Chapter 5.

The Pinciotti's living room.

Jackie walked through the Pinciotti's front door, followed by Hyde, Kelso and Fez. She gazed around at the blue living room, a frown formed on her face as she took in the tacky matching furniture.

Donna had summoned the gang over to her home, minus Eric to discuss something 'top secret' and it was the first time Jackie had been over to her new friend's house. Not to mention the first time she had been included as part of 'the gang'.

Since Steven had caught her in an extremely low (not to mention embarrassing) moment the other night, she had been feeling a lot better about her current, less than ideal, situation. And there could be many reasons as to why.

Maybe it had to do with the fact that she was beginning to feel like she was fitting in here or maybe it was because she'd finally managed to get on Mr. Forman's good side (they had spent the other day working on the Toyota together and the older man had been impressed with her knowledge, on top of her ability to hold/point a flashlight properly). Or maybe it had something to do with the circle time she had been partaking in with Steven.

Whatever it was, she was thankful for it and was beginning to feel like her old self again.

"Donna… We really need to talk to your interior designer. Blue walls with blue furniture are a huge no-no," Jackie pointed out as she walked around the large room, eyeing different pieces of furniture with a judgmental gaze.

Donna stood in front of the lounge set. "Jackie, we don't have an interior designer. My parents picked all this stuff out."

"Oh… It's nice," she said through a fake smile before heading over to the couches.

Jackie had been making a point to be a little nicer as of late. Her and Donna had been getting along in the past few days and she didn't want to ruin it. Despite her giant lumberjack qualities, she really enjoyed spending time with the red head and it was nice to have a girl-friend to hang out with when she got sick of the boys. She just wished Donna wasn't moving away for college in a weeks-time.

Kelso had sat down on the couch next to Fez with Hyde seated on the opposite end. The tall boy had spread out so that the four-seater couch now only had room for the current three occupants, making it impossible for Jackie to sit down. She stood in front of him and paused as he smiled up at her, patting his lap suggestively.

"Jackie, you can sit on my lap if you want… Best seat in the house," he flashed her a dumb smile as he continued to pat his lap.

Jackie scoffed. "I'd literally rather sit on the floor."

"Ah burn!" Fez snickered from next to Kelso.

She turned her head to the foreign boy, whom had really grown on her in the past week or so. She still thought he was a huge weirdo, but he made her laugh on the regular and after making strictly fake friends in New-York, someone who was genuine and could make her laugh was now all she looked for in potential friendships.

Plus, it helped that the boy basically worshiped her and always did what she asked of him.

"Fez move over," she told him, nodding her head in the direction of Kelso.

Fez scooted across, creating enough room for Jackie to take a seat in between himself and Hyde. Her arm pushed against Hyde's as there was little room left between the four of them. He shifted in his seat beside her, clearing his throat as he reached his arm up and over the back of her.

The move was innocent. He was barely touching her, most of his arm laid on the back of the couch, making it clear that the change in position was made strategically to create more room between the two and for no other reason. But her stomach had a mind of its own and refused to listen to logic.

Butterflies fluttered wildly inside her as the small gesture was made.

They were a fairly recent development that had been occurring regularly around the scruffy-older boy since their late-night conversation in the Forman's backyard. She had been trying to ignore them for days now, but they were just getting worse and every time she was close to him they resurfaced with a vengeance.

"Donna why are we here man?" Hyde wondered, looking up at Donna who remained standing in front of them. His sudden question brought Jackie back to reality and she pushed all thoughts of disconcerting butterflies out of her mind.

"I told you, I've got to talk to you guys about something," Donna reminded the group.

"And why couldn't you talk to us in the basement?" He questioned further, shifting uncomfortable in his seat and eyeing the blue living room carefully as if something were too jump out and bite him in any second.

"What's wrong with you?" Jackie looked at Hyde with a concerned expression, he was definitely acting weird.

