Author Note: This is my first story, so please be kind. This is a AU Eric/Jackie romance story that is my take of the California scenario, only with EJ as the central pairing, I always had the feeling of how things could have gone at the end of season 3 and season 4, so what better place to put it than in a Fanfiction website?
Enjoy!
10:20 - Eric Forman's Basement - 1978
Eric sat on the basement couch, the TV was off and the basement was silent, only Eric's head was buzzing with more than he could handle.
Last night, he didn't get any sleep and wouldn't have been able to even if he wanted could have, he completely regretted what happened the previous night with Donna and Casey Kelso, much like other events in his life, the way he wanted things to happen didn't happen, and the events he didn't want to happen, did.
Eric scoffed at that logic if there was any.
He tried to tell Donna that Casey was no good, but she didn't listen to him, of course. Granted, the redhead was still his friend as much as she bared no speck to what he once knew, he just didn't like at all how Casey used Donna.
Eric was so engulfed in his own thoughts, he didn't hear the door open with his mother soon calling his name, he shot his head up and saw his mother and unfortunately, Donna. She looked much better than when he saw her last, but she looked like hell.
"Oh, what?" Eric asked suddenly.
Kitty looked somewhat giddy, "Donna wanted to talk to you." she informed him.
"O...kay." Eric replied strangely as he stood up, he stood there awkwardly as he waited for his mother to leave, but she just stood there, he wanted to laugh despite the strong tension in the air, "Mom…?"
"Oh!" Kitty said as she turned around to give them privacy, "You two talk it out…!" she singsonged as she left the basement, discreetly winking at Eric.
"Good Lord." he stated silently to himself after she left, "So…" Eric started, "...are you alright?" he asked.
Donna looked at him emotionally loaded eyes, "Yeah, sure…"
"...no…" she corrected herself, "I was such...a dumbass." Donna added, her tone radiating expectant pity, she mirrored Eric's reaction movements on nervously balancing herself weight on her feet...Eric remained on level ground.
Eric wasn't going to have any of that and let out a cold laugh, "Yeah, you were…"
Donna glared, but it soon fell as she nodded, "Yeah, I deserved that." she admitted.
Eric rolled his eyes and soon got impatient, "Okay…? Donna, why are you here? To explain what I've already known for months? Then you're wasting your time." he shot back at her, losing his cool all too quickly.
Donna was obviously taken back, Eric still wasn't finished, "Donna, I've tried to show you how bad Casey was, and you treated me like dirt in return. Even before Casey...and while we were together! It's like I don't even know who you are anymore, you're off getting drunk in the middle of a school day? Me and our friends hardly see you. What the hell happened to you?" he retorted.
Donna groaned dramatically, dropping all signs of her 'pity me' scheme, "Eric, you were the one who broke up with me! You are what happened to me! Don't act all innocent with me." she shot back, now getting upset with him.
"Don't tell me how to act, it's hypocritical coming from you of all people. You got on my case for doing things when you have done far worse. You cheated on me with Hyde, and then Jackie - Jackie ended up telling me in front of everyone we know!" Eric yelled loudly, his voice was able to echo once in the basement.
Eric sighed and looked down then back up, "Sorry." he said simply, this probably wasn't what she needed right now. no matter how much she deserved it.
Donna shook her head, "No, Eric. You're in the right and I deserve what I'm getting. Don't be sorry." she told him, her voice seemed to have an undercurrent of some message he didn't want to hear.
Eric rolled his eyes, he wished some roads didn't have to be gone down in life, if he could have a get out of jail free card for one brutally uncomfortable situation in his life, he would have cashed in his chips the second Donna walked in.
Eric was about to disregard her feelings and turn around to go drive aimlessly in his car, but Donna's tears rolled down as she strolled over to him, and hugged him, Eric sighed and he awkwardly put his arms around her, not really knowing what else to do.
"I'm sorry, Eric." she choked out in his neck, "I'm so sorry."
Donna pulled back only to match her lips with his for less than a second before he ripped himself away, "Woah! What are you doing?" Eric scolded her, stepping back a few feet.
Donna was taken back, "What? I thought we were-"
Eric held his hand up, "NO!" he yelled, "What am I to you? Some idea given to you by a therapist? 'Take one Eric when feeling down'? What would make this any different from when your mom left, huh?"
His red headed neighbor stepped forward, "This wouldn't! I love you, Eric! Can't...can't we pretend this break up never happened?" she pleaded.
"No! Donna…I'll always be your friend, but...I'm not gonna be your second choice…" Eric stated firmly.
Tears came out of her eyes, "Eric, you're not! You're not!" Donna assured, but Eric shook his head and looked down.
Donna sniffled and quickly turned around to leave, opening the door sent Kitty stumbling in, Donna was up and out of the basement.
"Thanks immensely for the privacy, Mom." Eric said flatly.
Kitty glared at him with shock, "Y-y-you just wait down here." she told him sternly, with that, she darted up the stairs to, who Eric assumed, Red.
He wasn't stay around for that!
Eric strolled up the steps that led to the backyard, he ran his forearm over his forehead and then took wide steps to the Vista Cruiser to go on the drive he had been craving for all morning, he would take it now before he was bothered furthermore.
"Eric!" a voice so shrill that could only belong to the spawn of such rich devilish parents, the brunette Jackie Burkhart echoed in his ears.
Eric gritted his teeth and cursed to himself as he just opened the door, "Goddamnit, come on!" he stated loudly, actually in hopes that Jackie would hear it so she would know he didn't want to be her presence.
The clapping of Jackie's heels on the cement crept up to him, "Eric! Have you seen Michael? I can't find him…" Jackie asked quickly before Eric even turned to face her.
