Five more minutes and I'm done for today. Eric thought, smiling, while putting the money in the register. "It's finally here. I won't spoil anything, just want to let you know that it lives up to the hype. Enjoy it."

Alex, a kid that had quickly become one of Eric's favorite customers, smiled and took back a brand new copy of the latest The Sensational Spider-Man issue. "I hope so, I've been waiting way too long to know what happens next." Walking towards the exit, he looked back and waved at Eric. "I'll see you around!"

Eric seized the opportunity to look around the store and saw it was empty. "Finally," he couldn't help but let out a big sigh.

He was exhausted.

It had been a few days since he formally started working at the comic book store. He felt like the luckiest young man in the world. The job was everything he thought it would be. Good pay, good hours, great clientele and, above all, he had a great boss.

Even things at home had been going smoothly lately. His mom was ecstatic he finally found something he was great at and really enjoyed doing. Well, she also told me that it didn't hurt I finally had my own money either.

Red had also, albeit subtly, adopted another behavior. He wasn't as snappy lately and Eric could tell he was trying his best to lay back and relax. In his own, twisted way, at least.

If Eric had one thing he could complain about, because of course, the grass isn't always greener on the other side, it'd be that he no longer had as much free time to just be lazy or sleep in, but he felt he was nitpicking. That was to be expected, obviously. And the pros far outweighed the cons. Yeah, not being completely dependent on Red for money is literally priceless.

With that in mind, he flipped the sign on the store's entrance to 'closed' and went into the back to change.

This was Eric's favorite moment of the day. And not just because he went home after changing, although that certainly played a part. He loved just being able to quietly check out new merchandise. He got a sneak peek into stuff that, in some cases, still hadn't gone on sale.

That was yet another perk that came with the job. He could get new merchandise in advance and, sometimes, he could even ask for employee discounts. He knew it was somewhat silly, but it made him feel important, somehow.

After putting his plain green shirt on and having changed into his blue jeans and black sneakers, he was ready to head out. Taking a last quick glance around the back of the shop, a poster caught his eye.

This one's new, he thought. Taking a long and detailed look at it, there was no doubt in his mind it was a poster for the upcoming Superman movie, starring the great Christopher Reeves. I guess they are ramping up the marketing, after all, it'll be in theaters this December.

He took a mental note of checking the price later in the week. He didn't think of himself as a massive Superman fan, but it was The Man of Steel's first time on the big screen. And it was a live action film, after all. Maybe I should buy it as a collectible? It might be worth good money someday, he wondered. I can also use it to tease Jackie.

He paused.

Right. Jackie. I still can't believe what I did a couple of days back. He thought, feeling his nerves creeping in.

The little devil had been playing an undoubtedly important part in helping Eric put his act together recently. A starring role, dare Eric say.

Now, when he thought back to the days following Donna's and Kelso's departure, as they were now referencing "the event", it seemed like it happened ages ago. Plenty had changed in a small period of time. Back when Kelso and Donna were still around, Eric and Jackie weren't the best of friends, he didn't have a job, and he clearly didn't have a plan as to what he wanted his life to look like in the near future, as much as he wanted to fool himself into thinking that he had.

He chuckled at that last thought. Well, to be completely honest with myself, I still haven't figured it all out.

When he got home after a rough second day on the job, he had what could only be described as a not-quite quarter life crisis.

Is this all I will amount to? Is college an option? What would I even major in? This is the best entry level job I could have asked for, but will it still be a dream job when I'm past my twenties, living in my parents' basement like a leech?

He cringed a little after that not-so-pleasant train of thoughts crawled back into his mind, but he pushed them aside, opting to play Jackie's words in a loop. That always managed to soothe his concerns.

And to think it all was triggered by a 9-year old child who isn't allowed to read comics. He let out an ironic, dry laugh.

xXxXxXx

DAYS EARLIER –

"I just came by to look around, my mom doesn't really let me read comics." The kid said, eyes full of sadness.

"Why's that? Have you been flunking school?"

At that, the youngster's eyes shone bright. "I'm actually of the best in my class!"

Eric decided he liked the little creature. To be one of the best of the class was a huge achievement, especially if you're just a kid. Kids aren't supposed to like studying.

