[Hyde POV]
While Laurie and Kelso went on a date together, Eric and I sat on the temporary arrangement in the living room.
We took the chair from Eric's room, my room chair, the kitchen chair, and a wooden stool.
"This is pathetic." Eric grimaced.
"Yeah Eric. Without a place to hang, chill out and relax, your basement loses all of its attractive value." Fez shook his head slightly.
"What's left is just that skunky smell… and the smell of feet." Donna added.
"That's not feet." I interjected with a sleazy smile.
"Ew." She stood up with disgust and walked away from Eric and Fez.
"No. Donna. Don't believe him." Eric tried to persuade her to stay. "It's the smell of the circle."
Jackie suddenly came to the basement. Donna was startled and stood up immediately.
"Jackie. Why are you here?" She asked urgently.
Donna was afraid of telling Jackie about Kelso dating Laurie– the girl her first boyfriend cheated on her with.
Jackie was confused and her gaze shifted between Donna and me.
"I'm not here for you. I'm here for Steven." She said sweetly and walked towards me.
"There's no place to sit. Eric. Move." Jackie ordered him. He sighed and stood up, giving a warning to Jackie at the same time, "This is my house."
Jackie mocked him, sticking out her tongue for a bit.
I sighed as she leaned towards me. "Steven. I got a reservation for us. Why don't you go change your clothes?"
"Reservation? Where?" Fez asked, whimpering slightly, fully jealous that the girl of his dream wasn't even looking at him.
I sighed slightly as I glanced at Fez.
Jackie didn't turn to him but answered his question. "It's at a country club in Sheboygan. I asked my dad to bring us in. I never even went to the place with Micheal. It's so luxurious."
I paused and stared at her.
"What is it? Are you happy? Or not happy?" She tried to read my mood.
"Maybe constipated." Eric added, guessing my facial expression.
"Definitely that one." Donna played along and agreed with Eric.
I grimaced at them. "Shut it."
Then, I finally talked to Jackie. "Why did you book that place? Unless it's something to make Kelso jealous, I'm not going to hang out with you–"
"It is to make Michael jealous." Jackie stammered, glancing at Donna slightly. "So. Do you want to go or not? We have to leave in an hour if you want to go."
"Or you can give Eric and I the reservation." Donna said giddily. "You still have the money from the commercial?" She asked Eric with a lowered voice.
"Yes. Yes I do." Eric replied smugly.
I scoffed and said, "Now I'm going just to spite you."
"Hey." Eric threw his hand in disbelief.
Jackie clasped her hand happily and said, "Yes! I'm going to pick out some clothes for you to wear."
She pulled me into my own bedroom. Donna laughed and said, "Jackie dressing up Hyde? I need to see this."
"Me too! I love playing dress up." Fez also rushed to my room.
Then, everyone was inside the room. Donna and Eric bounced on my bed while Fez sat on my desk.
"Let's see what we're working with." Jackie opened my closet excitedly.
"Hey, what's this?" Eric asked as he saw the parcels on my bed. It arrived just a couple hours ago.
"Just some clothes." I replied casually.
"Clothes for who?" Donna asked, opening the bag slightly. The clothes were in a semi transparent plastic wrap so she could see it anyway. "It's all girls' clothes."
"Girl clothes?" Jackie was interested. She took out two of my suits. One was an Armani suit, all back, and the other was a tan Italian-made suit.
Both fakes by the way. I bought them online. It wasn't actually Armani or made in Italy. It was still high quality fakes, almost indiscernible from the original.
"Did you buy it for someone, or is this for your upcoming project? Is it a movie?" Donna asked curiously. "This dress is beautiful by the way."
"Let me see it. Move your gorilla's hand away from it. " Jackie snatched the dress from Donna's hand.
She gasped and turned to me. "Steven. This is beautiful. And it feels so soft. This must've been so expensive."
I opened my mouth to answer that it was hers, but Eric spoke first, cutting through my words.
"I–"
"This must be it. It's for the red carpet! He's winning awards for the documentary."
Jackie gasped and turned to me. "Oh my god. Steven. You're moving on in life. It won't take much longer till you get out of this dump."
Eric threw his hand in disbelief again.
I grimaced and said, "It's not for a red carpet thing."
Donna interjected, "So. Is this for your new movie?"
