AN: Hats off to luvcali76 for helping me out of a rut and finding some direction—thank you so very much! Also an FYI—a few days have past since the last chapter letting the episode "Immigrant Song" to take place. So this picks up a day or two after that and contains some elements of "Celebration Day". So get ready . . . err, comfortable cos here we go!
Chapter Three – School's Out
Walking into the Hub, Eric and Donna sought out the gang's usual table, as they were all meeting up after their last day of school. Ironically, someone had found Alice Cooper's "School's Out" on the jukebox and had it blaring throughout the place.
School's out for summer!
School's out forever!
School's been blown to pieces!
No more pencils
No more books
No more teachers' dirty looks
Out for summer
Out till fall
We might not go back at all
School's out forever
School's out for summer
School's out with fever
School's out completely
"So things didn't go so well the other night with Jackie and Hyde," Eric informed Donna as they took a seat on the bench at their usual table in the Hub.
"I know," Donna nodded. "Jackie's been playing an Aretha Franklin marathon. It's starting to give me the creeps."
"Oh yeah?" questioned Eric. "If you think that's freaky, how about Hyde listening to country music? That's totally wigging me out," Eric stated using his incredibly charismatic hand gestures.
Raising her eyebrows and furrowing her brow in disbelief, Donna gasped. "No way!"
"Way Donna," Eric responded. "We've got some weird troubled friends."
"I'll say we do," she agreed.
"I mean, I thought they were creepy and unnatural together, but they're creepier, weirder, and totally unnatural apart," Eric digressed.
Donna nodded her head. "And speaking of creepy friends, poor Fez; he has to leave after graduation. Although, I thought he had a green card."
"He did until he misplaced it again," Eric informed her. "He lost it after that road trip to Canada. Too bad he can't find it. Man, I feel bad for him."
"You know Eric, we should do something as a group for one last time," Donna suggested. "Cos Fez will be leaving and so will we."
"Yeah, you're right Donna, we should," Eric agreed. "One last hurrah with everyone before everything changes."
"Well that and we have two days until we graduate," Donna reminded him.
"Good point," Eric nodded. "So when everyone gets here we'll tell them."
"Sounds like a plan," Donna agreed.
But before Eric could respond, Hyde entered the Hub and joined them at their table. "Hey man, what's going on?" he asked with a nod.
"Nothing much," returned Donna. "We were just talking about doing something as a group for the last time before Fez leaves."
"That's cool," he replied with his usual zen.
"And we thought we should let Fez choose the activity," Eric added.
"Well, as long as it's nothing fruity or weird, I'm in," Hyde told them.
"So Hyde," Eric said shifting topics, "any thoughts on how you're going to get Jackie back?"
"Ahem, nada one man," Hyde said as he cleared his throat. "I've tried to explain and apologize to her, but she won't have it."
"Well, to be fair Hyde, you did mess up big time," Donna frankly told him. "And it's going to take her awhile to get over it. I mean, if Eric ever cheated on me. . ."
Hyde laughed. Eric looked at him insulted. "What? You don't think I'm capable of it? Kelso's not the only one in the gang with a hot bod. There's plenty o' ladies out there drooling over me."
"Yeah, keep dreaming the dream, Forman," Hyde chided him.
Donna rolled her eyes. "Anyway, I'd be upset too. Just let her calm down. She'll come around."
"Yeah, I know," he sighed as he squeezed the bridge of his nose, thinking back to two nights ago in the hospital when she came running in to see him. She tried to be zen, but the fact remained—she still loved him. "It's just frustrating because I'd take it back if I could."
"She still. . ." Donna began but she stopped because Jackie had walked in with a few cheerleader friends after school. She smiled over to Donna and gave Steven the cold shoulder as they walked over to a nearby table to sit ignoring them, or rather him. Through his shades, Hyde kept a vigilant watch over Jackie; which was probably why he didn't notice Kelso and Fez join the table as he was lost in a Jackie trance.
Saddling up to the table, Kelso greeted the gang. "Hey guys what's going on?"
"I'm being deported, that's what's going on," Fez glumly stated with a slight annoyed glare.
"Dude, like we all know that," Kelso said with a roll of his eyes.
"And we feel really bad for you, Fez," Eric jumped in.
"So in honor of us all graduating before you leave and Eric and I move to Madison," Donna added, "we decided we want to do something special together before graduation."
"Wow, I don't know what to say," Fez said honored that his friends did care. "What are we doing?"
"Well, we thought we'd let you decide that," Eric answered.
"Oh, there's so much I want to do in America yet," he responded.
"Well Fez," Hyde said after he finally awoke from his Jackie trance, "we're kinda limited on time and funds, so your choices are too."
"I see," Fez replied slowly as it sunk in and he began to think.
"So, just pick something you've never experienced or done before," Kelso suggested. "Like falling off the water tower for instance."
"Kelso man, that's your hobby," Hyde remarked with a raised eyebrow.
"Yeah, and I don't think Fez wants to experience something like that," Eric added backing Hyde up. "I mean you're still sporting your sprained wrist from your fall the other night."
"Yeah, that was a good fall to end my school career with," Kelso replied thoughtfully.
"Whatever Kelso," Donna said rolling her eyes in antipathy. "So Fez have you thought of anything?"
"Well, I've never gone camping," he said thoughtfully.
"Hey, that's perfect because I haven't been in ages," she replied.
"And we can do it the night before graduation," Eric suggested.
"Sounds good to me man," Hyde nodded in approval.
"Ooh! I can bring my guitar and play some songs around the campfire!" Kelso exclaimed in excitement.
"Oh boy!" Hyde sarcastically faked enthusiasm as Donna and Eric shared an understanding smirk while Fez missed the sarcasm smiling broadly.
"Or better yet Kelso, you could bring some explosives and blow yourself up," Eric added with his own touch of a sarcastic remark. Donna and Hyde nodded in agreement.
"No, because then we'll be stuck in the hospital all night and what fun is that?" questioned Fez. "No fireworks."
"But Fez. . ." said Kelso as he didn't see anything wrong with the explosives idea.
"I said no fireworks!" Fez shouted back.
"Fine," Kelso heavily sighed in defeat.
