A/N: I'm finally back and proud to say that my semester went well and I can now enjoy the summer. This also means that I have more time to dedicate to this story, so look out for more updates from me. I'm also working on a shorter story called "figured out" so check that one out also. Now, how about we get back to the story! Enjoy.

THREE WEEKS LATER

Hyde was in his tiny room packing the last of his things. He quickly scanned at the suitcases and realized that he really did not have much to his name. Besides some t-shirts, pants and records, his entire life fit into one small bag. For the first time in a really long time he began to feel really pathetic. Here he was, a few weeks away from his 21st birthday and he had nothing to show but a record store that he was given. Realizing that he had managed to get by without doing any work would have been something his 17-year old self would have admired. Now, however, it made him feel like less of a man.

He saw Red Forman, a man he admired and somehow aspire to be like, and he acknowledged how hard he worked. From being in the Army, to PriceMart and now opening up his Muffler shop, Red Forman was someone who deserved a good life because he worked for it. Perhaps the reason Hyde's life was so crappy is because he didn't deserve one. He had never worked hard enough to deserve to relax and enjoy the benefits of his labor. That's why, thought Hyde, he would start over in California. He would put his everything into this new store so that when he was ready, the consistency his life lacked would be well-deserved.

As he folded a few more shirts, Donna entered his room. She walked over to the small, cluttered cot, and made some space to sit down.

"So, you're really leaving?"

"Yeah."

"I couldn't believe it when Eric told me. Had to come down here myself and see it with my own eyes."

Hyde just smirked and nodded his head. He thought back of the years he spent liking Donna, thinking that they were perfect for each other. He looked at her now and any thoughts of a relationship with her seemed silly. Donna belonged with Eric. He learned that the day they had all gone to Jackie's ski cabin and Donna smacked him hard across the face. That made him smile.

"Want to fill me in on the joke Archie?" joked Donna.

"You're a good friend Pinciotti."

Donna eyed him curiously, wondering where this was going. "Go on" she urged.

His smile grew wider. "Just thinking of the weekend up in Jackie's cabin all those years ago."

"When I smacked you?"

He nodded, and she laughed. "Seems funny right? Thinking of you and I as anything more than friends" he said.

"More like crazy. What made you think about that day?"

"Not sure. I guess...I guess now that I'm leaving everything behind, I started thinking about everything leading up to now."

"This sounds like a good bye speech coming up. Should I get you some tissues?"

Hyde rolled his eyes. His friends always knew how to ruin a nice moment, not that he cared because he wasn't one for sentimental crap, but for some reason he wanted to get a few things off his chest, and Donna seemed like the one person who would understand.

"I screwed up a lot in my life Donna."

"We've all screwed up Hyde, not just you."

"Just, let me finish okay?"

She nodded. This was unexpected to her. It had been such a long time since she and Hyde had a heart-to-heart. The last time she could recall having one was when Samantha first showed up and he tried to get Jackie to talk to him. She remembered how confused and distraught he had been throughout their conversation. That's when she saw that he really did love Jackie. It was also the last time he saw him show any determination towards anything.

"I keep thinking back at all the decisions I've made this last year, you know with Jackie and Sam, and I got pretty lost man. Just got caught up in all this crap that seems so unimportant now. I'm not just going to California to open up the store...I'm going to get Jackie back."

Donna looked taken aback. She knew Hyde would try and contact Jackie at some point, because those two always attracted each other in one way or another. However, she hadn't realized he was trying to get her back.

"Hyde...I don't think that's a good idea. You guys are probably in really different places right now and after everything you went through, I don't see it happening."

"Donna, be honest, when did you see it happening?"

"What do you mean?"

"Jackie and I worked...We fought and I cheated and there were times when we couldn't stand each other. No one saw what we had, not even you guys. I know it sounds crazy, but we were good together. I..She...She makes me happy."

"Not less pissed off?"

Hyde laughed a bit. He remembered how much he had gone out of his way to deny how happy Jackie made him. Maybe the reason so many people thought they wouldn't work out was because of him. He complained so much about how much she bugged him and how she wouldn't shut up about a wedding or unicorns or Donny Osmond. He pushed her away whenever she got too close or asked for a sign of affection. He didn't blame everyone for taking bets on when they would break up.

"It's been a rough year huh?" he asked.

"It has. I think we'll be okay though."

"Yeah...I think so too."

California-

Jackie had agreed to meet with Jason again. She had avoided him ever since their conversation in her apartment a few weeks before. She was not completely sure as to why she had refused to see him or take his calls. Something he said about her always defending Hyde bothered her. Even though deep down she knew it was true, hearing it from someone who did not know Steven or how their relationship worked really upset her. Jason was the one person she had in California. He wa salso the only person she knew who was not fully aware of her past relationship, especially the one that led her here.

Their last conversation was too reminiscent to the numerous ones she had back in Point Place with all the people who thought she was making a mistake defending a "good for nothing burnout." For the past few months, she had managed to separate her old life and her new life. Up until a few weeks ago, the two had not intersected and now, everywhere she seemed to go, she was taken back to her relationship with Hyde and the heartbreak that followed it.

Her doorbell rang and she slowly got up from her couch, took a deep breath and opened the door. Jason held out a bouquet of flowers, as what she could assume was a peace offering. Jackie sighed in relief. She had her friend back. They would be able to talk about things that did not relate to Steven and just go on with their lives as if nothing happened. Finally, the intersections that had clouded the last few weeks have now turned into a parralel path; both existant, but never meeting.

