It had been a week since Hyde's lunch with Jackie and since he tried (and failed) to find a new location for the store. He either couldn't find a cool enough venue or a big enough space. California was already beginning to overwhelm him. In Point Place he had been a big fish who knew everyone and every hip spot. In California, the only person he knew was Jackie, who was too busy all the time.
It frustrated him that she was this new person who no longer devoted her time to him. Not that she had done that after they broke up, but this time was different. After their break up he knew she still loved him. He knew it was egotistical for him to think that, especially since she had been with Fez, but he knew that he was still the man in her life. This new Jackie was independent and clearly self-sufficient. She was completely satisfied being on her own and treated him as a friend.
Steven Hyde was in the friend zone. 'What the hell man?'
Laying his head back on the couch, he looked around W.B's large condo. 'Jackie should see this' he thought. He knew she would love this place.
All of a sudden, he decided that she should in fact see it. He picked up the phone and began to dial the number to her office. After a few rings someone picked up. He assumed it was her assistant.
"Good afternoon, Jackie Burkhart's office, how may I assist you?"
"Yeah hey, this is Steven Hyde, Jackie's..friend. Is she available?"
"No, I'm sorry sir, she just stepped out. Can I take a message?"
"Can you tell her to call me please? It's Steven Hyde."
"Okay mister Hyde, I will let her know. Have a good day."
"Yeah, same."
'Damn it' he thought.
-
Flashback:
Jackie enters the Forman's basement where she sees her boyfriend slumped on his usual chair, watching TV.
"Hi babe" she says.
He nods in her direction without any response.
"I stopped by the mall and bought a dress for the dance tomorrow night. I bought you a matching tie too."
Hyde took his attention away from the TV at this point.
"What are you talking about?"
"The winter dance, it's tomorrow remember?"
"No, when did I agree to go to a dance?"
"We were in the circle and I asked you to come with me and you said yes. Now do you remember?"
"What the hell Jackie, you know I don't remember things that happen in the circle."
"Well too bad because you said you would come."
"Well I don't remember so I'm not going."
"But I already bought a dress!"
"Then I hope you kept the receipt so you can return it."
"Steven please! I already told the squad I would go. I can't back out now, then I'll be a cheerliar."
"Well too bad, because I'm not going."
"Steven please!"
"No."
"Please."
"No Jackie."
"Please" *puppy dog eyes*
"Damn it, okay. But only for 30 minutes then we're out of there."
"Okay!" she says.
As she skips out of the basement, he stares after her wondering when he started letting her win.
End of Flashback
Hyde picks up the phone and dials an all too familiar number. As it begins to ring, he begins to think of what he has to say. Surely he should have thought of what he would say during this call.
"Hello?"
"Donna?"
"Hyde?"
"Yeah, it's me."
"Hi how are you."
"Fine."
"I can't believe you left without saying goodbye to me."
"Didn't leave me much of a choice did you?"
"I apologize if you were offended by what I said, but not that I said it."
"Huh..."
"Hyde I was just being honest with you. That's what friends do."
"Friends also support each other."
"Not when they think the other is making a mistake."
"So you still think my coming here was a mistake?"
"Yes, I do. I think it was a huge mistake."
"Luckily I've learned that you're not always right."
"You don't think I'm right now?"
"No Donna, I don't."
"Oh so Jackie has forgiven you and everything is perfect right?"
Hyde didn't respond. He knew she would be satisfied if he said no. Donna wasn't stupid though, she could easily sense his hesitation.
"Exactly. You went across the country for something that just isn't going to give, therefore it was a mistake."
"I didn't come here for Jackie damn it."
"Then what are you there for?"
"To take back my life. To prevent myself from sinking further into a mediocre life."
"So that's what your life was here?"
"Of course it was, where the hell have you been? I was exactly who everyone thought I would be. A burnout who's greatest accomplishment was being the bastard child of some rich guy and getting a store from him. There was nothing to be proud of there, nothing I could consider my own."
"And you'll find that in California?"
"I don't know Donna, but I'm here to figure it out and it's cool if you can back me up, and if you can't then whatever."
"I do support you Hyde, I just wanted you went there to do something for you, not just to get Jackie back."
"I can kill two birds with one stone Donna."
"Just be careful Hyde."
"I'll be fine Donna."
"I know you will be, I'm worried Jackie won't be."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm sure you know what I mean. Good bye Hyde."
She hung up the phone and left Hyde wondering. Not once during his decision to make the trip or being there did he really think about what his being there meant for Jackie. He figured he could just come back into her life and everything would be great. He had not considered how it may affect her or if he could bear the thought of putting her life in shambles once again. He hadn't thought at all. Similarly to all the time they spent together, he only thought about what it meant for him, how it would benefit him.
For the first time in years, Hyde decided he would put someone else first.
"Jackie Burkhart's office, how may I help you?"
"Hi, it's Steven Hyde. I called a little while ago and was wondering if she was available yet?"
"Hold on sir, I'll transfer you now."
"Thanks."
Hyde waited for a few seconds before Jackie answered the phone.
"Steven?"
"Hey Jacks."
"What's going on, are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. I just wanted to invite you over for dinner if you're not busy."
"Well I get out a bit late but I can try and make it. What time?"
"Whatever time you want, I'm working around your schedule."
"Well, isn't this a surprise. What about 9?"
"Sounds good."
"Okay, I have to go on set but I'll let my assistant get the address okay?"
"Sure, see you later."
"Bye Steven."
After a few minutes of talking to Jackie's assistant, Hyde decided he needed to buy some groceries to prepare dinner. He was going to try and prepare her favorite meals and this would be phase 1 of his "get Jackie back" plan.
Let the games begin...