What If: Eric and Donna Became Friends With Benefits?

Chapter 7: Donna Dates A Kelso

Disclaimer: All rights to That '70s Show and its characters belong to The Carsey-Werner company. I am only a fan.

A/N: Thanks to everyone who continues to read, review, favorite, etc. Only a few more chapters to go...

The next weekend Donna stood outside The Hub, nervously scanning the alley for any sign of her date. Jackie had given her sparingly few details - just to be waiting at The Hub tonight, at 6pm. And that she wouldn't be disappointed.

But as the minutes ticked by… first 6:05… then 6:15… now almost 6:30… Donna started to regret the whole thing. Why had she agreed to this - a blind date set up by Jackie? What was she even doing here? In her heart of hearts, she knew she wasn't ready for this, for dating someone new. Not when she was still hung up on Eric. And the way he'd hurt her.

He'd tried to apologize again - every day this week. Not that she wanted to hear it - and not that she believed him. On Prom night he'd used her for sex. Betrayed her trust. Made her feel like a conquest, like a story he'd high-five the guys about later and not a partner who he loved and cherished. She wasn't that to him, not anymore. Maybe she never had been. It had never been clearer to Donna how Eric felt about her and what he wanted - or why it was over between them. For good, this time.

But Jackie insisted that was exactly why Donna needed to get back on the horse, get back out there, see what other fish were in the sea. She'd never be able to move on until she met someone new. Grudgingly, Donna supposed she was right. She'd been in love with Eric since she was six years old, she hadn't ever even seriously considered anyone else romantically. But now that Eric had closed the book on them for good… well. It was time to expand her horizons. Right?

It was time… for her date. Half an hour ago. She glanced down at her wristwatch and sighed. It looked like this one had turned out to be a bust. Freaking Jackie…

She'd turned around to head back inside The Hub, when a pair of headlights beamed her in the face. A sexy brown Firebird Trans Am sped down the alleyway, and swooped casually into one of the parking spaces.

"Well, well, well," the tall, dark, and built man said as he stepped out of the driver's seat, giving Donna a once over that made her shiver with anticipation. "You must be my date." He cracked a crooked grin.

Donna giggled girlishly at the lusty look he was giving her, and she twirled her hair around her finger nervously. "Casey Kelso?" she asked, truly surprised.

Casey ambled towards her, casually. He was dressed in a button down shirt that stretched tight over his muscled chest, and a pair of boots. As he got close enough, she could smell his musky cologne. This was a man.

"How's it goin', Pinciotti?" His eyebrows lifted, as he glanced up and down her body appreciatively. "Wow. You've really… grown up."

"Yeah. Um, so have you."

Casey was Kelso's troublesome older brother. He'd graduated a few years ahead of them, and last Donna had heard, he'd joined the army. Kelso didn't ever have any good things to say about him. It was really all Donna knew about him.

And that he was hot. Really hot. Maybe she owed Jackie one, after all.

Casey's eyes continued to wander. "Love the jeans," he told her, grinning. He had a suave, disarming quality about him that made Donna forget that he was thirty minutes late. It didn't seem to matter, anymore.

"Really?" Donna gushed, playing with her hair again. She suddenly didn't know what to do with her hands. "Thanks. They're blue."

She winced at herself. God - she had to get it together!

"Well, what's say we get out of here and go somewhere a little more… private?" Casey leered at her. Donna just nodded dumbly.

"I love your car," she raved, gliding her hand over the leather on the interior as she climbed into the front seat next to him.

"Everybody loves the Trans Am." Casey shot her a mischievous smile. And for the first time in days, Eric was the furthest thing from her mind.

He drove them out to a spot in the woods, near Mount Hump. They got out and leaned against the side of the car. Then Casey leaned into the back of the car, and produced a small cooler. He casually pulled two bottles of beer from it, popped the cap off of one effortlessly, and handed it to her.

"Thanks," she blushed, taking a sip. Casey drained almost half of his in one long gulp, and then grinned at her handsomely. But he didn't say anything, and Donna felt a need to fill the silence.

"So do you, um. Come here a lot?"

"What, the middle a' nowhere?" He looked amused, and Donna blushed, wondering if she'd said the wrong thing. He probably thought she was so dumb…

"Uh - "

"Yeah, sometimes," he continued, taking another long pull from his beer. "When I just gotta get away from everybody and their bullshit. Ya know?"

