Saturday January 20th 1980
Hyde had gotten up and opened up the store. Hyde had rehired Randy since he, Donna and Eric were all good. Randy was a good employee and he didn't want to let him go when everything went down with Donna, so thankfully he graciously quit instead. Now he was back. The two of them ran the morning shift while Leo usually came in around 2 for the evening shifts. Hyde knew he needed to hire another person, especially since he wanted some time where he didn't have to work double shifts 6 days a week.
"Hey Randy, how would you feel if I hired Foreman to take a few shifts a week?" Hyde asked not wanting to stir the pot.
"That would be alright with me man. Eric and I are good." Randy said.
"Alright great man!" Hyde said slapping Randy on the back.
The 10 am- 2 pm shift was always slow until about 12. That time was usually used to clean up the store, restock and organize the shelves.
Eric and Jackie came in through the door.
"Hey man." Eric said to Hyde.
"Hey. Uh how would you feel about a job here?" Hyde asked Foreman.
"Here? At the record store?" Eric asked Hyde.
"I'd say alright!" Eric said giving Hyde 'male shake and hug'.
"Alright great man! I'm gonna give you the morning shifts, Monday's, Wednesday's and Friday's and the evening shifts, Tuesday's, Thursday's and Saturday's." Hyde said as he and Eric started walking into Hyde's office to sign new hire paperwork.
Jackie was just staring at Hyde as they walked into Hyde's office.
"So you and Hyde are back together?" Randy asked her.
"Uhhh we are dating, seeing where it goes." Jackie said.
"Oh well weren't you guys like madly in love before?"
"Yea, yea I guess you could say that."
"But that was before Sam?"
"Yea."
"Word to the wise Jackie don't get wrapped up again… you'll just get your heart broken." Randy said and then he proceeded to sweep up the store.
What did Randy mean by that? Was Steven going to break my heart again? Did Randy know something? Oh no he's going to run again! What am I doing here? I need to go.
Jackie went to turn around and ran straight into a guy that was coming into the store. Jackie held her head looking up at the thing she just hit.
"Oww," Jackie said.
"Oh I'm sorry are you hurt?" The big asked.
Jackie's head was spinning a bit.
"Yea, yea I think I'll be fine. It was my fault. I wasn't looking."
"Well are you alright?" The guy asked.
Jackie's eyes came back into focus. She was looking up at a guy with green eyes and dark brown hair. It was combed to the side. He was wearing jeans and a plain dark grey V-neck shirt. He was really tall and really built.
"Yea, uhh yea I'm fine." Jackie said to him with wide eyes.
"Okay good." He paused. "I'm uhh Kaine." He stuck his hand out.
"I'm Jackie," She said shaking his hand. "Nice to meet you."
"You mean nice to run into you." He said with a smile.
She gave a sweet little laugh. Just then Hyde and Eric came out of the office. Eric went over to talk to Randy and Hyde just stood there frozen in place staring at Jackie and Kaine. He couldn't just stand there and stare at the two of them. He walked over to Jackie and placed a hand on the smaller of her back.
She turned to see who it was. "Hey, Hy-Steven. This is Kaine. Kaine this is my…. Uhhh my friend Steven." Jackie said introducing the two of them.
"Hey man," Hyde said grabbing Kaine's hand and shaking it firmly. "You can call me Hyde."
The three of them just stood there not saying anything.
Jackie broke the silence. "Steven is the owner of this store."
"Really? That's awesome man! Love this place. Been here a few times before." Kaine responded.
"Huh, I don't think I've ever seen you in here before." Hyde said.
"I usually come later in the afternoons. I usually talk to that hippy, Leon...?"
"Leo!?" Jackie said.
"Yea that's it." Kaine said.
"So uhh how do you two know each other?" Hyde asked the two of them.
"Oh we just ran into each other." Kaine said.
Jackie laughed and then saw Hyde's facial expression. "We just met. I literally ran into him."
