In The Beginning
Chapter Five: Point Place Junior High
Jackie could barely contain herself from the first minute she stepped into Point Place Junior High. I mean, she was mingling with the big timers now. 8th graders!
She squealed to death when she realized that Michael was in almost all of her classes, and kept to his side for most of the day. Now that they were back in the same school, she could keep his leash short and tight. Last year was hell, since her one and only spy, Pam, was always too busy to notice if Michael was cheating on her or not. Busy with what, Jackie, was never sure of, but none the less, life was good again.
Stacey and Lacey were also in many of her classes, and when Pam left last year, Jackie learned to make more friends.
Now, if before everyone knew who she was, it was because she was a Burkhart.
But now, everyone knew her as just Jackie.
She was pretty and popular and had a hot boyfriend.
That's all that mattered.
Plus, she was rich and always had the coolest birthday parties.
The first day of Junior High had gone pretty smoothly.
Jackie was nervous about whether or not she would be popular, but as soon as everyone saw her on Michael Kelso's arm, it was undeniable. Jackie Burkhart was on fire. All the girls wished they could be her, even the older ones and all the guys wanted to go out with her.
Jackie noticed the extreme increase of friends and stares, but she never showed it.
It had been a few weeks into school, and everything had been running pretty smoothly.
The only nuisance in Jackie's life was Pam Macy.
Pam had promised that when Stacey, Lacey, and Jackie came to Junior High, she would help them get their start. But Junior High had made Pam even more slutty and catty then before, and Jackie, for one, didn't want to even pretend to be her friend anymore. Stacey and Lacey took Jackie's side, since at this point - she had more going for her.
Everything came to a head at cheerleading tryouts...
"I don't get why we are doing this." Stacey said obnoxiously, holding a pom pom in one hand. "Cheerleading is hard!"
"Because, Stacey," Jackie said immediately, as she practiced her moves, "All the popular girls cheer! It's only natural. Besides, Michael's on the football team and when we get to high school I'll be Cheer Captain and he'll be the Quarterback and everyone will be jealous!" Jackie jumped up and down in excitement, noticing the gym was filled with heavy competition.
Most of the girls were 8th graders, some were in 7th, and Stacey, Lacey, and Jackie were the only 6th graders trying out.
Dana, the Junior Cheer Captain, called out a list of names, including Jackie's and put them in one group. Jackie noticed Michael sitting on the bleachers, with Eric and Hyde. She could not believe he was still friends with those losers!
"Jackie Burkhart?" Dana called out and Jackie's head popped up, her ponytail bouncing up and down. "You're up first!"
The music started and Jackie did her routine as perfectly as she could. She had been taking dancing lessons since she was little, and it's not like cheerleading involved any thinking...well, unless you're talking to Stacey about it.
As she finished her routine with a smile, she heard whistles and cheers coming from Michael. Eric was clapping softly, but he didn't seem to care too much. Hyde was leaning back on his elbows, checking out the other cheerleaders.
"Good job, Jackie!" Stacey and Lacey called out and Jackie rushed to Michael's spot in the bleachers as the Dana and other cheerleaders whispered about her performance.
"Damn, Jackie!" Michael screamed, hugging her tightly. "You're definitely going to make the team!"
"I know!" Jackie squealed, jumping up and down. "And you're going to be quarterback and I'll be Cheer Captain!"
"And you'll all live happily ever after." Hyde muttered sarcastically.
She hadn't seen him since he graduated Point Place Elementary, but he hadn't changed too much. He was taller. And he actually filled out his dumb thrift store shirts. But, he was still aloof and calm and wore those dumb sunglasses, even though they were indoors.
"Jackie, you were really good." Jackie turned around at a girl's voice, then looked up at the familiar, tall red head.
"Thanks, Donna." Jackie said softly, watching Donna sit next to Eric.
She always wondered if they were an item or what, and well, Jackie was known for being blunt.
"Are you two an item or what?" Jackie asked, as she hugged Michael's side.
"What?" They both said in unison, blushing gently on both sides.
"That's all sorts of complicated." Hyde answered for them, getting a punch in the arm.
Donna seemed a whole lot more confident, and was even wearing make up. She was actually sort of pretty, if you're into that whole Lumberjack thing.
