The bedroom was silent when she padded up the stairs, through the dark hallway, and into the shared space. The purple walls against the dark of the night gave off an eerie contrast to the light breathing she heard from her sister, coming out in ragged strands. It echoed off of the white wicker furniture that they had excitedly picked out when Jackie had first moved in. Resistance was futile. She was crying. The younger one, who had no idea how to deal with emotions, and hadn't had any pleasant interactions with the woman in so long, fought her urge to run, and sat lightly on the edge of the bed, making the older girl freeze. Silence and tension that could be cut with a knife lay like a blanket over fire, smothering the two of them. But rather than walking away like everything in her told her too, she rested a hand over the girl's shoulder, and squeezed in reassurance, surprised when a hand came back to rest over her smaller one.
"How come it's not any different?" She finally whispered, into the darkness, tears falling onto the fresh pillowcase her mother had so lovingly put on her bed, her nose burning with unshed tears. "How come it still hurts?" Jackie stayed silent, her fingers moving softly through the girl's (for once) limp hair, as she cried into the pillow. It was one in the morning, and Laurie was home. It was a shock to the younger one's system, as she usually stumbled in around four am. "I thought it would be gone after all that stuff I did." She cried, finally rolling over to face her younger sister. "You're so pretty." She mumbled, moving a hand to her face, to which Jackie sniffled, and her nose burned that familiar feeling, bubbling up in her chest.
"Why do you hate me so much?" She finally asked her, voice trembling as she watched her sister's steely blue eyes contort in pain. "I don't hate you." She mumbled. "They just love you more." The revelation was there, and the younger one let out a sob, pulling her forcefully into a hug, and crying into her shoulders. "We all love you, and thats untrue. And, even if they did, it isn't my fault." She choked on her words, as if they were stuck. And maybe they kind of were, but she smiled through tears and said , "They really didn't let you do your hair?"
And they both laughed, before Jackie swiped the tears of her sister's cheek, cupping her face. "I'm sorry about your boyfriend." She mumbled, and Jackie rolled her eyes. "You can have him. Hang him on a hook." Laurie furrowed a brow, before a wicked smirk came to her face. "I'll hang him for ya sis. Might be a bit hard to watch though." She joked, and the younger one smiled, rolling her eyes.
Laurie's best game was revenge. And her new mission was to get it for her sister.
The next morning was a surprise to the younger Foreman, who awoke to the sound of the blonde making her bed. She sat up, stretching, and looked at the clock. It was seven thirty, and she just watched, as the girl fluffed pillows, before flouncing to her dresser to pick out an outfit. A wicked smile appeared on her face when she pulled out bell bottoms, and a red tube top, before looking over to realize that Jackie had woken up. "Good morning, little sister." She smiled, sitting down on the edge of her bed, and looking into her eyes. "It's revenge on Kelso day."
"If that's what you wanna call it, then yeah." She mumbled through sleepy eyes, yawning again, and moving to get out of bed. She didn't remember how it happened, but she ended up with a curling iron in her hand, while Laurie sat at their vanity, dusting some makeup on her bare face.
But the interaction made the girl smile. She had waited so long for this. Even if it didn't feel real, it was well deserved.
The kitchen was bustling, as Hyde stirred the mixture in his hands, and Jackie sat perched on the counter, stirring her own. "And she just said that?" Eric raised an eyebrow, counting out to make sure they had change. "Just like that?"
"Just like that, Eric. Laurie wants to help me. In her own fucked up way. She even let me do her hair this morning!" She cried, pouring her mixture into Hyde's pan, and smiling. "I'm kinda scared. I wonder what her plan is for him." She nodded over at Kelso, who was in the fridge. The blonde girl in question rounded the hallway, and smiled wickedly, before leaning over the door, and humming. "Hi Kelso." She said with a sultry smile, and he jumped, hitting his head on the fridge, before pulling out.
"Laurie!" He exclaimed, before settling down, and throwing a cool "what's up" at her, smirking. Jackie fought her laugh, before she pushed her chest out, and walked around, sticking a finger into the brownie batter, as Kelso watched like a puppy, leaning over the counter. "Oh no!" She cried, smiling. "I have all this on my finger," She walked across the kitchen, him following. "How ever will I get all this off. I think I need some help Kelso." She smiled, edging closer to Jackie, who watched as Kelso was so close, before she turned around, pulling her fingers out of reach, before shoving them in Jackie's face and winking. "Jackie I need help." She fake pouted, and they both watched as Kelso fumed and got excited, coming closer to them, before Laurie turned around. "Red is coming." She spoke, and the boy sped off into the driveway, to help Kitty with the garage sale.
