Author Note: ... short chapter moving the story forward...

Chapter 31 – Double Edged Sword

T7S

Eric parked in front of a Dunkin' Donuts and walked inside for his morning coffee break. It wasn't that this coffee shop had better coffee than his mom, but it was close to the pound and the city yard. He added a generous amount of cream and sugar to the Styrofoam cup and took a sip. Wickedly caffeinated.

From his left front pocket, Eric pulled out the pink envelope. "What does Jackie have to say today?" he said aloud to no one in particular. The stationery was also pink and smelled like that nice vanilla scent from the other night.

Dear Eric

I hope your day is going well. I wanted to tell you that I am so excited about our upcoming double date! You are going to love Mona. She has nerdy tendencies but I think that's because she works in accounting and everything has to be perfect. Kinda like you. She's single and has her own apartment in Kenosha but works in Point Place so she knows gads of cool places to hang out. I think you'll love her.

So the bigger question is….who do you have in mind for me? My preferences are tall, but not too tall and he had to have all his hair. I don't mind going out with an older man but no baldies, fatties or comb-overs okay? I want someone that is a gentleman, dresses nice and smells nicer – no bad breath because that just makes the goodnight kiss a good bye kiss (if you know what I mean and I think you do)

Well, anyways, I have to get ready for work and leave this thank you letter so you'll know how much I appreciate your cooperation. And when you find my new date, let me know so I can set it up with Mona.

Have a great day Eric!

Jackie.

Eric frowned and folded the letter in half. When did he agree to a double date and who the hell was Mona?

T7S

Tendrils of gray smoke circled the cash register and spiraled towards the ceiling vent. "So again, what's the problem?"

Eric leaned on the glass countertop and sighed, "She wants me to double date with her and find the guy. Apparently she's already found a girl for me."

Hyde laughed and passed the joint over the countertop. "So what's the problem man? Just ask some dude you work with to dress up nice and get a free dinner. I mean you are paying for this thing right?"

Eric thought about that as he passed back the joint. Yeah he would be paying in a lot of different ways. "I guess the problem is that when Jackie started talking, I thought she wanted me to take her out. I thought it was a date with me."

Hyde almost choked on his inhale. He busted out laughing, "Forman…you? Are you freaking kidding me? Jackie will crush you and that's only after she's stomped on you and left you for dead."

Eric's lips curled into a half smile. "Dude, she's not that bad. Really. We're getting along just fine."

Hyde lifted a brow and replied, "Then why do you want to go and ruin a good thing?"

Hyde's words sort of made sense but then he liked Jackie as a person and it was evident in the way she treated his mother. The little brunette was exceedingly patient and kind and plus, his mom liked her. Red liked her. Eric Forman liked her.

That couldn't be a bad thing.

Right?

T7S

"…so the recipe says to bake at 325 degrees for 40 minutes." Jackie closed the cookbook and switched the telephone receiver to her other ear. "Mrs. West, you are going to make the most delicious casserole that Point Place has ever produced."

"Oh thank you dear. My eyes aren't what they used to be and without my glasses….where would I be without you hon? You are an angel. Have a nice day."

"You too." Jackie replied before hanging up the phone. She tucked the Betty Crocker cookbook back onto the small bookshelf she had created since starting this job. The titles ranged from "All About Remarrying Your Ex" to "Women Can Change the Oil Too!"

She had finally finished reading that huge tome of "Cruelty of Casualty" and felt a little bit more educated. Jackie liked that her job was different every day and the topics changed often so this little library was a lifesaver in more ways than one.

Kicking her soft pink ballet flat shoes up on her desk and crossing her ankles, Jackie wondered who Eric was picking out for her. Would he be handsome like Clark Gable or adorable like Shaun Cassidy? Did he drive a nice car or a motorcycle? Mona called back to say they should have break together tomorrow to discuss this blind date set up and Jackie was perfectly fine with that. Matchmaker….hmmmm….that was something else she could add to her resume!

The ringing of the telephone startled her from her daydreams. She quickly put her feet on the floor and snatched the receiver from the cradle. "PP Hotline, can I help you?"

"Uh….yeah….this is me….I don't know about this dating thing."

The voice sounded familiar so Jackie let this stranger keep talking. "Go on." She urged.

"Well, um, I was confused when we talked and I thought you were talking about us."

Jackie frowned. "Eric? Why are you calling me on the Suicide Hotline? Is your life so horrible you want to do the deed?"

He laughed uncomfortably, "No not that particular deed but I don't know your other number."

Jackie wasn't going to let him off the hook that easily! "What did you mean you thought I was talking about us? There is no us." She could imagine him scratching his head at that statement.

"Er…that's not exactly what I meant. Jackie, a blind date? I don't know any guys that would fit your inventory of date worthy men and you are setting me up with a nerdy girl? That's not cool."

"Oh Eric." She cooed. "You poor confused man. Tell you what I'm gonna do. I'll have Mona call you and you can chat over the phone and then when we all double date, you won't be strangers okay?"

"But…."

"So, stay by the phone and I'll have her call you. Have a nice day!"

Eric was left with the dial tone humming in his ear and the promise of an unwanted phone call just minutes away. He set the receiver back in the cradle and walked to the fridge. Maybe he could borrow one of Red's beers – this promised to be a long night!

T7S

The beer was cold, the TV was on and reporting the news. Eric sat down on the sofa and happened to notice Marco was staring at him. "Hello bird."

Marco lifted his beak and cawed loudly. "Ick."

Eric frowned wondering who taught the bird that word. Still, with his folks out, at least he had the parrot to talk to. "So Marco, what do you do when a pretty girl wants a guy to go out with another girl?"

"Pretty girl! Pretty girl!" the parrot squawked.

Eric swallowed some of the brew. "Yeah, she's pretty….pretty much out of my league."

"Loser." The bird answered back.

Eric laughed. "Well, I don't have a broken wing and I'm not going to be sold when that wing heals. You're just a bird."

"Ick!" The bird replied again.

Eric leaned forward and tipped his can towards the cage. "It's Eric, you dumb bird."

The parrot lowered his beak and started at the human and replied. "Ick-er-us."

Eric felt like he was prodded with a jolt of electricity as a soft voice tickled his brain. "But Eric, it's always there and like the story of Icarus…if you get too close to it, it will burn you. However, at night when you look in the sky you will see many Stars. They twinkle just as bright and they wink at you and like the constellations, they will always be there. Eric, you need to let the Sun burn brightly and concentrate on the Stars."

The beer can fell to the floor and Eric shouted, "Demon bird!" Chastising the bird, Eric forgot about spilled beverage and ran for the stairs until the last sound the bird heard was the slamming of the door.

The bird cooed, "Here kitty kitty kitty…."

T7S

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A/N:...what is it about this damn bird? Marco has a purpose...stay tuned!