ＭＩＳＥＲＹ

𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔟𝔢𝔞𝔱𝔩𝔢𝔰

♜

I sit across James's lap in the Forman's living room, leaning against his chest. As Laurie trots down the stairs, I carefully stand and hug her.

"God, I can't believe you're leaving," I sigh.

"I know," Jackie, who stands beside me, says, "I think some of my good taste was finally rubbing off on you."

"Aw, thanks, you guys!" Laurie smiles. "I'm going to miss you too."

She picks up a box and tosses a top at Michael. "Oh, Kelso, I almost forgot. I was cleaning out my room and I found one of your shirts."

"Say, how did that get there?" Hyde taunts from the staircase as she retreats to the kitchen and I return to James.

"That's funny," Kelso stammers. "This isn't even mine! Yeah, this must be Eric's shirt."

Jackie snags it and reads the tag. "Your mom sewed your name in it, Michael."

"Man, Eric's going to be pissed, huh? Yeah, I borrowed Eric's shirt because mine wasn't working right, and my mom must have sewn my name in it!"

His girlfriend glances at me. "I don't know, Michael."

"What, you think I'm lying? Jackie, if I were lying, I'd come up with a lot better lie than that."

"Yeah, you'd think so," Hyde teases.

She bites her lip. "Anastasia, come with me."

I give James a quick kiss before swiftly following her into the basement, where Eric and Donna are talking.

"Eric, we need to speak to Donna alone," Jackie snaps.

He laughs sarcastically. "Well, it's not like it's my house or anything-"

"Out."

"Okay."

As she assumes his seat, I take Hyde's chair. She opens her mouth multiple times as if she can't figure out how to phrase her thoughts before deciding on her words.

"You guys, I'm kind of worried about Michael and Laurie."

I catch Donna's eye and shake my head slightly since Jackie isn't facing me, trying to tell her to not reveal the secret straight-out.

"I mean, she found his t-shirt in her room, and he said it wasn't his even though it had his name in it. And at that time I believed him, but now I can't remember why. But if there is something going on, I think I want to know. But I don't want to know."

Donna hesitates. "I'm supposed to say..."

"You're supposed to say that nothing is going on and Michael loves me and that's all that matters."

"That sounds good."

"God, you're so naïve!"

"Look, Jackie," I sigh as she turns to me. "You're in a good place right now, but Kelso is an idiot. And even if things seem perfect right now, it doesn't mean that they'll be perfect forever."

She frowns. "But it's supposed to be perfect."

"Well, it's not. Just don't be surprised if he screws something up, because men can be pigs, okay?"

For a moment, I think that my words have affected her in a positive way, but once she answers with, "Yeah, that's all uggo stuff, I'm going shopping," my hopes are crushed.

♜

The boys and I sit in the Circle, this time with James.

"Laurie's busted," Eric giggles. "This is, and I don't think I'm exaggerating here, the greatest day in the history of time."

"Except maybe the day cheese was invented," Fez agrees.

"Wow," Hyde chuckles, "she's gone one day, and the next, she's with another guy. Kelso, you heartbreaker, you."

"Laurie's gone and Jackie's all suspicious of me," the brunette pouts. "I'm getting no lovin'. None! I can't be me without lovin'!"

"Hey, I have a way to fix your problems," I smile.

"Really?"

"Yeah. Stop fucking cheating on Jackie."

"You're one to talk!" he retorts. 

My heart skips a beat for whatever reason but I try not to show it, nonchalantly raising an eyebrow. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"I don't know."

"I know you wouldn't cheat, Katya, there's nothing to worry about," Jamie beams up at me, kissing me softly but passionately.

"Hey! No groping in the Circle!" Eric shouts.

"No, please keep going," Fez grins, causing us to break apart.

Hyde rolls his eyes. "Kelso, man, if you want to keep Jackie, which you shouldn't, you've got to act all innocent. Let's practice. Did you fool around with Laurie?"

"Hold on," I interrupt. "It has to sound more like Jackie. Ahem. Michael, did you make love with Laurie, Michael?"

"You know I did!" he answers.

"Dumbass!" Hyde yells. "You need to deny it. Learn, man! So, did you fool around with Laurie?"

"Yeah. No! I mean no! Wait, I mean yeah. No, this isn't going to work!"

Eric still relishes in the fact that his sister is in trouble. "It was just so perfect. If I could relive the moment, I would. Over and over again."

"Shouldn't you feel bad for her?" James frowns.

"Oh, Jamie," I sigh. "You still have so much to learn in the ways of the Forman family. Now, back to Kelso and Jackie."

"Just tell her the truth," Fez says. "If she happens to leave you for another man, whoever he may be, no hard feelings. You do not need Jackie. Sweet, luscious Jackie."

I frown. "That sounds kind of menacing."

He winks at me. "Don't worry sugar, you're next in line."

James's grip tightens around my waist as I scowl, "I'm only second?"

"You're the first in my book," my boyfriend says as he kisses the spot behind my ear.

"You are an evil little foreign man," Hyde chuckles, shaking his head. "Don't ever change. But look, Kelso, I'll help you out with Jackie, okay? Step by step."

