Chapter 1: The Rundgren Concert

The year is 1976 in the small town of Point Place, Wisconsin four lone teenagers huddle together deep down in a local family's basement as a annual party is taking place. Nervously sitting in a chair Eric Forman a known nerd in the Wisconsin High School community remains locked eyes with three of his friends as a heated discussion continues. Donna Pinciotti his next door neighbor who is not only very tall but very beautiful as well. Michael Kelso your typical case of looks over brains. Steven Hyde a known government hating burnout in the community leans in towards Eric as the discussion wages on. A discussion that all teenagers at some point in their life have.

" Eric it is time."

" Why don't you do it?"

" It's your house. Listen to them up there. The party has reached critical mass. In 10 more minutes there will be no more beer opportunities!"

" If my dad catches me copping beers he'll kill me."

Reaching over Hyde slaps Eric on the knee.

" I'm willing to take that risk."

Leaning in Kelso adds to Hyde's argument right before Donna speaks.

" Don't worry about it. Just remain calm,keep moving…."

" And above all don't get stuck in my dad's hair."

Eric turns his attention away from Hyde to look towards Donna.

" What's wrong with your dad's hair?"

" Just don't look at it."

Getting up from his seat on the couch Hyde reaches over placing both of his hands on Eric's face before staring into his eyes.

" And Eric cold….definitely cold."

Giving Hyde a nod Eric quickly gets out of his seat and hurries up the staircase towards the party above them. Rushing up the stairs as fast as he can once he has reached the top Eric bumps into his mom Kitty Forman. The loving caring mother of two children that is known to be a great baker to everyone in the Wisconsin area.

" Oh Eric! Watch out pizza rolls! Hot! Hot!"

Letting his mother pass on by him while using her as cover Eric slowly sneaks into the living room area of his house when he reaches over grabbing two cans of beer that were sitting on the ledge behind the living room couch.

" Hey there Eric!"

Looking over Eric sees Bob Pinciotti sitting on the couch with a smile on his face. Bob Pinciotti a short chubby but very nice man to all those around him. Quickly approaching behind Bob Eric watches as Bob's wife Mitch puts her arm around Bob's shoulders. Mitch Pinciotti a known neighbor to all the boys in Eric's group. Not the sharpest tool but the boys don't care with her looks.

" Hello Mr and Mrs Pinciotti."

" Hey Eric how do you like Bob's hair? Isn't it groovy!"

With Bob looking away towards Mitch for a brief second Eric's eyes wander down to Mitch's rack before he looks back up to her face.

" It's incredibly groovy Mrs. Pinciotti."

Minutes later after some small talk with the Pinciottis slowly Eric has made it over towards a small ice bucket containing 6 ice cold beers. As he reaches in to grab two of the beers a voice forces him to pull back. The voice of his father Red Forman. A known war veterian in Wisconsin that is also known for his short temper and anger towards others.

" Eric."

" Hi dad."

" What the hell happened to Bob's hair? His head looks like a poodle's ass!"

" Beats me."

Eric gives his dad a small laugh as he watches his father bend down to grab two beers from behind the bar he is standing at.

" Boy just when you think you have seen everything."

" A poodle's ass walks into the party."

" Eric don't use the ass word. You are still in high school."

Taking his eyes off of his father Eric watches his mother puts a tray down on a nearby coffee table before he sees Mitch leaning in towards her.

" Kitty is that your Toyota in the drive."

Bob looks over from next to his wife with a unbelieved look towards Red.

" Red a Toyota?"

" Yeah it's mine. I tell you the last time i was that close to a Japanese machine it was shooting at me."

" Well honey it is the gas crisis. What can you do?"

" And you know Bob. Those SOBs at the dealership offered me a lousy 400 dollar trade in on the Vista Cruiser. It'll rust in the driveway before i trade it in."

" Whatcha gonna do."

Looking over to his father an idea pops into Eric's head.

" Hey pop. I'll take the cruiser off your hands. I don't care if it's a pump sucker."

While he is speaking Eric is unaware that he is gesturing with his hands as his father looks into each of his hands seeing two beers each that Eric was able to grab while he wasn't looking.

" What do you got there Eric?"

With his voice cracking Eric looks nervously at his father.

" Beer. I found it. Just sitting….you know….around."

" Well put them away son."

