He paced just like he always has

A/N; Hey guys, I'm here with another fic. Don't worry, I'm still going to finish Dusk and Summer, I just got this really great idea and well, this is was happened. Dusk and Summer will be finished before this is but I'll juggle both of them, don't worry. It'll be switching between Eric and Hyde's POV, you'll be able to tell who's.

Anyway, this isn't much of a romance fic, though it will be thrown in there. Just read and find it.

Disclaimer: I don't own that 70's Show or John Lennon or Popstars or any other major corporations mentioned in this chapter.

He paced just like he always has. I've seen him do it a million times in the past who knows how many years. His fingers knotted together in anxiety and glisten formed on his hairline, heating up his cheeks. "I can't do this," he muttered for what seemed like the millionth time that evening. And for the millionth time that evening I told him he could.

"Hyde, I'm scared shitless." He dropped down onto the couch, burying his face in his hands. "I can't go to Africa. I was so stupid jumping into this." I leaned forward, our knees touching. "Foreman, you have to. How else are you going to get through college, huh? Don't you want to marry Donna, give her a good life? See, Foreman, this is exactly the part where you screw yourself over. So stop being a dillhole, and go pack."

His mouth opened to speak but before anything came out, the basement door opened, a shadow falling onto the walls. Her blond hair whisked behind her as she stepped into the room, biting her lip nervously. "Donna," he muttered, standing up. She looked at him in a sad way, in a pitying kind of way, and I felt as if I knew what was coming. "I'm leaving," I mumbled, getting up and going to my room.

The door remained ajar, their supposedly whispering voices drifting over my cot as I stretched out on it.

"Eric, listen, you're going to Africa and I'm… I don't know what I'm going to do. Do you remember when we wanted to get married and I basically forced us into that trailer and then you left? And remember when I kept saying that I really didn't want to leave Point Place? Well now you're leaving and… and I want to leave, too." It was silent and I could almost hear the cogs turning in his head. "What are you saying, Donna?" His voice slowly stretched across the feet from the basement to my small closet like room and I could sense the worry and fear in it.

"I need to leave, too, Eric and… You're coming back but I don't want to. Do you get what I'm saying?" I heard silence and then a loud thump, something hitting the round table. "Donna, if you're breaking up with me just do it." His voice was cold and instead of sadness, I heard fury. "Eric, come on, stop it." Their voices were louder.

"No, damn, Donna! Don't fucking sugarcoat it. It's just like the promise ring fiasco all over again. You know what you want, don't you? And I'm not apart of it am I?" She muttered a strained no.

"Donna, I'm not going to Africa." The proclamation sunk into her and in my minds eye, I could see her face, her humiliation, her disbelief. "Eric, you have to go, OK? You can't blow this off because of me…" "Sorry I forgot that you don't sacrifice for the people you love!" I never heard her yell like he did just then. "Just leave, Donna, OK? Have fun in Paris or where ever else you'll be." I heard a sigh, a slam of a door, of Foreman hitting something furiously, and then of him dropping onto the couch.

I sighed into my hands, waiting, anticipating. "Hyde," he called his voice miserable. I felt myself get up out of habit and walk to him, dropping back into the chair I occupied 10 minutes ago.

"You all right?" I asked, crossing my arms, looking at him behind my glasses. He shrugged and I saw his eyes redden, his fingers itch angrily. "I just can't believe it, you know? I was going to give up everything for her." I let him rant, let him yell and curse. I've been doing it for years, I was his emotional punching bag and I was OK with it. It felt nice to be needed and not to need someone, however much I pretended like I didn't.

I patted the quiet out of breath eighteen year old, but before I could speak, the basement door opened again. She stood there in a radiated beauty, her yellow sweater making her skin glow, her hair shine, her eyes dazzle. Eric muttered something about wanting some food, stalking up the stairs. The slam of the door and we were alone.