"I guess I messed up with Laurie," he admits. "But I was only amusing myself! And that's the key to life, right? Never stop amusing yourself."

"Unless it starts to chafe," Fez shrugs. "Then you need to take a break for a week. It's almost Tuesday, right?"

I wrinkle my nose. "And that's my cue to leave."

♜

"Katya?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you."

"I love you, too, Jamie."

His eyes light up. "Can I... take you out tomorrow night?"

I swallow. "Of course, I'd love that."

He kisses me. "Good."

♜

I wrap my jacket tighter around myself, pressing my body into my boyfriend's chest. We sit on the hood of his car in my driveway, just breathing in the crisp night air.

I watch as younger children play in the streets with their parents watching them, their voices and laughs ringing through the neighborhood.

He leaves soft kisses along my neck and shoulders, pushing my coat away slightly to expose my skin.

I hold his hands in mine, fiddling with them gently.

He moves his cheek next to mine, his stubble grazing my skin.

"Katya..."

My forehead creases as I turn in his arms and begin to play with his hair. "Hmm?"

"I wanted to give you something."

He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small velvet box. "Here."

I cautiously take it and open it, revealing a simple but beautiful sapphire ring.

"What is this?" I murmur.

He smiles widely. "Do you like it?"

"Yes, it's gorgeous, but... why are you giving it to me?"

He holds my hand. "Katya, it's a promise ring! It's supposed to signify that we'll stay together."

I frown. "But we're going to stay together anyway."

"Together forever."

I pause. "Y-You mean, like, marriage and all that?"

"Yeah." He sighs happily, supposedly not picking up on my mood.

"So it's essentially an engagement ring?"

"If you want it to be."

I set it to the side and turn my body to face him. "I know we've been together for a few months now, but don't you think it's a little early to make that commitment?"

"We love each other. That's a commitment in itself, the ring just symbolizes it."

Hyde's face from nights ago appears in my mind, but I quickly push the image of us out. I bite my lip, "James, I'm only sixteen."

His smile falters. "Oh. I understand."

"This doesn't change anything between us-"

"It does."

I bite my lip again, playing with my silver ring.

As he looks at me, his eyes are pleading. "Ana, you know I love you, but it feels like there's something going on. You've been distant, and I just didn't want to say anything because I didn't want to make you uncomfortable."

"There's nobody else, Jamie."

"It feels like there is. Even if it's not physical. You aren't..." he hesitates, glaring at the concrete, "...emotionally available."

"What do you mean by that? I am."

His head snaps up and his gaze meets mine as he points to my right hand. "That ring. The wolf one. I know Hyde gave it to you. Kelso told me. Why is it that you'll wear his ring but you won't wear mine?"

I scoff. "That is not the same thing. He just gave his to me because it got small on him! It didn't mean that he wanted to be with me forever."

"You play with it when you're anxious. It gives you comfort. I wish I could do that for you, but obviously I'm not the only one on your mind."

I hop off of the car defensively, crossing my arms. "That's absolutely ridiculous."

"Is it?" he spits bitterly. "I know you, Ana. And I care about you so, so much. But I'm not going to sit around pining for you, pretending that everything is okay when you don't completely reciprocate those feelings."

"James, I-"

"Maybe if you can't do that, we shouldn't-" he swallows, shoving his hands into his pockets.

My face hardens. "Say it."

"We shouldn't be together."

A beat passes before I nod stiffly. "So that's it, then?"

"That's it."

He snatches the box from the surface of the car and snaps it shut. "I'll miss you, Katya."

"I love you, Jamie."

He kisses my forehead quickly. "You just don't love me enough."

I watch as he climbs into his car and disappears around the corner where the children play. Pursing my lips and holding back tears, I stride into my house and take the sugar, butter, and flour out.

Twenty minutes later, I'm kneading the dough for my third batch of sugar cookies. I shove the circles into the oven and attempt to keep my mind from wandering by decorating the finished ones with little flowers and lace designs.

After washing my hands, I bite into a finished one, focusing on the warm, sweet taste. My still-unlocked door swings open, and Hyde bursts in. I can't decide whether I want him here or if he's the last person I want to see at the moment, but I don't say anything as I watch him search the drawers under my coffee table for whatever it is he wants.

"Hey, Princess, do you have a flyswatter or something that I can borrow? Kitty is freaking out over a bug and-" he halts as he finally takes notice of the mess I've made in my kitchen. "Woah."

He carefully steps closer. "What happened here?"

Our gazes meet and he frowns. "Princess?"

In a split second, I grab his face and smash my lips onto his. After quickly getting over the shock of the motion, he kisses me back eagerly and lifts me onto the messy counter.

As if realizing what he's doing, he pushes away from me. "Shit. Sorry, are you sure you-"

"Shut up," I mumble, pulling him back in. I don't know what I'm doing and I don't care. At this moment, I just want to forget about the events of tonight. I want him.

♜

oh my

She isn't going to take the breakup well

I can assure that there will be many more baked goods to come

And... other goods

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

Love you guys,

Lissy