Watching his father leave the bar Eric quickly turns to exit the room when his mother calls out to him before she hands him two more beers.

" Oh honey! On your way to the basement would you pop these in the fridge. Their warm."

Quickly turning Eric exits out of the room heading back down towards the basement. Getting down the stairs quickly Eric sees Hyde & Kelso sitting on the couch with Donna sitting in a fold out chair to their left. With a wide smile Eric holds up the 4 beers in the hand which causes the three other occupants in the room to cheer loud.

" Good news my dad is thinking of giving me the Vista Cruiser!"

Leaning forward with wide eyes Kelso looks over to Eric as he sits down in the unoccupied chair to the right of the couch.

" You're getting a car?"

Leaning forward from her seat Donna looks over towards Eric before jokingly saying out loud.

" Have i told you how incredibly attractive you are Eric."

Kelso looks over to see Eric letting out a small laugh before he looks over towards Donna.

" You told me that you thought he was cute."

" No i didn't!"

" I remember cause you said not to say anything in front of Eric."

Seeing the stunned look on Eric's face Hyde leans forward out of his seat as he tries to break the tension in the room.

" Let's focus on what's important here people. Foreman stole something! To Foreman!"

Raising up his beer Eric looks around the room seeing everyone putting their beers together before he jokingly breaks off as he looks at Hyde.

" You know what's sad? This is the proudest day of my life!"

Going into a fake cry Hyde reaches over bringing him into a small embrace as all of them start to laugh.

A few days later the four members of the gang are sitting down in the basement this time joined by Kelso's girlfriend Jackie Burkhart. A attractive brunette girl who is not only known for her looks throughout the whole school and entire town but it also known to be a spoiled rich little girl to some around the town. As the gang watches an episode of the brady bunch on the television without any sound coming out of the television each other occupant listens in as Eric and Donna do the voices and their own dialogue for the episode. Looking over from the spot on the couch next to her current boyfriend Jackie looks over towards Eric as she sees in the corner of her eyes Donna getting off the ground to sit in a chair next to Eric.

" Eric why are we watching this without the sound? I'm totally confused?"

Looking away from the television screen Eric reaches over for a pair of earphones that are laying on the table in front of him.

" Sorry Jackie. Here use the earphone."

Taking the earphone with a small smile Jackie sits back down in her seat as she sees Kelso leaning over to talk to Eric.

" So what's the deal with the Vista Cruiser?"

" The deal is there is no deal yet."

" How are we gonna get to the concert?"

Hearing the last part Jackie quickly takes off the earphone to look at Kelso with a annoyed look.

" What concert?"

" Todd Rundgren."

" When?"

" This weekend."

" Oh. Who's going?"

" Um Eric and Donna….and me….and Hyde….and the foreign kid Fez. Pretty much everyone."

Seeing Jackie giving Kelso a death glare Eric reaches over quickly punching Kelso in the shoulder as a second later Kelso blurts out.

" And you!"

Looking over giving Eric a smile Jackie turns back towards Kelso with the same smile as her voice starts to raise from pleasant to angry.

" Oh good,good. Thank you for telling me Michael!"

Looking over to his left Eric watches Donna roll her eyes at him before she gets up from her chair quickly heading for the staircase to the basement.

" I'm going to go get a soda."

Sitting nervously on the couch for a few seconds suddenly Kelso pops out of his seat and quickly follows after Donna up the stairs as he doesn't catch the glare that Jackie is giving him on his way up the stairs.

" Micheal!"

Hearing the footsteps on the stairs stop Eric turns towards Jackie.

" Sorry about that Jackie. He was suppose to tell you about the concert a few days ago. I guess he just forgot to mention it to you?"

Taking her eyes off of the stairs Jackie gives Eric a small glare before she looks down and lets out a small huff.

" He has been doing that a lot of late. Why can't that idiot just tell me that he didn't want me at the concert!"

" Jackie it's not that really. Come on think about it. It's Michael Kelso we are talking about here. You know the same guy who thought he could fly if he jumped high enough off the roof of his house. The same guy who is constantly doing the stupidest things that anyone could think of. I'm sure he just forgot is all."

" Maybe you're right Eric. Thank you."

" Not a problem. Now come on. Let's see what your boyfriend is up to this time. Maybe if you are lucky the scarecrow found a wizard upstairs and wished for a brain."

