Chapter 7: Are You There God? It's Me…Vista
A/N: I don't own the character from T70s. If I did, this season would be way better and Fez would be getting some hot love. I'd also like to thank all that have reviewed and just say that this story is going to be VERY long, so they characters have time for things to develop. *smile*
Additional: Yes, this chapter deals with a girl's first period, but it's not a huge deal.
Point Place, Wisconsin
October 7th, 2003
3:07 a.m.
Forman House
The scream echoed through the house, causing everyone to be shaken out of their sleep and to jump out of bed. The scream clearly belonged to Vista and it was coming from the bathroom she shared with Parker.
Parker got their first and he tried the knob, but it was locked. Panic filled him and he knocked. "Vis? You alright?"
Eric and Donna had joined him. Donna moved her son and knocked. "Vista? Honey…are you okay? What's wrong?" She glanced behind her. "Eric, she's not in her room, but check it."
"Why?" Donna gave him a pointed look. "Okay, fine."
Donna knocked again. "Vista? Look, you don't have to tell me what's wrong, just tell me that you're okay."
There was a sniff and Vista's voice came from the bathroom. "I'm dying. And I don't mean in the normal way we all are every second, but I mean I'm dying now."
"That's a lovely thought." Parker muttered. "You're not dying."
"Donna, Donna!" Eric came running down the hall. "Her sheets are bloody, I say we call the cops, she's been murdered and you're just-What?"
Donna rolled her eyes. "She's started her period." Both Forman men made disgusted faces. "It's normal and frankly, she's a little late." Donna pressed herself against the door. "Vista, you're okay. You just started your period."
There was a long pause. "What? But…no. I don't want it." She opened the door a bit. "My sheets, they were full of blood and…I was fine last night."
"Sometimes you start at night or early morning or afternoon. It can happen anywhere and anytime." Donna filled in.
"Like terrorism." Parker cut in. His parents shot him looks. "I'm just saying what Bush says."
Vista opened the door all the way. She was standing, wrapped up in her robe. Suddenly, she looked awfully small and child-like. "What now?"
"Now, your Mom helps you." Eric told his youngest child. " 'Cause your brother and me wouldn't be much help."
Vista nodded and Donna joined her in the bathroom.
Point Place, Wisconsin
October 7th, 2003
2:30 p.m.
Forman Kitchen
That same Tuesday afternoon, Parker sat at the bar and ate a bowl of cereal. He had stayed home with Eric to take care of Vista, who was freaking out over her first period. The fourteen year old hadn't been expecting her passage into womanhood and she really hasn't enjoying it. In fact, it had freaked her out so much that she had spent much of the day in her room.
"Hello!" Holder shouted as he came from the driveway. "And why weren't you in school today, young man?" He snickered. "I called you 'young man'."
Parker whirled his chair around. "Hey," He paused to think of the right words. "I couldn't go. Vista's sick."
Holder's face fell at the thought of his little friend being sick. "I'll cheer her up." He started toward the door, but Parker caught him by the back of the shirt. "Parker."
"She's not sick, she's sick. You know, sick like Pez and Chase get once a month." Holder blinked. "And Pez doesn't let you give her piggyback rides in gym."
Holder's brown eyes widened in horror and he got a look of revulsion on his man-pretty face. But then, he's face softened and he smiled slightly. "She's become a woman!" He turned and started to the door. "I know just what to tell her, don't even worry about it, Parker."
Parker was about to go after Holder, when Pez and Chase came walking in through the sliding door. Chase hopped onto the counter and Pez took a seat at the table.
"I have news." Pez said excitedly. "We are going to be rich!"
Parker's forehead knotted in confusion. "How? You're not going to try and make a candy-stand by your house again, are you?"
"No," Pez scoffed lightly. "not after last time. Strawberry Shortcake is going to make us rich."
"Is that a stripper?" Parker grinned goofily at the thought. Chase hit her boyfriend's arm. "Ow."
"It's a lunch box." Pez filled in. "It's worth money because there was a mistake on it, Strawberry Shortcake's hair is the wrong color and there is a man at the comic store that will buy it for lots of money."
