Disclaimer: I so don't own. Sigh.

Author's Note: Okay, I'm still technically on a break, but I wanted to write this, so I did. So here it is. Hee hee. Hope you enjoy it! And thank you so much for the reviews! I love 'em. Love 'em. I hope Fez isn't coming across as TOO evil. In this story, believe it or not, hee hee, it isn't my intent. :)

Warning: Language a little bit

For Her Sake

Chapter 8 – A Break

Me or College, Right Now

March 19, 7:30 pm, Jackie and Fez's apartment

Jackie stood in the doorway of her apartment, her body gone stiff. For a moment her only movement, save the jerking breath in her chest, was the opening of her finger. The strap of her purse slipped from them and fell to the floor, landing silently. Her eyes darted around the living room; it had been transformed into a romantic dream. Long, white candles topped by orange and incandescent dancing flames lined each side of the coffee table. In between the groupings of three sat a vase filled with roses the color of red velvet. Two crystal wine glasses were placed in front of the flowers, the wine inside perfectly matching the beautiful tint of the roses. Donny Osmond's silky voice filled the room with complaints of puppy love.

And near the table stood Fez, his already exotic toned skin tanned further by the candlelight, his dark eyes taking in a lovely glow from the flames. His lips rose at the corners, and he held out a single rose. "Jackie, I know you are mad…"

Her lips parted, her throat burned with words, but she couldn't speak because of the churning and tumbling nausea in her stomach. Odd. This moment was one she'd been waiting for her entire life; a breath stealing, mind boggling moment torn straight out of love songs and romantic movies. She'd insisted on it from Michael, but he'd only rarely come close. She'd longed for it from Steven, but he'd never even toed the line.

Finally, finally, a man was giving her what she wanted.

She should be swooning. Purring his name. Rushing to him and kissing him until he was dizzy with love. Instead, all she could think was that this man who was going all out had also torn up her college applications.

"Here. I wanted to show this rose how beautiful you are. And later, I will draw you a bath filled with rose petals, the way you said a good boyfriend should."

Seduction to make up with her. Seduction not out of love, but to make her forget that tearing paper.

She closed her eyes. When had she become more than the shallow, shopaholic, materialistic princess her father and Fez both believed her to be? Part of her wished she hadn't changed. Life would be so much easier if she could just smile, run to Fez and accept his offering.

I want to go to college and he doesn't think I can. Doesn't think I need to. Doesn't want me to.

Instead, Jackie opened her eyes, stomped towards the beautiful table, took a deep breath and with harsh tufts of breath extinguished each and every candle. She snatched the rose out of Fez's hand and, doing something she never imagined she'd do to such a lovely object, tore the bloom off the stem, ripped the petals and threw them to the ground. "No. This isn't going to make me forget what you did."

Fez frowned. "Then what is?"

Jackie shook her head, throwing her hand wildly in front of her. "Nothing, Fez!" She turned away from him, shaking her head, her eyes now wet. "I'll never forget it."

The way he'd glared at her. The way he'd spoken so coldly to her. "Oh, I know what I'm going to do, Jacqueline." The way he'd torn the papers and tossed them in the air like meaningless scraps.

Fez took a deep breath that shuddered, and hesitantly moved to her. He placed his hands on her shoulders. "Then tell me what to do, Jackie! I don't want you to be mad at me, and this is all I know to do for you. You have always said that you dreamed of coming home to a romantically lit room with flowers, candles…what else can I do?"

Jackie pulled away from the touch that felt ugly to her and turned to him. A slow rolling tear tumbled down her cheek but she ignored it. "Fez, I do want this stuff. And it's…it's amazing. But…what I really want right now is for you to support me." She wiped away the tear and reached for his hand. Her eyes met his, and she pleaded with God to let him see into her.

The way Steven used to. Still does.

"I really wanna go to college, Fez."

Neither moved, neither hardly breathed. In the silence, each challenged the other with defiant eyes. Finally, Fez's jaw convulsed, and he withdrew his hand from hers. He swallowed repeatedly. "You'll leave me," he said, his voice tight and low. "How can I say that I support something that will take you away from me?"

Jackie looked down at the floor. Such ugly carpeting. Shag. Who in the hell had ever thought that was attractive? Someday she would have hardwood floors, oak or mahogany, in her house. Her house. The thought chilled her spine, but not with fear or hurt, or anger. She raised her head and looked unafraid, unashamed, at Fez. "I'm sorry to hear that, Fez," she said quietly. She shook her head and walked over to the vase of roses. She fingered one, giving it a tiny smile. Such soft petals, like fuzzy silk. Such perfect beauty in the instant, delicate and fleeting. Flowers faded. Romance faded. Nights like these lasted only a night. Her thoughts began to confuse her, and she closed her eyes, her fingers now squeezing the innocent blossom. "I think…Fez, I think we need to take a break."