"Donna," Jackie said, trying to change the subject and ignore Hyde, "Are you trying out too?"
Eric and Hyde chuckled softly and Donna blushed even further, "I'm not really the cheerleading type."
"Oh, sure you are!" Jackie squealed. "Those manly arms would be perfect for the bottom of the pyramid!"
"Um, thanks?" Donna said, rolling her eyes.
"No problem." Jackie said, turning around quickly as Dana called for her. "Wish me luck!"
"Break a leg!" Hyde called out sarcastically, and Jackie turned around sharply to stick out her tongue, when she lost her footing and fell.
Kelso ran to her side, helping her up. She blushed out of embarrassment, but then screamed as she started to walk further down the bleachers. She looked up at Hyde, who was flabbergasted. She screamed in pain again and Michael picked her up and carried her all the way down and towards the nurse's station.
"Man," Eric laughed, standing up slowly, "You should be careful what you wish for."
Hyde just blinked widely at what just happened and let it roll off his back.
Donna frowned at Eric, "She could have really hurt herself. I'm going to go check on her."
"Donna, she's the devil." Eric said with a laugh. "She'll recover with the help of Satan."
Donna just rolled her eyes and continued down the bleachers and towards the nurse.
"Donna, hold up!" Hyde shouted, following her.
Eric sat back down and watched the rest of the cheerleading tryouts in annoyed silence.
Meanwhile, back at the nurse...
"Michael, put me down!" Jackie screamed before they reached one of the cots.
"But, Jackie, your leg..." He put her down slowly, and she quickly jumped up and down, doing a funny little dance in front of him. "It healed super quick!"
"It was never hurt, you idiot!" Jackie said with a laugh, hopping onto the cot behind her. "You should have seen Hyde's face!"
"Jackie!" Kelso screamed loudly with a serious face that broke into a smile. "That was a wicked burn!"
"I know!" Jackie laughed, as Donna and Hyde walked in.
"Jackie, are you alright?" Donna asked with concern.
"I'll be ok, I think..." Jackie winced, watching Kelso with a cautious eye.
Donna looked around quickly, "I'll get the nurse." She left briskly as Jackie sniffled softly.
"God, Jackie," Hyde laughed. "I'm so sorry."
Jackie sniffled again, "My cheerleading career is ruined!"
Hyde stood there motionless, hoping she wouldn't cry. He just felt horrible.
"Michael, will you get me some ice for Hyde?"
Kelso and Hyde looked at Jackie with slight confusion.
Jackie jumped off the cot, Hyde was ready to catch her, thinking she fell, but she landed on both feet, smiling as Michael wrapped himself around her.
"For that wicked burn!" Michael laughed.
"You mean," Hyde said angrily, "Your leg is fine?"
"Of course it is." Jackie said matter of factly. "Jackie Burkhart doesn't trip, fall, or do anything remotely clumsy."
"No, she only dates the clumsiest person in town." Hyde said with an inching smile as Kelso tried to stick a tongue depressant up his nose. Jackie slapped him gently and he stopped. "Well, I better find Donna and tell her you were lying."
"I wasn't lying; I was teaching you a lesson." Jackie said quickly, following him.
"And what lesson is that?"
Dana ran into the nurse's office, and upon seeing Jackie on both feet, she squealed. "You made the team, Jackie!" She hugged her quickly, then ran back to the gym.
Jackie felt Kelso's arms wrap around hers once more, and smirked at Hyde as they walked past him towards the gym to celebrate, "Never mess with a cheerleader."
A few more months had gone by, and Jackie was beginning to grow weary of Michael Kelso, but she didn't dare break up with him. Her mother, when she returned from Mexico, was thrilled that Jackie had hooked such a 'looker' and was even more thrilled when she met Mr. Kelso, Michael's dad, but Jackie was never sure why.
But when Pam Burkhart was happy, so was Jackie.
But with boyfriend troubles, friends, and cheerleading, Jackie's grades began to flounder.
"Miss Burkhart." Her guidance counselor, Mrs. Smith, said sternly as she opened Jackie's folder. "Your science grades are atrocious!"
"Excuse me?" Jackie asked, stammering.
"And it's no surprise that so are your English grades." Mrs. Smith continued, "If you don't pick these grades up, you'll be kicked off the cheerleading squad."