"Wait," Parker stared at his cousin. "how do you know this?"
Pez rolled her eyes. "Go on E-Bay sometime, Parker. I was on, looking for a limited edition Justin Timberlake tee-shirt for Holder's Christmas present and I saw that your comic shop is looking for it. Then, I remembered one of us had it during the third grade, so I called your creepy store guy and he said he'd buy it." She took a deep breath before going on. "Then, I called Grandfather Red and he said he thinks its somewhere in his and Grandmother Kitty's apartment."
"Are you sure whoever it belonged to would want to give it up?" Chase questioned.
Pez glanced at Parker. "I do not know. Parker, would you like to give it up?"
Parker squeaked. He glared at Pez and felt a wave of embarrassment wash over him. "Uh…well, I…you know," he heard Chase start to snicker. "Pez peed her bed till she was seven!" Both girls gasped. "Pez," Parker looked at his friend. "I didn't mean it."
The strange girl slowly stood up. "Good day." She walked to the door and slid it open.
"Pez," Chase began.
Pez looked back at them. "I said good day!" She stormed out and let the door slam. But instead of leaving, she just sat in one of the chairs, her arms folded over her chest.
Chase and Parker exchanged a look before they got off their chair/counter and went to join her.
Point Place, Wisconsin
October 7th, 2003
2:30 p.m.
Vista Forman's Bedroom
Meanwhile, upstairs things were not going as well.
Vista sat in her bed, hugging her beloved Mr. Skeeter. Her life was currently not going to plan and she couldn't help but hate it. She mentally cursed the human body and the whole cycle thing. Totally disgusting, a waste of time, and really uncomfortable.
Vista jumped up as her bedroom door went flying open. "Is this the little girl I carried?!" Holder sang as he walked in and jumped on the foot of her bed. "Is this the little girl at play?!"
Vista moved up against her bed. "Holder…" she warned softly. "you're…"
"Charming? Good-looking? Very sexy?" Holder offered.
Vista laughed softly. "What are you doing up here?"
"You're sick."
"Sick? I'm not sick…Parker is so dead." Vista hung her head. "I've…."
"Become a woman?" Holder asked with a goofy smile. He reached over and wrapped her in a huge bear hug. "Vista, do you know what this means?" When she didn't answer, he went on. "It means you've entered my world! Soon you'll be dating and I'll be introducing you to a whole new world."
"Holder, you're scaring me here." Vista pulled back. "Why so into this?"
"Because of Pez. When she first got 'sick,' she told me all about it and even wrote stuff down for me."
Vista wrinkled her nose up. "You know, I'm starting to think we're all too close."
Holder thought about it for a moment before shrugging. "I think it's time I take you out for your 'First Period Sundae.'"
"My what?"
"When Pez got hers, I got her a Sundae to make her feel matter." Holder answered in a 'duh' tone. "And whenever Chase gets hers, I'll do the same." Vista smiled tightly, not having the heart to tell him that his plan might have a snag. "Come on, I'll take you to the Hub." Vista gave him an unsure look. "Please?" Holder made a sad face. "Please." Vista nodded.
Point Place, Wisconsin
October 7th, 2003
2:57 p.m.
Red and Kitty Forman's Apartment
When Parker and Pez had been three, their grandparents had moved out of their old home and into some apartments. Eric and Donna got their old home and Laurie and Fez got the furniture the older couple couldn't fit into the new apartment. It seemed like a fair deal. Three months later, Bob decided he wanted to be closer to his 'best friend' and moved away from his house, leaving it to Jackie and Hyde.
They all ended up living at 'Country Meadow Apartments' in the richer part of Point Place. It was a nice gated apartment complex that always made Chase feel like a loser for living in a trailer on the bad side of town. Then again, the bad side of town was only three miles from the good side, so that made her feel a little better.
"I don't even get why they must have a gate." Pez thought out loud as they walked down the sidewalk toward the apartment.
