Eric Foreman was feeling like a pretty far out guy. He got beer for his friends, he was getting the Vista Cruiser, and he was going to a concert. Maybe if he worked up enough guts he would finally ask out Donna. She was one of his closest friends and he'd loved her since forever. Then that bonehead Kelso had to invite the Devil along. Jackie Burkhart was a year behind them. He didn't know what Kelso saw in the girl, she was shallow and the embodiment of all that was evil. She had probably never even seen Star Wars. Luckily they had left pretty early and Eric could enjoy this minor buzz while getting to look at Donna. He went to bed extremely contented with his life just the way it was.
They had went to the hub and he had to listen Jackie go on at length about Fez. He would take the funny little foreigner over that pumped up princess any day. She just irked him in a way he couldn't quite put a finger on.
There was nothing quite as calming as The Circle in the basement. He never laughed as hard as he did when with the boys. Hyde was going on about a car that ran on water and the conversation went into what they would do with his car and then Fez got confused about boats. He was getting a bit of a weird vibe off Hyde but that could just be the buzz. His Mom and Dad pulled him to the side and were giving him a long lecture about responsibility. He was freaking out a bit because of the wallpaper pattern that seemed to be moving in all kinds of directions behind them. He nodded when he thought he was supposed to, said yes when he deemed appropriate and he thinks his father said something about not taking the car out of town. Then the Holy Grail was in his hand, HE FINALLY HAD THE KEYS.
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Of course the car breaks down while they are on their way to the concert. They don't have any cash but they have their tickets. They kick Jackie and Michael out, man this concert may be enjoyable after all.
He slips his hand in Donna's and at first she is a bit hesitant but then presses her hand into his , she smiles shyly and he smiles back but something just doesn't feel right. He looks over to Hyde who gives him a big grin with metal hand in the air but he sees the smile fade as his shades take in their locked hands. It suddenly makes sense why Hyde has been a bit standoffish as everything clicks in Eric's head.
Hyde was always the tough one that saved his ass for as long as he could remember; the friend who always stood beside him no matter what. He even remembers when he dropped his own ice cream and before he could even say darn it Hyde has thrust his own cone in Eric's hand. "I didn't like that flavor anyway" Hyde had told him. He had known the guy forever and could read him like a book. He had known Donna just as long as Eric had and looking at him now he could see that he had liked her just as much as he had. How could he have been so oblivious, yes, he did have a crush on her but stepping back and looking in he could see what Hyde saw. Donna was a lovely girl but she was tough as nails and she did not take guff from anyone. She was Hyde's perfect damn fit and he was too damned blind by some puppy dog love he had when he was a kid to even notice it.
He looked up at Donna and she looked at him a little strange. "What's wrong, Eric?" She said as she slipped her hand from his.
Eric took a breath and decided it was time for Hyde to finally have his ice cream.
"This doesn't feel right, Donna. You will be one of my best friends till the end of time but I know someone who has liked you for just as long and is a lot better fit for you than me?"
"What are you talking about, you dork?" She laughed as she punched his shoulder.
"Seriously, Donna. Look at him over there looking like a kicked puppy, He never looks like a kicked puppy, he's too damned tough for that" Eric smirked.
Donna followed his gaze to a totally oblivious Hyde with his hands in his pockets covertly brooding and completely oblivious to all those around him.
"Whoa ?! Hyde?!" Donna looked at Eric like he had spontaneously grown a second head.
"You know deep down he's a great guy and I think he's been sitting on the sidelines for me despite his obvious feelings" Eric leaned closer as he put his hand on Donna's shoulder.
Donna looked back and him and then Hyde again and shook her head in confusion. "Wouldn't that be weird, I always thought we would be together when we got older? … and come on … it's Hyde?!" She looked at Hyde again but this time Eric could see a bit of uncharacteristic shyness as she pushed her hair behind her ear.
"Maybe just hang out and see? As for me, I will survive, who doesn't want to see their two best friends happy?" Eric shrugged and gave a subtle smile. Donna smiled back and gave him a hug. They would always be friends no matter what.
"I'm going to step out for a bit, I need some fresh air." Eric said in Donna's ear and she nodded and spaced out into the music, dancing from side to side.
He passed in front of Hyde who moved his head inquisitively.
"I'm going out for air and maybe seeing if Kelso and Jackie want to see some of the concert" Eric yelled.
Hyde nodded his head and patted Eric's shoulder.
"I kinda get the feeling it's not me she's interested in and I am not that broken up about it, we make better friends, Donna I mean. "
Hyde stopped moving and looked at Eric with a scrunched brow.
"Maybe you could keep Donna company?" Eric patted his shoulder and made his way up the stairs without looking back.
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He started making his way back to the Cruiser and he groaned at the tender moment shared by Jackie and Kelso; just what he needed to end his day. He was about to turn around when Kelso seemed to have noticed him.
"Dude, what are you doing out here?" Kelso laughed as he bounded out of the back of the car.
"I was going to see if either of you wanted to take my ticket, but I see you are bus…"
"SCORE" Kelso's shout interrupted him mid-sentence as Kelso pushed his girlfriend down in the dirt and swiped the ticket from his hand and started running for the stadium. "I'm gonna get to check out the concert …. Maybe I'll get to see some chick take her top off … AWESOME" Kelso jumped and twirled completely oblivious to a now pissed off Jackie rising from the ground beating the dirt off her jeans.
Eric plugged his ears and shuddered at the thought of what was coming next ….
"MICHEAL KELSO … YOU GET BACK HERE THIS INSTANCE!"
"I would babe, but who am I to deny Todd Rundgren?" Kelso shouted into the night, his voice getting further and further away paired with distant laughter.
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Eric wondered if he squeezed shut his eyes a little tighter and pinched the bridge of his nose a little harder, that maybe just maybe the crying bawling mess that was formerly known as annoying Jackie would just shut up.
"He said all those sweet things to me," she sniffed "but all it was was lies to get me to make out with him " She sobbed.
For some reason she had her face buried in his shirt and was soaking it , damn his gentleman like qualities he thought as he patted her back.
"There There?"
She pulled herself off his shoulder and wiped the water logged mascara flowing down her face. "Why aren't you in there anyways? I thought you were trying to make time with the lumberjack?" Jackie puttered.
"I was but I think Hyde likes her more so I figured I'd give them a chance" Eric shrugged and then shook his head at how easily he had poured his thoughts out to the devil.
She paused and looked up at him genuinely and, if he didn't know her better, a warmth that wasn't a by-product of hellfire.
"Micheal Kelso is a jerk. But you know what Foreman, you are pretty sweet for a nerd…"
She put her face back in his shoulder to quietly sob a little and he found his arm around her without even thinking.
"And your still the pure source of all evil, devil"
He swore she laughed and for some reason that made him smile as "Izzat Love" flowed towards them from the stadium.