"Oh." Hyde said.
There was brief silence.
"So uhh Jackie, I know we just met but would you want to go out with me sometime, grab some dinner or a movie?" Kaine asked.
"Well uhh…" Jackie started and looked at Hyde.
"Unless the two of you are together… then I'm really sorry for asking in the first place." Kaine said looking sincere.
"Nah man… Jackie and I are… well we're just friends… right Jackie?" Hyde said giving Jackie a look.
"I guess so…" Jackie said looking sad. "Ummm sure we can go out some time."
"Great! Let me get your number." Kaine said.
Hyde couldn't stand it and walked away and up to his apartment.
Jackie finished giving Kaine her number and he left. She ran up the stairs to his apartment and tapped on the door. No answer. She tried again. No answer.
"Steven, it's me. Open the door." Jackie said.
For a moment she didn't hear any movement then she heard him walk to the door, unlock it and open it.
"What?" He said almost yelling at her.
"What? What do you mean what?" Jackie yelled back.
"What do you want?"
"Well I wanted to talk to you about what just happened. You looked upset."
"I'm not upset. Date whoever you want. We are just friends right?"
"Steven, we aren't exclusively together. We are just dating. Trying to get to know each other again. I didn't think you would mind."
"Jackie, just last week I told you I was still in love with you and you said you wanted to take it slow. I didn't think that meant you would be going out with other guys."
"Steven you had the chance to tell Kaine not to ask me out. You said it was okay!"
There were no words. They just stood there staring at each other.
"I knew this would happen. This was a stupid idea. Trying to be friends… getting to know each other." Hyde said angry and disappointed.
"I don't think this was a stupid idea!"
"Look at us. We had one date and we are already back to yelling at each other!" Hyde yelled.
"That's because you couldn't speak up and tell him that you were with me!"
"Neither did you!" Hyde yelled back.
"You know what Steven fine! Let's just go back to hating each other! Probably best than pretending to try and be friends!"
"Fine!"
"FinE!"
"FInE!"
"FINE!" Jackie yelled getting the last word in and turning away and walking back down the stairs and out the front Grooves door.
That evening Jackie had agreed to go out with Kaine. Earlier Hyde had gotten himself a bit drunk and went and asked a random girl out for that evening. Hyde decided to take the girl, who he couldn't remember the name of, to Jackie's favorite restaurant. Jackie and Kaine were just seated, when Hyde and the girl pulled up. They went in and the hostess sat them right next to Jackie and Kaine's table.
"Oh hey Jackie!" Hyde said. "Kaine" Sounding annoyed and barely looking at him. "This is uhh… uhhh… what's your name again?"
"Jessica." The girl said.
"Jessica," Hyde repeated.
"Hi," Both Jackie and Kaine said.
"We are just going to be over here." Jessica said trying to pull Hyde away.
Kaine and Jackie gave little waves and Hyde and Jessica started to walk away.
"You know what! How about we all sit together!" Hyde said.
Kaine looked skeptical and Jackie looked annoyed.
"What we are all friends here. Right Jackie?" Hyde said.
"Sure yea okay. Join us?" Kaine said.
"Alright!" Hyde yelled out.
Hyde plopped down in the seat between Jackie and Kaine and Jessica walked around the square table and sat across from Hyde.
"Well isn't this nice! New friends, old friends having a meal together!" Hyde said.
"Yea, really nice." Jackie said through clenched teeth.
Trying to remove some of the tension. "So uhh how did you two meet?" Kaine asked Jessica.
"Oh I just walked into Hyde's store and he asked me on a date for tonight." Jessica responded.
"Well isn't that just so nice!" Jackie said sarcastically looking at Hyde. Hyde gave a little smirk.
"How did you two meet?" Jessica asked.
"Oh we too meet at Grooves." Kaine said.
"Looks like Grooves is a place to pick up dates!" Jessica said with a sincere smile.
Kaine gave a smile. "Yea, sure looks like it."