She did know, and she nodded. "So what do you do while you're out here?"

Casey shrugged. "Drink. Listen to music." The front window was rolled down, and Casey leaned inside and cranked the knob on the stereo. A loud guitar riff burst from his speakers. It was .38 Special. Eric hated them. But Casey grinned at her - boyish, charming. And she forgot about Eric again. "Get to know a pretty girl."

Donna found herself blushing. Again. He seemed to have that effect on her.

Casey started on his second beer, and they started to talk about music. Donna was relieved - finally, a topic she could talk intelligently about! She told him about the Ted Nugent concert last year, about the backstage pass and her interview with him and his groupies. Casey's jaw was nearly on the ground.

"No fuckin' way."

"Way," Donna confirmed, giddy. This was the reaction she'd wanted Eric to have that night. Instead they'd gotten into a massive fight.

Stop thinking about him! she commanded herself, angrily. Her feelings must've shown on her face. Casey leaned forward, and tipped her chin up lightly with his thumb. She felt flutters in her stomach at his touch.

"C'mon, Pinciotti. Smile," he chuckled a little. "You're always so damn serious."

"I'm not," Donna protested weakly. She looked down at her beer, still barely touched, and twisted it in her hands. "I just - I have a lot going on right now. Like, at home. With my parents and stuff."

"Okay..."

Donna looked up at him, but she couldn't tell if he wanted her to shut up or keeping talking.

She continued, hesitantly. "My - my mom left earlier this year and now my dad has this, like, new girlfriend." She made a 'whatever' face. "And it's - I - I don't know. I feel weird. Like she's replacing my mom or something."

"Then don't think about it." Casey blinked at her.

Donna blinked back. She hadn't really considered just… ignoring it. "Yeah, I… I guess you're right."

Casey's easy-going grin was back, just as fast as it had disappeared. "I learned something in the army. When things are tough, turn up the music and crack open another beer."

Donna laughed. "Yeah. You mean like, eventually things will get better?"

Casey shrugged, and gulped down the rest of his beer. He stood up to go fetch himself another one from the trunk. "I don't know about that. But if they don't, at least you'll have a beer!"

"Huh," Donna said. She took a big gulp of her drink, and held back the face as she felt the amber liquid burn down her throat. Maybe Casey was right - maybe she was too serious. And maybe he was exactly the distraction she needed right now.

"Red!" Kitty called from the living room. Her voice rang loudly through the swinging door. "How many times do I have to ask you to take out the garbage?"

Red and Eric locked eyes. They were cleaning up the kitchen after dinner. His dad scowled at him.

"Eric. How many times do I have to tell you to take out the garbage?"

Eric rolled his eyes and bit back his snarky comment. He gathered the full - and smelly - trash bag from under the kitchen sink, and headed for the driveway. But he didn't notice it was already occupied until he got outside.

"Hey, Foreplay. Is that you?"

"Casey Kelso?" Eric said in disbelief. He wasn't sure if he was more surprised that he was here, back in Point Place, or that he was walking up to him with Donna on his arm.

"Foreplay," Donna laughed and shook her head, bemused. "I forgot about that."

Eric eyed her wearily. This was the first time they'd seen each other in almost a week. She'd been avoiding him everywhere - the basement, driving to and from school, she was even skipping homeroom now. He'd apologized for what happened between them at the radio station several times, but it didn't seem like she was planning to forgive him anytime soon.

"Aw, man, you haven't changed a bit." Neither had Casey. He was the same condescending jackhole Eric remembered from high school, and the few times he'd interacted with Kelso and the rest of their friends. "Still got that haircut, huh?" He leaned over and pulled Eric into a noogie. Now Eric was reminded of middle school.

He yanked away from Casey and righted himself, straightening his jacket while he tried to catch Donna's eye. He knew she wasn't happy with him right now. Was this some sort of punishment?

"So they let you out of the army, huh Casey?"

"Yeah. It was kinda like they were always tryin' to tell me what to do." Casey glanced at Donna, and she giggled. Giggled. Eric frowned. He had never seen her like this before.

"Hey," Casey continued. "Pinciotti tells me you and her used to go out, but you dumped her."

