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 SEVEN
ROAD NARROWS

Jackie leaned back on her living room sofa, eyes closed, as the scent of bacon marked the passage of time. Steven would show up. He would and save her future with Michael. Five minutes wasn't that late. Steven would show up. He'd—

The front doorbell rang, and her eyes snapped open.

"Jackie, darling, why don't you answer it?" Mom said. She and Dad were seated in armchairs across from the sofa. "Martina's busy cooking, and Steven will be more comfortable greeted by you."

Jackie hurried to the front door and flung it open. Steven was outside, wearing a button-down shirt and black slacks. His sunglasses hid his eyes, but that was a minor issue. He'd dressed up for dinner, taking it seriously.

She welcomed him into the house. Before closing the door, however, she glimpsed her family's property. The gravel driveway was brightly lit, along with its surrounding gardens. The sun wouldn't set for over an hour, and her dreams wouldn't sink with it. If Steven succeeded tonight, she and Michael could have a house like this one someday, maybe in New York or Los Angeles.

"Sorry for bein' late," Steven said. "I—"

"Was having second thoughts. I understand."

She grasped his hand, in case any doubt remained, and led him to the dining room. His fingers relaxed against her skin, a weird sensation. She was used to him tensing during their physical interactions, most of them.

"Steven!" her dad said in the dining room. He and Mom stood from the table, and Dad stepped forward. "It's so nice you came over." He shook Steven's hand. "Mrs. Burkhart and I have waited too long to thank you for taking care of our little girl."

"No problem."

Mom patted her heart. "He's so modest!"

Dad indicated the chair beside Jackie's at the table. Steven hooked his sunglasses on his shirt collar and sat where he'd been directed. Jackie took her own seat, smiling. Her parents' reception of Steven was what she'd hoped for. They truly did like him.

From the kitchen, Martina brought out the first appetizer: figs in bacon. She presented the platter to everyone at the table. Mom and Dad expressed their delight, but Steven gaped at the platter like aliens were mating on the silver.

"Figs are sweet, Steven," Jackie said as Martina served the food. "They pair well with the savory flavor of the bacon."

He speared a bacon-wrapped fig onto his fork and bit into it. "Not bad." After another bite, he laughed silently. "Actually, pretty freakin' good."

"You must have a refined palate," Mom said. "Figs and bacon aren't for everyone."

"The circumstances people are born to don't necessarily dictate who they'll become," Dad said and addressed Steven. "Your mother, if you'll pardon me being blunt, wasn't much of a cook. I've heard tales of her horror-show school lunches."

Jackie's fist tightened around her fork. Insulting Steven's mom might make him leave, but he said, "That's what happens when you're an alcoholic and heavy smoker."

He continued to eat and had no trouble answering her parents' questions between bites.

From Dad: "Do you have any idea where she is? Where either of your parents are?"

"Nope, but it doesn't matter anymore. I'm eighteen."

From Mom: "Do you have any brothers or sisters?"

"No clue. Doesn't mean I don't have any."

"Yes, your father was gone a long time before he came back to town," Dad said. "and now that he's gone again … well, his choices are no refection on you."

Martina reentered the dining room once the plates were empty. She gathered them and returned to the kitchen. She was fast, but Jackie's heart beat faster. Her parents were interrogating Steven about his family. The topic of conversation needed to change.

"Steven's friends are like his siblings," Jackie said.

Mom raised her eyebrows. "Oh?"

"Yes!" Jackie cringed at the volume of her voice. Desperation was driving her, but it wouldn't take control. She forced herself to speak softer, at a normal speed. "He grew up with Eric, Donna, and Michael. They've been friends since first grade."

Dad removed his glasses and gestured at Steven with them. "You're living with Eric's family. His parents are upstanding citizens; I've known them many years." He breathed on the lenses of his glasses, cleaned them with a cloth from his pants pocket, and put the glasses back on his face. "Mrs. Forman is a nurse of the highest caliber, and Mr. Forman is one of the hardest workers I've had the pleasure to meet. They must be encouraging you to do well in your studies."

Jackie's teeth clenched. Her dad had closed the window she'd opened to talk about Michael.

"Got a B-plus average this year," Steven said.

Mom clapped her hands once above the table. "That's wonderful! The school's college counselor will be compiling a list of universities and colleges for you to visit. What do you plan on studying?"

