Chapter 12

"Jackie, we should talk," Hyde said a few days later when he spotted Jackie sitting in a chair by the Foreman's driveway. "I understand why you're mad at me…." He began after giving the area a quick look around to make sure they were alone.

"I'm not mad," Jackie said softly interrupting him as she stared straight a head hardly sparing him a glance."Is that all?" she asked in that same soft tone.

"You're not mad that after we did it, I hit the bricks?" Hyde asked in confusion. "Who are you and what have you done with Jackie Burkhardt?" he added in wary disbelief.

"Look, its no big deal. We're adults. Its just sex. We had an itch, we scratched and now we're done. Now if we're done can we just go back to ignoring each other so we don't fight?" Jackie asked with a sigh.

"Okay…" he asked completely dumbfounded. "If that's all it is, why can't you look at me?" he challenged.

"Because I don't want to look at you," Jackie replied with a small sigh. "I'm waiting on Donna to hurry up. We're going to a movie so it looks like you'll have Eric all to yourself tonight," she informed him examining her fingernails for chips or cracks in the polish while she waited. She held out her hands and examined them both together. "Damn it," she growled.

"What's wrong?" Hyde asked wondering if he was witnessing some sort of strange girl ritual.

"My hands are two different shades of pink and I don't have my polish remover with me," she grumbled furiously. She finally looked at him out of the corner of her eye to find him lounging against the porch railing grinning at her. "What are you grinning at?" she all but snapped.

"You've been thinking about me," he said grinning wider at her. "That's why you messed up your nail polish. Although I can't honestly say I can tell the difference both pinks make me wanna hurl," he added gesturing towards her hands almost dismissively.

"No, I haven't," she denied shaking her head. "As far as I'm concerned nothing happened so why would I think about it? I wouldn't," she said crossing her arms tightly across her chest. "I was thinking about Casey," she lied.

"Bull, you weren't thinking about Casey the other night when we were having sex!" he said feeling irritated.

"Wanna bet?" she hissed narrowing her eyes at him.

"You were screaming my name!"

"Was not!"

"Were so! I'm not buying it, Jackie. Now lets talk this out!" Hyde yelled. They turned simultaneously to see Eric and Donna standing in the driveway. Donna looking at each of them in turn open mouthed while Eric merely looked smug. "Not now!" they both commanded before turning their attention back to each other.

"There's nothing to talk out. We were drunk so it doesn't count," Jackie said with a smirk.

"Then Vegas and Sam didn't count!" Hyde said pointing at her.

"You weren't drunk all the time, Steven! You sobered up and decided to set up house with your blonde hussy. So it does count! You were happy to do it!" Jackie screamed.

"When was I sober?" Hyde roared. "I spent the next several months drunk and doped out of my skull. I was never sober!" he yelled in Jackie's face.

"You were sober when you chose to stay with that hooker. If you stayed drunk after that it was your own fault," Jackie countered standing toe to toe with Hyde as they each continued to shout back and forth.

"I was drunk because I was depressed! I'd just found my girlfriend…ex-girlfriend in a motel room with my naked friend!" he screamed.

"Micheal's always naked!" Jackie screamed stamping her foot. "He'd walk around naked if we'd let him. You know him and I thought you knew me but obviously you didn't. You wanted to assume the worst so you'd have the perfect excuse to run and hide. Like you always do when things get too real," she snarled.

"What is that supposed to mean, Jackie? If you've got something to say just come out with it," Hyde demanded.

"I just did! The only exercise you get is jumping to conclusions. Mr. Self-fulfilling prophesy stands before us in all his childish glory. Yeah, I'm calling you immature, Steven. Lets get that straight, you're not hearing things. You expect the worst so low and behold you get the worst. It's the only way the world makes sense to you. Look, I'm sorry you had a crappy childhood but stop taking it out on everyone else. Its not my fault!" Jackie said defensively. "Another thing, how old are you now? Get some therapy or a pill or something. You're act is getting old;" she shrieked stomping past him. "Donna, we're late!" she said in a tone that brook no refusal.

"You better go, she might sacrifice you or something if you don't," Eric said worriedly giving Donna a kiss on the cheek as she hurried to catch up to the furious brunette.

"Get bent, Foreman," Hyde said stomping off in the opposite direction. Laving a very confused Eric behind.

"What did I do?"

"So, is it safe to ask if you're okay," Donna said warily. "I don't want to get creamed for being concerned," she said eying Jackie carefully.

"Why wouldn't I be?" Jackie asked furiously pushing hangers out of her way as they looked through the mall's clothing racks. "You should try this one," Jackie suggested holding up a green blouse against Donna. "It'll look nice," she promised forcing a smile.

"You completely nuked Hyde," Donna said in a low voice. "What the hell happened?" she asked Jackie in amused shock.

"We had sex, he bailed. I know shocking right? After all, that's not Steven's M.O or anything. I swear I've heard about people trapped in a burning building behaving better. Then he wants to talk about it. Since when does he give a damn about my feelings," she muttered searching through the racks with renewed vigor. "Jerk," she muttered.

"He bailed?" Donna said incredulously. "You've got to be kidding me," she added at Jackie's dark expression. "Why would Hyde do that?"

"Maybe he got what he wanted and saw no reason to stick around," Jackie said icily. "Jackass," she hissed.

"I'm sure that wasn't it. Hyde probably has a very good reason for leaving," Donna said before cringing at Jackie's wrathful expression. "That reason being he's a total tool," Donna said nervously.

"Don't forget selfish, self-rightous hypocrite," Jackie added through clenched teeth. "I gave him another shot, Donna. Of course it blew up in my face. The man is a walking psych case with jerkish tendencies. What is wrong with me? Its not like he hides it," Jackie complained. "I'm such a moron!" she cursed herself.

"You still love him," Donna said with a knowing sigh. "That's why you're so mad," she added with a tense grin. "Why don't you try talking to him again?" she suggested helpfully.

"Hell, no;" Jackie declared. "I'm finished putting up with that crap from immature, arrogant, yes; somewhat charming men. Even if they are cute and are prone to random acts of sweet behavior. He has two people living inside him, Donna. Steven is the sweet, funny wonderful man I love. Hyde, Hyde is a giant a-hole," Jackie said swatting at Donna as she started to shake with laughter.