A/N: Hey guys! This is my first stab into T70S fanfic. I've read so many wonderful stories here and I wanted to try it out myself. I can guarantee this story won't be complete before Halloween is over but tis the season, I figured now is as good a time as any to share it. Please let me know what you think!
Update: I just realized the page breaks didn't post and I look like a derp. Fixed it!
Disclaimer: I own nothing. The only thing I own is a Prius, and I owe a lot of money on it.
Late-October
1978
6:33pm
Eric Forman's Basement
Fez was sitting in the lawn chair, mechanically shoving M&Ms into his mouth while Kelso lounged across the worn couch. Both of the boys were staring at the TV, appearing to the casual observer to be in a trance.
Steps were heard on the stairs, one pair a heavy-footed boot, the other the lighter staccato sound from heels. "Steven, I know you think it's stupid and childish, but I really think-"
"No."
"But Steven, it's Halloween, don't you want to-"
"No."
"Fine, but-"
"Jackie, I said no at the Hub, five times in the car on the way here, and twice in the kitchen. I'm not going to a freaking Halloween party with your cheerleader friends!"
At the mention of cheerleaders, Kelso and Fez turned in unison to watch the couple fighting at the base of the staircase.
Jackie switched tactics. Reaching out, she curled her slender fingers around Hyde's and swiveled her body side to side a bit. She put on an adorable smile for added effect. Jackie had opened her mouth with her next argument, but before she could get a word in edgewise, Hyde was ready with his rebuttal. "No."
Hyde had not however, dropped her hand. Perhaps there was still a little bit of hope. Jackie was ready to pull out the big guns. "Her parents are out of town and there's going to be plenty of beer. Free beer, Steven."
Hyde paused for half a beat then started to scowl. "Fine," he bit out, but needed to make one thing absolutely clear to his girlfriend. "But I'm not wearing a costume."
"Alright! Cheerleaders!" Kelso had sat up by this point and he turned to give Fez a high-five.
"But Kelso, it is a costume party." Fez whined slightly with a frown, his ever-present accent coloring his words. "How am I going to top the fishnets and heels from last year? Girls won't want to do it with me if I am not properly attired."
Hyde turned his attention from Jackie at this point. They had made their way to his chair, and Jackie was just perching herself on his knee. Never one to turn down an opportunity for mischief making with his foreign friend, Hyde gave Fez most of his attention. "Fez. What a girl really wants is for you to look sluttier than her. It's an American Halloween tradition." Hyde looked towards the couch on instinct, but it was still only Kelso. Eric and Donna weren't home and he didn't have back up on this one. He didn't until Jackie opened her mouth. That girl was growing on him more every day.
"Steven's right. See, I have our Halloween costumes all planned out. St- I mean I am going to be a pilot and Steven here," Jackie paused to drape an arm around Hyde's shoulders and smile cutely at him. She was so not giving up on winning best costume at the party because Hyde was being well, himself. "-is going to be a sexy stewardess with a super cute neckerchief and a tight little skirt. Not to mention the heels I- I mean he bought just for this party and hi- I mean me."
Jackie's tone had gone from sweet to angry by the end of her monologue, but Fez didn't notice. He had a semi-vacant expression on his face while he mentally flipped through all the possible sexy costumes he could pull off. Kelso was back to watching cartoons and paid no attention to Jackie's conversation or subsequent slip ups. After the magic words cheerleaders and free beer he had no reason to pay attention.
Hyde tightened his grip around Jackie's waist, just enough to get her attention and let her know he wasn't stupid. He was onboard with his chick helping him pull a fast one on Fez, but he wasn't as easily pushed over as their foreign friend. "Heels, Steven. High heels."
"No."
"But Steven, I already bought our costumes and I know how handsome you'll-"
"No."
"Steven, just listen to me. I-"
"No." Hyde knew this argument wasn't going anywhere, so he tapped Jackie lightly. Whatever argument they happened to be having, their body language was still in sync. She stood up, already going on about saving face in front of the other cheerleaders or something. Whatever it was, Hyde tuned her out. While Jackie droned on Hyde stood and lifted her, easily tossing her over his shoulder. He was pretty sure she didn't notice. She continued to harangue her boyfriend as he walked to his room with her. Hyde deposited Jackie on his bed, shut the door, and turned to stare her down, arms crossed over his chest.
