Author Note: Dialog moving us along – some unhappy guests

Chapter 34 – A Little Bit Crowded

Eric woke up from his nap and stretched. He was not in Africa or Wisconsin he was in Florida in a very expensive room. He heard the door open and saw Jackie pass the bedroom to stop in the spare room. He swung his legs over the bed and went to lean against the doorframe.

"What are you doing?" She turned and smiled. "Just checking on my friends – hey guess who Betsy wants to see tomorrow?"

Eric grinned. "Cinderella of course – isn't that every girls dream?"

Jackie laughed, "Not if you're a Kelso! She wants to see Goofy." She put her receipts in an envelope and slid the packet into her planner. "So, you are my guinea pig- because I have to report all this back to Olivia Steele. How was the flight?"

Eric pulled out a chair and sat at the table next to her. "I want to own that plane. It was a smooth ride. I don't remember much else."

"You were asleep."

"That explains it." He laughed. "So what are we going to do all day?" He scooted his chair closer. Jackie grinned. "You're going to have to ask Michael. I think he's going to take you guys to a bar or something. We ladies are going to enjoy cocktails on the balcony."

"Hey, no fair! I'd rather hang out here with you than with the guys."

Jackie touched his cheek. "You are too sweet. Michael's going to need you to stop him from doing anything stupid."

Eric held her hand against his face. "You're right. But while we're waiting, is there anything you'd like to do?"

Jackie stood up and looked towards the bedroom. "We could always….watch TV." Eric grinned, "I'd love to watch TV with you!"

*

Kelso tapped on the privacy window. The driver rolled it down, "Mr. Kelso?" Michael grinned; he loved the respect in the man's voice. "We want to go to the best bar that has the best food and entertainment."

Hyde spoke up, "I've got my wife here so no strip bars. She might want to earn a few bucks and make me look bad." Samantha swatted Hyde on the arm. Eric groaned inwardly and Fez was grinning. "Make sure the drinks are yummy. I'm going to miss my Rhonda."

Hyde looked at Fez, "Where did you meet this Rhonda chick, she's pretty hot."

Eric watched Hyde's face as Fez explained that she used to be Big Rhonda whom Hyde always treated with disdain during high school. "Damn, I didn't know she would grow out of the homeliness stage. Good for you Fez."

Hyde turned his attention to Eric. "So Forman, since I got the economy closet, what room did you end up in?"

Eric struggled not to laugh and replied. "I'm in the room next to Kelso; I think its room 503. Fez is next to it." He watched as Hyde came to the realization that he got the short end of the stick. "You're in the same room as Jackie?"

Eric kept a straight face. Kelso looked over, "Yeah man, they've been dating for like forever. Duh! You need to keep up dude!"

Fez started laughing at Hyde's shocked face. "You and Jackie are knocking boots?" Fez wagged his finger. "Hyde, do not be so crude. Eric pursued Jackie for a long time before they started kicking each other."

Eric laughed. "Fez, that's not what he means. Me and Jackie are a couple, and it took a long time before she trusted me enough to go on a date. I'm looking out for her so if you want to say something nasty, say it to me." The gauntlet was thrown down and Hyde could rise to the challenge or stand back.

"Whatever." He said pushing his aviators back on his face." Whatever man..."

Kelso saw a TGIFridays. "There – let's go there. They have food." The limo driver signaled for a right turn and pulled into the parking lot. "What time should I pick you up? I have to return for the ladies."

Kelso shrugged. "A couple of hours – guys what do you think?"

Eric didn't want to be saddled with Samantha's company longer than necessary and actually wanted to get back for drinks on the balcony. "How about two hours?" Everyone agreed that sounded fine.

*

Meanwhile, the ladies had Olive Garden deliver a delicious meal and a local liquor store brought some wine to Brooke's suite. Grandma was getting toasted and Betsy was falling asleep. Jackie carried the sleepy little girl while Brooke steered her mom toward their room.

Rhonda was laughing at a comedy on the television. When the girls came back, they took their drinks out to the balcony to watch the stars twinkling in the sky. There was a slight breeze that smelled like the ocean and a blissful quiet in the air.

Rhonda leaned back in her chair, "I could live like this forever." She sighed. "I wonder if Fez will ever want to get married."

Jackie smiled, "I don't know, but you are definitely the longest relationship he has ever had." Brooke agreed. "He may be waiting for you to ask him."

"Huh." Rhonda replied. "I never thought of that. Jackie you are like the best friend a girl could have." Rhonda swayed in her chair a little. "Look at all of this you're doing for Brooke…only a smart girl would know what to do. I love you guys!" she wailed drunkenly.

Jackie smiled, "Rhonda has had a little too much wine, hasn't she?"

Brooke grinned, "I'll go make some coffee." Jackie went back into the living room and brought out a blanket and covered the inebriated young lady.

