A/N: Hi everyone, a first time writer here. I've been reading for a long time, and a wave of inspiration hit me to tell this story. This story takes place immediately following the season 4 finale. Weather you like it or hate it, drop me a line and let me know. Also, I don't own the characters or show, I only wish. Enjoy the story!

Cruel Summer

June 1978

Donna Pinciotti's Room

1:30 AM

What a day it was. It was obvious that Donna was not returning from wherever it was that she went anytime tonight. Eric Foreman had spent the past couple of hours replaying the events of the past day in his mind. Would he have done things differently? Maybe he would, but the more he thought about it, the more he arrived at the same conclusion, that he did the right thing. Everyone around him did not seem to understand that his pride had been hurt when Donna chose to date Casey and that wasn't going to change anytime soon. However, while Kitty and Red were lecturing him in the kitchen earlier, he decided he was fighting a losing battle trying to explain to his family and friends that he would not settle for being Donna's second choice. If it took sacrificing a bit of self pride in order to get the love of his life back, so be it. It's not like everyone him thought he had much self pride to begin with, right?

"It figures. This will just give another "Eric is a dumbass" story for people to tell their friends about later on, right"? Eric was starting to get tired and was talking to empty space in Donna's room now. He started to get up and walk back to his house and try to forget about today and get a little bit of sleep. He also could locate Donna in the morning and talk to her then, right?

A few minutes later…

Eric arrived at the door to the basement figuring he could finish off Hyde's old stash he had left and get to bed after. He was not prepared for that he saw next. He looked to the couch and saw a tear stained, puffy eyed Jackie Burkhardt, sitting there with a piece of paper in one hand and a bunch of tissues in another.

Eric hadn't ever seen Jackie in such a sad and vulnerable state before.

"What on earth are you doing here this late Jackie? Shouldn't you be home getting your eight hours of beauty sleep?"

"Can't you see I'm not in the mood for jokes Eric? She asked with an edge to her voice. " I was waiting for you because this has something to do with you as well."

Jackie then held up the piece of paper she held in her hand gesturing for Eric to take it from her. "My guess is that after you read that, you will be in no mood for jokes either."

Eric took the piece of paper from her and noticed Donna's handwriting. "Jackie, where the hell did you get this?" he asked loudly.

Jackie's voice was barely above a whisper at this point "It was on the table when I got here."

Eric then turned his attention to the letter he held:

Dear Eric,

Guess I've really outdone myself this time, huh? It was wrong of me to think that you'd just take me back like nothing had happened. It's okay though, I understand. I just want to let you know that I'm on my way to California to live with my mom. Things are too complicated for me here and I really need a fresh start somewhere else. Kelso has volunteered to drive me out there. Apparently, Jackie thinks she was going to marry him. That's kind of sad, huh? I guess she has a lot to learn too. I wanted to thank you for all the wonderful memories you have given me. You will always hold a special place in my heart.

Love you always,

Donna

Eric looked up from what he read and plopped down on the couch next to Jackie. His heart felt like it had been hit by a ton of bricks. He just sat there speechless for a few minutes until she spoke.

"I'm really sorry Eric." It was the most sincere tone he had ever heard from the girl he claimed as the devil.

"I'm sorry too"; was his simple reply.

Jackie couldn't take it anymore and started to sob," I thought this was the happiest day of my life. I was going to get married. Now I wish this day never happened."

She then started to cry as Eric knew she had been doing before entering the room. He just thought about how sad this whole situation was for both of them. With that he reached out his arm and brought Jackie's head to his shoulder. She was shaking as Eric rubbed her in a comforting manner. A small tear started to form in his eye before he finally was overtaken with sleep.

A couple of days later…

Eric emerged from his room with a lot of his mind. He had spent the past couple of days in his room just thinking of recent events. He knew he could not sit in bed all summer as he had a year prior. He felt determined to actually have an experience of his own. He needed to tell Donna what he felt about their relationship once and for all. If Donna Pinciotti could go on a cross country road trip, why couldn't he just take a journey of his own?

Eric came down the basement stairs to see his best friend Stephen Hyde sitting in his usual seat.

"Foreman? You're actually coming of your room for a change during the summer?"

"Hyde, I can't just crawl into a shell like I did last year. I actually have to act on this one or I could lose Donna one way or another, forever."

"Alright Foreman, I'm curious. What's your brilliant plan of action this time?"

