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" When sentiment is left to chance… No place to be ending but somewhere to start… No need to ask, he's a smooth operator…" A beautiful girl sang Sade on stage, and Jackie couldn't help but feel the song mirrored her life. Just like Sade, she was involved with a man who never settled. A smooth operator.
"Sade is probably the hottest girl singer of the 80s," Michael said.
"No way, dude, Chaka Khan," the cause of all her troubles countered. Of course Steven thought a woman that looked nothing like Jackie was hot.
"You're both insane, it's Joan Jett," Eric said.
"That can't be your answer, you're not a lesbian, Forman," Steven said.
"If I were a woman, I'd be a great lesbian." Eric nodded, as if he were thinking of the alternate universe where he and Donna were gay. "My non-lesbian answer is Madonna."
"Do you ever feel like your brain is rotting when you listen to their conversations?" Brooke asked Jackie.
"Sometimes, yeah," Jackie said. "But the only right answer is Kate Bush."
"You're just saying that 'cause you kinda look like her," Steven said. "You're both hot, but you're no Chaka Khan."
Fez walked over to the table as Steven was talking and said as he sat down, "Chaka Khan? She is hot. Not like Whitney Houston, though."
"We need Donna to come back from Prague," Buddy said. "We're all becoming dumber without her. That being said, Olivia Newton-John. And Tracy Chapman is my lesbian answer."
"Brooke, you're the only one not to answer, so now you have to," Michael said.
"I would agree with Sade. And my lesbian answer is Annie Lennox," Brooke said.
"This means Sade wins because she's the only one that got said twice," Michael said.
"Whatever. It's all opinion, anyway," Steven said. He checked his watch. "I gotta go up soon."
Rose Marie's Tavern was a hotspot for campus performers. They had open mic nights every Friday and Saturday, and the slots were always full. Jackie sang when she could get the time. Steven could get a slot whenever he wanted it because he played the song himself on guitar instead of doing karaoke. He also had an in with Rose Marie. Jackie knew that meant they'd slept together at least once.
"More Clapton?" Eric asked.
"You know it." Steven stood up and got his guitar before walking over to the stage. The girl singing Sade finished the song, and the crowd applauded. Steven went up and settled on the stool, quickly tuning the guitar. Then he began to play.
" I don't care if you never come home… I don't mind if you just keep on rowin' away on a distant sea… 'Cause I don't love you and you don't love me…"
Jackie hid her frown by taking a sip of her drink. She couldn't help feeling like he was singing about her.
It had all started a few months ago. Donna had just left for Prague, and therefore just broken up with Eric. Michael and Brooke had had a one-night stand a few nights prior to the breakup, making things awkward between them. Fez had come out to Steven. Buddy had been dumped by his boyfriend. Every one of them was single.
No one had felt up to going to open mic night, but she and Steven had slots reserved. So they'd gone together, just the two of them. They got drunk. Jackie sang Dionne Warwick's I'll Never Fall In Love Again . Steven played I Saw The Light by Todd Rundgren. Next thing Jackie knew they were making out and agreeing that it didn't mean anything. The meaningless drunken makeout eventually became meaningless sober sex. The only problem was that Jackie had fallen in love with him.
" I got a problem, can you relate… I got a woman callin' love hate… We made a vow we'd always be friends… How could we know that promises end…"
All eight of them were still single, but at least now they came to open mic night every Friday no matter what. The rest of them only vaguely knew of Jackie and Steven's situation.
The crowd cheered and applauded as Steven finished the song. He smiled as he left the stage. God, he was beautiful.
Jackie stood, since she was next. She was glad Steven had gone first and built up her emotions, since she could now pour all that into her song. She eased into her spot naturally, because she'd done this a hundred times. The song started, and she sang. " Like a flower waiting to bloom… Like a lightbulb in a dark room… I'm just sitting here waiting for you… To come on home and turn me on…"
She'd been singing a lot more Norah Jones recently. She found that Norah Jones had the right emotion she wanted. And it was so easy to apply the lyrics to Steven.