"I haven't gotten the slightest clue on what to make next." I snapped, fully irritated now.
"I can help you write the script." Donna offered.
"And I can make it funny." Eric also offered. Donna shot a glare at him and asked, "Are you thinking that my work won't be good enough?"
"No. That's not it." Eric quickly placated her. "It's because I only know how to joke around. Your writing is amazing."
I rolled my eyes and said to Jackie, "You can take the dress. I got it for you."
"Really?" Jackie widened her eyes in shock.
Donna was the one who's blushing. "Hyde. That's so romantic."
I grimaced and said, "It's for her revenge scene. The revenge dress?"
Donna and Jackie exclaimed in realization at the same time.
"Where did you get this from?" Jackie asked. "Is it a California designer dress?" She looked all over the dress and found the tag. I was surprised when there was a price tag too.
Jackie gasped and exclaimed, "Three Hundred dollars?!"
"Oh my god!" Donna looked at me with disbelief. "Hyde!"
I rolled my eyes again and said, "I got it for cheap. Just… Take it if you want. Don't take it if you don't–"
"I'm going to take it!" Jackie pulled the dress back even without me reaching for it. "I'm going to take all of it!" She said seriously.
…
-TV-
Donna and Jackie stayed in Hyde's room while the boys were kicked out. Jackie wanted to try the dresses right away.
Donna's eyes shifted nervously. "Jackie, it's great to see you so happy. And strong. And over Kelso. You're like a rock. You're like a tiny little rock."
Donna clenched her fist to show Jackie a clear image.
Jackie tested out the dress and turned to her angrily. "Donna, do you have bad news? Or are you making fun of my butt?"
Donna sighed, "No, your butt's fine."
Jackie felt insulted, "Fine?!"
Donna rolled her eyes, exasperated, "Glorious, whatever. Look, uh, Kelso's... Dating Laurie."
Jackie gasped. Then pretended she was fine. "I don't care."
"Oh, come on, Jackie, how can you still have feelings for him?" Donna asked.
"I don't have feelings for him. I just hate that bitch for making him happy." Jackie said with a slighted tone.
"Oh, believe me, Jackie, she will make him more miserable than you ever did." Donna comforted her by telling the truth.
"Oh, Donna, I'm gonna pray to God that that's true. Now get out." She chased Donna away and changed her outfit.
…
The basement. Laurie walked in with Kelso and sat right at the makeshift couch.
Eric, Donna, and Fez stood behind the chairs, looking at Laurie warily.
I sat at my usual spot. The music Boogie Nights by Heatwave was playing in the background.
Eric went behind Laurie and said sweetly, " Hey, Laurie, could you…" His voice turned loud, "GET OUT!!" He patted her shoulder and said, "Thanks."
Laurie rolled her eyes and said, "C'mon, Kelso, come up to my room. I need you to.." She hinted mischievously, "Help me move my bookcase."
Laurie went up the stairs.
Kelso laughed and said, "That means we're gonna hɑvе sеx."
I replied sarcastically, "Yeah, thanks for cracking that code."
Eric asked him seriously, "Kelso, what are you doing?"
Fez interjected, "They're going to hɑvе sеx! Get the wax out of your ears!"
Eric still confronted Kelso. "You can't bring Laurie down to the basement. It's our fortress of solitude, you bonehead."
Kelso replied, "I'm sorry, but Laurie's my girlfriend and I love her."
Donna said flatly. "No, you don't."
"Well, I like her." Kelso stammered.
I added flatly. "No, you don't."
He got mad and said loudly, "I think she is okay. And the line between "love" and "okay" is pretty fine. But the line between "doing it" and "not doing it," that's not fine at all!"
Donna insulted, "Just like the line between "moron" and "idiot.""
Kelso didn't get it and thanked her.
"Exactly. It took me months to get Jackie in the sack. But Laurie already lets me do it and, plus, I'm always hanging out over here, anyway. So, there's the convenience factor."
Laurie went back down and said irritably, "Kelso. My Laurie bookcase isn't going to move itself." She realized something and said, "Or can it?"
"Oh damn." Kelso panicked and almost ran after her. But before he could run, he heard Jackie's voice.
"Steven! I'm ready!"
