"Settle down, settle down," groaned the school principal the following afternoon. Ree stood at the back of the auditorium alongside the rest of the gang, sans Jackie. Standing beside Donna, the blonde stared blankly as the man droned on and on about school events. She may have been involved in many school activities, but even Ree did not want to sit through this.
"Regarding the canned goods drive," the principal continued, much to the dismay of the students. "Motor oil is not a food," he announced. Students began to 'boo' him, including most of the gang from beside Ree. She rolled her eyes fondly at them.
"I'm sorry, it's not, and all your booing isn't going to make it one. Now, as you all know, President Ford will be visiting our fair city. I know that some of you ne'er do wells out there may be planning some "social statement" type protest."
Hyde rolled his eyes, muttering to the group, "Who cares if Ford is coming?"
"Well, it's better than when the Oscar Meyer Weiner-mobile came through," reminded Eric, shrugging his shoulders.
"They didn't even stop," added Donna. "They just slowed down and threw a bunch of hot dog whistles at us."
Ree shrugged, pulling her keys from her pocket. "I like my hot dog whistle." The hot dog whistle dangled for everyone to see.
Hyde smirked. "Two girls in a phallic R.V, driving around, handing out things you blow," he stated, before letting out a satisfied sigh. "What a great country."
Ree rolled her eyes at Hyde, "You had to make it dirty." She shook her head, turning her attention back to the principal's speech.
"So, let me tell you another thing, Mr. or Mrs. Punk," the principal spat, glaring the students down. "Protesting accomplishes nothing."
It was as if a lightbulb had gone on over Ree's head. She could protest Ford's speech! It was within her rights as an American citizen to do so, and she didn't agree with him. Why not take a stand?
Ree had no idea that, at the exact same moment, a lightbulb had gone on over Hyde's head as well.
"Oh, sure, you might see a chance to prove your manhood or show you're cool," the principal continued.
A lightbulb came on over Eric's head.
"But this is our president - our president, darn it! So, no shenanigans, you hear me?"
A lightbulb came on over Kelso's head.
"And if that's your kinda attitude, you might as well go home right now."
An exit sign lit up over Fez's head and he walked out of the auditorium.
The gang sat in the basement after school, discussing the assembly.
Hyde paced back and forth behind the couch, tossing a baseball back and forth between his bare and gloved hands. "We have to do something that says we won't pay homage to a corrupt, electoral system."
"I can't believe I'm saying this," spoke Ree from her seat on the beach chair beside the couch. "But I agree. We should take advantage of this opportunity and really give it to Ford."
Fez snapped his fingers, "I know!" He exclaimed, smiling. "A bloody coup!"
Everyone else eyed each other uneasily.
"That's good," said Hyde, pausing his movements. "But we're looking for something great."
"I got it!" Ree exclaimed with a smile of her own. Everyone stared at her attentively. "We make posters and hold them up at his speech."
YOU ARE READING
Edge of Seventeen, That 70's Show (HydexOC)
Fanfiction"But the moment that I first laid Eyes on him, all alone On the edge of seventeen" Valerie "Ree" Forman and Steven Hyde have hated each other since they were kids. They're like oil and water; they don't mix. They never have. But, as the gang of frie...