"Well guys, I'd love to stay and plan the camp out, but we need to get back and pack some more," Eric informed the guys as he slung an arm over Donna's shoulders.
"So plan on bringing your sleeping bag, pillow, tent, and any other camping supplies you might have," Donna told them.
"I'll bring my supply," Hyde announced with a waggle of his eyebrows and a smirk to match.
"Oh, and Donna, make sure you tell Jackie about it," Fez instructed her.
"Wait, devil woman's coming too?" questioned Eric while Donna shoved him hard.
"Why not?" retorted Fez. "She is a part of our group, is she not?"
"Don't worry Fez, I'll tell her," Donna told him with a small smile.
"Good," Fez said satisfied. Then looking at Kelso and Hyde, he pointed at them as he spoke. "And no monkey business from you two over her either."
"Yeah okay Fez, only we're not monkeys," Kelso remarked as he knitted his brow.
Hyde merely stared at his common sense-free friend in amazement. "They seriously found nothing in your head? That's absolutely amazing, Kelso."
"I know!" he agreed while Donna, Eric, and Fez snickered.
"Well Fez, ahem, you don't have to worry about me," Hyde informed his foreign friend. "Just as long as Kelso stays clear of me and Jackie, we'll be just fine."
"Then maybe you better steer clear of me and Jackie, Hyde," Kelso challenged, "cos she likes my hot bod over your grimy one."
Fuming and ready to kick his ass, Hyde gave him the death stare. But before Hyde could retaliate, Donna jumped in quickly noticing where this would lead to if someone didn't step in pronto. "Kelso, you just reminded me of something."
"What's that?" he asked her as he glared back at Hyde.
"This," she merely stated as she began a blitzkrieg of froggings on him.
"Damn! Donna! Ow! That! Hurts!" he shouted as he rose from his seat. "What the hell was that for?!"
"For being the king of all stupidity, you stupid dillhole!" she fired back, gaining her fire from the other day when she beat on Hyde.
"Well, frogging me like that isn't going to make me any smarter!" Kelso shrieked as he rubbed his forearm.
"You're right; maybe I need to be smacking your head until you knock it off!" she yelled at him, eyes blazing with a green flame after she smacked him upside his head.
"Ooh, Eric, she's getting feisty again," Fez whispered to his friend who only nodded his head in agreement.
"Donna man, he just doesn't get it," Hyde said to her. "The lights are on, but no one's been home for at least ten years."
Eric and Fez laughed and Donna slightly chuckled. "You're right Hyde," she told him, "but Kelso lay off Jackie. She just needs some space right now."
"Fine, but if she needs space then why doesn't she just move out of your room?" Kelso asked, not quite understanding things as he sat back down.
Everyone rolled their eyes in disbelief. "Well on that note, Donna why don't we go and do some more packing," Eric suggested as he stood up from his chair.
"Yeah, let's go before my IQ begins to drop," she agreed as she too stood up from the table. "Catch you guys later!"
"See ya man," Hyde said as Eric and Donna started to leave. Donna took one step forward, turned around and smacked Kelso upside the head—hard. "Damn Donna!" he shrieked as he rubbed the back of his head.
"Sorry Kelso, but that's just a reminder; next time I'm kicking your ass," she told him before turning around again and leaving the Hub.
"Well, that should've left a mark," commented Hyde from his seat.
"Excuse me," a bright-eyed blonde cheerleader from two tables away said, "but could you morons keep it down? We're trying to have a conversation over here. Thanks!" she ended rather snooty.
"Like, omigod, okay!" Hyde said in his cheerleader-like voice as he waved his hands around like one before rolling his eyes. Kelso and Fez snickered.
"Oh, Steven why don't you shove it?" Jackie told him as she crossed her arms over her chest and rolled her eyes.
"Oh, you're acknowledging me now, that's a good start," he said with a tinge of sarcasm.
"Jackie, you really dated that loud mouth?" asked a tall brunette sitting next to her.
Jackie wisely chose not to acknowledge the girl at the moment and focused her energies on Hyde. "Actually I'm not, so whatever."
Hyde chuckled to himself and slightly nodded his head. He had to admit he taught her well; now the young grasshopper was testing the master. "That's cool," he merely replied while Jackie gave him a disgusted look, flipped her hair, and resumed her conversation with her cheerleading friends. Yep, he thought to himself, she obviously wants me.
But Hyde was broken out of his thoughts a moment later when he saw Kelso standing next to the girls' table trying to talk to Jackie while he occasionally talked to the other girls. Jackie ignored him and continued on with her conversation, not helping the glances she gave Steven Hyde. Hyde sat in his chair, fuming once again at Kelso. Shaking his head, Hyde stood up from his chair and walked out of the Hub, too disgusted with things at the moment. Fez watched Hyde go and then shifted his gaze to Kelso with the cheerleaders. "Well, I guess the cheese stands alone. Ay!" he said sadly to himself.
Jackie saw Hyde leave the Hub and had an urge to find him and follow him or talk to him, really anything to get away from the so-called cheerleading friends and Michael Kelso. Sighing in defeat, Jackie rested her chin in her hand and glumly stared at the table knowing that she should talk to Donna instead.
About an hour later, Jackie found Donna packing some things in a box in their shared room. Donna had just sealed the box up when she noticed Jackie entered the room.
"Hey, I didn't know you came in midget," Donna teased her as she grabbed an empty box next to her desk to start packing it.
"Yeah, I just got in," Jackie answered as she dropped her purse on her cot and sank onto Donna's bed. She sighed as she flopped back onto it, her head hitting the mattress.
"So, what's going on?" Donna asked after a moment as she packed some shirts.
"I miss Steven," Jackie admitted quietly.
"So, forgive him and move on," Donna replied.
"It's not that easy, you dumb lumberjack," Jackie scolded her roommate.
"Really?" she questioned Jackie, annoyed that she was called a dumb lumberjack.
"Donna, he needs to be punished for what he did, and he needs to learn to trust me."
"You're right; he does," Donna agreed as she packed a few more shirts into the box. Then she stopped and sat down next to Jackie. "But he's only going to know that if you tell him so. He's no mind-reader, you know."
"Well, he should be," grumbled Jackie.
