Point Place, Wisconsin
March 2, 1976
3:34 p.m.
Eric Forman's Basement
Sixteen-year-old Eileen blew a curl of brown hair from her eyes as she strummed a Zeppelin song on her six string.
She was sitting pretzel style on the basement couch, enjoying the solitude before Eric and his friends came home from school.
With Red working at the plant, Kitty working as a nurse at the hospital, Eric at school and Laurie in college, she had the house to herself from nine in the morning to 3 o'clock, when people started to come home.
Kitty worried that her youngest daughter would get lonely, but it was the time Eileen took to simply be herself.
Since her grades were phenomenal and shed been a star pupil in high school, Eileen could've easily enrolled in some college courses and began her career, with her parents' consent.
But it would've been too much on them for her to go off to college at the same time as Laurie. Two birds leaving the nest at once.
Or at least that's what she told herself…
A curly haired, broad shouldered rock & roll lover in shades certainly had nothing to do with it.
As her fingertips danced across the frets of her guitar, she got caught up in the soft, soothing melody it produced, trying to remember the last time she saw his eyes.
Suddenly hoots and hollers (no doubt the second wave of Kelso's sugar rush) echoed down the basement stairs, along with thundering footsteps.
The Stairway to Heaven dissipated as she was startled from her playing.
Fresh from the hub, the gang came down the stairs smelling like French fries and Jackie's perfume.
Eileen put the guitar flat in her lap, giving a shy wave as they descended.
"Hey Ells Bells," Donna said, smiling and giving her a gentle nudge.
"How was school?" Eileen asked, standing up so they could all plop down on the couch.
Kelso groaned. "You're just trying to rub it in, aren't cha? You've been sick all year, so you haven't had to go!"
Jackie rolled her eyes. "No, Michael, she's just a nerd so she graduated two years earlier than she was supposed to."
Eileen scowled. "I'm right here," she pointed out, sighing and beginning her ascension up the stairs.
Eric shook his head. "Nah man, it's all good. You know, my little sis making something of herself, exceeding everyone's expectations…actually…could you like cool it a little bit, Ells? Cuz you're making me look bad." He cleared his throat, sitting on the left side of the couch.
Eileen just scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Eric, that's not hard to do."
Kelso laughed and shouted. "BURN!" making Fez laugh too.
Jackie sat in Kelso's lap, looking at Ellie with a disdainful expression. "I don't get it. You have such great looks yet you work hard using your brain. It's such a waste."
She couldn't get up the stairs fast enough. "Okay, my IQ points are starting to drop, guess that's my cue to leave."
"Did she just call me stupid?!" Jackie exclaimed, storming up the stairs after her.
Fez smirked. "Vell, shay wasn't calleen you smart," he said, unable to stop himself from shaking with laughter.
Donna bit her lip to hold one in and took off after Jackie to make sure she didn't do anything rash. "Jackie calm down! It's not like she said you were ugly!"
Hyde came in through the back door with another baggie. "Hey guys," he said walking over to his favorite chair.
Eric gave him a nod of acknowledgment. "Hey man," he said, popping open a few coca colas.
Hyde shrugged off his cowhide jacket and pulled up his chair to the round table. "So," he said, grinning conspiratorially, "who's got a lighter?"
~.~
Halfway into their circle session, the conversation was in full swing.
"Come on, I'd totally be Shaggy," Hyde said, chewing on a piece of beef jerky. "I have the hair, I say "man" a lot, and I'm always hungry."
Fez retorted, "I sink zeh real question here is…are Shaggy and Scooby acquainted with Mary Jane."
That made Kelso laugh. "Oh, chyeah. Why do you think they have such a huge Van? Cuz Mystery Inc. has stoner parties on their off time."
Eric shook his head. "Naaah. I think they have a van because they need the room. Think about it. You've got Shaggy, Scooby, Velma, Fred and Daphne. That's a lot of people."
Kelso crossed his arms. "No way! There's six of us but you can fit us all in the Vista Cruiser. They totally use the back for parties."
Eric scoffed. "We're stoners too, but we don't have stoner parties in my car."
Kelso threw his hands up. "Because it's not a van, Eric!" he exclaimed, feeling that he'd made his point.
Eric took a sip from his coke. "Whatever. Aren't we a little old to be debating this anyway? We're in our senior year of high school."
Hyde snickered. "Says the guy who has a shelf full of dolls above his head at eighteen years old."
Eric shot him a dirty look. "Hyde, I'm not going over this again. They are not. Dolls."
Fez scowled as he sucked his Popsicle. "If being a man means no Scooby Doo than I call not it."
Steven took another hit of the joint and coughed. "Well, dolls, action figures, whatever you wanna call 'em…they get handled more than you do, that's for sure."
Kelso laughed hard and loud. "BURN!" He exclaimed. "That's funny, cuz Eric probably plays with them."
Fez giggled. "But the question is…does Edeec play with his dolls or himself more?"
In response, Eric threw a cream soda can at him.
The whole gang laughed except for Eric. "Well, when's the last time you got some action, Hyde? Oh, that's right, not since Pam Macy on Prom night."
