The basement was cold. Cold and empty. Eric and Donna were at the Hub. Fez and Laurie felt so guilty about Red's heart attack that they were always at the mall buying him things to make him feel 'comfortable'. Kelso was off nailing his new blonde bimbo even though he promised that he would wait for Jackie. Jackie was, well, Jackie was in Aculpoco with her Mom for the summer. The only one left was Hyde. Well, Hyde and his new acquaintance. Quote. Unquote. She was not unlike Kelso's new project. She was blonde, beautiful, and stupid. Cat Peterson was everything a guy could ever want: an easy lay.
" Hyde, we have to get out of this basement. The fumes are flattening my hair." she whined
" What's wrong with the basement?" he asked never taking his eyes off the TV.
" There's dust, mold, and I don't think it's been cleaned since 1969."
" Whatever." he muttered.
Zen was back. After he blurted his true feelings for Jackie and she refused them, Zen and the art of Motorcycle mania was definitely back.
" That's all you ever say. Whatever, cool, and okay! I want you to talk to me!" she shouted
"Cat, talking is for people who have something in common." he opined.
" Let's play 20 questions. Favorite movie?"
" Fine. American Graffiti."
" Favorite song?"
" That's The Way." he answered smugly still staring at the television.
" What?" she asked. She had no idea what song that was or who sang it. Cat, personally, was a Carpenters' woman.
" That's The Way. Led Zeppelin. Next Question."
" Okay," she thought a minute " Second Favorite?"
" Desperado."
" You like the Eagles'? Cool. Lead Singer or Guitar Player?"
" Guitar Player. Stevie Ray Vaughan actually,"
She gave him a confused look.
" Nevermind."
" Okay, Favorite piece of clothing?"
" That's stupid, but if you want to know, my jean jacket."
" Me too! See we do have something in common."
" No, we don't. You say you like the Eagles', right?" he asked
She nodded.
" Well, like Life in The Fast Lane, the only thing in common that we share is that we're good in bed!" he snapped
" Sorry. My mistake." she responded.
" Favorite Movie?" he asked
She smiled " Grease."
He rolled his eyes. " Favorite song?"
" Tiny Dancer. Elton John." she answered confidently.
" I love that song." he commented.
" Really?" she said excitedly
" Really. Second Favorite?"
" Close To You. The Carpenters', but coming in at a close third is Wish You Were Here?"
" You like Floyd?" he said with a smirk.
" You don't think I did research before going out with you?"
" Research? Should I take that as a complement?"
" Yeah, but you're not just good in bed despite contrary beliefs. No one really knows you, Hyde except maybe your friends here in the basement. You have layers. You're deep, mysterious, and a pretty, nice guy once you break down all those walls you've built up."
" And who says you're just an easy, dumb blonde?" he said giving her his trademark smirk.
" Everyone. Immature, high-school students tend to misjudge people. They don't know me very well. They don't know crap about you either, and you know it."
With that said, he pulled her in and kissed her.
*~*~*~*~*~*
The Hub was filled with high school students who were spending the dog days of summer eating, sleeping, and partying all night. Some were graduated and looking to college to fill the void in their future. Others were graduated and work was calling their name. A chosen few were even getting married to their high school sweetheart. Namely, Eric Foreman and Donna Pinciotti. The couple were, at this moment, sitting in their booth fighting, as usual, over something Eric had no clue what he had done or said to make his fiancee so angry.
" Eric, how can you be so insensitive?" she shouted punching him in the arm.
" Donna! What did you do that for?" Eric yelled naively
" Some things never change." said a perky brunette walking up to their table.
" Jackie! I though you were in the Caribbean for the summer?" asked Donna.
" I was, but I missed you guys. I couldn't let you spend your last summer in Point Place without me!" she exclaimed.
" We love you too, Jackie!" replied Eric wiping away a fake tear.
" Shut-up. Where is everybody?"
Eric and Donna glanced at each other. They both knew who she was looking for.
" Don't you mean, where's Hyde?" Eric stated with a wide, smug grin.
" You caught me. He's been on my mind ever since I left. I think I made a big mistake."
" He's been in the basement most of the summer. Working at the hotel kept him busy, but other than that he's been totally alone. I kinda felt sorry for the scruffy, cheating bastard." Donna explained.
" If I can forgive him Donna, you can. He hasn't been with anybody this summer. Has he?"
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The two laid there wrapped up in an afghan on the couch. Their breathing was almost in unison. Hyde had been in deep thought ever since he had started dating Cat. She had been the first girl besides Jackie he had even thought about all summer. She was fun and exciting to be with. They previously had a fling junior year, but it fizzled out quickly. This time she had asked him out. He thought, Kelso is nailing every chick in the tri-county area; why can't I go out on one date? He somewhat eagerly accepted. Their one date converted into several dates, which turned into make-out sessions which grew into second-base at the drive-in which in turn they eventually fornicated at her house, in her bed, on the cot, in the Camino several times, and now the couch in the basement. This was an all-time low for him. I'm just like Kelso, he thought, only it's with one girl.