"What?!" Jackie screeched. "What can I do to fix them?"
"Well, I can give you a tutor."
"Whatever it takes." Jackie said nervously, biting her lip.
"Ok then." She ruffled through some papers and then handed a slip to Jackie. "Meet your tutor at the library after school."
Jackie had been running late and practically forgot that she had a 'tutoring session' after school. She flipped her hair incessantly as she reached the library. She had never even been in the school library before, and she sat near the one person she recognized.
"Jackie?" Eric asked, frowning. "You're not here for tutoring, are you?"
"Guess I'm your new student!" Jackie said, with a smile.
"Lucky me." He muttered. Jackie took it in stride and grinned widely.
"Listen," Jackie said, trying to hide herself in case anyone saw in here with him, "Is there somewhere we can go that's um, more private?"
"Are you coming on to me?" Eric asked with a laugh.
Jackie frowned in disgust, "No."
"Good." Eric stood up slowly, picking up his notebook. "I do have a basement that we all hang out in."
"You all?"
"The Gang of Four..."
Jackie rolled her eyes, but let Eric lead her out the door and down the street, until they reached the Forman household. Donna, Kelso, and Hyde were standing in the driveway, tossing a basketball around carelessly.
"What is she doing here?" Donna asked hesitantly.
"I'm tutoring her."
"Tutoring?" Hyde asked with interest. "I don't think you can teach Jackie how to be human, Forman."
"Oh, burn!" Kelso screeched and Jackie came to his side and smacked him.
"What the hell are you kids doing in my driveway?" A balding, angry man shouted. Jackie instantly took a liking to the man.
"Oh, good." Eric muttered. "Jackie, this is my dad."
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Forman." Jackie said, holding out her hand.
A short woman popped up behind him, slightly frazzled and took the girl's hand, shaking it, "Well if it isn't baby Jacqueline all grown up!"
Jackie hadn't heard anyone call her that in the longest time and smiled kindly at the woman. "Oh, wow, Red, she's so polite, and quite the looker." Kitty laughed and went inside the kitchen.
"You all better be gone by dinner." Red said, following Kitty.
At once, a blond girl in the shortest of skirts and tightest of tee shirts came out from the kitchen, chewing gum loudly as she flipped her hair. "Eric, can I borrow ten bucks?"
"What's wrong, Laurie?" Hyde called out as he sunk in a basket. "No one visits your corner anymore?"
Jackie watched the girl with slight animosity, as the rest laughed at Hyde's joke.
"Shut up, loser." Laurie snickered. "Do any of you have ten bucks?" She looked around at blank expressions, landing on Hyde, "Well, I know you don't."
"Burn!" Kelso shouted, as he lunged for the ball.
"Who are you?" Laurie asked in Jackie's direction.
"Don't look directly into her eyes, Jackie." Eric instructed. "She's like the sun; she'll blind you."
"Shut up, Erica." Laurie screeched. "I'm going to get some money from Dad, and he'll give me some money too, because I'm the favorite, and you're not."
With that, she left.
"She used to be nice." Donna said with a laugh. "But now that she's in high school, she thinks she's hot stuff."
"Wait!" Jackie screamed, causing everyone's head to pop up. "Laurie Forman is your sister?!"
"Don't remind me." Eric said, as he leaned against the old Vista Cruiser parked in the driveway.
"But she's so pretty and popular and you're so not." Jackie continued.
"Ok, she's here to be tutored, right?" Hyde asked from the other side of the car, where he was checking his hair out in the mirror.
"It's rude to say 'she' when I'm right here." Jackie said loudly, but Hyde ignored her.
"Come on," Eric said, rolling his eyes and leading her through the kitchen and downstairs, into the dingy basement.
"Ew!" Jackie screeched so loud that Kelso, Hyde, and Donna could hear her from upstairs, where they sat in the kitchen.
"Man, how can you date that thing?" Hyde asked.
"Easy..."
"Jackie's easy?" Hyde asked, intrigued by this.
"No, I mean...the answer is easy." Kelso said, frowning. "Jackie barely lets me touch her."
"I wouldn't let you touch me either Kelso." Donna said.
"What's the answer then?" Hyde asked, getting to the point.
