[Hyde POV]
"It's still early. Should we go somewhere else?" Jackie asked as I drove the car out of the mall.
I glanced at the clock, and it was only 4 in the evening.
"We can go to a bar. Or roller disco– Maybe go dancing?" Jackie asked, faking excitement. The corner of her eyes betrayed her true feelings.
She was afraid of going back home and being left alone with her thoughts.
I got cheated on before. Not by Victoria, but a true betrayal when I was around her age. I couldn't breathe. I felt like I was suffocating. I kept blaming myself, wondering where I did wrong.
Distracting myself helped. But the most important thing that would help me survive the feeling, was time.
"Sure. Let's go pick up Fez. And we can all go dancing together." I told her casually.
Jackie puffed her cheek sulkily and said, "Why do we need to bring Fez?"
"Do you want to dance alone?" I raised an eyebrow at her.
She grinned and said, "I've already seen you dance with Donna. You can dance."
Taken aback, I cursed slightly. "Damn I forgot you're there."
She giggled and said, "Take me dancing Steven."
"How about, we compromise, and I bring you to a movie?"
"Dancing! I want to dance!" Jackie threw a tantrum in the car.
I rolled my eyes and said. "Fine. As long as you don't kiss me again."
She got mad and argued, "You should be flattered that I even want to kiss you."
"Your snotty, tear–soaked lips sure feel like heaven." I said sarcastically.
Jackie widened her eyes, feeling quite embarrassed. "I– Well–"
"It's also… salty." I added before she could defend herself.
She got really mad and sulked, crossing her arms together and turned to the window.
"Just take me back to Donna's." Jackie gave up on going dancing.
I felt a bit bad and said, "You want to bring Donna and Eric too?"
"Like a double date?" She perked up instantly.
I sighed and scolded her. "Jackie. This isn't a date. You don't want to date me. I'm worse than Kelso."
"No, you're not."
"Yes I am." I said seriously. "Just take a look at my past girlfriends."
"That doesn't count. Besides, you treat them really well." Jackie argued again.
"Jackie. Picking me after Kelso…That's like jumping out of one cage into another."
"Huh?" She was confused by the metaphor.
"In any case. I'm really bad for you. You should pick someone who's really in love with you. Like Fez." I said as I turned the steering wheel.
She grimaced slightly. I've seen from the episode where Fez dated Patty that Jackie was jealous of their relationship. Then, Donna teased her and she realized that she has a crush on Fez.
It made more sense for her to go out with Fez rather than me.
A static sound cut the silence. My walkie talkie beeped.
"Hey boss. You're there?" Tyrell called.
"I'm here." I replied as I picked up the device.
"The farmer Pam said to tell you that he had finished with the strawberry bed. You can plant the crops tomorrow."
"Oh. Tell him I said thanks."
I put down the walkie talkie and realized that Jackie was staring at me intently.
"What?" I asked with annoyance.
"Strawberries? You're going to a strawberry farm? I want to go too!"
"I'm not eating the strawberries or picking them. I'm going to plant them." I told her with a grimace.
"I don't care. I want to go." She was adamant.
"Fine. Can you wake up at 5 in the morning tomorrow?"
"Yes!-- Wait, five?"
"Yup." I grinned at her.
She was hesitant at first, but then she asked, "Will Michael be there?"
"Do you think he will wake up at five?"
"Great. Then, I'm in. I will wear my cute garden dress and a large sunhat. Maybe denim overall. I will look so cute tomorrow!"
I grimaced slightly and we were home before I knew it.
I had contacted a farm in Japan and asked to buy the plug grown, pre-propagated strawberries plants for $0.50 each.
For two acres of land, I had to buy 30,000 plants.
That's around 15, 000 dollars. But since I had the multipliers, I only paid 3000 bucks for it.
Cheaper than if I buy the same amount of strawberries plug in 1977, which was around 5000 dollars.
These were day neutral strawberries. It'll give me the first batch of harvest in 8-10 weeks while normal 1977 strawberries would take a year.
It was more disease resistant, and has higher sugar content too.
For the other 5 acres of land, I'll plant sweet corn and blueberries there. Blueberries needed 3-5 years before harvest.
But the future sweet corn breed has the same harvest time as the strawberries. Assuming I bought the propagated ones.
