Rising Star, New Formations, & Destruction Chapter 36: S4 Ch4: That 70's Trip, an austin & ally fanfic

S4 Ch. 4: That 70s Trip

Part 1

…

(Guitar riff)

Point Place, Wisconsin

Aug 2014.

...

Austin stepped out of the tour bus as they had arrived in the town of Point Place, Wisconsin. It was one of the winners of his contest's home town. He wondered what type of gig this would be. He walked up to the house that the contest winner gave him & rang the doorbell. The door opened & he saw an older guy answer.

"Who are you?" the guy asked.

"Austin Moon. Someone who gave this as their address won my contest to give some people a free concert."

"Is that him?" a girl's voice was heard asking from behind the guy. He turned out of the way to reveal the girl. "It is!"

"Uh, hi," Austin said.

(Guitar Riff)

Hangin' out
Down the street,
The same old thing
We did last week

Not a thing to do,
But talk to you

We're all all right,
We're all all right

Hello Wisconsin!

"Uncle Eric, let him in," she said.

"Fine. Come in, Austin," Eric said, letting Austin walk past him.

"Come to the kitchen," she said & Austin followed.

"So, you're Michelle?"

"Yep. Now, I entered this contest because me & my friends were planning an 'end of summer' party at the beach."

"Ah, I see."

"Yeah, so we're going to need you to make a setlist. Here's the songs our school class made when we sent a Facebook message to everyone to suggest songs & we took a song each from everyone, so you can pick from these," she said, handing him a piece of paper. He took a look.

"Hmm…" he said, looking at the list, seeing it was mostly pop songs, but also seeing rock & other types of songs. "I'll see what I can do," he said, looking up at her.

"Great! Now, the party is in two days & we've already set up the part of the each you're going to be performing at, if you wanna set up early & practice."

"Ok, great. I'll head there right away. Though I might need directions."

"I'll go with you. I give the BEST directions."

"All right then," Austin said as he & Michelle walked through the door.

"Michelle, where are you going?" said her mother as she walked up the stairs from the basement.

"I'm going to show Austin here where the beach is so he can set up & practice for the party on Friday."

"Come in the kitchen with me for a second. Excuse us, Austin," she said, dragging her off.

"So, you're here to perform at her party?" Eric asked as he was sitting on the couch.

"Yeah. What's that woman's problem?"

"Oh, Betsy? Not much. Not much. She had Michelle at 19 after her first year of college, so she couldn't go back right away. Not only that, but she doesn't want Michelle to get into a similar situation, so she gives her the speech every time she has a crush, or any boy over to not 'try anything,' or she could get pregnant."

"Ugh," Austin said in slight disgust. "You could've just said that it was a woman thing & be done with that."

"Right. Sorry."

"So, she was a teen mom, huh?"

"Yeah. Plus, when she did the math years ago & found out her parents were in a similar situation, thus she definitely didn't want the trend to continue."

"I see."

Just then, a few guys came up the stairs from the basement.

"Hey, Forman," Hyde said. "What's up? Who's this douche?" he said, then took a sip of his beer.

"I'm not a douche!" Austin retaliated.

"This is Austin Moon. He's going to perform at Michelle's class' party at the beach on Friday."

"Oh. Hey," Hyde said, sitting on the chair next to the couch Eric was on.

"Hey," Austin said, a bit pissed.

"You still pouting over Jackie, Forman? Face it. She moved to California. You lost your one & only shot. Just go back to Donna, suck it up, & marry her already. Shit, we thought you would be by now."

"I know, Hyde, but I can't. It didn't work out with Donna. I can't just regress like that. Besides, I like Jackie better."

"Yeah, but you had a good chance after Fez died, but you didn't take it. Then you squandered your moments with her, so when it came time for her to want to stay, but she didn't want to miss that job opportunity, you didn't speak up. Grow a pair, man. Get hitched already. For God sakes, you're 54 years old, never been married, & the last time you had sex was in your early 20's. Get your act together. Hell, we've all been married at least once. I married that stripper & hell, even Kelso tied the not after he knocked up Brooke."

"Oh, so you're Michelle's grandfather," Austin said, standing next to Kelso.

"(Snickers) Michelle," Hyde whispered loudly.

"You met her?"

"Of course. Didn't you hear Forman here?"

"Hey, don't you dare lay a hand on her," Kelso said.

"Kelso, chill out," Hyde said.

"Yeah, besides, I'm 18. Trust me, I don't want to hook up with a 16-year-old."

"Oh, so now she's not good enough for you?"

"What?"

"Whatever. Listen, I don't care what you do with her friends, just keep your hands off of her!"

"Excellent parenting there, Kelso," Hyde said, raising his beer in the air.

Just then, the two females came out of the kitchen into the room where the guys were.

"Oh hey, guys," Kelso said, backing away all nonchalantly, then sat down.