Which also confused him a little bit. If this kid wasn't flunking, what was it? "Are you good at home?"

"I like to think I am." Came the reply, with narrowing eyes.

That was a good enough answer for Eric. He knew he had to something to cheer the kid up.

"Did any of the comics catch your eye?" He asked, smiling gently. "Just let me know so I can pay for it."

The little one's eyes widened in utter disbelief. "You would do that for me, sir?"

Eric let out a chuckle at the sheer awe in the child's voice. "Of course. Just pick one."

At this point, Eric expected the kid to go running towards his favorite comic, or at the least the one with the most badass cover art. Instead, he heard a small sigh.

"I can't. Mom will kill me."

Eric wasn't about to give up. "C'mon kiddo, it can't be that bad. It's just a comic book."

The young one shook his head vehemently. "You don't get it. Mom says the people who like comic books and all that are just losers who won't amount to anything."

Eric's eyes widened despite his best efforts to keep a poker face. So that's what this is all about. He thought. Now I really must do something, anything. He couldn't let the little one just go and have a miserable childhood.

"Okay, with all due respect to your mom," he began, trying to catch the kid's attention. His message had to get through. "That's certainly not true at all. You do know that the people who make comics are like, loaded, right?"

"They are?"

"Sure thing." Eric replied. "Your hobbies don't dictate what will happen with you in the future. If you want to do big things, and want it hard enough, you will get them done. No matter what. Not even what your mom tells you." At that point, the youngster had a look on his face that Eric hadn't seen before, but said nothing. Eric took it as a window to keep going. "You must keep it up in school. If you already are one of the best in your class, I'm sure you will do great things."

That seemed to get a reaction from the kid, whose face morphed into one of the biggest grins (possibly the biggest) Eric had ever seen. "Thank you, sir! I'll be the absolute best student!"

Eric ruffled the munchkin's hair, laughing a little. "I'm sure you will." He said, earnestly. "Now go, pick a comic book that catches your eye and I'll gladly pay for it."

At this, the munchkin didn't waste any time and ran towards the Superman section, looking for the first number of the current run. After finally finding it, the little one walked back to Eric.

"This is so cool! Thank you, sir!"

Eric let out an earnest laugh at the kid's attitude. The good mood emanating from the little creature was certainly infectious, it had to be said.

"It's no problem. I actually get employee-only discounts. And they're really good, so don't worry. I just hope to see you back here some other time."

The rug rat just smiled ear to ear at Eric, resisting the urge to jump up and down in joy. "Of course! I'm sure I'll want to know what happens next!"

"Sure thing." Eric replied offhandedly. "Now go home. And remember to tuck it under your pillow or hide it under your bed, we don't want you getting into trouble."

The squib nodded and pulled the shop's door back.

"Oh, and kid," Eric said, trying to get his attention. "Don't call me 'sir', you're making me feel old. My name's Eric." After this, something clicked in Eric's brain. "Also, don't go wandering out here alone, did your parents never teach you not talk to strangers?"

The kid nodded and gave him a toothy grin. "I'm Alex. And I only talked to you because you seemed nice. Turns out I was right." And with that, she was out the door.

Eric, for the life of him, couldn't be bothered to pay attention to almost anything else after that exchange with the little one. Alex. Name's Alex. He tried to remind himself.

He kept wondering who would be such a bad parent (because he couldn't come up with another adjective) to forbid their child from reading something as harmless as comic books, especially if they were doing great in school and behaving properly at all times. What else could they want from Alex?

Deep down, Eric knew that wasn't exactly what was bothering him so much. It was odd that people would treat their kid like that, but Eric wasn't exactly worried about Alex's home life. He knew that wasn't a point of contention, but wasn't ready to voice his biggest concerns out loud.

Whatever, let's just get this over with, I want to go home.

Eric felt like he was put on autopilot for the rest of the day. After changing back into his clothes, picking up his backpack, and closing the store for the day, he headed straight home as quickly as possible, even passing by an ice cream truck without as much as a glance.

That's when the heavy, kind of dark thoughts really began to cloud Eric's mind and judgment. Could Alex's mom be right? Am I on the right track here? Is working at a comic book store a good first step?