Hyde cleared his throat. "Um...no. That's not true. And I can have any girl I want."
Kelso stood at attention. "Oh! Oh! Except for Miss Hamill. We made a pact in third grade that she's off limits."
Hyde smiled, remembering. "Ah, Miss Hamill. I'd still tap that."
Fez ate some pretzels. "Plus, Hyde dooz not have a womahn. But Edeec does. Despite zis fact, Edeec still does not get love."
Eric scoffed. "Who says I'm not gettin' some?"
Hyde grinned. "Your slightly enlarged right arm, that's what."
Eric couldn't help laughing. "Shut up!" he said, hitting Hyde from across the table.
Hyde backed up. "Whoa whoa hey, other hand, man," which just started a whole other round of laughter.
After the laughter had subsided, Fez crossed his arms and gave a puppy dog pout. "You've never made a pact with me Hyde," he said remorsefully.
Kelso smiled with smug satisfaction. "That's because Hyde only makes pacts with me. It's our thing."
Hyde shook his head. "No our thing is I get a stupid idea that will end in injury, and I convince you to do it, since you're the only one dumb enough. Then…I sit back and laugh as it blows up in your face." He smiled.
Kelso gasped in shock. "AH! Well…whatever you say, you've never made pacts with anyone else, right?"
Hyde opened his mouth to reply but then paused.
And then for the first time in years, he thought about that night.
We have a pact now, you and I. And pacts are sacred.
His hand went to the glass bead around his neck automatically.
His hesitation was felt by the whole group.
Eric saw the expression on Hyde's face. "Holy hell. He has."
Hyde sat back in his chair his mouth a firm line. "No, I haven't."
"It's written all over your face, you dirty liar!" Eric said, pointing at him accusingly with a Popsicle stick.
Fez gasped. "But with who?!"
Kelso shook his head. "No one! Cuz…" but he was starting to doubt. "Who was he? I'll kill 'im. Cuz that's our thing!"
Hyde's hand went back down to his lap as he tried to remain composed. "Whatever, man. Like Forman said, we're not kids. Who cares if I did?"
Kelso started pointing fingers. "Alright! Who was it?!"
Fez held his hands up. "Not it," he said, fear in his eyes.
Eric shrugged. "Yeah, I've never made a pact with Hyde either."
Kelso sighed. "Then who the hell was it?"
Hyde gave a "duh" expression. "Well, if I talked about it, then it would be breaking the pact."
Kelso gasped. "So there was a pact!"
The young rebel scoffed and shook his head. "Okay, you know what? Yeah, there was. But it was like almost seven years ago. It's irrelevant."
Fez made a pouty face. "Aaaaw Heidi duzzen wanna takaboudiiiit," he said, holding back a grin.
Eric shrugged again. "But if it was so long ago, what's the harm?"
Kelso shrugged. "Yeah. I mean…what was it for? Not to steal each other's jolly ranchers?" He couldn't even finish without laughing, making everyone else laugh.
Except Hyde.
He took another puff.
But so far it wasn't doing anything for him.
He glared at them. "It doesn't matter, that's my point! We don't need to talk about it."
Eric backed away putting his hands in front of him. "Whoa ho, calm down there, buddy. Why so defensive?"
Fez ate another pretzel. "Vell, if it eez about jolly ranchers then I complitaly oondarstahnd."
Kelso rolled his eyes. "Come on man, we're you're friends. You know what's said in the circle doesn't leave the circle – "
"– That is complete bull," Hyde retorted his jaw tense.
Eric nodded. "No, it's true. Look, gossip is one thing but pacts are law."
Fez smiled with understanding. "Ooooh I get it," he said grinning mischievously. "The person he made it with was a womahn."
Hyde's face flushed with color. "No," he simply said.
Kelso saw his face and immediately fell out of his chair, bursting into uncontrollable laughter. "OH MY GOD!" He said through his fits of laughter. "HYDE MADE A PACT WITH A GIIIRRRRRRRRRL!"
Eric's jaw dropped in disbelief. "Well well well." he grinned. "I wonder who the lucky lady was...you sly fox."
Hyde just got up out of his chair and moved his feet to leave. "You're all dumb. I'm gonna go see if there's any food in the fridge."
Fez started laughing like a hyena. "Hyde is in loooooove," he sneered and suddenly it became a cheer for the boys.
The jeering quickened Hyde's pace as he ran up the basement stairs and then to the main stairs.
Hyde ducked into the Forman's bathroom, looking at himself in the mirror.
He hadn't thought about that day in forever. Eileen had been so small and light as he'd carried her down from the Tree house.
It wasn't even standing anymore. A bad storm made the tree fall over.
For a while, it was as if it never happened.
But flushed cheeks and an elevated heart beat were indications enough to remind him it did.
He rubbed the bead between his thumb and middle finger, biting his lip.
He never took it off, and he'd worn it for so long he'd forgotten the memory associated with it.
He reached behind his neck to undo the hand-tied knot, but something stopped him.
