Both Jackie and Eric sat there in a comfortable silence watching tv. But after a while, it got boring. Without Donna and Kelso being here and Hyde at work and Fez, who knows where he is. There wasn't much to do but watch tv. Man, this was going to be one dull summer Jackie thought to herself.
How on earth did Jackie get herself in the predicament? Just a few months ago, she and Michael had gotten back together and everything was perfect between them. But unfortunately, life wasn't on her side. When Michael found out that the cheese guy kissed her, their relationship started to dwindle.
To say that Michael had become overly possessive and jealous was an understatement. He had mistrusted her so much that he started to spy on her at work. It had gotten to the point where he would call Jackie just to accuse her of kissing other guys. She couldn't even give Hyde an innocent kiss on the cheek for his birthday without Michael accusing her of cheating.
Jackie wondered if she deserved this. I mean, there were so many signs that she ignored about Michael not being a good boyfriend. The cheating, the lying, the constant mistrust between them. Did she really believe that he would make good husband material?
Now look where she is: she has been reduced to hanging out with Eric in his basement. But what options did she have? It's either this or hang out with her bitchy cheerleader "friends" who would love nothing more than to humiliate her about Michael ditching their engagement.
Just thinking about Michael being in California made Jackie's blood boil. She knew damn well that moron was going to jump on anything that's wearing a skirt. It would be a surprise if Michael doesn't come home with, like, 20 sex diseases.
"This summer is going to totally suck. There's nothing to do." Jackie complained.
"Can't argue with you on that." Eric agreed.
"Well, help me think of something!" Jackie yelled. "I am not going to sit around here and watch tv wasting my entire summer. Especially knowing how much fun Donna and Michael are having on their little road trip to Cali freakin fornia.
Eric rolled his eyes "Jackie, no offense, but last time I checked, it's not my responsibility or my job to care about how you spend your summer."
"Ok, fine. Don't care." Jackie crossed her arms over her chest. "But doesn't it bother you thinking about Donna? And how she's probably going to have the time of her life while she's away. Just think about it, when she comes back, she is going to have all these amazing stories about California. And what stories will you have? Oh right, you won't have any!" Jackie snapped.
Eric was taken aback by little Jackie's rant, he didn't want to admit it, but she did have a valid point. If Eric didn't do anything for the entire summer, it would look like he was still moping over Donna. Which would further his parents belief that he was still in love with her.
"Look, I know we're not really friends." Jackie began. "But together, we can make the most of what is supposed to be a crappy summer and turn into an amazing one."
"Alright, fine. But.."
Before Eric could finish his sentence, Jackie let out a little squeal of excitement while clapping her hands.
"Oh, Eric, I have it all mapped out. First things first, I need some retail therapy so we'll go to the mall..."
Now it was Eric's turn to interrupt.
"Whoa, slow down there." Eric said, putting his hands up. "I'm up for pretty much anything but the mall."
"Oh." Jackie frowned. "What do you want to do then?"
An idea popped into Eric's head: what does he usually do when he is bored. He knew the answer, but he wasn't sure how Jackie would feel getting high with him.
"Well, do you want to get high?" Eric suggested.
Jackie was shocked that Eric asked her that. Not that she was against it; she's done it many times before. She was just surprised that Eric would even want to get high with her. Though she found the idea of getting high with Eric, of all people, extremely bizarre, she had nothing else to lose. What could it hurt? Besides, she needed to get Michael off her mind; there was no way she was going to sulk about him for the entire summer.
"Sure, why not?" Jackie shrugged.
Eric looked Jackie in the eyes and smirked. "Let's do it." Eric got up and went to Hyde's room to get his stash. Eric knew Hyde would probably be pissed at him for taking it. But at this point in Eric's life, he just didn't care. Eric wanted to forget about his problems for a few hours, and this was the only way to do it.
When Eric came back from Hyde's room, He sat plopped down next to Jackie, who looked eager, most likely wanting to forget about her problems as well. In no time, the basement was full of smoke and two teens who had goofy grins on their faces and couldn't stop laughing.
"Oh my God. You were right, this is so much more fun than the mall." Jackie giggled.
"Told you." Eric said, with a goofy grin.
"I forgot why I was even upset in the first place."
"That's what's so incredible, but this stuff. Even if your life falls apart: It will make everything better."
"I know right, I feel amazing. No, I am amazing." Jackie gushed.
"Damn, right you are." Eric giggled "Everything is amazing."
"This is totally going to be the best summer ever. I don't even care that Michael left."
"Yeah, And I don't care about what my parents think." Eric added.
"Here's to not caring" Jackie cheered.
"Too, not caring." Eric raised his hands.
"You know what? I should get high all the time."
"Woah, slow down there. If you do that, you'll go from cheerleader to pothead by the end of the summer." Eric warned.
"Eww" Jackie said with a look of disgust on her face. "Never mind then."
"Man, how funny would that be? Jackie Burkhart goes from popular cheerleader to burnout." Eric snickered.
"As if. But even if that did happen, I would still be prettier than all the other girls in school."
"Even prettier than Pam Macy?"
"Definitely, Prettier than Pam Macy! How could you even suggest that." Jackie pinched Eric's arm.
Eric let out a yelp "Ow. geeze, Jackie. I didn't mean to offend you."
"Well you did, apologize for comparing me to that whore." Jackie demanded.
"Sorry." Eric said, rubbing his arm where Jackie pitched it. "Good to know your confidence is back."
