Feels Like Rain

And it feels like rain

When the words all sound the same

"Ugh. That is it," Jackie declared, slamming the bedroom door behind her to punctuate her words. "I quit!"

"You say that every day," Donna intoned, not bothering to look up from the letter she was writing Eric.

Jackie rolled her eyes at her friend's back. "Yeah, well, this time I really mean it," she snapped. It had been three weeks since she'd blown up at Hyde, two since they'd called their truce, and she felt as if her life had gone from bad to worse. "My stupid boss told me today that my shoes were against office policy."

Donna glanced up to study the shoes in question. They were sandals, open-toed and high-heeled, and, of course, the brightest pink imaginable. Only Jackie would pick them off a shelf, plunk down an alarming sum of money for them, and then be able to pull them off without seeming tacky. "Well, Jackie, look at them. No office would allow those things. Nobody with 20/20 vision would allow them."

"Ugh. This wench has literally zero respect for my sense of style. Every day it's something. She's obviously just jealous 'cause she could easily be mistaken for Bigfoot and could never pull off such delicate footwear."

"Yeah, that must be it," Donna replied dryly. "Look, you know you're not really gonna quit, so can we skip the idle-threat part of the evening and move on to whatever else we're going to do tonight?"

"I'm serious this time, Donna. I mean, first it's my skirts being too short, now my shoes are too high? Who does this woman think she is?"

"Your boss?"

"Not after tomorrow. I don't need this aggravation. And I certainly don't need this woman with this huge bug up her butt coming down on me every other day."

Donna sighed and, realizing she wouldn't get another word written until she'd addressed Jackie's problem, set her pen down. "The thing is, Jackie, you do. You need the job. You need the money."

"Oh, please don't remind me," Jackie begged, dramatically burying her head amidst her pile of stuffed animals. "God, Donna, do you remember when I had money? When I thought I'd never have to work a day in my life?"

"Vaguely," Donna smirked. "You were even more unbearable."

The response she was expecting – a mean glare, an offended gasp, an insult tossed right back at her – didn't come. Donna waited as a minute passed, then another, and finally looked over to the other girl's bed.

Jackie was curled up into a ball, clutching Mr. Fluffy to her chest as tears streamed down her cheeks. Her shoulders shook with the effort of trying to keep her sobs silent.

"Ohhh, no, no, no. Jackie." Donna moved to the bed and put her arms around her friend. "Jackie, don't cry. You know I was just kidding. You know how much everyone loves you."

"Yeah, right, everyone," Jackie choked out through her tears. "Except … except … oh, Donna."

"What? Is this about Hyde? Jackie, talk to me."

The look on Jackie's face was desperately forlorn when she finally raised her eyes to Donna's. "It wasn't supposed to be like this, Donna. My life wasn't supposed to be like this. Steven and I were gonna get married and I was gonna have this fabulous job in Chicago and everything was going to be perfect."

"Jackie, you're just going through a rough time right now, that's all. You know things are bound to get better. Everybody has to have a sucky job at some point in their lives. And Hyde … I mean, come on, Jackie, he screwed up big time. Everyone knows that."

"But why wasn't I enough for him? Why didn't he love me like I loved him?" she cried. "Donna, I can't stand being near him. And I can't stand not seeing him. I just … ugh, I love him so much that I hate him. Oh, God. How did everything get to be so hard?"

"You know what? I've got just the thing for us right now." Donna jumped up, rummaged around in her drawer, and presented Jackie with a bag. "What do you say?"

"What's this?" Jackie sniffed, peering into it. "Donna! You think getting stoned is the answer to my problems?"

"Not at all. I think getting over Hyde is the answer to your problems. But we're gonna take baby steps and start off with just forgetting him for the night. I mean, come on, Jackie. You still love Hyde, who's married. I still love Eric, who's in freaking Africa. We've been moping and pining for weeks now. We're pathetic! So let's lighten up, live a little, carpe diem, baby!"

Jackie hesitated.

"Don't think I don't hear you crying yourself to sleep every night," Donna warned. "It's as bad as when you used to listen to those dolphin sounds. Come on, Jackie. For one night, let's pretend we're strong, independent women who don't need men in our lives to have a good time. You in?"

Sold, Jackie wiped her cheeks and worked up a small smile. "I'm in."

XXX

A few hours later, Donna's bedroom was filled with the sweet-smelling haze that had so often permeated the basement. It felt a little like coming home to be sprawled out on the floor with Jackie, giggling madly about something she'd already forgotten.

"Oh, man," she said happily, "I feel so good right now. I wish the guys were here."

"Ew." Jackie made a face. "I totally don't. In fact, you know what? I hate guys. I'm giving them up. I quit."

"If you quit your job … and you quit guys …" Donna paused to let a surge of laughter pass. "What the hell are you going to do with your life?"

"Maybe I'll be a famous actress in Hollywood. Or I could go to college. What if I went to college? Think it'd be hard?"

"Probably," Donna said absentmindedly, preoccupied by the sudden mobility of her bed. "Are you seeing this? Is my bed moving?"

"No, that's just the whole room spinning," Jackie soothed. "Maybe I should just go to Vegas. I heard there's an opening at the strip bars."

"'Cause Sam's here now! Right? But you know what I think, Jackie? I think you and Hyde should, like, sing a duet. Or shake hands or … something. You're so cute together."

"You're just saying that 'cause I'd look good with anyone," Jackie informed her, latching onto the desk and struggling to pull herself upright. "Whoa. Whew. Anyway. You know what I think about Sam? She's cute. Skanky, but cute. I'm okay with it. Her and Hyde should have babies."

"I bet if they did, the babies would wear sunglasses all the time."

"But probably not clothes."

"'Cause their mom's a skanky stripper."

"Exactly."

"We love Sam. I think. We like her, right?"

"Oh, yeah, definitely. She's great." Jackie bobbed her head empathetically. "I'm really glad they're so happy together. It makes me as happy as … as my fabulous hair! And you know what else? I'm gonna get over stupid Steven Hyde."

"Good! 'Cause he's a married man and I think it's illegal to date them. So you should just … play it cool. Like a cucumber. Hmm. Cool cucumbers. Hot potatoes. I'm hungry. Are you hungry?"

"Starving! Let's go make some pasta or something! You know what, Donna? I love you. You're my best friend. And I've got you … and Fez … and a great rack. And I don't need Steven. I really don't. He moved on, so … I will, too."