The reviews make me blush, keep them coming! You guys have me all inspired and I'm writing like crazy. I already have tons of ideas for new fics when I'm done with this one. Ok, a couple of you have been begging for some violence for Hyde so here it is! (Donna does a little Hyde-beating too, but of the emotional sort)

Chapter 4

Previously… She leaned her head against the wood and closed her eyes as sobs shook her small, delicate body. A long time passed before the door opened.

"Oh, Jackie," murmured the tall redhead as Jackie fell into her arms.

x

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Donna was furious. Jackie had been crying for hours and nothing Donna said or did was helping the heartbroken girl who now lay on her bed, finally asleep. There were boxes worth of tissues littered around the room. Every time she found another one, Donna was filled with rage again. How could he do this to her? Was he really this selfish and uncaring or just way more of an idiot than everyone thought? What the hell was he so afraid of? With every passing second, Donna got more and more pissed off.

"That's it," she muttered. Making sure Jackie was asleep, Donna stalked out of the room. She was going after Hyde. She wrenched open the basement door with such force, if there had been any occupants, they would have dove for cover. Donna got to Hyde's room in three steps and barged in, surprised that the door was open.

"Hyde, where are you, you jackass! Don't even think about hiding, I know you're in here!" She looked around. The room was empty, the cot made. "I don't believe this," Donna muttered. She started to leave, but turned around. Smiling, she took several records from his shelves and broke them in half. She was about to snap another one in two pieces, but she stopped. Did the new AC/DC album really deserve to be destroyed just because its owner was a coward? No, she decided and tucked it under her arm. With a feeling of satisfaction growing inside her, Donna finally left.

When she walked up the basement, she heard a car start in the street outside the Forman's house. Donna ran up the last few steps and across the driveway just in time to see Hyde peel away in the El Camino. Without really meaning to, Donna jumped into her dad's car. Seconds after she found the spare key hidden in the glove compartment, Donna slammed on the gas pedal and drove after the man that was still breaking her best friend's heart.

x

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Hyde tried to talk himself into going to Donna's house to say something to Jackie, but the moment he reached the door, his clammy hands began shaking and all of the fears he'd had before came rushing to the surface again. He spun around and walked quickly to his car. 'You're being an idiot' he thought to himself. But what if she didn't want him? Sure, she loved him now. What will happen in a few years when she sees for herself that he won't amount to anything? Will she still love him then? You know she will said a voice in the back of his head, but he shoved it aside. All of these thoughts raced inside his head as he got into the El Camino and pulled out into the street.

He had been driving for several minutes before he noticed the familiar car following behind him. Hyde peered closely into the review mirror and gave a start when he realized Donna was at the wheel, looking like she could kill. He pulled over and stopped the car, but left the keys in the ignition so he could hear the radio. And in case he needed to make a break for it because he had never seen Donna this pissed before. He jumped when the redhead suddenly appeared next to his window and knocked loudly on the glass. 'Oh, crap.' She would sooner feed him to a pack of starved wolverines than let him go without talking to her. He rolled down the window.

"Hey, Big D. What's going on?"

"Cut the crap, dillhole, and get the hell out of the car."

Hyde shook his head. "Okay, Donna, I'm not Forman you cant just-"

"Do you want to live to see tomorrow?" He stared at her, trying to appear zen, but he couldn't help being a little unnerved by the menace in her voice. He sighed and opened the door. She slammed it shut, walked around to the front of her car and sat on the bumper. She leaned her head back and closed her eyes. Hyde stared, confused. Neither of them moved for a long time.

"What is wrong with you, Hyde?" Donna asked. The anger was gone from her body and he was surprised at how tired she sounded. For the first time he saw the bags under her eyes and wondered if she couldn't sleep because Eric wasn't here. "I mean, do you really not care that much? Do you have any idea what she's been going through?" she stopped and ran her fingers through her crimson hair.

Hyde took his glasses off and rubbed his eyes. "She'll never be happy with me, Donna. I'll never be able to give her what she wants and I'll never be able to make her happy."

