Eric, Jackie and Hyde sat in the kitchen , chatting over a few beers (that they stole from Red). Eric didn't like breaking up with Donna, but in a way, he was glad he did, not only because he didn't like how she treated him and the others, especially in regards to her need to always be right, but he felt like he'd set her free, and that he himself was free. This wasn't what he wanted, but it felt cathartic. The main thing is he'd feared how everyone would react. But for now, he was just happy that Jackie and Hyde were on his side, which he still couldn't believe.
"Just so you know, Forman, we weren't trying to eavesdrop on you and Donna." Hyde said. "Yeah, we were going on a date when we saw you two break up. We decided to go on a date tomorrow night instead, because we figured you needed us." Jackie said. "I wouldn't have cared if you were eavesdropping, everyone was going to find out at some point anyway. I appreciate you guys being here for me. Although, not that I'm complaining, but why are you guys being so nice to me?" Eric asked. "What are you implying? We can be nice sometimes." Jackie teased him, playfully nudging him. "I know you can." Eric smiled at her. "Plus, what you said about how you've always been a loser and the butt of the joke, it got us thinking. We do take advantage of you and get you in trouble quite often, and you usually don't do anything to deserve it. You may be a dork, but you don't deserve to be everyone's punching bag." Hyde said. It was true - Hyde, Jackie, Donna and Kelso all freely took pot shots at Eric, and while Eric wasn't a saint, he usually didn't retaliate or do anything to bring on the treatment himself. Even Fez, who was nicer to Eric than everyone else, made fun of him sometimes. Kelso got almost as much heat from the group as Eric, but the difference was Kelso was a moron and he usually brought it on himself.
What stood out to Jackie is the fact that Eric remembered what she told him about how they only hang out with him because his house has food. It was a harsh comment, and not unexpected from Jackie, but the fact that Eric remembered it and brought it up when telling Donna at hand meant it did more than just sting a bit like Jackie had initially intended - it really hurt him and drove home the fact that his friends thought he was a loser. "Look, Eric, I'm sorry about what I said about how we only hang out with you because your house has food. I forgot all about what I said until I heard you mention it to Donna, and the fact that you remembered that I told you that must've meant it really hurt you." She said.
"Seriously, who is this girl and what has she done with Jackie?!" Eric thought. "It's okay, Jackie. You were right. It did hurt me, but not because it was insulting. It hurt because it's true." He said. "It's not true. Eric, you have way more going for you than you're giving yourself credit for." Jackie said. "Yeah, you never turned your back on any of us, no matter how badly we screwed you over, or how often." Hyde added. "And you're always willing to help us. You're the first person to help someone else, and not just when it's convenient for you." Jackie said.
It was true. Eric had a forgiving nature, he never held much of a grudge against any of them no matter what they did (and there were more than a few instances where he would've been justified to). And he was quick to help someone in need, be it his friends, family or even a complete stranger, even if it inconvenienced him. He did it because it was the right thing to do, and helping somebody else was one of the only times he felt good about himself.
"Seriously, Forman, you're one of the best people we know. You're the glue that holds us together, man. When you do find your purpose in life, as long as you put those qualities to good use, you'll do alright." Hyde said. "Thanks, guys. You're the best. I don't know if anyone else will be on my side, and I doubt Red will, but I'm glad you guys are." Eric said. "Glad we could help." Jackie told him. "Just don't tell anyone about this, or I'll kick your ass!" Hyde told him. "Got it." Eric said. He did feel much better. Even if Jackie and Hyde were the only ones on his side, it was better than no one being on his side.
That night, as Eric laid in bed waiting to fall asleep, he thought about what Hyde and Jackie told him.
"You never turned your back on any of us, no matter how badly we screwed you over, or how often."
"You're the first person to help someone else, and not just when it's convenient for you."
Until tonight, Eric thought Jackie and Hyde viewed him the way other people view him, and the way he viewed himself, as a loser, but the fact that Hyde and Jackie of all people told him that must've meant that they thought pretty highly of him, and that they respected him deep down all along, because they're the last people you'd expect to express kind words or affection to anyone, as Hyde made evident when he threatened to kick Eric's ass if he told anyone.
The real reason Eric refused to move, get a job or go to school wasn't because he was slacking; it was all an act. Eric could be lazy from time to time, but he wasn't as much of a slacker as he let on. He actually had a decent work ethic. He also didn't believe he was smart or good at anything having been told as much or having it hinted to him his whole life.
The truth is, while he lacked common sense from time to time and could act like an idiot, Eric was actually highly intelligent, he just didn't know it. When he wasn't joining his friends in drinking, smoking, cutting class and sleeping around, he managed to get good grades. The problem was he had a low self-esteem due to his status as a loser, and he didn't know what he wanted to do or what he was good at. Of course, he couldn't tell Red this, as Red would view him as a bigger wimp than he already did, so he put on a facade of being lazy to hide his self loathing. It seemed better for Red to be angry than to think he was a "pansy".
Eric found himself trying to figure out Red's thought process and why he acts the way he does. Eric knew Red cared about him. Red wasn't the nicest person ever, but he wasn't evil. He wanted Eric to do the right thing and be a good man, and despite threatening to put his foot in Eric's ass when Eric made him angry, Red never laid a hand on his son. Didn't stop Eric from worrying he would if he messed up bad enough, however. But Eric could quite literally count on one hand the amount of times Red had been proud of him and told him as much. Red was not an easy man to please, but was he more sensitive than he let on? Why did he have such a hard time saying the words "good job, son!" or "I'm proud of you!"? Men weren't typically known for opening up in the 70's, but even for the 70's Red was very emotionally distant.
Eric, on the other hand, is the opposite. He doesn't cry very often, but he's very sensitive and wears his heart on his sleeve. He's always been that way, it's one quality that's earned him scorn from people. "Why do we deny our feelings? Why is it only socially acceptable for women to have feelings? It's a normal thing to have. We're not robots, so why do we have to pretend to be?" He thought to himself. "If I could just tell my dad that I don't feel like I'm good at anything and don't have a direction instead of pretending to be a lazy mooch, my life would be so much easier.
It wasn't just Red; Eric often found himself wondering why just about everyone did what they did. He wondered why Donna could never admit fault - was it an ego thing? Nobody is always right, just like nobody is always wrong. It's just not human nature.
That's when it hit Eric - he could learn about why people did what they did, and he could use that information to help people understand each other better! He could even help someone just like him.
"I found my purpose - I could be a psychologist!"
A/N: Thank you all so much for the support and kind words in your reviews, it really truly does mean a lot to me. I absolutely agree, I disliked Donna because of her treatment of Eric and how she always had to be right, and as much as Eric could be an ass sometimes (especially in the later seasons) he tried his best to make her and the others happy. I like that my story is provoking a conversation about it, and I'm also surprised but also delighted that it's already getting as much good feedback as it has. I would've been happy with just one or two people liking my story lol. Much love, everyone!