Disclaimer: That '70s Show and the various characters aren't mine.

A/N: Okay, in order for this to work, let's just say that as well as getting money for working in Africa, Eric's given a scholarship to go to college. I'm not really too sure how the educational system worked in 1970s America, so bear with me on that (:
Also, this one races a long a bit. Sorry about that, I just thought it was time to pick up the pace a bit on this part

Jackie somehow managed to manoeuvre them both over to the sofa. She pulled away slightly, to get a good look at him. Deciding she understood him a bit better now - he needed someone around to distract him just as much as she did - she began. "It's lucky you came back, I was this close to opening the vodka," There. Now he'd be somewhat concerned about her and would forget his worries. This must be what he was talking about.

Eric looked into her eyes, and her heart did this weird flippy thing. Like it used to do back when..

"What stopped you?" He asked, quietly bringing her back to the present.

Jackie shrugged her shoulders and tried a smile. "None left," She held his gaze for a moment. There was something different in it. It widened her smile. They sat in silence for a little while, until Eric felt the need to break it.

"So, I made a decision. About my life.. and stuff." He took a deep, nervous breath. "I.. I'm going to Minneapolis. To college. The scholarship will cover me there. I'm going to study to become an architect. It's, um, all that Lego and model building.. Kind of made an impression on me. So I'm.. I'm going to give it a try."

Jackie turned to face him, eyes wide. "That's.. that's great. Great. When are you heading up there?"

"I don't know exactly," He shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "But soon.."

"Soon? But you can't go!" Jackie cried, abandoning all hopes of staying calm and rational. "You can't! What'll I do.. if you're not around? What am I supposed to do when I'm all by myself?" She stood up and paced in front of the couch for a few seconds. Suddenly she stopped. "..Take me with you..! You know I need to get out of here, and what other opportunities am I going to get?" Jackie sat back down. "Please?"

"Jackie.. I can't."

"Why not?"

"Because. Because.. we'd be, like.. living together. And I'm with Donna. It wouldn't be right." He sank down in his seat.

Jackie laughed coldly "Forget about Donna!"

"I'm with Donna. I can't just.." He sighed. He didn't think he'd end up saying anything about leaving yet. He almost wished he hadn't, then at least they'd have a little bit more time together without anything in the middle of them.

"Okay. Okay, fine. But, look, just for a second, take Donna out of the equation. How about then? Would you take me with you? Would you see me as more than a roommate, more than a friend?" Jackie silently laughed at herself. This was a serious moment, but she just sounded so.. corny.

"I-" Eric began, but Jackie stuck her hand up to silence him.

"You know what? No. I don't think I want to know anymore. I mean, if you're being so stupid.." A tear trickled down her cheek. She couldn't meet his eyes anymore. She had long since let go of him of course, and they were sitting a few inches apart. Maybe that's how it had to be, in every sense. She closed her eyes and focused on the clock ticking in the kitchen. She got so far away that he really caught her off guard when he kissed her. It was gentle at first, but it grew wanting. He laced his fingers through hers and gripped her hand tightly. She melted back against the couch, pulling him backwards with her. He pushed her hair back behind her ears, and his lips were drawn to her neck. They had barely touched her when he pulled back, and let go of her hand. Without a word, he got up and slipped out of the apartment.

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Ten minutes later, just as Eric closed the sliding door in the kitchen, the phone rang. He grabbed it off the hook and held it up to his ear. He knew it was her, and he knew what she wanted. She already knew it, but maybe she just wanted to know for definite. "If.. Donna and I.. weren't together, then.. yes." He waited through the silence, until he heard the click, and he hung up.

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It had been over an hour since he left, and Jackie hadn't moved from where she was sitting. The phone rang beside her, but she didn't register it at first. It was in the distance, some little annoyance that interrupted her thoughts. She finally realised what it was, looked at it curiously, then picked it up. He spoke straight away. "I'll be outside in my car in an hour. Pack enough for a few days, or well.. I don't know. Whatever you think. Meet me out there, if you want to come with me, but if not.. I'll understand."

