Thanks for the reviews! They were really encouraging. I know there were a lot of new characters, but I always feel like you need some characters outside the ones on the actual show to balance it all out. The plot's complicated, but that's what makes it good. I hope you enjoy the chapter! Disclaimer: I don't' own That '70s Show or any of its characters. I wish I did. I could write an entire book on each.

Jackie heard everyone in the Vortex get up. She had never gone to sleep. The tiny brunette had completed all her homework and cleaned her room after popping a pill. Jackie didn't like taking speed, but she felt like she had no choice. Her life was tiring. Between dancing, cheerleading, her friends, Hyde, and school, Jackie was exhausted, and she had a feeling it showed. She suspected her boyfriend was worried, but she knew she couldn't tell him what was going on. Hyde wouldn't understand. He would just think she was working herself too hard. That was everyone thought. Tanya had repeatedly tried to get Jackie to quit taking the speed, but she refused. The loud midget needed those pills. Without them, she'd slow down and have to face everything. She'd have to face herself. A lot of the dancers liked to joke that Jackie would die doing pirouettes. This didn't make any of her friends happy.

Quill entered the room they shared. "Whoa, when did it get so clean in here?" she asked, amazed by the fact they could now see the floor.

"I cleaned it last night," Jackie replied casually while brushing her hair.

Quill didn't say anything. She knew Jackie, or Lia as they called her, liked order, and she knew why. The tiny brunette didn't have parents who loved her or that were even around all the time. She never knew when she was going to see them or when they were going to leave. Jackie liked to live her life in control. She alphabetized her books, organized her clothes by color, style, and season, and pushed people to do things her way. Jackie's bossiness was merely the girl's need for control, which was why her friends were able to tolerate it. Quill knew what it was like to not be in control.

"Going to the party tonight?" Quill asked casually, grabbing a bobby pin from Jackie's dresser. The two girls shared everything. In fact, Jackie was currently wearing Quill's favorite pair of jeans.

"I don't know…" Jackie said tentatively. She wanted to spend some time with Quill, Tanya, Lizzie, Mikey, and Tony because she felt like they hadn't talked outside class for a while, but at the same time she wanted to spend time with Hyde.

"Come on!" Quill begged, her lips forming a pout. "That really good band is playing, and Richard said that if we come, he'll consider our pajama theme idea." Jackie sighed. It was hard to argue with Quill. Plus, she really wanted that pajama party.

"Fine," she agreed. Quill started bouncing up and down. "But I'm not being your wing woman." Before her friend could argue, Jackie added, "I have a boyfriend. Get Lizzie to do it."

"But Lizzie doesn't talk," Quill whined. She knew that statement wasn't true. The pixie-like girl talked to them, but not many others. And forget about strange guys she just met.

"Then you'll look even more appealing," Jackie replied causally. She slipped on a pair of boots. "How do I look?" she asked nervously.

Quill eyed her friend. Whenever Jackie had a boyfriend, she put just a little more effort into her appearance. In a multi-colored stripe sweater, tan leather jacket, Quill's dark-wash skinny jeans, brown suede points, and handmade drop earrings with her hair down and curly and makeup subtle, the tiny brunette could make any guy stop and stare. "Amazing. Me?"

Jackie inspected her friend's outfit. Quill looked the part of the rebel hippy she was in a blue peasant top, short leather skirt, sparkly blue sneakers, and her silver peace sign necklace. Somehow, the Brazilian beauty made the look work. "Perfect," Jackie replied cheerfully. The dancers made their way done to the kitchen to find Mikey cooking eggs and bacon on the stove. The smell was intoxicating to Jackie, but her mind told her she'd look fat in her leotard if she had any.

'Hey, girls!" Mikey greeted happily. That was one of the reasons Jackie like him. He was always happy. Mikey didn't believe in being sad. "Life's too short," he'd tell anyone when they were upset. He saw Jackie's outfit and whistled. "Damn, Lia! Do you want that boyfriend of yours to jump you the minute you walk into the building? Because I would, and I'm gay!" Jackie blushed while Quill laughed.

"What's this we here about jumping?" a voice from behind them asked. The three turned around to see Tanya walking towards them. The redhead looked smoking in a white v-neck with flare jeans and black boots. Her style was very basic and functional but still sexy. "Because I don't want people to forgot I'm a girl," she'd always joke when asked about her clothes. "Whoever's thinking about sex, don't forget about protection!"

Jackie blushed even harder. "Enough," she stated firmly. "Where's Lizzie?" the loud midget asked, noticing the absent of their shy friend.

"She's tutoring some kid before school," Tanya replied, grabbing a plate and grabbing some breakfast. Quill and Mikey followed suit, piling food onto their plates. Jackie just watched. Tanya noticed her friend's hesitation. "Come on, Lia. A little breakfast won't hurt you, will it?" she coax gently. She knew Jackie had a problem eating, but there wasn't much she could do for her.

Jackie saw the desperation in her friend's eyes and sighed. "I'll eat a banana," she said grudgingly. Mikey handed her a banana, and Jackie took a few bites. She then threw away the banana. "All done," she said perkily. Her friends didn't say anything. Jackie got herself a glass of water and took a pill, making sure no one saw her do it. Finally, once everyone finished breakfast, they left to go to school. They didn't all go to the same school. Tanya actually went to the same Catholic school that Donna was now at, Quill was at some alternative hippy school, Mikey took design classes at the local community college, and Tony attended an all boys school in Kenosha. He was currently visiting a sick relative in Vermont, explaining his absence from the Vortex. Lizzie was the only one who actually went to Point Place High School with Jackie. The two friends didn't really talk much during school. It wasn't something intentional, just a random coincidence on their part.

Jackie was always the first person they dropped off since she always went to the Formans before school. When they pulled up to the familiar house, Jackie got out. "Bye, guys! See ya later!" she shouted, rushing out of the car. Quill tossed Jackie's house keys to her, and Jackie caught them in the air. They drove off.

Of course, Hyde had been watching his girlfriend arrive from the hood of his El Camino. He hadn't recognized the people in the car, but he figured they were just some of Jackie's cheerleading minions. Of course, Hyde didn't know they had any guys on the squad. Jackie walked up to him and hopped into the hood of his car. She kissed him. "Morning, Puddin' Pop," she greeted cheerfully. Hyde had to admire the amount of energy she had for so early in the morning.

"Hey, Doll," he replied causally, looking around for Eric, Fez, and Kelso. Hyde had promised to wait for them, but the thought of getting to school early and having some extra time to make out with Jackie was tempting.

"Ready to go?" she asked gently. Jackie had some things to do at school, so she wanted to get there. Plus, she wouldn't mind a little extra alone tine with her boyfriend.

Hyde thought about it for a moment before responding, "Yeah." It wasn't his fault Forman, Kelso, and Fez were late. The couple drove to school in silence. Jackie was lost in her thoughts, envisioning her dance routine in her head. She could picture each move perfectly. When they arrived, Hyde leaned over and kissed her. That snapped Jackie out of her daze. They made out until Kelso spotted them and started spazzing out. Jackie smiled as Hyde flipped his best friend off. Maybe she would be able to keep herself together. With her boyfriend by her side, Jackie felt invincible. Still, there was a pit in her stomach when the tiny brunette thought of Hyde discovering her secret. What would he think, she wondered to herself. Probably nothing good, an annoying voice told her. Jackie tried to shrug it off. She needed to stay focused. If she didn't, she'd lose it all.