The next major break from school would be for Christmas, giving all of us students just under a month of time off of classes. Due to the length of the break, the school announced that all dorms would be closed to students during the time, so I made arrangements to stay with Donna at her dad's house. I knew that I would really enjoy the time off and have a blast spending the break with Fez, Eric, Donna, Jackie, Kelso, and Hyde.

Before I could sit back and take pleasure in the holiday though, I had to study for my finals. Studying kept me captive in my room for approximately two weeks and Donna kept reminding me that the finals weren't as bad as everyone made them out to be. She told me that she began to worry that I was studying too hard and that this would only cause me to do worse on the tests and not better. Donna also said that the gang was beginning to ask about me. She said that Kelso was even concerned that I had been abducted by extra terrestrials. I responded to her by informing her that this was all just silly and that the group knew where I was and should understand how important my grades where to me.

"They'll never understand that," Donna laughed. "Classes never really meant much to them. In fact, Hyde rarely even knew what classes he was taking, and Kelso only passed the classes where he had a young 'hot' teacher. Somehow they both still graduated."

Later that week, I had been studying for the final that scared me the most; a comprehension test in Intro. to Public Speaking. Donna was out with Eric for some fancy dinner or something giving me privacy to study in. I never really liked being completely alone in the room so as was my custom when Donna was out, I had left the door open. I was sitting on my bed with my notes spread out all around me as I was creating note-cards labeled with some of the key terms I just knew would be on the test.

All of the sudden I heard something outside of my door and I looked up out of pure curiosity. There was nothing there, so I just shrugged and went back to working on my note-cards. With no other warning, Kelso came rolling into my room, his hands held together and his fingers pointing like a gun.

"Please don't tell me that is something they taught you at the academy," I said.

"No, of course not, this is too cool for them," Kelso informed me as Fez and Hyde walked in behind him. "Why?"

"Because it looked like something out of a cheesy 'B' movie," I answered.

"Bu-urn," Fez laughed as I shrugged again.

"Just be thankful we took the real gun away from him," Hyde told me making me smile and shake my head as I turned once again to my note-cards.

"What are you guys doing here?" I asked, beginning to list all that properties that make up a good persuasive speech.

"Kidnapping you before the aliens can," Kelso said stuffing his hands in his pockets. I rolled my eyes and kept on writing, Hyde back-slapped his friend across the chest.

"No, really, we are stealing you away from your homework," Hyde continued.

"Can't," I replied. "Huge final."

"Com'on," Fez pleaded. "We're going to see a movie and then we're stopping by The Hub, you 'ave to come with us."

"Sorry," I sighed. "Just a few more days, and you'll have me for almost a whole month; we can do all that then."

"No good," Hyde said as he began to gather up my notes and the note-cards. I was desperately trying to grab them back and protect the others all at the same time. Hyde then folded the notes together and put them all in the inside breast pocket of his coat and then zipped his coat up. He knew I was too shy to go in after the notes. "You're coming with us tonight."

I might not have been willing to physically go in search of the notes, but being a girl I did still have one trick up my sleeve. I put on my best puppy dog face and began to whine. "Hyde, I really have to do well on this test. I know this might not mean a lot to you, but I want at least a 3.5 GPA."

At that moment my phone began to ring. I rolled my eyes and reach toward the receiver. "Hello?"

I paused as I listened to the voice greet me on the other side of the phone. "Oh, hi Allen," I sighed.

"Who's Allen?" I saw Hyde whisper.

I turned around so that I wouldn't have to look at him. "But Allen, I've already have plans for this break." I paused again. "That's not fair!" Pause. "Alright, I'll talk to you later." I hung up the receiver and folded my arms across my chest.

"Eppie?" Hyde spoke up after a minute of silence. I didn't answer. "Kelso, Fez, go wait in the car." As the two walked out of the room, I could hear Hyde come up behind me. He placed his hand on my shoulder and I quickly shied away. "Eppie, what's wrong? How's Allen?"

"My stepfather," I whispered. I was shocked that he even heard me.

"Oh," he replied as he sat down on Donna's bed. "So what did the basterd want?"

"I have to go home for Christmas Vacation," I told him, my voice still quiet. "If I don't, he says he'll stop paying for my college, then I'll have to go back home for good."

"Son of a bitch," Hyde muttered.

"What am I going to do?" I asked turning to face him. Tears began to fall down my cheeks and I wanted to run toward him, but all my insecurities had returned and I couldn't bear the thought of his touch.

After a moment of thinking, Hyde responded. "I'll come with you."

"What would Mrs. Forman say?" I asked exasperatedly throwing my arms down to my sides.

"I'm pretty sure she'll understand," he shrugged. "And if she doesn't, she'll just try to guilt me into staying, but it won't work."

"My family won't allow me to bring home a guy," I protested.

"Just tell them your bringing home a friend, don't even mention that I'm a guy," Hyde commented. "Listen you have to go home, but I'm not going to allow you to go home alone. That's just asking for trouble, I'll pick you up after your last final, alight?"

I just nodded. Hyde got up and walked over to me. He pushed my chin up with his left hand and looked into my eyes. With a caring smile that seemed so uncharacteristic yet becoming on him, Hyde said, "I won't let anything happen to you."

Hyde then slid my notes onto my desk and walked out of the dorm room, closing the door behind him.