Donna chuckled. "Whatever. Look, we're all going camping the night before graduation before Fez, Eric, and I leave. We really want you to come cos you know it won't be the same without you."
Jackie crinkled her nose at the thought of camping, but she decided to suck it up for the prosaic reality of her friends. "Alright, count me in. I mean, it'll be the last time we're all together, and it could be fun."
"Yeah, I think so," Donna agreed as she resumed folding some shirts.
"Donna, I just realized something! This is one of the last times we'll share your room," Jackie announced as she sat up on the bed.
"I know. It's weird, isn't it?" Donna stated as she looked around her room.
"Yeah," Jackie answered vaguely. "Huh, I need to start planning how I'll redecorate it."
"What?!"
"Well, once you're gone I'll still be here so," she began but didn't get to finish as Donna took a pillow and whacked her with it. "Aw!" Jackie gasped as she grabbed a pillow and began her own assault on Donna. They continued their pillow fight, swinging pillows back and forth, hitting each other and laughing until they heard someone say, "Ooh, a girls' sexy pillow fight! Now, take off your shirts."
It was Fez. Unfortunately for him, no tops came off; instead he was bombarded with pillows as the girls chased him out of their room. "Ay!" he wailed trying to escape their lightning attacks on him.
The day before graduation found the gang packing up and gathering in the Forman driveway or kitchen, readying for the night's adventure. As Donna, Kelso, and Fez packed a cooler with food and drinks, Hyde and Eric were packing up Kelso's van. As Hyde packed the last thing in, Jackie strode up the driveway with her sleeping bag, pillow, and tent in hand.
"Hey Eric," she greeted him while giving Steven the cold shoulder, "there any room for this?"
"As long as you didn't pack the kitchen sink, princess, sure," he replied as he took the bag and pillow from her.
Taking the tent that she had leaned up against her, Hyde greeted her. "Jackie."
"Steven," she said matching his tone.
"Look, can't we just talk about this?" he asked her.
"No. I don't think there's any point to. You can't trust me, so there's nothing to say," she informed him curtly.
"Jackie, I trust you—" he began to say.
"Ha!" she cackled and scoffed, "yeah, I'll believe that when I see it!" Turning around, she headed for the sanctity of the house.
"Wow, she's one tough cookie," Eric commented as he leaned against the van.
"Tell me something I don't know," Hyde shot back.
"Well," Eric said rising to the challenge, "Kelso's trying to woo her with an apple."
"What?" Hyde questioned as he turned around and followed Eric's gaze through the glass sliding door. Sure enough, inside the kitchen he saw Kelso holding a red apple in front of Jackie, sporting off his trademark goofy yet charming smile. "He's about to be all red and bruised," grumbled Hyde as his hands curled into tight fists.
Eric smirked. "You're jealous," he realized aloud.
Silence filled the air between them. "No I'm not," replied Hyde as he tried to sound indifferent.
"Yeah, you are man. That's what's bothered you this whole time," Eric continued.
"I'm not jealous, Forman," Hyde bluntly told his friend through gritted teeth. "I just don't trust Kelso."
"When it comes to Jackie," Eric remarked. Then his face lit up once more as another realization dawned on him. "You're scared! Omigod! You do have a heart! You have feelings for Darth Vader!"
Hyde frogged Eric. "I'm not scared! And quit calling Jackie 'Darth Vader'!"
"Hyde," Eric chuckled as he rubbed his forearm, "oh Hyde. This makes perfect sense now. You love—"
But Eric couldn't finish his sentence because Hyde frogged him once more. Eric cringed and began rubbing his sore arm again. "Hyde, the truth will set you free."
"Look Pastor Eric," Hyde began but stopped as the others filed out of the house, cooler in toe; as well as Laurie.
"Wait, what do you think you're doing?" Eric asked as he pointed to his sister.
"I'm going camping with you guys," Laurie answered sweetly with a smile.
"What? No. No, you can't come. I . . . I forbid it," Eric told her.
"Well, I say she can," Fez informed his friend.
"What? Why?" questioned Eric as he turned his gaze from his sister to Fez. "Fez, no good will come of this if she goes."
"I said she goes," Fez repeated as he held up a hand to Eric's face.
Sighing in defeat, Eric resigned to live with the fact that his older, devilish sister would be joining them on their camp out.
"Great, slut-zilla is joining in on our fun," Hyde commented as he crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the van.
Laurie made a face at him. "I'm surprised you're graduating, Hyde. I thought you'd have dropped out by now."
"Well, guess you'll have to see it to believe it," he shrugged. "But, you might miss the big event if you transform into your true self."
"And what's that, Frizz boy?" she dared him as she folded her arms across her chest.
"Well, let's just say I wouldn't be surprised if the Loch Ness Monster doesn't appear some time tonight," Hyde answered as he raised an eyebrow; the gang chuckled.
"You probably won't see it if the monster sees your freakishly 'froey locks!" Laurie retorted staring back at him.
"They're not freakishly 'froey you walking VD!" Jackie lashed at her, tired of the banter between her and Hyde. Hyde, somewhat impressed that Jackie burned Laurie in his defense, arched an eyebrow at her.
"Oh, that's right," Laurie sweetly remarked, "you're dating Frizzy 'fro. Can't say I blame you for moving on from Premature Short Round here to Curly Q, that's a big step up for you."
Kelso shrieked, "Ah!"
"Shut up, Kelso!" they both yelled.
The gang got eerily quiet as Jackie and Laurie fired off burns. They looked from one to the other as if it were an endless volley in a tennis match. As the two girls were having a staring contest, Jackie finally broke the silence, "Well, you would know, wouldn't you Laurie? I mean, after infecting the whole state of Wisconsin, the bi-state area, the city of Chicago, and portions of Canada."
Laurie smirked. "Well at least I haven't infected your current conquest," she paused for a moment before pushing the envelope. "Or have I?"
Trying to find her zen, and feeling as though she was failing, Jackie balled her fists at her sides as she narrowed her brows. "Lay off my boyfriend," she gritted through her teeth. The gang stared at her, surprised to hear her call Hyde her boyfriend when they were broken up.
"Dude, wouldn't that be like Laurie seeing Eric naked?" questioned Kelso to Fez, who could only nod his head in awe and agreement.