The words rushed out of her mouth, but felt right. Felt like exactly what she needed. She turned to Fez, and took a ragged breath. "I need to…" Her shoulders lifted. "I just need to think about things."

Fez shook his head, his cheeks flushing, his eyes flaming. "Take a break? You need to think about things?" He began to pace. "No. What you mean is that you need to decide how you are going to dump me. I've heard this speech before. It's not you, it's me. I need space. I KNOW what that means, Jackie!" He pointed at her. "We might as well just break up right now!"

Jackie crossed her arms over her chest. "Fez, I just need…"

"No. I am not going to be like Kelso and Hyde. I am not going to sit around and wait for you to make up your pretty little mind between me and college. You choose me or college, right now."

He smirked at her, and she knew that he was bursting with pride. Pride that he'd stood up to her. Pride that he'd cut her down, taken an option away from her.

Just like he's trying to take college away from me.

She didn't smile, didn't frown, didn't give in to her urge to scream. Her arms dropped loosely at her side, and her fists unclenched. "Fine. Then consider us broken up."

She turned and headed for the still open door. She heard him calling her as she slammed it behind her, but she didn't stop. Couldn't stop. The adrenaline rushing through her body wouldn't allow her too.

And funny. Instead of feeling broken, she felt stronger.

She smiled and shook her head. Donna had definitely rubbed off on her.

Not Broken UP

March 20, 10 am, the Forman basement

Hyde rolled his eyes and took a swig of beer as Fez continued griping about Jackie and her plans to go to college. The television was on, Charlie's Angels, but he couldn't hear anything that was going on because of the idiot. Not that it mattered much. Watching the chicks run around in their tight little shirts was more than enough entertainment.

"So I told her to choose between college and me, and she chose college!"

Kelso, sitting on the lawn chair and playing with a b.b. gun, shook his head. "Jackie has never been a good chooser, Fez." He looked across the room at Hyde, and gestured at him with the gun. "Remember when she picked Hyde over me? Yeah. That says it all about her choosing skills."

Eric sat on the couch. "Fez, I don't get why you're so against Jackie going to college."

Fez sighed and slumped his shoulders. "I've been to college, Eric, and I've seen the guys there. She will meet some handsome man like Kelso…"

Eric and Hyde glanced at one another and snickered silently.

"And will leave me." He looked down, shaking his head. "I am just a shampoo boy. How can a shampoo boy compete with a gorgeous, muscular college man?"

Hyde took another drink of his beer and stared at the television set, though is stomach recoiled from the beer. Or else the nauseating whining Fez was busy doing. "You know, Fez, maybe if you'd try something like, oh, I don't know, supporting her, she wouldn't leave you."

Fez glared at Hyde. "You shut up, Hyde. This is all your fault, anyway. You've been putting crazy ideas in her head." He shook his head and pouted. "College. Jackie does not need college. She is a goddess. Goddesses do not need college."

Hyde shook his head. It was like beating his head against a wall. For whatever reason, whatever insecurity, Fez wasn't about to see the light. And it wasn't as if he wanted to waste any more time trying to show it to the idiot.

Especially now that they're broken up. Especially now that she might come back to me.

God, NO! She can't! I can't…I can't let that…

Damn it. Damn it. DAMN IT!

"You stay away from her while I'm in Chicago with Kelso, Hyde."

Hyde smirked and looked at Fez. "Or?"

"Or I'll…" Fez's eyes averted to Kelso. "What will I do, Kelso?"

Kelso smiled and stood up, pointing the gun again at Hyde. "Oh, you'll see, Hyde. We're gonna do some serious planning in Chicago. Well, I mean, when we're not playing with Betsy and stuff." He grinned sexily. "And when I'm not doing it with Brooke."

Fez grinned. "And I will, of course, be supervising."

Eric nodded, rolling his eyes. "So, wait, Fez, if Jackie chose college, doesn't that mean…"

Fez shook his head quickly. "No. We are not broken up."

Eric looked at Hyde, then back at Fez. "But you just said…"

"We are not broken up! We are just…taking a break." Fez nodded. "And when I get home, I am going to convince her that college is a waste of time and her future should be here, with me." His eyes clouded mistily. "She will be my queen, and I, her valiant knight in shining armor."