"Jackie and I just make sense. We're both good looking. We're both popular. And she's always super busy so she doesn't know that I'm cheating on her with Pam Macy."
"Oh my god." Donna whispered as Jackie stood by the fridge.
"Eric told me to get some sodas." Jackie said with a frown, pushing a tear aside.
"Jackie..." Kelso began but she raised her hand to stop him.
"Save it, Michael." She ran back downstairs and Eric soon came back up.
He hit Kelso upside the head and muttered, "She's crying. Someone should go talk to her."
Donna, Kelso, and Hyde stared at Eric. "Someone other then me." He continued.
"I'll do it," Hyde said, with a sigh. "But just for the record, it's not because I want to."
"Right." Donna said with a suspicious tone.
"Of course." Eric agreed.
"Well I wouldn't want to deal with that either!" Kelso laughed, and shielded his eyes as Eric and Donna threw some chips in his direction.
Hyde laughed, slipping off his sunglasses and putting them in the collar of his shirt as he approached Jackie, who was sitting on his very chair, her feet propped up on the table. She wasn't crying, but sitting very still, and looked up at him with a strange expression, almost as if she knew he would be coming.
"You warned me." Jackie laughed, wiping away tears. "And I didn't listen."
"Do you ever listen?" Hyde asked, sitting down on the couch.
"I should have." Jackie looked down at her feet and leaned up to look at him, "Why did you warn me? Why did you come down here now? Why did you help me out that night in the courtyard?"
Hyde didn't say a word, he just watched Jackie sigh at his silence.
"The question isn't why," Hyde finally said, standing up and going back upstairs to leave her be, "It's how could I not."
Jackie felt very awkward and confused as he left her with this.
Hyde groaned as he came back to the kitchen.
"Get down there." He said to Kelso, smacking him gently.
Of course, Jackie and Kelso made up, but that didn't stop him from cheating on her again. And again. And again.
But, when she heard about it, she didn't really care.
She loved Michael, she did, and it hurt.
But she had a different agenda on her mind now.
She wanted to get to know a certain, mysterious curly haired boy.
And she knew just how to do it.
Chapter Five: Point Place Junior High
Jackie could barely contain herself from the first minute she stepped into Point Place Junior High. I mean, she was mingling with the big timers now. 8th graders!
She squealed to death when she realized that Michael was in almost all of her classes, and kept to his side for most of the day. Now that they were back in the same school, she could keep his leash short and tight. Last year was hell, since her one and only spy, Pam, was always too busy to notice if Michael was cheating on her or not. Busy with what, Jackie, was never sure of, but none the less, life was good again.
Stacey and Lacey were also in many of her classes, and when Pam left last year, Jackie learned to make more friends.
Now, if before everyone knew who she was, it was because she was a Burkhart.
But now, everyone knew her as just Jackie.
She was pretty and popular and had a hot boyfriend.
That's all that mattered.
Plus, she was rich and always had the coolest birthday parties.
The first day of Junior High had gone pretty smoothly.
Jackie was nervous about whether or not she would be popular, but as soon as everyone saw her on Michael Kelso's arm, it was undeniable. Jackie Burkhart was on fire. All the girls wished they could be her, even the older ones and all the guys wanted to go out with her.
Jackie noticed the extreme increase of friends and stares, but she never showed it.
It had been a few weeks into school, and everything had been running pretty smoothly.
The only nuisance in Jackie's life was Pam Macy.
Pam had promised that when Stacey, Lacey, and Jackie came to Junior High, she would help them get their start. But Junior High had made Pam even more slutty and catty then before, and Jackie, for one, didn't want to even pretend to be her friend anymore. Stacey and Lacey took Jackie's side, since at this point - she had more going for her.
Everything came to a head at cheerleading tryouts...
"I don't get why we are doing this." Stacey said obnoxiously, holding a pom pom in one hand. "Cheerleading is hard!"
"Because, Stacey," Jackie said immediately, as she practiced her moves, "All the popular girls cheer! It's only natural. Besides, Michael's on the football team and when we get to high school I'll be Cheer Captain and he'll be the Quarterback and everyone will be jealous!" Jackie jumped up and down in excitement, noticing the gym was filled with heavy competition.