"Okay, guys! Well, who's ready to go camping?" Eric asked trying to break up the tense vibes. No one moved for a moment; then Laurie shrugged and headed for the van taking shotgun. "I know I am," he answered sarcastically as he followed suit.
"Wow, I thought for sure Jackie was gonna start a cat fight with her again," Kelso said as he headed for the driver's door.
"Kelso, you missed the first one," Donna said as she got in the back.
"So, I had to nurse Laurie back to health," he explained as he got in.
"Whatever," Donna sighed in frustration as she scooted over to sit next to Eric.
Meanwhile, Fez got the cooler in the back end and crawled over the back of the seat to sit next to Donna, leaving Jackie and Hyde alone outside. Steven stared at Jackie trying to find the right words to speak, while Jackie stood still, trying to compose herself. Licking his bottom lip, Hyde quietly tried to reach out to her. "Jackie," he said as he put a hand on her arm.
Jackie recoiled from his touch, and Hyde knew that she wasn't ready for him yet to console her, so he removed his hand and simply said, "We should get in the van."
Nodding her head, Jackie swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat before walking to the open van door and hopped in. Noticing there wasn't room left in the middle, Hyde resided in the back with Jackie, acknowledging the fact that he was still in the doghouse with her. Yet he couldn't help but play two scenes over again in his mind as he watched her through his shades as they left the driveway and headed for their campsite.
Careening around the corner, Jackie spotted Hyde coming out of a hospital room. Gasping she asked, "Steven, are you okay?" with concern written across her face as she grabbed a hold of his wrist.
"Why?" he asked after looking down to her hand on his wrist before she let go.
"Well I heard someone fell off the water tower and I thought it was you and I just—"
"Nah, it was Kelso," he told her. Jackie sighed in relief. "Wait, you came down here because you were worried about me?"
"No I didn't," she lied.
"Cos you still care about me," he said putting the pieces together.
"Uh-uh," she said as she slightly shook her head in denial, trying to play the zen game.
"So I still have a shot with you," he announced as realization clicked on in his mind.
"No, no you don't. I mean, okay I don't know," Jackie told him. Hyde just stared at her somewhat amused. "Steven, stop staring at me or I'll kick you." He continued to stare at her knowing that he nailed it on the head. Frustrated with him, Jackie kicked his shin making Hyde let out a moan as he bent over to grab his leg momentarily. That's when he knew she still cared about him.
Laurie smirked. "Well at least I haven't infected your current conquest." She paused for a moment before pushing the envelope. "Or have I?"
Trying to find her zen, and feeling like she was failing, Jackie balled her fists at her sides as she narrowed her brows. "Lay off my boyfriend," she gritted through her teeth.
One thing was definitely certain; Steven Hyde still had a chance—a very good chance.
Two and half hours later, the gang plus Laurie were sitting around the campfire, talking and reminiscing. The tents were pitched and the sleeping bags lay out while the cooler was broken into for the goodies contained inside. The guys roasted hot dogs and ate them while the girls made s'mores for dessert. As everyone finished eating and sat around the campfire quietly, Kelso pulled out his guitar. Tuning it, Kelso struck a chord and everyone watched him with a leery eye, knowing that he wasn't the best singer out of the group. But then, he did something that surprised everyone.
"Something touched me deep inside,
The day that Hyde lied.
So bye, bye Mr. Steven Hyde,
I'm a hottie and your nottie,
Jackie's gonna be mine.
She likes my brunette locks,
Not your curly ass twine.
Oh, Jackie Burkhart you are so fine."
A mixture of emotions swept through the circle; consideration, thoughtlessness, rage—to name a few. And it only worsened when Kelso opened his mouth again.
"Wrote that just for you, Jackie," he said as he leaned in towards her.
"You didn't write that," Hyde spat out. "You just ripped it off of 'American Pie.'"
The rest of the gang snickered while Kelso merely said, "Na-ah! The 'American Pie' guy ripped me off!"
"Whatever man," Hyde spat as he stood up in the circle. "I'm tired of your crap."
"Well, I'm tired of yours," Kelso bellowed back as he too rose up in the circle.
Jackie, meanwhile, eyed both boys wondering how far this would go.
"Kelso, the only person you dogged was yourself when you left Jackie for California last summer," Hyde frankly told him. "She broke up you and became fair game. So quit blaming me for your mistake."
The rest of the gang stared in awe as the argument unfolded before them.
"Well now Jackie's broken up with you," Kelso pointed out, "and she's fair game again. So nu-ha!"
"Oh yeah? Well I'm not backing down to let some man-whore like you take advantage of her, so heh-heh!"
"Oh yeah?! Well. . ." but Kelso was interrupted before he could say anything else.
"Okay, just stop it both of you!" yelled Jackie as she now stood between the two. Everyone got quiet as all eyes fell on her. "Michael, sit down or your guitar will become kindling!" she ordered him; Kelso obeyed. "Steven," she said with a hint of tenderness, "sit down or your stash will go up in smoke."
Eyeing her for a second, Hyde glared at Kelso before doing as he was told. Jackie too sat down, somewhat exhausted. Fez stood up. "For one night put this twisted triangle behind you!" he shouted at them. "Comprendo?"
"Yeah, I get it," Hyde grumbled from his seat. "But Kelso can stick this triangle up his circle," he quietly said as Fez eyed him.
"Alright fine," Kelso admitted with an eye roll. "I get it too."
With a triumphant smile, Fez remarked, "Good," and then sat back down.
"Well, not that I want to miss out on all the action," Laurie said from her seat in the camp circle, "but I'm gonna go for a dip."
"Uh Laurie," Eric said as she stood up, "he's sitting right over there," he pointed at Kelso.
Laurie rolled her eyes and smirked as she walked past her little brother tousling his hair. "Oh Eric, I think you mean drip," she said oh so sweetly.
"Laurie, Michael is NOT a drip," Jackie said in her ex's defense. "He may be stupid, but he's a sweetheart."
With a smirk now laden across her face, Laurie folded her arms across her chest. "All the ways I love Kelso, let me count them," she taunted her and then laughed. "I always knew you could work an angle, Jackie; I'm just impressed you involved Twiggy and Curly Q."
