ＲＥＳＰＥＣＴ

𝔞𝔯𝔢𝔱𝔥𝔞 𝔣𝔯𝔞𝔫𝔨𝔩𝔦𝔫

♟

"Nik, I don't see why we have to buy gifts for every single one of them."

"Because it's Christmas, and they're your friends!"

"I don't have friends."

"Come on."

Nikolai grabs my arm and drags me into the mall. 

"I don't want to spend my last day with you shopping and going to some stupid party!" I complain. 

"Anastasia, stop whining. This is the right thing to do."

I give up, letting him pull out his list of people to get gifts for. "Let's start with Jackie."

"Oh, she'll be easy to buy for," I shrug. We decide on a diamond bracelet for her.

For Mrs. Forman, I purchase the new blender that she's had her eyes on. Mr. Forman's gift is a tool kit. Eric's present is a cassette player for the car (the one he apparently didn't get on his birthday), and Donna's is a Todd Rundgren record. For Fez, I get a whoopee cushion, something he's been asking for nonstop. Kelso's is two cases of beer, while Hyde's is one of those necklaces with a bead in the center that he tends to sport, engraved with a specific Russian word I thought fit him.

"And now that we're done, can we go home and binge-eat Double-Stuf Oreos?" I plead.

He stares down at me and laughs as he shakes his head fondly. "Sorry, Ana. You need to keep your stomach empty so you can eat with the Formans and compliment your neighbor's cooking."

I huff, leaving the store and starting on my way home.

♟

Listen, I'm hot as it is, okay? But I'm even hotter in a tight-fitting sweater. Which is why that's what I decide to wear. After returning from the mall, my brother and I split off to get ready.

I settle on the only Christmas sweater I have, a turtleneck patterned with red, white, and green. I pair it with some high-waisted bell-bottoms, tie my dark hair into a bun, and slip on some black combat boots.

Getting ready takes much longer than I expect. I know that Laurie will be at the party, so I'm sure she'll keep Nikolai busy. We heft the bags of boxes into our arms and somehow gracefully float over to the Formans' home. Kitty helps us out as soon as she sees us.

She grabs the presents for her and Red while shooing us off to go downstairs. We go down, careful not to slip. Everyone in the gang except Kelso, who isn't there, turns their heads towards us. Jackie, Laurie, and Donna feast their eyes on my brother, and I honestly can't blame them. He looks amazing in the outfit he's chosen for himself.

"Anastasia, who's that?" Jackie utters.

I set my half of the gifts down under the tree. "That's my brother. He's been here for the past month, I'm surprised you haven't seen him around."

"If I did, I'd remember."

Donna snaps out of her trance. "Jackie!"

Laurie saunters up to him flirtatiously and I divert my gaze in disgust. "Get a room, please."

She scowls at me and drags him up the stairs.

Hyde groans. "Why are you here?"

"I was invited," I smile, gritting my teeth behind my lips.

I pour myself a cup of punch and start sipping from it. It's probably soaked in alcohol, judging by the way it burns my throat, but that doesn't make me want it any less. I down a few cups as the party progressively gets larger and some other guests join us.

I make small talk with some of Jackie's friends. "Hello, ladies," Fez grins as he strides over to us. "So glad you could make it. May I get you something to drink? We have beer, you know."

One of the girls, Kate, raises an eyebrow. "What else do you have?"

"We have punch, but we also have beer."

"Punch is fine."

"Punch it is. Okay." He circles the table to grab the spoon. "Would you like to chase down that punch with a nice beer?"

They scoff in disgust and push themselves off of the couch, going back to Jackie. I pat Fez's shoulder awkwardly. Only a few minutes later, though, I'm standing by the cooler with Donna, Eric, and Hyde, watching them swoon over him.

If it's the punch, I won't hesitate to believe it. I'm not a lightweight, but my head is feeling a little fuzzy after those drinks.

"Man, what's going on with the pep squad?" Hyde sneers.

"Yeah, they seem extra stupid tonight," Donna adds.

