Author Note: ... camping trip was great - tire blowout on freeway and all - just fodder for another story (but not now haha.) Having A/C in the trailer was a godsend - traveling with thousands of weekenders - not so fun.

Chapter 10 – Passive Aggressive

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Eric was finding out that he actually enjoyed the Book Club. He was having intellectual conversations with like-minded people and it got him out of his boring evening routine. When he wasn't delivering pizza to Hyde, Eric would eat lunch on a bench under a tree and read a couple of chapters. There was this young mousy woman who always wanted to debate his theories on the story and it was fun. The club night at Ella's was great but when they met at David's home, the beer seemed to make the story better.

This evening's club would be held in Beth's garage but Eric decided to volunteer his parents' home for the next week's event. Ella's brownies were okay, but Kitty Forman's brownies were a hands down winner every time. Eric would be remembered (and appreciated) for that!

"Yah..ha…ha..yah….." Roger's carefree laugh interrupted the re-introductions and began settling the group. Folding chairs were arranged in a semi-circle and Roger sat at the top of the "U". "So….how many of you book lovers are up to chapter 13?" Hands flew up and Roger smiled, "Good. Good. How many of you cheated and finished the story?"

Two hands went up and quickly went down. "I'd like opinions please, on your thoughts regarding Johnny's headaches versus his clairvoyance powers. Is there any reason to think they are connected? Will Johnny have a breakthrough and heal himself? Let the conversations begin."

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Abby was getting ready for bed when Jackie was towel-drying her hair. She started her shift in an hour and wanted to talk to her older roommate. She sat on the edge of Abigail's bed and smiled. "You would be proud of me."

Abby put down her copy of The Dead Zone and looked at Jackie. "Now what would make you say that?"

Jackie held up her roll of Crest. "I've started putting some toothpaste back."

Abby smiled softly. "Good for you honey, but you know that old toothpaste isn't gonna be the same as a fresh tube….right?"

The younger girl nodded. "I know, but it makes me aware of how much I have to work on myself. I mean I'm still in revenge mode but I sort of made up with Donna. We are going to be better friends – we talked and I told her how I felt left out. It was a good weekend."

Abby was silent, waiting for Jackie to finish. "I kind of made amends with Fez but not totally. He was part of my weekend revenge."

The blonde laughed, "I heard about the shoes! That was priceless. I may have to use that on the day shift if Security has detained some asshole. Well, Jackie – I'm proud of you. I don't know what you can do about your parents, but you only have three…maybe three and a half globs left to remedy."

Jackie stood up, "Yeah, I guess I can forgive Fez for kicking me out of the apartment, but that little thing about firing me? He didn't need to do that. I need to work on that. Thanks for talking Abby. I'll see you between shifts in the morning." Jackie closed the bedroom door on her way out and started to think about how she was going to fix the Fez situation and then move on to the rest of those traitors!

She was blow-drying her hair she hit on the perfect solution to make two people happy, irritate Fez and solve her dilemma. All she had to do was bribe Walt for a favor.

This was going to be delicious!

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Hyde walked into the Forman kitchen and sat quietly in a chair. He was waiting for Eric to return from his book club meeting. Kitty left a warm cup of chocolate and a plate of cookies while Red asked if there was "anything wrong". Hyde chalked that comment up to the fact that he rarely came out of the basement after dinner.

"Just want to have a little chat with my friend." Hyde assured the Forman's. Red gave him a look that bordered curiosity and suspicion but still waved goodnight. Hyde sipped the cocoa. It was minutes later that Eric came slinking in the kitchen doorway.

"Been waiting for you man."

Startled, Eric dropped his book and hissed, "What the hell are you doing in the kitchen?! You scared the crap out of me."

Hyde smirked. "Gotta talk. Sit."

Eric scooped his book from the floor and walked to the table pulling out a green chair. "What's up?"

Hyde reached down and brought up the box that had been delivered earlier in the day. He handed the note to Eric and enjoyed watching the visual flinch when he read that line. Eric gulped and pursed his lips. "So….the hotel returned our shoes?"

Scratching his chin, Steven Hyde sighed. "Eric, what you are failing to realize is that the shoes were shipped to my store. Would you like to tell me how Kelso, Fez and your stinky ass shoes got the address to Grooves?"

Eric felt his stomach drop. Laurie. It had to be his sister messing with his head. "Man, I don't even know the address to your store." He explained. "How would I know where to ship them? I think someone is screwing around with us guys and I think I know who."

Lifting a brow, Hyde responded, "Who do you think it is?"

Eric replied without hesitation. "My wacky sister."

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Fez was humming a lively show tune while holding his shopping basket in the crook of his elbow. He just needed a few things and had his eye on the "10 Items or Less" line. If he was quick, he could get his groceries and be out zippity quick.

A quick trip down the produce line garnered a head of red leaf lettuce and a pair of ripe Roma tomatoes. A few steps over to the canned goods row was the delicious bottle of Ranch dressing. Fez counted off the three items so far – that left more than five sweet treats to be added. He picked up a loaf of French bread, a cheap bottle of wine (that was on sale of course) and perused the deli section snagging a nice package of Parmesan cheese.

As he walked passed the magazine display, Fez looked up and saw Jackie walk into the door – her hair was just a shiny as the day he conditioned it. She didn't see him so he inched towards the dairy selection to find she was looking at the coffee creamers. Ooh! He needed some of that too! As casually as he could, Fez pretended to bump into her.

Jackie turned and gave him a smiled. "Hello Fez." She purred.