Jackie glared a death stare at the blonde. "I am NOT working an angle. Michael and Steven have been best friends longer than they've dated me. I never wanted to be in between them."
Kelso and Hyde shared a look before returning their stares at the two girls once more.
"Oh to be the bread in a sensuous Jackie sandwich," Fez dreamily commented before Donna frogged him. "Ay!" he cried in pain as he grabbed his bicep.
"And yet you are," Laurie informed her with an arched eyebrow. "Funny how that happens, huh?"
"Yeah well you would know, wouldn't you Laurie? You're caught in the middle often enough to know how to execute one," Jackie returned.
Making a face at the slim brunette and ignoring her reply, Laurie retorted, "Well apparently their friendship doesn't mean a whole lot until you figure out which one you want."
"I don't have to make a choice," Jackie announced. Eyes popped open wide as saucers around the campfire as the gang registered Jackie's words.
Laurie grimaced. "Why? Cos you can't decide right now? Need the summer to think about it while you work on your tan, little miss Malibu Barbie?"
Jackie's glare turned icy. "No," she simply answered trying to find some kind of zen.
"Really?" questioned Laurie as she eyed her opponent. "You already know who you want, don't you? Why don't you just tell us who it is?"
Jackie looked around at everyone in the circle. Donna gave a small encouraging smile and nod at her while Eric gave a rather confused look to Fez who seemed preoccupied staring at Laurie's body. Kelso and Hyde both sat with arms crossed, staring back at her expectantly awaiting an answer that would make or break them. Looking back to Laurie one last time, Jackie panicked. Turning on her heels, Jackie fled the campfire circle heading for the lake as tears stung her eyes. She just couldn't do it; not with everyone there staring at her like that. It resurfaced that ungodly feeling and moment back in February at Mrs. Forman's father's funeral dinner when she yelled at Annette to "Get off my boyfriend!" What a tangled mess I've weaved, she thought bitterly as she soon reached the lake.
Back at the campfire Laurie shrugged her shoulders after Jackie left. "Huh. Well, I tried to get her to commit to one of you," she commented as she looked at Kelso and Hyde. "But apparently she doesn't want either of you. Oh well!" And then she turned around heading for the lake.
"Hold up, pot stirrer," Eric told his sister as he stood in her way. "Just where do you think you're going?"
"Down to the lake, Eric," she replied coolly. "There's a rope swing down there with my name on it and I intend to ride it all night." And with that, she left as Eric sat down feeling defeated like Charlie Brown.
Oh, she's going to ride it all night, old boy! Fez thought to himself as a perverted smile slowly graced his face. I bet she'll do it topless too. Get down there! And if she likes what she sees, perhaps she'll want to ride you instead. "I'm going to get boobs!" he announced aloud as he stood up.
The rest of the gang gave Fez odd looks. Realizing he just said that aloud, Fez tried to smooth over his blunder. "I mean. . .I mean, let's go swimming." Scanning the four faces and seeing roughly the same expressions, Fez quickly left them for the lake.
Thinking about it for a second, Kelso liked Fez's idea and announced, "Wait; if Jackie and Laurie are both skinny dipping down at the lake then I'm missing out on some action!" Quickly scrambling to his feet, Kelso raced down towards the lake. "Don't start the cat fight until I get there!" he cried. Hyde merely tensed and froze, trying not to open up his can of whoop ass on Kelso and remain zen.
Eric and Donna shook their heads and laughed at Kelso, but quickly stopped when they felt Hyde's cold hard glare on them. Eric whispered to Donna, "You take Jackie and I'll take Hyde." Eric started to get up only to find himself shoved back down in his seat.
"No way, Eric," Donna whispered back. "I get Hyde, you get Jackie."
"Fine, I'll rock, paper, scissors you for Hyde," Eric compromised.
"Fine," she replied. "Two out of three wins."
Fists soon in hands they quickly pounded thrice times revealing paper for Eric and scissors for Donna. Pounding again resulted in rock for Eric and scissors for Donna. Now they were tied; it was a win or lose crunch time. Pounding for the third time, Eric chose scissors while Donna chose rock. Crushed like his scissors, Eric rose from his seat. "I'll go, but know this—no campfire under the stars nookie for you, missy."
Donna merely laughed at him as he walked away in search of Jackie. Facing her daunting task, she looked over to Hyde. "Never a dull moment with these morons, huh?" she said trying to break the ice.
"Whatever Donna," he replied with zen.
"Don't start that 'whatever' crap with me, Hyde," she informed him.
"Look, its obvious Jackie doesn't want to do anything about it, so why should I?"
"Because if you really care for her, like I know you do, then you better start fighting for her."
"Fighting for her? Hell, she doesn't even want to talk or listen to me for that matter."
"That's because she's just as stubborn as you are," Donna frankly told him. "And if you want her back you're gonna have to trust her."
"Trust her? I do trust her; it's Kelso I don't trust."
"And rightly so," she agreed, "but you gotta learn to trust her if you want her back, Hyde."
"And just how the hell am I suppose to do that when she'd rather not be anywhere near me?"
"Hyde, if you really trust her, give her some space and let her come to you when she's ready. Only let her know that you're gonna do that. Last thing I need is for her to think you're dating some leather jacket chick," Donna advised.
"Donna, you mean if I let her go she'll come back to me?" Hyde asked looking at Donna.
"Yeah," she answered with a sad smile.
"What a load of crap!" Hyde spat dejectedly.
"Hyde, it isn't crap," Donna scolded him. "It's proving to her your trust. Showing her that you trust her even though you can't stand to be parted from her. . .because you love her."
Hyde huffed, "Whatever Donna man."
Donna laughed. "Oh, just admit it. We all know you do. It's not like it's a secret or anything. I've seen how you look at her and touch her and hold her."
Hyde scrunched his face up in annoyance. "Fine, maybe I do. But the fact still remains that we're broken up."
Donna rolled her eyes and sighed. "Hyde, I'm telling you if you really want Jackie back, you gotta give her some space and trust that she'll come back to you."
Hyde sighed. "Alright, fine. I'll try. But if this crackpot plan of yours doesn't work, I'm beating up your boy geek."
Donna nodded her head in compliance. "Sounds fair."