I bought that sweet corn too, for 4000 dollars.
…
Jackie and I went inside the basement together.
"Steven. Can you get me something to drink?" She asked politely.
I sighed and said, "Sure. Is coke fine?"
"It's fine." Jackie said giddily.
I went upstairs to get the drinks, but when I was gone, Kelso and Fez entered the basement.
"Michael, I don't want to talk to you!" Jackie stood up from the couch and said sternly.
Kelso slung a guitar over his shoulder and said hurriedly, "No you're right. Okay? Because words don't do it. That's why I wrote this song."
"Oh god." Jackie rolled her eyes and crossed her arms.
Kelso gulped his saliva and strummed the guitar. "Jackie please take me backie~ I'll get the knack see~..."
Jackie cringed immediately. "Okay Michael, stop."
Fez grimaced and said, "Yes please Kelso, stop. I cannot take this anymore. This is how you serenade a woman."
Fez dropped to his knees, took Jackie's hand and sang to her.
"Bésame, bésame mucho como si fuera esta noche la última vez…"
Jackie looked at him flatly and asked, "What are you doing?"
Kelso was annoyed, "Yeah, what are you doing?"
Fez was taken aback and got a bit nervous. "Ummm, this is my school song from back home… I don't love you."
He got up hurriedly and sat on the couch.
I came downstairs, hearing all of the commotion and asked, "Hey, what's going on?"
I gave Jackie the cola. She glanced at Kelso and then fully turned to me.
"Nothing. Nothing at all. Thank you Hyde for tonight, it was very special." She kissed me on the cheek as I sat down on my usual spot.
Then, she took her coat and left. She brought her car with her– her dad's Lincoln, parked in Donna's driveway so I didn't have to drive her back home.
Kelso and Fez stared at me as Jackie closed the door behind her.
"AHH!" Kelso yelped in a high pitched voice again, even stiffening slightly.
"AYY!" Fez also grimaced.
Both of them thought that Jackie had moved on towards me now. And that I had stolen their chances.
I smirked and taunted them. "Isn't she nice? Fellas, you like my new boots?"
I put my boots on the spool table. Kelso was startled and he scampered away, looking extremely annoyed.
Fez looked at me warily and hurriedly chased after Kelso.
'I think the episode will wrap up soon.'
It was only five in the evening. I decided to go out with Kelso and Fez to the bar, but I couldn't find them.
I even called Kelso's and Fez's house, but no one answered.
"Are they sulking?" I grimaced with annoyance.
…
That same night, I sat on my usual spot, with some cookies and hot chocolate Mrs Forman made for me, cracking open a book and began reading.
Halfway into the book, Kelso, Fez and Eric stormed into the basement through the side door.
"HYDE! I'M ACCUSING YOU OF BREAKING THE CODE!" Kelso yelled.
"GET HIM!" Fez shouted, but Eric intervened immediately.
"Wait. You guys. We don't know what happened yet." Eric stood in between Kelso and Fez, trying hard to mediate and de-escalate the situation.
Donna and Jackie also came to the basement too. Jackie has an excited expression while Donna looks a bit worried.
"Kelso! Nothing happened between Hyde and Jackie!" Donna shouted.
Frazzled, Kelso turned to her and said, "He snaked me!"
"He didn't snake anything! We had broken up, Micheal!" Jackie scolded him, hands on her waist. She walked towards me and stood at my side.
I bit the cookie casually and drank the hot chocolate.
"See! He's not even taking you seriously." Donna scolded Kelso again as she pointed at me. "If he truly had broken the code, he's not going to be so casual about it."
"Well, if he's a snake he will." Kelso snorted. I smirked at him and said, "Interesting."
I rubbed my sore neck while turning towards him. "So, Eric will be my lawyer. Fez will be your lawyer. Donna and Jackie can be the juries."
"What about the judge?" Eric asked me.
"If the juries can;t decide, then we will find one." I replied casually and offered him the cookie.
"Aww. Thanks." Eric took one and bit it immediately. Donna also took one and Jackie took the last one.
"Oh no. He's bribing the juries." Fez exclaimed.
"Quick. Fez. Give them your candies." Kelso urged him.
"You take, take, take from your partner. No wonder Jackie dumped you." Fez said with an edge.