That continued for most of the walk back home, until it all reached a breaking point and Eric couldn't shove these thoughts to the back of his mind anymore. He needed some really wise advice. He needed someone that wouldn't sugar coat things in order to make him feel better about himself. Maybe I could talk to Red? Lord knows he wouldn't hesitate to pour it down on me.

But then again, on second thought, talking to his war-veteran, old-fashioned dad about one of his insecurities wasn't his best alternative. Who else? Someone who would just give it to me like it is, with no regards for my feelings whatsoever?

It clicked. But Eric felt a little hesitant. I'm relying too much on the midget these days. He decided he should weigh his options.

Honestly, there wasn't much deliberating to be done. Between possibly getting a foot inside his ass and getting a harsh dress down from Jackie, he knew what his pick would be almost instantly.

Turning on his heel, he made his way to the Burkhart's.

xXxXxXx

It was a relatively short walk to Jackie's place. Or maybe it was just that Eric was growing used to coming here, so it wasn't as tedious as the first couple of times.

Eric stopped a few steps away from the porch, looking up at Jackie's bedroom window. Her light was on, which most probably meant she was home. He decided to forgo the logical option and not ring her bell. Throwing small rocks seemed like it'd be way more fun. Plus, that way I can sort of get back at her for the last time.

Grabbing a rock from the floor, he yelled. "Hey, Jackie!" When he threw it, much to his surprise, it landed right on the window glass, not quite breaking it, but making a loud noise.

After that, he saw a shadow moving about the bedroom, and also heard some stumbles. That definitely did the trick. He thought, proudly.

Jackie pushed the window open with an annoyed expression on her features. "What the f-" she began, making it obvious to anyone within earshot that she was about to snap at the person who threw the rock at her bedroom window. That is, until she saw who it was. "Forman? What was that for? And why do you have that stray dog look on your face?"

Eric grinned at her. "You're asking way too many questions. Can I come in?"

Jackie scoffed. "Not until you tell me why you threw a rock at my bedroom window."

"It was payback for embarrassing me the last time I was here." Eric said, rolling his eyes. "Now, can I come in? There's something I'd really like your input on."

"You're absolutely not coming in dressed like that."

Of all the possible reasons (or excuses, for that matter) she could've given him not to let him in, Eric sure as hell wasn't expecting that one. He needed to clap back, and quick. He resolved to voice the first thing that came to his mind.

"Just say you want to see me naked, midget."

What?

Eric was flabbergasted at his own words. He dared to take a look at Jackie, who seemed to be as shocked as he was. Her eyes were open wide, her jaw, if it were possible, would be on the floor, and her eyebrows shot up in a millisecond.

His mind was racing. I need to say something else. Something, anything. Whatever it is. I can't let this be awkward, especially after what happened a couple of days ago.

Unbeknownst to him, Jackie's mind was going a mile a minute as well, trying to one-up his very clever but also very much awkward quip and forgetting it ever happened. I got nothing, she thought, deflated.

"It's open." Was all she said in response, retreating back into her room.

Eric saw her go back into her room and blinked repeatedly. She let me off the hook just like that? He thought, incredulously. I must have stunned her into complete and utter silence.

He figured that was way better than the alternative: being an awkward mess. That was exactly what he wanted to avoid at all costs.

With newfound confidence, he made himself at home and went upstairs into Jackie's room.

He paused for a second, figuring it would be better to knock, even if Jackie knew he was coming in. "Burkhart, are you decent? I'm here."

A second passed. Then came her answer. "I'm in my undies, but you can definitely come in."

For the second time in the last 5 or 10 minutes, Eric's mind only had space for one thing.

What?

He had to give it to her. If Jackie Burkhart was good at anything, it was making Eric Forman go speechless. He didn't have it in himself to do anything but just stand there, like a complete idiot.

Jackie wasn't about to pass on the chance to get back at Eric. "Are you deaf, Forman? I told you, you can come in."

Eric snapped out of it and decided to play her game, grabbing the knob and opening the door.

The first thing he could see was Jackie sitting on her bed. To the surprise of nobody, she was decent. In fact, she looked more than decent. Wait, is that a uniform?

