Chapter Text
Eric Foreman's Basement. 1976. 4:17 pm.
Fast-paced stomping was the only warning given before an infuriated Jackie Burkhart burst through the Foreman's basement door. Her typically coiffed hair was a frizzy mess, upturned nose scrunched in disgust. Strutting towards Kelso, her kitten heel quickly found its way into his foot. Eric and Fez watched with wide eyes, conversation interrupted mid-way through.
"Damn Jackie!" Kelso scurried backwards.
Practically vibrating with anger, Jackie stalked towards him once again. "You are a dog Michael! A dirty, dirty dog," she screeched. "We," she shoved a manicured finger into his chest, "are so over."
Panic was written clearly on Kelso's face. Hands up to placate her, he managed a weak, "C'mon Jackie, what's all this about?"
Fez was quick to pipe in, drawing her attention to his seat on the couch. "Maybe it is about how you kissed Pam Macy?"
Kelso gasped, and Jackie whipped back towards him. Her fury was building with every minute.
"You've made me look like a complete fool Michael. All the girls were laughing at me today during cheer practice." Crossing her arms, she continued, "I can't even show my face in the third-floor bathroom anymore." Jackie paused, narrowing her eyes, "and everyone knows that's the cool bathroom.
"We. are. done."
"Well一uh一ya'know what," Kelso stammered, "yeah Jackie, we're totally over一um一a-and一after we get back from your parents ski cabin this weekend, I never want to see you ever again. So一so yeah, how 'bout that."
Jackie tapped her foot, raising a brow. "Oh no Michael. No, no, no. You are not going skiing this weekend." She turned to the couch, wedging herself between Eric and Fez.
Hyde huffed, reaching up from his chair to smack Kelso on the back of the head with a Rolling Stone magazine.
Kelso hastily deflected, voice high and reedy, "Yea一uh, well way to go Jackie. Cancel the ski trip and disappoint all of our friends." Eric gave Kelso an incredulous look, while Jackie continued to focus firmly on flipping through the comic book she'd picked up.
"No Michael. I'm not sure you understand," she patronized, "everyone else is still more than welcome to join me at the cabin this weekend." She side-eyed him, patting both Eric and Fez on the leg.
"Oh! And did I mention, my parents won't be joining us this year." Jackie added, plastering on a saccharine smile.
Eric clapped Kelso on the shoulder, grinning, "Welp, I guess we'll see you next weekend buddy." Kelso let out a wounded cry.
"Wha一now一now c'mon guys, you wouldn't just leave me out like that." He looked hopefully at the rest of the gang. Jackie's smile hadn't faltered, and Fez and Hyde weren't exactly jumping at the chance to prove him wrong.
"Bummer," Jackie tsked, giving Kelso a pitying look. She grabbed her purse and made her way to the door, smile gaining a smug edge, "I'll see the rest of you guys Friday! I look forward to it." In a flurry of frills and too-sweet perfume, Jackie made her way back home from the Foreman's.
Jackie Burkhart's Room. 1976.
She'd fought back the tears down in the Foreman's basement, but once Jackie curled into her bed, face smushed into plush pillows, she'd begun to sob. It felt stupid, of course, crying over a high school relationship. After all, she and Kelso had only lasted a few months. But, well, fifteen was a sensitive time for a girl, and she had really liked Kelso. Sure, he had his faults. But he was cute and dumb, and practically bowed down to her every whim. And, call her vain, but Jackie had liked that about him! Plus, with him being her first ever boyfriend, she'd lost a lot to him. Her first date. Her first kiss. They'd even gotten to second base once, even if it was kind of on accident.
Jackie knew she could be difficult and bossy, but she had a right to be! She was fabulous, and she'd put a lot of trust into him. "Ugh," she pouted. Cheating was so not cool of him.
She'd get over Kelso eventually. Quickly, hopefully. She was, after all, the one and only Jackie Burkhart. Pretty, preppy, and an overall catch. If anything, this breakup would boost her popularity. Guys at school were always tripping over themselves to get her attention, and once her teammates saw this, she would be the princess of popularity once more.
It had been a few hours since she'd gotten home, eyes now red and puffy, much to her chagrin. The Mama's and The Papa's played softly in the background as Jackie rummaged through a box underneath her bed. To call the small box gaudy would be an understatement. Worn wood was painted a pale blue, and it was adorned with lace, a collection flower motifs, and cute stickers.
She pulled out a pre-rolled joint and made her way over to her large bay window. Crawling out onto the roof, she lit up.
Jackie's mother, Pamela Burkhart, often talked about the implications participating in such "improper behaviors". Generally, this involved anything she considered unseemly for a lady of her standing. A year prior, some of the older girls on the cheerleading team had gotten caught smoking, and it had been quite a shock to her mother's delicate sensibilities.
Pam had sat Jackie down that night, one of the few times she'd seen her that year, and lectured her in the way she often did.
"Oh honey, those types of girls are desperate and low-class. I just know you wouldn't embarrass your father and I by doing anything like that." It wasn't a question, judging by the way condescension had dripped from her elegant voice. Jackie agreed, of course, despite not taking the advice to heart.
Of all the rules thrust upon her, she followed nearly all of them. She'd spent years making sure that she wouldn't reflect badly upon her parents. Grades? Always top of her class. Sports? She had been the only freshman to make the cheer team last year. Looks? Jackie had never been caught looking anything less than perfectly primped. Surely, smoking a little pot in her free time wouldn't cause any harm to their carefully curated image.
Plus, she found that she'd liked the way smoking made her feel: floaty, giggly, and everything was always so much fun. Lisa Miller, her former cheer captain, had invited her to one of her parties once she'd made the cheer team, and offered some of her stash. It was a nice way to relax and let loose when things were getting a little too stuffy.
She especially needed to unwind, what with Michael and the ski trip coming up. It pained her to admit it, but Jackie had been a little worried the rest of the gang would blow her off. She, of course, thought that they should be grateful to be seen with her in any capacity. But still, despite her endless charm, she knew that the guys didn't like her much. Hopefully, the progress she'd made with Donna would salvage the trip. The older girl had been noticeably warmer ever since Eric's birthday, and their banter had been much more friendly of late.
Jackie finished her smoke session just as her record finished playing. Climbing back inside, she snubbed the roach out on a ceramic flower dish, and tucked it back into the ornate box. She would throw away the joint she'd finished off when she went to school the next morning. Until then, she tucked herself into bed and flicked off her lamps.