He pushed his shades further up the bridge of his nose and shrugged at her. "Nothing, just... Bob makes me uncomfortable man. Every-time I see the guy, he makes a bee-line for me and never shuts the hell up. Trying to talk to me about his issues."

Jackie didn't know what Hyde meant about the man's issues, but she could understand what he meant by Bob making him uncomfortable. She had met Donna's father once or twice since she'd moved in next door. The older man was definitely eccentric and unlike anyone she'd ever met before. But even though he was a huge weirdo, she wasn't in any kind of position to judge anyone else's parents when hers were practically nonexistent. At-least Bob wasn't in jail and hadn't abandoned his only daughter.

Jackie still hadn't heard anything from her mother since she'd arrived in Point Place.

"He's not here Hyde so stop being such a baby," Donna scolded her friend. "Okay so," she began but was abruptly cut off when Fez leaned across Jackie to talk to Hyde.

"Hyde, you are forgetting Donna has cable..." Fez pointed out with a grin. "Which means, we may get to see flashes of brief nudity."

Kelso laughed. "Oh yeah! We can watch space boobs." He pumped his fists in the air.

"We aren't going to watch TV," Donna informed the group, eliciting boos from each boy. "Fine we can watch TV, but after I'm done talking!"

"Donna just tell us what's going on," Jackie suggested, crossing her legs as she waited for her friend to begin. She wondered if this had something to do with her impending move to Madison. Maybe she had changed her mind and decided to stay…

"Okay so as you all know by now, Eric has chosen to stay home and put off college for a year so that he can help out his parents," Donna began, and Jackie noticed a sad expression cross her face.

The couple had made the announcement that Eric would be staying behind, officially, the other day. Jackie had never seen anyone as happy as Mrs. Forman had been, Mr. Forman on the other hand was less than pleased about his son's decision. She got the vibe that Red wanted Eric out of the house sooner rather than later.

Then there was Fez and Kelso, who had barely reacted to the news. Jackie didn't love the idea of living across the hall from Eric full time, but she knew that him staying was the best thing for his family, so she couldn't really argue with him about it.

Donna had been acting strong, but Jackie could see right through her.

"I'm leaving for college in a week, which means we only have 7 days left before everything changes for the worst. Cause we all know you guys are nothing without me," she joked.

"Is there a point to this?" Kelso wondered, blinking up at Donna with a bored expression.

"Kelso... I've only been talking for like two seconds!" Donna scolded him, rolling her eyes. "Look it's also Eric's birthday the day I leave for college. I was thinking we have to do something as a group before then, that we'll remember forever."

Hyde groaned from next to Jackie. "Can't we just go to the water tower and get drunk like we always do?"

"We did that two weeks ago. This has to be special!"

"I do not want to go to the water tower anymore," Fez said quietly, shaking his head. "My ass still hurts from the last time I fell."

Hyde chuckled. "Occupational hazard man."

"It gets easier every time buddy," Kelso nudged Fez and Jackie wondered just how many times he had fallen on his head… It would explain a lot.

"You guys I already thought of the perfect activity that we could all do together… Something that doesn't include us falling from water towers onto our asses," Donna commented with a smile. "We're all going to…"

Pause for dramatic effect.

"God Donna just spit it out!" Kelso complained.

"Vanstock. We're going to Vanstock."

Jackie looked around at her new group of friends trying to gauge the reaction. She'd never heard of Vanstock before, was it some poor persons version of Woodstock?

Hyde shrugged from next to her. "Live music, drunk chicks and hallucinogenic drugs? Sounds alright by me."

"Oh boy, Vanstock! I bet our second time there will be just as magical as our first," Fez clapped his hands with excitement, instantly getting on board.

"Wait, I'm confused. What is Vanstock?" Jackie spoke up. Whatever it was, she could already tell she wasn't going to like it.

"It's like Woodstock but with Vans… And if it's anything like last year, a whole lot of drugs," Hyde filled her in, grinning widely at the last part.

"It's a music festival that goes for two days and this year it's happening right before Eric's birthday," Donna added to Hyde's less than thorough description.

