Edge of Seventeen, That 70's Show (HydexOC)

five.

Ree slumped into the kitchen the next morning, running a hand through her long, blonde hair and making a beeline for the coffee pot. As she began to pour the steaming, hot liquid into her favorite mug, her mother's voice called out to her, "Sweetie, you're too young for coffee - have some milk."

"I need the caffeine," groaned Ree.

"So, what kind of gifts do the two of you want?" Red asked as Ree sat down beside Eric, grabbing a piece of toast from the middle of the table. "Don't worry about the cost, as long as it's reasonable."

"Alright," nodded Eric. "I would like a cassette player for the car. A cassette, not an eight-track," he emphasized. "No eight-track, okay?"

"You know, I don't know why they don't just put record players in cars," laughed Kitty, shaking her head.

"What about you, Pumpkin?" Red asked, giving his youngest a soft smile.

"I'd like some new books, I can give you a list," Ree shrugged. "And some records? I can give you a list for those, too."

"Records and books, sounds good, sweetheart," Kitty said, smiling.

"Okay, but guys, just remember: I don't want an eight-track tape player," Eric repeated, stressing the words out slowly.

"Then you won't get one," said Red, while his head was still stuck in the newspaper.

"Oh, but, Honey, he wants one," said Kitty, causing Ree to giggle.

Eric sent his mother an exasperated look, "No, I want a tape player, just not an eight-track."

"Just stop saying the words 'eight-track'', Eric," suggested Ree as Red passed her the parts of the newspaper he had already read.

"You'll get a Delco," said Red with a smile as Ree began to read. "A genuine G.M part for your genuine G.M car."

"It doesn't have to be a Delco; it's just for music," Eric said through a spoonful of cereal.

Red folded his newspaper. "See, now there's your first mistake," he said, sending Eric a stern look. Ree watched on while munching her toast, enjoying the show. "Parts have to be compatible, Eric." Red fixed Eric with a hard stare. "You're not burning cheap gas in that car, are ya?"

Eric and Ree caught each other's eyes, knowing that that's all they had been putting into the Cruiser. "No, sir," lied Eric, shaking his head.

Red stared at him as if he didn't believe him, but soon returned to his newspaper.

"Well, I'm going out," said Eric, quickly getting up to put his bowl in the sink.

Kitty hopped up from her seat, dashing for a ten dollar bill on the counter. "Oh, I want you to run to the store for me and get a large can of frosting and fifteen small bags of M&M's - plain, not peanut."

Eric and Ree both stared at their mother.

Kitty looked back and forth between the twins before she began to laugh uncomfortably. "They're for your sister."

Eric shook his head and began to walk away when Red called out to him. The teen turned back around, "Yeah, Dad?"

"Take your sister with you and let her drive," he ordered. "This'll be the first driving lesson."

Ree and Eric groaned in unison.

"Go," growled Red, not looking back up from his newspaper any further.

Ree sighed, folding her half of the paper up and setting it down on the table. She put her plate in the sink before following her brother through the kitchen door, which Eric purposely banged his head into.