If I Can't Have You…

Chapter 6

Author's Note: Thank you all for your generous reviews, and the fun-tastic birthday wishes. I'm really really enjoying writing this story, so I hope you guys are having fun reading it. I'm taking a bit more liberties with the original storyline of season one than I had planned on when I started, but oh well, I like to play with things... And pretty please please please please take a second and review. Thanks!

Disclaimer: Not Mine. grumble, grumble

"You should really look at something in an emerald or a sapphire. Jewel tones are in right now, and both of those would really compliment your skin tone and eyes."

Donna Pinciotti looked quizzically at the much shorter girl browsing through the rack of dresses at her side, truly surprised that words like 'pastey,' 'squinty,' or 'plain' hadn't yet found their way into the conversation. And to be honest, Donna was doubly surprised this cheerleader, who had only just begun to frequent the basement, had offered to accompany her on this shopping excursion. But then again, Jackie had been doing a lot of surprising her lately. "Oh, uh, okay. I'll try to keep that in mind." She paused, almost nervous all of sudden. "And well, you know, thanks for offering to come with me."

Jackie smiled. "No problem. I wasn't sure if your mom would have time, and since you hang out with so many boys…"

Donna nodded. "Not that Fez didn't offer to help me try stuff on, mind you."

The girls giggled, and then allowed an almost-comfortable silence to fall between them as they continued to pick up and examine countless dresses, scrunching their noses at some, throwing others over their arms to try on.

Jackie's pile was naturally much larger than Donna's. Having no price limitations and a need for the perfect dress did that to a girl. And truthfully, she was tempted to buy them all, just to spite her mother. Two weeks before, Pam Burkhart had cut their shopping trip very short, rushing off for a frenzy of cocktails parties and dinner engagements, all before taking off for warmer climates. She, as always, had promised her daughter that she'd make it up to her. But Jackie was beginning to have doubts about that. Doubts that she would; doubts that she could. The only bright side was getting rare girly-alone time with Donna. After all, she really did want them to be good friends. But that didn't mean she wasn't angry.

She snuck a peak at her newest friend, taking in her redhead tilted in contemplation over a light blue dress. "That'd look great on you."

"You think so?" Donna didn't sound so sure.

"Yeah, really. You should try it on." Jackie's voice was soft, but insistent. And the smile Donna rewarded her with was genuine.

And that was only part of why it was so very different from shopping with her mother.

Twenty minutes later, stepping out of her dressing room still lacing the side of her dress, Jackie was laughing so hard it hurt. "You kissed him, and that's what he said?!"

"Yeah, I asked him what he would have done differently, and he said, 'probably something with my lips…'"

Her giggles finally subsiding, Jackie reached forward to straighten the straps of the burgundy dress Donna was fidgeting with. "Really, sometimes I really don't know why you like him."

She was surprised when Donna chuckled lightly, and was even more taken aback by the absolutely adoring look that crossed the girl's face. "Sometimes I really don't know either. But I guess, it's just, he's been there my whole life. Not just around, but really with me, in the thick of it. Sometimes, things just don't even seem real without him. And lately, he just makes me feel everything, you know? Like so scared and nervous, I don't know what to say or do. But yet, so safe and understood, I know I could say anything, and he'd still be right there. God, I sound so girly..."

Jackie gulped. Never before had she ever heard anything that mind-blowingly romantic, and yet it was so simple. She took a moment to hope that one day she'd know exactly how that felt, and was almost sad when she thought it would probably never be with Michael. But forcing that idea away, she stepped back to look appraisingly at her friend.

"I like it. I don't know if I love it."

Donna nodded that she knew what she meant, then motioned for Jackie to take her turn and give a twirl. "Nice."

Jackie gave a shrug, looking at her reflection critcally, before a bit of apprehensive curiosity pushed across her face. "Hey, Donna?"

"Yeah."

"What about Hyde? You've known him forever, too. Do you have any feelings like that about him?"

Donna shook her head, looking as if it was the most absurd thing she'd ever heard. "Hyde? Uh uh, No. He's a great guy and all, though he won't admit it and does everything he can to hide it. But I've just never been able to see him that way. He' just not what I'm looking for, I guess."

Jackie bobbed her head thoughtfully, quickly ushering Donna back into more playful conversation about Fez's too-tight pants, as they returned to their dressing rooms. But as she zipped up the back of her next dress, she found herself wondering if Donna's admission was going to leave Hyde heartbroken, and why it left her suddenly feeling so relieved.

Hyde paced quietly across the Forman basement, wringing his hands as he went. Not that he was nervous or anything – he didn't get nervous. But having no idea why Kelso had called, asking to meet and discuss something important, well, it had definitely removed him from his comfort zone.

Typically, his moronic friend was anything but discreet or subtle, but today he had given no indication of what he wanted. So naturally, Hyde had assumed the worst.

That Kelso'd found out about the dance lessons.

And was thus either angry at him, for being secretive and monopolizing so much of Jackie's time.

Or wanted to burn him.

Either way, Hyde wasn't looking forward to it, and was preparing to frog his way out of this mess.

At the sound of footsteps, he quickly sank into his chair, taking but a second to adjust his shades and expression to reveal nothing. A moment later, Michael Kelso peaked into the basement, and finding only his requested guest, took a deep breath of relief and plopped onto the trusty old couch.

He glanced around nervously. "Hey, man, no one else is here right?"

"Yeah, Forman, Fez and Donna went to the hub a bit ago." Hyde wasn't sure why he made a conscious effort to hide that he knew exactly where Jackie was too.

"Good, because I need to talk to you about something that's really, really important."

Hyde lifted an eyebrow, encouraging Kelso to get to the point already; impatience being one of the few emotions zen could afford.

"Well, I'm not sure how to say this, but... I cheated on Jackie."

For the first time since he'd set his left pant leg on fire in the 6th grade, Hyde could honestly say that Michael Kelso had surprised him. "What? When? Why, man?"

"Why else? Because I could. Look, I didn't mean to or anything. But Pam Macey was just there, waiting for me outside driver's ed. today, and was like, 'So, Kelso, my ride's late, wanna make out?' And what was I supposed to do, say no? I mean, I didn't even remember Jackie until after we were done. But then I started really freaking out. I don't know what to do, man."

Hyde cleared his throat, and shifted uncomfortably in his chair. "Uh, well, hadn't you said you were thinking of breaking up with her?"

Kelso rolled his eyes. "I always say that, Hyde. That doesn't mean I ever really think I'm going to do it. I love Jackie."

Hyde fought the urge to smack him for being so stupid, and let out a shaky breath, really glad his shades could hide his eyes as he blinked hard a few times. Pushing his voice to be cold and careless he prodded, "Why are you talking to me about this?"

" 'Cause you hate, Jackie. So you won't be like Donna or Fez, who'd probably tell her or something, just so she could dump me. And besides, you make out with random sluts that you don't care about all the time, so.."

"So, you figured I'd tell you it was no big deal, right?"

"Well, yeah, man. I thought if anyone would understand it would be you."

Hyde sniffed angrily, hating the insinuation, hating that up until two weeks ago Kelso would actually have been right for once, and hating above all else that now he actually cared that this was going to make a tiny cheerleader cry.

He really didn't know who he wanted to frog more…Kelso or himself.

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