Hours later, Jackie and Eric sat alone on the couch in the basement. His arm slung across the back of the couch behind her, they sat watching a return of "Charlie's Angels" in silence. It was a comfortable kind of quietness, one that had taken Jackie months to get used to when she dated Hyde. In that moment, she knew that what she had with Eric went beyond anything that had become before it. Despite everything, it was an easy relationship. He didn't hurt her, put her down, cheat on her or act like he didn't care about her. Instead, he told her how much he cared every chance he got, he showed her affection, and he made it a point to make sure that she was happy.
"Hey," she whispered, nudging him.
"Hmm?" he asked sleepily, his eyes drooping from jet lag.
"I'm tired. You're tired. I should probably get going."
"No, please, stay," he begged. The thought of not spending the night with her was too much after the day they had. Despite the fact that they had only slept together in the most literal sense, Eric had already grown accustomed to having her in his arms.
"Your parents would kill us," she replied.
"I don't care. Just please say you'll stay."
She smiled coyly and laid her head on his shoulder. "Okay."
Just then, Hyde came bursting in the door with Fez, Randy and Donna behind him. As soon as she saw him, Jackie knew that he had been drinking. Looking at their friends, he realized that they all had been drinking.
"Great, you're here," Hyde spat sarcastically.
"Um, it is his house, Steven," Jackie stated evenly.
"Whatever, man, we're gonna get in the circle."
"Uh, no, thanks. I'm not really in the mood," Eric said. He hadn't smoked since he went to Africa, and truth be told, he didn't really miss it.
"Yeah, me neither," Jackie retorted.
"Look at Mr. and Mrs. Goody," Donna scoffed.
"Yeah, look at 'em," Fez mimicked.
"Whatever," Jackie muttered. "Steven, have you been drinking too?"
Eric and Jackie watched as the scruffy man stumbled around the room. Eric tried to reach out to steady his friend, but Hyde jerked his arm away. Finally, he collapsed into his usual chair. Eric protectively put his arm around Jackie as they sank back into the couch. Donna sat on the floor in front of Randy, his arms wrapped around her neck. Fez was lying on the floor, repeating something about candy.
"Jackie, can I talk to you?" Hyde said, jumping to his feet suddenly.
Jackie looked at Eric and searched his eyes for permission. He nodded slightly, indicating that it was okay with him. "Sure."
Hyde led her out of the basement and up the stairs to the driveway. "Jacks, I'm sorry for calling you a slut earlier," he said as he sauntered closer to her. She could smell the clear stench of alcohol on his breath. "I just can't believe that you would cheat on me with him."
"I'm not cheating on you," she reminded him. "Steven, you're married. You got drunk, just like you are right now, and married a stripper. You broke my heart."
"I don't love her," he admitted. "I love you."
Jackie looked at him sadly and shook her head. "It's too late."
Back in the basement, Donna looked over at her ex-boyfriend. Maybe it was time that they make amends. Leaning over, she whispered to Randy that she was going to try to talk to Eric. He smiled in a sign of support. "Eric, maybe we should talk."
"Uh, sure, Donna. We can go to the kitchen."
Leaving Fez and Randy alone in the basement, Donna and Eric headed up to the very kitchen where they had spent countless hours together. "So, what's up?" Eric asked awkwardly.
"I'm sorry about what I said earlier. You just really surprised me," she said.
"I think you should apologize to Jackie. You said some really horrible things."
"She was supposed to be my best friend, what do you expect? I can't be happy for her."
"She didn't betray you, Donna. We were over, and you have clearly moved on."
"Don't you defend her, Eric."
"Donna, I love her," he said calmly. "I'm sorry if that hurts you, but it's the truth. I want to be with her, I'm going to be with her." Eric walked over to the patio door and watched Hyde talk to Jackie in the driveway. She looked upset but appeared to be holding her own ground. He smiled with pride.
"Why her, Eric?"
"It's like she said earlier. It's her because it had to be her," he said as he continued to watch Jackie. He could see her becoming more upset and Hyde stepped closer to her. Sliding the door open, he left Donna alone in the kitchen.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Jackie called. "He's just drunk."
"Come on, man, let's get some coffee in you."
"I love her, Eric. Just so you know, I'm not giving her up without a fight."
"Steven, stop," she said, turning away from Eric to give them some privacy. "It's over, it's been over. It's so over. Be with your wife, love your wife. Give her half of what Eric has given me."
"What about what I've given you?"
"It wasn't enough, Steven. It was never enough," she said. "I wasn't enough for you, and you weren't enough for me. Eric and I, we're enough. Let your wife be enough for you."
"Was I enough?" Donna whispered into Eric's ear as he joined them in the driveway.
"You were more than enough, Donna. In the end, we just weren't enough together."
Donna turned away, wiping the stray tears with the back of her palm. She looked back at the Foremans' house and then at Eric. "I gotta go."
Eric didn't say anything as she rushed past Hyde and Jackie. A few steps behind her, he reached for Jackie's hand. "C'mon, J."
"Good night, Steven," she said as she took Eric's hand.
Hyde waited for her to glance over her shoulder like she always did, like she needed one last look to hold her over until she saw him again. As they slipped in the house together, Jackie didn't look back at all. Instead, she put her arm around Eric's waist and disappeared out of his sight. He waited for a moment until the light flipped on in his bedroom upstairs. Watching their shadows embrace each other behind the plaid curtain, he realized that it really was over.