"Aw Forman, don't look so sad. You already knew it'd take way more than what you can ever do to see any of this." Jackie joked, gesturing towards her body.

Eric snorted, amused by the short girl's antics. "Yeah, yeah. I bet." He said, dismissively. "Now, why don't you tell me why you're wearing what appears to be a retail uniform?" He asked, walking over to the closest chair.

Jackie's eyes widened. "I…" She trailed off, looking from side to side.

Eric got the feeling he wasn't supposed to notice that, let alone ask about it. "Did you get a job?" He asked in awe. "Did Jacqueline Beulah Burkhart actually get a job?"

Jackie smiled. "Aw, you know my full name!"

Eric face palmed. "So you're just gonna act like I never asked anything, aren't you?"

She nodded. "Preferably."

"Just spill the beans, Jackie. Did you?" He asked, the slightly teasing tone gone. "'Cause if you did, let me tell you, I'm happy for you."

Jackie was surprised at Eric's words, but still wouldn't meet his gaze. "I did."

Eric's face broke into a genuine smile. "That's great, Jackie!" He exclaimed happily. "What made you want to join the always-humble American workforce?"

Jackie pleaded the fifth and opted to stay silent, still avoiding Eric's gaze.

He picked up on it right away. "Jackie? Are you alright?"

She rose her gaze and finally met Eric's eyes. "You did." She said in a small, almost inaudible whisper.

Eric was confused, to say the least. "I… I did?"

Jackie nodded slowly, hoping her face was doing a good job of masking the not-so-tiny embarrassment she was feeling deep inside. "Don't let it go to your head, but it was you."

"I can't make any promises." Eric said, letting out a small smile in Jackie's direction. "But I really want to know what was it that I did to inspire you to become part of the working class."

That didn't fail to make Jackie laugh, putting her at ease. "You know," she began. "You seemed set on putting your affairs in order and all that. It made me… Kinda want to do the same?" She finished, somewhat unsure.

All Eric could see was the irony in her statement. "That's funny," came his reply. "That's actually why I came to see you." A beat passed. "I need… Some advice."

That piqued Jackie's interest. "Advice?" She asked. "From me? Did you hit your head today?" She kept going, standing up and walking towards Eric, placing the back of her right hand on his forehead. "Are you ill? You're not burning up."

Eric shoved her hand back softly. "Very funny, Beulah."

Jackie turned serious at his answer, noticing he no longer seemed to be in the mood for fun and games. "Okay, I'll be serious. Spill the beans, Forman. What's got you so shaken up?"

"A little kid came by the shop today." Eric took a breath in. "Name's Alex. I think I did a good deed today."

Jackie couldn't explain why, but she really liked the glint of fondness that made its way into Eric's eyes. "That's a good start. Continue."

"Scratch that, I'm pretty sure I made the squib's day." Eric said. "Alex told me she wasn't allowed to read comic books. Can you believe that?" Eric asked, clearly annoyed.

Jackie didn't see the point, yet. "Depends. How old is she?"

Eric couldn't believe what was happening. "Seriously, Jackie?"

Again, Jackie didn't see the point. "Seriously. You know some of the stuff that's depicted there might not be suitable for children."

"Point taken." Eric conceded. "But that's not what's important here." His face was almost grim now. "Thing is, her mom said that people who like comics and all that stuff never amount to anything in life." He finished.

Jackie wanted to say tons of things, comforting things, but nothing came out.

Noticing she had been rendered speechless, Eric tried to lighten the mood a little. "Cat got your tongue, Beulah?"

She shook her head, coming back to reality. "No, no. It's just… I wasn't expecting that."

Eric had to agree. "Neither was I."

They went quiet after that.

Jackie scanned Eric's face for a few seconds. It reminded her so much of the dark days at the beginning of the summer. God, if you're there, it might be the time to speak through me.

"I'm guessing it messed you up?" She asked, putting a hand on Eric's shoulder, trying her best to convey comfort through the tiny gesture.

Eric cringed a little, which caused Jackie to recoil, but he reacted just in time to hold her hand still. "You could say that."

Jackie's face softened, and she sat at the edge of her bed, beside Eric. "I'm sick of this." She said.

