2.5- It's Still Rock and Roll to Me
It's still rock and roll to me- "It's Still Rock and Roll To Me"-Billy Joel
Summary: Pez gets solos in the choir's 'musical night' and becomes upset when she learns that Jon and Holder have tickets to a concert that night; while Parker and Chase have a date they don't seem willing to give up.
Disclaimer: I own nothing from That 70s Show nor am I making any money off this story. The songs are also owned by their respective writers, producers, singers, etc. Also, I do not own any other television show, movie, comic, etc mentioned in this chapter.
A/N: All reviews welcomed. In addition, lyrics that best fit the 'mood' of the chapter will be placed at the top. I am also adding 'chapter soundtracks' to each chapter. (some songs may not be from 2004, but might be from 2005.)
I would also like to thank all my reviewers, so glad you guys adored the Jon/Vista kiss and the last chapter.
February 9th, 2004
Point Place, Wisconsin
5:17 p.m.
The Forman Basement
Holder, Parker, and Jon sat around the basement. Holder and Parker had the couch and Jon had his chair. The three guys were half watching television as they talked. Jon had been acting strange over the past couple of days, and that could only mean one thing-he had a girl. Whenever Jon got a new make out buddy, he always acted this way. Slightly more happy and yet way more parnoid.
Parker and Holder wanted to know who the new girl was.
"Samantha Day?" Holder guessed. "Man, she is one fine looking lady and she's a gymnast. Girl could totally do things." He gave Jon a suggestive wink.
"No way." Parker cut in. "Jon and Samantha had a thing during the summer. He wouldn't go back to her. Think farther down the alaephant, Jon tends to "date"," Parker used air quotes. "in ABC order."
Jon just sat in his chair, feet on the coffee table, arms folded over the chest.
Holder was quiet for a moment. Then, he sat up straighter. "Oo…Megan Petes!" Parker and Jon gave Holder a look. "What?"
"Holder, Megan Petes is a lesbian." Parker stated. "She came out last year at the Spring Fling."
"Oh, yeah. I asked her and her fine looking lady friend if I could watch them make out and she hit me." Holder remember fondly. He gently rubbed his arm at the memory. "Good times."
Parker shook his head with a short laugh. "Yeah. Uh, how about Jewel Lui?"
Jon looked over at Holder and Parker. "Stop it. There is no make out buddy." He paused and made a face. "And could we not call it that? It makes me sound twelve."
"Jon-" Parker was cut off by the sound of the side door opening.
All three guys looked over to see Pez standing there. She excitedly closed the door behind her and smiled widely. The girl dramatically took her long coat off, reveling an outfit that looked like it had been stolen from the set of Moulin Rouge. All three guys stared at her, their mouths agape. Pez looked….sexy. Parker somehow felt dirty about that.
"Pezzy?" Holder chocked out. "Wh-?"
Jon moved uncomfortably in his chair. "What are, some high price call girl?"
Pez didn't speak. She cleared her throat and began to sing: "Let's bring on the men and let the fun begin. A little touch of sin. Why wait another minute? Step this way, it's time for us to play!" She did a little dance move and hummed a little of the song. "So many men, so little time. I want them all, is that a crime? I don't know why they say that I'm too easy."
The guys just watched as Pez went on dancing around the basement, humming the song to herself. She went over to the freezer and grabbed a coke. Pez whirled back to face the guys, who were smiling and holding back laugher. "Bring on the meeennnnnnnnn!" She fell back onto the couch, her body spread out over Parker and Holder's laps.
Holder looked down into the face of his best friend. "Pez?"
"You like?" She sat herself up, now she was sort of inbetween Holder and Parker. Pez moved herself so she could sit between them. "It's just a taste of what you'll see at 'Musical Night'."
"Musical Night?" Parker asked. "What's that?"
Pez gave him a 'duh' look. "The night the choir does songs from musicals. It's this week. I have two solos." The guys just looked at her. "I have been talking about it for weeks. I've been pratcing since Novemeber." The guys exchanged a 'did you know?' look. "Well, didn't any of you get my E-Bytes?"
"You know, I've been super business." Holder quickly told Pez. "Having sex with Emma and all."
