Eric parked his car in the driveway, today had been longer than expected for him. But he wasn't as tired as he first believed; instead he was hungry. It was after 8 p.m. now so he knew he'd be eating alone. He got out his car and walked to the glass door to the kitchen. His mother, Kitty, was just finishing cleaning the dishes when she heard the door open.

She smiled, "Oh there's my baby!" Her hands were wet with soapy water, she wiped them on a towel she had lying beside her for the dishes. He had walked past the table to her and was soon enveloped in a hug, "So how was it? Did you get the job?" Eric didn't say anything, just nodded. Kitty beamed and clasped her hands together, "Oh that's so great honey, I'm really proud of you." Kitty hadn't seen her son these past weeks, in the sense of who he used to be. He was quieter, the breakup had hit him hard and she knew something drastic was going to happen.

So when Eric one day told his parents that he wanted to leave the grocery store to pursue something else she wasn't surprised, Red was.

"The food's in the oven honey, it should still be warm, you haven't eaten yet, right?" she looked at hime skeptically, she would hope that he knew better than to eat out when he knew she was cooking but transformations could change someone, Eric just chuckled and responded, "Of course not, I wouldn't miss one of your meals for the world."

Kitty smiled, her son could say the best things sometimes, "Well sit down sit down and tell me how it all went." Eric sat at his usual spot at the dining table while his mother took the food out the oven. He waited until she sat down with him and the food to begin speaking; she'd made chicken with rice, green beans and biscuits. He told her about the interview, how he was nervous, the manager being a little, how he thinks this might be good for him.

Kitty sat and listened, something was different from the Eric that left this evening for the Interview. She didn't think too hard on it she was just happy Eric was being sociable again, "Well that's great honey, honestly I didn't know what to think, I thought you'd be back at earlier than this."

Eric nodded, "Yeah I was leaving the interview when I saw Jackie, haven't seen her in weeks. So we caught up a little bit, then; which I still find crazy she… persuaded me to ask my manager if she was hiring, talked to her, got the job on the spot I might add, quit the job she was at then I drove her home."

"Oh wow… You had yourself a little adventure with that Jackie girl huh?"

"Yeah… you know it was kind of weird at first-"

"Well why's that weird honey? She's over here all the time with all your other friends."

"That's true, but she was only there because of Kelso, it's not like we were friends, just friends by association."

"Mmm I don't think so honey, you don't get your friend by association or whatever you call it a job where you just started working at."

"Mom… you don't know how persuasive Jackie can be."

"Yeah… she is a cutie."

"That isn't what I meant-" "I know I know, I was just making an observation, well I'm going to go watch TV with your father, clean up when you're done hon." Kitty kissed him on the forehead and was through that door that wasn't really a door they had to the living. Eric finished his food with haste; he was famished over the day and the ride back from Jackie's he could feel his stomach chastising him for taking that detour with Jackie without getting himself a snack. He cleaned his plate with vigor; his mother was a great cook, and washed it when he was done.

He felt exhausted but something told him not to go upstairs and sleep, his friends were in the basement and he mused Hyde was probably on his second to last nerve with Fez, he should also relieve some stress.

"Fez man you shouldn't sit so close to the TV, you'll go blind like that."

"Ah, I should already be blind by what I do in bed…..by myself"

"You goof that doesn't make you blind, that gets you hairy palms."

Fez looked at his hands, he studied them closely as he got up from the television and back to the farthest right side of the couch, "Oh boy, this could be bad."

Eric walked down the stairs to see Hyde in his usual spot, arms folded at his chest, transfixed to the tv, while Fez, eyes transfixed to his hands, mumbling something about hairy palms. Hyde heard the footsteps and turned to see Eric, "Well look who it is, how'd the interview go?" Eric shrugged as he walked to the couch, "Well you know me, I went in there used my good looks and charm and got the job." Fez sucked his teeth, "good looks and charms? I'd say you're adorable and needy at best."

"Well either way we're gonna celebrate." Hyde took out a box, a box that contained the necessities for these three boys to have a good time; weed, it was weed.

"Weren't you supposed to be here like an hour or two ago?"

