In The Beginning
Chapter Seven: Donna and Eric
Jackie's party was an overall success. She received lots of nice gifts, with the exception of Michael's, and everyone said they had a great time. No one noticed that she had slipped back into the party, through the backyard gate, a few minutes before it was over.
Jackie sat by the pool, looking over the damage left by all the kids.
There were plastic cups everywhere; the streamers had all fallen down. The maids were running around with garbage bags, tidying the yard up, as the caterers loaded their truck back up. The air grew cold and the sky grew dark, so Jackie went back inside. Her parents had decided to go out for a few hours, to some adult party of some sort...something to do with swinging...so it was just Jackie and the help for awhile. As she walked through the main hall and up the stairs, she realized there were two more presents left on the table, which she hadn't torn open yet.
The first was neatly wrapped in pretty blue wrapping paper. She opened the card first, and upon seeing Donna's name, she tossed it aside and tore the box open. Inside, was a bracelet, which looked hand made. It was actually quite pretty, with pink beads of all shades, which read "Jackie".
She slipped it on her wrist and started to unwrap the next gift.
The next gift was wrapped in newspaper and had no card, but she could already tell who it was from. It smelled like alcohol, cigarettes, and a crisp clean aftershave type smell all in one. It was Hyde's gift.
She was very curious as to what could possibly be inside.
She grew impatient as she furiously tore into the newspaper and finally, when it seemed like there was actually nothing inside, a piece of paper flew out that simply read, "Jackie – I O U."
She smiled, because it wasn't really a bad present at all.
And now Steven Hyde owes her. Owes her what, she wasn't sure of yet...but she'd figure something out.
The next week at school, talk of Jackie's party had pretty much died down.
Everything was back to normal. Jackie and Hyde ignored each other, when they rarely crossed paths, and Jackie and Kelso would walk hand in hand down the hallways, the king and queen of Junior High.
Every wedesnday, Jackie would walk over to the Forman house after cheer practice and have a tutoring session with Eric. It wasn't half bad, really. Kitty Forman would feed her till she was stuffed and Red would tell her some war stories. And Eric, was a pretty good teacher, and insisted that he walk Jackie home each night. He was a really nice guy, for a scrawny kid. He also had this rule about the basement when Jackie was there...Hyde and Kelso could not be there, because they were too much of a distraction. But when Donna dropped by, well, that of course, was ok for Eric.
It had been a particular Wednesday afternoon when Kitty came bouncing down the stairs, a tray in hand, with Donna behind her.
"I brought you some cookies and lemonade." Kitty announced as Donna sat down on the couch, next to Jackie. "Jackie, will you be staying for dinner?"
Jackie really wanted to say yes...but, well if she stayed here too long, someone might notice, especially since Lacey and Stacey call her house at around 7 for their daily gossip calls. But she also knew that her mother had been gone for two weeks, and if she wanted a good homestyle dinner, she should stay...
"Sorry, Mrs. Forman, but I promised my mom I would eat dinner at home." Jackie said politely, trying to hide her frown. She hated lying to someone as nice as Mrs. Forman.
"That's ok, dear, next time." Kitty said with a smile, and made her way back up the stairs.
"It's ok if I'm here, right?" Donna asked sheepishly, flipping through a magazine. "I don't want to interrupt."
"No," Eric cried sharply, "You're always welcome here, Donna."
Jackie rolled her eyes. These two were such children.
Eric stared at Donna, who didn't seem to really notice, but as soon as Eric's head was down, Donna was staring back at him.
Jackie and Eric continued to go over some chemistry rules when Donna remembered that she promised she had to go feed Mr. Bojangles, her cat, since her parents were off at a dinner party.
Jackie watched Donna leave through the side door before she smiled widely and slammed her notebook closed.
"We're not done yet, Jackie." Eric insisted, but then looked at her strangely, since she had this evil smile plastered on her face.
"You like Donna, don't you, Eric?" Jackie asked, more like demanded, for an answer.
"I don't know what you're talking about..." Eric said, with a far off look in his eyes, but his blush revealed all.
"Why don't you ask her out or something?"
"Because," He shrugged. "Our friendship is more important then all that."
"What does your friendship have to do with it?" Jackie asked, scrunching her nose up in confusion. "Where did you get that idea?"