Eric just smiled as he started to open the box to his Candy Land game and smiled "I figured, why should Donna and Kelso be the only ones to have all the fun? I have a perfectly good Vista Cruiser I can drive sitting in the driveway. I can't afford a plane ticket and I have to tell Donna how I feel about her once and for all."

Hyde then just started to laugh "Foreman, are you serious? Red and Kitty will never let that happen. You'll be a dead man before too long."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence man." Eric said with a sarcastic look on his face. "I was looking for a vote of confidence or maybe even a co pilot for the trip.

"Sorry, no can do." Hyde replied as he grinned. "Leo asked me to look after the photo hut this summer and this will provide endless amusement for me here when this all blows up in your face."

"Once again thanks for your support Hyde. Just do me a favor and don't tell my parents. I'll tell them when the time is right."

"Oh I wouldn't dream of it." Eric hated that sarcastic grin of Hyde's sometimes. "Good luck Foreman."

"Thanks Hyde. Later." Eric then gathered his things and headed for the Vista Cruiser.

Later that day…

Eric had been by the candy shop at the Point Place mall already to say bye to Fez and after that was when his mind shifted to that of Jackie. He had not heard from or seen the cheerleader since the other night which was unusual since weather he liked it or not, she was always around his house. They were both pretty quiet when they woke up on the couch the morning after that fateful day. She was very quiet, saying a small "Thank You" to him and blew him a kiss as she left the basement. He figured that he already said goodbye to all the remaining members of the group, that he might as well pay her a visit too.

In Eric's daily travels, the Burkhardt Estate had never really made his list. Other than a dinner party about a year or so ago, he never really had reason to come here until now. The maid answered the door and directed him to Jackie's room. He knocked on the door.

Jackie opened the door and had a surprised look on her face. "Eric, what are you doing here?"

"Well, I was in the neighborhood and figured I'd stop by. I've been a little concerned that our favorite tiny brunette burning partner hasn't been around to remind me of my geekdom for the last couple of days."

Jackie then cracked the door open to her room. It was a mess with tissues and crumpled up papers from her unicorn notepad scattered all over the place. He also saw a dartboard in the corner with a picture of Kelso taped over the bull's eye spot that looked like it had been put to good use.

Eric turned his attention back to Jackie as she spoke "You don't need me to remind you of that Eric. Everyone around you can remind you of that;" she said with a small smile.

"Anyway, I wanted to be sure you were still alive and now that you are, I've come to say goodbye."

"Goodbye? Where are you going Eric?"

"I have to tell Donna how I feel once and for all. I can't afford airfare, so why not make a summer adventure out of it?"

"Eric, your parents will have your head on a platter for this!"

He started to yell "WHY DO PEOPLE KEEP TELLING ME THAT!! I'M MY OWN PERSON DAMN IT!!"

Jackie's face began to soften as if she was going to cry right there; Eric immediately started to regret yelling and grabbed Jackie by the shoulders, "No, no, no Jackie, I'm sorry. That's just the third time I've heard that in the past hour, that's all."

"Don't worry about it, I'm just still a mess Eric. I've been torn between wanting to get Michael back or just figuring out how to beat his brains in the next time I see him."

"Gee Jackie, that's a shocker. I mean, look at it in here. Anyway, good luck figuring that out this summer;" Eric started making his way back towards the door. "Let me know what you decide when I…

Jackie jumped off her bed and spun Eric around, "Eric, wait" she said with a smile beginning to creep up your face, "Take me with you."

Eric stood there with his mouth agape contemplating the idea his arch rival hit him with.

"Jackie, we'd absolutely kill each other. Trust me."

"Oh Eric", Jackie waved the notion off, "It will only be for a couple of days on the road and I'll be trying to figure out what to do about Michael anyway. Besides, how do you plan on paying for this ordeal?"

"From my secret stash, of course." He replied.

"Not that stash in the Candy Land box Eric! There's not enough to get you to California in there."

"You know where I keep that stash too?!?!? I really have to make another hiding spot when I get back!!"

Jackie couldn't help but laugh in response as she started to pull her credit card out from the drawer of her night table. "Daddy returned this to me the other day when I told him what happened between Michael and me! Consider me your financial backer!" she said with a big grin.

Eric rolled his eyes "Oh, alright. Pack your stuff. I'll be waiting for you out at the car."

Jackie jumped up and down and clapped "Yay! Thanks Eric, I'll be right there!"

Eric started back to the front door while she packed, muttering to himself "Yep, it's going to be a long summer."