All Eric could do in response was snort. "This is one hell of a pep talk."

Jackie was having none of it. "No." She assorted. "Alex's mom doesn't even know you, Eric. You got a job that pays decent money, considering you're not even out of school yet." She squeezed his shoulder. "If you actually want to do something important, or make a difference, you'll do it."

Eric was stunned. "You don't mean that."

Jackie punched him in the arm. "I do." She continued. "You're smart, compassionate, and a good person all around. Hell, you even got me thinking that I should also get a job to earn my own money and stop relying so much on my parents for everything. You've also been great to me with this whole summer incident thing, you know?"

Eric kept quiet through it all, his sixth sense told him she had some more things on her mind.

"So what if Alex's mom thinks people that like comics are losers? Does she even know how loaded comic book artists and writers can be?" Jackie asked.

"That's exactly what I told Alex."

"I'm sure you did." Jackie replied, grinning. "Look, in the broad view of life, we're still way too young, we'll figure it all out eventually. Getting a job is a good starting point, whatever that job is. We're just lucky we get to enjoy it, too."

Eric was beginning to think Jackie truly was something special, seeing how she managed to amaze him more and more as days went by. "So you're telling me you actually enjoy your new job?" Eric asked, teasingly. "I'm in awe. Never thought I'd hear those words come out of your mouth."

Jackie rolled her eyes while laying down on the mattress. "You should be a comedian, Eric. Your obvious comedic talent is being wasted."

Eric could feel his mood lifting, making him feel a little bit lighter. "Believe it or not, you're not the first person to tell me that."

Jackie was skeptical. "You've got to be kidding me."

Eric, never one to admit defeat, decided to change the subject. "So what's this new job you got yourself into?"

"Oh!" Jackie exclaimed, excitedly. "I'm working at Almendra as a sales clerk. Today was my first day."

"Holy smokes, Jackie! That's awesome!" Eric answered, punching the air. "I just know you'll have everything sold out by the end of this month. I can see you being very persuasive."

Jackie grinned. "Why thank you, Eric. Believe it or not, it means a lot coming from you."

Eric thought it was time to give Jackie her flowers. She had been of great help to him. "I should be the one thanking you, Beulah." He started. "I came here a wreck and you managed to calm me down. When did you get so wise?"

"I've always been wise, Eric. You just weren't paying enough attention to notice."

I guess I wasn't. Eric thought. "I knew there were lots of things we didn't know about each other," he said, catching Jackie off guard, who opted to just lean on her elbows and give him a pointed look. "But I never thought it would be this many."

"And we're just getting started. You're in for a treat in this friendship, Forman." Jackie said before he could catch herself.

She looked expectantly in Eric's direction. So I dropped the F bomb on him first. No big deal, right? We're definitely there, considering what happened a couple of days ago. She thought, nervously.

Thankfully, for her, Eric put her out of her misery in no time. "I guess I'll just enjoy the ride." He said.

Jackie let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding.

With little to no notice, Eric stood up in a flash. "I guess I better get going." He said, putting his hands on his hips. "I don't want your parents getting back and realizing their little princess is alone with a devilishly handsome gentleman on her bedroom."

Jackie smirked. "You can't seriously think of yourself as a gentleman."

Eric mock-gasped. "You don't?"

"I plead the fifth."

Eric waived his hand in mock annoyance. "Coward." He said, walking towards the door. "In all seriousness… Thank you."

"None of that, Eric. Let's just agree that we've been a good friend to each other." Jackie said, trying to downplay the somber tone in his words.

Eric was halfway out the door when he suddenly turned back and looked Jackie deep in the eye. "Clear your schedule on Saturday, Jackie. I'll be here at 3 p.m. Wear anything you want." Looking ahead, he said his goodbyes and closed the door, not waiting for an answer.

Which was good for him, because if Jackie's shocked expression was anything to go by, he wasn't getting any.

The only thing that shook her out of the trance was the sound of the front door closing.

With nothing on her mind, she got up and walked towards her bedroom window, where she could see Eric's tiny frame walking away, presumably going home.

When she finally came to her senses, she found herself eagerly looking forward to Saturday afternoon.