Most of the girls were 8th graders, some were in 7th, and Stacey, Lacey, and Jackie were the only 6th graders trying out.
Dana, the Junior Cheer Captain, called out a list of names, including Jackie's and put them in one group. Jackie noticed Michael sitting on the bleachers, with Eric and Hyde. She could not believe he was still friends with those losers!
"Jackie Burkhart?" Dana called out and Jackie's head popped up, her ponytail bouncing up and down. "You're up first!"
The music started and Jackie did her routine as perfectly as she could. She had been taking dancing lessons since she was little, and it's not like cheerleading involved any thinking...well, unless you're talking to Stacey about it.
As she finished her routine with a smile, she heard whistles and cheers coming from Michael. Eric was clapping softly, but he didn't seem to care too much. Hyde was leaning back on his elbows, checking out the other cheerleaders.
"Good job, Jackie!" Stacey and Lacey called out and Jackie rushed to Michael's spot in the bleachers as the Dana and other cheerleaders whispered about her performance.
"Damn, Jackie!" Michael screamed, hugging her tightly. "You're definitely going to make the team!"
"I know!" Jackie squealed, jumping up and down. "And you're going to be quarterback and I'll be Cheer Captain!"
"And you'll all live happily ever after." Hyde muttered sarcastically.
She hadn't seen him since he graduated Point Place Elementary, but he hadn't changed too much. He was taller. And he actually filled out his dumb thrift store shirts. But, he was still aloof and calm and wore those dumb sunglasses, even though they were indoors.
"Jackie, you were really good." Jackie turned around at a girl's voice, then looked up at the familiar, tall red head.
"Thanks, Donna." Jackie said softly, watching Donna sit next to Eric.
She always wondered if they were an item or what, and well, Jackie was known for being blunt.
"Are you two an item or what?" Jackie asked, as she hugged Michael's side.
"What?" They both said in unison, blushing gently on both sides.
"That's all sorts of complicated." Hyde answered for them, getting a punch in the arm.
Donna seemed a whole lot more confident, and was even wearing make up. She was actually sort of pretty, if you're into that whole Lumberjack thing.
"Donna," Jackie said, trying to change the subject and ignore Hyde, "Are you trying out too?"
Eric and Hyde chuckled softly and Donna blushed even further, "I'm not really the cheerleading type."
"Oh, sure you are!" Jackie squealed. "Those manly arms would be perfect for the bottom of the pyramid!"
"Um, thanks?" Donna said, rolling her eyes.
"No problem." Jackie said, turning around quickly as Dana called for her. "Wish me luck!"
"Break a leg!" Hyde called out sarcastically, and Jackie turned around sharply to stick out her tongue, when she lost her footing and fell.
Kelso ran to her side, helping her up. She blushed out of embarrassment, but then screamed as she started to walk further down the bleachers. She looked up at Hyde, who was flabbergasted. She screamed in pain again and Michael picked her up and carried her all the way down and towards the nurse's station.
"Man," Eric laughed, standing up slowly, "You should be careful what you wish for."
Hyde just blinked widely at what just happened and let it roll off his back.
Donna frowned at Eric, "She could have really hurt herself. I'm going to go check on her."
"Donna, she's the devil." Eric said with a laugh. "She'll recover with the help of Satan."
Donna just rolled her eyes and continued down the bleachers and towards the nurse.
"Donna, hold up!" Hyde shouted, following her.
Eric sat back down and watched the rest of the cheerleading tryouts in annoyed silence.
Meanwhile, back at the nurse...
"Michael, put me down!" Jackie screamed before they reached one of the cots.
"But, Jackie, your leg..." He put her down slowly, and she quickly jumped up and down, doing a funny little dance in front of him. "It healed super quick!"
"It was never hurt, you idiot!" Jackie said with a laugh, hopping onto the cot behind her. "You should have seen Hyde's face!"
"Jackie!" Kelso screamed loudly with a serious face that broke into a smile. "That was a wicked burn!"
"I know!" Jackie laughed, as Donna and Hyde walked in.
"Jackie, are you alright?" Donna asked with concern.
"I'll be ok, I think..." Jackie winced, watching Kelso with a cautious eye.
Donna looked around quickly, "I'll get the nurse." She left briskly as Jackie sniffled softly.