"So Big D, you ready to move into that tiny apartment in Madison with Forman?"
"Yeah, I think so," she answered him. "I mean, we're not getting married right away or anything. . .we've got plenty of time before that happens. But I think this will be a good thing for both of us. See if we're really ready, y'know?"
"Yeah, I think I know what you're saying."
Donna gave a lop-sided smile. "Yeah, I'm excited about it. You guys will have to come up and visit us a lot."
Hyde nodded in agreement. "And I'll always bring a 'housewarming present' too."
Donna laughed; "Good to know, Hyde." They shared a laugh and continued to talk.
Meanwhile, Eric found Jackie sitting down near the lake staring out at it. Hesitantly, he approached her. Mere feet away from her, he saw someone else approach her. Hanging back for a moment, Eric couldn't believe it when he saw his sister sit down next to Jackie.
"Jackie, look I'm sorry if I shoved you out in the spotlight back there," Laurie apologized, "but don't you think the charades needs to end?"
Jackie sniffed as she wiped some tears off her face. "I'm not playing any charades with them, Laurie. And why do you care anyway? Still after Kelso? Cos if you are, you can gladly have him."
"God no!" Laurie scoffed. "That twig in the pants? I mean, a year ago, yeah sure, but now I've grown and learned." She paused for a moment as Jackie silently chuckled. "So, what's the deal with you and orphan boy?"
Jackie rolled her eyes in annoyance before letting out a small breath. "Well, if you must know, we had a good thing going since getting together last summer. But then he cheated on me with some skanky nurse all because of Michael."
"So, Kelso's the monkey wrench in all of this?" Laurie asked as she rested a cheek on her knees and looked at Jackie.
"Basically, yeah," Jackie answered as she slowly looked over to Laurie.
"Huh," Laurie sighed thoughtfully.
Eric, meanwhile, in the shadows couldn't believe his eyes as he watched Darth Vader and the Emperor sitting having a casual non-shouting, non-burning conversation. He almost felt like a Rebel spy who stumbled upon a secret meeting of the evil kind.
"Jackie, y'know you're gonna have to tell Kelso it's over for good, right?" questioned Laurie after a moment.
Jackie sighed. "I know, but I just want Steven to suffer a little, y'know?"
Laurie stifled a snicker. "Oh, so you are working an angle—a payback one. Nice."
Now it was Jackie's turn to stifle one. "Something like that," she muttered.
"Well, I may not know Hyde very well, but I can tell you don't screw it up. Guys like him can run hot and cold," Laurie told her. "Maybe you'd be better off talking to 'Ohtobe A Geekboy.'"
Jackie laughed. "Yeah, like your geeky brother would know anything outside of Star Wars."
"Hey, I resent and resemble that remark," Eric cried as he emerged from the shadows and stood a few feet away from them.
"Yeah you would," sneered Laurie.
"Well, just so you know, I have two extremely horny friends dying to get a good look at you," he informed his sister before muttering to himself or Jackie, "why I don't really want to know," then turning his volume back up and adding to Laurie, "so why don't you go find them and give them a show?"
"What? And miss out on the expert advise you're about to give the midget, I think not," she flatly told him.
"Fine," Eric said flatly, "I'll give you twenty bucks if you'll go away."
"Well, I'd hate to disappoint the troops," she said with a smirk.
Making a face back at her, Eric calmly stated as he dug in his pocket for his wallet and pulled out a twenty, "Yeah, that's more than I wanted to hear."
Laurie stuck her tongue out at her brother before walking away. "Then I guess you better find something to stuff your ears with later if you don't want to hear anything else!"
"Ugh!" Eric moaned in disgust as he shoved his wallet back in his pocket.
"Okay, can we not talk about the horn dogs and Laurie for a moment?" Jackie's voice broke in, in disgust. "Let's focus here, Eric."
"Yeah," he agreed as he sat down next to her, "sorry about that."
"Eric, what am I suppose to do with Steven?" Jackie asked in a quiet voice.
Eric sighed; as long as he's known Hyde, and that was a good ten years to be sure, he'd never seen him show such concern and care for someone. "Jackie," he said softly, "you gotta understand Hyde. You know he's never been good with showing or dealing with his emotions. I mean, his home life was disastrous before he started living with me and my folks. His dad left when he was eight and his mom treated him like crap before she left too. He's learned to bottle things up inside. And when you two began your . . . thing . . . it really shook him up inside, y'know? He trusts you, Jackie, really he does. He wouldn't have let you get so close to him if he didn't."
"I know, Eric," Jackie admitted, "but why did he have to cheat on me?"
"Because Kelso's a threat to him," he simply replied. "Look, I know you just want to be Kelso's friend, but you gotta make that line clear to both of them. Granted, I know, it'll be a lot harder to get Kelso to comprehend that, but the sooner you do that the sooner Hyde will understand and trust you again."
"He doesn't trust me anymore?" she asked as her eyes widened in fear.
Wanting to slam his head into a brick wall for saying that, Eric sighed. "I think he does, but I think he'd trust you even more if you draw the line for Kelso."
"Huh," she muttered. "I never thought about that. I just thought that Steven and Michael were at an understanding with things, and that Michael knew we were over for good."
Eric chuckled. "Yeah, never underestimate a Kelso."
Jackie snickered. "Yeah, you're right. So, now what?"
"Now?" questioned Eric. "Now, just talk to Hyde. Let him know what you're thinking."
Jackie gave a small thoughtful nod. "Eric, thank you."
Eric gave a small lop-sided smile and a shrug. "Eh, it was nothing."
"No, it wasn't nothing," Jackie disagreed with him. "It was something."
Barely nodding his head in agreement, Eric was taken aback when he felt Jackie's lips lightly graze his cheek. Eyes as round as Frisbees, Eric's body shook like he was freezing in a winter blizzard. "Okay, yeah, um, let's not have that happen again."
Jackie rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Eric, trust me when I say I have no interest in you whatsoever. It was just a little 'thank you for your help' peck on the cheek."
"Well noted," he said as he slowly nodded his head, "but I just wanted it on the record in case Hyde or Donna ever heard about it or saw it. I don't need Hyde kicking my ass over you too."
Jackie laughed—a good hearty laugh. "Trust me, you don't ever have to worry about that."