"It's because of all the evil spilling over from Sheboygan." Parker whispered to himself. Chase glanced over at him. "What, Muffin?" Chase shook her head and kept walking.
Pez glanced back and made a 'shush' noise. They had reached apartment 8-A and Pez was ready to knock. She knocked twice, but there was no answer. Slightly defeated, she went over at 7-A and knocked. It seemed Bob wasn't home either.
Something dawned on Parker. "Oh yeah…" the girls looked at him. "there's a car show this week and my mom's older sister's birthday is Thursday. They're all out of town." He snapped his fingers and started to turn around, but Pez grabbed his arm. "Pez, what the hell?"
"We have to get it now." Pez explained. "The creepy man at the store does not believe I have it, so he is making me bring it to him today or no deal." Her face tightened. "And I need money for candy."
Parker backed himself up against Chase. "Ok, but if no one is home, we can't get in. I mean, none of our parents have keys."
Chase cleared her throat. "I...could get us in." Parker and Pez turned to stare at her. "I could pick the lock."
Pez jumped up and down happily. That meant they'd get the lunch box and then money and then candy and new tight pants! "Yes, yes. Good idea." She become aware of Parker shaking his head. "Yes!"
"No!" He took Chase's wrist and turned her to face him. "You can't. What if we get caught and go to jail. I can't go to jail, Chase! I have very girly moments." He waved a hand to farther his point. "See? Very girly."
Chase smirked at him and gave him a quick kiss. "It'll be fine." She reached into her blond hair and pulled a bobby pin out of it. "I'll be quick."
"Funny, that's what I was planning on telling you when we have sex." Parker mused. Chase just rolled her eyes and went to work.
Point Place, Wisconsin
October 7th, 2003
3:00 p.m.
The Hub
Holder opened the doors with a loud crash. He shouted out a hello to everyone in the local hangout and went straight to the ordering window. Vista slowly walked in a minute later and went straight to Holder's favorite table/booth. Jon was already there and he gave her a look through his sunglasses.
"What's up with Holder? He finally go over the deep end?" Jon questioned the petite Forman.
"No," she shook her head a little. "he's just…" she leaned in so no one could hear. "ordering a 'Wesley Kelso' sundae for me."
Jon nearly spit out his coke. "That means…you've….you're…" He paused and quickly became Zen. "That's…cool."
"No, no, it's not. I'm not into this stage of physical development at all." Vista sighed. "Maybe it won't be such a big deal if I hadn't woken up in my own blood or if my Dad hadn't freaked or if Holder wasn't so weird about it."
"Okay, I'm going to actually to sympathize here, so listen up. Everyone has this things that they wish didn't happen to them. Some pee their bed till they're seven, others get their heads stuck in a chest of drawers, and some enter womanhood when they'd much rather remain the smart kid of their group." Vista laughed her cute little laugh and that made Jon smile. "See, it's not so bad and you can always thank God you're not Pez or Holder." He winked through his sunglasses.
"Here it is!" Holder yelled out. He put the sundae down on the table. "For my tiny buddy, Vista." He grinned goofily and sat down next to her. "Eat up, you must be weak from loss of blood." Both Jon and Vista shot him looks and hit him in the leg. "Ow, damn it!"
Vista and Jon exchanged a small smile before digging in to the sundae.
Point Place, Wisconsin
October 7th, 2003
3:07 p.m.
Red and Kitty Forman's Apartment
The pin went around in the lock. Chase knelt at the door and sniffed as she went on with her work. Parker and Pez stood nervously over her, both looking around the apartment complex. Pez worried about the money and Parker about going to jail and becoming someone's wife. Finally, Chase let out a small 'ah' and then turned the knob and opened the door to the apartment. All three sixteen year olds quickly walked in and closed the door behind them.
A minute later, they found themselves in one of the two guest rooms and looking through the closet. They took boxes out and laid them down on the green carpet. Sitting in a circle on the floor, they began to look through the boxes.
Parker pulled out a yellow and tiny teddy bear. "Aw, look Pez, it's Wesley the second."