"And what does she want from you?" she asked. "God, I thought you knew her by now! She doesn't care about having money or a mansion or a country club membership, at least not nearly as much as she used to. You made her grow up and see what's really important in life. I know you saw how much she changed because of you but for some reason, the last few months you two were together, you kept treating her like she was still a spoiled, selfish princess!" Donna stopped, not wanting to believe how blind Hyde was. She took a deep breath and continued. "She changed for you so she would be good enough for you."

Hyde felt as though he had been punched in the stomach. Millions of thoughts were racing through his head but he only managed to comprehend one. She thought he was too good for her? He shook his head and started laughing, wondering what Donna had been smoking to make her think that. Jackie would never believe she wasn't good enough for him. That was crazy. He knew her better than anybody, right? But he thought about their last weeks together, something he hadn't let himself do for a year, and he remembered how strangely she had behaved and how he had brushed it off without thinking. She'd been looking at him differently, and talking to him differently, almost as though she was sacred of his reaction to her words. Or, rather, lack of reaction. Hyde remembered how he'd shut himself off whenever she had been around, suddenly fearful that she would see how much power she had over him. Fearing she would realize that all she had to do was walk into the room and he would forget everything he had been doing or thinking before and focus on what he could do to make her smile. All the while knowing that if she ever realized what she did to him, what she made him feel, she would be able to hurt him that much more. But he didn't believe she thought he was too good for her. He wouldn't believe it. Because it was crazy, even if he didn't know why she had been acting so differently then. "Donna, you're crazy. Jackie would never think anyone is too good for her. She-"

"God, would you listen to yourself?" Donna interrupted. "Why do you think she's still like that? Hasn't she done enough for you to realize how not like that she is? I mean, come on! Would the old Jackie ever consider going to college? Would she spend a year alone, hoping for a certain someone to come to their senses and fight for her? Of course not! The old Jackie would stay here and immediately try to replace you with some idiot football player or something so she could rub it in your face." Donna pushed herself off the bumper and strode over to Hyde. She placed her hands on his shoulders and looked him in the eye. "Open your eyes, Hyde. She's not gonna wait forever. You have to prove to her that you want to be with her. Last week, if you had shown up at her dorm and said 'I love you,' she would have taken you back in a second. But you didn't, and she came here and saw for herself what you've become. She changed for you. Show her you can change too." Donna stepped back and turned to her car. She was surprised when Hyde reached out and put his arms around her. She hugged him back.

"Do you think she'll be upset if I wake her up at," he checked his watch, "four thirty in the morning to see her?"

Donna chuckled. "Trust me. She's going to remember this night as the most romantic of her life," she said as she let go of her friend. She stopped smiling. "Unless you screw it all up by being you. So, don't."

Hyde rolled his eyes. "I won't." Donna still looked wary. He sighed. "I swear on my stash, I will not be a dumbass."

"Good." Donna got into her car and drove off. Hyde sighed. He stepped into his car and tuned on the ignition, letting the soothing sounds of Zeppelin fill his ears. 'Well,' he thought, 'time to go.' He began driving and let the song give him courage for what he was about to do.

Measuring a summers day

I only finds it slips away to grey

The hours, they bring me pain

Tangerine, tangerine

Living reflection from a dream

I was her love, she was my queen

And now a thousand years between

Thinking how it used to be

Does she still remember times like these

To think of us again

And I do

Tangerine, tangerine

Living reflection from a dream

I was her love, she was my queen

But now a thousand years between

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Jackie rested her hand on the doorknob. This was the place that had been her home for so long. This was where she grew up. This was where her heart had been put to the test. She had a feeling this was where her heart would be broken. Taking a deep breath, the raven-haired young woman entered the basement. He was there. He was always there. "Steven?" she said timidly. Without looking up he replied, "Could you hold on a minute, babe? I'm a little busy wasting my life here." She walked up to him. "But, Steven you could do so much. You're so smart and talented, I don't want you to waste that." He huffed. "Why not? You wanted me to waste my time with you." She stared at the man she loved and saw the indifference in his eyes. She turned to the direction of the basement door as it opened. A barely-dressed girl walked in as though she owned the place and sat herself down on Hyde's lap. She looked Jackie up and down. "Would you excuse us? I'm next in line." Jackie stared in shock. "But Steven, I thought you loved me." He sighed. "Jackie, how many times do I have to tell you. I don't have girlfriends, I just screw chicks… screw chicks… screw chicks… his voice faded.

