King listened to Jackie's story with respectful silence, it took a lot of effort but she also managed to keep her expression neutral as she listened to the sweet kid blame herself for her friend's terrible treatment of her. King had an urge to find this group of self-centered jerks and teach them a few rules about how you treat your fellow man, let alone your friends! When Jackie finished king took a deep breath to calm herself before speaking.

"Kid, stop blaming yourself ok? None of that could have been your fault" she told Jackie seriously

"your dad isn't the first rich guy to want more and do some shady stuff to get it; it had nothing to do with you you just got caught in the crossfire, and your mom? She has a disease, alcoholism is alcoholism whether you're rich and beautiful or poor and deformed, and there is no such thing as a classy drunk. She has a problem that she had long before you were around, and nothing you could have done would have changed that, it's on her to change. Now as for your 'friends' – and I use that term grudgingly – there's not a damn thing you could have done to deserve the way they treat you ok?" king told her adamantly.

"No, I did deserve some of it, I was spoiled and childish and shallow. I'm not saying I deserved all of it – especially now because I honestly don't think I'm the same anymore, but I understand how they started acting that way" Jackie told King with self deprecating sadness.

"Jeez kid, your what 18?" King guessed

"19" Jackie corrected

"People start out immature and childish Jackie, that's not a character flaw only you happen to have, no matter what those people made you think. Can you honestly tell me none of them ever acted selfish or stupid or shallow?" King challenged her

"I guess they were sometimes?" Jackie admitted softly, still reluctant to speak poorly of them.

"Of course they were! Because everyone is, because growing up means learning how to behave better, it's very rare to start out always knowing how you should act and what you should do in every situation. People evolve if they reflect on their actions, you're a kind person who cares about people and wants to do things for them to show it, that's a core trait kid. We get attached to people when were young who aren't really good for us, people that don't allow us to grow and become who were supposed to be because they're not ready to do the same, those kind of people aren't good to stay around because they only see the world from their own perspective, you have to look at other angles, learn other ways see other points of view, if you think your always right then you're saying you can't learn anything new – and that's stagnation. You have to keep learning and growing kid. So those people? They aren't your friends Jackie, they're just people you know, and there is a big difference." King told Jackie in a gentle but very serious tone, she was trying her best to show Jackie she didn't owe these basement people anything.

"You make it sound so easy, and I'd love to believe you that it's not my fault, I really would, but I know a lot of it is. I know I was bitchy and bossy, I know that's what drove them away" she admitted her private fear about how unlovable she was to the punk rock girl on her couch.

"Jackie listen to me – nothing makes it alright for people to treat you badly, if the way people are treating you hurts you - its wrong! It isn't their place to punish you for being naive, and none of them could possibly be so perfect they're allowed to pass judgment on you. I'm sorry kid, but they aren't your friends, I think you'd feel better if you simply moved on" King advised her solemnly.

"It's not that easy" Jackie told her and explained about the Forman's and Fez, and how she couldn't stand to sever connections with them.

"Then don't" King said simply

"But to see them I have to put up with the others and I'm not strong like you king, what they say still hurts me" Jackie said sadly

"I wasn't always strong Jackie, I wasn't always who I am now. I used to be someone I didn't like, and just like you I thought I was stuck being that way – living that life forever. But someone helped me, and I'd be more than happy to help you" king told her kindly.

"What were you like?" Jackie couldn't help but ask the curiosity was just too strong.

King smiled wryly "I was an arrogant elitist jerk" she admitted with a grimace.

"You were?" Jackie couldn't picture it, she may have just met King but none of those words seemed to fit her at all.

"Sadly yes, you see kid, I'm a musician and I'm not going to bother with false modesty – I'm really damn good, and the way I was brought up made me think it was ok to act like I was better than people because of my talent. And when I remember some of the things I said to people or the way I would act I'm still ashamed, because I know better now" King sort of explained, while keeping it vague.

"And someone helped you change?" Jackie asked hopefully.

"Sort of, someone helped me be strong enough to be myself after I realized how wrong id been"

"What made you realize?" again she didn't bother with tact,

"I was in Texas, and I was at this hole in the wall club. This guy came out and played the blues and….. I'm damn good, but this guy was – transcendent. I'd never seen anything like it, and it humbled me kid, it didn't take away from my talent it didn't make me suddenly think I was no good, it just made me see that there was still something to achieve and I hadn't come close yet. I have something to strive for now - a goal, and I'd never had that before. I owe that guy a lot because now I know there's room to get better, to maybe be as good as him. And that effectively killed my arrogance on the spot. After that I met Connor and Max and they helped me be strong enough to break away from those people in my life who only wanted their perceived version of me and ridiculed anything I did outside that character, they told me they were my friend's no matter how I was so to just be myself, I still struggle with it sometimes, but it's easier every day because I know my crew cares about me no matter what."

Jackie listened with rapt attention to Kings words, she envied her so much being able to transform into herself, and Jackie yearned to do the same every day.

"Before – before Chicago and Sam, I didn't hate who I was because I was sure Steven liked me even when I acted spoiled. I believed that he saw who I really was and helped me grow up. He was always there for me even when he said he hated me when we first met. He told me once that I annoyed the hell out of him but he never hated me, and he sort of like how innocent I was and wanted to protect it as long as he could. But I don't think I believe him anymore, I sort of think now that it was all a long game to make me miserable. I can't really believe anyone if they claim to care about me, even Fez, because I've been lied to so much. I've never been good enough for anyone and I'm only starting to understand that" Jackie told King so honestly the older girl knew she actually believed the ridiculous things she said.

"kid, you sound like you don't know who you are without those guy's? but you ARE someone, you just need to figure out who." King told her then picked a shade of red for Jackie to use on her nails and tossed it to the tiny brunette "I'll be around for a while to help, and believe me – nothing that lot could say would scare me" King assured her.

"This color will look great with your skin tone" Jackie told her helpfully

"I'll take your word for it, I'm not good at this girly stuff" she admitted bashfully

"Do you wish you were?" Jackie asked surprised.

"I'm human Jackie; I care about my appearance to a point. I paint my nails because they always look crappy and it makes me self-conscious when I play. And I …..You know? Want to look pretty on occasion" King muttered uncomfortably and blushed a bit as she stared at her boots.

"Oh my god! You're in love!" it wasn't a question; Jackie could see it in her face as clear as day. "Who is it? One of the guys in you band right?" Jackie asked excitedly.

"Uh….yeah, please never say anything around any of them?!" King suddenly begged, looking less self-assured and more like a scared girl. But it didn't lower Jackie's opinion of her at all; she knew how much love could sap your confidence.

"I won't I swear, which one is it?" Jackie asked less excitedly and more kindly.

King stared at her blood red manicure Jackie had just finished and bit her lip shyly "you met him….Connor" she almost whispered the name as if she thought he might be able to hear her confession.

"Why haven't you said anything to him?" Jackie wondered "I'm sure he likes you, you guys are already friends and you're really pretty for a scary looking punk chick" she teased good naturedly, making King chuckle.

"I can't tell him Jackie" King said gravely.

"Why not?" Jackie demanded

"He's engaged" King told her in a dead voice.