Jackie nodded her head, she'd never been to a music festival before, she'd always thought they were strictly for hippies and burnouts, although she couldn't deny that it sounded like fun. Except for one aspect that is…

"Where would we spend the night? Is there like a hotel?"

"No, there's no hotels. Everyone just brings sleeping bags and camps out. That's what the Vans are for."

Camping? Donna wanted Jackie Burkhart to go camping?

"Ew. No, I don't camp," Jackie shook her head and scrunched up her nose. "There are like, bugs and serial killers in the woods…" Everyone turned to stare at her. "Think about it, every slasher movie ever made started off with high school kids camping in the woods."

"Don't worry Jackie. I'll keep you safe," Kelso commented from the opposite side of the couch.

His constant come-on's were beginning to get annoying. She didn't blame him, she was a beautiful woman but there was only so much one person could take. She'd told him she wasn't interested in 'taking him back', had rebuffed all his advances and still he kept trying.

She'd never met some who could be so patient yet impatient at the same time.

"I don't need you to keep me safe," Jackie told him sternly. "Anyway, you'd be the first to die. It's always the whores who get killed first..."

Kelso gasped loudly as Fez began to giggle uncontrollably.

"That was another good burn Jackie, well done," Fez spoke through his laughter while Kelso glared over at him.

"Stop laughing, Fez!" Kelso exclaimed, reaching out to frog Fez hard over the arm, successfully getting the other to shut-up.

"Jackie," Donna began, turning the rooms attention back to her. "You don't have to go if you don't want to."

Jackie thought about the offer but no matter how she looked at the situation, she'd be doing something that she didn't necessarily want to do. If she stayed home, she'd be alone in the Forman's house over the whole weekend but if she went with her friends she'd have to sleep outside in the dirt with hippies.

Tough choices…

"Yeah man… Cause helping Mrs. Forman clean out the attic is definitely the better way to spend your weekend," Hyde added a moment later and Jackie turned to face him, she could barely see it behind his shades, but she swore he had winked at her.

Either way, he had a point. Anything was better than cleaning out the Forman's attic. And it was kind of nice, knowing he wanted her to go with them. He'd implied as much, albeit in a backhanded way. But she'd take what she could get.

"Ugh fine, I'll go. But I swear to God, if we all get brutally murdered by an inbred man with a chainsaw, I am going to be so pissed!"

"But if we are all dead, how would you-" Fez started but Kelso cut him off.

"Who cares Fez, we're going to Vanstock! And hey Jackie, I've got a double sleeping bag so if you get cold."

"Not happening, Michael," she sighed. "But I got to say, your persistence is impressive."

"There's a lot about me that's impressive baby… You'll learn that if you share the sleeping bag with me."

"I'm out of here," Hyde abruptly stood up from the couch, cutting Kelso and Jackie's conversation short.

"Don't say anything to Eric!" Donna called out to Hyde as he walked out of her house.

Jackie paused for a moment, wondering why Steven had left so suddenly and where he could be going. She knew he wasn't working today, he had told her so much earlier that morning. Could it have been because Kelsos incessant come-ons were annoying him too?

Kelso and Fez were already rushing to turn the TV on, excited by the possibility of space boobs… Whatever that meant, and Jackie quickly decided she'd rather take her chances by following Hyde then staying here to find out.

"I'll catch you guys later," she mumbled as she stood up, but only Donna responded with a nod, Fez and Kelso didn't seem to notice her leave as their eyes stayed glued to the television set.

Jackie spotted Hyde crossing through the Pinciotti's and back into the Forman's driveway, she ran to catch up to him. Reaching out to grab ahold of his wrist when she was close enough. She pulled to get him to stop and he turned his head to look at her, a frown stretched across his face as he spotted her.

"What do you want Jackie?" He questioned her as she let go of her hold on his wrist. His tone was laced with annoyance and made Jackie feel a little nervous. Maybe he was getting sick of her being around all the time, but she couldn't help it that they lived in the same place.