"So Kaine!" Hyde yelled out waving a finger in Kaine's face. "Kaine, that's a funny name. Where did you get your name Kaine?"
"Uhh my mother." Kaine responded.
"Were you named after Candy Cane?" Hyde said laughing to himself. Hyde didn't give Kaine a second to answer. "You know Candy Cane; you need to be careful with this one!" Pointing to Jackie. "She'll get you to fall in love with her and then she'll spit you out!"
"Says the guy who went and married and stripper because of a misunderstanding!" Jackie practically spit at Hyde.
"It was a fake marriage! Besides you slept with Kelso!" Hyde argued back.
"That didn't happen. How many times do I have to tell you that! You made that up in your mind! Besides you cheated on me with a nurse when you thought I cheated on you with Kelso! You were totally wrong about that!" Jackie spat back!
"Yea well- "Hyde began but was cut off.
"You know what… I think I'm gonna go. Jessica would you like a ride home?" Kaine said standing up.
"Yes please." Jessica said.
"Kaine wait!" Jackie said.
"Jackie I'm sorry but you and him have a bunch of unresolved issues that I think you need to work out. Give me a call if you can let each other go." Kaine said and then walked away with Jessica in tow.
"Way to go Hyde!" Jackie yelled.
"What did I do?"
"You totally ruined my date!"
"Yea well you totally ruined my date!"
"Whatever you say Hyde!"
They sat there both seething. Jackie finally broke the 10-minute silence.
"Look I need a ride home and you clearly can't drive."
"What makes you think I can't drive?"
"Uhhh maybe because you are wasted. Come on give me your keys and I'll drive you home." Jackie said sticking her hand out.
Hyde placed his keys in her hand. The waitress came by.
"Hi, could I get a coffee to go please?" Jackie asked the waitress.
The waitress was quick. So quick it was like she had already made the coffee and had it in a to go container ready for them to ask for it and leave. She even told Jackie that it was on the house. Jackie handed the coffee to Hyde and the two of them left and went back to Hyde's apartment.
Hyde had pretty much sobered up by the time they got back to his place. Jackie helped Hyde up the stairs. The two of them fell on to the couch. Jackie sat there for a moment about to get up.
"Jackie don't go." Hyde said.
"I can't, I drove your car here remember?" Jackie said annoyed.
"Right."
She got up and went to grab a glass of water she came back and handed it to Hyde. He took it willingly.
"Jackie." Hyde said.
"Yes Hyde." He winced at her calling him that.
"I don't want you dating other guys."
"And you couldn't just have told me that before."
He shook his head no.
"I want to be with you and only you and I want you to be with me and only me." Hyde said stumbling on his words.
"Well you have a real funny way of showing that."
"I know. I'm a dumbass." Hyde said.
They sat there.
"Jackie I love you."
"If you want me you are going to have to do something to make this up to me. I don't understand what happened. Last night was wonderful and today you flipped a switch."
"I know I know! I freaked out. I thought you were going to do something, pressure me into a relationship again or blow up at me or something. Last night was too easy, simple, it just didn't feel like us."
"Well that was the old us. Tonight we were the old us. I don't want to be them anymore Steven. I want to be the us we were last night. We've grown up Steven… well at least I have."
"I have too. I dunno I just like lost it tonight. Knowing you were going out with that guy just pissed me off."
"And you wanted to get back at me."
He shook his head yes.
"Steven, that's so stupid. If we are going to be together we are going to have to trust each other and communicate and leave the past in the past."
He sat there quiet.
"Yea. I know you're right." Hyde said. "Donna was right, you are more mature, grown up."
Jackie smiled.
"I'm gonna go to bed." Hyde said standing up. "Want to join me?" He asked looking down at her.
"No tonight. I think I'll just sleep here on the couch."
"Jackie come on. I won't try anything. I'll even keep my clothes on."
She sat there for a moment then grabbed his hand and he led her to the bedroom.