Chapter 37: Shooting for an A
For the next week things were quiet around the Forman household. After chasing after Kelso for seemed like an hour Red returned down to the basement before instructing Eric and Jackie to go upstairs and for the rest of the kids to go home. Once he had seen all of the kids leaving the household for the next 20 minutes Red with Kitty by his side had a lengthy conversation with Eric and Jackie about what had happened while they were gone.
Red listened in as the teenagers told him of how everything had transpired that day. Once he heard the explanation Red was silent for a few moments before he was awakened out of his shocked state by his wife. With his wife questioning him on what he was doing Red had told her with confidence that he was trying to come up with a punishment. That he couldn't ground them because they would like that way too much. Besides they technically didn't do anything wrong. But after giving it some thought instead of punishing them for what they did that he would punish their friends. He explained that starting at that moment for the next week Eric and Jackie were to be grounded and during this time their friends would not be allowed over at the house. Also to ensure that they didn't sneak out that Eric would hand over his car keys once he had gotten home from school.
While Eric thought that the situation was unfair and a bit cruel for his father to do his girlfriend thought differently. In fact strangely enough Jackie was happy. Not because she wouldn't get to spend time with her friends. But the fact that she was being punished for the first time. Something that never occured when she lived with her parents. To her it meant that she was truly a member of the family even though she knew everyone in the household cared for her.
Meanwhile while Eric and Jackie served their week sentence the school year was slowly starting to close with only a few school activities left. One being the final exams. While most of the gang didn't have a worry in the world about the exams taking place another thing could be said about one member. In fact for Michael Kelso their was one exam that would determine if he would be allowed to move onto the next grade with everyone else. Math a subject that he desperately struggled in.
But now as the week of the exams approaching and fresh off their punishment Eric with Jackie in his arms are found laying down on the basement couch watching an episode of Happy Days with Hyde sitting in his usual seat. As the couple lets out a small laugh at a corny scene on the television screen both turn their heads over towards the basement door when they hear footsteps coming down the stairs from the other side. Once the door opens revealing Brooke the young couple with interested eyes watch Brooke close the basement door before she starts to pace around the room. Seeing the worried look across her best friend's face Jackie leans off of Eric's chest to look towards Brooke.
" Brooke are you okay?"
" No. It's Michael. Last week i found out that unless Michael gets a passing grade on his math final that he will be left back. And before you say anything we are not going to cheat Steven!"
" Well he's screwed then."
Jackie takes her eyes away from Brooke briefly to give Hyde a small glare before looking back towards her.
" Okay there is no need to panic. What grade does Michael need exactly to allow him to move onto the next grade with us."
" He needs to get at least a C+ on the exam. Guys i really need your help. Will you help me tutor him?"
As Brooke glances around towards everyone in the room she watches Hyde get up from his seat before she watches him slowly make his way towards his room.
" Well i'm out. Sorry Brooke but Kelso doesn't have a chance in hell."
Glaring at Hyde's retreating form once she sees Hyde make his way into his room Jackie turns back towards Brooke.
" Don't listen to Steven. There is always a chance. A slim chance but a chance none to less."
" Yeah Jackie is right but i do have a question. Why do you need our help Brooke? You have the highest grade in math class out of all of us."
" I have tried to tutor Michael for the last week but we keep umm getting distracted. Everytime i start to tutor him after a few minutes we end up having a little study break. After our break is done we have to start all over again."
Seeing the blush on Brooke's face Jackie lets out a few giggles before she snuggles closer to Eric.
" You don't need to be embarrassed Brooke. Eric and I have the same problems. Just yesterday we were going to study for the english exam but we barely got any studying done after we had a few study breaks of our own."
With a smile forming on her face Jackie looks over towards Eric.
" Well not any boring studying anyways."
" That's because you make studying fun."
With her smile widening Jackie watches Eric lean down and give her a gentle kiss before she glances over to see Brooke waiving her hands in the air.
" Okay seriously guys! We have a big problem here. I really need your help here."
" Alright when does Michael take his math exam?"
" Michael takes his exam tomorrow morning."
