especially for not some spoiled princess. I did have feelings for her before though even when Sam was around I couldn't help thinking of her from time to time. Sometimes when I was bed with Sam, Jackie would pop into my head. I can't be falling down this rabbit hole again! No! I won't do it!