"You know, what she said is true…you are the best friend a girl could have. You are smart and pretty as all get out and you don't take crap from no one. Have I thanked you for the vacation?"

Jackie waved her hand. "I don't want to hurt your feelings, but Steele Oil is paying for most of it. I made a huge commission for planning the party, so that is my wedding gift to you. I want you and Michael to have a fun and relaxing vacation."

Brooke poured a cup of coffee for the two of them. "I think Fez is going to have to carry Rhonda back to their suite." With a twinkle in her eye she added, "Good call booking that economy room."

Jackie laughed. "Eric said I was evil. I just put my friends higher on the suite list." Brooke smiled, "You're not evil you are wickedly good. I'm just glad I don't have to spend time with Samantha. She irritates me like nails on a chalkboard."

"Cheers to being wicked and evil."

*

As the limo rounded the corner of the timeshare, Eric was looking out the window and could see two figures on a lighted balcony and he knew in his gut that one of those was his girlfriend. He could feel the flip-flop in his stomach and couldn't wait to see her again.

"Hey, come hang out in my room, I'm not ready to call it a night." Kelso said on the elevator ride up. Hyde growled, "Anything would be better than a crowded restaurant, crowded airplane, crowded limo ride and crowded room."

Kelso grinned, "Hey, Disney World has crowds. It is going to be better!" Kelso was having the time of his life and was oblivious to Hyde's discomfiture. Eric looked at Fez who wanted to laugh but they managed to contain themselves.

Kelso opened the door, "Honey, I'm home!" He looked back at his friends, "I always wanted to say that." Brooke waved from the balcony. Samantha whisked in, "Look at how much room you have. This is a great waste of space."

Jackie almost spit out her coffee. Brooke was trying not to laugh. Eric weaved through his cluster of friends and made it to the balcony. Brooke looked at him with amusement. "So what, do you want my seat now?"

"Come on Brooke, be cool. I've spent two and a half hours with the most boring people on the planet. Well, Kelso and Fez were okay but have mercy!"

Brooke laughed and gave her chair to Eric. "You owe me Forman." She said teasingly. Jackie was smiling. "Was it really that bad?" Eric feigned a headache, "Miserably mind-numbing, I can't even remember what I ate."

She giggled, "We got Rhonda wasted. Oh, and grandma is a little toasted too."

Eric leaned forward to snag a kiss. "And you're not drinking because…." Jackie leaned forward to kiss him back. "…because I don't want to hurl on a ride tomorrow. Hey, I'm going on Big Thunder Mountain for my first ride!"

Eric got excited, "That was my plan too!" Jackie stood up, "Hey, if you look over there I think you can see some of the fireworks."

Steven Hyde and Sam were sitting on the loveseat. He could see Jackie and Eric standing on the balcony, their bodies closer than friends should be and he was jealous. Jealous of the easy intimacy they displayed and the obvious affection they had for each other. There was a day he felt that kind of bond with Samantha. Then one day, like smoke, it dissipated and he was left with a stripper wife. It was what he deserved he supposed but that didn't make him like seeing his ex-girlfriend with his almost brother. Then Eric does it, he pulls Jackie in for a dramatic movie-like kiss and Hyde can see her swooning. It's almost more than he can bear.

"Sam, let's go. We have to do the park thing tomorrow." He growled. "Steven," she protested. "There's more room in here. What's the rush?" Annoyed, he sat back down and grabbed a magazine and started flipping through it.

Jackie's heart was pounding; her balcony kiss was like a scene from Romeo and Juliet! Eric really missed spending time with her. "Dang Eric, if I had known you were going to kiss me like that, I would have got rid of your hours ago!" she teased.

He pressed his forehead to hers, "I'm yours all weekend. You can try and get rid of me, but I won't be too far behind." Jackie pressed her hands to his chest, "Good, I like it that way." Eric brushed her hair from her face, "You are gorgeous in the moonlight."

"Okay, 75 points, are you happy now?"

Eric smiled and kissed her again. "Yes, I'm very happy. What do you say we ditch this party and catch up with them in the limo tomorrow morning?"

"I like the way you think. Maybe we can watch TV for a while?" She teased gently. Eric bumped her with his hip, "I can watch TV all night long!" he promised. She giggled and grabbed his hand, "I need to tell Brooke good night."

Hyde watched the two love birds make the rounds of the room telling everyone good night and holding hands like it was natural when it really wasn't. They didn't belong together. It should have been Donna and Eric and Jackie with… somebody else. Not Eric Forman. Twitchy, skinny Eric from high school should never have been the guy that gets the cheerleader.

"Forman really beefed up didn't he?" Samantha commented.

"Whatever." Hyde sneered, as Eric waved goodbye towards the loveseat couple. The door shut behind them and all Hyde could feel was relief.

*