I knew what was coming. Marry me, or I'm going to Chicago. This stupid ultimatum crap that she pulled was driving me up a wall and I was in no mood to hear it.

"My flight leaves in a few hours, Steven," I heard her say, tearing myself from my own thoughts. "Did you… have you thought about what I asked yesterday?" I looked at her pleading eyes and I asked myself where would I be in 10 years if I stayed with her? I saw unicorns and children named Donny Osmend and me in a business suit and a picketed fence. On the other hand, I saw myself with the one woman who had always made me happy, who loved me for me, who tore down walls I didn't know I even had.

I sighed. "Jackie, I'm going to be honest. I don't know where we're going to be in a year. I don't know where I'm going to be in a year." "Steven, that's the problem! You can't live life by ear. You have to—"

"Jackie," I cut her off, shooting her a stern look. She silenced, looking up at me from under dark lashes. "I can't give you an answer because I don't know myself. That's the person I am and you knew that. I told you a thousand times. I will never be the perfect guy for you. I will never be the person that you dream up in fantasy or girly stories, OK? And I'm sorry but at the same time I'm not, because this is who I am. If going to Chicago will make you happy, then do it. If you think that you can go somewhere, which I know you can, then go, because I don't want to be the reason you're stuck in Shit Place until you're 45, thinking of what could be, OK?"

She searched the floor with wild eyes, she searched the ceiling also. She searched every inch of the basement expect for my eyes. "You're just letting me go?" she whispered quietly, shakily, finally reaching my eyes. I said nothing, merely looked at my shoes. I heard her sniff, huff, breathe deeply in attempt to hold back tears. I looked up to see her retreating back, and watched her pull the basement door open and step out into the stairwell, not even looking back.

And with face in hands, I knew I had just let go the best thing that would even happen to me.

I had never been one to turn to nicotine for comfort. Beer? Yes. Pot? Absolutely. Star Wars VHS? Every damn time.

But as the sun sunk behind us as we sat on the swing set of Point Place Park, I balanced a cigarette between my fingers as if I had been doing it my whole life. My too long legs dug into the dirt as I sat on the too small swing, Hyde sitting on the one next to me, also smoking up.

"She just thinks that because I'm leaving, I'm going to forget about her. That's bullshit. I would have waited years for her." Inhale. Hold. Exhale. "I knew it wouldn't have worked. I knew I couldn't have my dream job and Donna." A snort of laughter. "Now I have neither." Ash fell onto my fingers as I held the filter between my thumb and middle index finger. I dropped it into the dirt, crushing it with the heel of my shoe. Grabbed another one from the carton.

"Yeah, Foreman, it's tough luck," he said, flicking the lighter when I held it out to him. "It's like we do everything for them and we're still the lucky ones. We're the ones who won't ever get anything better then them." He threw down his filter in anger. "Dammit!" He buried his face in hands again. "She's always doing to this to me. How many times have I chased after anyone before her? None. But how many times have I dropped everything and ran after her? A zillion! And nothing I ever do is enough. Ever. And it never will be. Fuck it."

We sat there, our chests heaving in anger and sadness. "Foreman," he said his voice calmer. "We need to get out of here, tonight. We need to get into the El Camino and drive for days and never look back. Just you and me." I looked over at him. "Are you serious?" And he nodded. He wasn't drunk, wasn't high, just furious and upset.

"Yeah," I said, ideas suddenly dawning on me. "We need to show them that we're men and we can leave whenever we want. We don't need them to be happy, right?" "Right!"

We jumped off the swings, the cigarettes falling off his lap. "We'll go to… Florida, or something!" he said, his face excited, more excited then I've ever seen it. "I have a butt load of extra money since I started working at Grooves. We'll just take some beers and tapes and we'll just leave!"

I nodded my head. "And I… well I have absolutely no money, except for maybe like 20 dollars, but still, it's something! And who cares? We don't need a lot, just each other and the open road!"

