Chapter 2: My Best Friend's Girl

you're always dancing down the street, with your suede blue eyes, and every new boy that you meet, he doesn't know the real surprise

From grade school on, my every thought was somehow connected to Donna Pinciotti. But All I could do is sit back and watch while she and Forman became a "thing". They were perfect for each other of course, except for the fact that Eric wanted something different for her. Donna was the smartest one of the group, and she never got credit for it. She tested on a genius level in everything she tried, but her family never noticed her for it. Eric had no idea how smart she was, the only reason I knew was because I was called to the principal's office for spitting on the American flag.

And I'd do it again.

1970

"Hey, you're here too?" I asked.

"Yeah, they said I might have to change schools." Donna replied, she had started to tear up by this point. "I like Point Place, I don't want to move again."

"Don't worry Pinciotti, if they make you move I'll burn down the school and run away with you. Then you'll never be alone."

Hey, I was nine.

"Stephen Hyde, you keep your mouth shut." said Mrs. Keeler, the office assistant.

"Why are you here?" I whispered to Donna when the old crone turned her back.

"They said I have too many IQ points, they want me to go to a special school." she whispered back.

"Oh. Are they talking to your parents in there?" I pointed to the obvious outline of Bob Pinciotti in the office window.

"Yeah, I…I don' wanna move again Steve…" She started to cry, soft silent tears falling down onto her jeans, they matched her eyes.

At this point she grabbed my hand and squeezed it with her entire soul, and I felt it. I felt needed for the first time in my life, Donna needed me. So I guess that's why I really fell in love with her. She made me feel like a person. Without really thinking I pulled Donna off the office bench and we ran. We ran faster then nine year olds can run. Past the school, past her house, past Forman's, past everything until we realized we didn't have anywhere to go. We stopped running and sat on the front porch of my shit hole house and waited until we could breathe again. After that we talked about everything we knew, which wasn't really much. Neither of us really knew what IQ points were, or why they were important. I comforted her as best I could, which wasn't much. Then I gave her a hemp bracelet that I made.

"Thanks Steve. But I guess I should go home before it gets dark."

"It's already dark."

"They're probably worried about me."

"You could stay here, my mom won't wake up for a few days."

"No, I should just go."

"I could walk you home."

"I don't want you to get in trouble."

"I am trouble."

She laughed and waved goodbye. That was our place, my front porch. We sat there everyday after school for years, until Forman was all she thought about. I don't know if she ever told Eric she was a certifiable genius, or if she even wanted him to know. But I knew, and I loved her for it, and the porch was our place and no one else was allowed. The day the picture was taken she had promised that we'd always be together. If that's not saying she loved me, I don't what to think.

she's my best friend's girl, she's my best friend's girl, and she used to be mine

Forman and Donna went to the Prom together, by that time I had all but given up on having her as a girlfriend, sometimes I wonder if we were ever really that close.

Donna was the only one who called me Steve.

I wouldn't let anyone else call me that. She stopped, of course, I guess she assumed I liked Hyde better. The first time I ever kissed Donna, she slapped me. It was worth the pain, not ever kissing her would have felt a million times worse. I went to the Prom too, even though I'm against everything it stands for. I went because once again I felt needed, by a girl, a crying girl.

Jackie was the only one who called me Stephen.