"Hyde."
Jackie rolled her eyes. "Do you always listen to Hyde?"
Eric nodded, "He's pretty smart."
"No, Eric, he's a smartass." Jackie said quickly. "God, he is so..."
Before Jackie could finish, Donna came back into the basement, taking back her seat.
"Who's so, what?" Donna asked.
"Hyde, he's such a know it all." Jackie complained, tossing her notebook aside completely, so Eric complied, figuring they were done for the day anyway. "He's always trying to make everyone unhappy, just because he's unhappy."
Donna looked slightly confused but nodded anyway, probably just to shut the girl up.
At that, Kelso and Hyde boomed down the stairs, laughing about something or other.
"Oh." Hyde stopped in his tracks. "I thought you'd be gone by now. Isn't it about time you checked back into hell?"
Jackie groaned, grabbed her purse, and stomped out the door.
"What's her problem?" Hyde asked, as he sat in her spot.
"She hates you." Eric laughed.
"Whatever, man, I'm the one who hates her." Hyde insisted. "I hate her and all her stupid friends."
"Hey, this is my girlfriend you're all bad mouthing." Kelso said angrily.
"Yeah, so?" Hyde asked.
"So, let me join in." Kelso laughed. "She's really bossy. I mean, I like being taken control of, but damn, she's always watching me like a hawk."
"That's because you're always cheating on her, like the filthy pig you are!" Donna half laughed, half screamed. "God, you guys are so immature sometimes. Jackie is right about you, Hyde."
Then Donna stormed off and left, just as Jackie had.
Hyde rolled his eyes and glared at Eric, "What was Jackie right about?"
"Um..." Eric stammered, trying to recall her words. "She said that you're unhappy, so you try to make everyone else unhappy."
Hyde grinned, "Yeah, so?"
Kelso, Eric, and Hyde laughed hoarsely and turned on the TV to forgot about the emotional girls in their lives.
Meanwhile, Donna had ran after Jackie, but it turned out she was just sitting outside the Forman's kitchen, on one of the patio chairs, muttering to herself. Donna sat down next to her, crossing her arms in a similar, pissed off fashion as Jackie's.
"Boys are so stupid, Donna." Jackie muttered, watching the red head nod haphazardly. "Except Eric, he's pretty sweet."
"Yeah, he's a great guy." Donna said, blushing gently.
"Donna, do you like Eric?"
"Sure."
"No, Donna." Jackie whined. "Do you like like him?"
"No!" Donna screamed, laughing maniaclly. "God, am I that transparent?"
"Don't worry, Donna. No one really cares if you like him or not."
Donna ignored this insult, "Does he know?"
"No, but he likes you back." Jackie blabbed with no regret.
"He does?" Donna asked, hope shining in her eyes.
"Donna, of course he does. You're like the only girl who talks to him. But why do you like him? He's so...scrawny."
"But he's nice. And he makes me laugh." Donna said, with a smile.
"Yeah." Jackie smiled back. "I guess your manliness kind of balances his girliness, too. You two are sort of perfect for each other."
"Jackie, do you know how to compliment people without insulting them?"
"No."
"Ok, then." Donna laughed, but noticed something from the corner of her eye. "You're wearing the bracelet I made you."
Jackie lifted her wrist, and grinned. "I wear it everyday. You made it. Like, yourself?"
Donna nodded and Jackie was impressed. She played with in on her arm for awhile and then looked up at Donna, "Hey, Donna."
"Yeah?"
"Will you teach me how to make one?"
"Sure." Donna said slowly, standing up.
"Great." Jackie smiled fully, looking up from her bracelet to Donna's face. "Oh, and thanks for making me feel better."
"Anytime, Jackie."
"Really?"
Donna squinted slightly, but smiled, hugging Jackie before she left for dinner.
Jackie spotted Red inside the kitchen and walked inside, taking a seat at the counter.
"Hi Mr. Forman!" She shouted happily, practically giving him a heart attack.
He opened up a beer and grinned oddly at the little, loud girl Eric had befriended.
"Can I ask you something, Mr. Forman?" Jackie asked timidly.
He shrugged and she continued, happily.
"What's more important in life...having popular, pretty friends or having real, honest friends?"
Red just stared at the little girl and gave her a hard look.