Looking up with a small smile Jackie follows after Eric towards the stairs when Eric stops on the first step.

" For the record even if Kelso didn't tell you about the concert tonight i was gonna mention it to you later at school. After you helped me out at school with few of the guys a few days ago i bought you a concert ticket as a way to say thanks."

Racing up the stairs Eric doesn't see the wide smile on Jackie's face as she quickly follows after him up the stairs.

A day later as the gang hangs out in a local hub a few miles away from the Forman residence Jackie looks on over towards the pinball machine where she sees Hyde playing a game along with the foreign exchange student unknown by her to me named Fez. Shaking her head after what she had just heard come from Fez's mouth Jackie glances quickly over towards Eric before she looks at Kelso.

" Michael who is this guy?"

" Oh that's Fez. The new foreign exchange student."

" Who did we exchange him for?"

After a few seconds of looking into Kelso's eyes Jackie gets up from her seat as Hyde sits back down in his. Glancing over the table Jackie looks at Donna who is staring at the ground.

" Donna, I have to go to the ladies room."

Seeing Donna not respond Jackie rolls her eyes as she glances between Donna and Eric.

" Donna!"

Rolling her eyes Donna gets up from her seat and heads to the ladies room with Jackie following behind her. Once she hears the bathroom door close Donna turns to see Jackie walking over towards a mirror before she watches her look down.

" Why do i always have to go with you?"

Looking up Jackie looks at Donna before she stares into the mirror.

" I needed to ask you something. Do you think i should break up with Michael?"

" Jackie you probably should have done that months ago."

" Donna!"

" C'mon Jackie. You asked. I don't know. Do you like him at all?"

" I don't know Donna. It seems like every time i am with him that he is never listening to a word i am saying. I don't know. I feel like he is always taking me for granted. Sometime i feel like when i am with him that he is always glancing around at other girls. That he doesn't appreciate me at all."

" Well Jackie that is who Kelso is. Trust me i have known him for years. It's just the way he is and will alway be. If you feel he isn't right for you then break up with him."

What the ladies are unaware of is back at the table the same conversation is taking place as Kelso looks over towards Eric and Hyde.

" Kelso how long are we gonna have to deal with the whole Jackie experience?"

Looking over from his seat Eric gives Hyde a small annoyed look.

" C'mon Hyde. She isn't really that bad. Yeah she is sometimes bossy but she has her good moments too."

" You're just saying that Forman because she saved you the other day from getting your head caved in by the football jocks."

" Guys will you relax. You don't have to worry about her for long. I'm breaking up with her."

Taking his eyes off of Eric looking forward Hyde stares at Kelso with an unconvinced look.

" Never gonna happen."

" It's over! She is cutting into my free time."

Shaking his head Eric watches as the two ladies return to the table with Jackie having a blank face as she glances up from the ground to look towards him then Kelso before he watches as she looks back to the ground.

A few short hours later after being given the keys to the Vista Cruiser and being given a stern talk to by his parents about the responsibility he now has in owning a car Eric slowly starts tightening the tires of the Vista Cruiser as all 5 other members of the gang appear. Glancing over at the corner of his eye sees Kelso opening up the front passenger's door with Donna and Jackie behind him.

" Kelso that's so sweet."

" Actually i'm riding shotgun."

" No you're not!"

" Well i'm not riding in the back!"

Glaring into the back of Kelso's head Jackie quickly shakes her head as she steps forward putting a hand on each of Kelso's and Donna's shoulders.

" Why don't we let Eric decide? It's his car. He should get to choose. Right Eric?"

Getting over to the driver's door Eric looks over nervously at the group huddled at the passenger's door as he gets into the car.

" Jackie?"

" Yes Eric?"

" Get in front. The rest of you are in the back."

With a small smile Jackie squeezes her way past Kelso and Donna into the front seat as Kelso and Donna pout right before they squeeze into the back seats with Hyde and Fez. Glancing over in Eric's direction Jackie in his mirror sees Eric's dad coming up from the garage towards the driver's window.

" Taking her for a spin eh?"

" Yes sir."

" Well have a good time. One more thing about the car."

Moving closer Red leans down on the driver's window as he looks at his son.

" The cruiser, she's old so no trips out of town. Ever. Understand? Now have fun!"