As much as he infuriated her and made her cry, she still loved him. And she still wanted him. They only had a week left before Donna came back, which meant they only had a week left of Jackie basically living alone. No roommate meant Steven could stay the night.
The audience applauded when she finished. She went back to the table and took her seat between Steven and Brooke. She leaned close to him and whispered, "Are you coming back to the dorm with me?"
"Sure," Steven whispered back, glancing at her lips quickly.
"Lesbian answers aside, what about gay answers? Who's the hottest male 80s singer? I say Prince," Buddy asked.
"Bruce Springsteen," Steven said decisively.
"No way. George Michael," Eric said. "That's my straight and gay answer."
"Huey Lewis," Brooke said. They all made various noises of disgust or disapproval.
"Terrible pick, Brooke," Jackie said. "It's absolutely Bruce Springsteen. Also, Andrew Ridgeley is the hotter member of Wham."
"Lies and slander," Eric said.
"How have none of you said Michael Jackson yet?" Fez asked.
"Dude, you're so right," Michael said. "Eric definitely has the gayest answers of the night, though. Buddy and Fez need to step it up."
As Buddy and Fez defended themselves, Steven subtly put his arm up on the back of Jackie's chair. She couldn't wait for the night to be over.
~
Jackie woke up with her head on Steven's chest. He was still asleep, looking beautiful as ever with the light of the sunrise on his face. She closed her eyes and laid still for a moment, enjoying being close to him. Both of them only wore their underwear, their clothes still strewn around the room from last night.
She started pressing kisses to his bare chest. After a moment, he stirred. "Morning," he mumbled, rubbing his eyes.
"Good morning," she said, smiling up at him.
He returned the smile. "Still thinking about last night?"
She hooked her leg over his, feeling evidence of morning wood. "Maybe. Seems like you are too."
He kissed her, and she moved to straddle him, placing her knees on either side of his hips. His hands roamed over her thighs as they made out. At times like these, when all she could think about was pleasure, she could forget that it didn't mean anything. She could pretend that they were in love.
Steven's hand slipped between her legs, and she hummed into his mouth. She couldn't help feeling that morning sex lit by the sunrise was incredibly romantic.
It was all ruined by the sound of a key in the door, quickly followed by Donna screaming, "Oh my God!"
"Ahh!" Jackie pulled away from Steven, tugging the blankets up to cover them both. "Donna! What are you doing back?"
"I told you I was coming back today! I said next Saturday on our last phone call!"
Jackie groaned. "I thought you meant next Saturday. Not today Saturday."
"What the hell has been going on since I left for Prague?" Donna asked, tossing their clothes at them.
Jackie pulled her shirt over her head. "Nothing."
Donna gave them a look. "Hyde naked in your bed doesn't look like nothing."
"Not naked," Steven added helpfully, pulling on his t-shirt from last night. "You don't want me to stand up, though."
"Gross!" Donna put her bags down next to her bed. "So what, are you two together? I thought Hyde didn't date."
"I don't. We're not together," Steven said far too quickly.
Jackie couldn't help it anymore. "Get out."
"Excuse me?"
"Get out. Now."
"Fine." Steven got up and pulled on his jeans and boots. "Tell me about Prague later, Donna." He left the room, shutting the door behind him.
"What the fuck was that?" Donna asked.
Jackie flopped down into her bed, her hair splaying over the pillow. "We started having sex after you left and agreed it didn't mean anything, but now I'm in love with him and he clearly doesn't feel the same."
Donna shook her head. "We can't have another Buddy and Fez situation in this group, Jackie. You need to figure it out."
"It's not like that, Steven doesn't love me."
"Fine. Did Buddy and Fez at least get together while I was away?"
"Of course not. Michael and Brooke haven't worked things out either. But don't act all high and mighty, because you broke up with Eric."
Donna rolled her eyes. "Fine. Stay miserable and casual with Hyde."
"I will."