"All right, can we go now?" Michelle said.

"You'll remember what we talked about?" Betsy asked.

"Yes!"

"Then go on."

Michelle grabbed Austin by the arm & started to walk him out. Michael looked at him with a menacing stare. Austin just stared at him, trying to show he had no malicious intent. They walked outside towards his tour bus.

"Well, that was awkward," Austin said.

"I know. They're so embarrassing. She thinks I can't control myself because of her & granddad's libido being passed on in our genes."

"Wow. That's gotta suck. Bringing home guy friends, then getting scolded each time."

"Yeah. I've had to be friends with guys just at school. I've been afraid of having any guys over because of that."

"I see," he said as they reached the bus.

"Don't worry about my grandpa. He may be threatening, but he's also old and stupid, so don't mind him."

"Ah. I see," he said as they got on.

A few days later at the beach…

Austin was on the stage they set up. Well, it wasn't so much a stage, as a picnic area under a canopy, but it was still serviceable as he & his band set up. Dez, who came with him to videotape his performances for future use, was setting up the audio to be level.

"All right, Austin. Got the audio setup. All we need is a sound check."

"All right, Dez. Guys, let's take it easy," he said as he picked up his acoustic. The drums then kicked in a steady beat as he started playing the acoustic, then sang & the other few band members joined in as well.

I wish the couple on the corner would just get a room,
Seems like everyone around me's on their honeymoon
I'd love to take a pin to a heart-shaped balloon,
Everybody's got somebody, but me

Well, I don't know how I landed on this movie set,
It's like a casting call for 'Romeo and Juliet'
I never would have noticed if we'd never met,
But everybody's got somebody, but me

And I miss you
Without you I just don't fit in
I know we're through
But I'm wishing we could try it again

I hear loves songs playing on the radio,
People slow dancing everywhere I go
Well, I'm a good slow dancer but you'd never know
'Cause everybody's got somebody, but me
Yeah they do

Everybody's got somebody...

And I miss you,
Without you I just don't fit in
I know we're through,
But I'm wishing we could try it again

Sitting here lonely at a table for two,
Watching lovers being lovers in the corner booth
Seems like even cupid don't know what to do,
Everybody's got somebody, but me

Yeah, I don't know if I'll ever find another you,
But everybody's got somebody, but me
Everybody, got somebody
Oh, everybody, everybody, everybody, but me now

(Everybody's got somebody)
Everybody has got somebody,
(Everybody but me)
Everybody, but me
(Everybody's got somebody)
Everybody,
I miss you
(Everybody but me)
Everybody's got somebody, but me

"All right, man. That should do it until the show," he said, then turned off his equipment & walked over to Austin. "We're done for right now, so what should we do until it's time?" Dez asked.

"Not sure," Austin said, rubbing his eyes.

"You ok, man?"

"Yeah, just haven't slept well the last few nights. I keep waking up thinking I hear voices talking."

"Huh. Weird."

"Hey, you should definitely do that song at the concert," Michelle said.

"All right. I'm going to take a nap on the tour bus. Wake me an hour before show time," Austin said & then walked towards the bus.

"What's with him?" she asked.

"He's really tired," Dez said & he went to the playground. "Huh. Is that a pot leaf on the water tower over there?" he asked, looking towards it.

"Yeah. My grandpa & his friends painted that back in the 70s & no one's bothered to wash it off, so it faded into the metal of it."

"Huh. Cool."

Austin got on the bus, closed the door & the blinds to the windows, then went to the bed, wrapped himself in the blanket, & tried to go to sleep. He thought he heard voices again, but he ignored them & they faded away, so he went right to sleep. Next time he awoke, it was night time & he was outside on the ground.

"What in the hell?" he asked & went to check his phone for the time, but couldn't find it, so he got up. He went over to the beach, but the electronics weren't there, nor did it seem there was ever a party there recently. "Did I miss the party? And since when are teenagers this cleanly?" he walked to the road then walked down it until he came to Michelle's house. It was after dawn when he got there, so it was morning. He walked up to the house & knocked on the door & rang the doorbell.

"Yeah?" asked Eric as he answered the door. Austin just looked confused.

"You look younger."

…

Part 2

…

Last time…

Austin walked up to the house & knocked on the door & rang the doorbell.

"Yeah?" asked Eric as he answered the door. Austin just looked confused.

"You look younger."

(Guitar Riff)

Hangin' out
Down the street,
The same old thing
We did last week

Not a thing to do,
But talk to you

We're all all right,
We're all all right

Hello Wisconsin!

"'Younger'? Look, what do you want?"

"Is Michelle here?"

"Michelle? Who's that?" he said, looking confused.

"Eric, who is it?" a woman called from behind him.

"Just someone looking for someone named Michelle. Sorry, man. No one named that here. Now, is there anything else I can do for you, or…"

"Uh, yeah. Can I use your phone? I lost mine somewhere."

