Hello, It's Me ? Steven Hyde

[11] - hyde moves in

"Like an eel?" Kelso chuckled, getting the others to smirk.

"Not that, you idiot!" Jackie hissed, slapping his arm as she realized what he was alluding to. "I think I'm sick."

"Oh, I caught an eel," Fez said, nodding.

Hyde turned to shoot him a look, sliding a safe distance away from him in the chair.

❁

Hyde sat alone in the mess of his house. After hearing nothing from his mother for days, and having to crash the Formans' dinner because of it, the phone finally rang. Sure enough, it was Edna, rambling so much it was obvious she was drunk.

"Mom, Mom, Mom?" Hyde cut her off from whatever she was trying to say. "Yeah, I couldn't help but notice you're not home yet."

He paused as she started to explain, actually making sense this time. Her words made him stand up. "Oh. Is that right?"

She said something else, and Hyde tried his best to sound like he was okay. "Okay, great. Yeah. No, no, no. You know... whatever makes you happy."

Not even saying goodbye, he hung up the phone, staring at it a few seconds before hurling it across the room.

Eric and Liz, who had just approached the screen door, winced as the phone made impact with the wall.

Hyde let out a few heavy breaths, trying to compose himself when he noticed them watching. Offering a wave, he managed to sound fine as he greeted, "Hey, Formans."

"Hi." Eric waved back.

"Come on in. Make yourself at home," Hyde offered. "I'm out of beer, but, if you want, you can break something."

"Actually, I... had my eye on the phone, so..." Eric attempted to joke as he stepped inside.

Liz rushed over to their friend the minute she passed the door. Sticking out her bottom lip, she breathed, "Hyde..."

"No, Lizzie." He pointed a finger in her direction. The last thing he wanted was any sympathy. "Don't give me that look."

"Hey, what's that?" Eric asked, gesturing to a few items laid out on a makeshift footstool.

Hyde glanced down at the meal he prepared for himself. "It's crackers with ketchup on top for, uh... you know, for zest."

"Hyde, please tell me that's not your lunch." Liz looked at him worriedly, placing a hand on his arm. It was the same look he had told her not to use, yet she couldn't help herself.

He scoffed. "Of course not. No. It's just a snack."

"Okay. Well, I'm just gonna guess that... Edna's not coming back." Despite the thought, Eric couldn't help but nervously chuckle a little.

"No, man. She's just been delayed a little bit," Hyde assured him, moving to sit down on the couch, Liz following him.

"Oh, okay. Oh, okay." Eric seemed unconvinced as he sat down in the armchair, glancing around the room. "Didn't there used to be a TV there?"

"Yeah. I pawned it."

"You pawned your mom's TV? Hyde, she's not coming back." Eric shook his head.

"Eric," Liz hissed, shooting him a look. While she knew it to be true, she figured that was the last thing Hyde needed to hear at the moment.

"No, Lizzie. It's okay." Hyde simply shrugged. "She's not coming back, alright?"

The twins shared a look, shifting uncomfortably at the thought.