Chapter Text
Can We Still Be Friends
Following an infamous, colossal catastrophe at the tailend of 1979, akin to the calamity on Apollo 13 a decade prior, can a new decade bring two former lovers back into each other's peaceful orbit? J/H, mostly. A bit of E/D, and a J/D and J/E friendship subplot. In the same universe as Two Worlds Apart.
"We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking for stars." -Oscar Wilde
Prologue: Shining Star
March 1980
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
8:00 am
Jackie Burkhart wants to live the high life.
She wants a beautiful house, a beautiful car, and a beautiful wardrobe. A wardrobe that would even make Audrey Hepburn or Grace Kelly blush with envy. Her closet would be filled to the brim with classy gems. Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Chanel...
But over time, she's realized that such an ambitious desire is a want, rather than a need. As long as she isn't dirt poor, constantly worrying about her financial situation, money can't really buy happiness.
Because scraping by? It's a tumultuous, terrifying feeling. It's a feeling of hopelessness and despair, as she attempts to wrap her mind around her troubling, new reality.
Daddy's in prison, so greedy that he lost everything, as the extended Burkhart family snickers at their immense misfortune. Fully immersed in their own, selfish little bubble, they are too ashamed to show their faces. Not necessarily because of his immoral actions, but they're ashamed he got caught.
Meanwhile, her mother is...somewhere, in her own, selfish little bubble. She's been spending what little is left on hotels and booze in Mexico, while putting the rest on credit. She hasn't heard from her in two months, and honestly? It's one less problem for her to deal with.
Because right now? She has a lot on her plate, and if one more thing is added to the pile, she feels like she might fall. Collapsing into a bloody heap, with no one to help her but God and the Formans.
And lately, God hasn't been on her side. He refuses to perform miracles, instead giving her the middle finger, so she has to perform miracles herself.
But the Formans? They're still rooting for her on the sidelines, even after everything she has gone through. Even if she's gone through hell and back, the Formans always offer to lend a helping hand. Even if they're strapped for cash, over the years, Mr. and Mrs. Forman have become the parents she's never really had.
Mrs. Forman, with her notorious heart of gold, has been desperate to help one of her basement children get back on her feet. Upset with an empty nest, she longs to aid another stray child, since they've all been leaving in droves.
"No, no. Mrs. Forman, I can't go back there. I'm finding the light at the end of the tunnel. I don't want to go back in the tunnel. I'm way too good for that."
A year ago, leaving everything behind would've been a massive punch in the gut, as she would miss her closest friends dearly. Except for Fez, who's still lingering in Point Place, they've all dispersed within a stone's throw from Lake Michigan. Michael is in Chicago, Eric and Donna are in Madison, and Steven...
Who cares about Steven? That boy that shattered her heart into a million little pieces and spat in her face, promptly forgoing what should have been an eternal bond. With a ring on her finger, a nice house, and maybe...eventually, a little family of their own?
But that's all down the drain now. Shoved towards choppy, frigid waters by her supposed beloved, she had stumbled into those waters long ago.
And she could've only remained afloat for so long. Before she froze into a icy statue and perished, sinking beneath the tumultuous waves. Never to be seen again.
Beautiful but cold and lifeless, she can't possibly resign herself to such a terrible fate. She's been climbing out, slowly but surely, trying not to think about the fact that Steven's now in Milwaukee, lurking behind some corner to jump out and scare her. Like a monster, or a clown.
But at this point, most of her once nearest and dearest friends have become monsters. Michael and Eric have mostly been left unscathed, merely by their conspicious absences, but the rest of them? Fez is a benign cyst with no direction, and Steven and Donna have become cancerous tumors.
Luckily, those cancerous tumors haven't been contagious to the others around them. Instead, that hideous cancer just ravages its host, transforming them into unrecognizable husks of their former selves.
From what Mrs. Forman's told her, her five wayward friends slowly been recovering. They're not quite to the point of being cured, and the worst aren't even to the point of remission, but they're slowly rebounding.