"God, Jackie," Hyde laughed. "I'm so sorry."
Jackie sniffled again, "My cheerleading career is ruined!"
Hyde stood there motionless, hoping she wouldn't cry. He just felt horrible.
"Michael, will you get me some ice for Hyde?"
Kelso and Hyde looked at Jackie with slight confusion.
Jackie jumped off the cot, Hyde was ready to catch her, thinking she fell, but she landed on both feet, smiling as Michael wrapped himself around her.
"For that wicked burn!" Michael laughed.
"You mean," Hyde said angrily, "Your leg is fine?"
"Of course it is." Jackie said matter of factly. "Jackie Burkhart doesn't trip, fall, or do anything remotely clumsy."
"No, she only dates the clumsiest person in town." Hyde said with an inching smile as Kelso tried to stick a tongue depressant up his nose. Jackie slapped him gently and he stopped. "Well, I better find Donna and tell her you were lying."
"I wasn't lying; I was teaching you a lesson." Jackie said quickly, following him.
"And what lesson is that?"
Dana ran into the nurse's office, and upon seeing Jackie on both feet, she squealed. "You made the team, Jackie!" She hugged her quickly, then ran back to the gym.
Jackie felt Kelso's arms wrap around hers once more, and smirked at Hyde as they walked past him towards the gym to celebrate, "Never mess with a cheerleader."
A few more months had gone by, and Jackie was beginning to grow weary of Michael Kelso, but she didn't dare break up with him. Her mother, when she returned from Mexico, was thrilled that Jackie had hooked such a 'looker' and was even more thrilled when she met Mr. Kelso, Michael's dad, but Jackie was never sure why.
But when Pam Burkhart was happy, so was Jackie.
But with boyfriend troubles, friends, and cheerleading, Jackie's grades began to flounder.
"Miss Burkhart." Her guidance counselor, Mrs. Smith, said sternly as she opened Jackie's folder. "Your science grades are atrocious!"
"Excuse me?" Jackie asked, stammering.
"And it's no surprise that so are your English grades." Mrs. Smith continued, "If you don't pick these grades up, you'll be kicked off the cheerleading squad."
"What?!" Jackie screeched. "What can I do to fix them?"
"Well, I can give you a tutor."
"Whatever it takes." Jackie said nervously, biting her lip.
"Ok then." She ruffled through some papers and then handed a slip to Jackie. "Meet your tutor at the library after school."
Jackie had been running late and practically forgot that she had a 'tutoring session' after school. She flipped her hair incessantly as she reached the library. She had never even been in the school library before, and she sat near the one person she recognized.
"Jackie?" Eric asked, frowning. "You're not here for tutoring, are you?"
"Guess I'm your new student!" Jackie said, with a smile.
"Lucky me." He muttered. Jackie took it in stride and grinned widely.
"Listen," Jackie said, trying to hide herself in case anyone saw in here with him, "Is there somewhere we can go that's um, more private?"
"Are you coming on to me?" Eric asked with a laugh.
Jackie frowned in disgust, "No."
"Good." Eric stood up slowly, picking up his notebook. "I do have a basement that we all hang out in."
"You all?"
"The Gang of Four..."
Jackie rolled her eyes, but let Eric lead her out the door and down the street, until they reached the Forman household. Donna, Kelso, and Hyde were standing in the driveway, tossing a basketball around carelessly.
"What is she doing here?" Donna asked hesitantly.
"I'm tutoring her."
"Tutoring?" Hyde asked with interest. "I don't think you can teach Jackie how to be human, Forman."
"Oh, burn!" Kelso screeched and Jackie came to his side and smacked him.
"What the hell are you kids doing in my driveway?" A balding, angry man shouted. Jackie instantly took a liking to the man.
"Oh, good." Eric muttered. "Jackie, this is my dad."
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Forman." Jackie said, holding out her hand.
A short woman popped up behind him, slightly frazzled and took the girl's hand, shaking it, "Well if it isn't baby Jacqueline all grown up!"
Jackie hadn't heard anyone call her that in the longest time and smiled kindly at the woman. "Oh, wow, Red, she's so polite, and quite the looker." Kitty laughed and went inside the kitchen.
