Eric walked into the university's academics building to obtain an application form. He walked up to the front desk, where a middle aged woman was sitting. She kind of looked like an older Jackie - she even had a similar hairstyle to Jackie, only her hair was thinner than Jackie's. "Uh hi, excuse me, my name is Eric Forman. I graduated from Point Place High School and I would like to hopefully attend school here in the fall, could I please get an application form?" Eric asked. "What year did you graduate, Mr. Forman?" The woman asked. "Uh, 1978." Eric said. "Alright, and what would you like to attend school for?" she asked. "I would like to major in psychology." Eric said. She then opened the drawer a the side of her at her desk, looking through some files until she found the application forms and handed them to Eric.
And with that, he got back in the car and drove back home. It was about a 2 hour drive but Eric didn't mind. He didn't get alone time too often, and while he liked being in his friends' company (at least, as long as he wasn't the butt of the joke), he preferred to be alone in his own thoughts. He had an abundance of thoughts, and being alone made it easier for him to process those thoughts. It blew his mind how much his life changed, in less than 24 hours. Prior to this, he was Eric Forman, the loser, the punching bag, the one his friends looked down on, took advantage of and got into trouble with Red. The one who always failed at everything he did, who could do no right and who never got a say in how things went, with Donna, his friends, his parents or his life. The one who followed his life instead of leading it. Now, he was Eric Forman, son, friend and hopefully future psychologist, who stopped letting other people have power over him. He was shocked that finding the courage to break up with Donna is what triggered it all.
He also found himself comparing and contrasting this breakup to their last one. Both times, Eric was the one to break it off, but the first one was because Donna didn't know if she wanted a future with him, while this time, Donna did want a future with him, and while Eric wanted a future with her, he knew deep down it wouldn't work. The last break up, both of them took it pretty hard, but he took it harder than she did, while this time, she was taking it harder than he was. He also had some regrets about the way he handled things after their last breakup.
Both he and Donna handled their last breakup very poorly, which was to be expected from two teenagers. He was right to not want her to hang out in his basement fresh after they broke up, especially because she herself said she was uncomfortable being there yet she came anyway, uninvited no less. However, he had just as much of a part in the whole "gang war" that they had, where they tried to make Kelso, Jackie, Hyde and Fez choose between them. They also wrote unflattering stories about each other and their breakup in the school paper to make each other look worse while making themselves look better.
But they were both 19 now, and while they were technically still teenagers, they were also adults now, and Eric wanted no part in creating drama or making his friends pick sides. He still didn't want Donna over there after the fact, but he'd hoped she'd listen to reason. He also didn't care if they chose to be friends with Donna. Breakups are a part of life, and it's only natural for couples who split to keep mutual friends. He was above speaking ill of her or trying to gain pity now. He did have problems with her, hence why he broke up with her in the first place, but he didn't hate her, and he just wanted this to go as smoothly as possible.
He knew no matter what though, this was going to have a pretty significant effect on the group, or at least, Kelso and Fez. Despite hoping against hope that Donna would handle the situation at hand maturely, he didn't know if she would or wouldn't, and knowing Fez and Kelso, they definitely wouldn't. But then again, he didn't think Hyde or Jackie would have his back, and he didn't think Kitty would be supportive of his decision to break things off with Donna. The people in his life had been surprising him left and right since last night.
Eventually, he'd made it back home, going through the entrance to the basement. "Hey, Forman. Where you been, man?" Hyde asked from his usual seat near the washer and dryer, arms folded. "I was at the University of Wisconsin. You know, I thought about what you and Jackie said last night, and I realized that the reason I always try to help people when I can is because the only times I've ever felt good about myself is when I've helped people, and it got me thinking, I always find myself wondering why people do the things they do. And it occurred to me, I can devote my life to understanding people and helping them, so I decided that I want to be a psychologist. I drove down there after breakfast to get an application form, I'll have to try and get some of my old teachers and counselors to send my transcripts and recommendation letters, and I'll have to fill this bad boy out and send it to them as soon as possible." Eric explained.
"Well, right on, man! I'm glad you found what you wanted to do. Word of advice though - just, uh, don't start trying to pick our brains out loud and trying to diagnose us with this or that." Hyde told him. "Don't worry, I won't." Eric assured him, laughing a bit. "So how'd Red and your mom take the news about Donna?" Hyde asked. "Well, my mom was surprisingly supportive. She even apologized for calling me a dumbass when I didn't take Donna back after Casey dumped her. My dad reacted about how you'd expect. He said Donna's taking it really hard and not getting out of bed - kinda like I was the last time we broke up. I tried explaining why I ended things with her but he just dismissed it. I just don't get why he can't see things from my point of view. He's just as bad as Donna when it comes to always thinking he's right!" Eric lamented. "Don't worry about it, Forman. Red'll come around." Hyde assured him. "I don't know about that." Eric doubted Hyde.
Red walked in from the back door. "So, your mother told me you've decided to be a head shrink. Now why would you want to do something like that? Have people tell you about their feelings, it just sounds like a bunch of nonsense!" Red told him. "It's not nonsense, Dad! It's understanding people, their motivations. It's helping them." Eric said. He couldn't read Red's emotions. He wasn't angry, but he didn't seem happy either. He'd wondered if it could possibly be curiosity. "You always were a sensitive kid. Maybe this head shrinking stuff is your thing. At least you finally have a plan for your future and schooling. Just don't come crying to me when your patients drive you crazy!" Red said, turning to leave out the back door, but quickly stopping himself to say something else. "Oh, and Eric, I understand I was a bit hard on you about Donna this morning. I thought about what you said, and I can't say I agree with your decision but I understand why you broke it off with her. I was just letting off steam after getting an earful from Bob about it this morning." Red explained. Eric was surprised. It wasn't an apology, not quite, but it did seem to be at least a roundabout way of Red to admit he was wrong to chastise Eric. It was a turning point. "Anyway, I'll be in the garage, but you be sure you fill that application and send it back in time or I'm gonna kick you in the ass!" Red told him. "Okay. Thanks, Dad." Eric said. Red walked back upstairs.
Eric felt better already. He hadn't made Red proud, not yet, but he didn't make him angry or disappoint him. He was glad Eric had made plans for his future, even if he didn't necessarily understand or like the plans. It was a turning point. "See? Told you he'd come around." Hyde told Eric.
A/N: I greatly appreciate all of the reviews and discussions. It's nice to see so many people shared my point of view when it came to the whole Eric/Donna situation, especially after Eric didn't want to be her second choice. It's part of what made me have a scene in the last chapter where Kitty is understanding of Eric and admits that she and Red were being jackasses about the situation.