"Good!"
They laughed for a moment. "Well, you wanna head back to the campfire?" he asked after their laughter settled down.
"Na, I'm good," Jackie replied. "I'm just gonna sit here a little longer. I'll come up later."
"Okay," Eric replied with a shrug as he stood up.
"Thanks again for the advice Eric," Jackie thanked him.
"Don't mention it," he waved. "No, really . . . don't," he teased. Jackie rolled her eyes yet again while cracking a grin and Eric turned to head back to camp.
Meanwhile, Laurie had reached her destination by the lake—the old familiar rope swing. A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth as memories from her graduation night came to mind. Taking off her jacket and tossing it to the side, she glanced around before shedding the rest of her clothes and running over to the swing. Grabbing hold of the rope, she ran it back a few paces before taking off in a run and leap. Just as the rope swing swung over the lake water, Laurie let go and plunged into the cold water. Resurfacing, Laurie let out a gasp and a yelp from the coldness. But it wasn't until after she flung her hair back out of her face and wiped off the excess water from her face that she saw Fez standing on the shore watching her. Keeping her chest just under the water surface, Laurie stared at him for a second before asking, "Fez, what are you doing over there?"
Ay! What do I do? Fez asked himself in his mind. "Uh, I just uh came to see the rope swing." Ah, good answer, old boy!
"Well, it works better when you use it," Laurie informed him as she treaded water.
"Oh . . . well, if you think so," Fez stumbled on the words.
Laurie giggled. "And it works best if you take off your clothes," she informed him.
Fez gulped. Okay, this is it Fez. It's now or never. Turn on the charm; show her how sexy you are. "Well, if it's best that way, I'm in."
Laurie continued to tread water floating once in a while as she watched Fez fumble with his zipper and shirt. Once Fez was nude, he hurried over to the swing, grabbed a hold of the rope and nervously looked out into the water. Laurie swam out of the way, letting Fez know that he could jump in when he was ready. Taking a running start, Fez clung to the rope as it drifted over the water; just before it began its swing back to shore, Fez let go of the rope and plunged into the dark water. Surfacing and beginning to tread water, he cried, "Ay caramba! It's cold!"
Laurie laughed. "Well, what did you except? It's not a hot spring, y'know."
"Oh sure, laugh all you want you whore!" Fez spat at her.
"I am NOT a whore!" Laurie retorted with a shout.
"I said whore!" Fez returned with his trademark hand gesture.
"Ah!" gasped Laurie before she sent a big splash of water in his direction.
Receiving the splash, Fez wiped his face off before splashing her back. Splashing back, Laurie and Fez soon started a water fight between them and water and cries of surprise were the only noises coming from the lake. As they splashed each other, they slowly inched closer to one another and before they knew it they were within reach of each other. Then they began to dunk one another underneath the cold dark lake water. In the heat of the moment, their eyes met, stopping their bodies from attacking the other. Then in the blink of an eye, they lunged towards each other and in a searing kiss, they began furiously making out in the lake. Somehow they floated close to shore. Breaking the heated passion and lust that they suddenly had for one another, Laurie breathily said, "Fez, let's head for the van; it'll be easier that way."
"Whatever you say, baby," he replied.
Quickly sealing the deal with another searing kiss, they stumbled out of the lake and onto the shore where they managed to find their clothes, throwing a few items on before making a bee line for the van.
Back at the campsite, Eric found Donna and Hyde sharing a laugh. Joining them around the campfire, Hyde asked, "Where's Jackie?"
"Oh, she's still sitting by the lake," Eric replied. "She wanted to sit out there for a little bit yet. She said she'd come back here before long."
"Huh," Hyde grunted.
"Man, she just has some things to think about, y'know?" Eric told his best friend.
"Yeah, I know," Hyde nodded. "Hey, so uh, where's Kelso?"
"Who knows," Eric shrugged. "Probably somewhere off whoring it with my sister. Man, I had to pay her twenty bucks to leave and entertain Fez and Kelso."
"Wait, you paid her?" questioned Donna.
"Man, isn't that like prostitution or something?" questioned Hyde.
"I don't know, whatever," Eric shrugged. "It got her to leave and distract the other two."
"Well, it doesn't take much for her," muttered Donna.
Hyde snickered. "Man, ain't that the truth."
Just then a high pitched shriek was heard coming from the lake.
"Dude, what was that?" asked Eric as the three looked around at each other.
"The Lady of the Lake," Donna answered with a serious look on her face. Eric and Hyde each raised an eyebrow at her. "Kidding!" she cried as they silently pondered the source of the sound.
"Jackie," Hyde mumbled. Eric and Donna shared a look just as Hyde stood up and rushed towards the lake; they quickly followed.
Running through the woods on the dimly lit path that lead to the lake, Hyde was just a few yards away when he ran into something . . . or rather someone. Knocking both of them down, he heard someone cry, "Ow! Oh great! Now my jeans are all dirty!"
"Jackie?" Hyde questioned just as Donna and Eric caught up with him.
"Steven?" Jackie questioned in turn.
"What are you doing here?" they asked each other.
"I heard a noise," they answered simultaneously.
Standing up, Hyde extended a hand to Jackie to help her up. "You okay?"
"Yeah, sure; whatever," she replied as she let him help her up and dusted off her bottom. Hyde stared at her. Feeling his eyes on her, Jackie couldn't help but stare back at him.
"Jackie, do you know where the noise came from?" asked Donna while Jackie and Hyde continued to stare at each other.
"Uh-uh," Jackie managed to mumble. Breaking her stare from Steven, she turned her gaze to Donna and answered, "But it was high-pitched and coming somewhere from the lake. I thought I'd head back to camp when I ran into Steven."
"Have you seen Kelso about?" Eric asked now curious as to what happened to their brainless friend.
"Last I saw of him was back at the camp," she returned.
"Well, let's head back to camp, maybe he'll return there," Donna suggested.
"Yeah, Kelso's kinda like a boomerang; you can throw him as far away from you as you can, but he always returns," Hyde chided. The others chuckled.