Jackie flipped her hair. "Oh please, I'm Jackie Burkhart, I will never lose my confidence."
"Don't you mean Jackie Beulah Burkhart." Eric corrected.
Jackie gave him a death glare. She was going to kill Eric, maybe Hyde, considering he was the one who exposed her awful middle name on that fateful halloween night. To be honest, Jackie was still kind of pissed. She tried very hard to keep that a secret from the world, and now because of those damn files, everybody knows.
"That's not funny Eric." Jackie gritted her teeth.
"Really, because I think it's hilarious." Eric teased.
Eric knew he was pushing it by looking at the scowl on Jackie's face. But he couldn't help it: Jackie looked so darn cute when she was angry. He knew it sounded crazy to think of the girl he referred to as the devil as "cute" but Eric was too high to care right now. He had other issues to worry about, like the fact that Jackie looked like she was about to kill him right there on the spot.
"You better watch it, you geek: I beat up your slutty sister. And If I can beat her up, I'm pretty sure I could do the same to you." Jackie threatened.
"Ok,Ok. I'm just messing around. Besides, it's not that bad of a name." Eric said, trying not to laugh.
"Well, at least I don't grow a pimple on my forehead that looks like Dolly Parton boobs." Jackie retaliated.
"Oh, yeah." Eric tried to think of a witty comeback. "Oh, yeah. Well your… Umm, your umm. Aah, forget it, you win." Eric sighed in defeat.
"Oh, Eric," Jackie put her hand on his shoulder. "Of course I win." Jackie said with a smug smile.
"Congratulations, would you like a cookie?" Eric said sarcastically.
"Oh, you shut.. Wait, did you say cookie? Because yes, yes, I would like a cookie. I'm starving." Jackie's red puffy eyes wided.
"Clearly sarcasm isn't your second language." Eric observed.
"What?" Jackie asked, confused. "you asked if I would like a cookie, I said yes, so where is my cookie?"
"There is no cookie." Eric confessed.
"So you lied to me." Jackie accused.
"No" Eric, his face in his hands. "All this food talk is now making me hungry."
"Then go get us some food. I swear I've never been so hungry in my life."
Eric gave into Jackie's demand and went upstairs to the kitchen to get snacks. He had to be careful, he didn't want Red and kitty to find him in this state. Once he got to the cabinets and opened them. Eric was pleasantly surprised to find it was filled with all kinds of chips and sweets. Looks like Kitty took a trip to the grocery store. "Thank God." Eric thought to himself.
Eric decided to go for the big bag of potato chips and the chocolate bars. Once he got what he needed, rushed down the basement steps before anyone could see him.
Jackie quickly grabbed the chocolate from Eric's hand "What took you so long?"
"Relax, would you?" Eric scolded.
Jackie ignored Eric, taking a bite of the chocolate bar that was given to her.
"Mmm." Jackie moaned. "Now, this is what I'm talking about."
To Eric, it was funny yet strange to see Jackie into a complete stoner state. Yes, he has seen her high before, back when Hyde was teaching how to be "Zen" has Hyde put it. But that was so long ago and his memory was kind of fuzzy.
"Looks like someones enjoying themselves." Eric chuckled.
"You bet I am. You know something Eric, your mom has good taste in candy bars."
"Jackie, it's just a regular old Hershey bar." Eric said, stuffing a handful of chips in his mouth. "It's not even that great compared to potato chips."
"Oh, Please." Jackie objected. "I read something in Cosmo about how eating chocolate makes sex better."
Eric snorted. "Seriously, you're taking advice from Cosmo?"
"Of course I am." Jackie waved her hands in the air. "Cosmo is like the quintessential of good advice."
"I don't know whether to laugh or cry at the fact that you get all-life advice from that stupid magazine."
Jackie pursed her lips. "Cosmo is not some "stupid" magazine. It has not only taught me how to dress and look beautiful. It has also taught me how to manipulate men and how to control them."
"Yeah and how has that worked for you so far?" Eric questioned.
"Ok, maybe I haven't made the best decisions when it comes to men. But you can't deny how good I look."
"You know what Jackie? I envy your level of confidence.
"Aww, thanks Eric" Jackie put her hand on her chest. "You know, you could have the same level of confidence as me if you weren't such a pushover."
Eric stared at Jackie, with mouth hanging wide open. Eric wasn't a pushover. There have been plenty of times that he has stuck up for himself. For example; he punched David Milbank when he found out that David's father only reopened the plant to use up the inventory.
"Screw you Jackie. I am not a pushover." Eric argued.
"You kind of are, Eric. But here's the good news: not taking Donna back is a good start "
"So you think I made the right decision by not taking her back?"
"Ugh, you just don't get it do you? Eric, it doesn't matter what I think about you not taking Donna back. All that matters is if you think you made the right decision."
Eric thought about what Jackie said, and she was right. Why did the little devil have to always be right? It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. Not his friends and definitely not his parents. It is his life and he should be able to make his own decision without being pestered.
"It really, really pains me to admit this. But you're right Jackie.
"Well, duh, I'm right about everything"
"Yep, that you are." Eric agreed.
Jackie smiled, patting Eric's knee. "Eric, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship"
A friendship with Jackie sounded like the most abnormal thing ever, something Eric's past self would laugh at. But with how his life is going at the moment, what the hell. Man, this was going to be one interesting summer.