Everyone who's been reseting their computer to factory default and re-uploading everything for the past day and a half please raise your hands. *tiredly raises hands and then slams head on desk* BUT! I come back and there's all these amazing reviews and follow! Thank you all so much! You guys are going to make me cry. Thank you to kristinasmiley, the two guests (are you guys the same people who comment on almost every single one of my chapters? If so, you are awesome! And even if you're not I still love you.) wordsarepuremagic: You wrote me such a long review and I'm so happy! Thank you for all the nice things that you said. It means everything to me that Tina and Hyde are flowing right. Akatk : Your review made me so happy. That's the highest compliment that I could ever get. You're gonna make me cry, girl (or ma boy!) And RomanLizzy: You are too kind to me, my friend. And you know me too well. I love snickerdoddles but I'm afraid that I can't give out my address. My friend, Rainbowalpacas said that she forbids it.
Chapter Eight: Blackmail at it's Hyd-est
"Is that what you've been doing with those idiots all this time?!" Tina felt like someone was slamming a frying pan into her skull. Groggily, she blinked up at her father and her mother. She had only seen them do this gathering with Eric. Laurie had certainly never had to endure more than a stern talking to from their mother and Tina had never been caught doing anything that warranted more that mediocre consequences.
But now she was sitting here on a creaky chair in the middle of the kitchen with Laurie grinning at her like she had just won the jackpot and Eric and her grandma sitting at the table behind her. Apparently having a party with beer was just below getting drunk, kissing a boy in the driveway and then barfing all over Red's feet. Tina winced.
"Getting all - all crazy with that curly haired delinquent?" Red demanded.
Kitty stepped forward. "Now... Now, honey. I know you're seventeen. And - and you'll do what you want-"
"No you won't!" Red roared, making Tina flinch back in her seat as his voice pierced her mind. If she threw up again, would she feel better?
"Red!" Kitty exclaimed. "She's going to date who she wants to date and you're going to have to-"
"I am not!" His eyes turned to Tina, piercing in their intensity. "You won't date that boy, Tina. And that's the end of it."
For the first time in a very long time, Tina Forman had nothing to say. Dating wasn't exactly what had happened out in that driveway the night before. Her mind was blank with jumbled thoughts and morning hangover. And Hyde wasn't here. She rubbed her eyes. And Hyde wasn't here.
"Okay, Tina," Kitty sighed, sending Red a long look. "All we're saying is that you need to respect yourself and also that boy. Think things over."
"Think things over by not dating him," Red agreed, giving a shark nod.
"You've already gone on the pill but that is no excuse to…" Kitty waved her hands around awkwardly. "To give your flower away."
"Kitty!" Red groaned, his face going crimson. He coughed. "The best kind of birth control is never going near that boy or any boy at all. Remember that."
"Well, now you're just being ridiculous," his wife said, ending the sharp comment in a hysterical laugh.
"I don't think," Laurie said, playing coyly with her hands. "That Tina fully understands how much such a reckless act of - of lust can affect a young girl."
For a moment, Tina felt such a rush of anger and resentment that she was tempted to jump up and pull her sister's hair out. But that would require getting up. And getting up would definitely require some form of work from her brain. And since sitting here, taking the verbal beating was hard enough for her to endure already, she assumed that staying seated would be best.
"Can it, Laurie," her mother snapped and the smile on the blondes lips dropped instantly.
"You know in my day, girls like her would be sent off to a special school," grandma informed the room helpfully, light a cigarette and nodding thoughtfully. "Then they would come back nine months later looking so much skinnier."
Four sets of eyes turned to her as she flicked the ashes onto the kitchen table. Adjusting her Sunday hat, she smiled thinly at the Tina.
"We called them sluts."
"Okay!" Kitty screamed, clapping her hands as she went over to a bowl of tupperware and tossed it at the old woman, gesturing for the door.
"Time for grandma to leave," she proclaimed in a deceptively cheery voice as she shoved the old lady out the door and Red followed with a sigh.
"But I-" The sliding door slammed shut and an audible click rang through Tina's mind as she pressed the heel of her hand into her eyes. She wanted to gouge them out. Maybe if she did that then the pressure inside her skull would stop and she wouldn't feel like the sun was trying to kill her.
"Now you -" Kitty stared down at her tired, worn daughter, smoothing a hand down her skirt and sighed. Tina had always been the good one. And Hyde - well, Hyde was better than Kelso who was nice but stupid. And then Fez - Most of the time, Kitty had a hard to understanding what he was even saying. Catching her daughter's eyes, she leaned forward to pat her cheek. "Just be careful."
