Early summer
Eric bounded down the stairs with reckless abandon; this was the start of his last carefree summer and with any luck, he would be back together with Donna by the end of the day. He stopped short when he noticed Hyde sitting on his usual chair, a sly smile on his face, talking to a very animated Jackie. Hyde looked up and motioned Eric over.
"Forman, you gotta hear this one." Hyde nodded in Jackie's direction. "Go ahead."
"Michael and I are engaged!"
Eric glanced over at his friend, a questioning look in his eye. Kelso might be dumb, but he couldn't be stupid enough to propose to Jackie.
"Just wait, it gets better." Hyde could barely control his amusement. "And where is Kelso now Jackie?"
"He's driving Donna to California." She said dismissively and turned her attention back to Eric. "But you're missing the point Eric. I'm engaged! Soon I'll be Mrs. Michael Kelso."
"Wait a minute." Eric held up his hands. "Donna's going to California?"
"Yeah, to visit her mom or sort some stuff out or something. She called me a couple of hours ago."
"She called you!? Why didn't she call me?" Eric asked as he sank into the nearest chair.
"God Eric. Calm down, it's not like you were dating or anything."
Hyde sat forward in his chair. "Very true Jackie. And speaking of dating…doesn't it strike you as odd that Kelso would offer to drive Donna across the country and spend the summer in a strange city, hours after you two get engaged?"
"No."
"You don't think he could be, I don't know…running away?"
"Steven, why would Michael want to run away?" she tilted her head and asked innocently.
"Because he realized he would have to put up with your whining and bitching for the rest of his life?"
"At least he has someone." She looked around the basement. "I don't see your girlfriend around here anywhere."
"Even if I wanted one, which I don't, I wouldn't subject her to hanging out here with you."
"Whatever." She crossed her arms and stared into the television set. Trust Steven to try and put a damper on her good mood. He was jealous, her and Michael had the perfect relationship and all he had was a bunch of one night stands with skanky girls.
"I can't believe Donna left." Eric said suddenly from his spot on the lawn chair. His face had turned ghostly pale and he was staring into space. The thought of Donna running away from her family, from him, was suddenly too much for him to handle. "I gotta…go…upstairs." He pushed himself off of the chair and wandered dazedly up the stairs.
Hyde watched his friend and once Eric had left the basement he turned back to Jackie. "So you're not the least bit concerned about Kelso?"
"No. I'm perfectly fine with it." She said innocently, never taking her eyes off of the television screen.
"Riiight."
Jackie shifted on the couch and focused her attention on Hyde. "Steven, you just don't understand the love that Michael and I share. Yes he may be gone now, but in the end it will bring us closer together."
Hyde tried to keep a straight face. "Hey man, whatever makes you sleep better at night."
She patted his leg. "Thank you Steven. I knew you'd understand."
Hyde shook his head as Jackie went back to watching television. How she could be completely oblivious to the situation was beyond him. Kelso would never willingly ask her to marry him. And if he did, it would be with the understanding that he could still see other people. Because in Kelso's mind, that would be the only way to do it.
She must have tricked him, it was the only answer.
Poor Kelso. He'll never know what hit him. One day, fifteen years from now, he'll wake up and realize he's in a sick and twisted version of hell. And marriage to Jackie would definitely not be the good kind of hell.
He crossed his arms over his chest and watched her out of the corner of his eye. It was funny how she could be so excited over something that was never going to happen. He couldn't wait to see what was going to happen once Kelso got back.
They had been sitting in silence when Jackie seemed to realize the time and looked around the basement. "Do you think he's coming back?"
"Who, Forman?" Hyde shrugged, he didn't think his friend would take Donnas leaving that hard. But who knew? Eric could be such a girl sometimes. He hoped it wouldn't take long to pull Eric out of his funk; the last thing Hyde wanted was to spend his summer entertaining Fez and Jackie. "God I hope so." He mumbled.
"Well, if he's not coming back, I'm leaving." There was no way she was going to spend her summer cooped up with Steven, especially if Michael wasn't going to be there.
"Don't let the door hit you on your way out." Hyde said without looking up from the television.
Jackie got up and collected her things, but just as her hand reached the doorknob Hyde called out and stopped her. "Just for the record. Did you actually speak to Kelso? Or did Donna fill you in on all the details of their little road trip."
She didn't answer right away, but thought back to the phone call. Why didn't Michael talk to her? Probably getting food or something. She'd make sure to ask him about it next time.
Hyde saw the faintest look of hesitation in her face and it confirmed what he suspected. "That's what I thought." He said as she walked out the door.
To be continued…