Author's Note: Okay, so it didn't take as long to post this chapter. I really like this one; I hope you guys will too. Or maybe it's just because I know what's going to happen after it. Enjoy.

Cruel Summer

-chapter seven-

Eric's Basement, June 20, 4:01pm

"Okay. Uh huh. Yes. Yes, I'll pick you up in half an hour. Yes, of course I have a car. Yes, I know. I bought it myself. How much was it, you ask? Can you hold please?" Fez covered the receiver and asked, "Hyde, how much was your car?"

"Don't tell Reese that you have a car."

"Ten thousand dollars," said Fez into the receiver.

Hyde rolled his eyes.

"Yes, that is a butt load of money," continued Fez. "Okay. I will. Okay, bye." He hung up the phone and looked at Hyde, who was reading the paper beside him. "Can I borrow your car?"

Hyde lowered his paper, gave Fez a look, and then raised it to cover his face again.

"Oh, come on, Hyde," said Fez. He stood in front of Hyde and pushed the paper down.

"No."

"But—"

"No."

"Please? I told Reese that I had a car."

 "That's not my problem."

"I promise that I will bring it back in perfect condition."

Hyde lowered his paper again. "Fez, do you remember what happened the last time I let you borrow my car? I spent a half hour explaining everything and you backed right into a pile of boxes."

"I think that you have it wrong. I do not remember doing that," said Fez, nervously.

Sighing, Hyde stood up and went to his room. When he came back, he had a set of keys dangling from his hand. He made for the side door and looked back at Fez. "Well?"

Fez's face lit up. "You mean you're letting me borrow it?"

"No. I've got nothing better to do so I'm taking you. Let's go."

"Hey," Donna greeted Louis, smiling as he walked into her room. She was packing; she was leaving the next day.

"Hey," he said, sitting down on her bed. He watched her for a moment. "You look really happy," he commented.

It was true. She couldn't believe that the next day, she would be back with Eric in Wisconsin. "Yeah," she said, getting up. She went to her dresser and began to take all of the miscellaneous bottles off and stick them into a toiletry bag. "Can't wait to see my snookie-kins," she laughed.

Donna retrieved another bag from her bed and went back to the dresser. She came across a bottle of perfume that Eric had gotten her. Looking at it tenderly, she gently ran her finger across it. Before sticking it into the bag, she sprayed some onto her wrists and rubbed them together.

"Donna, I have to tell you something," said Louis.

She looked into her mirror and saw him approaching her. Donna turned to him, saying, "You're not an axe murderer or anything, are you?"

He did not answer; he looked extremely rigid, hands in his pockets.

"Come on, what's the problem?" asked Donna, pushing his arm. "Why so serious? I'm leaving tomorrow."

"Yeah…that's partially why I'm telling you this." He paused and did not say anything. He would not even look at her.

"Is everything okay?"

Louis nodded.

"Well, then out with it, already. You're making me nervous."

"I like you, Donna."

Donna inhaled sharply. She then turned and continued with what she had been doing. "Oh." Come on; say something else, she thought feverishly. "Well…I kinda figured as much…"

"Yeah?"

"Yeah." She turned to look at him again. "You were always lurking in dark corners and stuff, just watching me."

"Oh, come on, I wasn't that bad."

She laughed, and so did he. At least he could look at her now. "Alright, so it wasn't that bad, but I could tell a little."

Louis paused again before asking her, "And you're okay with it? I mean, you're not freaked out by the whole "our parents are married" thing?"

"Me? No, no," she said, waving her hand in the air. "Why would I be freaked out by it? I mean, just because our parents have sex and share the same last name now doesn't mean a thing. Not a thing." She laughed a little. "Okay, maybe it is a little freaky, but it's okay. I'm fine with it."

Louis smiled. "I've never really seen you all smiley like this. You look really beautiful."

It happened so fast that Donna hadn't had time to comprehend what was going on. No time to move, no time to think, no time for anything. But that's just what she told herself to make herself feel better. In reality, she knew that he was leaning in to kiss her. She even knew that he was going to kiss her before he began to lean in; he had that look in his eye. And she hadn't moved away.

Until two seconds into the kiss.

"Wait, Louis, what're you doing?" Donna asked, pushing him off her.

"You said you were fine with it."

