That 70s Show fanfic: It Was Only a Matter of Time
Dec 30, 2005 14:06
When Jackie left for Chicago, Hyde knew he'd made a mistake, but going there to fix it made things even worse. Now his life is one long string of unwanted emotions--anger, hate, heartache, remorse, regret... love. Despite the pain, he knows he still loves her. But maybe that's why it hurts so much.
Jackie screwed up. Steven was gone, and it was all her fault. She tries to go on with her life, but the ache in her chest just won't go away. She knows she has to make things right; she's just not sure Steven will want to hear her out. She knows she has to try, though, because she can't live with herself knowing she hurt him so deeply.
Takes place immediately after the season 7 finale.
Hyde pulled into the Forman driveway well past one in the morning and sat listening to the ticks and pops of the cooling engine. The whole drive home from Chicago he had fumed. He thought of every way he could possibly hurt Kelso and of every way that Jackie had hurt him. The pain was unbelievable. Hyde never knew a person could feel this way. Why would anyone want to be in love if this kind of hurt could happen?
The rage he’d built on the ride home mellowed as he crossed over the Point Place city limits. The anger that normally kept his other emotions in check faded, leaving an empty ache in his chest. For the first time since Bud left when he was a kid, Hyde felt like crying. He choked back the welling tears and remembered his Zen. [read more] He tiptoed across the kitchen, glad it was late and everyone was in bed. The last thing he needed now was to hear Mrs. Forman tell him how sorry she was or listen to Donna lament about how much she would miss Forman. Hyde was too tired to deal with his friends-no matter how well meaning they were. He crept down to his room, and slumping onto his cot, buried his face in his hands. He sighed. Every inch of his body hurt from the tension winding him into a tight knot.
He reached into his right pocket and pulled out the small black box that had been digging into his thigh for most of the day. It wasn’t much-just a fifth carat. A chip, Jackie would have called it. But he was sure it would have been enough. He had given in-he had gone to Chicago to make sure Jackie knew how he really felt.
“I guess it wasn’t enough,” he muttered to himself. He snapped the cover shut and chucked it across the room. It smashed against the concrete wall. The cover flew one way; Hyde didn’t see what happened to the rest of it. He fell back, covering his face with a pillow. If he fell asleep that way, would he slowly suffocate in the night? If there was a merciful God. maybe, but Hyde didn’t believe in any gods. He sucked in a deep, shuddering breath.
“I won’t cry,” he said out loud, his voice muffled by the pillow. “I won’t let her do that to me.” But even as he said it, he knew it wasn’t true. Jackie could do that to him, and she had, and he was going to cry. There was nothing he could do about it. At least he was alone.
* * *
Jackie sat frozen on the edge of the motel bed. It had been twenty-five minutes since Steven left. He hadn’t uttered a word to her, but his expression said it all. He’d never looked so mad. And hurt.
She had wanted to run after him-to plead her innocence, to beg forgiveness, to just make him not leave and give her a chance to explain. But she knew it wouldn’t do any good. Steven wouldn’t care about the truth right then and wouldn’t have believed her anyway. He saw what he saw.
Oh God, why did Michael have to walk in that moment?
Jackie sniffled, willing herself not to cry-like that would work. Outside, the sound of footsteps filled the empty pit of her stomach with hope, but it was a fleeting feeling. Michael stood in the door, once again wrapped in a towel.
“Is he gone?” he asked, sheepishly peering around the corner for Steven. Jackie nodded absently. She was barely aware that Michael was in the room. She couldn’t keep the tears back anymore and broke into little sobs that grew louder and louder.
“That was close,” Michael was saying, “I thought he was going to kill me. He looked really pissed, don’t you think?”
She felt sick. This isn’t happening. “What have I done?” she murmured.
“Well, I know what we were about to do,” he said with a laugh, cocking his head and batting his eyelashes. Jackie shook her head. She wished Michael would just go away. Instead, he sat next to her on the bed, fingering her hair. She nudged him away with her shoulder. Michael didn’t take the hint.
“So, where did we leave off?” His warm lips brushed against the cool skin below her ear. Jackie reacted out of instinct, shoving her ex-boyfriend off the bed.
“What the hell, Jackie!” Michael climbed back on the bed, confusion etched on his face. “I thought- I mean Hyde already knows what’s going on.”
“There is nothing going on here,” Jackie yelled.
“But-”
“Oh my God, Michael. Are you really that stupid?”
Michael stared at her blankly. “But, I came. And Hyde didn’t. I win.”
“This isn’t a game, Michael. I’m sorry, but I don’t love you anymore. I love Steven.”
“Then why were you going to do it with me?” Michael threw his hands up in exasperation.
“I wasn’t going to do anything with you.”
“But… but we kissed,” he stammered.
Jackie’s head hurt. Was dealing with Michael always this taxing? “It was just a kiss, Michael, in a moment of weakness. I was upset, and you took advantage.”
“But-” Michael slumped back on the bed, realization dawning. He was quiet for a moment, brow knit together, before he let out a sigh. He turned a megawatt smile her way. “Well now that Hyde thinks there is something going on we can just, you know, do it anyway.”
“Argh,” Jackie screamed. “Just go home, Michael.”
“Come on, Jackie.”
Jackie moved away from him. “You’ve done enough. Just leave me alone.”
“Fine,” Michael yelled, storming out the door, tripping over his towel. Seconds later he ran back in and grabbed his clothes. “You’re not a very grateful person,” he told her.
“What?”
“See if I ever drive you to Chicago again.” He slammed the door, catching his shirt in the process. He clumsily opened it again, juggling the rest of his things. He glanced back at her one last time then stumbled to his car, trying to keep his towel from falling off again. Jackie just shook her head. She felt tired and sick and miserable. Just the way she should feel, she though. At least she was alone.