If he took it off, the guys would be even more suspicious.
Plus…
He ran a hand through his hair and adjusted his glasses.
He didn't...like Eileen. He never would've even talked to her if he hadn't been staying in the Forman's backyard behind their backs.
And even if he did…
He scowled at himself in the mirror.
It didn't matter. Eileen was Eric's sister, which meant she was off limits.
After a deep breath, he exited the background, leaving his nameless emotions behind him.
~.~
Later that day…
The Forman's Kitchen
Dinner Time
Steven, Eric, and Red all sat at the kitchen table while Kitty served them mashed potatoes and steamed broccoli with their grilled chicken.
"This is so good, Mrs. Forman," Hyde said enthusiastically, immediately starting to stuff his face.
Eric just grunted in agreement, doing the same.
Kitty laughed. "My goodness. You boys are always so famished. AH HA HA HA HA! It makes me wonder if that school actually feeds you during lunch time."
Red cleared his throat. "Well, it doesn't matter, because we can't afford to send homemade lunches anyway." His smile was intimidating as usual.
Kitty put her hands on her hips. "Red," she warned, shooting him a stern look.
After Hyde finished his food he looked at the empty seat in front of him and blushed. "Hey, where's uh…Eileen?" he tried to ask as nonchalantly as possible.
"Steven, take off your sunglasses at the table," Kitty said, fussing over him.
Shit, he thought. His vulnerable blue eyes were put on display seeing as he had no choice but to do what he was told.
Red groaned, shaking his head. "Dammit. I forgot."
Eric raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"
Red sighed. "Ellie's concert is this weekend, and I can't take her. The plant asked me to pick up some extra hours on Saturday."
Kitty gasped. "Oh Red, how could you? She's been looking forward to that concert for months!"
Red threw his hands up. "Well, fine Kitty, I'll just shut off the electricity and waste four tanks of gas to drive her to a concert she'll enjoy for two measly hours."
Kitty hit his arm. "Red, that poor girl barely leaves the house as it is!"
Red flinched. "What's the big deal? Just have Eric take her."
Eric stopped chewing and swallowed awkwardly. "Well…I promised Donna we'd go see The Front at the Drive-In on Saturday."
Hyde swallowed his food. "Then just take Donna on a different day."
Eric shook his head. "I can't. Friday night she's gonna write her paper for Global History and Sunday we go to Church."
Hyde tried again. "Okay, take her tomorrow."
"It won't be out yet."
"So take her Thursday."
"It's a school night."
Red interrupted their banter. "Well, Eileen is your sister, Eric. She takes precedence over a movie with a girl who lives two feet away from you."
Eric sighed. "I don't know if the Cruiser would even make the trip. Isn't her concert in Madison or something? That's a two-hour drive."
Hyde bit his lip in thought, clearing his throat. "I'd take her," he said in a nonchalant tone, like he was discussing the weather, "I just don't have a car."
Kitty smiled. "Well that's a great idea," she said. "That's very nice of you Steven."
Red raised an eyebrow. "Why would you have any interest is chauffeuring around a sixteen-year-old girl?"
His heart was hammering in his chest, but he played it cool. "It's a concert, and I don't have anything goin' on, that's all." Hyde shrugged.
Red stared him in the eyes, making Hyde's head hurt.
But he finally nodded. "Fine. On Saturday, I'll take the Cruiser to work, and you can take my Toyota. It's less likely to break down on ya and it's got insurance. But if you get one scratch on that car, my foot won't even make it up your ass before you're put into a body bag."
He swallowed nervously but nodded. "Got it."
Eric scoffed. "Um…wait, if you're taking the Cruiser, and Hyde's taking your car…how am I gonna take Donna to the movies?"
Red smiled. "You're not. You'd know that if you weren't a dumb ass."
Eric was about to protest except the swinging door opened to reveal Eileen.
She blushed shyly when she saw Steven at the table.
Steven took in her appearance. She'd dressed in blue jeans and a Led Zeppelin T-shirt.
He realized it was a shirt he'd left in the basement by accident. Kitty must have washed it, thinking it was Eric's.
"This is the shirt I'm gonna wear to the concert, Dad," she said, beaming from ear to ear.
Red smiled. "Actually honey, Daddy has to work some extra hours this weekend, so Steven's gonna take you."
To his shock, Eileen looked down into her lap as color rose to her face. "Okay," she said, wordlessly scooping some potatoes onto her plate.
Steven cleared his throat, avoiding eye contact. He realized he didn't mind the fact she was wearing his shirt.
She actually looked…really cute.
Her hair only reached to just under her chin, and it was voluminous with luscious curls that would probably be soft to the touch.
Hyde bit his tongue. A self-inflicted punishment for thinking about her that way.
She had the same blue eyes as Kitty and Laurie, but dark brown hair like Eric's, what Kitty's must've looked like before she'd started dying it blonde.
Eileen's face was heart shaped and the Zeppelin shirt had shrunk in the wash, clinging to the womanly figure Hyde was noticing for the first time.
Suddenly he couldn't wait for the weekend.