"Uh, sure, man. Come on in," he moved aside, letting Austin in.

Austin looked around & saw everything was different.

"Wow, man. Very 70's."

"Yeah. I haven't had this place redone. My parents have had it like this since back then."

"Eric, you coming back in the kitchen?"

"Yeah, Jackie. Just a sec. All right, so phone's right here. I'll be in there if you need help," he said, going into the kitchen.

Austin looked at the phone, but realized it was an old one. He then looked towards the kitchen door & saw a calendar. It said 'June, 1989.'

"What!?" he silently yelled. "So, did I time travel?" he asked, bewildered. He heard a whirring sound from somewhere. "Doctor?" he asked, but then heard a crash in the kitchen. He ran in to see what was wrong.

"Shit!" the woman yelled.

"You guys all right?"

"Yeah. the mug that had Jackie's coffee in it just fell over & broke," Eric responded.

"It was weird. I felt a gust of wind hit me then it fell over after being on the counter away from the edge," she said, sweeping up the shattered mug pieces on to a dustpan & threw it away before taking a wash cloth & soaked up the coffee.

"So, did you call who you were going to call?" Eric asked.

"I couldn't get a hold of them."

"Too bad. Coffee?"

"No thanks."

Hyde walked in, getting the coffee pot, & poured himself a cup.

"Morning, Forman. Jackie," he said, looking downward.

"Hey, Hyde."

"Morning, Steven."

"Hey, it's you," Austin said.

"Who's this douche?"

"I'm not a douche! God, how many times do I need to tell you that?"

"'Times'? I've only called you that once."

"Oh. Right," he said.

Then, it hit him. He remembered what happened a few days ago. Those guys were talking about how Forman lost his chance with Jackie, they all looked older, they knew who Michelle was, & Hyde already called him a douche.

'Am I really in the past?' Austin thought to himself.

"Now, do you have somewhere to go? We're kinda busy," Eric said, bringing Austin out of his thoughts.

"Don't be rude, Eric. He might be able to help," Jackie said, throwing the cloth into the sink.

"How?" Austin asked.

"Do you know a singer we can get to play in the next 12 hours? The one we got for our class reunion had to cancel because he got food poisoning from his last gig."

"Hey, hey. I thought we all agreed that I was gonna DJ," Hyde said, but they ignored him.

"I'm a singer. I can fill in. I can also play many different instruments."

"Really? Do you know any Cheap Trick?"

"'Hello, Wisconsin!'"

"Hmm…"

"Bon Jovi?"

"You're Livin' On A Prayer, man."

"Hmm…"

"AC/DC?" Hyde asked.

"Prepare to be Thunderstruck, man," Austin said & Hyde nodded in approval.

"Plus, I've got my own material, so what do you say?"

"It might be the lack of sleep talking, but all right. You good with 500 bucks? It's all we have from our refund with the other guy."

"Sure."

"Oh, by the way, we didn't catch your name."

"Austin."

"Eric."

"Hyde."

"Jackie. How old are you?"

"18."

"All right."

"Then, you've got the gig. We'll go down to the beach later so we can nail down a tracklist & you can practice with the band."

"All right...Do you have a bathroom?"

"Uh, sure. Upstairs on the right."

"Thanks," Austin said, running upstairs.

"He seems nice," Jackie said.

"He's a douche," Hyde said.

"Stop saying that, Hyde. He's doing the gig. That's the least we need from him."

"You said he was looking for a Michelle, right? Do you think he meant Michael?"

"I don't think so. He sounded like he was sure she lived here when he asked."

"Tch. Michelle," Hyde snickered.

Austin got upstairs to the bathroom. He then closed himself in & started going.

"This is great. If I get him to hook up with Jackie, he won't be lonely in the future. The future will be better for him," he said, then finished up. He then heard the whirring sound again as he washed his hands.

"Austin!" a faint voice yelled.

"Doc?" he asked into the open air. The sound stopped. He looked around a bit, then exited the bathroom. He went back downstairs & entered the kitchen.

"All right. I'm going to take my shower," Jackie said.

"Try not to use up all the hot water this time," Eric responded, a bit whiney.

"Hey, if your dick can't handle cold, get out of the freezer," she retorted.

"What does that even mean!?" he said, then sat down.

"Man, she's kinda hot," Austin said.

"Yeah," the two other guys responded.

"Bet you'd wanna jump on her in a room alone."

"Yeah. Already did years ago, but yeah," Hyde said.

"Yeah," Eric said.

"Why don't you ask her out?"

"Why would I? She's ditzy, bitchy, klutzy, & a big control freak. Plus, her boyfriend just died…"

"Yeah, a year ago," Hyde added.

"Even so, I don't know if I wanna deal with all that baggage."

