He had certainly earned a right to brag.

Anyone who knew him five years ago would not expect his new studio apartment. They would not expect his brand new leather coat, or the framed autographed albums and pictures of stars (with himself) on the wall. And they would definitely not expect his large sum of money in his bank account.

Who knew that his job at the Fotohut was the stepping stone to his success?

Turns out getting high with Leo was the best thing that ever happened to me.

He smiled, flipping over a photo in the dark red room. The image was becoming clear. A gorgeous red headin a black dress looked back at him, posing in an attractive way.

She reminded him of Donna. Beautiful, yes. But in a girl next door kind of way. Easy to get along with. Just hanging out with the guys…

Hanging out with the guys…

It had been years since he had seen them all. He hadn't really said anything to them when he left. He just had to get out. Red had kicked him out and being that he had no where to go, he called up Chrisy, and hitched a ride to New York. He stayed with her for a while, not really knowing what to do, kinda just…drifting along, while of course forming a lot of "protests" on the way.

Got to love a good protest.

Sipping the cool beer, he removed the photo from the solution, and hung it up to dry. He had a lot to be thankful for. But he missed them. He missed teasing Forman about his feminine persona, and Fez about not being able to give it away. And missed Kelso and his damn stupidity, god help him, he missed that stupidity. Donna. He really missed her. He could always confide in her and vice versa. He had known her since elementary school, and was one of his oldest friends. He remembered giving her the photo of the two of them for Christmas nearly seven years ago. He had had a crush on her then. There was just something about her, and it was always there. Maybe it was her feminist spirit or welcoming personality. He didn't know. He wondered what had changed since then. Probably a lot of their lives have changed, just like his, but then again, he knew his friends and could count on them. Which meant that he could count on them to stay their same predictable selves.

Five years. Had it really been that long? Time sure flies when you're…

What had he been doing all this time? Making a shit load of cash. Yes. Sex. Hell Yes. Meeting a whole bunch of stars and a lot of new friends. Yeah, that too. But there was something missing, he didn't know what it was, but at the same time knew exactly what it was.

A connection.

Yeah that was what he needed. Something that connected him to his past self. Looking of his New York penthouse, he could see the crowded streets busying themselves along. He loved the diversity here. So many different kinds of people.

Foreigners. Jackie wouldn't last a day here.

Good…

Just the thought of her, made him roll his eyes. He hadn't completely gotten over his anger towards her. It was her fault he moved to New York in the fist place, it was her fault he hadn't seen his friends in five years. It was her fault he wasn't able to kiss and hug Mrs. Foreman Goodbye. It was her fault Red had kicked him out. He got in trouble for taking the rap for the marijuana that wasn't his. She had been trying to impress him. To get him to like her.

Yep, worked like a charm…

He could go his entire life without seeing her fake appearance again, or hearing her shrill voice. Of even without hearing or meeting anyone one wth the name, "Jackie" again.

If he she hadn't have gotten the drugs in the first place, he would be back in Point Place…with his friends.

Her. He did not miss.

Bitch.

Picking up his empty beer cans off his marble table, he sighed. It was definitely time to go to bed. He had an early shoot tomorrow. Some cover picture for Vogue magazine or some shit like that. He smirked, maybe if he got done early enough, her could spend some "alone" time with the model or, you know, models. That would be fun. Throwing them away and taking off his sun glasses, he set them on the counter. His same old sun glasses. They were sentimental. Yawning, he began walking to his bedroom.

Knock. Knock.

God damn, it was 12:30 a.m. Who would be at my door right now. That's it, I am kicking someone's ass.

He opened the door abruptly and irritably, trying to get his point across. He relaxed a little when he saw it was his friend who lived in the small apartment next store.

"Brian man, what are you doing here? I have a shoot at like 5:30 tomorrow morning." He asked impatiently, leaning again the door and squinting at him.

"I know, I know man, I am sorry. I just forgot. Do you know how I am renting out my apartment for the next four months?" At Hyde nod, her continued, " Well…you see I leave tomorrow for Chicago…and I forgot to ask for my spare key back. I have to give in to the new tenant…sorry buddy…" He finished lamely

Hyde was his friend and a great one at that. But he did not want to piss him off. He had seen him pissed off on more than one occasion, and it was not pretty.

Hyde felt guilty for acting so irritated, "Yeah, sure man, no problem. Sorry about before, I was just tired and was wondering who was at the door." He said as he walked away to get the spare key. He found it underneath the package of condoms in the drawer. He went to hand it back.

"Here you go, ...so about this new tenant, boy or girl?" He asked while smirking

Brian relaxed and smiled, "Girl…she sounded hott over the phone too."

"Wait, you have never even met the girl yet?" he questioned incredulously.

"Hey Man! I needed to rent it out as quickly as possible, and she has to travel far to get here…so she couldn't …come…b-by and meet me….and…she seemed completely normal. She sounded hott, so she going to be hott." He said defensively.

Hyde scoffed, "Pfft, that's how it should be, Girls with hott voices have to be hott, but not all the time man, it has happened to me before….i don't want to talk about it though..."

"Whatever, I don't have to live next to her for the next four months, so it doesn't bother me. And besides, you would probably sleep with her anyway. Add another notch to the old belt." Brian smirked and winked.

"No way man, I am very picky, I only settle for the best of the best." Hyde said confidently.

"Well, not all of us have our clients/models bending to our every beck and call," he responded jealously while happy he won the argument.

Hyde had a huge grin on his face, "Good point". God he loved his job….

Brian laughed, "well I had better get going, I am not even finished packing…see you later man." He started to walk away, he stopped suddenly and turned around. "Don't get too used to this new neighbor, I, Brian Peters, will be back….oh and by the way, a hott black girl stopped by here earlier, looking for you, she said she would stop by another time." As he continued to walk away.

Hyde thought about it. Natasha. She was definitely hott, and she was totally into him. Yeah…I'll get that...

"Thanks man, Have fun in Chicago." He yelled after him. Brian nodded.

Hyde closed the door and walked to his bedroom, wondering what his new neighbor would be like and look like. All in due time..

He changed into his boxers. That was all he ever wore to bed. He got under the covers and looked at the clock.

1:34 a.m.

Damn

He had to get up so early tomorrow.