I hiccup quietly. "Maybe it was the punch."

"The punch? Why would that make them act like... that?"

She gestures to the scene before us, but I can't answer because Kelso swoops in through the door with a paper bag in his hands. 

"Jackie, this is for you," he fumbles.

"Ooh, what is it?" she beams drunkenly. She rips the bag off. "Hot rollers! With steam!"

I turn back to my companions. "The punch is spiked."

"What?" Eric shrieks.

"Yeah, that's probably why I feel all weird."

"Are you okay?" Hyde asks.

Hyde asks? I give him a look. Since when has he become concerned about my alcohol level? Or about me at all?

He shakes it off as I move to a different area of the party. A hand taps me on the shoulder. I spin to find a taller boy with auburn hair and smooth brown eyes smirking down at me.

"Hey," he nods.

"Hello."

He leans against the wall. "I'm Freddie. Freddie Iannici. And you are?"

I tilt my head innocently to the side, a small smile making its way onto my face. He's cute. Really cute. Maybe I can get him to come over tonight. "Anastasia. What can I do for you?"

"Well, I was just looking around and I saw you and... you're gorgeous."

I bat my eyelashes at him, moving slightly closer. "You're not too bad yourself. Thanks for the compliment, by the way."

He chuckles. "You're very welcome. Is there any chance I could get your number?"

I bite my lip. "I'll think about it."

"Meaning?"

"If you kiss me, you might."

He flashes his white teeth at me and pulls me in by my waist. He kisses me gently, then more aggressively once he gets comfortable. He's good. And hot. I'm about to push him into the back room when Red storms down the stairs.

"Eric," he sighs a little too calmly. "Before you explain the beer, do you want to explain why there are two state troopers confiscating the tree in our living room?"

As the boy stutters out an answer, I grab a nearby pen and jot my phone number on Freddie's hand. 

I glance up at him. "You're getting kicked out in two minutes, but now you have my number so it's okay. Call me."

He kisses me again and struts out. I watch as Jackie causes a scene, crying about her hot rollers. For an unknown reason, my heart skips a beat when she adds, "And Hyde loves Donna!"

Hyde jumps out of his seat and points an accusing finger at the girl as I grab a cup of punch. "She's crazy! That punch is spiked! You see, Red, that's drunk talk!"

Red huffs. "I'm going to take the sob squad home. Eric, the leftover beer better be in my refrigerator by the end of the night. Donna, go upstairs to join your father. Steven and Anastasia, help Eric clean up, and Kelso... go home!"

Before those leaving can go, I quickly slip them their gifts from Nikolai and me. Fez runs up the stairs after Jackie and her friends. I watch from the back of the room, pretending to pick up wrapping paper, as Donna gives each boy their gifts and kisses them both on their cheeks. After an uncomfortable silence, she takes my gift and leaves without a word.

"So what'd you get?" Steven ponders.

"I.D. Bracelet. What about you?"

Hyde opens his present. "Tube socks."

"Good! I mean... tube socks are good."

I don't bother hiding my smile, as they barely even notice I'm there. Eric sidesteps away from him and walks to the base of the stairs. He picks up a few leftover cans of beer and the gift I give him.

Once he's gone, I forget every effort of trying to quiet the loud crinkle of paper. "Tube socks?" I smirk.

"Oh, shut it," Hyde growls, cracking open another beer. 

I stop moving for a bit, examining his hunched posture. After much deliberation, I walk over to the tree and pick my gift to Hyde up. I carry it to him and sit on the couch beside him.

"You got me a gift?" he snorts.

I roll my eyes. "I got everyone gifts, dumbass."

"Yeah, but you hate me."

"And I don't celebrate Christmas. But here we are." I hand him the relatively small box. "Open it."

He warily unwraps it, lifting the cover. "Dude, I have tons of these."

"I bet you don't have one like this."

He examines the bead. "The hell is that?"

"Durak," I grin. "It's Russian."

"What does it mean?"

"Protection."