Mrs Forman came down hurriedly and asked, "Eric. What happened? I heard some shouting."
"Mom. It's nothing. Kelso is accusing Hyde of breaking the bro-code. I got this." Eric said confidently, with a trace of smugness in his voice.
"Breaking the code? Why?" Mrs Forman was intrigued.
"Mom!" Eric whined. "This is not the time and place. I'll tell you later."
"Okay! As long as you promise to tell me everything!"
"I promise!" Eric said and Mrs Forman left. Donna laughed at Eric and teased, "So you gossip with your mother?"
"You don't?" Eric replied flirtingly.
"Don't you dare rub your… lovey dovey relationship to my face right now!" Kelso snapped and got in between them. "Tonight. All lovey dovey stuff is off limits!"
Fez agreed with him. I laughed and said, "Can we move on? You're interrupting me at a good part of the book."
"Good!" Kelso taunted.
Fez said formally, "I accuse the defendant, Mr Steven James Hyde, of breaking the Bro-Code, and move to punish the defendant immediately. Case closed! Dismissed!"
"Fez. You can't dismiss the case. That's our role." Donna said with annoyance.
"I said dismissed!" Fez did a double take.
I laughed for a bit and said, "We should move the furniture for a bit."
…
Donna and Jackie sat at my side of the living room. Kelso and Fez sat on the couch, while Eric and I sat at the opposite side of the room– near the door.
Donna banged the gavel and said, "We shall move the case to the defendant. The defense can start now."
"Thank you, your Majesty. Might I say, you look very beautiful tonight." Eric stood up, but was immediately objected by Fez.
"Objection! Bias!"
Kelso added, "Yeah. She looks terrible tonight."
"What did you say?" Donna was annoyed at Kelso.
"Stop that. You're not helping our case." Fez rebuked Kelso.
I was quite surprised that Fez knew how a court works. He was full of surprise sometimes.
Eric cleared his throat and opened up a leather covered book.
"This here, is the written Bro-code book. I'll submit this as evidence to show that my client, Mr Hyde, didn't do anything wrong."
He gave the book to Donna and said, "Can you read Article Seven."
Donna flipped the pages and cleared her throat.
"Ehem. Article Seven of the Bro-Code. The ex-girlfriend." Donna read it slowly.
"A Bro's ex-girlfriend is off limit–"
"That's it! I WON!" Kelso stood up and celebrated hurriedly.
"Shut up Micheal! It's not over yet!" Jackie scolded him. Kelso snorted and said, "It is now! You just don't like it when I'm right!"
Jackie and Kelso began arguing.
"Yeah. That's right. It's not over." Donna banged the gavel again, shouting, "Order! Order in the court!"
"Objection! My client smells!" Fez said suddenly as he slammed the table.
"ORDER!" Donna yelled desperately.
As the court quietened down, Mrs Forman suddenly came downstairs bringing a full tray of cookies with her.
"Mom!" Eric whined again.
"No– No, I'm just here to give you all some snacks. I'll be right back with the hot chocolate." Mrs Forman said hurriedly and left in the same way.
"Thank you Mrs Forman!" Everyone said at the same time.
Donna ate a cookie and read the entire article.
"A Bro's ex-girlfriend is off limits unless you asked for the Bro's blessing. However, you didn't have to ask for one of the four situations.
First– The Bro died. As his Bro, you shall provide the widow with everything she needs, financially, and also physically. Especially physically. She's going to need solace after losing the most precious person to her. You have three months to make her move on by plowing her every single night to make her forget."
Donna sighed and turned to me. "First of all. Ew. But… I guess it's alright."
Eric interjected, "That's not the clause I'm after. Continue reading it."
Donna picked up the book again. "Second, the bro is married. I'm not going to read the explanation since it's self-explanatory."
"Third. The bro had his ex broken up for longer than the time they spent together in a relationship. A heads up will be nice, but at this moment, he should've moved on already."
"And the last part." Donna paused and everyone held their breath. "If the bro cheated on his girlfriend, he's no longer protected by the bro-code. It's free for all the world out there. Go nuts."
Kelso stood up and objected, "NO! He wrote that… just to make it okay for him to go after my ex! I've never agreed to that!"
Eric cleared his throat and said, "Donna. Why don't you show everyone what else was on the page?"