~
Donna coughed as she exhaled the smoke, passing the joint back to Hyde. He smiled at her. "You've lost your touch, Pinciotti."
She shoved his shoulder. "I was away for four months with no weed, give me a break."
"And give me a hit," Buddy said, reaching for the joint. Hyde handed it over. Buddy inhaled, then passed it to Eric. The four of them made time to smoke together once in a while, a way to honor their little subsection of the group. They'd grown up together, and met everyone else at the university. Eric called them 'The Original Four.' "So, Donna, what's the coolest thing you saw in Prague?"
"We saw some pretty awesome old castles," Donna said. "But I'll tell you guys all about it when we're with everyone else. What's happened since I've been gone?"
"Jackie and Hyde are fucking," Eric said.
"Yeah, I know, I walked in on that this morning," Donna said.
"You ruined it," Hyde said, taking the joint back and inhaling.
"Don't act all upset, you have no problem finding people to sleep with. Unless you have feelings for her." Donna sang the last bit, nudging Hyde's shoulder with her own.
"Shut up, it's not like that," Hyde said quickly, handing her the joint.
"I think it's like that on Jackie's end," Buddy said. "She's been singing Norah Jones for fuckin' weeks . That's the sign of a young woman in distress."
"And you've been singing all those sad songs, so clearly you're in love with her," Eric said.
"Fuck off."
"What songs?" Donna asked excitedly, ignoring Hyde.
Eric started counting on his fingers. " Promises by Eric Clapton. I'll Make Love To You Anytime by Eric Clapton. Lay Down Sally by-"
"I get it, I've been playing a lot of Clapton," Hyde interrupted. "That doesn't mean anything."
"Yes, it does," Buddy said. "Do I have to start reciting lyrics from those songs? If you're not singing them about Jackie, you've got bigger problems."
Hyde rolled his eyes and took a long hit from the joint. "Fine. Maybe I like her. But it's not like that. We agreed it was casual, and nothing more. Okay? Anyway, we have more interesting things than me and Jackie. Buddy basically made a shrine to Fez in his dorm room. I bet RA Randy thinks you're a stalker."
"It is not a shrine, it's just some Polaroids," Buddy said defensively.
"I cannot believe he hasn't asked you out yet," Donna said. "He's so into you."
"Well, he hasn't, and I'm a coward," Buddy said with a grin.
"You weren't a coward when we were seventeen in your Trans-Am," Eric said, pointing an accusing finger at Buddy.
"We agreed never to bring that up!" Buddy said loudly.
"What happened in the Trans-Am?" Hyde and Donna asked at the same time.
"He kissed me!" Eric said. Buddy smacked a hand over his mouth, muffling him.
Hyde laughed. "You kissed him?"
"I thought he was gay!" Buddy said. Eric said something, but he was still muffled by Buddy's hand. Buddy removed it, glaring at him.
"I'm only a little gay," Eric protested. "I was already in love with Donna, so nothing could've happened. My point is, you were confident enough to make the first move, so you can do it again."
Buddy stared at Eric for a moment. "You know what? You're right. I'm gonna do it." He stood up and walked out of the alley.
They all stared after him. "Damn, Forman, you unlocked some inspiring part of your brain just now," Hyde said. "Not gonna work on me, though. I'm gonna call Jackie and see if she wants to finish what we started this morning." He stood and headed in the direction of the payphones.
Donna and Eric exchanged a look and followed him. They stood a respectful distance away, though still in hearing range.
The dial tone rang, then someone picked up. "Hey, Jackie, it's Hyde. What are you doing right now?... I wanted to see if you were up for finishing what we started before Donna-" Hyde abruptly stopped. He brought the phone away from his ear, looking perplexed. He put the phone back on the hook. "She hung up on me. Donna! You ruined it!"
"I didn't do anything!" Donna said. "You're both just stupid!"
"No, we had a good thing going and you fucked it up! Thanks a lot!" Hyde stormed off towards his dorm.