Our plan seemed so right, so welcoming, such an avenue of pleasure on this drive of pain. Florida… I hadn't been there before, but I've heard that it was beautiful. Anticipation jumped through me as I thought of driving out of Point Place, out of Wisconsin, out of this hell that I created for myself, out of the place that always held me down.

"We have to go!" I said, nearly jumping up and down from glee. "If we leave in two hours, we can be crossing the Wisconsin border by 2 in the morning!"

It just seemed oh so righteous at the time. Too bad no one else would think so.

"No, no, no! Absolutely not!" Red's face was pink, spit flying from his mouth as he paced in front of us, shouting, yelling, lecturing. "How could you not go to Africa, Eric? I thought you were pulling it together! I thought you were finally settling down and all this high school crap would be behind you! And now you come and tell me you're going on a road trip?!"

Behind him, Mrs. Foreman stood at the kitchen counter, clutching her hands together, about to burst with happiness. She didn't care that we were going to Florida, she was just pleased her baby was staying home, away from evil Africa. I sighed angrily as Red jumped into another speech.

"OK," Eric said finally, clearing his throat, standing up. "OK. Listen, I gave up Africa and it was stupid and I'm sorry. I don't know what I'm doing about my future but that's why I need to go, to leave. I'll be able to sort these things out when I don't have you yelling at me, or Mom worrying about me, or Donna…" He broke off, and I noticed his usual twitchy manner act up again.

"Come on, Foreman," I encouraged gruffly. "Right, right, anyway. Once I've gone away from all that strain and pressure, I can figure out where I want to be and what I want to do. Please," he begged and I noticed for the first time how much he really wanted to leave. He always talked about it, never shut up about it, but I always thought him too much of a momma's boy to actually do it.

Red's face when from rage, to frustration, to confusion, to relief in a matter of seconds. "OK," he said finally, clapping his only son on the shoulder. "OK. I get it. You can go on this little road trip. But, if I have to bail you out of jail, my foot will be shoved so far up your ass…"

Mrs. Foreman cut him off, jumping on Eric, her arms around his shoulders. Then she ran to me, pulling me down in a deathly hug.

As soon as all was settled, as soon as Mrs. Foreman had collected herself, Eric said he was going to pack. Red ordered me to go check, double check, and triple check the El Camino, saying he would kick our asses if we broke down and he had to get us.

I stepped outside the glass door and made my way into the front yard, into the driveway. I stopped dead in my tracks. She stood leaning casually against the front of the El Camino, staring at the ground, in thought, clearly not aware of my presence. I coughed and scratched my chin, walking to her.

"I thought you were in Chicago," I managed to say through my shock. She looked up, her eyes wide. "I was but my Mom was gone and I… I just wanted to see if you maybe gave us a second thought." Her eyes looked hopeful and I felt her gaze cut through me. Even now, she looked sad and child like and I felt every inch of my being give into her, just like that summer in the hot basement.

"Jackie, you're constantly trying to change me. And you're never happy with where we are. When you dated Kelso, you constantly put him down and made him feel bad about himself. I'm leaving for a while with Foreman, and while I'm gone maybe you should think about what you want and when I get back tell me."

"Steven," she said impatiently. "I all ready told you what I wanted. I want to be with you, forever." "Are you sure, though?" I asked, looking down at her. "I mean, in a few years are you going to decide you want to run off and be a dancer or something? And I don't know what I want, I told you that all ready. And when I get back, maybe I will and then maybe we can talk about our futures together, but right now, you need to be on your way to Chicago, being on TV, doing what you want, OK?"

"I love you," she said, sliding her fingers through mine. "Just remember that when you're where ever you're going, all right?" She leaned up pressing her lips gently to mine and I kissed her back because she deserved that much from me. "I'm going to go to Chicago, and when you get back call me, yes?" I nodded, pulling her to me, enclosing her in my arms, my lips brushing the top of her head.