Everyone made faces at that thought.
Jon decided to make it better. "So, we forgot. But, we'll go. When is the big night, Pez?"
Pez brightened. "Tomorrow night."
Parker hissed in some air. "Oo….yeah, I can't make that. Chase and I have a thing."
"Yeah," Holder added. "Jon and I got tickets to this concert thing."
"But…but this is the first time I'll be on stage since the unspeakable eighth grade production of Romeo and Juliet: the Musical. We all remember how that turned out." All of the guys paused to remember how a sword fight had started and Juliet, played by Pez, had gotten pushed off her death bed and into the audience.
"And we'd all love to see you not fall into the audience." Parker said. "But, we've got these plans. You should have told us about it before today."
Pez gasped. "I did! The E-Bytes! Do I mean nothing to you people?" She got up and stormed out of the basement.
The guys looked after her for a moment.
Suddenly the door opened and Pez walked calmly back in. "I forgot my coat and I'm dressed like a whore." She explained sheepishly. Pez put her coat on and looked over the three guys. "Now I'm leaving in a huff."
And she did.
February 9th, 2004
Point Place, Wisconsin
8:02 p.m.
Bowling Alley Storage Room
(Secret- Maroon 5)
Jon glanced down at his watch and then to the door. Vista was two minutes late. He began to have a nagging feeling in the back of his mind that she wasn't coming. For the past two days they had been meeting in secret to hash out excatually what they were to one another and all of that.
Vista was all for telling everyone that they were kissing one another, but Jon wasn't so sure. There were many reasons why Vista and Jon just didn't sound right in a romance sentence. For one thing, she was fourteen and he was sixteen, seventeen in less then four months. For another, she was his best friend's little sister. And another reason was that her grandparents had basically raised his father. Plus, they had pretty much been raised as cousins or even siblings. Jon kissing Vista would most certain rub some people the wrong way.
"Hey-" Vista started. Jon looked over to see that she had opened the storage room door. The girl was holding a bag and a bottle of Sprite. "I brought snacks."
Jon rushed past her and locked the door. "Snacks?"
"Yeah." She held up the bag. "You like chilli chesse dogs, right?" Vista put the food down. "I got us a huge one, we can share it."
He turned around and looked at her. "Vista…you brought snacks to a planned whatever this is?"
Vista gave him a look. "You know me. I'd probably bring snacks to anything and everything. Besides, if it were up to me, we'd be having a nice time in the bowling alley and not its storage room."
"Come on, you know how I-I can't believe I'm saying this-it's so my mother coming through-but, we should know what this is before we go around telling people that I'm kissing perfect little Vista Maggie Mae Forman."
Vista scoffed. "I'm not perfect and I happen to still be growing."
Jon sighed deeply and sat on one of the tin boxes. Vista moved over to sit beside him. "New and exciting topic." Vista turned her body to face Jon's. "Are you going to Pez' thing tomorrow night?"
"You knew about that?"
Vista moved back. "Did you not get the e-byte?" Jon just looked at her.
February 10th, 2004
Point Place, Wisconsin
9:56 a.m.
Point Place High
Parker and Chase stood outside of Chase's locker. Chase was busy getting her books for her Alegbra class and Parker was busy staring at Chase's short skirt and high boots. Chase moved her hands through her locker, clearly trying to find something or other.
"Where did-hold that." Chase handed Parker a flyer for the church fair that had worked at the weekend before. She finally found her books and slammed her locker closed. "Okay, thanks. You can throw it." She turned away from her locker and the two of them began walking down the hall.
Parker dumped the paper in the nearest trash can. "Tonight's a big night." He commented, more to himself then to her. Parker wordlessly slipped his hand into Chase's. "Big, big night."
"Yep." Chase nervously cleared her throat nervously. "Big old night tonight."
The two made their way through the crowd of the hallway. They stopped outside class 12 and stopped. This was Chase's stop.
"Well…see you in English." Parker told her. He moved in and awkwardly kissed her on the cheek.
"Parker?" Chase raised out and took his hand. She moved them away from the door. "We don't have to do this tonight." She whispered to him. "I mean….we have time. And Pez has her thing tonight."
