Okay, so I know what you're probably thinking right now. This chick has two T70S fics, not to mention a Gossip Girl-T70S crossover fic, in progress. Why in the world would she start a new one. Well, here's my answer. I'm just hopelessly addicted to writing Jackie/Hyde fan fics. It's a problem I have, and I just can't stop. But, I do promise all of my readers this. I will never abandon a story. Everything I write, I finish. So, while I may take a while to update, do not consider that story is done. My stories aren't done until I changed the status to complete. Now that I've cleared that up, here's a little background on this story. It's set in season five, and Jackie and Hyde have started dating. I'm not sure where Jackie's dad will fall into this, but I'll tell you when I decide. It's set before he goes to prison for now. Disclaimer: I don't own That 70s Show or any of its characters. The ones I create are all mine!

Jackie Burkhart looked at herself in the mirror and started counting beats in her head. As she counted, she did perfect pirouettes. The tiny brunette was very close to being able to spin three times before stopping. Of course, the hard toe ballet shoes were rough on her feet, but that didn't stop Jackie. The girl was driven, and she couldn't remember a time when ballet wasn't a integral part of her life.

Jackie started dancing when she was three years old. Her aunt Shauna opened her ballet studio that year, and Mrs. Burkhart immediately signed her daughter up, hoping that she would learn grace. Jackie took to it instantly, and it was soon evident she had talent. Shauna advanced her to a higher level. As with everything, Pam lost interest quickly. Jackie still kept dancing, unable to give up the addicting hobby. The studio became her home, a place she could sneak away to when her mom was drunk and her dad away. Jackie never felt more at peace then when she was practicing her spins and leaps in front of the mirror.

If the studio became her home, the dancers there became her family. Her first friend there was Quill. Quill's parents were hardcore hippies who disapproved of their daughter's dancing because it was conforming to "the Man". Quill reminded Jackie of a Brazilian supermodel with her caramel skin, hollowed-out cheekbones, and long wavy black hair. Like many of the dancers, Quill lived at the Vortex. The Vortex was a well-kept secret in Point Place. It was a huge house that was open to artists, travelers, and basically anyone who needed a place to stay. Jackie herself lived there whenever her parents weren't home. You only had to pay a small rent to live at the Vortex. They were famous for their blow-out parties. Then there was Tanya, Lizzie, Mikey, and Tony. Tanya reminded Jackie of Donna with her flaming red hair and tough exterior. The girl was like a protective older sister. She stuck up for all the dancers when she thought they were being overworked. Lizzie was one of the quietest people Jackie knew, but somehow the girls just connected. Jackie didn't feel the need to talk around the pixie-like girl. Mikey was Jackie's best guy friend, probably due to the fact he was gay. He was always there to wipe away her tears and tell her how gorgeous she was. Tony was also gay but still in the closet. With his classic good looks and jock-like vibe, few people thought he was a ballet dancer. Jackie loved them all to pieces, but her relationships with them were complicated. Dancing was an intense art. You had to get along with the dancers in your troupe, but at the same time, you were competing against them. The worlds of dance and cheerleading were very similar, which Jackie suspected was the reason she was so successful in both.

"Lia!" Jackie turned around to see her aunt looking at her with a soft smile. "It's time to go." Jackie nodded and started to gather her stuff. "Your turns are looking really good. Mr. Whitefield will be impressed," her aunt complimented.

"Thanks, Aunt Shauna," Jackie replied happily. Praise from her aunt was rare, and she would take it whenever she got it. Jackie went and changed into her blouse and jeans, slipping boots onto her feet. She grabbed her bag and walked out of the studio. Her aunt followed close behind her, locking the door as she left.

The aunt and niece drove to the Formans in silence. Shauna was not one to prod into her niece's life. Jackie would tell her about her life when she wanted to. Of course, she knew how that Kelso boy had run off to California, breaking Jackie's heart and shattering another piece of the little innocence she had left. Shauna knew her niece's life was hard despite appearances. She knew this because she knew Pam all too well. Shauna knew neither parent was ever home and that Jackie spent too much time alone in that. That's why she gave the tiny brunette a job teaching ballet to the younger students. The money covered Jackie's rent at the Vortex. Shauna also knew Jackie had fallen in love again, with the burnout named Steven Hyde. They finally arrived, and Jackie got out of the car. "Good night," Shauna told her niece. Jackie nodded and waved goodbye.

Meanwhile, the gang sat in an awkward silence and watched Gilligan's Island. The reason for the silence was due to the missing sixth member. Finally, Eric spoke up. "There is a major disturbance in the force. Where's the devil?" Hyde frogged him for the Star Wars reference. "Ow, Hyde!"