Eric raised an eyebrow, walking over to shake his sister's hand. "May I just say, congratulations on that fabulous burn." He spoke, bowing. Hyde rolled his eyes, eyeing Laurie suspiciously, before sprinkling some walnuts into the mixture. "I try my best little brother." She sighed, looking at Hyde. "Can I talk to you?" She asked, and he followed her into the living room.
"What's up, whorey Laurie?" He asked, and she rolled his eyes. "Look, I just wanted to apologize." She spoke, and he furrowed his brows, looking at her, and opening his mouth like a fish. "You look like a fish, stop." She rolled her eyes. "Anyways, the lady that I have to see from that trip I took told me about making amends. I figured I should apologize for blaming you on my own problems." She shrugged, putting her hands in her pockets, and shivering. "Kelso's revenge outfit is freezing." She murmured.
He knew she was talking about the cocaine, but when she walked away, he just stood shocked in his spot. She apologized. To him. Just came right out and said I'm sorry. He walked into the kitchen, looked at Eric, and frowned. "I think I might die." He said, sitting down. "Of shock." Eric raised his brows. "Why?"
"She apologized." He spoke, and Eric gasped, mouth falling to the floor. Fez walking through the kitchen slider made everyone look at him, as he sauntered over to Jackie, and pursed his lips. "Hello, Jackie." He waggled his brows, and smirked, making her laugh. "Hi Fez." She moved to put her hands on his shoulders, and all of the sudden, they were kissing, and she pulled away, squealing. Kelso, who was in the screen door shrieked, and came running over to Fez. "Fez! That's my girl!"
"Enough!" She shouted, rolling her eyes. "Kelso, I'm not yours. We broke up. Fez, what the hell was that?"
"Well in my country-"
"It's not your country anymore!" Eric snapped, standing beside his sister, and Hyde laughed. "Eric, calm down." She was laughing, now, looking at the sight in front of her. "Fez, I'm not interested."
"It is okay, my Goddess. I still had to try." He sighed, shrugging. "Donna is outside waiting for you by the way."
"Hey, midget." She laughed, watching the girl storm out the door. "You okay?"
"I kissed Fez! And Laurie apologized. And I kissed Fez." She blurted, dragging her around the house and to the front door. "He just came in and kissed me!"
"What did Kelso do?" She laughed, looking down at the girl. "What do you think Kelso did? He said I belonged to him, Hyde laughed, and Eric pulled the older brother crap." Donna laughed, before silence.
"Was it good?" She asked finally, and Jackie nodded. "You know how he rolls his r's?" She asked, fighting excitement. "He did that in my mouth!" She spoke, getting up to go towards the driveway, where the sale was starting soon. Donna followed with a laugh, spotting Laurie running out the door laughing, as Eric chased after her.
"You literally just apologized!" He cried, biting back a smile, as Red caught up. "Here are my contributions Daddy, Eric's dollies!" She laughed, and Eric stole them back, before yelling "They're action figures!"
She laughed, and for a minute, Jackie felt like she did when she was eleven again.
The two girls pranced into the furniture store, giggling and holding on to one another. Kitty laughed, as she watched her daughter take the new addition, and run towards the bedroom sets. Neither one could agree upon one, until Jackie pointed at the pretty white wicker bureauset, with matching white iron headboards, and a vanity set.
"Oh Laurie!" She cried, smiling. "Aren't these just so pretty?" She looked at the eldest child, who nodded, looking at their parents. "We want these ones."
"Two of your finest, please." She handed the ticket on the furniture to the man at the counter, who laughed. "Of course, young ladies."
"Sis!" Broke her out of her day dream, when Laurie held her arm. "Yes!" Jackie grabbed back. "That was so crazy what we did to Kelso!" She giggled, looking inside, and a fuming Kelso, and Jackie laughed as well. This was going good all day. For once, her eyes were clear. "You look really good, Laur." She said, and all of the sudden, the blonde was hugging her tight. She tensed, before letting it happen. It was cut short by a flash. "My girls!" The matriarch cried, running over, and throwing her arms around the two, who started complaining about the pictures and their hair.
"Mrs F, where do you want this?" Steven came outside with a table, and a tray of brownies. "Oh, Steven, what a chef you are!" She pinched his cheeks, before taking him to set up a table at the end of the driveway. Bob and Midge were helping too.