Jackie's eyes snapped open. She threw the unfamiliar covers off and looked around frantically. She fell back onto the pillow when she remembered. She was at Donna's after the bastard Steven had let her go. Again. She felt a tear at the corner of her eye and wiped it away. Jackie Burkhart was not going to cry over a man anymore. He didn't love her? Well, screw him! He can bang all the chicks he wants! He can be happy having nothing but one night stands. Jackie Burkhart could be happy too. She was going back to New York to finish college and be a successful business woman and then he could see what he missed out on! Jackie felt the anger rush through her veins and smiled. This felt so much better than crying over Steven Hyde. She didn't need him or his zen, or his smile, or his warmth, or the way he kissed her. She was independent! Trying to ignore how Donna-like she sounded, Jackie got out of bed and gathered her things. As she stuffed her scattered items into her suitcase, the man she was doing her best not to miss was standing in the doorway.

Hyde watched Jackie walk quickly around the room, completely oblivious to him. He smiled at the angry look on her face. It was much better than watching her cry, especially over him. Hyde cleared his throat loudly.

Jackie spun around, clutching a leather boot. He was standing there, leaning against the doorframe wearing his trademark smirk. She felt the anger boil through her again. "Get out," she said. He didn't move. "I'm telling you Steven, if you don't leave this house in ten seconds, I'll, I'll-"

"You'll what?" he asked calmly.

Jackie glared at him. "I'll beat you with my boot." She stepped toward him menacingly but stopped when his expression didn't change. What was he doing here? He couldn't just charm his way back into her good graces. She wouldn't make it so easy for him this time. So, to his surprise, she walked right up to him and swung the boot into his arm and watched the thick heel collide with his elbow. Satisfied by the look of surprise, then pain on his face, she hit him with it again on his other arm. Hyde reached out and grabbed the shoe, throwing it on the ground.

He was impressed. Hyde didn't think she would have the nerve to do it. But he was still thinking of her as the girl she had been a long time ago, before him, not the woman she was now.And the woman she was now wasn't going to make it easy for him to confess to her.

"Okay, that's enough Jackie. I know you're mad at me and I get why."

"No you don't!" she shouted, and slapped him across the face for the second time.

Hyde resisted the urge to rub the sting out of his cheek. He looked deep into her eyes and tried to read her like he'd been able to before. He looked past the anger and was attempting to figure out what else was there, when she slapped him again on the other side of his face.

"Damn Jackie! Enough with the hitting! I just want to talk to you."

"You had every chance to talk to me, Steven. Don't act like I refused to listen to you or something because all I wanted was to hear you say something, anything. But it's too late now. You're too late."

"Jackie, it's only been an hour, how is it too late?"

She responded by bringing her arm back yet again, but Hyde was ready. He caught her wrist and pulled her toward him hard enough that she crashed into his chest. Jackie was breathing heavily. She felt his chest rise and fall against her own and it was all she could do not to rip his shirt of right then and there and push him onto her best friend's bed. She looked up at him. Surprise hit her when she saw the softness in his eyes. For a second, Jackie wondered where his sunglasses were.

"Will you please just listen to me?" he asked quietly. Jackie heard the desperation in his voice. Against her will she took his hand and led him into the room.

Hyde took a deep breath. He knew he couldn't hold back any of his feelings if he wanted her to forgive him. So he let the woman he loved intertwine her fingers with his and lead him into the room. He closed the door behind them.

To be continued…

Wow, that one's a little long. I hope everyone likes this chapter, I'm not too sure about the ending. Please please please review! I really want to know what you think of it. And the song was "Tangerine" by Led Zeppelin if anyone was wondering and it is one of the greatest songs of all time.