"I think you know the answer to that one." He said, with an earnest smile, before leaving the room.
Jackie did know the answer, but she couldn't bear to turn her back on everything she had known up till this point.
She had changed herself before, when she was innocent little Jacqueline.
She wondered if her popularity would change if she became better friends with the Gang of Four. I mean, did people really care that much if she started talking to Donna in school or hung out with Eric? I mean, Michael does, and he's really popular. Jackie wasn't even sure if popularity really mattered to her anymore.
She sighed, picking up her notebook, and left the kitchen.
She stated to walk up the street, slowly, a little creeped by how quite and dark it all was when she heard running behind her.
She turned around, ready to scream her head off when she saw it was just Eric.
"Eric, oh my god, you scared me!" Jackie panted, recuperating.
"Jackie, I always walk you home, remember?" Eric said with a smile, taking her notebook from her hand. "But don't tell anyone that."
"Why not?" Jackie asked, raising an eyebrow as they walked along.
"Well, because I don't want to be associated with a cheerleader and you don't want to be associated with a scrawny loser. We've been over this." He laughed it off, in that way that only Eric Forman can.
"You're not a loser." Jackie said proudly. "And you know...um...one day you might not be *as* scrawny."
Eric looked surprised and smiled once more.
"Thanks, Eric." Jackie said quietly.
"For what?" Eric asked innocently, and Jackie didn't even bother to answer him.
"Anyway..." Jackie said with a stifled laugh. "What are we going to do about you and Donna?"
"We? Jackie, *we* are not doing anything about me and Donna."
"Ok..." Jackie grinned. "What am I going to about you and Donna?"
"Nothing. You are going to do absolutely nothing."
"Ok..."
"Jackie, promise me."
"I promise that I won't do anything about you and Donna." Jackie said dryly, crossing her fingers behind her back.
She wanted to do something nice for her new friends...
Eric and Donna were cool...but would Hyde be ok with her hanging out with the gang of four? After all he had chastised her years ago about trying to be friends with him...how no one else could be part of the gang of four...
But back then Hyde didn't know that someone from a far off land would be making his mark in Point Place...making the gang of four the gang of five.
Chapter Seven: Donna and Eric
Jackie's party was an overall success. She received lots of nice gifts, with the exception of Michael's, and everyone said they had a great time. No one noticed that she had slipped back into the party, through the backyard gate, a few minutes before it was over.
Jackie sat by the pool, looking over the damage left by all the kids.
There were plastic cups everywhere; the streamers had all fallen down. The maids were running around with garbage bags, tidying the yard up, as the caterers loaded their truck back up. The air grew cold and the sky grew dark, so Jackie went back inside. Her parents had decided to go out for a few hours, to some adult party of some sort...something to do with swinging...so it was just Jackie and the help for awhile. As she walked through the main hall and up the stairs, she realized there were two more presents left on the table, which she hadn't torn open yet.
The first was neatly wrapped in pretty blue wrapping paper. She opened the card first, and upon seeing Donna's name, she tossed it aside and tore the box open. Inside, was a bracelet, which looked hand made. It was actually quite pretty, with pink beads of all shades, which read "Jackie".
She slipped it on her wrist and started to unwrap the next gift.
The next gift was wrapped in newspaper and had no card, but she could already tell who it was from. It smelled like alcohol, cigarettes, and a crisp clean aftershave type smell all in one. It was Hyde's gift.
She was very curious as to what could possibly be inside.
She grew impatient as she furiously tore into the newspaper and finally, when it seemed like there was actually nothing inside, a piece of paper flew out that simply read, "Jackie – I O U."
She smiled, because it wasn't really a bad present at all.
And now Steven Hyde owes her. Owes her what, she wasn't sure of yet...but she'd figure something out.
The next week at school, talk of Jackie's party had pretty much died down.
Everything was back to normal. Jackie and Hyde ignored each other, when they rarely crossed paths, and Jackie and Kelso would walk hand in hand down the hallways, the king and queen of Junior High.
Every wedesnday, Jackie would walk over to the Forman house after cheer practice and have a tutoring session with Eric. It wasn't half bad, really. Kitty Forman would feed her till she was stuffed and Red would tell her some war stories. And Eric, was a pretty good teacher, and insisted that he walk Jackie home each night. He was a really nice guy, for a scrawny kid. He also had this rule about the basement when Jackie was there...Hyde and Kelso could not be there, because they were too much of a distraction. But when Donna dropped by, well, that of course, was ok for Eric.
