Author Note: I've been to Florida but never to Orlando – the Golden Dragon is totally fiction – read on dear reviewers!
Chapter 36 – Donna's Dinner
It was 2:00 o'clock and a tired group of Kenoshan's were slowly making their way to the shadows of the Cinderella's Golden Carouse. The heat and humidity was taking a toll on the people from the North. Hyde was telling Kelso about the amazing speed of the Space Mountain ride while Fez was telling Brooke about the characters from his home land.
Eric and Jackie were almost near their friends when Eric said, "Is that Stephen Hyde… smiling?" Jackie couldn't be sure because she was actually seeing teeth. "Maybe he's grimacing."
Eric smirked, "No, I think he found something that finally made him happy!" Kelso saw Eric and Jackie and scrambled over. "Dude! Goofy let me hang with him all day and I got to sit on a float in the Jungle Book parade! This is freaking AWESOME!" Kelso put an arm around Jackie and one around Eric. "You guys are the BEST friends ever!"
Jackie grinned and saw a drowsy Betsy Kelso struggling to stay awake in the stroller. She knelt down to the tot and said, "Did Betsy like the Dumbo ride?"
The little girl smiled and patted her mouse ears. "Dum-bo." Brooke was laughing, "She wasn't even interested in Cinderella. I was, but my daughter takes after her dad. Goofy and Dumbo – who would have thought?"
Samantha collapsed on a bench fanning herself – her polyester tank top sticking to her body in the humid gulf heat. "I need air conditioning. I need dry heat – like the desert. Who lives like this?" she complained.
Everyone looked to Jackie – time to kick back into event coordinator mode. "Guys, we can do a couple of things now. We can break for lunch and come back at 6:00 to meet the limo. Or, we can go back to the time share, shower and change and come back to the park. Or… we could just keep going – I just need everyone back at the timeshare at 6:00 o'clock so we can meet Donna for dinner."
Grandma and Betsy volunteered to go back to the timeshare and do some swimming in the pool. Samantha held up her hand, "I'm going with them."
Hyde grinned, "I'm staying – I need more Space Mountain."
Fez and Rhonda opted to have lunch and continue the rides. Brooke looked at Michael who said, "Well, I can always see Pluto tomorrow and I really want to go on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride." Brooke smiled at Jackie, "Mom's taking Betsy back, so we'll stay here."
Eric looked at Jackie. She shrugged, "I'd like to go back and then tomorrow come back for the Haunted Mansion."
Kelso's eyes got big. "Hey, I'll go with you guys tomorrow. That would be cool!" Brooke agreed.
Eric whispered in Jackie's ear," We can go back and shower or watch TV."
She looked at him, and replied in a low voice, "This morning's shower or last night's TV?" He laughed, "Does it make a difference?"
She smirked, "Well, this morning's shower was really nice…" Eric held up his hand, "Jackie and I will go back to the timeshare!"
*
Dusk came early on the Florida coast. The weary tourists struggled into their rooms to clean up and get ready for dinner. Rhonda was sporting a slight sunburn and Kelso was revved up and ready for dinner with his old friend.
Hyde banged on Fez's door. "Man, let me use your shower, Sam used all the hot water. Damn, you have a living room?" Hyde walked in and was amazed at the small kitchenette and sofa set which shared a wall with the bedroom. "Hey, is this couch a sleeper?" He lifted the cushions and found that it was a convertible sofa. "Man, I'm sleeping here tonight. Sam can have that cubbyhole called an economy room. I'm suffocating in there."
Fez protested. "But me and Rhonda haven't slept on this yet." Hyde cringed, "and you're not gonna! This is my bed. He took a cushion for ransom and replied, "I'm your new roomy."
Fez shrugged, "Well, if the sound of our sweet lovemaking keeps you awake don't bother me! Good day!" Fez turned and walked back into the bedroom to explain the new arrangements with Rhonda. Hyde grabbed his cushion and charged into the bathroom for a quick shower.
*
The Golden Dragon was a Chinese/seafood restaurant that catered to banquets and large families visiting the Orlando area. Jackie chose the Dragon at the advice of Bob Pinciotti who enjoyed the Saki and said, "The food is good too!"
The limos parked in the no parking zone and let the passengers out. Jackie and Eric led the group as she confirmed the reservations and an attendant showed them the buffet area and the room they would be dining in. There were ornate paper room dividers and brass gongs decorating the room, jade dragons sat on shelves made of stone. The smells of spicy beef and garlic scented the air.
Jackie told the waiter that one of their parties hadn't arrived but they would order drinks in the interim. Samantha sat near the end of the long table next to Hyde. The chair at the end was reserved for Donna. Kelso sat across from Hyde and Brooke sat next to him. Brooke didn't care for sitting directly across from Samantha and wished she could be at the end near Rhonda, Jackie, Eric and Fez. The fun people!