" So?" he asked smirking.
" What? You act like this was the first time we've slept together."
" Cat, when I normally hoe a garden, I get critiqued." he dead panned.
She raised her eyebrows and glared at him.
" Is that was I am to you? An experiment to get the Webster's Dictionary definition of great sex?"
" Cat, if Daniel Webster wasn't a virgin, and he was actually trying to define great sex, our picture would definitely be in the dictionary."
" Cute." she leaned in and kissed him softly.
" What was that for?" he asked
" For being a great boyfriend." she admitted.
" Thanks."
" You're welcome. Just hope your friends aren't coming in to watch."
" They won't."
They closed their eyes and almost drifted back into slumber when footsteps tramped down the stairs.
" Holy hell!" she exclaimed picking up her clothes and trying to put them on.
" Steven!" called Mrs. Foreman.
He quickly grabbed his clothes and donned them as fast as possible not even worrying about his muffled appearance.
" You know you look pretty hot when you're scared. It's kinda sexy." she replied
" Shut-up." he mouthed and motioning for her to hide.
" Hey Mrs F." Hyde answered when Kitty arrived.
" Where's everybody?" she asked.
" Oh, here, there, and everywhere. Donna and Eric are at the Hub. Fez and Laurie are at the Mall. Kelso's probably on a date."
" You're here by yourself?"
" Yeah. Just me and the TV."
" The television isn't on." she said incredulously
" It was. I turned off when I heard you coming down."
" Oh really." said Kitty
She looked down catching a glimpse of the sleeve of a woman's blouse laying on the floor. The rest of it seemed to be underneath the couch. He looked down following her stare. He was caught.
" Where is she, Steven?" Kitty inquired.
" Cat, come on out."
" I can't!" she yelled from his room.
" Why not?" he shouted back.
" You have my shirt, and I'm sure as hell not coming out in my bra."
" It's not like I haven't seen it before!"
Mrs. Foreman peered at him. He looked at his bare feet to keep from meeting her glare.
Then, Red came own to see what the disturbance was.
" What's the dumbass done now?" he asked
" Why don't you ask the naked girl in his room."
" What?" exclaimed Red.
" She's not naked! She put on underwear, and I just made your point didn't I."
" If you would bring me my blouse, I might could help you plea our case!" Cat yelled
" Coming." he said picking up the shirt and bringing it to his room.
" What the hell is that, Kitty? I'm gonna kick his ass."
In the midst of the uproar, Donna and Eric walked in the basement.
" What's up, and why are you two in the basement?" asked Eric referring to his parents'
" Steven has a naked girl in his room." Kitty stated.
Eric and Donna looked at each other in complete shock, and Hyde and Cat, with her fully dressed, walked out of the corner room.
" She's not naked anymore, Mrs Foreman." said Hyde
Eric and Donna smirked at him. " Cat Peterson? Nice." said Donna.
Red glared at Hyde and then at Cat and then at Kitty.
" I know Red. You'll make my ass for a hat." Hyde mocked his tone.
He patted Hyde on the shoulder and looked at Cat one more time. "Good Boy." he said and then returned upstairs.
Hyde gave Cat another trademark smirk. She rolled her eyes.
" Be careful, Steven. That's all I'm gonna say."
Kitty walked up stairs quietly.
" You so got off too easy!" whined Eric.
" That's the breaks when you're the good son, Foreman."
" You are not the good son! You're the son who does all the bad things and never gets caught!"
" Exactly my point, Foreman."
" I have to go," Cat turned to Hyde " pick me up at 8?"
" Yeah." he leaned in and kissed her.
She grabbed her purse from the lawn chair and waltzed out the basement door.
" You're dating her!" Donna exclaimed inadvertently.
" Yeah. She's great."
" How come we didn't get the memo?" shouted Eric.
" I didn't want to make a big deal out of it. She asked me out. I said what the hell, and one date turned into a month. Sorry I didn't tell you guys."
" A month! A freaking month!" Donna exclaimed.
" I don't get it, Hyde. She's nothing like Jackie. She's blonde, pretty, and dumb." Eric asked
" She's not dumb. You don't know her. She even got my hoe the garden joke." he stated.
" That's disgusting."said Donna.
" Jackie never did get that."
" Speaking of," Eric began " she's back from the dead."
" What? When?" Hyde exclaimed
" This morning, and you better hide your little cat toy before she finds her."
" Damn, and I thought they could be friends."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
I've read other stories lately with Jackie having a boyfriend so I decided to twist it around a little bit. I actually like this story. Please R/R for me! Peace Out. Moi.