Steven glanced at Jackie, displaying his first sign of discomfort. He'd probably never been questioned this much in his life, not even by the police. Fortunately, Martina carried in the main course. Coq au vin, another dish Steven seemed to find alien.

"It's chicken," Jackie said, and he began eating from his plate.

Mom's fork, though, hovered in the air. Red wine dripped off the mushroom stuck on it.

Jackie drank water to stay quiet. She got through the second droplet of wine, but the third made her speak. "I'm sure Steven will keep his options open and decide on a major once he's had some college experience."

"I wasn't asking you, sweetheart. Steven?"

"Huh?" Steven's attention left his plate. Apparently, he'd been too distracted to keep up with the questioning. "Oh. Actually, I'm hopin' to go into the music business."

That was news to Jackie. She'd never heard him express any ambitions for himself or his future.

"The music business!" Mom rubbed Dad's arm. "Did you hear that, Jack? We could connect him with Adrian at Trinary Records."

Dad nodded and said to Steven, "How would you like to internship at a record company this summer, son?"

Steven stiffened beside Jackie, and together they were two dried tree stumps at the table. This night wasn't turning out how she'd expected. Steven must've had a dozen reasons for his reaction, but he cleared his throat. "What kind of music do they put out?" he said. "Is it slave labor, or would I get paid?"

Dad laughed as if Steven were joking. "What are you paid by the Fotohut?"

"Two bucks over minimum wage."

"Impressive," Dad said dryly and blotted his mustache with his napkin. "I'll arrange it with Adrian. Are you prepared to work hard?"

"Depends on the music, man."

"Trinary signed the Trash Flingers."

Steven put his fork and knife down on the table. "No damn way. They rep bands like that?"

"Among other music, but I'll make sure you get into the right department."

"Hell yeah. That'd be great. Thanks a lot!"

Jackie elbowed Steven in the ribs. He had a job to do, and it wasn't listening to the Trash Flingers.

"Right." Steven looked at both her parents. "I wanted to talk to you about Kelso."

"What about him?" Mom said, visibly agitated.

"You've got him all wrong," Steven said, and Mom and Dad stared at him incredulously. "Okay, maybe not all wrong, but he's not the screw-up he used to be. Yeah, he still says dumb stuff, but he thinks about it then rethinks it. Take Kelso's suggestion about his and Jackie's break this summer." He twirled his finger by his temple. "It was moronic, but his heart was in the right place—and he knows now that his head was in the wrong place."

Jackie clutched her hands beneath the table. Her parents weren't interrupting him while he talked, and she prayed they were listening.

"Kelso's got no interest in anyone but Jackie," he went on. "I believe he won't cheat on her again, and I tend to believe the worst of the guy. So if I'm vouchin' for him ..."

"It's noble of you to stand up for your friend," Dad said, "but Mrs. Burkhart and I want what's best for our daughter. Michael Kelso is not it."

Jackie pushed her feet against the floor. "Dad!"

"Isn't that Jackie's choice to make?" Steven said.

"Not when it's an obvious error in judgment." Mom grabbed Dad's hand and entwined their fingers between them. "Mr. Burkhart and I see what the future holds if she continues with Michael. It's unacceptable, and we love her enough to accept her hatred if it means protecting her future."

"That's not fair!" Jackie shoved herself from the table and stood.

"Neither is life." Dad gestured for her to sit back down. She wouldn't. "The earlier you learn that lesson, the easier you'll pry joy from that unfairness."

Steven mimed holding an object Jackie couldn't discern. "Mr. Burkhart, in poker people can win even with the crappiest set of cards. It's about how they're played."

"And someone can lose despite having a royal flush if they don't know the rules of the game." Dad frowned. "I'm sorry, Steven, but a marriage between Jackie and Michael is impossible. Loss is where that relationship will lead, and neither I nor her mother will allow it." He flicked his eyes toward Jackie. "I hope you don't find me too curt, but the subject is closed."

"No, it's not!" Jackie shouted.

"It is." Dad's voice and face were as hard as diamonds. "One way or the other, it is. You'll forgive us someday, kitten."

"I won't!"

She fled upstairs to her room. Her parents were tyrants, but they underestimated her. She was going to pack her suitcases, cash in her savings bonds, and travel to Europe with Michael. Then her parents would understand just how serious she was about him.