What Lies Beneath

A bit of a timeline adjustment for our story. Sam never leaves with Larry. Our scene starts on New Year's Day, but the Jackie/Fez thing happened in November. Jackie has known for some time that she's leaving Point Place…

Everyone reaches their breaking point eventually. Everyone. For Jackie, it wasn't about Samantha. Not really. Sam was an inconvenience; a bleached, vapid ball of fortunate fat-deposits and shiny polyester short-shorts. The breaking point was Steven's attitude. His acerbic wit had turned angry, vicious, and mean-spirited. She'd had enough by New Year's Eve. What was especially hurtful to her, though, was that he expected it to break her. She couldn't believe that he thought her so fragile, so empty, that his snide remarks and innuendo would bring her to her knees.

Well, fuck that. She was Jacqueline Burkhardt. She kneeled to no man. Not even Steven J. Hyde.

Her acceptance letter to Northwestern burned a hole in her hand as she marched through the snow and frost back to her shared apartment with Fez. She'd sent her deposit in when she got the letter back in October. A small part of her had clung to the hope that he'd snap out of his shitty mood, kick Sam to the curb, and come back to her. She snorted at her own foolish optimism, and the burning sensation in her eyes migrated to her heart. Jackie Burkhardt was fucking pissed.

Then she remembered Fez, and her anger abated slightly.

He'd been so good to her the last few weeks, her sweet, foreign prince. He knew that they wouldn't last, but he gave her room to let her heart explode in one last valiant attempt to recapture love. When it was all over, he wished her luck and promised to keep her secret from them all- especially the traitors. She would pay Fez back for everything, but especially his loyalty, when she made her mark. For those who crossed her, though, she would stoke the flames of revenge as long as it took to find satisfaction.

She started throwing clothes into a large suitcase without regard to space or practicality. Upon attempting to close the overpacked luggage, however, she realized that this moment was where life began anew. She slowly unpacked and methodically trawled through her expansive wardrobe. Each piece of clothing was held tightly, smelled, and gazed upon. If no powerful emotion took place, she lovingly set it aside to be donated in the morning. Certain pieces brought such joy, or heart-clenching sorrow that she just HAD to pack them. Her favorite Jordache jeans, the ones her mother bought her on her "first American shopping trip" since Mexico, her pink plaid flannel pajamas, and a faded Led Zeppelin concert tee so full of smiles and tears that it held life itself- these made the suitcase instantly. A second suitcase was packed with essential makeup, toiletries, and a white gold oval locket that meant everything to her. She opened it quickly, smiled at the happy faces in the pictures on either side, and closed it gently. He'd never give her jewelry. No, this had been a gift from Red for her graduation, but the inscription on the back had been vintage Steven.

I'll be with you always, dollface.

It was as close to "I love you", as Steven Hyde could get.

As she closed her bedroom door she looked around at the apartment and smiled at the few happy memories that flooded her mind. A conversation just hours old echoed in her ears…

"Jackie, sweetie, this is your chance. You've got to take it! Honey, this town is fine for Red and me. We've lived our youth! We saw the places we wanted to see, did the things we wanted to do, and then lived the lives we chose to live. But you…" she sighed, "You've been waiting on my son to grow up, and for Donna to be the friend you were to her. Stop waiting, dear. There's a fire in you that they don't see… But Red and I see it. Go get your future, Jackie!" and she squeezed the tiny hands in her own.

"Mrs. Foreman…, " Jackie began. The words were stuck painfully in her throat.

"I know, dear. I know."

"Please tell Red goodbye for me. Tell Eric, when he gets home, where I am. We were friends, real and honest friends, and I think he'd understand."

"I will, Jackie. Make sure to write to us. If you need anything, you know that Red and I, and you-know-who will take care of you," Kitty winked at their shared secret.

"I do, Mrs. Foreman. I really do."

And that was it. Jackie took a deep breath, shook the memories out of her mind, and walked into the frigid Wisconsin winter. In 24 hours, she'd be on her journey to becoming someone new, someone strong, someone she'd be proud of… even if Steven wasn't. Jackie was determined to find out what lay beneath her skin.