Catfight
If Jackie wanted to count how many times kelso cheated on her, she would need all of her fingers and toes, as well as all of fez's and half of Hyde's. And those were just the ones she knew about.
Recently she had been bent out of joint due to the newest addition to the 'girls who slept with Michael' club.
Lorie.
The name itself boiled under her skin.
Yea Lorie was pretty but she was about as nice of the spawn of the Grinch and Satan himself. Without the part where the Grinch saves the elf or whatever.
So when she was sitting in the basement playing a board game with Hyde and fez, and Lorie walked in with her hair messier than usual, and the shoulder of her now stretched cropped t shirt was stretched and had slipped, exposing her entire shoulder.
She wasn't wearing a bra.
She squinted at kelso, he didn't live here. Lorie didn't even sleep here half the time, so they were trying to piss her off.
She watched as kelso wiped sweat off of his head and let his hand fall to his side. A red bra strap was trailing from his pocket, almost like the more embarrassing toilet paper trail that he usually had.
After a small spat, Lorie marched upstairs. She had a victory in the brief exchange of insults, and proudly kissed kelso after her win.
It was a reminder, Lorie was queen bee, and she could never fight back. She was sure that her insults made her sound like a petulant child. Your hair is stupid, your feet are stupid, your face is stupid, and you're stupid. Her insults where stupid.
She tossed her cards down onto the coffee table and leaned back into the comfort of the worn couch.
"There goes whore-e Lorie."
Fez shook his head. Jackie didn't look at Hyde, but she could practically feel his brain moving. Or whatever was left of it- she knew what happened in the circle.
While she was pondering the group's use of drugs, Hyde was forming a plan. He needed to get kelso in trouble with red. Hyde needed revenge.
Last week kelso had stolen part of the stash and used it, without anyone in the circle to stop-or encourage his actions, he almost smoked right in front of red. Kelso had almost gotten him caught. It also didn't help that while high he was rambling on about how Hyde was sentimental, and had kept all of his soul mate letters in a box in his room.
Since he moved in with the Forman's, which he couldn't explain, it made him feel loved, that they would give up some of their own comfort for him.
However, his room, adjacent to the basement, was always in danger of prying eyes.
If he could get kelso to try to show off in front of Jackie, then there was a chance that kelso would get caught by red.
He tried to count the number of ways and speed someone's foot could go up another's ass.
The only problem with the plan was Jackie. Not all of her insults landed or even affected Lorie, and if she just walked away there was a chance that red wouldn't see them.
He was going to teach her how to be Zen.
About an hour later, Hyde was sitting on the icebox and Jackie was slouched back on the couch, complaining about Lorie.
"Jackie-you should learn how to be Zen"
"You can't just make up words Hyde."
:)
"Jackie lets practice." She nodded her head "your ugly"
"Whatever."
"Don't you want to fight back with some lame ass comeback?" Hyde did his best Lorie impression.
"I'm cool."
He had taught her how to be Zen. And he was excited to see the results later tomorrow evening. Tonight he was going to the concert.
It was only five and the concert officially started at twelve, but he needed sleep. He excused himself and walked towards his room.
Jackie waited, she heard the squeak of his bed until she jumped up and sprinted out.
:)
She wasn't prepared for what happened when she got home. Her dad, still in New York, and her mom throwing the glass flutes for champagne against the wall.
She watched in horror as her mother wiped around.
Bloodshot eyes.
She recognized pam. But she wasn't the same as last time.
She looked unhealthily skinny. Except for in her chest area, which seamed to have doubled in size.
But the fear that struck her to her core, more than anything she was about too reactive, was that there was no recognition in her eyes.
No relief to see her daughter safe or just in general.
Her mom wasn't just drunk. She was on something.
No recognition.
Not when she lunged at her own daughter.
Not when she slammed her nose.
Or when she punched her in the eye.
Or the gut.
Or the neck.
And she couldn't fight back.
Even if she was not she daughter, that was still her mom.
She wasn't going to swing on her mom.
She was emotionally paralyzed.
Her mother slapped her across the face and she finally regained control of her legs as she sprinted out of the house, shutting the door behind her.
She dashed up the rose wall but stayed on the roof.
She heard the body of pam Burkhart slump to the ground beneath her.
Once she knew she could enter, she locked her bedroom door.
She looked in the mirror.
Her lip was busted open and she had a cut about an inch long through the eyebrow. Her mothers ring.
Her nose looked sort of funny and it was oozing blood.
A red circle was forming around her right eye.
She had a giant red hand mark on the apposing cheek.
As well as an already black bruise on her neck.
She looked in her closet.
Black turtleneck, she was sure that the crowd would appreciate its fit.
She pulled out a pair of pants, flowery patterns and loose bell-bottoms.