"Come in" she said, stepping aside to allow him to enter her apartment.

He entered slowly, glancing around the place as though it was his first time inside.

"I can't really stay for very long, I have a class in half hour. I really just came to apologize about the other day. I realized I might have stepped out of line and that it was none of my business to comment on you and Hyde."

Jackie looked at Jason, who was obviously being genuine and wondered how she could have been so upset with him when he was only trying to look after her. Had that not been what she had wanted Donna to do? Since her last break up with Steven, all she wanted was a friend who would try and protect her and stop her from making stupid decisions. Donna was not able to do that and that upset her, yet here she was upset at Jason for wanting to help.

"Don't apologize. I know you were being a good friend and I appreciate it. I just get a little sensitive when it comes to Steven because there was never closure in that part of my life."

"I understand. Let's just try and put it behind us, okay?"

She smiled, "yes."

"Okay good. Do you want to just sit for a few minutes before I go and have some wine. We still haven't cracked open the bottle I bought you a few weeks ago."

"Well well Mr. Lawrence, I'm not sure it's such a good idea to drink before your class" Jackie teased.

"Well Mrs. Burkhart, I can excuse having a glass with a good friend."

Jackie smiled and walked over to a cabinet to get two wine glasses and then proceeded to look for the wine Jason had given her. Now that she and Jason had made peace, she was comfortable again. It was a feeling she had come to associate with him lately. She wasn't sure if it was due to her ongoing dislike of being alone, or because he was the only person she could trust. Perhaps it was both, but for the short time she spent gathering up the wine and glasses, she pondered if maybe she and Jason should give their relationship another try. Sure they did not have many things in common, but doesn't the saying go "opposites attract?"

As she walked back to the couch, she continued her train of thought and, on a whim, said:
"Hey, do you want to come over when you're done with class later? We could have like a date night, just watch a movie, finish up this bottle of wine, just the two of us."

He stared at her for a little bit before nodding his head yes and grabbing the glasses from her hand.

"Sounds good" he replied.

'That was simple' she thought. Jackie Burkhart had grown to like simple.

Point Place-

Hyde was finally done packing his few belongings and was now sitting in the Forman's kitchen table with Eric and Donna. All three tried to avoid talking about Hyde moving. He was sure Donna had already told Eric about about his plan to get Jackie back, but he sure as hell was not going to bring it up.

"So I kept telling Fez that I don't believe he has a new girlfriend and all of a sudden Kitty walks in and I'm sure she heard us because she called Pastor Dave and told him he needs to come in for an emergency meeting or whatever" said Donna.

Hyde had barely since Fez since the day he was in the hospital and had learned that Fez and Laurie were separating. No one had met his new "lady love" or heard much about her either. All they could hope for was that this time it would not be Crazy Caroline again. Apparently the Forman's had not been made aware of the news since now they were organizing some marriage intervention for the foreigner and his slutty wife, who also seemed to have vanished from the face of the Earth.

"Man, I told Fez not to marry her. I mean, no offense Forman, but your sister is skanky."

"Hyde, tell me something we don't already know. I think we all told Fez that. Hell, even mom warned him about her "promiscuity" but you know Fez, as long as he's getting some he won't listen."

Hyde and Donna just shook their heads as their way of agreeing.

"Fez never did make good decisions" exclaimed Hyde.

"So speaking of not making good decisions, the lady here tells me you are trying to woo a certain devil in California."

Hyde rolled his eyes at Eric's "formality." Forman always had a way of becoming more annoying throughout the years.

"Woo Forman?"

"Hey, I'm not the one trying to get my ex girlfriend back."

"That's because Donna's the only girl you've ever been with you dillhole."

"That's not true, I was with plenty of girls."

Now it was Donna's turn to be annoyed and pretty mad.

"Oh yeah?" she asked, "who else have you been with Eric?"

"I..uh..I didn't mean..I love you?" he said innocently.

"Get bent" she said while getting up. She smacked him in the back of the head and walked out through the sliding doors.

"You always fall for it Forman."

"Damn Hyde, now she won't let me touch her naughty parts."

"Forman, she's your fiance, I'm sure you're fine man."

"Whatever man, still not cool."

There was a slight silence between the two friends as they sipped on their pops. It seemed funny to Hyde that after all these years, he and Eric were still friends. He remembered the very first day they met, when he saved him from getting beat up by some bullies, he told him he would be his bodyguard for a quarter a day. Hyde wasn't looking for a friend at the time, he just wanted some money so he could buy himself some food since his mother always failed to feed him. Now he was considered part of the family and he was thankful to whatever higher being there might be for the Formans.

"So Jackie huh?" started Eric again.

"I'm not talking about it."

"Fine, I will. It's a bad idea man. A really bad idea. You just picking up and going halfway across the country chasing something you might not have a shot at anymore isn't smart. I mean, have you even told Jackie you're going? Hell do you even know where she lives?"

"She works in Hollywood Forman, so I'm going to go out on a limb and say she lives there."

Eric sighed, "just think about what you're about to do."

Then Eric got up and left the kitchen also leaving Hyde alone. It would probably be wise for him to think about his decision, but if he did, he would probably back down and stay in Point Place and conform to the crappy lifestyle he had settled for in the past year.