Looking on seeing his dad enter the house Eric glances back to each member of the gang before looking back ahead.

" Well i guess that's that. We're not going."

" Eric it's your car remember?"

" You don't know my dad to well do you Jackie. He's god!"

Leaning in over his seat Kelso looks over towards Eric.

" Well i think god would want us to go to Milwaukee."

Glancing over at Kelso for a second Jackie gives him a nod before looking back at Eric.

" Do you want to go to the concert?"

" Yes i do Jackie. But if my dad finds out that i took the car out of the town he'll kill me!"

" Listen Eric it's your car. What does he know anyways. He is just old. It's your decision to make not his."

" It is my decision. And my decision is….we are going to the concert!"

Eric turns the key to the ignition as the gang cheers in the background. Pulling out of the driveway Eric starts heading down the road unaware of the small smile on Jackie's face.

After a hour of driving down the road the gang finds themselves at a gas station just on the outskirts of West Point after loud noises were heard coming from the hood of the car.

Looking down at the mechanic for a brief second Eric turns to see Kelso walking up to him.

" I'm telling you we are out of gas."

" We are not out of gas."

Popping up from the hood the mechanic turns to look at Eric.

" It's the battery. It's six years old and shot to hell."

Taking a step forward out of the car Jackie looks over at Eric.

" I know. I'll just call my dad. We will come to pick us up."

" You can't Jackie. Remember i am not suppose to take the car out of town."

" I'm not calling your dad."

Taking a step forward Hyde places his right hand on Jackie's shoulder to get her attention before taking a step back..

" Jackie our parents talk to each other about how we screw up."

" Why would they talk about that?"

Looking back over in Eric's direction Jackie watches him take a deep breathe.

" They can't help it Jackie. Say there is a party and all of our parents are there together…."

After a few minutes of hearing a detailed story being told by each other member of the gang suddenly Jackie's eyes widen as she sees Eric,Hyde,Kelso,and Donna doing the hustle with Fez attempting to copy them. Holding back the smile that is trying to sneak its way onto her face Jackie taps her right foot down hard on the ground.

" People! We are in the middle of nowhere and i have to go to the ladies room."

Turning around Jackie starts to leave before he stops in her tracks and glances over her shoulder at everyone.

" Donna!"

Rolling her eyes Donna starts to make her way towards the gas station with Jackie following behind her. Once the women are out of sight the mechanic turns over to look at the men of the gang before staying locked onto Eric.

" So where are you going?"

" Rundgren concert."

" Cool. You want a battery? Cause i can get you a battery."

" Are they cheap or possibly free?"

" Thirty two bucks minimum."

Out of the corner of his eye Eric watches Kelso stepping forward towards the mechanic before watches him place a hand on his shoulder.

" Alright i tell you what. We will trade you our battery plus five bucks for one of your batteries."

" Gee that's really a sweet deal. How about this. How about one battery for two concert tickets?"

" We can't give you two concert tickets."

Looking over Eric watches as the mechanic shrugs his shoulders and walks away from them before he turns his attention back to Kelso.

" It's either that or none of us get to go."

" So who's out?"

Shaking his head Hyde places a hand on Kelso's right shoulder.

" Well there is always Jackie."

" Of course Jackie. I mean Jackie is gone regardless but who else?"

With a small laugh Eric takes a step forward.

" Oh i don't know. Maybe Jackie's date."

" That is so not fair. Both of you know i am breaking up with her! Besides you should be the one Eric! You are the one that bought her the concert ticket."

" You know Kelso does have a point Foreman. You are the one that bought the spoiled princess the concert ticket after all."

" Because her boyfriend didn't bother to. Come on man it's my car. Without me none of you would be going. Why don't i get to go?"

" Eric it like you said. It's either that or none of us get to go."

Signing Eric reaches into his pocket pulling out two concert tickets from within before handing them to Hyde. As he watches Hyde and Kelso leave in the direction of the mechanic Eric turns to see Donna and Jackie return to the car.

Seeing Eric shaking his head Jackie looks over towards him as he turns to look towards her and Donna.

" Hey what's wrong Eric? Are we going to get a new battery?"

" Yeah but there was sort of a catch. We had to make a deal with the guy."

" Deal? What kind of deal?"