She did her make up, applying light pink lipstick and putting on a pair of sunglasses that resembled Hyde's.
She went to her closet to get her guitar but her heart broke at what she saw.
Two halves of what made her feel so whole.
Clothes were thrown everywhere but it was clear what the initial goal of the search was.
Pam hated any music that wasn't played by a live banned, had to cost over three thousand, and could only play smooth jazz.
Before she had left for one of her vacations her mother instructed that the guitar be burnt in an evening fire.
That must have been what sent her off. She was sure she already had drugs in her system, and saw one of her father's records reminding her of the guitar.
Smashing things and drinking must have gone hand and hand.
Record, drink. Guitar, drink. Family pictures, drink. Champagne glasses drink. Her daughter, drink.
She couldn't take it anymore. She grabbed a duffel bag that had been thrown out of her closet. It was a big one.
Seven shirts, seven pairs of paints. Pencil, paper. Her songbook. Hairbrush, toothbrush toothpaste. Deodorant. A throw pillow and a throw blanket.
She turned to see if she was forgetting something and quickly pulled out an old violin case that she kept all of her soul mate perofanalia in.
And then she ran.
:)
He woke up to go meet someone.
His dealer more specifically.
Going to the concerts in the alley was a lot more fun high.
Especially since he refused to drink in front of the mysterious mystery girl.
If she didn't drink- he wasn't going to either. At least not in front of her.
He turned the bend and saw Marty sitting in the corner. He was funny. He didn't get high.
Hyde knew it for a fact; he wasn't really a dealer either.
He had been sent as a messenger slash delivery boy for Eugene.
After the Jackie incident- he refused to speak to that man.
He took the bag from Marty's hands and handed him the money.
Marty looked into his eyes and barley audible words slipped from his mouth.
"Run" Hyde turned quickly, quick enough to see Eugene lunge at him. But not quick enough to stop the knife from slicing across his cheek.
He ran. He ran quickly. Eugene was in no shape to catch Hyde. It was eleven forty five. He turned the corner.
He could have gone to the foreman's.
But Christmas was coming up and there wouldn't be another concert for two weeks.
He couldn't miss it.
:)
As soon as she got to school of rock, she locked the door and went to the old-fashioned phone booth, cherry red with curtains for privacy, and dialed Danny's number.
She heard the click and immediately started talking.
"Hey Danny, its Jackie"
"What's up kiddo?"
"Um, I was wondering if I could stay here for a couple nights. Pam's back"
"That bitch. Didn't you say she wasn't coming back this time?"
"She wasn't supposed to be. "
"Alright. Set up camp in your sound room. Ill stop at the grocery store to stock your fridge, and ill order extra pizza tonight."
"Thank you Danny! I owe you one."
"You owe me nothing. Let me know if there's anything else you need."
"Not right now-but I wont be able to preform tonight."
"What? Why. You've been drawing a big crowd lately. And everyone's coming before break tonight."
"Uh… I don't really have a guitar anymore."
"Not a problem. I have like nine electrics in the backroom."
"I haven't really used those before…"
"Yeah you have. I wasn't going to say anything but a couple weeks ago all of the guitars were a lot cleaner than usual. And I know you. Your musical talents wouldn't let you just clean a guitar. You'd want to play it."
After about five more minutes, she was sitting in her sound room.
She carefully scanned it. Under the big desk there was a pillow and a throw blanket.
Her close were hung on an empty guitar rack, where her guitar used to live.
She had left all of her necessities out on the table and was currently sitting in a cushy swivel chair with a white electric guitar with red trimming.
She tried to think of a song to play and a few came to mind. By the time she had chosen one she needed to set up the stage.
:)
Seeing her had made him want to be in a relationship.
Like a real one.
Not that he would ever have one of those. He was poor. There would never be candle lit dinners at fancy restaurants or long weekends away from point place.
But he didn't even want that. She seamed to have a taste similar to his, and he would like to listen to music in his bedroom or sit in the basement together, share fries at the hub.
And tonight as he walked in he saw her talking to a blonde Adonis, his hair flowing and tan, even if it was winter, evident. He felt a pang somewhere in his stomach. He stared at her. He decided she was busy and went on talking to this biker girl. Crissy.
He had a lot in common with her.
And he was high. So they made out. A little. A lot.
She noticed. Jackie felt a pull in her heart.
She turned around and went to play peoples background music. She stayed there for a while. She didn't even notice when he strolled next to her.
"Hey" she turned and looked at him. His cheek was bleeding badly, probably from the brown haired beard he had earlier in the evening.
She cradled his face. She was sure to anyone else she looked like she was about to kiss him.
But she turned his head to the side. "You're bleeding," she said while she pulled him to the refreshment table.
Unbenonce to her he was extremely high.
