Tick. Tick. Tick.
The day was dragging him around by the balls. He could hear how slow the day was going, with each tick of the clock. What he needed was a circle, and considering how bad he wanted it, the universe decide that he didn't need one after all.
When the final bell rang, he was the first one at the Vista Cruiser, followed by Jackie. That damn chick. "Hey, doll." He smirked, taking a puff on his cigarette. "I hate that you do that." She grumbled, folding her arms over her chest. He ignored it, but she took the cigarette from his lips, and crushed it beneath her foot. He pouted, and she shrugged innocently.
Had it been anybody else, he would have been pissed. Had it been anybody else, he would have lost his marbles. But this was Jackie, man.
The rest of the gang took an eternity, Jason declining the invitation, but promising to be around later after practice. "Hey Jackie, if you're getting lonely later-" Kelso tried to start, until the boy in shades punched him in the arm. "Leave her alone, man." He growled, crossing his arm, and leaning back in his seat.
Today marked Red's last day at the plant, which meant Kitty would be picking up more hospital shifts, and Red was going to be around more often than anyone would like. As the gang neared the house, they were surprised to see the Toyota, and Kitty tossing all the mums that have been outlived.
"Donna, sweetheart! Your mother's looking for you to take you shopping!" She smiled, and Donna rolled her eyes. "Thanks, Mrs F. They're just gonna try and bribe me." She huffed, looking sadly at Jackie. "I'll be back later."
And then she was left alone with the guys. "Where's Dad?" She asked her mother.
"Oh he went out with some of his work friends-"
"Dad has work friends?" Eric cut her off, and Hyde snickered.
"Dad has friends?" Jackie clarified.
"That's what I said, sis!" Laurie called from the kitchen, laughing.
"Well, you know your father. I'm just glad he's socializing and not moping around my house, trying to fix things that have nothing wrong with them." She laughed, putting her hands on her hips. The sun was starting to go down earlier now, and it made her frown at the loss of heat and valuable daylight.
Later on in life, she realized it was her seasonal depression. At sixteen it was just a hatred of winter.
Her homework was burning a hole in her backpack, and soon enough, she was upstairs, seated at her desk, pouting over the English essay she had barely written, about what it means to be loved. It was assigned a week ago, and due Friday. It was Wednesday. She huffed, moving on to do her other assignments, watching the clock drag on slowly, until she heard her mother call down that dinner was ready, and furrowed a brow at the fact that Red wasn't seated in his normal spot.
Donna took his place instead, happily chatting, declining Kitty's offer for some meatloaf, claiming that she already ate. It was really just because she knew that money was tight.
The phone rang.
Kitty got up to answer it.
"Kitty, this is your husband." Red's voice came in over the speaker, and she raised a brow.
"Reginald Albert Foreman, have you been drinking?" Jackie heard her adoptive mother scold over the phone, suppressing a giggle.
"I don't feel so well."
"Someone's on their way, sweetie." Her mother said, and Eric and Hyde were already on their feet. "We'll take care of him for ya, Mom." He offered, kissing her forehead, and she looked expectantly at Steven, who huffed, but kissed her cheek anyways. "Oh thank you, boys!" She cried.
"Testosterone-free zone, Ma." Laurie spoke, amidst washing the dishes, while Jackie wrapped food up in Tupperware containers. "You know what that means." She nodded at Donna, who was busying herself wiping down the table with a wet cloth. She shrugged. "Nails, face masks, and chick show!" Jackie grinned, placing the last bit of food in the fridge, and moving to help Laurie dry the dishes with Donna.
After settling into their pajamas, and turning on the television, Jackie began to rub the homemade mixture onto everyone's bare faces. Her mother giggled, scrunching her nose. "Oh my, I feel all tingly!"
Donna snorted, and Jackie mockingly scolded. "Donna, you lumberjack, that wasn't ladylike." She sang.
"We should make brownies!" Kitty cheered, smiling fondly. "Aw! I'm so happy I have all my girls!"
"I'm one of your girls?" Donna asked, fighting the smile that threatened to tug on her lips, her nose tinging red. "Of course you are! You're my babies' best friend! And, now, my baby boy's lady love!" She pinched her cheek, and pulled her into a hug. "And I have my precious girl Laurie, home with me. And actually spending time with me!" Laurie flushed red, fighting the guilty tears that brimmed hot on her face, and swallowed thickly. "I'm sorry." She whispered, following the girls into the kitchen to prepare the brownie mix.
Jackie's essay was still at the forefront of her mind, and she would be chewing her nails down to the stubbs if it weren't for the fact that they were painted a pretty pale pink, and they were still wet. She was stressed. She never had problems writing mindless assignments, but for her extra English credit, she just had to take creative writing with Donna, just so she wouldn't have to take Home Economics. She scowled at the thought of the class, and just how sexist it was.
Damn, she was turning into Donna. And maybe Steven was rubbing off on her as well. Because all she could think of when she heard the prompt What is love? was Hallmark Bullshit and Suspicion of the Man. She huffed, looking at the stairs, but settling on some much needed family time with her mom and sister, who's sobriety was bringing out the best in her. She offered to help her with school work today! Setting the timer absentmindedly, she scrunched her nose, the face mask setting, and making her face feel tight.
The three sat on the couch, Laurie painting Jackie's small toes the same pale pink as her fingers, and humming a song that caught her attention. Stairway to Heaven by Led Zepplin. "That song makes me think of Pam." She blurted, making everyone freeze. She hadn't brought her parents up in a long time, and nobody knew how to react. She flushed when she realized what she did, quickly apologizing. Laurie rested a hand on her knee. "Do you wanna talk about it?" She asked softly, and Jackie shook her head. "Just that song, I don't know, makes me think of her."
