Okay, so after watching the Thanksgiving episode in season one, I noticed that you see Jackie briefly at the Formans' eating dessert. It made me wonder how she spent her Thanksgiving. Knowing Jackie's background, this is what I came up with. This will probably be a two or three shot depending on how long the next update is. It was original only supposed to be a one-shot, but the story took over. It's set sometimes before Jackie Bags Hyde when Jackie was still trying to befriend the gang but also developing a crush on Hyde. Jackie and Kelso are broken up at this point. Hope you guys enjoy this. I had to write it! I couldn't get it out of my head! Read and review! Disclaimer: I do not own That '70s Show or its characters. If you think I think I do, go get your head checked.
Jackie Burkhart sat in the Hub, picking at her fries and sipping her Coke. It was Thanksgiving, and she was completely alone. Again. The tiny brunette didn't know why she had expected her parents to show up this year when they had never showed up before. Everything Thanksgiving in Jackie's memory had been spent with her nanny and later maid, Estella. Once she turned ten, Pam Burkhart decided that her daughter didn't need a nanny. That's when Jackie started spending Thanksgiving alone. She always had another maid prepare a big meal that would probably go wasted just in case her parents showed up. Pam was too busy soaking up sun and booze in Mexico to keep track of holidays, and Jack Burkhart was more worried about business dealings than his daughter. Still, every year Jackie gave Estella the day off and spent ten minutes looking at the delicious meal before leaving. She couldn't take staring at the blatant reminder of how her parents didn't love her. Thanksgiving was officially her least favorite holiday. She never had anything to be thankful for.
Luckily, the Hub was always opened on Thanksgiving, and no one was ever there besides her. She could sit, pick at her food, and cry in piece. No one would be able to see her, the bitchy cheerleader, shed tears over her broken family. That was the way Jackie preferred it. She hated people feeling sorry for her and went to great lengths to hide her dysfunctional family. Jackie hide behind a superficial mask, one she had perfected over the years. No one could see through it, and that was exactly how she wanted it.
Or so she thought. Ever since she started dating Michael and was introduced into the basement gang, Jackie wanted to show them the real side of her. The side that cared about people and loved unconditionally. But she couldn't do that. Jackie was terrified of being broken because she had a hard time fixing herself every time. She was afraid of becoming numb like her parents. Jackie would rather be in constant pain than be numb like them. At least if she was in pain, she still knew she was alive. Jackie laughed as she thought of how naïve Michael's friends thought she was. She must be a really good actor. Of all the people in the basement gang, she thought Hyde would be the one to see through her walls. Jackie knew he put up similar ones to protect from being hurt like his parents had hurt him by the people he cared about. Or "Zen" as he called it. To Jackie, Zen was just another version of cheerleader bitchness.
While Jackie was deep in her thoughts, Steven Hyde, or Hyde as he was called, walked towards the Hub. To say Thanksgiving at the Hyde house had been a disaster would be an understatement. His parents had ended up getting into a massive blow-out, throwing empty beer bottles at each other. Hyde had ducked out. He would bet fifty bucks that Bud would leave again that night, and that Edna would down three bottles of whiskey before passing out. He walked to the Hub, hoping to get some peace of mind.
The idea flew right out the window as Hyde walked in and saw Kelso's girlfriend, Jackie, sitting by herself at a table. Surprisingly, she wasn't chattering anyone's ear off. The spoiled cheerleader seemed to be lost in her thoughts, something that disturbed him. Hyde wondered what such a shallow girl would have to think about. His biggest question was why she was at the Hub instead of home with her family. He knew she was the daughter of a councilman, so he imagined they had some sort of elaborate dinner. Hyde studied Jackie. She was dressed for a fancy dinner in a short red dress that was conservative enough to not be slutty but still managed to get his heart racing. Hyde mentally cursed himself for having those thoughts about the loud cheerleader. And Kelso's girlfriend, his conscience reminded him. He had to admit that the second thing bothered him more than the first. Despite her annoying qualities, the girl deserved better than his idiot best friend. Hyde had no clue why she put up with Kelso's crap.
Jackie didn't notice Hyde sit down until he spoke. "What? Is your manor not having a party tonight or something?" Hyde asked with a smirk. Jackie looked up at him, a frown on her beautiful face. Hyde discovered he hated seeing Jackie frown.
"The dinner's over," she whispered, looking back down at the plate and arranging her fries in perfect order by length. Hyde found that a bit unsettling. He also didn't buy her excuse. No one looked that sad on Thanksgiving.
"You're lying," Hyde stated casually, taking in the shock on Jackie's face. Clearly, she wasn't used to people noticing her lies. It made him wonder what else she was hiding.
Jackie opened her mouth to protest but stopped. "Why do you care anyways?" she asked with her arms crossed. Hyde was constantly insulting her, and now he was worried about why she was alone on Thanksgiving. Talk about doing a 360.
Hyde shrugged. "I don't," he answered nonchalantly. Jackie rolled her eyes. He decided to try another question. "So what did Kelso do this time?" She gave him a confused look. "Whenever you cry, it usually means that Kelso screwed up again," Hyde explained his theory. The statement made Jackie laugh despite her misery.
"Michael and I aren't together anymore, so he can do whatever stupid he wants," Jackie answered like she was stating the weather. Hyde decided to leave the subject alone. He watched Jackie carefully, trying to detect what was wrong. The girl with her heart on her sleeve was suddenly a closed book.
Jackie sat there arranging her food. She found that, whenever she was hungry, arranging the food helped her to keep from eating it. Jackie obsessively watched her figure. There was no such thing as a fat cheerleader after all. And if she was going to be honest, Jackie also hoped that if she looked perfect, she'd gain her parents' love. That was what they had taught her as a child. Perfection equals love. It wasn't until Jackie grew up that she realized how out of whack that was. Still, she tried and tried to earn her parents' love.
Hyde noticed Jackie's strange habit. In the time he been sitting there, Jackie hadn't taken one bite of any of her food. In fact, he couldn't remember ever actually seeing the girl eat. Finally, Hyde had had enough. "Are you going to eat that?" he asked, pointing at her burger. Jackie shrugged which Hyde took as a no. He grabbed the burger and took a bite, still observing Jackie. Swallowing the food, Hyde looked at her and asked, "Aren't you hungry?" Jackie shook her head no. "I had a big lunch, so I'm good," she lied smoothly. Unfortunately, the growl of her stomach gave her away. Hyde raised an eyebrow, but Jackie quickly changed the subject. "I have to go home," she lied once again, getting up and grabbing her coat. Hyde stood up with her.
"I'll drive you home," he offered. Before Jackie could open her mouth to protest, he cut in. "It's cold outside." She gave in after remembering the windy walk to the Hub. The brisk weather had chilled her small frame. They walked outside and towards the El Camino. Hyde unlocked it, and Jackie slipped into the passenger seat. He started the car, and they headed off to the Burkhart residence.