Donna showed the pages to everyone and said, "It has the signatures of all of the guys, showing that you agreed to this."
"NO!" Kelso stammered, fully frantic by the turn of events. He turned to me and pointed his finger at me, "He planned this from the start!"
"Kelso." I snapped. "You're the one who added that clause. Didn't you remember?"
"What–" Kelso suddenly realized.
Fez thought about it and said, "Oh yeah. You did. You told him to put it in."
"Wha– Fez, you're supposed to be on my side!"
"Mind you,"Eric said, raising a finger, "the only reason my client's esteemed accuser insisted on adding that clause… was because he wanted a chance… Hypothetically, theoretically, and very creepily… to go after my girlfriend if we ever broke up."
He turned dramatically to Kelso. "And now that it has, in a shocking twist of fate, completely and utterly backfired on him—"
Eric gestured wildly between Kelso and Jackie. "—we must ask ourselves… as a court… as a society… as people who have to sit in a circle with this guy—"
He pointed at Kelso again. "Do we reward this behavior with sympathy…"
He leaned forward slightly. "Or do we let him suffer the consequences of his own stupid, stupid actions?"
I clapped slightly and was fully impressed. "Ooo. That's amazing."
"Thanks." Eric said giddily. "I knew I had it in me to be a lawyer."
Donna turned to Fez and asked, "Does the prosecutor have a rebuttal?"
Fez suddenly chortled. Eric turned to him and asked, "What?"
"She said butt."
"Fez!" Donna was in disbelief.
Fez snapped out of it and immediately stood up to defend Kelso.
"Your honor. My client is guilty."
"FEZ!" Kelso was frazzled and he fought with Fez immediately.
"Forget it. I'll defend myself." Kelso said and turned to me. "Mr Steven James Hyde. You're guilty, not because of article seven. But you're guilty…"
"Um…" He stammered.
"For what?" I asked, confused.
"Just give me a minute." Kelso snapped at me before adding, "AHA! It's because… Your intention behind taking Jackie out. You said you hated her. Why did you even bring her out if you hate her… if it wasn't for you wanting to sleep with her!?"
He pointed at me dramatically.
"Oh. Right. Why did you bring Jackie out on a date?" Donna asked me.
"Da-Date?" Kelso stammered, his face crashed slightly.
I got annoyed and said, "Just wait for it. My reason will come down soon."
Mrs Forman came to the basement bringing some snacks with her. "Here are some potato chips, in case the cookies are too sweet."
She pulled her shirt and laughed.
Donna turned to her and was shocked. "Mrs Forman? You made Hyde bring Jackie out?"
"What– Ohh. That. Yes. I did." Mrs Forman replied with difficulty.
"What?!" Jackie was shocked.
Mrs Forman comforted her immediately, "Now Jackie. Both of you are similar. You both got your heart broken. He can relate to you, so I asked him to be nicer to you."
Kelso's face turned blank and he said, "Oh. So he took her out, because you made him."
I stood beside Kelso and said, "So?"
"Fine." He gave up and gave me his arm. I hit his bicep, which made him wince in pain.
"You know, the only reason you're so nervous is because you think that if you're in that position, you'll definitely make a move on your friend's ex-girlfriend." Donna scolded him.
"He didn't even wait till they became an ex." I snorted.
Donna gasped and said, "That's true. You kissed Barbara!"
"Wait. Why am I even defending this type of guy?" Fez stepped away from Kelso immediately.
Kelso was frazzled. "Wait. Fez! YOU DIDN'T EVEN DEFEND ME!"
Everyone left to go upstairs, leaving me alone with Jackie.
Jackie approached me and asked, "Steven. So, the only reason you agree to go out with me today is because of Mrs Forman?"
I thought about it and said, "Not really. The deal with her is only not to kick you out if you come by. I went out with you because I have never gone to Sizzler before."
"Oh!" Jackie's lip curled up slightly. "So… Okay." She blushed and giggled slightly.
"Maybe… if there's another restaurant you want to try… we can go there together too?" Jackie asked, batting her eyes at me slightly.
"Sure." I agreed easily.
Kelso stepped down a few steps of the stairs and yelled, "STOP FLIRTING WITH EACH OTHER!"
{Read up to Chapter 146 on my Patreon.
Patreon.com/Relifewithkarmicgacha }