Besides she liked spending time with him and she knew deep down that he enjoyed hanging out with her too. He'd just never admit it because he thought he was way to cool for chicks like her.

"I wasn't really up for space boobs," Jackie informed him, crinkling her nose up when she noticed how weird the sentence sounded. "I thought we could hang out… Maybe go to the Hub together?" She questioned, biting her lip nervously.

Why did this feel like she was asking him out? She hadn't meant it to seem that way, she was just hungry is all…

"I'm taking a nap, you can go to the Hub by yourself. Or go back to Donna's and watch cable. I don't care," Hyde told her, and Jackie frowned, was he rejecting her? How could he reject her when she wasn't really asking him out? He couldn't… but then why did she feel so rejected?

This is ridiculous. Jackie thought as she reached out, grabbing Hydes wrist again to stop him from walking off on her. "What's up your butt?" She questioned him.

"You."

"Ew."

Hyde rolled his eyes and scratched at his beard. "Jackie, I mean you're bugging me man… Why do you have to follow me around everywhere?"

Jackie shrugged, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Because we're friends," she told him simply. "At least, I thought we were friends," she sighed and looked down at the ground between them.

Hyde paused for a moment and Jackie knew that whatever she was doing, was working on him. A moment later and he let out a groan "Damn it, fine… You know how to play chess?"

Jackie smiled brightly, happy to have won even this small victory. "Not a clue," she admitted shaking her head.

Hyde stared down at her, Jackie was wearing flats that day so the height difference between them was larger than usual. She thought about how Steven was the perfect height for her but then quickly shut down every other romantic thought that followed. Including her leaning up on her toes right now and him bending down to meet her half way in a soul crushing first kiss.

Because Hyde wasn't her type… He was dirty, poor, wore concert tees and had a beard. Besides even if she did admit that she was into him (theoretically!), he wouldn't be interested in her. He thought she was annoying, self-centered and spoilt.

Cheerleaders and burnouts didn't end up together.

"I'll teach you… Come on," he motioned his head in the direction of the basement and the two of them began walking side by side towards the stairwell in the backyard that lead down to the basement.

"Hey Steven," Jackie began a few moments later as they reached the basement door. "Do you think Donna is really going to leave for college without Eric?"

Hyde opened the basement door, letting Jackie walk in before him.

"Not a chance."

"She seems pretty convinced," Jackie added as she watched Hyde walk to the back of the couch and search through the shelving unit where the Formans stored all their board games and other miscellaneous items.

"She's in denial man," Hyde responded as he grabbed the chess board down from the top shelf. "I'd bet money on it."

"Well I hope she stays," Jackie admitted, sitting down on the couch and kicking her shoes off.

"Why? Annoying the crap out of just me isn't enough for you?" Hyde joked as he set the chess board down on the small coffee table in front of the couch, before dragging his chair closer so that he was opposite from where Jackie was seated.

"You know what I think?"

Hyde huffed in response as he set up the pieces on the board in front of him.

"I think you actually like hanging out with me," she smiled and tucked her feet up underneath herself to get comfy.

He looked up at her through his sunglasses as he set down another pawn on the board. "You're crazy."

She smirked, he could deny it all he liked but she knew she was right. "All I'm saying is, you're teaching me how to play chess when you could be taking a nap like you wanted. You chose me over sleep!"

"No, I didn't. Just didn't feel like having a nap anymore. And I haven't taught you anything yet cause you keep yapping."

Jackie shrugged, deciding to drop the subject for now and Hyde began to teach her the basics of Chess. Their first game was a disaster, Jackie had no idea what she was doing, and Hyde had won without even trying. The second game ran a lot smoother, he'd actually forfeited a win in order to teach her some strategic moves and she slowly started to understand the point of the game.

They were in their third game, Hyde was winning but Jackie had made some good moves of her own, without his help. Led Zeppelin played softly in the background and the sound of light rain echoed from outside, other then that the basement was quiet.