Tiredly, Tina nodded, her eyes beating sorely in her skull and a bubbling starting deep in the pit of her stomach. Giving her a final smile, Kitty patted her cheek rather sharply and jerked her head towards the kitchen door which Tina took at a sprint.
A week later, Tina still felt the same mind-numbing sensation that she had when Kitty and Red had sat her down and gave her the "talking to." She also felt the kind of confusion that can only come from actually liking someone. Although, most people didn't like to admit it there was a definite difference between dating people because you thought that you liked them and dating - Well, dating someone like Steven Hyde.
Because the only kind of "dating" Tina had known so far was the kind that was led by a kind of morbid fascination. What would it be like to date the jock? Or the cool guy? Maybe one would kiss better than the other. And to Tina, they all seemed like nice enough guys. Until she realized that one of them liked feet a little more than was natural. The other one didn't take showers after his football games because he thought it was "therapeutic."
So it was with dread that Tina realized that if she dated Hyde she would know from the get-go most of his faults and be okay with them. She would already know that he had an unhealthy obsession with the government and what they were planning to do to the next generation. She knew that he smoked weed and that he drank a little too much. She knew that his favorite color was green and that he didn't like cheaters because he had seen his mom get hurt too many times by them. And that he was the most loyal guy that she had or would ever know.
And she also knew that if anything happened to them - if he messed up or she messed up - that it wouldn't be like in high school. She wouldn't be able to duck around corners and he wouldn't be able to call her a skank to his friends.
And that, above everything else scared the hell out of her.
"Tina!" The brunette flinched farther into her sofa at the commanding voice of her father, his voice traveling through an entire floor to shake her bed. He had been like Godzilla for the last week and like all monsters from the depths of the seas, he would not be ignored. "TINA!"
Groaning, she rolled out of bed, keeping the knit blanket wrapped around her like a shawl that would protect her from any of the hostility that she knew she would face from her father. Never in her life had she avoided her father's eyes but these past few days had been humbling to say the least.
"Downstairs," her mother side as she stumbled down to the living room. Tina felt like crying at that moment as she stared at her mother who was spooling some knitting thread. Sighing, the woman shook her head. "You're going to have to face them all sooner or later, dear."
Slowly, Tina's eyes crept to the basement door. She had been doing an admirable job in avoiding the whole of her twin brother and his friends. Locking in the door and staring at her walls had become somewhat of a ritual - a sad ritual but something that would ultimately keep her ignorant from the reactions of all of her friends.
"Can I choose later?" Tina whispered helplessly, her feet already shuffling closer to the door even before her mother answered.
"TIIINNNNNAAAAA!" The brunette jerked forward, stumbling in her attempt to get down the stairs before her father grew into a ten foot tall giant and toppled the whole house over in the pursuit to find his wayward daughter.
Six sets of eyes turned on the disheveled girl as she tripped on the last step, skidding to a halt just behind Hyde's chair. And then inching to the right as she realized that he was there. Tina hadn't slept a lot in those last days which was blatantly evident in the deep circles that bagged her eyes and the way that her curls were falling out of a messy bun.
"Dude…" Kelso leaned towards Eric, his eyes staying on Tina as bewildered horror marred his face. "What happened to your sister?"
"Oh, Tina," Jackie whispered, staring at the girl with obvious terror.
Tina for the most part looked like she was taking the whole experience like any teenager would: she wilted in, wrapping the shawl around her and becoming uncomfortably aware of the fact that Hyde was staring at her.
"Where have you been? I've been calling you for hours!" Hours was a bit of an overstatement but even so, Tina paled under the criticism, flinching back like a whipped puppy.
Red Forman had never, ever talked to his daughters like this before. He had never glared at them for more than a second and he had definitely never criticized them for being late. Red Forman was the softest man in the world when it came to his little girls. That was why it hurt so much when he was so harsh with Tina.
But faced with the boy that had been kissing his daughter in the driveway and the basement that had gotten her drunk, Red's anger got the better of him and he turned to a snarling, old hound.
In his seat, Hyde's eyes narrowed, his lips thinning as he sat farther back, crossing his arms over his chest. Gulping, Eric watched with baited breath as his father stared down his twin sister. And awkward awareness fell across the other four members caught in the crosshairs.
"Sorry, Daddy," Tina finally forced out, bowing her head and at the sight, Red's shoulders softened.
"It's fine, sweetie," he finally forced out, feeling a bit of guilt creep uneasily through him. "Your brothers going to be going with your mom to the hospital on career day - I'll be having a half day and coming home to fix Eric's screw up."
