Author's Note: This chapter's more interesting then the last one. I hope you all think so. Enjoy.

Cruel Summer

-chapter two-

Donna's mom's house, June 13, 5pm California time

Donna picked up the phone, dialed Eric's number, and then hung up. It was the fourth time that she had done that in a row. She sighed. Why couldn't she call him? What was she so afraid of? She left the kitchen and headed for her room, lying on her bed when she got there.

Being with her mom had been weird at first; it had been so long since Donna had seen her. A year was a long time. But, everything was going fine. Her mom's fiancé was great and his son was even greater looking. And his son looked at her. He looked at her. A lot. But Eric was waiting for her back in Wisconsin. She didn't even have to tell herself that. So then, why couldn't she call Eric?

She knew why. The less Donna heard Eric's voice, the easier it would be to be in California with people she didn't know and without him. It was only a few more days. She could tough it out.

There was a knock on her door.

"Come in," called Donna, sitting up.

It was Louis, her step-brother-to-be. "Hey," he greeted.

"Hey."

"Um, I was just wondering…do you want to hang out? Like, a movie, or something? I've been wanting to spend this money in my pocket."

She looked at him. A movie. That was harmless, right? "Yeah, I'll go. But I can pay for myself."

Louis shrugged his shoulders and grinned. "Alright, suit yourself. Come on," he said.

A movie. That was harmless. That was definitely harmless.

"No, Fez. I will not make out with you," said a frustrated Jackie. She glared at him, arms crossed over her chest.

"But I want to get hot and sweaty" whined Fez.

"Now Fez, I know I look cute today, but you're just going to have to go find some other girl who's not beautiful and is willing to ruin her reputation," said Jackie, sternly. "Besides, I can't cheat on Hyde."

"It's not cheating if he's not in the same area code," said Fez, sliding onto the couch with her. She inched away. "Please," he said, giving her a puppy dog face.

"Laurie's right upstairs, Fez. I'm sure she can squeeze in a quickie before her next shift at the corner," suggested Jackie.

"Hmm…you are right," said Fez, stroking his chin. He walked up the basement stairs to find Laurie. Jackie resumed watching TV and did not look up when Eric walked in through the basement door.

"Did Donna call?" he asked, sounding breathless.

"I dunno," answered Jackie nonchalantly.

Eric ran up the stairs and into the kitchen where he found his mother making lemonade and his father reading the paper at the table. "Did Donna call?"

"No, Honey," answered Kitty, absentmindedly.

Dejected, Eric turned to leave.

"Hey, Eric," called Red, looking up from his paper. "Did you get what I asked you to pick up?"

Eric walked over to the kitchen table where Red was sitting. Looking aloft, he said, "I just don't understand. Donna hasn't called me once since she left. Not once."

Red frowned at him. "Does it look like I want to hear any of your Donna bull crap?" he questioned harshly.

"I mean, we're supposed to love each other, right?" Eric continued.

"Oh, for Heaven's sake," muttered Red.

Kitty walked over with a glass and the lemonade pitcher. She began to pour Red a glass of lemonade. "Why don't you just call her?" she suggested to Eric.

It was that simple, wasn't it? Eric had thought of it almost a million times already. But… "I can't."

"What do you mean, you can't?" questioned Kitty, looking at him.

"Well, I can't," replied Eric, simply.

"Why not?"

"Kitty, if the boy says he can't, then you leave it at that. Why would you want to hear him talk any longer than he has to?" asked Red.

She looked at Red then back at Eric. "But I don't understand. Why can't you? It's just a phone call. But remember, only after seven."

"I don't want to seem like I'm crowding her." And it was true. Eric had once heard about a couple that had broken up because the man had called too many times. He didn't want that to happen to Donna and him. So, he opted to give her space.

"So Eric, do you have what I asked you to pick up?" asked Red again.

"What did you ask him to pick up?" asked a curious Kitty.

"Just a little surprise for you," Red answered, smiling.

"Surprise? What kind of surprise?" She was undoubtedly happy.

"Oh, you'll find out later," promised Red.

"Yay! Surprise!" She clapped her hands together and scurried out of the kitchen.

"Where is it?" Red asked Eric.

"The car."

Red stared at Eric, who had poured himself a glass of lemonade and had sat down across from him. "Well?" he prompted. "It's not going to bring itself inside."

Setting his glass down, Eric made his way to the Cruiser. He went around to the passenger's side where he had placed the brown bag containing his mother's necklace. But it wasn't there. After searching his car, Eric looked up at the sky. "Why do you hate me?" he questioned in despair.

Tentatively, Eric walked back into the kitchen, but the long way around the house. He wanted to see as much daylight as possible before Red placed him under lock and key forever.

Red looked at him strangely as he walked through the swinging kitchen door. "Why the hell did you go the long way?"

"Exercise?"

"Oh, whatever. Where's the necklace?"

"Y'know, it's a funny thing. It's really funny. We'll both laugh about it later on, trust me," said Eric, chuckling. "I went to the car and—this is the funniest part—the necklace wasn't there!" He began to laugh, nervously. God, if you didn't hate me already, I'd ask you to help me, he thought.

"I'm not laughing," Red growled, putting his paper down and standing in front of Eric. "Eric—"

"Dad, I am so sorry. I don't know where it could be!"

Just then, Kitty came in. "Surprise, surprise, surprise," she chanted to herself in a singsong voice. The two watched her as she maneuvered around them, putting an assortment of things back in their correct spots. "Surprise, surprise…" continued Kitty as she left the kitchen.

"Eric, I gave you that necklace so you could have it polished, not so you could lose it."

"I know," replied Eric, hands in his pockets.

"That is your mother's favorite necklace."

"I know," repeated Eric.

"So you had better find it before I plant my foot so far up your ass, you'll be tying my shoes with your teeth," threatened Red.

"Yes, sir." Eric left for the basement, depressed. First Donna decided not to call him at all during the entire time that she had been away, and then the necklace that he had been sent to clean went missing.

"Why so grim, Slim?" asked Fez, seeing Eric's long face. "Slim," he said, laughing quietly. "Get it? Because you are skinny. Oh, you are still the best, Fez."

"I just lost something that Red wanted to give my mom," said Eric. "And he threatened me with the 'ole "foot up my ass"."

"Well, if you have not noticed," said Fez. "I have been smooched." He said this importantly, as if he had accomplished some great feat, and pointed to the lipstick mark on his cheek.

"Go Fez," congratulated Eric with a slight smile on his face. He sat down beside him on the couch. "By who?"

"Jackie."

Rolling his eyes, Eric said, "Fez. I thought we've been over this. Jackie makes you want to stick a thumb tackie in your sackie."

Fez looked up at him from the couch with a pained look. He placed his hands over his crotch. "She may make you want to cut off your genitals, but not me. She is an exotic flower in a field of weeds."

Eric looked at Fez in disbelief. "Where is all this coming from?"

"I am horny, give me a break," said an irritated Fez.

Shaking his head, Eric left through the basement door. He was going to look for the necklace in the Cruiser again.

Review Corner

monnie: First reviewer, whoo-hoo! Thanks, it's much appreciated.

tvfreak: Thank you for the review. It's a huge compliment. And no, I don't have an ending in mind…yet.

SpaceyJ: Thank you for reading. Glad to know someone is.

Thanks for reading.

January 15, 2003

Copyright, theMuse