Cooked. Fried. Baked.
To the point of no return.
He watched as she took a glass of jack Daniels to a napkin and then dabbed it on his cheek. He didn't wince at all. Because of the height difference, she had to stand on her tiptoes, and extend her neck.
The turtleneck of her shirt slid down until it revealed a big bruise. He looked to the spot where her eyes were shielded by glasses similar to his. Except for one side seamed darker than the other.
Her nose looked kind of funny too.
"What happened?" they both asked at the same time. Hyde was the first to answer.
"Scratched by a guys knife." A mental picture flashed in the idea of the man they had ran into so long ago. "What happened to you?"
"Nothing." He gave her a stern look through her glasses. "Really, nothing." She pulled her turtleneck up.
"I told you what happened"
"You didn't have to"
"Just tell me what happened." He gritted out. Frustration built throughout the day, and her not telling him didn't help. He watched her jump at his tone. But he was high. And it didn't register that he needed to stop.
"Why wont you tell me?" he asked, quitter but through tight teeth. "Poor victim mystery girl. Boo hoo. If you cant tell someone what happened-then whatever did is your fault."
She didn't have to know it was true. But a seed of doubt was planted in her mind.
Way back then she should have followed her mothers instructions on how to write to her soul mate, thrown out her guitar, joined a pro cheer team. It was her fault. The beatings were her fault. She was playing a victim. It was then he stepped forwards and hissed.
"Tell me"
She shook her head. She couldn't. Her mother wouldn't want her to tell him. If she listened to her mother it would stop. She quickly retreated back to her sound room.
He huffed. She was a bitch. She never told anyone anything.
She was putting on an act.
He saw Crissy and returned to his earlier state.
What horrified Jackie came later.
Not after she watched them walk out together.
But when a little paper airplane appeared on her make shift bed she crinkled it open.
The cherry on top.
I'm done with these letters. I'm in a relationship.
Nine words. Nine words broke her. She lost a close friend, someone she could be real with. She never wanted to go home. And then the nightmares came. It was like a thunderstorm. She could smell it in the air but she couldn't stop it.
Once it came it shook her to the core.
And there was no escape.
:)
Hyde was in a relationship. A sexual relationship-but still, a relationship.
And he told his soul mate that.
While he was high.
As well as ripping up all but three letters.
He would have finished but he passed out before he could.
:)
Eric gasped as he saw what lay on the floor. He remembered telling Hyde that bad things happened, but never told him exactly what.
He and Donna were soul mates, so he didn't see why he should keep all the extra papers. His parents didn't have any left and they were married. So he ripped one up and then five minutes later came over crying.
Since then they had been figuring out how the cards worked. Donna had a section in the school paper that was extremely popular, as well as anonymous, called cupids column, where she frequently answered questions about soul mates.
They tried all sorts of things with the cards. He let her rip one, and immediately recalled one of his worst memory's, that he thought was safely tucked under dirty laundry in the back of his brain.
He shook Hyde awake and handed him a glue bottle.
"Fix them. Now."
:)
Memories that were once happy had turned into memories that needed to be discarded. Just like the picture of her parents she had burned so long ago.
He had never liked her.
And she fell for him, just like kelso. All men where like that.
When he helped her in the street and brought her to Mrs. Forman, she thought he saved her. He threw her into the wormhole.
She felt a tear slide down her cheek as she snapped her eyes shut but immediately as she did she regretted it.
She opened her eyes but she saw her mother and her father fighting. She used to tell herself that her dad was good-but he was constantly beating on her mom. She remembered lifting up a pink blanket and watched pam slide down the wall.
Her dad beat on her. Constantly grabbing her arm and whipping her around.
The first concert. She was so nervous. She loved this life-she could be honest. Away from kelso she was brave and independent-but alone. Hyde understood. They laughed. But it was a lie. He was trying to bed her.
Like the girl he left with earlier.
And then last night.
All of those memories flooded her brain and she couldn't take it.
And then everything stopped. Her vision blurred and she felt the last stream of tears slide down her cheeks.
:)
"Why! Why would you do this?" Eric said looking around. Next to him sat twenty weird looking contraptions-what was salvaged of the torn up letters. Three pristine letters sat next to them. And five feet away lay Hyde.
"No reason."
"What set you off? You just practically assaulted someone. Your soul mate. Do you know what happens when you do that? There were about six letters you couldn't salvage. She just suffered her six worse memory's because you flew off the handle!" Eric's eyes bore into the side of his head. He wasn't getting through to Hyde.
He slowly walked over to his hazy eyed friend.
"You acted like bud"
A/N: sorry I didn't update. Im not abandoning this fic, I just got hooked on school and law and order… please review. I tried to make it long but that cant make up for all of the times I didn't post.