He narrows his eyes at me. "You're lying."

I break into a bout of giggles. The alcohol isn't helping me here. "Oh, I totally am! It means idiot."

"Anastasia!"

I'm too preoccupied with laughter to notice that he has used my actual name. "It suits you! Here."

I nimbly take it out of the box and switch it out for the one he has on, my cold fingers brushing against his surprisingly warm skin. He doesn't take his icy eyes, which are for once not concealed by sunglasses, off of me.

I shift my weight back to my center and study various things around the room to give him the hint that I'm uncomfortable. Eventually, he comes up with a snarky remark.

"I can't wear this. People will think I'm a commie or something." But he doesn't take it off.

I rise from my seat and continue cleaning.

"Why are you fixing up the party?" he queries.

"I'm being a good neighbor."

"You're being a good neighbor."

"Yep. Oh, wait, it looks like someone left a gift here. Probably forgot to give it away."

"No."

"What?"

"The name," he grumbles.

I furrow my eyebrows at the present. It's messily wrapped in newspaper, and the tag on it has "Princess" scrawled onto it. No sender. Just the receiver. But I know who it's from.

I smile to myself and pick it up. "Why did you get me something?"

"You didn't have any family to spend Christmas with except your brother, and I guess I kinda know what that's like."

"I... Thanks." That's weirdly thoughtful. I try to peel the paper off as daintily as possible.

It's a normal delivery box. I peek in further as Hyde watches me over his shoulder. I spot a note inside, as well as six dollars, some change, and a ring.

I pick the ring up. "What's this?"

"It got small on my finger and I didn't want to give it to Jackie, so..."

I slip it onto my right middle finger. It's a silver ring, slightly tattered, but what gets me is the wolf engraved in the center. Volkov. "Of the wolf." I don't know if the symbolism was intentional, but it still touches me.

He clears his throat. "You should probably get going. I think your brother will come looking for you soon."

"Right."

I set the box onto my hip. On impulse, I rush forward to stand behind the couch, behind Hyde. I rest a hand on his shoulder and press a soft kiss to his cheek. "I love it, thanks. And Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas, Princess."

I disappear up the stairs.

♟

I groan as I wake, a roaring pounding in my head. I don't want to get up. But Nikolai's leaving in about an hour, and I need to say goodbye. I get dressed as quickly as possible, eat a quick breakfast, and wave to Laurie as she exits his room. I'm either too hungover or too tired to care about what they have done. Maybe both.

Eventually, Nikolai is on my doorstep. "If you need anything, call me," my brother barks. "If someone hurts you, call me. If the Formans try to assassinate you, call me. If you're seeing any boys, call me and be careful. If-"

"Nik!" I laugh. "I'll be okay."

"I know. It's just... you'll be all alone."

"I have the Formans. Or at least Kitty. She'll cook for me if it's necessary."

"Okay." He pulls me in for a hug and I inhale the scent of his cologne, trying to savor it. "I love you, little sister."

"I love you, big brother."

He smiles sadly at me as he waves, walking down the driveway. I watch his car until he turns the corner, out of sight, but not out of mind.

I walk back inside and find a slip of paper lying on the floor. Upon looking at it in more detail, I realize that it's Hyde's note. It must have fallen out of the box the night before. I chuckle quietly at the unorderly handwriting. That's Hyde, alright.

Hey,

I know your brother's leaving and all tomorrow and you'll probably be too drunk to see tonight, but I got you this anyways. It's not anything big, just six dollars and an old ring I have, but I thought you might like it. 

I just wanna say I hate you and you annoy the living shit out of me but I don't always really care that you hang out with us. You're actually invisible most of the time so it doesn't really matter. 

I'm high right now anyway so this is probably a bunch of bull but yeah. Merry Christmas or whatever you celebrate, Princess. Kwanzaa? I don't know, man.

~Hyde

♟

Yeah so I have no clue what this chapter was.

As always, feedback, comments, and votes are always appreciated!

Love you guys,

Lissy