Eric felt his heart drop. If there was anyone - anyone on earth - he didn't want to discuss this with right now, it was Casey Kelso. Unfortunately, Donna seemed to find it amusing. She continued to smirk.

"Well, yeah," Eric stammered. "But it was kinda complicated… with the ring, and then we talked but she - "

"Yeah," Casey clapped him on the shoulder, interrupting him. "It's a real great story, man." More giggles from Donna. "Anyway. I'll see you around, Pinciotti." He turned back towards Eric, and ruffled his hair roughly, like people did to little kids. "You too, Foreplay."

Eric jerked away from him again, and smoothed his hair back into place. Donna was watching Casey leave. He climbed into his Trans Am, revved the engine, and winked at her before he drove off. Eric rolled his eyes.

"You went out with Casey Kelso?" He shook his head and chuckled. "Whew. Better luck next time, huh?" Big, jerky guys in nice cars were not Donna's type. Eric knew that much.

"Actually, I think I might go out with him again." She shook a strand of hair back from her face, and lifted an eyebrow at him.

"Okay," Eric chuckled. Because surely, she was joking. She was just doing this to bug him. But she didn't crack, her defiant expression didn't change, and slowly, Eric faltered. "Okay," he said again, more seriously now. "But I have just two words for you: Donna Kelso."

She rolled her eyes. "Oh, whatever."

"No, I'm just - think about the children." Eric smirked. He was enjoying this now. "Little redheaded morons… they'd have to go to special schools. It'd be expensive!"

His jokes didn't get a rise out of her, though. Donna continued to smirk at him instead. "Gee, Eric. You sound a little… jealous."

See, he thought. He'd been right. This was payback.

"I'm not jealous," he sputtered, shaking his head. "I'm - Donna, I'm worried for you."

"Right." She rolled her eyes.

"I - Donna, c'mon." She started to turn back towards her house, like she was preparing to walk away from him. "It's Casey Kelso. Casey 'What's The Big Deal, It's Just A Misdemeanor' Kelso." He raised his eyebrows at her, imploringly. "He's not a good guy, Donna."

"Are you expecting to hand-pick the guys I date?" she asked him, coldly. "You don't know him, Eric. He's changed. He's mature."

Eric scoffed. "Oh, yeah. He's real mature."

"Well too bad, because I like him!" Donna's voice was rising with emotion.

"Donna," Eric reached for her arm, but she swung it out of his grasp. "Hey, I just. As a friend, I'm telling you: he isn't serious. He doesn't care about you."

"You don't care about me."

"What?" Eric asked her, lowly.

"You don't care about me," Donna repeated, with a sneer. "You only care about sex." Now she crossed her arms. "That's why you're mad, right? Because I'm not sleeping with you anymore?"

"What?" he repeated, still dumbfounded.

"I've moved on, Eric," she said coldly. "You really should, too."

"Donna. Hey - wait!" He reached for her again, but he was too late. She was gone. And he was left with his tangled emotions.

She'd moved on? She thought he didn't care about her? Him? What was this, opposite world? He shook his head, and continued to mull it over. Donna and Casey. Donna and Casey. Eric turned the idea around in his head for a few moments. But no matter what scenario his imagination came up with, he just couldn't picture it ending any way but badly. A lump had settled in his throat. What had he done…

Jackie and Hyde sat in the basement together, in silence. It was strange for them to be hanging out together, alone. And… not that strange. Actually, it felt kind of nice. Sometimes Jackie preferred Steven's company to Michael's. They could just be together.

The Price Is Right was on, and they both glowered at the screen as another old lady who couldn't even reach the wheel clambered on screen.

Jackie blew out a sigh, and glanced at Hyde, on the couch next to her. "This is boring," she announced.

"Yeah." Hyde scratched his chest through his tight t-shirt, and looked around the basement suspiciously. "Where is everyone tonight, man?"

Jackie scowled. "Michael's probably at 'work'," she put the word in passive-aggressive air quotes. Kelso had started a new job as a model at Halvorsen's last week, and it had become another point of contention between them. Lately he was constantly bragging about his good looks - not something that usually bothered her - and about all the girls at the mall who hung all over him - something he knew always did.