Tina nodded. "I can help you with the car, if you want, daddy."
For the first time, her dad's lips tipped up and Tina's heart jumped. Although she didn't want to admit it, she was dependant on his approval - not the best trait that she wanted to admit to but she loved her father. And seeing Laurie play him only made her want to impress him even more.
"I'll be waiting for you," he said with a smile and she returned it as he left and Eric followed doggedly behind him.
And then it was just her and all the others. And Hyde. Who was still staring at her like he was trying to calculate something in his mind.
"Well, that sounds like a blast, Tina," Donna finally said, her eyes flicking nervously from Hyde to the brunette. "Do you-"
"I know that Eric told you that I kissed Hyde the other day," Tina cut in bluntly, feeling an uncomfortable heat creep along her neck as the room roared.
"I KNEW IT!" Kelso screamed, pumping a fist into the air.
"I thought it would be me," Fez whispered, staring at the floor.
"Ew," Jackie whispered, her hand going to tighten in Kelso's shirt like she was keeping herself anchored by the thought. "Tina. He's poor."
Donna slapped her in the arm as Hyde rolled his eyes. Fez's eyes held hers in a glare as he steamed, crossing his arms.
"Why wasn't it me? Am I not good enough for you? Huh? Am I not white enough with your funny little accent and all your money?" the foreigner demanded and Hyde's jaw tensed as he smiled thinly.
"Or maybe it's because your a moron, moron!" Hyde said slowly, ending the sentence by throwing a pillow at his head.
"I," Fez whimpered, curling in on himself and Tina scrubbed a hand over her face.
"Okay." She closed her eyes briefly as she tried to regain some form of her own common sense. Holding out her hands to the room, she gave them all a tense smile. "Me and Hyde kissed."
"SLUT!" Kelso screamed gleefully. Growling, Hyde lunged across the couch, slamming a hand into his stomach before Tina was able to tug him away and back to his seat.
"Me and Hyde kissed," she started over, ignoring Kelso as Jackie tried to console him. Tina's fingers flexed on Hyde's shoulder, her eyes flicking around the room as she held up a finger. "But that does not mean that we are going out. We are not going out. We're um...Not going - going - dating - It's just not happening, okay?!"
Even to Tina's own ears her words sounded pathetic and weak. She was all jumbled up at the words and her face felt like someone was holding a heater to it. And everyone was looking at her like they didn't believe her. Well, that was too bad for them! No matter how much they wanted it, her dreams of going out with Hyde would never ever come true. A lump formed in her throat as she nodded, glancing to the floor and then forced out a laugh, causing everyone to wince and Hyde to turn in his seat to stare up at her. Her dreams of going out with Hyde that she had never had before his stupid blue eyes had flicked his way and he had kept flirting with her. The ass.
"Tell them how we're not going out, Hyde," Tina snapped, staring adamantly at a crack in the wall as she crossed her arms with an angry huff.
All eyes turned to Hyde. Who looked like he was sooner going to dress up as a fairy princess than say anything confirming Tina's rant. Slowly, he got up, turning to face the brunette as he tucked his hands into his pockets.
"Yeah. See, I'm not really sure I can fulfil your royal decree there, princess," he said dryly, tipping his head to the side as he gave Tina a charming smirk.
Panic beat through her veins as he towered over her. No. Nonono. He could not do this to her.
"You-" she started, her teeth baring as she snarled up at the man in front of her.
"OKAY!" Donna laughed, shoving Michael to his feet and towards the door. "I think we're going to be going now."
"HE'S POOR, TINA!" Jackie shrieked as she was forced out of the basement.
"IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ME!" Fez screamed, the words cut off as the door slammed shut.
And then there was just Tina and Hyde, Tina glaring up at Hyde and Hyde smiling down at her.
"You cannot be serious," Tina snarled, shoving at his chest. "Stop screwing with me, Steven. Do you even know what you just did? This could have been over! They could have just thought that we were drunk. Now they think that we're - that you and I - Dammit, Steven!"
Controlled anger burned through Hyde's blue eyes, making them swirl like storm clouds forming behind his glasses. "Is it really so awful for you to be going out with me?"
It was like he had slapped her, his words stinging to freeze up her brain as she reeled back. For a minute, Tina felt like all the air in the room had been sucked out, leaving her to breath in nothing. Her eyes stung, her mouth open and closed as she silently tried to draw in air. But all that she was left with was Hyde stepping forward, caging her in.