And then she was gone and I was left alone in the Foreman's driveway with my car. I ran my tongue over my lips, my eyes dropping shut as I felt the emptiness wrap around me. I welcomed it, just like I did those nights long ago when I sat huddled in my bedroom, waiting for my Mom and Uncle Strange Man to stop yelling.

The door slid shut and I opened my eyes, looking over at the porch. Eric stood there, his bag in hand. "Foreman," I said, sighing, walking to him, and clapping him on the shoulder. "If you brought any Star Wars or GI Joe toys, I'm kicking your ass." He opened his mouth to deny it before grumbling at me, turning back into the house.

I laughed and shook my head before following after him, telling him he could take as many toys as he wanted.

The sun was behind us as we peeled out of Point Place. As I leaned into my seat, Led Zeppelin III began, singing us out of town and I sung along, not caring that I couldn't sing in tune. Hyde sang too, his hands on the steering wheel, eyes determined from behind his glasses.

In the back seat sat muchie snacks, Mary Jane, beer, and a few changes of clothes. It was all we needed, all we ever really needed actually. We drove by The Hub, by the record store, by the Piggley Wiggly, past the 7-11, away from all of it.

Donna hadn't said goodbye, she hadn't even shown up, even though Bob was there. It hurt at the time, it made me mad and upset that she didn't even care. Who knew, maybe she was all ready booking a flight to Europe.

But now, with my hand out the window, my fingers catching in the wind, I didn't care. She could go eat snails in Paris, and fall in love with a million Italian guys, and write her soul out, but right now, I didn't care. I didn't care because I chose to not care. I was done putting my heart into everything for her and it never being enough. I knew I was the lucky one of the relationship, and she was never afraid to throw that around in my face. And that hurt. Its one thing when your friends say it, but when your girlfriend does, it sucks.

Before I could dig deeper into my brain about Donna, Hyde slammed on the breaks, jerking us violently forward. I steadied myself on the dashboard, looking at him. "What the hell?" He was panting from the adrenaline, his eyes shining as he pulled the glasses off his face.

"Look," he said pointing a finger across the window shield. I did and saw the 'You Are Now Leaving Point Place' sign. "When I start this car, we're driving right past that sign. And when we do, you will not mention Donna, think about Donna, cry about Donna, yell about Donna, or anything else that has to do with Donna, OK?" His blue eyes were narrowed sternly at me and I nodded.

"OK," I replied, turning in my seat to face him properly. "Once we pass that sign, you will not talk about Jackie, think about Jackie, cry about Jackie, bitch about Jackie, or anything else that has to do with Jackie, OK?"

We looked at each other and I saw his mouth twitch as he nodded in agreement. "Fine." He started the car again, slowly pressing on the gas as we drove past the sign. He stopped not even three feet from it and we looked at each other. And we laughed because that's what best friends do.

xxx

Half an hour later, we sang John Lennon, proclaiming that people needed to give peace a chance. We planned on being in Illinois by dawn, hopefully finding a hotel to crash in for a few hours before continuing on our trip.

"Hyde," I began, sipping at a bottle of soda, "where are we going when we get to Florida?" I saw him consider, thumping his fingers against the steering wheel in thought. "The beach," he said finally, looking over at me. "It's not like California beaches. You can find completely empty beaches all over the place, man. There are like dolphins and manatees just swimming around freely, it's really cool." He seemed excited, more excited then I had seen him in a long time.

"How do you know all this, when were you down there?" He slowed the car down, pointing to the carton of Marlboro's which I picked up, handing him one. I leaned forward and lit it before lighting one for myself. The smoke drifted above us, sliding out of the cracked windows.

"Remember in second grade when I was gone for almost half the year?" he asked me, inhaling the cigarette deeply. I nodded as I filled my own lungs with smoke. "Yeah, you said your mom got a job across state, or something."