"Dammit, now I gotta deal with that all night," Eric said. "Unless you'll take me back?"
"Not right now. I have damage control to do. Goodnight, Eric." Donna walked away without waiting for his answer.
~
Jackie was lying on her bed, wallowing. Fez was sitting in her desk chair, and Brooke and Michael were sitting on Donna's bed. They were having a pity party while Eric's so-called 'Original Four' had their smoke session.
Norah Jones sang on her CD player, currently on Sunrise . It was one of Jackie's favorites, and it mirrored the day's events so well. " Surprise, surprise… Couldn't find it in your eyes… But I'm sure it's written all over my face… Surprise, surprise… Never something I could hide… When I see we made it through another day…"
"He's just another stupid boy that only wants me for sex, isn't he?" Jackie said.
Michael made a noise of dissent. "I don't know, Hyde doesn't really do this kind of thing. He's more of a one-night stand guy. Doesn't really keep girls around for more than a week."
Jackie gave him an affronted look. "Hey! I'll have you know I am a fantastic lover, and probably the best he's ever had. So, he's probably keeping it going because it's convenient and really good."
Fez frowned. "Why are you arguing against him? Don't you want him to be in love with you?"
"I want to be justified in my misery, Fez," Jackie said. "Duh."
"I bet you guys are gonna figure it out like Michael and I did," Brooke said.
Jackie sat up to look at them. "What?"
"We slept together a few times, then decided we liked each other and made it official," Brooke said. "Remember?"
"You never told us that!" Fez said. "We thought it was a one-night stand!"
"Oh no, it was five night stands then an agreement to keep doing it because we're both super hot and really good at it," Michael said.
"And we have feelings for each other," Brooke said. "But yes, we are really good at it."
Michael leaned in and kissed her passionately, leaving her blushing at the end of it. Jackie and Fez gaped at them.
"I wish Buddy would kiss me like that," Fez said.
"Oh my God, just ask him out!" Jackie said.
"When you ask Hyde to be official, I will ask Buddy out," Fez said. Jackie flipped him off.
The phone rang, and Jackie picked it up. "Hello?" Steven was on the other end. "I'm hanging out with Fez, Michael, and Brooke. What's up?" He asked if she wanted to finish what they started, and she hung up on him. Then she grabbed the pillow off her bed and screamed into it.
"Who was it?" Michael asked.
"Steven's the dumbest boy in the world!" Jackie said before screaming into the pillow again.
Someone knocked on the door. Jackie dropped the pillow and went to get it. Buddy stood on the other side, smiling. "Hey, Jackie."
"What do you want?" Jackie asked.
"Is Fez here?"
Jackie stepped aside, sweeping her arm out in Fez's direction. Buddy came in and stood in front of Fez. "When I was seventeen, I kissed Eric in my Trans-Am."
"What?" the four of them asked in unison, all confused about where this was headed.
"If I could have that confidence as a newly gay seventeen year old, then I should damn well have it as an experienced gay twenty year old." He placed his hands on either side of Fez's face and leaned down to kiss him. He pulled away after a moment and retracted his hands, leaving Fez looking shocked. "I think we should go out."
"Thank God for the Trans-Am," Fez said quietly. "Yes, we should go out."
Jackie flopped face-first onto her bed. "Everyone's happy except me!"
She heard a key in the door, and a second later Donna was saying, "Jackie, I know how you and Hyde can figure things out!"
~
Jackie was wearing her hottest dress, a long, flowy, sunset-colored thing. The neckline was tastefully low, not slutty but enough to be enticing. She wore necklaces and some cute rings, and her hair was perfectly curled. She wasn't sure why Donna had told her to look hot, but she loved any excuse to dress up. Especially now that she'd decided Steven couldn't have her anymore.
He was sitting across from her at the table in Rose Marie's, seemingly oblivious to Jackie's decision to end things. Likely because she hadn't told him. But he should be able to pick up on her emotions intuitively at this point.
Plus, it had been a week since Donna got back and they hadn't seen each other. Surely that was a big enough hint.
