If I Can't Have You...
Chapter Four
Author's Note: Thank you to all readers, and especially all reviewers. You are amazing and I am so grateful to you. I'd also like to apologize for the all bold last chapter...it was an accident (I emailed the story from work where my default font is bolded and it stuck, and I didn't even think to check that before posting...silly me.) I beg for your forgiveness, especially since I'm updating...
Please please please review.
Disclaimer: That 70's Show and all its characters belong to Fox. The stupid don't-know-how-to-end-a-show-properly-sons of lots of bitches! I'm sorry, I'm just so bitter...
It was bright bursts of yellow late-morning sunlight that finally pulled Jackie Burkhart from her deep sleep. Her alarm had been set for 8am, just like every other Saturday, but she hadn't stirred in the slightest when the delicate chimes had tried to wake her. Cheerleading every afternoon, dancing every night, and the long hours in the car on her way back from Chicago, had left her exhausted and near dead to the world, so her eyes had barely been open a second before Madeline was at her bedroom door to inform her that Steven had arrived for his 11am dance lesson.
Jackie sprung out of bed quickly, panic and annoyance plainly stretched acrossed her face. Her feet hardly touched the plushly carpeted floor as she slipped out of her pink satin pajamas and into the first items of dance-allowing attire she could find. Smoothing her hair back into a high pony tail without even glancing in the mirror, she took the steps two at a time and almost tumbled into her own kitchen.
Sitting at the table, looking just as groggy and hastily dressed, was Steven Hyde...devouring a plate of pancakes. She had kind of felt bad, demanding their Saturday practice take place in the morning, knowing full well Hyde of all people preferred to sleep away his weekends' mornings, and part of their afternoons. But she had thought she'd be having a date that night. And that she'd need the afternoon to finish up her homework. Now she was sure it had been worth it, regardless of all other reasons, just to see the cockiest, most infinitely cool 17 year old she'd ever met, with syrup dripping down the side of his mouth, and right rolling off his chin. She didn't even try to supress the sharp, loud snort of laughter that pushed forth from her tiny body. He looked up at her, eyes, slightly red from sleep, and possibly a dosage of film, showing that he did not at all see what was so funny.
"Steven, syrup is supposed to go in your mouth. Just so you know." She laughed again, lower this time, and kissed Maddy on the cheek before sitting down next to him. Taking a napkin she dabbed it at his face, and for a moment he was too tired and/or surprised to pull away.
But then he remembered who he was. And who she was. "Jackie. Don't ever do that." He barked, roughly grabbing at her hand and the napkin until all efforts to clean him up ceased.
She just smiled at him in response, taking on a light and teasing tone. "Oh, is someone a little bit grumpy?"
He turned to her, smugly, "Not any more than the usual amount of grumpy that strikes me whenever you are around."
"Aww, with such sweet things to say, forget Donna, I just might have to snatch you up for myself."
He leaned in close to her, smirking, as he whispered, "You wish."
Her eyes narrowed as she herself leaned forward, ever so slightly. "No, Steven. You wish."
"In m-" The banter was cut short by the sound of Madeline clearing her throat. Once the two teenagers were facing her, a bit of a blush sweeping acrossed both of their cheeks, she gave a sweet smile.
"More pancakes?"
Both Hyde and Jackie nodded, and after scooting back to a safe distance apart, began eating the rest of their breakfast in peace.
"So keep on rock'n me, baby. Keep on a rock'n me, baby. Keep on a rock'n me, ba-"
"Jackie, if you do not stop singing..." Hyde's voice trailed off in warning.
After breakfast they'd made their way down to practice, and had quickly found themselves back at each other's throats.
"I happen to like this song. And I can sing it if I want to." She looked up at him, eyes twinkling with evil, and baited him with song, "Keep on a rock'n me, baby."
He sighed heavily and stopped dancing, pushing slightly off of her to distance himself and make his point. "It's distracting."
"How is it distracting?" Jackie's hands found their way to her hips.
"It just is, so cut it out." He glared at her through his glasses and set his jaw, waiting for her to concede.
To be honest, it really wasn't her singing that bothered him. It was the way she rocked her hips a little bit more when she did it. Her hips that were dangerously locked against his. And while Jackie was, well, Jackie, and he just short of hated her, she was hot. And he was a teenage boy. And she needed to stop a rock'n him. Like now.
As he predicted though, after a few moments of silent and heated staring, she growled her frustrated defeat and marched over to put on another record, muttering that if she couldn't sing along then he wasn't going to like the music she put on.
When she returned to her place in front of him, just as the new record began to play, Hyde groaned loudly. "Not this crap. I'm not ready yet. My ea-"
He was silenced as one of Jackie's perfectly manicured fingers fell upon his lips, her expression one he'd seen many times when she'd been scolding Kelso.
"Steven. Shut it. You've been doing really well. So it's time to dance to some actual disco. Besides, if I can't sing, you can't whine. Now shut up and lead."
Rolling his eyes, his hands went to her tiny waiste, and as he thought to himself that after Vicki Sue whatever-her-name-is has turned the beat around, she could go ahead and shove it up her ass, he moved Jackie in closer than necessary to him, doing every single step she'd taught him perfectly.
Hyde cracked his knuckles and tapped his foot impatiently. They'd been dancing their third time through "Everlasting Love" when Madeline had let Jackie know she had a phone call. She had said she'd be right back as she bounded up the stairs, but that had been at least 15 minutes ago. He exhaled angrily. Like he didn't have better things to do with his Saturday than wait while she cooed on the phone to Kelso how pretty he was. Deciding that they'd had enough of a lesson for the day anyway, he started up the stairs to leave.
As he neared the top though, he found that the door to the kitchen wasn't completely shut. And as a result, he could every word a sobbing Jackie said.
"But Daddy you promised! Don't make me stay another week by myself. Pleeaase. I miss you." Her voice wasn't loud and shrill like when she cried in the basement, but rather hoarse and raw and tired. As if this disappointment mattered much more, and happened more often. Hyde didn't want to be the type to pry. But he couldn't move, she sounded just like a little girl. "Well, Mom hasn't even called, I don't know when she'll be back." "Of course Madeline is taking good care of me, she always does. But she's a housekeeper, Daddy, not a daughterkeeper." "You're right, sir, I'm very sorry for my tone. I know you're busy trying to provide for us." "Alright, Daddy. I love you, too. I'll talk to you soon. Goodbye."
He heard her hang up the phone, and force the sobbing breaths to calm and slow. As he backed carefully down the steps he could faintly hear her whispering, "They love me. I know they love me."
Again...I beg you for reviews. I will love you forever. and ever. and ever.