"Okay," She whispered. She put down the phone and hugged her knees. Vague. But she supposed she just had to trust him.

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Eric put the box of cereal, loaf of bread and pint of milk, among other things that he'd gathered, into a bag and placed them on the counter. He looked at the clock on the wall. He went through his mental checklist. He had made the relevant phone calls, got together clothes, toothbrush, some staple items to last the first little while.. He was sure there was something else, but he couldn't think of it. He never thought he'd find himself making a quick getaway like this. But he was just doing as Jackie suggested, he was doing something impulsive. He took the notepad by the phone off the wall; he needed to write a note to his parents. He ripped off the first sheet containing the address he had been given. His address, from now on. He folded it over and stuck it in his pocket. He set the notepad down, and took the cap off the pen. It wouldn't write the first time, so he shook it. The pen had just touched the paper, the ink running through the nib too fast from being shaken and leaving a blot on the page, when Eric heard someone coming through from the den. "Don't say anything," Eric said, spinning around on his heel. "Because I sure as hell don't want to hear it."

"I'll say whatever I want," came Hyde's reply, sharp and cold, same as it'd been since Eric's return. "Going somewhere?" He gestured to the rucksack Eric had packed that was leaning against the sliding door.

"Yep," Eric looked disinterestedly at the notepad in front of him. "I'm going to Minnesota. And before you ask, Jackie might be coming too. And I don't care who you tell, I really don't. In fact, tell everyone, because I'm not coming back this side of Christmas, and even then, it'll only be for a visit."

Hyde smirked. "She wouldn't go anywhere with you, man. You're bluffing,"

"Whatever you need to tell yourself to feel better is fine by me," Eric picked up the pen again and started writing.

"Well fine. You can have her. Sloppy thirds, that's all she is now. But the second someone catches her eye, or when Kelso arrives for a visit, whichever comes first, and she goes running after them, you'll see what a slut she really is. And I can't wait 'til you come running home and I get to say 'I told you so'." Eric shook his head as Hyde grabbed a pack of crisps out of the cupboard and headed back downstairs again. Maybe one day Hyde would be able to let her go.

Eric finished his note, simple and to the point, double checked he had everything, looked at the clock for the hundredth time and slung his rucksack over his shoulder. He stood at the open door, looking out into what was left of the night. This was it; he was free.

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"In case you didn't realise, I'm not talking to you right now. But I'd appreciate it if you could tell me exactly what your plan is," Jackie slid into the passenger side of the Vista Cruiser. She watched Eric in the rear-view mirror as he put her stuff into the back of the car. Well, he couldn't have expected her not to be pissed at him for being so idiotic. Served him right, for saying no to her, making out with her and just taking off like that. She was going with him anyway of course, she wasn't going to let her temporary anger at him change anything.

Eric climbed in the driver's side and shut his door. He turned the key in the ignition, checked there was nothing coming down the road, though there wouldn't there be at this hour, and they set off. "I'm sorry. About everything. But I'm glad you're here. And I understand why you're mad, I guess you've got a right to be. Anyway, my aunt Paula told me she knows a guy who owes her a few, and he happens to be a landlord with an apartment to rent out. I called her and she got it all sorted out."

"In the middle of the night?" Jackie rolled her eyes; she forgot that she wasn't meant to be speaking to him.

Eric smiled to himself, he had remembered. "She holds poker games with her friends most Tuesday nights, so she was up anyway, and that guy was there tonight. Kind of a weirdly lucky coincidence, I guess. Like it was a bit too easy, but, you know, don't look the gift horse in the mouth," Suddenly, Eric coasted the car to the side of the road. "Listen," He said gently, turning to her. "Are you sure you wanna do this? I mean, are you sure-sure? Because-"

She cut him off with a kiss, and leaned her forehead against Eric's, looking right into his eyes. "I'm positive. Positive-positive." She smiled at him. "Now drive, Eric, drive.. And don't look back."

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