"But…"

"But she's also hot, fashionable, considerate, & cleans up after her messes."

"So…"

"I don't know, man. Ever since Donna & I split, I just haven't had that much confidence in myself."

"Forman, for God's sake, that was 7 years ago! Grow a pair!"

"He's right."

"Guys, I just can't."

"Forman, if you don't do this, she's most likely gonna leave to go somewhere else & you'll lose your chance forever," Hyde said.

"Yeah, you can say that again," Austin said under his breath.

"What?" Eric said.

"Hmm? Oh nothing, nothing."

"Better be."

"So, should I?"

"Yes!" they both said.

"All right, I'll try," Eric said.

"Good," Austin said.

Later, at the beach…

"You know," Austin said to Jackie. "You & Eric there seem to have some good chemistry."

"What?"

"You just seem to have something, ya know?"

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"Well, truth be told, I have been feeling something for him. He's let me stay at his house for almost a year now ever since Fez died & I help him with paying bills with paying rent. Since he's a teacher & I'm a fashion designer, I'm obviously a big help with that. Yet he won't ever let me pay for anything else when we go out to a movie, or anything. Do you think he likes me?"

"Oh, yeah. Not letting you pay for much when you're with him somewhere, I'd say that's a sign. Plus, I've seen the way you two look at each other. Yeah, he likes you."

"All right. You've got me convinced."

"Good. Good."

"Austin, we're all set up if you wanna start practicing."

"All right."

He went up on the stage, turned to Jackie & winked at her. She smiled.

"All right, guys. What should we do first?"

"Your call, man. We can play most anything from the last several decades."

"Hmm…" he said, putting the guitar strap of the guitar they had for him over his shoulder, then did some quick strumming before saying something else. "Maybe… 'Back in the U.S.S.R.' We need a soundcheck anyways, right?" they all nodded in agreement.

With that, they played the song, while Jackie & Eric were standing on the beach near the water's edge.

"So, this party should be good," Eric said.

"Yeah. Austin sounds like a good singer too."

"Yeah. Look at him. He loves performing."

"Yeah. I mean, how lucky are we to have him replace the guy that had to cancel?"

"Maybe it's a little too coincidental, but we are lucky."

"Yeah. So, you looking forward to seeing everyone from 10 years ago?"

"Yeah. It should be good. Kelso & Brooke are bringing their daughter Betsy, right?"

"Yeah. What about Donna? Did you guys have a really bad break-up?"

"Um. Sort of. I told her I couldn't do it anymore. She was just becoming a pain to be around. I never knew if she was taking my stuff seriously because she laughs at times where things are supposed to be serious, so I got mad at her. We had a fight, she realized we weren't good together anymore, & then she left. I haven't heard from her in 8 years. I don't even know if she's coming or not."

"Oh. So, You're not expecting to rekindle your relationship?"

"No."

"So, you're not going with anyone?"

"No…Why?"

"Well, I was thinking that maybe we could go together. As friends, at least."

"'At least'? Do you want to be more?"

"Do you?"

"Maybe I do."

"Well, maybe I do too."

"Well, all right then. We're going as dates tonight."

"Fine"

"Fine."

"All right. I'm gonna go home & get ready," Jackie said, then walked off, got to her car, & drove off.

"Well, all right then," he said as he walked up to the stage as Austin was finishing the song. After he finished the song, Eric called him over.

"All right, guys. Take 5. We'll work out a setlist in a bit," he said, then walked over to Eric.

"I have a date with Jackie tonight," Eric said.

"Good for you, man."

"Yeah, but the thing is I haven't been on a date in a while &, more importantly, since it's here, I'm not too sure about much."

"Ah. I see. Really, what you wanna do, is just hang out. I mean, you can listen to the music without dancing, but if you wanna dance, that's fine. You might wanna make sure other people are, though, to make sure it's not too awkward."

"K."

"Tell ya what, I'll do a song with the guys where I'll invite people to dance & then you can dance once everyone else is."

"All right, sounds good."

"All right. I gotta lay down a setlist with the guys. You go get ready. See ya later, man."

"Yeah. See ya," Eric said as he went to his car & drove away.

"All right, guys. I gotta teach you how to play a song really quick, then we can get a setlist going."

Austin did just that as it turned to later that evening. The party was well underway as Austin was playing a song with the band. They finished the song & then the time came for the special performance.

"All right, everyone. For this next song, we're gonna have a song for dancing, so if you want to, come up & get ready to dance," he said as several couples walked up.

"Do you wanna dance?" Eric asked Jackie.

"Sure," Jackie responded.

They walked up & got into a place where they could dance. Eric nodded to Austin & he nodded back.

"All right, guys. 1, 2, 3…

It was a teenage wedding and the old folks wished them well
You could see that Pierre did truly love the Mademoiselle
And now the young Monsieur and Madame have rung the chapel bell