But Donna said she had a plan to help them figure things out. Jackie was willing to go along with it. She needed to know how Steven felt, even if it meant the end of their fling.
Buddy came back to the table with a round of beers. He sat next to Fez, slinging his arm around his shoulders. Then he raised his beer. "A toast to the Trans-Am, which has been bringing about pivotal gay moments in my life for the last four years."
"To the Trans-Am!" they all chorused, clinking their beers before taking sips.
Brooke noticeably did not take a sip. Eric raised an eyebrow at her. "What, are you too good to toast to the Trans-Am?"
"No! It's just that… Well… I'm pregnant," Brooke said.
Michael spit out a mouthful of beer, spraying it all over Donna. "You're what? Is it mine?"
"Yes, Michael, it's yours," Brooke said.
Michael stared silently at the table for a long moment. "I think I'm having a midlife crisis."
"I really hope your midlife is not twenty," Fez said.
"We're having a baby," Michael whispered to the table. He smiled at Brooke. "We're having a baby." Brooke nodded, smiling nervously. "You've never been hotter." He kissed her fiercely.
"To the baby!" Donna said, raising her beer. They all toasted again. Donna glanced at the clock. "Jackie, you're up next."
"Oh, shit, yeah." Jackie took one more sip of her beer before getting up and walking towards the stage.
~
Hyde felt antsy. Jackie looked super hot, and the last time they'd been together was when Donna interrupted them. So he was a little tight-strung.
The music started, and she began to sing. " I waited 'til I saw the sun… I don't know why I didn't come…"
Hyde slumped in his chair. Even he wasn't this stupid.
" When I saw the break of day… I wished that I could fly away… Instead of kneeling in the sand… Catching tear-drops in my hand… My heart is drenched in wine… You'll be on my mind forever…"
Everyone at the table was looking at him. "I know," he said. "I'm gonna handle it."
"By 'handle it', do you mean break up with her or tell her you're madly in love with her?" Donna asked.
"Somewhere in the middle," Hyde said. He ignored Donna in favor of watching Jackie sing. Of course she'd been singing about him. That's why she'd gotten mad when he told Donna they weren't together, and why she'd hung up on him a week ago. He was so stupid.
She finished her song and came back to the table. He grabbed his guitar and took her place on stage. "Hey, guys. You all know Jackie, who just sang. She's great, isn't she?" The crowd applauded. "Yeah. She's been singing a lot of sad Norah Jones songs recently. And it turns out I'm an idiot and she's been singing those because of me." The crowd booed him. "Hey! Chill! I didn't even finish. I've been singing all those Clapton songs because of her. So here's more Clapton."
He began to play the song. It was one he'd played a hundred times before, but never publicly. " It's late in the evening… She's wondering what clothes to wear… She puts on her makeup… And brushes her long dark hair… " He looked up to see Jackie smile at the lyric change from blonde to dark.
He may be stupid, but she was too. All those Clapton songs he'd been singing should have made it clear to her that he liked her. They were all about loving someone he didn't think he could actually have.
" And the wonder of it all… Is that you just don't realize how much I love you… "
Hyde watched Jackie stand up and leave the bar. He really hoped he hadn't fucked things up even more.
~
Jackie stood outside Rose Marie's, anxious. Steven loved her. Everything she'd wanted the past month was coming true, but she still felt scared.
"Jackie, I'm sorry," Steven said as he came over to her.
"Why?"
Steven glanced between her and the bar. "'Cause I sang a song that made you run out of the bar?"
"It wasn't the song." Jackie wrapped her arms around herself. "I just… Do you really love me?"
"Something pretty close to it."
"What does that mean?"
"We've only been doing this for four months. I'd say I'm still in the process of falling for you. But I like you a hell of a lot."