What the hell had she done? He was practically her brother! She had just practiced incest. "Can't you tell that when I say I'm fine with it, it doesn't really mean that I'm fine with it? Louis, you're, like, my brother now! I don't know about here, but what we just did is illegal back in Wisconsin." She began to pace a bit, running her hands through her hair. "And I'm married!"

"Engaged," corrected Louis.

"That's what I said. You think I don't know what I said? I said engaged, engaged, dammit. I know what I am and it's-it's engaged…oh Eric is going to be so upset when I tell him…"

Louis touched her arm but pulled back when she flinched. "Who says you have to tell him?"

Donna just stared at him. Who had say she had to tell him? No. She knew better. She had to tell him. No secrets. "I have to, Louis. We're engaged…why did you have to kiss me?"

"Look, Donna," he said, standing squarely in front of her. "Why are you so worried about it anyway? He hasn't called you the entire time you've been here. Who knows who the hell he's been screwing—"

"I'll tell you who knows: I know. I know. He wouldn't do that to me…he wouldn't…"

"Think again, Donna. You're a million miles away from him. It's summer. Guys have urges." And with that, he walked out of her room.

Donna began to pace again. "Dammit! I just pulled a Jackie," she said aloud to herself, "except instead of cheating on Eric with the cheese guy, I cheated on him with my brother!"

Kelso sat in the middle of the couch in Eric's basement. Alone. By the way his arms were crossed and his crossed legs were fidgeting, it could be seen that he was extremely agitated. He looked up when Hyde entered through the side door. "And just where have you been, Mister?"

"Oh, I'm sorry, Mom. I didn't know that you were waiting up for me." He took his place on the side chair nearest the phone and picked up the paper that he had left behind.

"Where's Fez?"

"With his friend."

"What?" gasped Kelso. "The other day I told him that we were going to watch Alice Holloway changing in her window today. To-day," he said, pointing to annunciate. "Do you know how big that girl's chest is?"

"Well," started Hyde, not looking up from his paper. "Look's like you've just been burned. And anyway, if I were Fez, I would've ditched you too. His friend is pretty hot."

"Yeah, but it's not everyday—what?" said a startled Kelso. He thought for a second. "What did you just say?"

Hyde looked up from his paper. "I just said that I would've ditched you too because his friend is pretty hot."

Kelso's jaw dropped and he stood up. "Okay, it's one thing when you steal my friends but when you start changing their sexual orientation, that's just crossing the line. He's getting an ass kicking."

"Kelso, what the hell are you talking about?"

"You just called a guy hot. A guy. You've never even called me hot and we both know how beautiful I am, just look at this face."

"Kelso—"

"There's nothing that you can say to stop me, Hyde, so don't even try. I am going to kick his ass so hard that he'll be darning socks for my feet."

Hyde just shook his head. "What? Kelso, I swear, if you got any dumber, I bet a potato could beat you at an IQ test."

"Yeah, you would say that," said Kelso, brushing his comment off. "But it's just the Reese talking. The only reason you're being mean to me is because you met Reese."

"Look, Bozo, you don't know what you're saying. You're not going to kick Reese's ass."

"Wanna bet?" challenged Kelso. "Fine. Ten dollars says I will."

"Kelso—"

"Fifteen."

"Listen—"

"Twenty."

"You've got yourself a deal," said Hyde, standing up and shaking his hand. "In fact, we'll go right now. They're at the Hub."

"Lead the way," said Kelso.

This is going to be delightful, thought Hyde with a grin on his face. I can't wait to see Kelso kick his ass.

Review Corner

hydejackie4ever: Yeah, I guess it was cute…if you insist…oh fine, it was cute. Thanks for the compliment.

kenzimone: Well, I guess that "solves" all your Donna worries.

sugarRay_babY: Oh, don't get me wrong, there's not wrong with writing J/H. I totally agree with you; a lot of it is the same. I think that's what my problem is with it.

L.J: Brilliant…star…two words that I loved that you used for me. Thanks!

concertina: Kelso does deserve it! He makes me so mad sometimes. Thanks for the review.

End Note: So? Thoughts? Comments? Oh, and PLEASE check out my other T70S fic that I wrote just the other day: No Strings Attached. I'd love to know what you think about that one too. Thanks much.

March 2, 2003

Copyright, theMuse