It was when Jackie moved one of her rooks forward that the Forman's house phone began to ring, sounding through the basement. Jackie sat up straight, turning her head to the interior stairs. Mrs. Forman would probably answer the phone, but Jackie was waiting for a call from her mother.

She hadn't heard from her since their last conversation in New-York and was expecting her to call any day now. A few moments passed, the ringing stopped, Hyde made his move, but Mrs. Forman hadn't appeared at the top of the stairs to tell Jackie she had a phone call.

Her mother hadn't called.

She shouldn't be sad, she knew it was a long shot, knew her mother probably wouldn't call for another week or so, if at all. But still, every time that phone rang, her heart pounded, and she crossed her fingers that it was Pam.

"Jackie, it's your turn," Hyde prompted her.

Jackie looked from the chess board up to Steven. She was losing and there was no chance she'd win, the only reason she'd won the last game was because he had forfeited and spent most of the game making her moves for her.

Suddenly she didn't see the point of continuing, not now that she had other things on her mind.

"Steven… When was the last time you heard from your parents?" She wondered, sitting back on the couch and eying him curiously. She didn't expect him to answer, knew he hated talking about his parents, but she took a shot anyway.

Their experiences with abandonment were so similar, she just needed to know if her hopes were in vain. Maybe she shouldn't be expecting to have a relationship with her mother after everything that went down.

Hyde took off his shades, hooking them onto his shirt. "Last heard from Edna a week before my 18th birthday. Haven't heard from Bud since he skipped town, 2 years ago," he answered and surprised her.

It hadn't been the answer she wanted but at least he was being honest with her. He was 19 now, so it had been over a year since hearing from either of his parents and the thought made her angry.

He was waiting for her to reply, a look in his eye that was neither of sadness or anger like she would have expected. He'd obviously come to terms with the fact that he no longer had any relationship with his parents and was probably cool with that.

Jackie wasn't like him, she wasn't sure she'd ever be able to get over something like that. If her mother didn't call, didn't even want to check up on her only child every other week, she thought it could possibly destroy her.

"I-… I haven't heard from my mom yet," she admitted after a long pause.

"You expecting to?"

"She told me she'd call after I 'settled in'," Whatever that meant. "I've been here for over 2 weeks now and she still hasn't called," how much time did her mother want to give her?

"Well, if she's anything like Edna. She's probably too busy fucking truckers and binge drinking wine out of a box, to call."

Jackie winced at the bitter tone in Hyde's voice. His mother sounded like a terrible woman. And even though she was 99% sure Pam wasn't too busy to call because she was sleeping with truckers, she knew he was probably closer to the truth then he thought.

"If you change truckers to rich French men and tequila, you'd probably be right," she admitted sadly.

"Your mom a drunk, too?" He questioned a second later.

"She doesn't think so, but drinking 2 bottles of wine a day isn't normal…" She'd never admitted to her mother's alcoholism out loud before, but for some reason it felt right to now.

"And you still want her to call?"

Jackie shrugged. "She's my mom…"

"Yeah…"

She sighed and sat forward on the couch to lean over the chess board again, trying to focus on the game at hand. She no longer wanted to think about her mother, or his shitty one.

If Pam called, she called. If she didn't… Well Steven had told her that she deserved better and maybe it was time that she listened.

She made her next move, successfully taking down one of his knights. The best move she'd made without his help, since they'd started to play.

"I'm sorry your mother is such a whore," she told him with a sympathetic smile as he moved his knight off the board.

Hyde chuckled, but his laugh missed its usually carefree tone. "Thanks doll…"

"Did I do good?" She pointed to the chess board, changing the subject to something much lighter.

"Yeah. You're coming along nicely."

They smiled back at each other and Jackie relaxed as Hyde took his time to make his next move. Maybe he had a whore for a mother, and maybe hers was selfish. But at least they had each-other.

Thanks for reading! And thank you to everyone who has fav/followed or reviewed this story so far.

Next update will be the beginning of Vanstock 2.0 !