" Here i have an idea. Why don't you go get Kelso and you guys stay here for the night. Since we just have study halls at school anyways all three of us can tutor Kelso here in the basement. I'm sure my parents won't mind if we explain the situation to them. As long as we stay fully clothed i'm sure they will be okay with it."
With a bright smile forming on her face Brooke walks over to the couch before bringing Eric and Jackie into a hug.
" Thank you. I'll go get Michael."
Eric watches Brooke leave the basement closing the door behind her before he turns back towards Jackie with a smile.
" Well it should take Brooke about an hour or so to bring Kelso over here. What should we do to pass the time?"
With her own smile widening Jackie leans closer towards Eric.
" I suggest a nice little study break. What do you think?"
Seeing Eric give her a nod Jackie leans the rest of the way before giving Eric a deep kiss.
Within the next hour as Eric and Jackie were in the middle of a nice makeout session their moment was broken up when they heard two pair of footsteps coming down the basement stairs. Once the young couple looked up towards the staircase they found Brooke with Kelso at her side with his backpack and a few books in his hands. After being told by Brooke that she explained everything already to the older Formans about them staying over for the next few days the small group got started tutoring Kelso. A task that within the first 30 minutes Eric and Jackie found to be a little frustrating.
Every few seconds not only would Kelso end up getting distracted by the smallest things but he would also start to flirt with Brooke. Well that was before after a hour Jackie came up with an idea of how to help Kelso pay attention and focus. After she had Eric distract Kelso and Brooke for a couple of minutes Jackie returned back into the basement with a pair of squirt guns. Once Kelso had seen the guns in her hand Jackie witnessed Kelso go into a panicked state before Jackie sat back down next to Eric on the couch. Seeing that she had Kelso's attention Jackie started to ask Kelso a few simple math problems. Problems that he should know how to solve. When she would see Kelso start to get distracted by something in the room Jackie would point the squirt gun towards Kelso before firing a stream of water at Kelso's head. By the time she got done with the easy problems Jackie's squirt gun was nearly empty along with Eric's while Kelso was left soaked and wet sitting on the ground.
After a quick break due to supper being served the gang went back to work down stairs. Now with the squirt guns filled once again Jackie and Eric with Brooke encouraging him in the background started to read off math problem one after another to Kelso. But with each question they asked they would get mixed results. Some problems he would end up answering correctly quickly like they were the simplest things. But on the harder problems they asked Kelso would end up getting them wrong. And not just wrong. He wouldn't come anywhere near close. Each time this would happen either Jackie or Eric would take out a paper and start to write down and solve the problem right in front of Kelso while explaining to him how to solve the problem step by step.
But that was when frustration started to kick in for the small group. No matter how many times they showed Kelso how to solve a certain math problem he would always get it wrong. But none of them were willing to give up on their friend. They only became more determined to help teach Kelso. This happened throughout the night. With everyone getting tired and frustration starting to kick in for Kelso with tired eyes Jackie with a half asleep Eric leaning against her watches Kelso drop his head down to the ground as she reads out another math problem.
" Guys this is hopeless. I know you guys are trying to help me but we just have to accept that this can't be done. I can't do it."
Leaning over Brooke wraps her arms around Kelso before leaning her head down onto his shoulder.
" You can do it Michael. I know you can. You just have to believe in yourself."
" No i can't. I'm not smart enough."
Slightly opening his eyes Eric shakes his head before he leans his head down to rest on Jackie's shoulder.
" Don't say that Kelso. If you put your mind to it then i know you can do it. Trust me when i tell you this you are a lot smarter than you look. You know how to solve these problems you just need some confidence."
With a smile forming on her face Jackie leans over giving Eric a kiss on the forehead before she looks back towards Kelso.
" Eric is right. All you need is the right motivation."
Seeing Kelso drop his head back down after a few silent seconds Jackie's smile widens when an idea pops into her head.
" I'll be right back."
Slowly getting off of the couch Jackie quietly goes up the basement stairs heading towards the kitchen. After a couple of minutes of quietly going through the kitchen to not wake up anyone that is sleeping in the house slowly Jackie returns down the basement stairs with a large popcorn bowl in her hands. Slowly making her way towards the couch with a smile Jackie looks over towards Kelso seeing him pop his head up to look towards the bowl before his eyes widen at what he sees in the bowl.