Fez was a tad alarmed by the friendliness in her voice. The last time they spoke she was still angry with him. But this must have been fate – now he could try to make amends. "Hey….Jackie….I was just looking at all the coffee creamers…how are you?"

Jackie looked at his tan face and wondered how she ever could have made that list thinking that Fez was the ONE. She was reminded of the fact that if she didn't "putt-putt" with him then she could find somewhere else to live. At least she didn't have to live under the impending threat of his 'needs' on a daily basis. "I'm fine. Just picking up a couple of items on my way home."

Fez took that for a conversation starter, "Oh….so you're just going home? Now?"

Jackie blinked, "I work a night shift so yes." She picked up a carton of cottage cheese that had a cute cartoon cow and placed it in Fez's basket. "I was very busy." Then Jackie added a quart of milk to Fez's carrier and started walking towards the coffee aisle.

Fez ran behind her, "Oh I need coffee too!"

Jackie shrugged and put a five pound can of Folgers into his now heavy overflowing basket. She grabbed a small bottle of instant decaf. "Well, I'm done. See you in the checkout line." Over her shoulder she added, "Don't forget the sugar!"

Fez hurried to the aisle of cereals and his brain overloaded on all the delicious sights, colors kinds of sweet breakfast crunchies, but he wanted to catch up to Jackie so he quickly grabbed a box of sugar and ran towards the checkout line.

Aha! Jackie was also standing in the Express Lane. Fez sidled up behind her and let his basket bump her elbow. "So we meet again Fair Jackie." He said in his best flirting voice.

Jackie turned and accidentally spilled a box of sugarless gum into his basket. "Oops! I guess you really startled me." She lied.

While Fez was picking out the packages of sugarless gum, Jackie was adding in some Snicker bars, a couple of Chunky chocolate candies, some breath mints, a sewing kit, the most expensive brand of batteries, a handful of miscellaneous items and lastly a box of matches. So intent on removing the sugarless items, Fez paid no attention to the bottom of his basket.

The clerk rang up Jackie's two items and the brunette handed over a five dollar bill. She looked sideways and caught Fez's eye. "Have a nice day."

Fez set his heavier than normal basket on the conveyor belt and the clerk stopped him. "I'm sorry sir, but you are in the wrong line. This line is for ten items or less. By the look of your basket, I'd say you have over 25 items."

Fez was indignant. "What? I only have lettuce and tomatoes and some dairy…." The grocery clerk lifted the lettuce to expose all the other miscellaneous items that were in the bottom of the basket. "Sir, I have a line. Either move to another checkout or I'll have to call the manager."

Fez stomped his foot. "I didn't put this stuff in my basket!"

While the grocery store clerk called for the manager, Jackie was giggling as she exited the market. A man purchasing a newspaper heard the petite brunette remark, "I guess I was having a passive aggressive moment."

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Jackie slid her eyeglasses up onto the bridge of her nose and read the definition again.

adjective: passive-aggressive

of or denoting a type of behavior or personality characterized by indirect resistance to the demands of others and an avoidance of direct confrontation, as in procrastinating, pouting, or misplacing important materials.

She laid the dictionary on the table top. "Yep. That's me."

Emily touched her hand. "I know how it feels. You say your fine but you're really not, but you don't know how to express your feelings. Do you know what you really should have done?"

Jackie replied, "I should have kicked him in the shins and made him apologize to me right there in the store."

Em smiled, "Well, that's a start. Violence doesn't help."

Jackie folded her glasses back into the hard case, "It makes me feel better. I was homeless!"

Emily was sad. Who would put this vivacious lovely woman out on the street! "Jackie….I think being homeless for that little bit of time gave you this wonderful opportunity….if you had stayed living with him…where would you be now?"

Fingering the flowered napkin Jackie smiled tentatively, "You are right. I would have moved out – I don't know where to and I definitely wouldn't be working with Fez…it's better that I keep him as a long distance friend. Besides, he does great hair."

Smiling Emily clapped her hands. "See? You just worked out your passive aggressive moment."

Jackie frowned, "I wish you wouldn't have told me about that word – now it's all I can think about. Well that and the stupid toothpaste rule that Abby reminds me about."

"I got that lesson with a tube of Colgate." Emily confessed. "What did she use on you?"

Laughing, Jackie replied, "Crest! I will admit I love Abby but she's not my mom. I don't always need life lessons." Emily hugged her roommate. "You get some sleep and I'll see you mid-shift."

Jackie yawned and smiled. "Thanks for listening.

Emily was pulling on a light sweater. "Anytime Jackie….anytime."

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"Hey! Don't pull the hair man – just trim it!" Hyde hollered at Fez's reflection in the mirror. "What's your problem anyway?"

Fez held his cutting scissors at an angle. "I saw Jackie in the market this morning and she got me in trouble." Snip.

Hyde grinned, "Oh yeah? You're the barber – make polite conversation." More trimmed hair fell to the floor.

Fez went through the morning discussion disaster with the beautiful brunette and ended with, "I had to pay $63 for all the stuff she threw into my basket!" He snipped a couple more times.

Hyde laughed. "That's a burn. A financial burn. Dude, why didn't you just put the other stuff back?"

Fez hung his head, "Cuz she picked out good stuff and I liked it."

Steven Hyde brushed the trimmings from his lap. "That's funny. Hey, if you see her again, let her know I'd like to buy her some coffee... and matches... a sewing kit and some batteries."

Fez looked at Hyde's face in the mirror. "You are not funny."

He laughed, "Oh yeah. I am. I really am.

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AN: He is...he really is!