"Do you miss her?" Kitty asked, leaning over to look at her. "You won't hurt my feelings if you do." Jackie bit her lip, shrugging. "When I first came here, I missed her like crazy. I had her built up in my head as a hero." She began, examining her fingernails. "But, I don't think I miss her anymore. I think it's more of a what if that bugs me."
"And what is that?" Donna raised a brow, and the girl shrugged again. "On one hand, people wouldn't point and laugh, saying nobody loves a little orphan." She pointed, and Donna frowned. "But I love you guys. And if I wasn't a little orphan, then I wouldn't have as much love as I do. And it would be very different. Not in a good way. I'd probably be sad." She nodded, leaning over to hug her mother. "Thank you for taking me in. I love you."
"Oh, sweetheart, we all love you too!"
The phone rang, and Kitty picked up.
"Hello?"
"Mom, this is your son."
"Eric, where are you?"
"I have to tell you, I don't feel so well."
Jackie agreed to drive the cruiser home, if Laurie took the Toyota, and Donna came along for the ride. After washing her mask off, and putting on a pair of shoes, she followed the girls out, with a well wish from the Foreman Matriarch.
The bar was divey, peanut shells littered the floor, and Laurie shifted in discomfort. Jackie could read the energy, and linked her arm through her sister's, who smiled gratefully, but followed her to the bar anyways.
"Jackie!" Hyde exclaimed, a huge grin spanning his face. "Hi, Doll!"
"Hi, Steven." She laughed, watching him stumble towards her, shades forgotten. His smile got wider, and he engulfed her in a hug, making her stiffen in surprise, before melting into the warm embrace of her friend and housemate. "I hate when people call me that, but with you it's okay." He murmered into her hair. "You smell like coffee and honey." He sniffed her face, nuzzling against it. "And you're so soft."
"Okay, while I enjoy the attention, you're kinda creeping me out." She giggled, pulling away to go see her father, and escort the three into the car, thanking the bartender, who handed over Eric's keys with a smile, making a smart remark to Laurie. "Leave my sister alone you creepy old pedophile." The smaller girl snarled, snatching the keys with malice.
Laurie and Donna got in the Toyota with Red and Eric, and Steven followed her into the Vista Cruiser, staring at her, and grinning, shades hooked on the fabric of his shirt. They drove in silence, and she decided to turn on the radio. Pink Floyd rang through the speakers of the station wagon, her pretty pink fingernails gripped the steering wheel gingerly, hands placed properly at ten and two, just like Kitty had taught her, eyes shifting around.
A giggle erupted from the passenger's seat, making her look at him, a smile tugging at her lips. "What?" She asked, taking the turn onto the main road into Point Place. "You drive like an old woman." She blushed, and he scooted closer. She had never seen Steven drunk, and she didn't exactly mind it. "It's cute." His voice was softer now, and she looked over at him, pulling onto her street. "Yeah?"
"Yeah. You're the cutest thing I've ever seen." He laughed again, falling back against the door, his hand on his stomach, smile wide, and she giggled, pulling into the driveway. "Let's get you inside."
"I want Fatso Burger!" He whined, following her into the kitchen. "Fatso Burger is closed. There's brownies on the counter."
After brownies, Donna went home, and Red retreated to the Master with Kitty. Eric was sound asleep in his bed, supervised by Laurie, and Steven stood at the bathroom sink, brushing his teeth, humming Trampled Under Foot lowly, watching as Jackie also brushed her teeth. His heart hammered when he saw her painted pink toenails, and fuck he almost lost his mind.
"Let's get you downstairs." She told him, gingerly grabbing a calloused hand, and leading him into the basement room that she had fixed up for him. A soft comforter and sheets lay over the army cot topped in a feather bed, and two pillows lay with it. Christmas tree lights hung from the ceiling, so he would not have to rely on the lone lightbulb. A night stand from the attic held a lamp, and band posters hung on the wall. The smell of marijuana hung in the air along with incense, and something distinctly Steven.
He changed into his pajama pants, forgoing the shirt, and crawling under the covers. She sat on the edge of the bed beside him, and he smiled lightly. "What?" She asked, tilting her head. A hand rested on her knee, and one on her face.
Her breath hitched.
No he wouldn't.
But he was leaning in, and her lips parted, and he leaned in. "You're so pretty." He murmured, before his lips brushed hers, and he rested his forehead on her own. "'M sorry." He mumbled, and she had half a mind to pull back, until his lips met her's again in a heated kiss, her hands tangling in his hair, moving to climb over into his lap. His hands settled on her waist, his lips trailing her jaw.
"So beautiful." He murmured, nipping her earlobe when she whimpered, and gasped as he sucked at her neck. "St-Steven." She sputtered, pulling away reluctantly, cursing the look of hurt on his face. "You don't want it?" His voice was quiet, and she ignored her heart hammering in her chest. "No, no. You're just drunk, and it's wrong if you don't know what you're doing." She whispered, forehead still resting against his. "You're eyes are so beautiful. They're two different colors."
Reluctantly, face hot, she removed herself from his lap, and froze when he grabbed her hand.
"Stay with me?" He asked, voice barely a whisper, and she nodded, climbing under the covers, and being surprised when he voluntarily pulled her into his arms, her head nuzzling against his chest. "Don't tell Jackie, but I love her so much." He mumbled, making her cough.
"Why can't I tell her?" She prodded, and he sighed. "Her ego would be twice as big." He giggled, before his breathing evened out, and she sighed, looking up at the ceiling, and cursed, remembering that stupid essay, that she now had a new inspiration to write.
"Goodnight Steven." She kissed his forehead, and slipped out of the room, trying to shake the cold feeling in her bones that wouldn't leave her alone.