"You all better be gone by dinner." Red said, following Kitty.
At once, a blond girl in the shortest of skirts and tightest of tee shirts came out from the kitchen, chewing gum loudly as she flipped her hair. "Eric, can I borrow ten bucks?"
"What's wrong, Laurie?" Hyde called out as he sunk in a basket. "No one visits your corner anymore?"
Jackie watched the girl with slight animosity, as the rest laughed at Hyde's joke.
"Shut up, loser." Laurie snickered. "Do any of you have ten bucks?" She looked around at blank expressions, landing on Hyde, "Well, I know you don't."
"Burn!" Kelso shouted, as he lunged for the ball.
"Who are you?" Laurie asked in Jackie's direction.
"Don't look directly into her eyes, Jackie." Eric instructed. "She's like the sun; she'll blind you."
"Shut up, Erica." Laurie screeched. "I'm going to get some money from Dad, and he'll give me some money too, because I'm the favorite, and you're not."
With that, she left.
"She used to be nice." Donna said with a laugh. "But now that she's in high school, she thinks she's hot stuff."
"Wait!" Jackie screamed, causing everyone's head to pop up. "Laurie Forman is your sister?!"
"Don't remind me." Eric said, as he leaned against the old Vista Cruiser parked in the driveway.
"But she's so pretty and popular and you're so not." Jackie continued.
"Ok, she's here to be tutored, right?" Hyde asked from the other side of the car, where he was checking his hair out in the mirror.
"It's rude to say 'she' when I'm right here." Jackie said loudly, but Hyde ignored her.
"Come on," Eric said, rolling his eyes and leading her through the kitchen and downstairs, into the dingy basement.
"Ew!" Jackie screeched so loud that Kelso, Hyde, and Donna could hear her from upstairs, where they sat in the kitchen.
"Man, how can you date that thing?" Hyde asked.
"Easy..."
"Jackie's easy?" Hyde asked, intrigued by this.
"No, I mean...the answer is easy." Kelso said, frowning. "Jackie barely lets me touch her."
"I wouldn't let you touch me either Kelso." Donna said.
"What's the answer then?" Hyde asked, getting to the point.
"Jackie and I just make sense. We're both good looking. We're both popular. And she's always super busy so she doesn't know that I'm cheating on her with Pam Macy."
"Oh my god." Donna whispered as Jackie stood by the fridge.
"Eric told me to get some sodas." Jackie said with a frown, pushing a tear aside.
"Jackie..." Kelso began but she raised her hand to stop him.
"Save it, Michael." She ran back downstairs and Eric soon came back up.
He hit Kelso upside the head and muttered, "She's crying. Someone should go talk to her."
Donna, Kelso, and Hyde stared at Eric. "Someone other then me." He continued.
"I'll do it," Hyde said, with a sigh. "But just for the record, it's not because I want to."
"Right." Donna said with a suspicious tone.
"Of course." Eric agreed.
"Well I wouldn't want to deal with that either!" Kelso laughed, and shielded his eyes as Eric and Donna threw some chips in his direction.
Hyde laughed, slipping off his sunglasses and putting them in the collar of his shirt as he approached Jackie, who was sitting on his very chair, her feet propped up on the table. She wasn't crying, but sitting very still, and looked up at him with a strange expression, almost as if she knew he would be coming.
"You warned me." Jackie laughed, wiping away tears. "And I didn't listen."
"Do you ever listen?" Hyde asked, sitting down on the couch.
"I should have." Jackie looked down at her feet and leaned up to look at him, "Why did you warn me? Why did you come down here now? Why did you help me out that night in the courtyard?"
Hyde didn't say a word, he just watched Jackie sigh at his silence.
"The question isn't why," Hyde finally said, standing up and going back upstairs to leave her be, "It's how could I not."
Jackie felt very awkward and confused as he left her with this.
Hyde groaned as he came back to the kitchen.
"Get down there." He said to Kelso, smacking him gently.
Of course, Jackie and Kelso made up, but that didn't stop him from cheating on her again. And again. And again.
But, when she heard about it, she didn't really care.
She loved Michael, she did, and it hurt.
But she had a different agenda on her mind now.
She wanted to get to know a certain, mysterious curly haired boy.
And she knew just how to do it.