𝑷𝑳𝑨𝒀 𝑫𝑨𝑻𝑬 - Steven Hyde

sixty four

64|SLUMBER PARTIES

Marigold sighed and wandered into the basement in an old graphic tee and black panties, looking for her sweat shorts in the clean washing.

"Hey." Hyde greeted her as he, Eric and Fez walked into the basement. "Is that my shirt?"

"It's comfy." She answered shortly, ignoring his and Fezs eyes on her legs and ass. She bent down slightly to pick up the grey shorts and quickly threw them on before leaving to go to Donna's house. "I'll see you boys later."

"Have fun with Jackie and Blackie!" Eric laughed causing her to scrunch up her nose and narrow her eyes.

"I'm going to go get some Cracker Jack's." Annette finally broke the awkward silence. The four girls were sat around the living room doing nothing and not talking.

"She's so cheap, she could be the prize in the Cracker Jack's." Jackie scoffed, earning a high five from Goldie who was sat cross legged on the floor painting her toe nails.

"Wow. You're jealous." Donna laughed, flicking through a magazine.

"I am not jealous." The shorter girl chuckled, putting down her nail file briefly. "I just want to pop that inflatable bitch and watch her fly around the room."

"Look, here's the thing, Jackie." Donna put down her magazine to turn and face the girl. "Kelso likes bossy, vain, shallow princess types, and since you're no longer available, he shipped one in from out west."

"He's not supposed to replace me." Jackie said, starting to become emotional which caused Goldie to put down her nail polish and listen. "He's supposed to sit around and pine for me."

"You can't have your cake and eat it, too." The ginger sighed.

"Oh, my God! It is always about food with you." Jackie snapped, throwing her hands around. "Its like you're not even listening.

"Okay. New rule for slumber parties, Annette wears a robe." Bob led the blonde back into the room before leaving again. Annette put on a short silk robe before the girl went back to practically ignoring each other and doing their own thing.

"So did you guys hear about that woman who might be the first female member of the Supreme Court?" Donna tried to break the silence.

"No." Jackie shook her head, not caring about political things. "But I did hear the Dallas Cowboys might hire their first redheaded cheerleader."

"Ew!" Annette shivered in disgust causing Marigold and Donna to roll their eyes.

"That's exactly what I said." Jackie stated before gasping and looking at Donna. "Uh oh, redhead in the room."

Annette whispered into Jackie's ear causing her to laugh but when Donna tried to find out what they were talking about the both replied with a "nothing".

"Goldie?" Hyde rushed into the room in panic. "You need to come now, it's your grandfather."

~•~

Marigold sat in the waiting room, hugging her knees to her chest as she shivered. She had forgotten to grab a coat before they drove to the hospital.

"Here." Hyde threw his coat over her shoulders before returning to his magazine. "Before you freeze to death in those short shorts."

"Thank you." She mumbled, trying to hold back her tears. Hospitals were filled with bad memories and she worried a new one would be created today.

"They got ice cream in the cafeteria." Kelso waltzed into the room with excitement.

"Ice cream? Kelso, my Grandpas in Intensive Care." Eric snapped, trying to hold back his emotions.

"Yeah, but I told them it was my grandfather so I got the ice cream for free." The taller boy said happily, showing it off.

"Put it down." Red stood and gestured to the white bowl.

"Fine, but when my burritos ready, I'm eating it." Kelso argued back before placing the bowl beside Fez.

"How are you?" Hyde glanced over at the quiet girl beside him, admiring the way her hair fell like a curtain over her face.

"I hate hospitals." Marigold replied, leaning a cheek on her knee so she could look at the boy. "I spent a week here waiting for my mum to recover but she never did."

"Want to talk about it? You know I'm always here for you." He offered, putting down his magazine to give her his full attention.

"My father was a good man but he was having an affair with his secretary. He found out she was pregnant and forced her to have an abortion." Goldie began to tell him about her parents. "She was so upset that she came to the office the next day when me and my mum were visiting and shot my father, then my mother before shooting herself in the head."

"Shit! You witnessed it all?" She nodded a reply and wiped away the stray tears, lifting her head when she saw her Aunt enter the waiting room.

"Kitty, hows Burt?" Red placed a comforting hand on his wife's arm.

"Well, I don't know how to say this." She mumbled, wiping her hands on her trousers nervously. "Daddy's gone to a better place."

"No." Marigold let the tears fall. She had lost another family member so quickly without even saying a proper good bye. Hyde embraced the crying girl, letting her cry into his shoulder as he rubbed circles on to her back.