Jackie came out of my room looking extremely cute with her new dress. She did her hair into a messy bun, and wore a hot pink midi dress with shoulder strap and some cleavage. It has a short skirt and she paired it off with a black high hell.
I stood up and said, "Okay. Let's go."
"Wait. Jackie… Wow, you look beautiful." Donna was excited. "Doesn't she look great Kelso?" She teased.
Kelso was frozen in his spot. "Jackie…" He called, his eyes checking out her new look. "You look amazing."
"Thank you Michael." Jackie said sarcastically, "I'm sure you too have had some fun going out with Laurie. Now that you're moving on, I should be moving on too."
She clutched my arm and said sweetly, "Steven. You look really hot in that suit."
"And you look gorgeous in that dress." I said while looking at her eyes, which made her blush. "I can't wait to take it off you tonight."
I was still playing the part of her new man, and it seemed to work since Kelso seemed broken by the sight in front of him.
"Hyde. What are you doing man? I thought this was all fake?" Kelso confronted me angrily.
"It is."
"Then why are you working so hard to pretend to be her man?"
"I'm killing three birds with one stone. I'm raising her standard, so she's found someone that would treat her better. Then, she won't come by again. Also, it's a huge burn on you." I replied casually.
"Why?" Donna asked curiously.
"Because he has to change basically everything about himself if he wants Jackie back after this." I smirked.
Kelso went silent for a bit and said, "That's a good burn." He acknowledged it and smiled, even shaking my hand.
…
I went to the country club with Jackie.
"Steven. Everyone is looking at me!" She whispered excitedly. "I'm really the main attraction of the restaurant tonight. Even the piano guy is staring at me."
I rolled my eyes and said, "Are you sure they are looking at you? They might be looking at me too. Because I'm pretty famous."
"No. They are definitely looking at me." She said confidently.
I snorted and said, "I'm not going to compete with you on this. Are you having a nice time?"
"Yes! Definitely! The last few days have been magical Steven." Jackie said excitedly.
I nodded and said, "So I played the part of the fake boyfriend well."
"We don't have to call it fake." She said, batting her eyes at me.
"Nah. This is definitely fake." I said firmly.
Taken aback, she grumbled with annoyance and said, "Steven. Why don't we go out for real?"
"Because I don't like you." I replied, being brutally honest.
She scoffed and said, "Stop joking around. I'm cute and sexy. Every guy wants me."
"Then go with other guys."
"If you really felt that way, why did you hold me tight until I fell asleep last night?"
"Because you were crying, being so clingy and annoying the hell out of me."
She was annoyed again. "Is this your type of foreplay? Making your date mad?"
"The ambiance of the place was quite nice for a date. Too bad I came here with you."
Jackie almost blew up, but she recollected herself and said, "Aren't you going to try to raise my standard like you said?"
"Tomorrow's the last day. So I'm taking it easy tonight." I ate my steak happily.
She cut her steak angrily and said, "It's not the end tomorrow. I at least have one more day."
"The vote is tomorrow. I don't have to pretend anymore after that. I'm not going on Friday anyway." I replied. "All I can leave you with, is make good choices for your next boyfriend."
She was flabbergasted and tried to argue, "You… why are you helping me if you're not interested in me?!"
"You want the truth?"
"Yes!"
"I feel guilty."
"Why?!" She was taken aback slightly. "I knew that, but why?"
"Just because." I shrugged. "And I'd like to not see you end up like my mother."
"I'm not going to end up as a lunch lady!" She snapped.
I laughed and said, "Not that. I mean in the way that she always picked the wrong guy. She tried so desperately to find happiness, that she lowered her standard so much. So don't be like that. Stay true to your standard and only take Kelso back if he has really changed."
They'd marry each other in the future anyway. I wouldn't want to steal my best friend's wife.
Jackie looked at me with an indiscernible expression.
"I knew it. You're in love with me." She said abruptly.
I threw my head in disbelief, wondering where she got the conclusion from.
We finished up our dinner and went to the car. Jackie shivered slightly as it was cold outside. So I took off my jacket and put it over her.
She smiled slightly and said, "Thank you Steven. I'm not going to give up on us."
"There was never an us." I bursted her bubble immediately. On the drive home, Jackie was looking intently at my face.
Fearing she would try to sneak in a kiss, I said, "Why don't you grab the cassette box in the back and see if there's any song you want to hear?"