"No, Jaqueline." he replied sternly and then turned to face her.
Jackie sighed and looked around hopelessly, "Darn it, I haven't seen him since yesterday, I looked at all his usual hideouts and I need to find him!" she said exasperated.
Eric nodded feigning interest resting his elbow on top of the car door, "Well, have you checked the playground?" he asked before breaking into a laughing grin.
Jackie threw her arms up, "Yes, of course! That was the first place I looked, you idiot! the fiery brunette retorted.
Eric rolled his eyes and wordlessly lowered himself in the car, and shut the door.
Jackie lowered herself to his already rolled down window, making Eric regret he left it so the last time he was in the car, "Wait, wait! Where are you going?" she asked curiously.
Eric groaned audibly, "I'm going for a drive, there's too much drama going on around here for my taste." he replied annoyed.
Jackie gasped, "Wait! Can you give me a ride home? Michael might have stopped by there!" she told more than she asked.
Eric was about to reply negatively before Jackie replied for him, "Okay, cool! Thanks!" she said with a smile before running around to the passenger side door.
"Wait, what? Geez, forget it…" Eric said already defeated.
With the morning he had, he was in no mood to argue, not even enough to scold himself for giving up so easily for letting Jackie decide for him.
Jackie slid in to the seat and shut the door, and proceeded to put her seat belt on, Eric looked over to her and she looked pretty gorgeous today, curled hair, skin tight blue jean, a blue striped t shirt with a zip up red hoody.
There was no denying Jackie Burkhart was pretty, but Eric continued to tell himself he had no opinion on her beauty, "Ya know, Jackie...you can't go through life acting so bossy. It won't fly in the real world." Eric informed her, starting up his car.
Jackie laughed, "Eric, I'll just be a boss when I grow up!" she assured him with a smile.
Eric nodded, "Solid plan, Jacks." he replied sullenly, Jackie stared at him for calling a name that wasn't 'Devil' or 'Bitch', but her actual name, a variation of that even. She kinda liked it.
After a few minutes of silence, Jackie had to speak up since Eric wasn't, it was like he was aware he wasn't talking to her, he appeared to be elsewhere, "Are you okay? What's up with you?" Eric's brunette passenger asked, her tone was neutral, not leaning towards 'not caring' and not leaning towards 'concerned', she was in the middle.
Eric paused and licked his lips, he thought he might as well let someone know how he felt about this whole thing, even if it was just Jackie Burkhart.
Eric cleared his throat softly, "Well...Donna wanted to get with me again and I feel like no one-"
"Ughh!" Jackie groan interrupted him, "Why does she keep doing that? The thought of you two doing that just-ugh!" Jackie said as her face had a disgusted look on her face.
Eric shook his head at her stupidity, "No! She wanted us to get back together, Jackie! God!" he shot at her.
Silence followed, Jackie didn't enjoy it, "I don't know why Donna even would want that anyway, Eric. I can't imagine you were anything special in bed from what she's told me." Jackie told him as if her words were making him feel better…
Eric soon slammed on the breaks, he reached over and aggressively opened her door, "Get out. You can walk." he shot at her, the last thing he wanted was his sex life reduced to nothing by Jackie Burkhart. She never had sex with him!
Jackie held up her hands, realizing how she was sounding, "Okay! I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I'll keep my mouth shut!" she frantically told him, Eric went back to the steering wheel and left Jackie to shut her door, "Don't say another word, Jackie." Eric said warningly.
Yet another silence overcame the two, Jackie looked out the window and regretted what she did, how often did Eric open up to her? Jackie knew Eric's mind was overrun in turmoil or God knows what else.
"We could just talk about my hair!" Jackie joked.
She was, dare she say, happy to see him laugh...looked like it was long overdue.
"Okay, you can talk just don't about your hair though. Tell me why you're looking for Kelso this early." Eric suggested.
The raven haired beauty gasped, "Oh, my God! I didn't tell you! Michael proposed to me! We're getting married!" Jackie exclaimed, her smile and pure happiness almost made Eric feel nice inside. It was nice to be around such positivity and not Donna Drama!
Eric's eyes widened, "Really? Kelso proposed to you? Where?"
Jackie was overflowing with giddiness, "The Hub!" she replied, her smile could have gone wider if her face had let her.
Eric snorted a laugh, "Well, that's the hot spot of all things romantic." he replied, his sense of humor shining through.
Jackie scoffed, "Well, at least it wasn't at the water tower where we could've fallen off, him using me to cushion the blow.
Her chauffeur chuckled, "That's one funny image. Anyway, congrats...I guess." he stated with a smile.
Jackie blushed and smiled back, this was one rare thing for them, "Well, thank you. I might not put you in the back row at my wedding." she informed him as he turned down the isolated road to her house.
Eric held his hand to his chest, "Jackie, you don't have to do that. Seriously, don't do that. The back is where I'd prefer to be at your wedding." he teased, he turned down into her driveway.
Jackie smacked his bicep, "Ask and you shall receive, Eric." she retorted, the car came to a stop in front of her mansion of a house.
Jackie opened her door, "Thanks for the ride!" she thanked him sweetly and departed from the car.
Eric watched as she disappeared into her house, he couldn't believe how civil they just were with each other, anyone would say they were friends. Granted the car ride didn't start great, but it ended fairly well…
Eric chuckled, "Why can't she be like that all the time?" he asked himself, he turned the engine over and proceeded to exit the Burkhart estate, ready to take his drive around town in peace.
Author Note: Please be kind! It's my first story! Reviews aren't bad! ;-)