Hyde's fingers tightened around the now empty can of beer, denting the aluminum fairly severely. He stared at the television screen. "Shut the hell up, Fez, before I kick your ass."

Fez glared at him. "Whatever, Hyde, I do not have to listen to you. You do nothing but screw things up for people." He looked at Kelso. "Come on, Kelso. Let's go pack." He gave a haughty smile to Eric and Hyde. "Good day, gentlemen."

Neither Eric nor Hyde said a word as Fez turned and followed Kelso to the basement door. He turned before exiting and glared at them. Eric rolled his eyes and sighed. "But Fez…"

"I said good day!"

The door slammed, and Eric sighed. "Well, that was…incredibly annoying." He looked at Hyde. "So, you think Jackie should go to college?"

Hyde shrugged, tossing the can he'd smashed to the table, still focusing his eyes on the television. "Yeah, man, why not?" He cleared his throat. "I mean, it might help her, you know? Open her eyes to things besides Donny Osmond and ABBA."

"Yeah, maybe." Eric continued to look curiously at his friend. "I, uh, I've noticed that you guys are getting along much better lately. Anything you wanna tell me about that?"

Hyde didn't move. Right. Like he was going to tell Forman about their newly formed "friendship". Or that ever since Jackie had teased him by giving him that little squeeze he'd been having less than friendly dreams about her. Or that he wanted to strangle Fez breathless for tearing up her college applications. Right.

Or that the only reason I'm not with her is because her father threatened to kill her.

It was so damn tempting.

"No, man. I'm just…" He shrugged and forced a smirk Forman's way. "My laziness is finally taking over. I'm too lazy to burn her."

Eric raised an eyebrow, but chose to allow Hyde's excuse to stand. He leaned forward, tapping his fingers on his knees. "Whatever. Hey…" He took a deep breath. "What are you doing in about a year and a half?"

Hyde looked at him. "Did you hear me? Laziness, man. I'll be right here." He tapped the side of his chair.

"Well, the reason I ask…I just wanted to line you up for best man duties." Eric grinned.

Hyde took his glasses off and stared at his best friend. "You and Donna…"

"Not yet. I'm gonna ask her tonight."

"You sure about it? I mean, you're not gonna ditch her again, then show up in her room late at night days later again, are you?"

Eric shook his head. "Nope. I'm sure. We've been through too much…I'm not letting it all slip away from me. Ever. She's…she's the one, man."

That damn ache opened in Hyde's chest again, and he jerked on his chair. He would have sworn to God that Jackie's head, beautiful, radiant smile, shining eyes, had just flown past in the air behind Forman. "That's…." Focus, man! He grinned and held a hand out to Eric. "That's awesome, man. I mean it."

Eric relaxed. "And so you'll…"

Hyde nodded. "Yep. I'll be there, man." He scoffed. "Who else are you gonna pick? Fez? Kelso? Please. Fez would keep the rings for himself, and Kelso…he'd probably feed them to Betsy."

They both laughed, and Eric stood up, heading towards the shower. "Another beer?"

Hyde grinned. Odd, he felt sort of…good. Sort of…happy for his friend. "You read my mind."

Probably just the prospect of another beer. Yeah. That had to be it.

Had nothing to do with the fact that Jackie and Fez broke up. That he was gonna be Forman's best man, and that in all likelihood Jackie would be Donna's maid of honor.

Nope. Not at all.

Onion Rings

Later that afternoon, the pay phone outside the Hub

A man nodded and looked around anxiously. "Yeah, yeah, I know. She's in there. I don't know. Writing something. Probably in her journal." His eyes widened, and he turned so he was completely facing the phone. He glanced over his shoulder and watched as the curly haired idiot whose picture he had to carry around walked into the hang out. "Wait, he just showed up. He's going in. You want me to…" He rolled his eyes. "Whatever. I know what to do. I'll let you know what happens." He hung up the phone and started counting. Didn't want to arouse any suspicion. "Forty nine, fifty."

He rolled his eyes. "This dump better have some decent onion rings," he muttered as he pulled the door open and walked in.

A car parked across the street from the Hub, same time

Mackey shifted the car into park and turned to Adams. "Get in there, and see what the hell that asshole is up to."

Adams nodded. "Will do. Hey, can I get some onion rings or something?" He grinned sheepishly. "Haven't eaten in awhile, and my blood sugar gets really low…"

Mackey nodded and waved his hand at him. "Fine. Whatever. Just see what Hyde is up to." As Adams got out of the car, Mackey turned back towards the Hub and squinted, trying to see more clearly through the window. All he could see was a bunch of stupid teenagers hanging out. He shook his head. Bastard sure as hell better not be racking up any sales. He leaned over and opened to the glove compartment, and smiled. Ah, yes. He touched the metal and nodded. Yep. That would do the trick, if necessary.