" We had to trade him two of the concert tickets to get a battery for the car."

" Oh. Well then who isn't getting to go to the concert then?"

" Well i traded in my concert ticket. As for the other concert ticket you will have to ask Hyde and Kelso about that Jackie."

Giving him a small nod Jackie starts walking in the direction of where she sees Kelso and Hyde talking to the mechanic.

A few hours later after the new car battery was placed inside of the Vista Cruiser deep in the parking lot of the concert Eric and Jackie are sitting in the driver's and passenger's seats of the Vista Cruiser with the windows down as they listen in to the music coming from the distance.

" I can't believe this! I can't believe that Michael went into that concert without me! Me Jackie Burkhart his girlfriend!

After a few seconds of awkward silence Jackie with a small sigh looks over towards Eric from her seat.

" And you. How could they make you give up your concert ticket! You are the one who drove all of us here to begin with!"

" It's alright Jackie. It was either i gave up my ticket or nobody would have got to go to the concert. It's alright really."

" No Eric! It's not alright! You should be at that concert right now instead of Michael! God he is such a jerk! Why am i even dating him!"

Seeing Eric going silent Jackie looks out her window before she turns back to look at Eric.

" So Eric can i ask you something?"

" Yeah sure. What do you want to ask?"

" Do you like Donna?"

" What?"

" Do you like her?"

Taking a deep breathe Eric shrugs his shoulders quickly before looking back ahead through his window.

" I don't know. Why do you want to know Jackie?"

" It's obvious that she likes you."

" How do you know that?"

" Eric everyone has noticed it. Heck even Michael notices it. So come on tell me. Do you like her?"

" I really don't know Jackie. We have been friends ever since we were little. I just don't know. I like her but i don't know if i like her like her. You know what i mean?"

Looking over Eric watches Jackie give him a small nod before she turns to look back out her window. While keeping his eyes on her a small smile appears on Eric's face as he starts to hum to the music outside before he starts to whisper out.

" We better get walkin, we're wastin time talkin now."

Looking over from her window a small smile starts to form as Jackie hears Eric singing the lyrics of the song from the concert.

" Talkin bout things about that special one."

Eric points a finger at Jackie as he hears a small giggle from her before she starts to sing with him."

" They may be stupid, but they sure are fun."

" I'll give it to you while we're on the run."

" Because we ain't got time to get this thing together, cause."

" We got to get together with a woman who has been around."

" One that knows better than to let you down."

" Let's hope there's still one left in this whole town."

" And she'll take some time to get this thing together, cause."

" Get this thing together, cause."

" Get this thing together, cause."

" We gotta get you a woman."

" We gotta get you a woman."

" We gotta get you a woman."

" And when we're through with you."

" We'll get me one too."

Both let out a small laugh as they hear the cheer of the crowd at the concert as they continue to laugh in their seats with smiles on their faces.

After what each member of the gang called a fun night each member of the gang has scattered after arriving back at the Forman house where now Eric and Donna are now laying on the hood of the Vista Cruiser with each staring at the stars above. To none of their knowledge a lone figure is watching them closely from the shadows.

" Sorry about you getting stuck with Jackie again Eric. I feel bad really. Not only did you not get to go to the concert but you were stuck in the car with Jackie."

" Don't be sorry. She is actually nice to be around once you get to spend a little time with her. I actually had a good time tonight with her."

" Oh. What did you guys actually do tonight?"

" We just listened to the music in the background before we had you know small talk to kill the time."

" What did you guys talk about?"

" You know just stuff. We talked a little about school and how i met each of you guys. I might have told her a different version of how i met you."

" I bet you didn't tell her that i punched you so hard in the stomach that you fell to the ground right?"

Letting out a small laugh Eric gives Donna a nod as she starts to laugh with him. After a few seconds of keeping eye contact with her suddenly Eric sees Donna moving her body off of the hood of the Cruiser.

" I'm gonna call it a day. Goodnight."

" Goodnight."

As Eric watches Donna leave towards her house Eric slowly slides over to the middle of the hood before placing his heads behind the back of his head. Looking up to the sky a smile comes to his face as he suddenly starts to hum the lyrics of a song he had just sang a few hours ago with Jackie. While he is humming Eric is unaware of a smile coming to the figures face as they disappear back around the corner of the house.