"Steven, you're not even listening to me," Jackie huffed.
"Uh let's see here… cheerleaders, Halloween, popularity, poor people, and-" Hyde changed his voice to a whining impersonation of Jackie- "Steveeen! Did that about sum it up?"
"Ugh, it's like you don't even care!" Jackie threw her hands up, her frustration evident.
"Of course I don't care Jackie, it's freaking Halloween. You're lucky I'm even going to the stupid party. Why would I dress up?"
"Because I asked you nicely?" Jackie countered.
"Jackie I don't do costumes. I don't do Halloween. I don't do cheerleaders."
Jackie scooted back on the cot, rested her back against the dresser, and lifted one eyebrow in response.
"Okay, so maybe I do cheerleaders."
"Cheerleaders? As in multiple? Steven, if you're cheating on me, I swear to-"
Jackie's voice was rising and Hyde had to stop her before she started kicking his shins. "Woah, woah. Slow down, Jackie. Cheerleader. As in one. One loud, bossy, and obnoxious yet extremely hot cheerleader." While speaking, Hyde moved to sit down next to Jackie and slung his arm across her shoulders.
Still not ready to give up, but satisfied Hyde wasn't turning into Kelso 2.0, Jackie turned an draped her legs across his lap. "And?"
"And I agreed to go to the stupid party with you."
"The party is not stupid. I already explained to you that it means…"
Hyde had enough. He was alone in his room with his girlfriend and there was no way he was going to survive another Jackie-speech. He did the only thing a man possibly could in this situation. He pulled Jackie into his lap and crushed his mouth to hers, effectively muting her in a way that wouldn't make her violent. Jackie tensed in his arms for the length of three breaths then her arms were around him and her lips responded in kind. 'Finally' Hyde thought. 'This is what I've been waiting all day for.'
After a couple of minutes and some light petting, Jackie broke the kiss and leaned back in Hyde's arms. "Steven?" she questioned, her words barely louder than a whisper.
"Yeah?" Hyde used the break in making out to pull his sunglasses off and set them on the dresser.
"I have the high heels with me." A seductive smile played on her lips.
Hyde perked right up at that. "Do I get to see you in them?"
"I was going to put them on for you, but since you won't dress up with me I have to return them so I can't. I can't wear a couple's costume alone, Steven." Jackie accentuated her words with a pout.
Hyde stared at her in disbelief. It took him a moment to realize the level of deviousness Jackie had resorted to but once he did he faceplanted his bed and half-groaned, half-screamed into the pillow.
She was devious, and he really lo-liked that about her, but he would not cave for sex. Not even naked-Jackie-in-high-heels-sex.
"What was that?" Donna and Eric both spoke and turned their heads in unison to the sound of Hyde's strangled voice emanating from his room.
"Oh man!" Kelso yelled. "Hyde and Jackie are doing it! Wait…" His face fell and Donna patted his shoulder in a show of sympathy. Kelso was still making half-hearted attempts to get Jackie back, and Donna couldn't help but feel a little bad for him. Kelso was Kelso. He might not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but he was always genuine.
"If that's Hyde and Jackie doing it, then something is very wrong," Eric stated then added in a muttered breath, "She really is the devil."
"Shut up." Donna lightly slapped Eric's chest, but there was no heat in it. She knew that if it were her and Eric back there, everyone would be talking just as much trash.
"Hyde really has gone to the dark side. But instead of Darth Vader, he's with Satan." A horrified look crossed Eric's face before he whispered, "Jackie is worse than Darth Vader." The members of the group that were assembled collectively rolled their eyes at Eric's expected but not necessarily welcome Star Wars reference.
Hyde and Jackie re-emerged at this point and Eric was unable to continue comparing Jackie to Darth Vader and come up with more horrible things that she was capable of. He instead gave her a frightened look and scooted closer to Donna in the middle of the couch.
Jackie pursed her lips briefly at Eric's odd behavior, but he was generally twitchy so she didn't spend too much time thinking about it. He was Eric, and ew. Plus, her foolproof plan of naked heels didn't go over so well with Hyde so she had more important things to think of. It was clearly not a foolproof plan, but Jackie wasn't disheartened. She would get her boyfriend to wear a matching costume. Somehow.
