Chapter Text
Escaping thoroughly highly unrealistic and highly improbable scenarios is how Jackie dealt with her life. That, and a shield of perfection on the outside, weakness wasn’t an option for her. When you looked at Jackie you encountered a girl who had it together, money, secure in who she was, and beautiful. In reality, Jackie was terribly insecure, already knew money didn't buy happiness, and desperately alone. She was strong, and she knew to show her pressure points was to give ammunition to the world to take her down. She clung to her belief that one day she would have a happy ever after, and nothing could stop her from finding it. Nothing. Not a dad who loved money more than her. Not a mom who wanted booze more than a child. Not the cold, empty echo of her cavernous home…. Nothing. She was Jackie Burkhart, and if she had to will a happy ending through her own belief…. Than nothing would ever stop her.
Life had fucked Steven Hyde from the start, and due to that…. His response to the universe was Fuck You. It didn’t take him long to realize life was going to be hellish, and his home life wasn’t the same as his friends. His defense against the brutal bleak abuse at the hands of his mother was to not give her the satisfaction of a reaction. Hyde locked down every tear, cry of why, and tremble of fear. Instead, he found disdain, a smirk of smugness, and a cool exterior of I don’t give a damn. Sometimes it was too much to pretend like his life wasn’t shit, and that was what drove him to pot, and isolation. He craved peace. He craved a place where no one yelled, and ripped you apart for merely being born. Hyde was the first to climb the water tower, for no other reason than escape. For no other reason to lay his head back privately, and let out how he felt without fear.
Hyde
Hyde was annoyed by her instantly. She was younger, perkier, louder, and altogether pinker. For the love of God, she had pigtails with ribbons in her hair. She had been in the basement for 5 damn minutes and already her voice made him want to rip his ears off. Jesus he brooded….where did Kelso find this girl?
“Do you talk or do you stare rudely at people? I know I'm beautiful, but even poor people are supposed to know it’s rude.”
This tiny tornado's audacity nearly floored Hyde. His embarrassment at being caught staring drove him to be ruder than normal, and he snarled out.
“Please Princess, I don’t find babies beautiful.”
Kelso in typical fashion yelled “Burn”
He watched his insult roll over her, and he could see it hit. A second before she shot back at him, he glimpsed hurt. It made him feel bad, well shortly, because then she opened that trap of hers.
“Oh, please like I care what a scruffy burnout thinks. Poor People don’t have good taste.” She slapped Michael on the arm and yelled.
“Let’s go Michael.”
Hyde watched his friend stand up at her damn command, and lead her out. Hyde had to have the parting shot.
“See ya Princess…. We little people hope to never see you again.”
Her eyes flared, and he spotted something. Something he was very familiar with, but he pushed it away. That perky nightmare and him had nothing in common. He hoped to God this girl was short lived or he was going to have kill Kelso.
Jackie
Jackie was still fuming about the stupid guy in the chair. She knew it was ridiculous, but did he really think she wasn’t beautiful? Her beauty was something she wore like a shield. Damn it! She was pretty! She was! It didn’t matter what one random guy, in her stupid boyfriend’s friend’s basement said. She didn’t even know his poor person name. It must have shown on her face, because Kelso interrupted her private tempertatrum.
“Don’t let Hyde get to you. He’s like that with everyone.You will get use to him.”
Jackie didn’t want Kelso to know she was bothered by it, and she didn’t want this guy Hyde to know, because she knew Kelso would blab. She had already figured out he wasn’t the smartest bulb in the bunch. She made sure to use her haughtiest voice,
“Please Michael. Like I care what someone so dirty thinks. I know I’m beautiful.”
His faced smiled at her, whatever worry he had gone. Jackie bit her lip, because she did care. She cared a lot.