"Yeah….but this is important to you." Parker told her.
"Yeah…but tonight is important to Pez. She's been talking about it for weeks."
Parker raised an eyebrow. "You know about it?"
Chase gave him a look. "Didn't you get the E-byte?" Parker just looked at his girlfriend.
February 10th, 2004
Point Place, Wisconsin
12:03 p.m.
Point Place High
The lunch room of Point Place, Wisconsin was full of students. All abuzz with rumors and stories of who had said or done what and with who and where. The usual everyday stuff. Of course, the choir students were missing, busy practicing for their Musical Night that night.
Parker, Jon, Holder, and Chase sat at their usual table. All trying to figure out what exactly the mystery meat was, if anything. Pez was practicing for choir and Vista was busy in the biology lab, working on extra credit she really didn't need.
Parker poked the mystery meat with his fork and held his breath for a moment. The meat didn't move. "I may have lied. I may have gotten the E-byte."
Holder nodded slowly and slurped up some of his milk through a straw. "Yeah, me to. But, the concert is huge."
Jon looked over at the door to the lunch room and briefly wondered if Vista was alone in the science lab with Jess Bradly. "Uh…yeah."
Chase gave the boys a look. "It's important to Pez, you know. A concert is just a stupid thing that will just come to DVD sooner or later. And Parker and I can miss our-"
Parker glanced over at his girlfriend. "Muffin, maybe we shouldn't talk about why we can't make 'Musical Night'." He gave her a pointed look as if to tell her that it really wasn't a good time.
A stupid grin spread across Holder's face. "Are you guys going to have sex tonight? 'Cause I could give you some pointers." He sat up straighter, prouder. "I have had sex ten times, you know."
Jon made a face. "Holder, no one wants to even think about you having sex."
"And Parker and I aren't having sex tonight, pervert." Chase kicked Holder under the table. "Get your mind outta the gutter, Holder."
"Ow, my leg!" Holder cried out. He grabbed his leg under the table. "Nice going, Chase."
Parker grinned widely. "Well, it serves you right, Holder." He looked across the table and noticed Jon. "Who are you looking for? Your make out buddy?" Parker laughed to himself.
"Jon has a new girl toy?" Chase questioned. She curiously started at Jon for a second. "Let me see…January eighth, you were making out with Amber Roberts at the Hub. January fifteenth you were making out with Alyson Stevens at your dad's music store. January twenth you were groping Maria Tran at the bowling alley. You're on 'U' now, right? Or have I skipped a girl?"
Parker leaned his boney elbows on the table. "I heard that you weren't into the last few girls. It was like you were just going through the movements."
Jon groaned. "Where did you hear that, Forman? Girl underground?"
"From Pez." Parker answered. "She knows stuff. Like how you just aren't into random groping anymore."
Holder, who had gotten over his leg being kicked, spoke. "Yeah, does this mean you're ready to get a real girlfriend? Like me settling for Emma."
From behind his sunglasses, Jon rolled his eyes. "Shut your holes. I am not settling down. I don't do girlfriends."
Holder laughed. Chase shook her head. "Okay, sure, we believe you."
Parker looked down at the mystery meat. "On another note, I think the mystery meat is people. The mystery meat is people." He stated in a tone only Forman men could do; totally sarcastic, indifferent, and witty.
February 10th, 2004
Point Place, Wisconsin
12:13 p.m.
Point Place High-The Auditorium
Pez sat in a make up chair and hummed the chours to one of her solos. She hummed Big Spender from Sweet Chaity over and over, trying to match the lyrics to the movements she wanted to do for the dance number.
Tonight was her big night and she knew she was supposed to be happy about it. Instead she could only think about the fact that her friends weren't going to be there. Her parents, younger sisters, and one set of grandparents would be here. But, not her friends. Or her boyfriend for that matter. Why did Charlie's great-aunt Louisa have to die anyway? Couldn't the old woman have waited another couple of days? It was enough to make a girl cry.
Pez took a tiny 'fun-size' candy bar from her coat pocket, un wrapped it, and ate it.