"Yeah, well, that was a lie," he said casually, flicking the white ashes off his light. They drifted onto his shirt, onto the steering wheel, slowly floating out the window. I furrowed my brow, leaning forward and turning the radio down. "You lied?" I repeated and he nodded in conformation.

"I was down in Florida with my gramma and aunts while they put my mom in rehab for a little while. I didn't see her for months and it was OK. When they finally released her, we lived at my grandparents for a bit more but things just got worse with her." He sighed, smoke emitting from his nose. "She was moody, a lot more then she was usually. She got violent and yelled constantly. She wasn't drinking as far as we knew, but something about rehab really fucked her up.

"One day I was sitting at the kitchen table with my Aunt Diane playing Scrabble when my mom stumbled in, rambling about something or other smelling like shit. We ignored her cause she usually said stuff like this. But then she said my name so I turned and looked at her and before I knew it, she slapped me across the face and I was on the floor." He sucked hard on the cigarette, holding it in him as long as he could before slowly letting it out. "It was chaos. My grandpa came in and he was furious and my aunts tried to calm him and my mom down and… I don't really remember it much, but you know I was like what, 6? Anyway, they put my mom in the hospital for a few more months and she was diagnosed with severe bi polar disorder or whatever. They put her on meds and they worked for a while but when she stopped taking them, she lashed out.

"In the end, we ended up driving back home before summer started. She stopped taking pills and started drinking which surprisingly enough calmed her down. She didn't get as violent as she was before the pills. Occasionally, though, when I was older, we would argue and she'd throw some punches but you know, she usually didn't care enough and just took a beer and went away."

I listened to his sad story and pieces of our childhood clicked together. He was always a dirty boy, messy hair, old torn clothes. I remember once seeing a deep grey mark under his eye which looked as if he had attempted to cover it up with makeup. Another time there were finger marks on his arm, purple and dark. They scared me, but then I had remembered it was Hyde, he probably got into some fist fight or another.

"Hyde, man, that's awful," I said quietly, lighting up another cigarette. He shrugged, turning the radio back up. "Shut up, Foreman."

I grinned, knowing it was his little way of saying it was ok. I listened to the radio and a grin grew on my face as I started singing quietly.

"When the night has come and the land is dark and the moon is the only light we see…" I batted my eyelashes, my voice increasing in loudness. "Foreman," he warned brusquely, but it only egged me on.

"No I won't, be afraid. No I won't, be afraaaid. Just as long as you stand by me." "I will pull this car over and kick your ass…"

"DARLIN', DARLIN', STAND BY ME! OH NOW STAND BY ME!" I threw my arm around his shoulder, pulling him to my side. He squirmed, throwing me off him, glaring at me.

I continued singing the next verse softly and then shouting the chorus. He gave in, shaking silently with laughter, soon screaming the lyrics out the window with me.

"Darling, darling, stand by me."

"Sure you don't want me to drive?" Eric asked between a yawn. I declined his offer for the hundredth time that hour. "It's fine. We'll be in Illinois in two hours at the most." He nodded, snuggling deeper into the seat, wrapping his sweater around him as the night air slipped through the windows. A few minutes later, I heard a small snore and looked over, seeing that my companion's eyelids had soon drooped down, sleep taking over his small body.

Shaking the unwanted exhaustion off myself, I lit what seemed like my 15th cigarette that night. The carton was nearly empty and I made a mental note to pick up some more at the first Illinoisan liquor store I could find.

Eric had been in a John Lennon mood that day, so I left the cassette tape in as I plowed through boring cornfields and farms. 'Imagine' flowed beautifully out of the stereo. For as long as I'd known him, John Lennon seemed to describe Eric perfectly. For some reason, every song seemed like something he would sing, would think, would dream, would want. I considered what artist I would be and my mind automatically went to Zeppelin, Robert Plant, Jimmy Page.

