Disclaimer: That '70s Show copyright The Carsey-Werner Company, LLC and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, LLC.

Author's Note: This story was written for the 2022 Zenmasters Anthology on tumblr.

CHAPTER FIVE
TRUCK ROLLOVER WARNING

Jackie exited the employee bathroom of The Cheese Palace, situated in the back room where inventory was stored. Her workday was done, and she'd changed from her dirndl uniform into regular clothes. Her manager, Todd, was closing the cash register, and he said, "Your boyfriend's going to Europe in two weeks for the entire summer. Where does that leave Jackie?"

She glared at him but smoothed her expression to neutral. Steven had taught her that skill, what felt like years ago, during Laurie's relentless emotional bullying. But Todd was so weird and his attraction blatant. The latter was natural, except for the creepy way he showed it. He badmouthed Michael at every opportunity, pretending to give her sympathy.

She wasn't stupid. She'd heard similar statements from Donna and Steven. Yet they were being good friends then, attempting to lure her from a cheater. Thankfully, Michael was no longer that boy.

Jackie passed the cashier counter. Todd wasn't trying to help her but himself to her, she wasn't stupid. Todd, however, clearly thought she was. He repeated his question: "Where does that leave Jackie?" but Michael hurtled toward The Cheese Palace. "I'm the same age as him, you know, and a black belt."

"You've told me before," she said, not giving Todd another look, "and I don't care."

Michael's sneakers squeaked on floor when he arrived at the shop. She met him at the display barrel, its cheese and sausages replaced with a Closed sign, and pecked him on the lips.

"Hey, baby," he said. "Can we talk for a sec?"

"Sure."

He led her to the large, square planter where she peddled cheese samples. Its pink flowering plants were a spot of color in the mall's gray color scheme.

"I'll be gone for the summer, right?" He sat on the edge of the planter, and so did she. "All over Europe and stuff."

She pulled her knees together but forced her breaths to be slow and steady. Her parents would've sent her along with Michael to see the world if they weren't so against him. "Mm-hmm."

"And there'll be loads of hot models besides me in the fashion shows, female models.

"Don't worry, Michael. I trust you." She flattened her hand on his chest. His heart pounded beneath her palm. "I know you won't cheat on me."

"That's the thing: I don't know I won't cheat on you."

She yanked her hand from him. "What?"

"It's not that I want to cheat, but I can't go without sex that long. I need it, and you're not gonna be with me in Europe, so—"

"I can't believe what I'm hearing!" Jackie pushed herself up from the planter. The last six months she and Michael had spent together, the choices and memories they'd made … his words made no sense. "You 'need' to cheat on me?"

"No, no, that's why I'm talking to you," he said, "to make sure I don't cheat."

"So you're gonna take that anti-erection powder they give soldiers in the army?" Her voice lowered to a whisper. "Does Steven have a connection?"

"Huh?" He continued to sit while she stood, and he spoke quietly. "I love you, and your parents think I'm an idiot. But I'm not stupid." He reached for her, and she let him hold her hand. "Because I love you so much, and I don't want to hurt you, I think we should temporarily break up until I get back from Europe."

"You're breaking up with me?" Tears stung her eyes. Her cheeks were flushing, but she refused to hide her face from him. He had to see the pain he was causing.

"Not permanently! Just for the summer." He was finally standing. "That way, you and I can both have sex with whoever, and it technically won't be cheating."

She squeezed his hand hard. "I don't want to sleep with anyone else!"

"You don't have to. If I could choose, I'd totally do it with you in Europe, not any models. But you won't be there!"

Tears escaped her lashes, but she wasn't fully crying. "My dad said I was dumbing myself down to keep you, but acting like I can't do math isn't the same as acting like I'm okay with this. You're asking for a free pass to cheat."

He released her hand and formed a flashing X in the air by crossing and uncrossing his arms. "It's the opposite of that! I'm telling you the truth. I will sleep with other girls in Europe, and it won't be fair to you if I do that while we're still together." He stopped waving his arms like a football referee. "But I love you, and I want to be with you forever, and if a short break will let that happen—"

"Love obviously means something different to you than it does to me. If I were an actress, going off to film a movie in Europe, I'd never …"

She pressed her fingers to her temples. Her face had to be red and puffy from crying, and inhaling through her nose was impossible. Snot was clogging it, so she breathed through her mouth.

"If you really do become a successful model," she said, "this won't be the last time you leave me for work. Are we gonna 'take breaks' every time? What about when we're married? We'll have to get divorced before your modeling jobs then get remarried when you're home."

"See, I didn't think of that."

"You didn't think at all!"

"I did, though!"

"Yeah, that I'm stupid." Tears blinded her, and she tasted salt and snot on her lips. Stragglers in the mall were probably gawking at the spectacle. If ripping a flower from the plants nearby wouldn't get her fined, she'd wipe her nose on its petals. "You got away with cheating on me for months, Michael, because I believed in you so much that I couldn't believe you'd do that to me."

She blotted her eyes on her wrist, but it was no use. Michael was a collection of shapes to her, vaguely human. "Then I believed you'd changed, but you care more about sex than you do about me!"

She moved in the direction of the elevator bank. Michael's sneakers squeaked behind her, and he said, "Jackie, wait! If I could become omnipotent again, I would. But a man's got needs. Ask anyone! Hyde, Eric, Fez—"

She turned toward him despite how frightful she must've seemed. Mirrors too often reflected how being betrayed affected her appearance. "Donna's dating your brother, but Eric still hasn't done it with anyone else"—she gestured wildly, unable to contain the energy in her body—"because he's still in love with her!"

She continued to the elevators. She had to get out of here.

"How do you know that?" Michael said.

"I make it my business to know everything." She pressed the elevator's down button. Pressed it and pressed it and pressed it. "Besides, Fez told me."

"I love you."

Her spine stiffened. "So you keep saying."

An elevator opened. It was empty inside, meaning no one else would witness her makeup-smeared and snotty face. She entered, and Michael did, too. She could've told him to get out, but it was pointless. She pushed the button for the lobby, and the elevator doors closed.

"How can I prove it?" he said.

"By not sleeping with anyone else!"

"But then I'd have to lie to you."

Jackie stood in the corner farthest from him as the elevator descended. "You're pathetic," she said, and her nails dug into her palm. "I can't believe I forgave you. … I'm pathetic."

The elevator opened to the lobby. She strode out, but Michael stayed by her side. "Just think about my idea."

"I've thought about it, and it sucks. How can I ever trust you again?"

"But I haven't cheated yet."

"Yet!" She stopped feet from the mall's revolving door and looked at him. "You talk like it's inevitable."

Her vision was clearer, but present-him vanished from her awareness. She was roaming their spacious, opulently-decorated home with no career of her own. They were on their fifth or sixth divorce; she'd lost count. Their three kids asked when her and Daddy's next wedding would be, and she told them, "When he's back from modeling in East Asia."

A flower of ice bloomed in her chest, and present-day Michael returned to her consciousness. People were walking between them to enter and exit the mall. Maybe he'd been speaking to her. She had no memory of it.

"We were never going to work," she said quietly. No matter what career he had, he wouldn't remain faithful. "You don't love me enough to control yourself."

"I'll control myself, I promise!" He clasped her shoulders, but she was too dazed by the truth to shrug him off. "Forget everything else I said. I can't lose you!"

"You already have."

An open space in the revolving door came around. Jackie stepped forward, and Michael's hands slipped off her. She'd take the bus home. Michael couldn't drive her anymore.