"Uh huh. And Fez?" Hyde quizzed.

"Being foreign?" Jackie guessed, totally disinterested. She picked at her nails. "I don't know what kind of freaky rituals he gets up to in his free time."

"Forman's having dinner with his parents," Hyde continued, as if Jackie hadn't said anything. "What about Donna? Haven't seen her around in a while."

Jackie straightened up. "Oh she has a date tonight," she smiled, knowingly. "I set her up with Casey Kelso."

Hyde frowned. "Why the hell did you do that?"

Jackie frowned back. "Because Donna's had to see Eric naked for the past year. She deserves to be with a real man now, Steven."

Hyde looked like he was holding back a chuckle at her burn. But then he shook his head. "Isn't Casey in the army?"

"He got out," Jackie said, bored again. She glanced back at the TV, where the old lady was placing her bid for $4. "Dishonorable discharge. Whatever."

Hyde shook his head again. "Jackie, Casey's not a good guy," he said, darkly.

Jackie glanced at him, surprised. "What do you mean? He has great hair, an even better body, and an expensive car." Hyde's expression didn't change, and she lifted her eyebrows at him impatiently. "That's the Big Three, Steven. Hair, Body, and Car."

Hyde scoffed. "Jackie, you don't really believe that bullshit." It was a statement, not a question.

She went quiet. It was an effect not many people had on her.

"I used to," she admitted, after a few moments. But he was right. Her experiences with Michael over the past year had taught her that physical attraction and other superficial things weren't the key to a happy relationship. It had been a hard, ugly lesson for her to learn. She blushed, suddenly feeling emotionally naked in front of Steven Hyde.

"You're probably right," she hastily changed the subject back to Casey Kelso. "He and Donna probably won't have much in common."

Hyde blew a humorless chuckle out of his nose, seeming to agree with her.

"I just - " Jackie hesitated and glanced at him, like she was weighing how vulnerable to be with him again. His calm blue eyes looked back at her. It was so rare that they weren't covered by his sunglasses. They were the color of the ocean, and Jackie felt herself getting lost in them. She cleared her throat. "I just want my friend to be happy," she finished softly. "Donna - she - she deserves the best. I just - don't always think she sees that."

"Yeah," Hyde cleared his throat. They shared a meaningful look, and suddenly Jackie felt the stirring of butterflies in the bottom of her belly. It had been so long since she'd felt that. "Nothing easy about that," he finished, gruffly.

"Steven - "

Jackie wasn't sure what she was going to say, but before she could say anything, the basement door slammed open. Michael and Fez were there, each holding a brown sack in their arms.

"Eureka!" Fez exclaimed. Jackie slid away from Hyde, putting more distance between them on the couch. "Look at all the candy!" He dipped his hand into the top of his sack, and tossed a handful of tootsie rolls flying all over the basement. One of them hit Jackie in the forehead, and she winced.

"Yeah, I got my first paycheck tonight," Kelso was grinning proudly. "Spent it all at the corner shop." He pumped his fists. "No regrets!" He dug into his backpack, and pulled out a stack of dirty magazines. "Man, havin' money is great!"

"Michael!" Jackie stood, her hands on her hips. "You wasted your entire paycheck?"

"It's not a waste, Jackie." Michael shook his head at her earnestly.

"Here," Fez stuck a colorful box under her nose. "Jujube?"

Jackie slapped it away with disgust, and the colorful candies scattered all over the basement floor. Fez dove for them desperately.

"Michael. We're supposed to be saving money." She heard her nagging, grating tone as she spoke, but she couldn't stop it. She was upset! "You know. For our future?" She raised her eyebrows at him, imploringly. It was like he never thought about that, at all. But now that her father cut her off, they both decided to get jobs. She'd thought they were on the same page.

"Ahh, I'll save for our future later, Jackie," Kelso whined, as he unwrapped a chocolate bar. "You know. In the future." He grinned goofily.

Jackie massaged her temples with her fingers, willing the last thread of her patience not to snap on her boyfriend.

Hyde stood up from the couch, and swiped his keys from the coffee table. "I'm outta here," he announced, but it was directed towards Jackie. "Have fun with the sugar babies," he jerked his thumb at Kelso and Fez.

She watched him go sadly, wishing she had the courage to stand up and follow him.