"Great! Do you have any ABBA?" She asked excitedly.
When she was crawling to the back, her knees were on the seat and she bent down slightly. Her skirt rides up and reveals her underwear slightly.
I accidently saw it and looked to the front immediately.
Clearing my throat, I said, "Did you find it?"
"Yes!" She brought back the box of cassettes. There were thirty cassettes inside from various artists.
She gasped suddenly and said, "Wait. Steven. You do have ABBA!"
"Wait. Really?" I was shocked.
"Yes. This one." She pulled out a white cassette with no casing and said, "Although, I've never heard this song before. "Winner Takes It All"?"
There was a song list on the cover. Ten songs were on the cassette tape. But Jackie only cared about the ABBA one.
"Ah. That one. That's the only ABBA song that I love."
She smiled giddily. "You said we have no common ground. This is common ground."
She popped the cassette into the car player. The song began playing through the speakers.
Slowly, Jackie got into the song. Her smile disappeared, and she rested her head on my shoulder.
…
As we got back into Point Place, at the traffic light, a familiar car pulled up to mine.
"Hyde!" Chuck called excitedly, his windows already rolled down.
"Hey Chuck." I greeted with a smile.
"Field party. I have a keg. Your gang wants to come?" He asked.
"Sure. I'll pick them up first."
"Great. It's at the normal place in mount hump." He said and drove away first.
Jackie turned to me and furrowed her eyebrows. "You're not going to that party, do you?"
"Why not?" I raised an eyebrow.
"Drinking in the field? That's like trashy behavior. You're a rich person now." She tried to convince me.
I laughed and said, "Jackie. This is also why I'm not going to date you."
"Because I don't want to be trashy?"
"Because you think you're better than everyone else. You don't have to go if you don't want to. I'll drop you off at your house."
I dropped her off back at her place and walked her to the door. She kissed me on the cheek and said, "Thank you Steven. I had fun tonight too."
"I know." I replied coyly.
Then, I went back to the basement. There was no one around, so I changed into casual clothes and went to the party alone.
Turns out, Fez, Eric and Donna were already there.
"Hey it's Hyde!" Eric greeted me cheerfully. "Thought you would be doing it with Jackie now."
I grimaced while Donna snickered.
"Shut it. Give me that–" I grabbed his cup from him and drank it.
People were drinking and dancing on the empty lot on the hill. There was a bonfire, and people making out on top of cars.
Like Jackie said, it was really trashy. But it's fun.
There were a lot of seniors from high school there, partying like there was no tomorrow.
I even saw Brat and Ophelia.
They noticed me too and approached me.
"Hey Mr Director." Brat greeted cheerfully. "When's the commercial going to air?"
"You can check it out tomorrow." I said casually as I sipped on the beer. There was a mustache foam on my upper lips which made Ophelia giggle.
"See that babe? We're going to be famous." Bart said to Ophelia, leaning in to give him a kiss but she pulled her face away, grimacing in disgust.
"What's wrong?" Brat asked her with anger. "You kept pulling away these days."
Ophelia sighed and said suddenly, "I want to break up."
"What– Why?" Bart was shocked. I drank my beer as I enjoyed the drama.
"Maybe you can ask Buddy Morgan why." Ophelia replied.
"What are you saying? What does Buddy have anything to do with this?" Bart was truly confused.
I remembered who Buddy Morgan was. He was the same year as me, and he made a move on Eric before.
"I saw you handling his sword by the curtains during the King Arthur play." Ophelia snapped.
Bart froze in shock. I thought Ophelia was misunderstanding stuff because Bart seemed really confused, but Bart surprised me too.
"You saw that?" He asked, gulping slightly.
"Yes. And your 'duel' too.. I saw everything." Ophelia said, looking at him with disgust. "So we're over."
"Alright. That's fair." Bart accepted the decision immediately.
I laughed and said, "I have no idea what you guys are talking about. Why are you breaking up because of swordplay?"
I was pretending because I didn't want to make it awkward.
Ophelia stared at me in amusement while Bart became flabbergasted.
"Yes. She just hates anything about sword fighting. Her dad died in a sword fight." Bart told me seriously.
Ophelia glared at him. I looked at her pitifully and said, "You poor girl. I'm so sorry for your loss."
"No. He's still alive." She whispered, but I was gone.
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