It had been a particular Wednesday afternoon when Kitty came bouncing down the stairs, a tray in hand, with Donna behind her.
"I brought you some cookies and lemonade." Kitty announced as Donna sat down on the couch, next to Jackie. "Jackie, will you be staying for dinner?"
Jackie really wanted to say yes...but, well if she stayed here too long, someone might notice, especially since Lacey and Stacey call her house at around 7 for their daily gossip calls. But she also knew that her mother had been gone for two weeks, and if she wanted a good homestyle dinner, she should stay...
"Sorry, Mrs. Forman, but I promised my mom I would eat dinner at home." Jackie said politely, trying to hide her frown. She hated lying to someone as nice as Mrs. Forman.
"That's ok, dear, next time." Kitty said with a smile, and made her way back up the stairs.
"It's ok if I'm here, right?" Donna asked sheepishly, flipping through a magazine. "I don't want to interrupt."
"No," Eric cried sharply, "You're always welcome here, Donna."
Jackie rolled her eyes. These two were such children.
Eric stared at Donna, who didn't seem to really notice, but as soon as Eric's head was down, Donna was staring back at him.
Jackie and Eric continued to go over some chemistry rules when Donna remembered that she promised she had to go feed Mr. Bojangles, her cat, since her parents were off at a dinner party.
Jackie watched Donna leave through the side door before she smiled widely and slammed her notebook closed.
"We're not done yet, Jackie." Eric insisted, but then looked at her strangely, since she had this evil smile plastered on her face.
"You like Donna, don't you, Eric?" Jackie asked, more like demanded, for an answer.
"I don't know what you're talking about..." Eric said, with a far off look in his eyes, but his blush revealed all.
"Why don't you ask her out or something?"
"Because," He shrugged. "Our friendship is more important then all that."
"What does your friendship have to do with it?" Jackie asked, scrunching her nose up in confusion. "Where did you get that idea?"
"Hyde."
Jackie rolled her eyes. "Do you always listen to Hyde?"
Eric nodded, "He's pretty smart."
"No, Eric, he's a smartass." Jackie said quickly. "God, he is so..."
Before Jackie could finish, Donna came back into the basement, taking back her seat.
"Who's so, what?" Donna asked.
"Hyde, he's such a know it all." Jackie complained, tossing her notebook aside completely, so Eric complied, figuring they were done for the day anyway. "He's always trying to make everyone unhappy, just because he's unhappy."
Donna looked slightly confused but nodded anyway, probably just to shut the girl up.
At that, Kelso and Hyde boomed down the stairs, laughing about something or other.
"Oh." Hyde stopped in his tracks. "I thought you'd be gone by now. Isn't it about time you checked back into hell?"
Jackie groaned, grabbed her purse, and stomped out the door.
"What's her problem?" Hyde asked, as he sat in her spot.
"She hates you." Eric laughed.
"Whatever, man, I'm the one who hates her." Hyde insisted. "I hate her and all her stupid friends."
"Hey, this is my girlfriend you're all bad mouthing." Kelso said angrily.
"Yeah, so?" Hyde asked.
"So, let me join in." Kelso laughed. "She's really bossy. I mean, I like being taken control of, but damn, she's always watching me like a hawk."
"That's because you're always cheating on her, like the filthy pig you are!" Donna half laughed, half screamed. "God, you guys are so immature sometimes. Jackie is right about you, Hyde."
Then Donna stormed off and left, just as Jackie had.
Hyde rolled his eyes and glared at Eric, "What was Jackie right about?"
"Um..." Eric stammered, trying to recall her words. "She said that you're unhappy, so you try to make everyone else unhappy."
Hyde grinned, "Yeah, so?"
Kelso, Eric, and Hyde laughed hoarsely and turned on the TV to forgot about the emotional girls in their lives.
Meanwhile, Donna had ran after Jackie, but it turned out she was just sitting outside the Forman's kitchen, on one of the patio chairs, muttering to herself. Donna sat down next to her, crossing her arms in a similar, pissed off fashion as Jackie's.