"Jackie!" A new voice called, making Laurie raise her brows. "Jason!" She smiled, as the boy walked over. "He's cute." She whispered to her sister, who laughed. "He's gay." Laurie turned red. "Jason, this is my sister Laurie. Laurie, this is Jason Merengue."
"Good to meet another loser friend." She joked, before flouncing into the house.
Some things never change.
The yard sale had been a success. Mostly everything was gone, save for a few pairs of pants, and a tray of brownies. The pants would end up going to good will.
Hyde had other plans for the brownies.
The kids all sat in the basement, watching as Hyde came out of his room, and smile. "Well men, and women. We have been successful." He looked down at the table. "Foreman, I asked you to grab the brownies." He spoke, and Foreman shook his head. "False."
Laurie stormed down the stairs, and pointed at Hyde. "You gave my parents pot brownies?" She yelled, and Hyde rolled his eyes. "Not my fault that Foreman can't get his head out of his ass and listen." The three started to argue, and Jackie jumped in. "Stop! This isn't that hard. We can just go upstairs, and ask for them back.
"They ate the whole tray!" Laurie exclaimed, and Jackie giggled, before Eric looked at her. "It's not funny, devil!"
"It kinda is." She nodded, moving towards the exit. "Where are you going?" She asked, and Jackie shrugged. "Oh, I don't know? To assess the situation?"
The adults were in the garage, and the kids watched in horror, as they giggled. Red Foreman, eyed Eric. "Dumbass!" He shouted excitedly, as Kitty cracked up into a fit of giggles. "Come see your old man! I missed you!" He hugged the boy, who looked uncomfortable. "Yeah, Dad. I missed you."
"Here come's Peter Cotton Tail, hopping down the bunny trail." He sang, looking around. "Hippity, hoppity, Easter's on it's way." He smiled, before sighing. "What a good garage sale. What good kids. I'm so happy!"
"This is scary." Hyde whispered, and the kids all nodded in agreement. Kelso, Fez, and Jason disappeared, leaving the resident kids to deal. Donna started by taking Bob and Midge home, as they were talking about doing it on the table. She ended up returning.
Eric and Hyde turned around to discuss a plan of attack, before he noticed something very important missing.
"Dad! Where's my car?" He turned around. Red started giggling, before saying "I sold it!" and returning to his giggles. Kitty also started giggling too. Eric turned to Hyde. "Look what you did!" He cried, pointing at his inebriated parents. "They sold my batmobile!"
"Calm down Foreman. Red!" He called, and the man snapped his head in the bad boy's direction. "Who did you sell the Vista Cruiser to?"
"His name was Peter." He spoke, smiling. "Peter Cottontail." He started singing again, and Kitty started laughing again, and Jackie smirked, and Laurie huffed. "I can't believe this." The eldest child laughed, looking at Eric's red face. "My car."
Eventually, the kids found the check, dragging Red across town to retrieve the vehicle. Eric, Hyde, and Red knocked on the door, and the girl that opened it was less than pleased. "What to you goons want?" She sneered, and Jackie scoffed. "Goons? Look at you, Beige Betty."
"Listen, we just want the car." Eric huffed, holding up a check. The girl grabbed it, and grabbed the keys. "It's a hunk of junk, anyways."
"That's a Vista Cruiser. Genuine GM vehicle!" Red cried. "You could- you could- cruise the vistas!"
"Bye." The girl shut the door, and Donna snorted. "How pleasant."
Red was still singing that stupid Easter song, as he helped him up the stairs. "Eric, I need to tell you something son." He sighed, stopping at the door.
"Yeah, Dad?"
"I love you son." Eric didn't respond. "What?"
"What?"
"I love you, dumbass." He giggled, and Eric raised an eyebrow. "I love you too, Dad."
"He told me he loved me." He screached, making Jackie's eyes widen. "What?"
"Red. Told me that he loves me." He was shocked. "Did you say it back?" She asked.
"Yea, after he said it again. I thought I was dreaming!" He cried, flopping back on the bed. The room felt empty. Hyde had convinced Kitty to fix up the basement, and agreed to add a window to his "hole" as she had called it. Jackie laughed, fidgeting with her pajamas. "It's weird how much today entailed. But it was a good day, and it's almost over." She yawned. They had school in the morning.
"School tomorrow, sis. Set your alarm." He mumbled, walking her to his door, and she nodded. "Goodnight, Eric."
"Night, Satan."