" Is that caramel popcorn?"
With her smile widening Jackie gives Kelso a nod as she sits back down next to Eric.
" Yep with extra caramel."
Seeing Kelso leaning over towards the couch with an outstretched arm Jackie moves the bowl away from Kelso as she gives him a stern look.
" Not so fast mister! You have to earn these."
" What! Oh come on Jackie. Just one please?"
" No Michael. Here is the deal. For every math problem you answer correctly, I will give you 1 piece from the bowl."
" Alright fine!"
Leaning back Kelso sits back down next to Brooke before crossing his arms.
" Huh that is a relief. I thought that i was going to have to motivate Michael in another way."
Jackie takes her eyes away from Kelso to look towards Brooke with a confused look.
" What do you mean? What was your idea?"
" I was going to suggest for every correct answer he gave that i would take off an article of clothing. But the popcorn works too."
Kelso looks over towards Brooke with wide eyes.
" You were?"
" Yep."
" Can i have both?"
Everyone lets out a small laugh before Brooke with a smile on her face wraps her arms around the back of Kelso's neck.
" I will tell you what. After you pass this exam we can have another study break. A nice and very long study break just the two of us. But first you need to study. Okay sweetie?"
Seeing Brooke nodding her head toward the basement table Kelso follows her eyes before seeing a math book on the basement table. Taking a deep breathe Kelso gives Brooke a nod before he feels Brooke giving him a quick kiss. Readjusting his body Kelso turns back towards Eric and Jackie as he wraps an arm around Brooke's shoulders.
Reaching into the bowl Jackie holds up a piece of popcorn.
" As an act of good faith."
With a flick of her wrist Jackie throws the caramel popcorn at Kelso when he catches the popcorn in his mouth. Seeing the look of happiness on Kelso's face as he eats the popcorn Jackie along with Eric and Brooke let out a small laugh. Once she sees Kelso done with the piece Jackie puts the bowl down on Eric's lap as she grabs a math book from the basement table.
" Can i have another?"
Reaching over Brooke lightly smacks Kelso's head with a nearby pillow as Jackie shakes her head towards her and Kelso with a grin on her face.
For the rest of the night things went smoothly for the group. Slowly Kelso started to improve and adapted to each math problem that he was asked. In fact once the sun came up the group confidently thought that Kelso was ready for his exam. Once they each had gotten dressed in some new clothes and had a big breakfast that Mrs Forman had made for them the gang was off to school.
Upon arriving to the school with a smile on her face Brooke lead a nervous Kelso into the school with Eric and Jackie following after them. With final words of encouragement Brooke told Kelso to relax and that she knows he can do it before she lead Kelso into his classroom with Eric and Jackie giving him a thumbs up from the doorframe. Once she had given her boyfriend a good luck kiss Brooke had a quiet conversation with the teacher asking if she wouldn't mind grading Kelso's exam first. After hearing the teacher tell her that she would grade Kelso's exam first once he handed it in with a smile Brooke thanked the teacher before leaving the classroom.
But now hours later fresh of completing their two final exams of the day Eric and Jackie wait patiently in the basement for Brooke and Kelso to arrive. With each having the same thoughts about how Kelso did on his exam none were aware that they had been sitting in the basement for a hour in silence until they both looked over towards the basement steps when they heard footsteps. Looking on Eric and Jackie watched the basement door open to reveal Brooke. Before they could ask anything Brooke told them that Kelso is waiting for the results and had told her that he would come over with the exam after he had received his grade.
After waiting patiently in the basement for another hour once the clock struck 2 o'clock the small group watched the basement door open revealing Kelso with a few papers in his hand. Seeing the look on her boyfriend's face Brooke slowly gets up from her seat before making her way over towards him.
" So how did you do? No matter what you got on this stupid test just know that i will always be proud of you."
With a smile forming on his face Kelso raises his hands high up into the air revealing the grade on the exam to everyone in the room.
" B+!"
With a bright smile forming on her face Brooke jumps into Kelso's arms before she gives him a deep kiss.