"Circle time?" Donna asked the group in general. She was still adjusting to life at Our Lady of Perpetual Sorrow and relaxing with a joint sounded way better than a rap with a ruler.
"Sorry man, no can do." Hyde settled into his chair, appearing far more unbothered than he was. Jackie and her freaking scheming, man. He was so close to getting some action and a show. It was all about the show of Zen at this point. "We finished my bag last time and I haven't seen Leo in a few days.
"No circle, no more candy, no sexy lady costume, no Fez." Fez stood up, ticking each item off on his fingers. He started to leave, which finally dragged Kelso's attention away from reruns.
"I have a bag. I got it today." Kelso fished into his pocket with a proud smile and produced said bag, full of everyone's favorite green plant.
"Kelso. Where'd you get a bag?" Hyde glanced from the table to Kelso and back again. He was never one to turn down free smoke, but this was Kelso.
"Yeah," Eric agreed. "This isn't like the time when you bought a 'killer stash' and we all smoked Oregano is it?
"No man, I got it from this hot chick dressed like a witch down by Hub, except she was a hot witch. It was in the alley behind it. See, I had to pee and the bathroom was full so I went out back and-"
"Michael. Will you get to the freaking point?" Jackie griped.
"Damn Jackie. Let a guy tell his story." Kelso pointedly turned to Donna and Eric, ignoring Jackie and Hyde who were sitting in Hyde's chair. "So I went out back and there was this super hot chick. She asked if I was looking to score and I was like sweet! Yeah! I mean, my pants were already unzipped. I was halfway there. Then she showed me this…" Kelso picked up the baggie for emphasis, "And I was like sweet! Yeah!" I mean doing it would've been better, but she gave me the stash for free. And she said I was gonna have a lightning experience." A frown crossed Kelso's features as he pondered that. Wait. Is lightning gonna mess up my hair?"
Donna decided to save Kelso from himself while Hyde reached for the bag and Eric passed it over to him. "Did she maybe say that you'd have an enlightening experience, Kelso?"
"That's exactly what I said Donna. A lightning experience." Kelso made an exaggerated eye roll and huffed. Donna smiled and shook her head, but made no reply.
"This is definitely real." Hyde announced from his chair. "And it smells pretty tasty, man."
No one questioned Hyde's authority on weed. Eric, Fez, and Kelso set chairs around the circle while Jackie and Donna lit the incense. By the time everyone was situated, Hyde had a joint rolled. He handed it to Kelso for the honors. It was his stash after all, and started rolling a second joint. Hyde wouldn't admit it, but he needed to calm Jackie down and distract her from the Halloween from Hell mission
"It's so weird," Kelso started. "She was dressed like a witch, but she was blond with these giant boobs." Moving his hands at least a foot from his chest, he attempted to demonstrate just how large his mystery dealer's breasts were. "And she was a sexy witch. No green skin or pointy noise. I wish all witches were that hot. But wait…" Pausing, Kelso got that semi-pained look that indicated he was thinking hard. "Was she a real witch? Why was there a witch in the alley behind the Hub?"
"Aiee! I just smoked witchy weed!" Fez jumped into Kelso's lap and clung to him, far from sober and clearly frightened.
Pan to Eric and Donna, who were staring at Fez and Kelso. Kelso looked like a scared puppy and the two were clinging to each other with no thoughts of it being anything but completely natural. "Donna? Is it just me, or is that really happening?"
"It's almost Halloween you dillholes." Was Donna's only response but the guys weren't listening to her.
"Hey Jackie, you should give those costumes of yours to Kelso and Fez. Don't they make an adorable couple?" Hyde had a smirk on his face, but it didn't last for long. Jackie, who was sitting snuggled against his side, elbowed him in the ribs. "Ow! What was that for man?" At the fire in Jackie's eyes, Hyde realized his screw up and stuck the joint to Jackie's lips. "Or um…" Hyde started, surreptitiously moving his shins out of the reach of his girlfriend's feet. "You could buy them their own couple costume." His response was mumbled as quietly as possible.
"Oh my god Steven, does that mean we're dressing up for the party? Best costume wins $200."
"WHAT?!" Five pairs of eyes turned and stared at Jackie.
Crap. She hadn't meant to give that part away.
"Alright! We're all going to a party!" Kelso announced. "Fez we're going to kick Jackie and Hyde's asses and win best dressed!"
After that, everything got a little fuzzy…