"You look down, Charlie Brown." Pez glanced up to see Guy Morgan standing behind her. The short red head was the head of the drama club and was responsible for 'Musical Night'. "What's the buzz, cuz?"
Pez wrinkled her nose. He was a perfectly nice guy, but he really had to stop saying things like that. "Great aunt Louisa is dead. And concerts and dates are more important then seeing me dressed like a whore and singing."
"Oh, Pez I would love to see you dressed like a whore. I mean, you are very hot." Pez raised an eyebrow. "What? Just cause I'm in the drama club I can't think girls are hot. You have seen you, right?"
Pez blushed slightly. "Yes, I often stare at myself naked." She shook her head. "But, I'd rather my friends see me dressed like a whore then be alone without them."
"Oh." Guy put a comforting hand on Pez's shoulder. "Hey, you know, it'll be okay. If it makes you feel better, we could make out or something in a storage closet."
"Maybe later." Pez told him with an awkward smile. "But, thank you for the offer." She moved away from Guy; he was starting to get weird.
February 10th, 2004
Point Place, Wisconsin
12:56 p.m.
Point Place High
"So then I told the judges that it was supposed to do that and they gave me an eight out of ten. Which…I guess was a good score. But, I am not getting into Stanford with that." Jess Bradley cleared his throat and leaned against his locker. "So, thanks for helping me out with the extra credit work, 'Ista."
Vista shrugged. "No problem. I…" she paused and lowered her head slightly. "have a 98 in there; I could use the extra points. I'm not getting into Ivy league with a 98 in biology, the simplest of the high school scienes."
Jess gave her a knowing smile. "Hey, I have a 90. With the extra credit, you've brought me up to a 94 and with a little extra help, I'll have a perfect score by the end of the school year." He patted Vista on the shoulder. "If there is ever anything I can do for you, let me know."
Vista nodded. "I'll do that." She gave him a little smile before heading off down the hall.
(line)
Vista was almost to the stairs, when she felt someone grab her from behind and drag her into a storage closet.
Vista squealed and turned the light on. She stared wide-eyed at the person who had 'kidnapped' her from the hallway. "Jon? What are you doing?"
Jon made sure the door was locked and took off his sunglasses, he wanted to look her in the eyes. "Are you…you like Jess Bradley."
"Yes, I like Jess." She tried to move past Jon, but he got in her way.
"That wasn't a question. If you like him, then you like him. And whatever this is, should end."
"What?" Vista giggled nervously. "You are so parnoid. Jess and I are lab partners and friends." She put her hands on her hips. "Are you seriously going all teen drama? You are your mother's son, aren't you?" Jon scoffed. She began to laugh. "You are jealous."
"Am not." Jon bit. "Of Jess Bradley? Please."
"Well, he is Jess Bradley. Jess Bradley!" Vista smiled widely. "No, it's kind of cute that you're all jealous and parnoid."
Jon's lips began to form a smile. "You think I'm cute?"
"Well," Vista cocked her head to one side. "in some lights I suppose you're attractive."
Jon put his right hand around Vista's small waist and pulled her close to him. "You suppose? Okay, that's cool. I guess you're hot."
"That's fine. 'Cause…I am on Jess Bradley's list. And just the other day, Guy Morgan came onto me in P.E. Sure he comes on to anything that moves, but I felt a real connection."
Jon rolled his eyes upward. He reached up and turned the light back off. "Uh-huh." He laced the fingers of his left hand through Vista's fingers. Jon smiled down at Vista before he kissed her.
The two never made it to their one o'clock classes.
February 10th, 2004
Point Place, Wisconsin
2:49 p.m.
Forman Basement
(Cold Hands, Warm Heart-Brendan Benson)
Parker entered the basement through the side door and was happy to find it empty. He was thrilled about that. Tonight was a huge night and he didn't need Holder or Jon there to make fun of him. Parker wanted it all to go perfect and be something that Chase would remember forever.
"Parker." Parker jumped and looked to the stairs. Chase came walking down and joined him by the radio. "Hey."
"Hey, there." He cleared his throat nervously. "I was just chilling. Relexing. Maxing on my cool. I wasn't…." he made a hand gesture, like he was trying to tell himself to hurry up. "thinking about tonight."