I Could Use a Break

The Hub

"Hey. What're you doing?"

Jackie looked up and found Hyde standing next to her table, grinning at her. She smiled back. "Redoing my application to UW."

"And you're doing it here? With greasy food all over the place?" He pulled a chair out and sat down. "Yeah, I can see how that'll make a good impression on the admissions board." His grin widened.

Jackie giggled and sat back in her chair. "Yeah, maybe not the smartest move. But I'm only having water, so I figure I should be okay. Plus, I work better when there's lots of noise." He arched an eyebrow at her, and she swatted his arm. "I know what you're thinking, pig!"

"You know it. Hey, you decide on a major yet? Shopping?"

She giggled again. He was in a teasing mood. She loved it when he was in a teasing mood. "Nope. It's gonna be make up and hair care." She tossed her hair over her shoulder. "I mean, come on. Everyone knows that's my expertise."

He chuckled. "God, you're breaking out the college words already." He grinned, but it faltered. "So…" He looked down. Wasn't so sure he should bring this up. "I, uh…you and Fez. You…you okay?"

Jackie's smile faded and she looked away, partially to hide the fact that she wasn't a broken up as she should be. She'd tried to be, she really had. She'd tried to cry all night, and had only spent a few hours shedding a few tears before falling asleep. Still, her stomach ached. Fez was supposed to be her perfect man. If he wasn't the right guy for her, who was? True, she wanted to go to college. The more she thought of it, the more excited she became.

But she was no good at being alone.

And she wanted so desperately to love someone.

Someone who believes in me. Like Steven.

NO!

"Jackie?"

She looked up, and the look on Steven's face stopped her heart, stopped the breath in her chest. Those eyes…he'd taken his glasses off, and she could see his eyes…they were soft…just like they used to be. His lips were slightly raised at the corner…just like they used to do when he thought she was being cute.

I still lo….NO!

She shook her head and forced a smile. "I…I'm fine. I mean, it's probably just temporary, anyway." She raised her eyebrows. "Unless he keeps on being a jerk about me going to college. 'Cause I'm going, whether he likes it or not." He stared at her, that same half smile on his face, and she flushed. "Steven, stop staring!"

"Sorry," he muttered, averting his eyes. "I'm just…"

"Surprised?"

"Proud." He cleared his throat. Damn it, now was not the time to get all mushy! "I mean, it's just cool that you're so determined. It's…" Guilt built in his stomach. "It's been awhile."

Jackie smiled sadly. "You know what's funny?" she asked, her voice softening. He met her eyes, god, she loved that about him, he always met her eyes. Then again, sometimes she'd hated that, too. "You inspired me." She noticed his hand, resting lonely on the table, just a foot away from her, and before she could stop herself, she reached out.

Both pairs of eyes followed her hand, and both pairs of eyes jumped back up to the other as soon as skin touched skin.

They both swallowed hard. Both parted their lips.

They both struggled to hear over the pounding of their hearts.

Both stared at one another.

Finally, shifting uncomfortably, Hyde pulled his hand away. Damn it, was he sweating? It was frickin' March! He took a deep breath, hoping to cleanse himself. "So…hey, since everyone is gone and all…you wanna come over and…hang out?"

Damn it, Hyde, what in the hell are you doing? You're just asking for trouble. BIG TIME trouble!

You could get her killed.

Just as he was about to rescind the offer, she flashed that gorgeous smile of hers.

"Yeah, that sounds good. I could use a break. I mean, god, all these questions you have to answer, just to get accepted into college!" She stood up, still smiling, but this time softer, at him. "I'll see you later?"

Hyde nodded.

She leaned down, before she could stop herself, and brushed her lips against his cheek. "Thank you, Steven," she whispered, just before pressing another tiny kiss to him.

His eyes closed. Damn it, Zen! Zen! Where the fuck are you, Zen?

Across the room

A man sitting in the corner watched as the beautiful tiny girl kissed the dirt bag. He shook his head. Man, the boss wasn't going to like this at all. Not at all.

A table over, Adams, hiding behind a menu, grinned. "So THAT'S what's gotten into that guy," he mumbled, checking out the hot brunette as she walked out of the Hub, her tight ass swaying enticingly as she did. He noticed that Hyde's eyes were also watching that ass, and he snickered. At least he had good taste in chicks.