"Boys are so stupid, Donna." Jackie muttered, watching the red head nod haphazardly. "Except Eric, he's pretty sweet."
"Yeah, he's a great guy." Donna said, blushing gently.
"Donna, do you like Eric?"
"Sure."
"No, Donna." Jackie whined. "Do you like like him?"
"No!" Donna screamed, laughing maniaclly. "God, am I that transparent?"
"Don't worry, Donna. No one really cares if you like him or not."
Donna ignored this insult, "Does he know?"
"No, but he likes you back." Jackie blabbed with no regret.
"He does?" Donna asked, hope shining in her eyes.
"Donna, of course he does. You're like the only girl who talks to him. But why do you like him? He's so...scrawny."
"But he's nice. And he makes me laugh." Donna said, with a smile.
"Yeah." Jackie smiled back. "I guess your manliness kind of balances his girliness, too. You two are sort of perfect for each other."
"Jackie, do you know how to compliment people without insulting them?"
"No."
"Ok, then." Donna laughed, but noticed something from the corner of her eye. "You're wearing the bracelet I made you."
Jackie lifted her wrist, and grinned. "I wear it everyday. You made it. Like, yourself?"
Donna nodded and Jackie was impressed. She played with in on her arm for awhile and then looked up at Donna, "Hey, Donna."
"Yeah?"
"Will you teach me how to make one?"
"Sure." Donna said slowly, standing up.
"Great." Jackie smiled fully, looking up from her bracelet to Donna's face. "Oh, and thanks for making me feel better."
"Anytime, Jackie."
"Really?"
Donna squinted slightly, but smiled, hugging Jackie before she left for dinner.
Jackie spotted Red inside the kitchen and walked inside, taking a seat at the counter.
"Hi Mr. Forman!" She shouted happily, practically giving him a heart attack.
He opened up a beer and grinned oddly at the little, loud girl Eric had befriended.
"Can I ask you something, Mr. Forman?" Jackie asked timidly.
He shrugged and she continued, happily.
"What's more important in life...having popular, pretty friends or having real, honest friends?"
Red just stared at the little girl and gave her a hard look.
"I think you know the answer to that one." He said, with an earnest smile, before leaving the room.
Jackie did know the answer, but she couldn't bear to turn her back on everything she had known up till this point.
She had changed herself before, when she was innocent little Jacqueline.
She wondered if her popularity would change if she became better friends with the Gang of Four. I mean, did people really care that much if she started talking to Donna in school or hung out with Eric? I mean, Michael does, and he's really popular. Jackie wasn't even sure if popularity really mattered to her anymore.
She sighed, picking up her notebook, and left the kitchen.
She stated to walk up the street, slowly, a little creeped by how quite and dark it all was when she heard running behind her.
She turned around, ready to scream her head off when she saw it was just Eric.
"Eric, oh my god, you scared me!" Jackie panted, recuperating.
"Jackie, I always walk you home, remember?" Eric said with a smile, taking her notebook from her hand. "But don't tell anyone that."
"Why not?" Jackie asked, raising an eyebrow as they walked along.
"Well, because I don't want to be associated with a cheerleader and you don't want to be associated with a scrawny loser. We've been over this." He laughed it off, in that way that only Eric Forman can.
"You're not a loser." Jackie said proudly. "And you know...um...one day you might not be *as* scrawny."
Eric looked surprised and smiled once more.
"Thanks, Eric." Jackie said quietly.
"For what?" Eric asked innocently, and Jackie didn't even bother to answer him.
"Anyway..." Jackie said with a stifled laugh. "What are we going to do about you and Donna?"
"We? Jackie, *we* are not doing anything about me and Donna."
"Ok..." Jackie grinned. "What am I going to about you and Donna?"
"Nothing. You are going to do absolutely nothing."
"Ok..."
"Jackie, promise me."
"I promise that I won't do anything about you and Donna." Jackie said dryly, crossing her fingers behind her back.
She wanted to do something nice for her new friends...
Eric and Donna were cool...but would Hyde be ok with her hanging out with the gang of four? After all he had chastised her years ago about trying to be friends with him...how no one else could be part of the gang of four...
But back then Hyde didn't know that someone from a far off land would be making his mark in Point Place...making the gang of four the gang of five.