Chase raised an eyebrow, clearly not believing him. "Uh-huh. Okay, then." She took one of his hands in hers and led him over to the sofa. "About tonight, I think we should put it on hold."
"But…but I…this is important to you." Parker moved himself up, so he could sit on the back of the sofa. "Chase, we don't have to put this off. I mean, it'll be okay."
"Pez wants us to be at her thing tonight." Chase explained. "It's important to her, Parker. You know she's been looking forward to this forever."
Parker made a face. "Actually, I think I tuned it out whenever she talked about it." He sighed. "I know, I'm a bad cousin. But, Chase…this is important to you."
"I know." Chase nodded as she moved herself up to sit next to Parker. "But, Pez is my best friend, and she wants us there.Besides, I think something like this would be better for another time. My father, theoretically, isn't going anywhere. I can call him another night. I got his phone number now and I don't plan on losing it."
He put an arm around her and moved himself closer. "You're good people, love muffin."
February 10th, 2004
Point Place, Wisconsin
5:09 p.m.
Forman Basement
Holder entered the basement to find Jon watching television. Jon was in his usual chair, feet up, arms folded. Holder flopped down in the lawn chair. "Okay, Rachel Washington. That's your make out buddy."
Jon momentarily glanced up from the television. "No." He looked back at the television. "And stop calling her a 'make out buddy', that's not what she is."
"So there is a girl!" Holder jumped up. "I knew it. We all knew it." He began laughing.
Jon picked up a Spider-man comic and threw it at Holder. "Ow, my eye!"
Jon smirked. "By the way, we're not going to the concert."
Holder let his mouth drop. "Why?"
"Because Pez has her thing tonight and we have to go to it." Jon told his friend. "It's the right thing to do, man. 'Sides it's a local concert by a local band." He shrugged. "I just think we should go."
Holder raised an eyebrow. "Jon, man, did you do a circle alone or something?"
Jon nearly sighed. Why did Holder have to make this so hard? Jon wasn't going to the concert and either was Holder. Okay, so maybe he had changed his mind because Vista had asked him. And it was hard to say no to Vista when she was tangled up in him. Still. Pez was their friend and they should be there for her, right? Right.
"No, now you're going. You'll sit in the first row and you'll watch Pez dance and sing and dress like a reject from Moulin Rouge. Because she is your best friend and who else is going to buy that cream for the rash we all know you're going to get from Emma."
Holder had to ambit there was a bit of truth in that. "Fine, I'll go to 'Musical Night' if you tell me who the girl is." Jon throw another comic at Holder. "Ow, my other eye!"
February 10th, 2004
Point Place, Wisconsin
7:02 p.m.
Point Place High-The Auditorium
Pez waited anxiously for the curtain to rise. It was her night and everyone would love her. She peeked out of the side of the stage and spotted her parents, sisters, and grandparents sitting toward the middle of the audience; cameras at the ready. She smiled sadly to herself when she noticed her friends weren't with them. That was when she heard the hissing. Pez looked down at the first row to see Parker, Chase, Holder, Jon, and Vista. Vista gave her a little wave and Pez noticed that Holder was holding roses. She gave them a little smile before moving back behind the stage.
As the lights dimmed, Mr. Chandler, the drama teacher, appeared on stage. He cleared his throat and spoke in his faux English accent. "Good evening, ladies and gentlemen and welcome to Drama and Choir's joint venture- 'Musical Night'." He waited for applause, only a little came. Mr. Chandler shrugged it off. "May I introduce you all to my co-director for this evening, Mrs. Lydia Romero, our choir teacher." Again there was light applause as Mrs. Romero made her way up to the stage.
"Thank you all for coming!" She cried in an over dramatic and sing-song voice. "Tonight's 'Musical Night' will contain thirteen musical numbers from various musicals. We'll have two ten minute intermissions following songs five and ten. The whole program should last roughly two hours. Please enjoy yourselves!"
Mr. Chandler waited for some applause before starting. "Our first number, is Seasons of Love from Rent." Mr. Chandler and Mrs. Romero moved off the stage as the curtain rose to expose a group of seniors.