Eric wrapped an arm around Donna as they led the way back to camp. Hyde ushered for Jackie to walk in front of him, but she declined, opting to walk beside him. The walk back was a quiet one; Eric and Donna nuzzled and cuddled as they walked ahead of Jackie and Hyde while the latter couple merely scrunched up their noses in disgust, secretly wishing they could be doing that too.
Just as the campsite came into view, a twig snapped somewhere in the darkness of the woods, and instinctively Jackie grabbed Steven's hand with both of hers in sheer fear of what was out there in the unknown darkness. Hyde couldn't help the small smile that graced his face when she made contact with him. He smiled at her and squeezed her hand letting her know that things were going to be okay. Sharing the smile he gave her, Jackie felt better knowing that he would protect her from whatever it was.
As they all walked into camp, Eric and Donna plopped down into their seats and continued to cuddle, oblivious to Jackie and Hyde's existence. Letting go and dropping their hands, Jackie and Hyde opted to sit as far away from Forman and Pinciotti in hopes that they wouldn't have to witness anything as they sat next to one another silently. Exhaling deeply, Jackie stared at the campfire before saying, "Steven, let me just say—"
"Dude, did you hear that?!" bellowed a half naked Kelso as he raced into camp. "It was the Lady of the Lake!"
Breaking the spell for Eric and Donna and Jackie and Hyde, they each turned to look upon Kelso. "Man, where's your pants?" asked Eric as he indicated the lack there of.
"Back down by the lake where I took them off," Kelso answered with an eye roll. "I was hoping to find Laurie or Jackie down there—OW!"
Jackie had smacked Kelso in the stomach hard. "Michael, I wouldn't go skinny dipping with you if you were the last man on Earth!"
Hyde chuckled. Maybe Donna was right.
"Well, damn Jackie! A guy can dream or be lucky!" Kelso returned.
Rolling her eyes, Jackie uttered, "Whatever."
"Hey, where's Fez and Laurie?" asked Donna as she looked around the campfire and noticed they were missing.
The other four looked around and realized they weren't in attendance. "Maybe they're down at the lake," suggested Hyde.
"Yeah, maybe Fez is doing it with Eric's sister," Kelso laughed; the others except for Eric did too.
"Okay, that's gross and I don't need the mental pictures of that either, thanks," Eric flatly told them.
"Oh hey, what if the scream we heard was Laurie because she and Fez are doing it in the lake?" teased Kelso.
Eric frogged Kelso and made a face. "Yeah, I didn't need to know that, Kelso."
"Nah man, that was Fez because Laurie did something freaky as they're doing it," corrected Hyde as he joined in on the teasing.
"Yeah, okay I've been completely disgusted. I'm going to bed in hopes that I'll lose these disturbing images you munch bunches put into my mind," Eric stated as he headed for his tent.
"Oh great! Now I have to listen to him lament about it instead of going to sleep!" Donna cried before smacking each of the boys upside the head. Heading for Eric's tent, Donna said good night to Jackie before entering his tent.
As the square became a triangle, Jackie decided it was best if she removed herself from any other awkwardness for the night. "I'm turning in too. Night guys," she told them as she left the campfire and headed for her tent.
Noticing there was one tent left; Hyde quickly rose from his seat and stated, "Well, I'm hitting the sack too. Have fun sleeping out here with the Lady of the Lake, Kelso."
Looking around him as Hyde departed for the last tent, Kelso sighed, "Ah man!" and then resigned to taking the sleeping bag left for him. Pulling it close to the fire, Kelso slipped inside. Closing his eyes and trying to fall asleep, he heard a twig snap in the distance. Blinking his eyes open in fear, Kelso softly cried, "Jackie?"
"Good night, Michael," Jackie answered.
"Hyde?" he cried in a soft scared voice.
"I don't think so, Kelso," Hyde answered.
"Donna? Eric?"
"Night Kelso," they answered.
"Ah man! She screams then kills!" he whispered to himself as he snuggled inside his sleeping bag throwing the cover over his head in hopes nothing would reach out and get him in the night.
As the night quietly settled down in camp, things also settled down in the back of Kelso's van. Lying on their backs with sheets wrapped around or covering them, Laurie and Fez lay contemplating what just transpired as they stared up through the opening of the roof at the stars.
"So, was it as good for you as it was for me?" Fez asked her.
"Eh, it was okay," Laurie answered unenthused.
"Hey, that's good enough for me," Fez replied with a satisfied smile.
After a moment, Laurie asked, "So, you're really being deported tomorrow after graduation?"
"Yes," Fez sadly answered. "I wish there was something I could do to stay here."
Laurie nodded her head sadly. A moment passed when an idea came to Laurie. "Well, there is something that we can do."
"Didn't we just do it?" asked Fez slightly confused.
"No, not that," she said with a roll of the eyes. "I mean, we could get married that way you can stay here and don't have to return to wherever it is that you came from."
Puzzled by this, Fez asked, "You mean, if we get married I can stay?"
"Uh-huh," Laurie nodded.
"And you're willing to do this for me?" he asked.
"Sure," she replied. "Why not? I'm just helping a friend in need, and I've got nothing better going on."
"Well, then sign me up!" Fez excitedly cheered. "And get me to the church on time!"
Laurie snickered. "We'll have to leave early tomorrow morning and get to the courthouse."
"Courthouse? I thought you have to get married in a church here," he questioned her.
"Not always," she returned. "Either way it's legal; if you're legally married to an American, then you're an American."
"Thank you American woman," Fez said excitedly. "Now, shall we do it again? I do have other needs besides becoming an American, y'know."
Laurie's eyes widened in shock; "Uh, let's just sleep on it. Maybe I'll be up to it in the morning before we leave."
"Hey, whatever you say, my soon to be lovely wife," Fez shrugged as he smiled up at the night sky. This was definitely his lucky night to be alive.
AN: "School's Out" is Alice Cooper's 1972 song from the album of the same name track #1. Some questions you may be asking right now: Will the gang find Laurie and Fez? Will Kelso retrieve his pants? Can the gang make it to graduation on time? Will Kitty Forman get her graduation picture? Can Jackie and Hyde find a moment where they can talk? What will Red say if he finds out about Laurie and Fez? Will Donna and Eric leave Point Place? The answers to these questions will be revealed in the next installment(s). Per usual, thanks for reading! Now, don't forget to review!