As I thought more about it, I seemed to pair myself to the newest act on the musical scene, Robert Smith, what with his wildly insane hair. His lyrics were weird, symbolic, peaceful. I let these thoughts soothe me as the night swallowed my car, my soul, and my best friend.

xxx

.For some reason, I didn't put together that going to Illinois would mean going through Chicago, to the place where Jackie should be. I groaned and I felt the thin piece of paper that she left behind with Mrs. Foreman with her hotel name on it in my pocket. My eyes darted to the clock and I saw that it was nearing 2 in the morning, and Eric was out cold.

I ventured further into the bright city and while I drove, I dug out the paper from my jeans. 'Starlight Motel- Gurro Ave.' I passed street after street, knowing I wouldn't find it, that it was probably on the complete opposite end of town. And just before I threw the paper out the window, I saw Gurro Ave. glow brightly on the green street sign. Hesitating, I looked down at Eric. He wouldn't have to know. I would just say hi and leave… Maybe tell her that I really did love her?

Groaning, I felt my car turn onto the street and I caught myself looking for motels.

It soon appeared and I felt my head begin to ache. Starlight Motel.

Pulling into the parking lot, I left the radio on and quietly shut my door behind me, leaving Eric behind asleep. I cautiously walked into the main office and walked to the sleepy night desk lady. "Um, yes," I said to her lazy welcome and inquiries, "I was wondering what room Jackie Burkhart is staying in, I'm her boyfriend." She mumbled room 432 and I quickly left, leaving her to nap.

I counted the numbers down before stopping in front of hers. My hand was raised to knock, my heart pounding in my chest. I rapped on the door with my first. I heard her soft voice, telling me to come in.

"Steven?" she asked, sliding off the bed, pushing her magazine away. Her nightie barely touched her knees. It was thin and pink, barely concealing her skin underneath. "Hi," I said quietly, stepping forward. Before I could take her hand though, I heard a familiar voice and then a scream. I spun around, a half naked Kelso standing in my midst. I chased after him, grabbing his towel, watching him run bare ass through the parking lot.

I felt the towel drop from my fingers as I turned around and stared at her. "Steven, no, it's not what you think." I opened my mouth to speak but found no words, only cold fury raging through my body. The only thing I could do was shake my head and walk out. I heard her calls and my footsteps only quickened as I slid into the car.

Eric was awake, looking baffled. "Why the hell was Kelso running around butt naked?" he asked me, near laughter. I only stared ahead before leaning my head against the steering wheel. "Wait, what's going on? Why is he here? Are… Oh, Hyde!" he yelled and I looked up at him. "You fuck! You promised you wouldn't even think about her! And then you sneak down here?" Beneath his anger, I saw Eric's pity and it just angered me more.

Without speaking, I jammed the key in the ignition and turned it, revving the engine, slamming in reverse and out of the parking lot.

xxx

I could tell Eric was pissed off as he nibbled his Poptart, blue filling on the corner of his mouth. But he stayed quiet as the cassette played and the clock turned 3.

"Want to try this one?" I asked, pointing ahead to a Red Roof Inn motel. He shrugged so I took it as a yes and pulled into the parking lot. "I'll be back," I muttered, pushing my car door open and jumping out. The moon was faint at this point, barely giving light, exhausted from its hours in the sky. I made my way into the lobby and to the front desk, asking if a room for two was available. No, there wasn't, but a one bed was. I took it, near my breaking point, and pushed 20 dollars across the counter in exchange for two room keys.

Finally, I would sleep all this off.

The room Hyde found was small but cozy. I dropped my bag onto the small table and looked around. There was a small TV, a small bed, a small nightstand. It was like little people lived here. It would work though; I was too tired to care.

We changed in silence and dropped onto the bed, both of us exhausted. We lay next to each other, the silence filling the space between us.

"I'm sorry for going after Jackie, Eric," he mumbled from somewhere above my shoulder. I grinned up at him slightly and shrugged. "It's fine." "All right, cool." We slid under the covers as a draft sunk under the door and turned the lights off. I turned on my side, burrowing underneath the warmth, hiding my head in my pillow.