February 10th, 2004
Point Place, Wisconsin
7:40 p.m.
Point Place High-Parking Lot
The group stood in the parking lot just outside the auditorium and around Jon's car.
Parker, his hand around Chase's shoulders was speaking: "I had no idea Pez could bend like that. There are just some things I should never have seen and maybe that was one."
"I think she was great in her numbers." Chase declared. "When she said 'hey big spender', I really felt like she was talking to me."
"Or the rich guy behind you." Jon deadpanned.
Holder chewed on his lower lip for a moment. Something seemed to dawn on him. "Pez is hot!"
Vista, who was standing nearest Holder, kicked him in the leg. "Manners." She told him. "Remember, we talked about blurting things like that out."
"Right, right." Holder nodded. "She's still hot tonight. Sucks that her musical numbers are all over."
Just then, a little bell rang and the group headed back inside.
February 10th, 2004
Point Place, Wisconsin
8:45 p.m.
Point Place High-The Auditorium
Mrs. Romero appeared on stage and smiled out at the audience. "Ladies and gentlemen welcome back from your second intermission. We have just three songs left for you all. The last two will be performed by all of our whole group. Our next number, however, is a two person number from the musical, Rent. Here are Guy Morgan and Pez-" a light above the stage popped, drowning out Pez's last name. "-singing Light My Candle."
Mrs. Romero moved away and the curtain rose. Guy Morgan sat on a chair, the sound of a door being knocked was heard. Guy moved to the 'door' and 'opened' it. "What'd you forget?" He sang.
Pez's singing voice answered. "Got a light?"
The pair moved onto the stage. Pez was no longer dressed like she had been all night. She was dressed more simple then anyone had seen her in a long time: jeans, and a simple tee and sneakers. Light make up and her hair fell lightly around her shoulders and face. Pez wasn't just sexy; she was a beauty.
She seemed to be shivering.
Guy went on: "I know you? You're-you're shivering."
Pez shrugged a little and shivered. "It's nothing. They turned off my heat and I'm just a little weak on my feet. Would you light my candle?" Her eyes narrowed on Guy. "What are you looking at?"
The duo went on singing and when the song ended, it was clear to everyone in the auditorium-Pez had real talent and passion. It seemed she hadn't just done 'Musical Night' because it would allow her to dress sexy for a couple of hours.
And when it was all over, Pez immersed herself in the applause. It was her night and they all loved her.
February 10th, 2004
Point Place, Wisconsin
9:55 p.m.
Forman Basement
The gang had gathered in the basement to celebrate Pez's success on stage. Romeo and Juliet: the Musical had been more then made up for. They all sat around and enjoyed the brownies Vista had baked.
Pez sat in the middle of the sofa, her roses in her lap. "I didn't think you would come. You all love me, you really love me."
"Uh…" Parker moved a bit away from Pez. "sure we do. Just don't let it get to your head."
Chase patted Pez's arm. "You were great, though. I totally believed you were a hooker and then I totally believed you were a drug addict with AIDS."
"Who knew Pez could actually act?" Jon wondered out loud.
From the lawn chair, Vista shot Jon a look. "Ignore him, Pez. You were great and we knew you had talent."
Pez smiled happily. "Thank you, Vista. I just wish my boo-bear had been there to see it." She shrugged. "Thankfully I stole the outfit form my Big Spender number. Happy Valentine's day to us."
Everyone made a face.
"Twelve!" The gang all turned in their seats to see that Holder was bouncing down the stairs. "I've now had sex twelve times." He walked behind the sofa and gave Pez a little pat on the head. "And one of those times was thanks to you. You really helped me out, Pezzy."
Pez made a gagging noise. Holder had actually-oh, it was to gross to think about. She ducked away from his hands. The others just stared at Holder for a second. Then, Jon throw a magazine at the older teen.
A second later: "Ow, my eye!" Could be heard coming from the basement. Followed by: "Oo, are those brownies." And another: "My other eye! Damn, Jon!"
Next: 2.6- You May Be Right: Eric and Hyde walk in on Vista and Jon, leading to miscommunication and disaster all around. Holder is shocked and confused when Emma tells him something in bed.