Pez snatched it from her cousin and held it tightly against her chest. "Wesley the second! How could I have forsaken thee?" Chase and Parker exchanged a small smile, remembering how Pez and Holder had once acted like the stuffed bear was their child. Simple Times. "You are so coming home and I'll get your daddy."
Parker gently took the bear away from her. "Look for the lunch box." Pez stuck her tongue out at him, but did as she was told. "I'm not risking becoming someone's lady so you can hug things. This is important and we can't play around."
"Wait, wait." Chase pulled a lunch box out of a box. "I found it!" The Strawberry Shortcake lunch box was a little rusty, but it was still in good shape. Plus, Strawberry's hair was blond. "Now we can sell it."
"And make lots and lots of money." Pez added happily. She clapped her hands together. "Wesley the second and I shall have money for all kinds of things."
"Guys, guys, this was my," He prided the lunch box from Chase's small hands. "lunch box. Therefore, I get the most money."
"I'm your girlfriend."
"And I am your very pretty cousin."
"I'm sorry ladies, but I need a new action figure and X2 is coming to DVD soon." Parker clarified, not really seeing why they couldn't get why he didn't more money. "I'm parting with my beloved lunch box, so…"
"Oh, screw you, buddy." Pez muttered. She took back Wesley the second and held him protectively against her chest. "I had to talk to the creepy man. He touched by butt and it was not sexy."
"Okay, okay," Parker threw his hands up. "I think there's a way to settle this."
Parker sat on the guest bed and laughed. "Weren't we supposed to be settling something?"
"Settle. Bettle. Rattle. Seattle." Pez, who was sitting on a chair to Parker's right, cut in. She stuffed a cookie into her mouth.
Wesley the second, who was sitting on a box next to Pez, was silent.
Chase rocked back and forth in the rocking chair she was sitting on, across from Pez. "You know what I just noticed? This whole room is, like, the size of my home." She chuckled and shook her head. "You know, when you jump in my house, it shakes. My house was made in 1980 and it's super small! My Mom has sex and I can hear it from the living room…which is also my room."
Parker looked around and grinned the Forman grin. "Yeah…you know, if I were a mutant, I'd want to be Logan…no Xavier…no Bishop…no Logan."
From her spot, Pez continued her thoughts. "Mettle…Kettle…Nettle…Fettle…." she waved her hand and it caught her attention. She watched it. "Wow," she breathed. "my hand is like a butterfly. So pretty. Hello, little hand." Pez smiled warmly. "I will take care of you."
Wesley the second stared blankly ahead.
"You know," Chase went on. "it's like it's that small, but it is pretty small. I mean, I've seen smaller…but…who wants a bedroom…or a bathtub? A shower is just as good." She pointed at the three others in the circle. "And using the kitchen sink as the bathroom sink is not gross. It's conservative. We save water."
"Yeah," Parker nodded to himself. "I think I'd be Bishop. Sure, I'd have to change my skin color…but I'd be from the future and I'd be bigger. Let's face it, I'm one skinny ass dude."
Pez glanced at Wesley the second. "Does anyone else think he looks a lot like his father?"
Chase rocked back and laughed. "That teddy bear is flyin'!" She rocked too far back and the rocking chair fell down. "Flyin'!"
Parker glanced down at his girlfriend and then at Pez and then Wesley the second. He put a hand to his forehead. "I didn't see that coming!"
Point Place, Wisconsin
October 7th, 2003
4:17 p.m.
Forman Basement
The sounds of Tom Petty filled the basement. Holder wanted to play every song that reminded him of Vista's childhood or that had to do with a girl becoming a woman. He was only making Vista and Jon annoyed. Jon sat in his chair, arms folded over his chest and feet up on the coffee table. Vista sat on the couch, her short legs tucked under her body. Holder danced behind the couch.
"See, Tom Petty knows." Holder told his friends. "They all know what it's like to finally become a woman."
"You're becoming a woman." Jon shot at Holder. He glimpsed at Holder. "You might want to have that looked at."