Just as I was about to drift off to sleep, I felt a tug on the blanket. It slowly slipped off me and I shivered. "Hyde, you moron," I muttered, grabbing a handful of the sheets and covering my pyjama clad self with it. "You're hogging all of it, Foreman," I heard from under a pillow.

"Hyde, I'll freeze to death long before you will!" He pulled the blankets back, wrapping himself in them. I groaned, sliding out of the bed, my bare feet padding on the carpet as I stalked over to the closet, opening it. I sought a comforter on the top shelf and hastily grabbed it, quickly tiptoeing back to the bed, and climbing in.

I buried myself in my blanket cocoon and I heard Hyde laughing quietly.

"Bitch," I muttered, cozying into bed and soon falling asleep.

xxx

The next morning I was awoken by the slamming of the door. I blinked sleep from my eyes and sat up, looking around. "Waz going on?" I muttered. Hyde stood at the door with two bags of groceries. "I got lunch," he muttered, setting the bags on the table. "Lunch?" I looked on the nightstand. 12:30 PM.

Wrapping a blanket around my shoulders, I walked to the table and dropped into a chair, my stomach rumbling. I watched as he pulled out a loaf of bread, ranch, cheese, and mustard. "I figured we could have lunch meat sandwiches, or something." I nodded my approval, reaching for two slices of bread, loading them with condiments.

"Wait a minute… Hyde, you forgot lunch meat." I looked at him, his mouth open in mid bite. "Dumbass!" I threw a piece of bread at him. He sat there, looking at his purchases, blinking slowly.

And then he laughed. I watched in disbelief as his shoulders shook and he rubbed his eyes under his shades. I soon joined in, looking at the ranch covered slices of bread.

"Eat up, Foreman."

xxx

After our interesting lunch, we checked out of the hotel and piled back into the El Camino, ready to continue our journey. He looked at the map as I rewound the John Lennon tape, sticking back into the stereo.

Soon we were off, down the streets of Chicago. "Dude, I don't think I've seen so many nudey bars in one town," I said in awe, looking out the window. "Wait until we get to Florida. I was too young to remember, but my cousin has told me about tons he's been to down there. He said they're first class man." We laughed at our own pervertedness.

"So, Hyde, if you lied about being across state when you were really in Florida, what else have you lied about?" I questioned, opening the fresh box of Marlboro's and sliding two out. He continued looking at the road, taking the lit cigarette when I handed it to him.

"Remember when I told you I was going to Michigan for the summer in the fifth grade?" he asked me, taking a puff. I nodded my head. "I was really in North Carolina for my mom's wedding."

"What?" I coughed through a haze of cigarette smoke. "Your mom got married again?" He lazily flicked the smoke and shrugged. "She thought she was. We went down there for this crappy quickie marriage and then it was back home. Well, after the rehearsal dinner, her fiancé caught her fucking his brother. Dude totally freaked out and shot his brother in the arm, it was insane. Her fiancé went to jail and when his brother turned out to be fine, he took my mom back to his house in Alabama for the rest of the summer. Turns out he was married though, so we left by the time school started."

I watched as he inhaled and I mimicked him. "Why didn't you ever tell me the truth? We were best friends." "Eric, I was a kid, I just listened to the lies my mom told me." We sat in silence. "You've really had it bad, huh?" I asked.

He shrugged. "It doesn't matter. And if you go Donahue on me, I'm kicking your ass," he threatened as we turned into the freeway. I smirked and looked out the window. Cars raced passed us. The sky had turned a deep grey and soon enough, plump pellets of water fell on our windows.

"Shit," I heard him muttered, quickly rolling his window up. I followed suit. Leaning back into my chair, I put the cigarette out and curled my legs up under me, resting my head against the window. Lennon sang, Hyde smoked, and I slept.

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