"She said she had a cheerleading thing," Hyde responded, not taking his eyes off the tv. Thankfully, the dark shades over his eyes disguised that fact that he was really staring at the door. Hyde wouldn't feel any peace until he saw his loud, annoying girlfriend walk into the basement. The Zen master would never admit it, but he needed his daily dose of Jackie.

Kelso frowned. "Hyde, man, there's no practice today. It's Tuesday. The cheerleaders practice Monday, Wednesday, and Friday." After seeing the looks everyone was giving him, he tried to defend himself. "Hey, I have to know these things! I need to schedule certain girls on certain days!" Donna shook her head in disgust.

"Pig," she muttered under her breath. Luckily, the appearance of the gang's favorite loud midget saved Kelso from getting a beating from Donna. "Jackie!" the lumberjack shouted in relief. It was hard being the only girl in the basement.

Jackie smiled at her red-headed friend. "Hey, Donna," she responded, taking off her coat and heading towards Hyde. She took her rightful place in his lap and kissed him. "Hey, Puddin' Pop. Miss me?" Jackie whispered softly. Hyde's reply was to kiss her harder. The two were on their way to a steamy make-out session when Donna interrupted them.

"So where were you?" Donna asked casually, not wanting to watch Hyde and Jackie grope each other. She had come to accept the "creepy and unnatural" relationship, but that didn't mean she wanted to watch them maul each other.

Jackie looked up at her friend. "Cheerleading meeting," she replied vaguely. None of the gang knew about her dancing, and she wasn't about to tell them. Jackie needed people outside of that world. Telling them would just make them look at her differently.

Eric eyed her suspiciously. Jackie was usually perkier after those meetings. "What was the meeting about?" he asked with narrowed eyes.

"A fundraiser for new uniforms," Jackie answered as quickly as Eric asked. She was the master of excuses, whether it was why her mom couldn't come to parent-teacher night or why she was limping.

"Ooh, are you going to do a bikini car wash?" Fex asked excitedly, the image already forming in his head. Before you could blink, Hyde frogged him. "Ow, Hyde!"

Jackie smiled at her boyfriend's defensiveness towards her. "No, we're probably going to do another bake sale, though that's the last thing the school needs," she lied. Her friends seemed to accept her answers, and they all went back to watching Gilligan's Island. Fez and Kelso argued about which one of them Ginger would most likely sleep with, Donna listened to Eric blab on about the parallels between this show and Star Wars, and Jackie rested her head on Hyde's shoulder and closed her eyes. She felt what she had taken earlier wearing off. Hyde gently rubbed his tired girlfriend's back.

Hyde was starting to notice how tired Jackie always seemed to be lately. Her gorgeous eyes had light circles around them that she attempted to cover up with makeup, and her body seemed more frail each time he held her in his arms. Hyde was worried about his girlfriend but wasn't sure how to approach her. He decided to ask Mrs. Forman what to do.

After an hour or so of resting on Hyde's lap, Jackie asked, "What time is it?"

"Around nine," he answered casually. Jackie jumped off his lap and grabbed her stuff.

"I've got to go. Daddy's coming home tonight," she lied yet again. Jackie had no clue where her dad was. His absences were getting longer and more frequent. She suspected he was in trouble.

"Want me to drive you home?" Hyde offered calmly. Something was up with Jackie, and he wanted to talk to her alone. A drive would be the perfect way to do that.

"No thanks. It's too nice out to drive," Jackie responded cheerfully, putting her coat on and grabbing her bag. "Bye, Steven," she said mushily, giving him a long, steamy kiss before walking away.

"Bye, Doll," Hyde replied, a love struck look on his face. Jackie said a quick bye to the gang and walked out of the basement. Everyone had gotten the same vibe. Something was up with Jackie.

Meanwhile, Jackie walked into a dimly light alley, rubbing her hands together for warmth. She looked around until spotting a skinny, greasy-haired guy in a worn-out hoodie. "Todd," she greeted coolly.

"Ah, Lia," Todd replied with a smile. "Had a feeling I'd been seeing you tonight." This tiny cheerleader was one of his best clients.

"Do you have them?" she asked impatiently. Jackie hated this alley, and she hated having to deal with Todd, but a girl did what she had to do.

"Hold your horses. I was getting to that," the guy responded, pulling a paper bag out of his hoodie and shifting through its contents. Finally, he pulled out a bag and handed it to Jackie. She handed him a wad of cash. "Pleasure doing business with you," he said with a sleazy grin. Jackie flipped him off and walked away with her bag of speed.