But what about Jackie Burkhart? She has nothing. Nothing. She's nearly broke, finanically and emotionally. She's left to scrape the bottom of the barrel, slowly inching her way back up the tantalizing edge. Where she can escape this mindless drivel, and achieve her wildest dreams.
But during these trying times, where are her friends? Nowhere, and honestly? To a certain extent, as she tries to leave her old life behind, it's been of her own accord.
*****
Beck's is a stereotypical hole in the wall diner, a relic from the fifties. Its shining, aluminum exterior is deceiving, because all that glitters isn't necessarily gold.
But the food is good, and pretty cheap. For decades, it has dutifully served hungry college kids various American classics, from milkshakes to cheeseburgers.
Situated in a prime real estate spot, right across the street from UW-Milwaukee, she can't help but eye her future from afar.
It's so close, yet so far away. Such an opportunity can't possibly pass her by, because contrary to popular belief, college isn't just for ugly girls. Or for girls who want to find a husband.
No way. She can't be that narrow minded. The college experience may be far from perfect, from the sketchy keggers to the smug frat boys, but it's a gateway to greatness.
Her acceptance letter awkwardly wedged in the glove compartment of her ugly brown Ford Pinto, a farcry from a shiny Mustang, college has become the key to her future success.
But like a shiny Mustang, she can't really afford it.
She's been scraping together enough to survive and hopefully, enough to save for tuition. She's been juggling two jobs, desperate to get back on her feet.
Working as a lowly waitress may be humbling...no, infuriating, but her second job is top notch. Worth her extensive effort, as she's promptly prepared to glisten in sweat to earn a living, she's been also working as an assistant for What's Up Wisconsin's rival Wake Up, Wisconsin.
She may despise the former position, extensively lowering her standards, but the latter? It's absolutely amazing.
But why, a humble bystander might ask? Because the two, bubbly hosts, Dora and Belle, are far more affable than the wretched Christine St. George. Which is why they have higher ratings, they would boldly claim.
"Well, you catch more flies with honey than vinegar," Dora explains, proud of their genuine strategy, "We contribute to the community, unlike the wicked witch of the west, who hoards everything for herself..."
Belle nods in agreement, but adds a notable caveat. "Which is why you need to use a little bit of vinegar once in awhile. You can't let everyone walk all over you. We're more than willing to call her out, and she hates us for it."
Compared to Christine St. George, they're a breath of fresh air. Yeah, they're eccentric, social butterflies, but they're not eccentric in that gaudy, Bob Pinciotti way.
Instead, they're shooting stars, as bright as Einstein and as classy and charismatic as Jackie O. Smashing through the glass ceiling, the two Silent Generation sisters aren't so silent, because they're local celebrities.
But they've earned such an accolade, because they help what she once called the unfortunate...or bums. It's not only a noble venture they thoroughly enjoy, but it gets them some good press.
And right now, she's kind of the unfortunate bum, and they're more than willing to nurture and guide her shining, bright light. Because they see her bright potential, and why wouldn't they? She's smart, sophisticated, and stunning.
Of course, they couldn't pass up such a worthwhile opportunity, as she proudly marched into their orbit, caution thrown to the wind. Like Mary Tyler Moore's infamous hat, she's determined to catapult not only into the sky, but into the depths of the galaxy.
Because she's Jackie Burkhart. As rare as Halley's Comet and as bright as the sun, she wants to shoot to the top, like a shooting, shining star.
But life doesn't work that way. Unless someone is really lucky and/or they have connections, in life, you have to climb to the top.
But she's trapped on planet Earth, as she straightens her waitress's uniform, the stiff, cheap cotton fabric scraping against her skin. But despite her discomfort, she has stars in her eyes, and she doesn't to dwell on the dreadful, earthly past.
Therefore, she hastily pushes her miserable, morose thoughts to the back of her mind as she enters the slightly derelict diner, and shoots for the stars.