Samantha got up from the table and walked out to look at the buffet and hollered for Hyde. The seated table heard this exchange:
"There's shellfish! You know I can't eat shellfish. I'll swell up and get hives. I can't eat here."
"Sam, just don't eat the shrimp or crab. I hate fish too, but I can eat chicken."
"It looks gross. What is that – rat on a stick? I want a salad with my dressing on the side."
Hyde replied, "Can you at least eat some fried rice? I don't have any cash on me to get you dinner somewhere else. We tapped out at the park today."
"I don't care. I want to eat something and this shit isn't it." She whined loudly. Hyde exhaled, "Look, this is dinner, find something in here you can eat, try an egg roll – there's vegetables in it. They have Jell-O. You can eat Jell-O – lots of it."
Eric leaned over and whispered to Jackie, "You told me that you were high maintenance?" Jackie bumped his shoulder, "I'm trying to be nice so don't make me laugh!" Hyde came back holding Samantha by her upper arm and set her in her chair where she started pouting.
Brooke saw the couple at the end talking and she longed to be with her friends. Kelso was excited – he was totally oblivious to Hyde's irritation or Sam's unhappiness with the restaurant. A waitress appeared with a tray of hot tea for the table and Samantha opened her mouth to complain and Hyde merely glared at her and she clamped her lips shut.
Jackie nudged Eric with her foot. He looked at Jackie to see she was watching the unspoken fight between husband and wife. He smirked – yep, Samantha Hyde was a high maintenance wife!
*
Donna stood just far enough back from the room to see a mini Point Place basement sitting before her. There was Michael Kelso looking strong and handsome and as good looking as she remembered. Beside him was his fiancée Brooke – Donna recalled they had a daughter, Betsy who must be almost two years old. Across from Kelso were Hyde and Samantha who was still blonde and just as svelte as she was back in 1979.
There was Fez sitting across from a beautiful blonde who looked vaguely familiar and of course there was Jackie, the always beautiful cheerleader and loud mouth girl that roomed with her at one time. And there was Eric, he looked good. Really good! His hair was longer and shaggier; he had some muscle definition that wasn't there before. He sat straight and exuded some kind of confidence she couldn't remember.
It was nice to see all of them even if it was just for one day. She turned, "Randy, come with me."
*
Hyde looked at Kelso, "Man why would you pick a Chinese restaurant? You know I hate fish." Kelso frowned. "Dude, where else in the world can you eat with sticks and your hands? Show me somebody that can eat sweet and sour spare ribs with a fork and I will run through this restaurant in my underwear."
Brooke coughed discreetly, "Don't. He just wants an excuse to run in his underwear."
Hyde rubbed his forehead, "Anyways man, if you eat this shit, you're going to be hungry again in an hour!"
Brooke smiled, "Old wives tale. Ask your wife. She's old."
Jackie gasped. Brooke did an excellent burn on Sam! Samantha shot a piercing glare at Kelso's fiancé. Brooke continued, "It's the carbohydrates. If you eat too much, it turns to glucose and the calories burn quicker. Just make sure you eat some meat and vegetables and you'll be fine."
"Whatever." He muttered.
A familiar voice from the past said, "Hello everyone." All heads turned to see an older but recognizable Donna Pinciotti. Kelso tipped his chair over to run around the table. "Big D!" He grabbed Donna in a bear hug. "Hey, I missed you too Kelso." He lifted her from the floor and swung her in a circle. "Hugging – too much hugging." She struggled to breathe.
Kelso set her on the floor as Hyde got up to give her a hug. "Looking good Donna – seems like Florida is growing on you."
"Thanks Hyde. At least in the winter I don't have to wear ten layers of clothes!" She looked down, "Hey Sam – how have you been?"
"Donna, nice tan – is it real or tanning booth?" Donna chuckled, "Real Florida sunshine." Donna looked down the table at Eric. She didn't want to admit that she wanted to see how he was doing. Her eyes drunk in everything about him – the last time she saw him wasn't the best time for either of them and she hadn't spoken to him since.
"Guys, you remember Randy?" Donna waved Randy into the banquet area. He gave a small wave to everyone he recognized. "Randy followed me down here and we've been together for a couple of years. Dad loves him and well, he's a great guy!"
Jackie was holding her breath, what was going through Eric's mind at this moment? This was one of her fears and she decided to just close her eyes and let whatever happened – happen. Eric stood up and pushed his chair back.
Almost like a surreal movie drama the rest of the friends turned in their chairs to see what was going to happen – was there going to be a Donna/Eric reunion? Was Eric going to have a slugfest with Randy? Why was Jackie covering her eyes with her hand?
*
A/N – Cliffhanger, I know it's horrible but this is a really long chapter and I had to break it up.