Jackie frowned at him. "You said all those songs were about me. What did you mean with that one that said 'I don't love you and you don't love me'? Are you saying we don't work together or you really don't love me or-"
Steven smiled. "Jackie, you're missing the most important verse of that song." At her look of confusion, he sang, " I tried to love you for years upon years… You refused to take me for real… It's time you saw what I want you to see… I'd still love you if you'd just love me… "
Jackie's heart fluttered at the implications of those lyrics. Steven had felt the same way the entire time, and she just hadn't realized. "Steven…" She looped her arms around his neck. His hands landed on her waist as she leaned in to kiss him. He pulled her closer, deepening the kiss. When they parted, she said, "You're coming home with me tonight. I'll kick Donna out."
"So demanding," he said with a grin.
"You're my boyfriend now, and I haven't seen you in a week. We need this."
"When did I become your boyfriend?"
"Just now. Keep up, Steven." She kissed him again. His hands skimmed up her back, grazing her skin above the hem of her dress.
"Hyde, I need a favor!" Eric said, joining them outside.
Jackie pulled away from Steven just enough to glare at Eric. "Can't you see we're in the middle of something?"
Eric ignored her. "Hyde, I need you to get me a spot, I have a song I need to sing. Please talk to Rose Marie and help me out."
"Why should I help you? You just interrupted an important moment and now you're being rude to my girlfriend. I don't feel inclined to do something nice for you right now," Steven said.
Eric clasped his hands together like he was begging. "It's my plan to get back together with Donna. Please. You know how much I love her."
Steven rolled his eyes. "Fine. But only because if you succeed, it means Jackie and I can get some privacy." He looked at Jackie. "Do you mind if I flirt with Rosie a little? It's the only way I can get this."
"Sure. Whatever gets them back together." Jackie kissed his cheek.
"Let's go, Forman." The three of them went back inside. Steven and Eric walked over to Rose Marie, who was standing behind the bar.
Jackie went back to the table and sat down next to Donna. Everyone looked at her eagerly. "So?" Buddy asked.
"He's my boyfriend," Jackie said proudly. "Well, right after he flirts with Rose Marie to get Eric a spot on stage, he will be."
"Why is he doing that?" Donna asked.
"It's his plan to get you back. And you should take him back, because I know you love him and you're happier together than you are apart. Plus, I want the room tonight."
"Let's see what his big plan is first," Donna said.
Steven returned to the table and put his arm up on the back of Jackie's chair. "He's up next."
The current singer finished, and Eric took the stage. "This one's for you, Donna."
The song started. Jackie and Steven groaned in unison. "If I'd known he was gonna sing Drops of Jupiter , I wouldn't have done anything for him."
"He's got such bad music taste," Jackie said.
"No, this is really sweet!" Fez said. "Because Donna has been gone. It fits."
" And tell me, did you fall for a shooting star? One without a permanent scar, and did you miss me while you were looking for yourself out there?"
"I don't understand how you could listen to Hyde sing Lay Down Sally and not immediately confess your feelings to him," Donna said to Jackie. "Because this is working for me."
"I didn't know he was singing about me then," Jackie said.
"I don't know how this is working for you, I can barely watch," Brooke said.
Eventually, Eric finished the song and came back to the table. Donna turned to him and said, "I did miss you."
"I missed you like crazy," Eric said. Donna smiled and kissed him softly.
"Can you guys believe that just a week ago most of us were single?" Buddy asked.
"Oh!" Michael exclaimed. "Speaking of a week ago… Donna, who do you think is the hottest girl singer of the 80s? And who's the hottest guy singer?"
"There are obvious answers to that. Joan Jett and Bruce Springsteen," Donna said decisively.
"Ha! She said the lesbian answer too!" Eric said excitedly.
As Donna asked what a lesbian answer was, Steven leaned closer to Jackie. "I'm glad we figured things out. Sorry it took me so long."
"It's fine. I was being stupid." She kissed him. "We should sing a duet next open mic night."
"I don't think Clapton ever sang a duet with Norah Jones," Steven teased.
"We'll make one up, then." She kissed him again, thinking that she didn't need to sing Norah Jones anymore.