"Yeah about that, I saw Jackie today, after I got the job I saw her when she got off, funny thing is, she got a job there too." Hyde was mid rolling when he paused, "So you're working with Jackie Burkhart now?" Eric nodded, "jeez Forman, I had no idea you were such a glutton for punishment, first you leave you cushy job at the department store-" "-I wouldn't call working for Red a cushy job." "-then you get a job at a clothing store with the infamous Jacqueline Burkhart, who's probably one of the most annoying and superficial girls we've ever met. I mean Jesus man; do you want to have a good Summer or not?"

Eric sat back put his hands behind his head and thought, Summer, what the hell is going to happen this Summer? He relived the past few hours in minutes, mind wandering back to his moments with the brunette, they were so new to him, those interactions. They never had that with themselves, Hyde nudged him in the shoulder, "Lost in thought?" Eric shook his head, "No I'm fine, I missed this you know, us together, watching TV, hanging out... getting high." Hyde laughed, "It's nice to see you down here man." The lighter flicked.

Jackie laid on the edge of her bed, feet sprawled towards the floor; most of her nights had been spent like this. She'd become a recluse, never leaving the house save for the moments she went to work. Now in a span of hours and a decision she felt that needed to be made she had a new job and one could say a new friendship; maybe friend was pushing it. But that was matters she would worry about later; her main priority would be picking an outfit for the first day of work. The first day outfit was important, Jackie would spend weeks on the first day outfit of r school and while this wasn't as big as first day of school but still an important task. She was rummaging through her closet for about a half hour when one of her maids called on her, "Ms. Burkhart?" "What is it?" "Someone's on the phone for you, a young man named Eric."

Eric? Calling her? That's a first. "Tell him I'll be right there." She didn't even hear the phone ring, walking back to her bed she sat down and picked up the phone, "Yes Eric." "Oh, Hey Jackie it's Eric." "I know that I just said your name." "Oh, sorry I was just… I already had what I was going to say in my head when you picked up and I couldn't think of anything else so… sorry." Jackie waved Eric's awkwardness as just him and changed the subject, "So why am I getting a call from you at; what is it; 10 o' clock at night?" "Oh uh, I was just seeing if you needed a ride to work Tuesday?" Oh, that's nice of him. "I already asked my maid Rosalita to come and drop me of, but if you can take me home after we get off that'll be sweet of you." Eric chuckled, "Well I aim to please." "Mmm I bet you do, you pick out what you're wearing to work yet?" "A shirt with pants" "A shirt with…. Eric! This is a big deal you're going to be representing the brand of Janet's and you're just wearing a shirt with some pants?" "Jackie…we're working a part time job I'm pretty sure it's not a big deal." Jackie gave an exasperated sigh, "I guess I'm the only person that cares about making a good first impression… can you at least iron your clothes?" "Fine Jackie fine, I'll ask my mom that you request that my clothes be ironed for my first day of work." Jackie rolled her eyes, "At least try to look presentable, if it does help I've seen a pretty girl working there a few times, granted not as pretty as me but she might have some assets you may like." "Nobody's prettier than you Jackie-" "I know you're joking but I'm taking the compliment anyway." "and what do you mean by 'assets'?" "She's a redhead." "That's not an asset I… you know what we're not going to do this, you have a great night Jackie and I hope you find the perfect outfit." "Sarcasm again, but I will and you too, don't be late for work," and she hung up the phone.

Jackie was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was talking to Eric. She hoped working with him would be the same. She went back to her closet to continue her first day outfit routine, hell she might just create outfits for the whole week, she had nowhere else to go. She pondered on Eric's house again, she did miss the boys she wondered if they missed her presence as well, probably not. Eric did say she was always welcome, she might take him up on that offer, sitting in the house every day with nothing to do was way past its expiration date.

A/N: And Chapter 3 is down, happy to say I'm still pretty motivated to finish this story, next chapter is going to be the first day of work. I'm still looking to do a chapter a month or more if time and work let's me. Anyway I really don't have much to say this time, as always; thanks for reading, review if you want critiques are always welcome, I love you all, have a great day.