Holder scoffed. "Please, I'm just in touch with my feminine side. Girls really dig that and they take their clothes off faster if they think you're like them." Vista glared up at him and Holder grinned. "See, now that you're an adult, you get to hear this kind of stuff."
"I'm thrilled." She muttered. "Overjoyed really."
Holder hugged her from behind. "Agh, I knew you would be. After we finish the CD, we'll go out and rent some movies and get some chocolate. Girls like that when they have their cycle." Jon chocked back a laugh. Holder glared at him. "That's what it's called, Jon." He told his friend in a conceded tone.
"You know what, Holder?" Jon asked as he sat straighter in his chair. "Chase has never gotten the 'Wesley Kelso First Cycle Day' and I'm pretty sure she's gotten her 'friend', if you know what I mean. You might want to include her in tonight's special dinner."
A light went off in Holder's mind. "Yes! I never thought of that. I'll be right back." And with that he went racing up the stairs.
Vista watched Holder's retreating form before looking back at Jon. He had saved her. "Thanks. I really need the break from him." She stood up. "Now maybe I can actually go to the rest room without Holder standing outside the door and yelling instructions at me."
Jon just gave the Hyde family smile. That little have smirk that drove a lot of girls crazy. "No problem. But, you might want to take the side door and you might think about disappearing for a couple of hours."
Vista smiled sweetly. "I owe you one." She went to the door and smiled at him once more before opening it and disappearing outside.
Jon watched her go and couldn't help but smile. She was a sweet kid that was slowly growing into a sweet woman. One day, he'd have to admit to himself just how sweet he thought she really was, but not just yet. He had time, it wasn't like she was going anywhere anytime soon.
Point Place, Wisconsin
October 7th, 2003
5:45 p.m.
Outside the Comic Store
Nearing diner time small group wanted to get the selling over and done with. Pez held Wesley the second and the lunch box, thinking it would be a good idea if Parker changed his mind. Forman men could be funny about this sort of thing; Eric still had hid G.I. Joes after all.
They stopped in front of the stores and Pez held the lunch box up for Parker to see. "Say good-bye to it."
He took a deep breathe and closed his eyes for a moment. "Well," he ran his right hand lovingly over the lunch box. "we had some good times. We went to the zoo together and to the state capital." Parker moaned lovingly at the memory. "I…I cared a lot about you."
"Parker, it's a lunch box." Chase cut in, clearly annoyed that her boyfriend was showing more love to a lunch box then he had for her.
Parker look angrily at Chase for a moment before looking back to the lunch box. "She's just jealous."
Pez moved the lunch box away. "Ok, so we'll go in and sell it to the creepy man now."
"No!" Parker grabbed Pez's arm. "I can't. I just can't, woman." He moved forward and tried to take the lunch box from her, but Pez moved back and tossed it to Chase, who caught it with ease. Parker whirled around. "Muffin…"
"Parker," Chase looked at Pez and offered an 'I'm sorry' look. "here." She handed her boyfriend his beloved lunch box.
Parker smiled happily. He moved into Chase and kissed her lightly on the lips. They tasted like strawberries and that made Parker even happier. The couple pulled apart to see Pez glaring at them.
"We'll buy you a cheeseburger." Parker offered.
Pez bit her lower lip in thought. "Okay." They began walking toward the Hub. "And one for Wesley the second."
Point Place, Wisconsin
October 7th, 2003
7:00 p.m.
The Hub
Holder, Pez, Chase, and Vista all sat at a table, a large order of food between them. They were in the middle of the special dinner that Holder had planned. He had ordered them everything he could think of, including chicken and milkshakes.
"Isn't this great? Just me and you three…"
"And Wesley the second." Pez cut in, patting the head of the bear on her lap.
Holder gave his best friend a look. "And Wesley the second. Anyway, here we are at our special first cycle dinner and we're having a great time, aren't we?" The girls just muttered 'yes'. "Yes! Ok, who wants red cake?"
Next Time: "Ice Queen"-Holder's new girlfriend annoys the gang and the consent making out of the new couple, along with the making out of Chase and Parker annoy the others. Eric and Parker go in search of a limited edition comic.