"We've been together since we were little, Tina." His voice was like burnished steel, slicing at Tina's skin as she shakily took a step back. And then another until she was against the dryer and he was leaning in, his arms moving out to either side of her. Behind his sunglasses, she saw his eyes narrow, a stray curl dropping along his forehead. "But I get it. You don't want to be with the bad kid... It's really a shame that it's not your choice."
Wait. What? Tina reeled back, her eyes going wide as she stared up at him, watching as his lips tipped up in a smile. No one had ever said anything more - Tina didn't even know how to describe what she was hearing.
"I have no choice?!" she hissed, her eyes darkening dangerously as she stepped forward, her chest pressing against his as she glared up at Hyde.
"Nope," he confirmed, his smile widening into a grin. "You see, the way I'm looking at it, I got taken advantage of."
"You big cow," Tina snapped. "You're like six feet tall and a lot stronger than me - how in the hell-"
"I was drunk, officer," Hyde said, his eyes widening in a frail kind of way as he tipped his head to the side. "And this girl came up and she - and she just started kissing me and - and groping me and - and I just don't know-"
He sniffled, bowing his head into the side of Tina's face as she fumed. She couldn't think, she was so enraged. Angrily, she shoved at his chest, only causing him to tighten his hold even more, his breath tickling along her neck as he wrapped his arms around her waist, drawing her tighter to his chest.
"You're such a liar," she stormed, her hands curling in the front of his shirt as she glared into his shoulder. She wanted to tear his stupid hair out. Her fingers crept towards the nape of his neck.
"You took advantage of me, my friend." Tina frowned as Hyde leaned back, his brows up as he stared down at the girl but his hands moving to rest lowly on her back. "And the way I see it, now your ass is mine."
He smirked and Tina yelped, jolting into him as his hands tightened, squeezing her butt. "Literally."
"You are such a pig," the brunette snarled, trying to wiggling her way out of the hold but only getting pushed into the dryer in return. "I'm not going out with you, Steven Hyde."
The curly haired man nodded slowly then his head turned abruptly as he caught sight of the stairs. "MRS. FORMAN! MRS. FORMAN YOU'RE DAUGHTER IS BEING A VERY NAUGHTY-"
Tina jerked forward, slamming her hands over Hyde's mouth as she heard her mother run to the basement door. Desperately, she tried to wiggle out of Hyde's hold, only getting a smirk in return as she heard the door open.
"Tina, is everything alright?" Thank god. She wasn't coming down. Tina slumped, pressing her forehead to Hyde's shoulder as she let out a breath.
"Fine, mom!" she called back up.
"Okay, honey. Just call me if you need anything!"
Tina turned a harsh glare to the man keeping her caged against the dryer. "You're the biggest asshole in those whole entire world, Steven Hyde and I'm not dating you."
"I think you are."
"I think I'm not."
"Then I guess I'm just going to have to tell everyone what we did before the driveway kiss."
Tina gasped, staring up at Hyde. "You wouldn't."
"Watch me, sweetheart," he drawled. And Tina knew that if anyone was crazy enough to do it, Steven Hyde would be that person.
For a moment, they stared at each other, words clogged in her throat as she tried to think of a coherent argument or bargaining chip to get out of this. Because dating Hyde would be bad. She was scared to date someone who made her feel like she was melting every time he looked at her. She was scared that she would get hurt.
Slowly, Hyde leaned forward, his forehead pressing to hers as he leaned her more fully against the dryer. "Go out with me, Tina."
Her resolve weakened. "Why are you doing this, Hyde?"
Lips pressed against her cheek and Tina's eyes fluttered shut at the touch, her heart beating unsteadily in her chest as her whole body knotted in an odd way. "Because I want you. I want to go out with you, bunny."
"This is a bad idea," she whispered but her words sounded weak and unsure of themselves as his lips skated to her jaw and her hands moved restlessly to his shoulders. "What if we break up? What happens them?"
Blue eyes met hers. "They'll get over it."
It was so ridiculously stupid and - Just stupid. Tina couldn't help but laugh, her eyes watering as Hyde cracked a smile.
"Fine," she forced out, giving Hyde a shove which he took, stepping back with an astonished grin. Tina jabbed a finger at him, her eyes blazing. "But this is a secret."
"Secret dating." Hyde said with a grin as Tina reached the bottom steps and shot him a glare. "Kinky."
"Shut up," Tina laughed, making her way up the stairs as Hyde flopped back in his chair.
"AND YOU'RE COMING TO CAREER DAY WITH ME AND FEZ!" He called up to her, his boots banging onto the coffee table.
"WHATEVER!" Tina retorted, rolling her eyes as she reached the door. "I HATE YOU!"
"HATE YOU TOO, SWEETHEART!"
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