Chapter Text
Prompt #3: "I hate that I love you." "What does that even mean?!"
Request Made By: @nikkisgwens (Tumblr) / @burnsfairmont05 (AO3)
Pairing: The Formans & the Pinciottis
Eric headed up to Donna's bedroom, seeing her and Bob sitting on the bed. "Hey," he said to Donna.
Bob stood up and said, "Don't you 'hey' me! My daughter stayed home from college for you. She could've had a bright future. Sure, she wouldn't be president of a company or anything 'cause she's a gal"- Donna looked at Bob weirdly upon hearing his statement -"but she would've been one hell of a secretary!"
"She left the room, Mr. Pinciotti. She left the conversation when she left the room," said Eric.
"You didn't tell me that, Donna," said Bob, looking at Donna. He then left the room to give Eric and Donna some privacy.
"Okay, look," said Eric, clapping his hands nervously. "Donna, I know you're upset-"
"Eric, if you want to break up with me, just go ahead and do it," interrupted Donna.
"What? No!" Eric exclaimed, scoffing. "Donna, I'm not breaking up with you."
"Really? Well, did you consider me at all before you decided to run away to Africa?"
"Again, you left the room, which means you left the conversation." Eric grabbed her desk chair and sat down in front of her. "Okay, look, Donna, the reason I'm doing this is for us." Donna seemed to be listening, so he continued, "Okay? So, I can go to college and get a job, you know, so I can deserve you."
"Don't give me that crap. You're doing it for you."
"Donna, when my dad got sick, and I had to stay home, I thought I'd missed my only chance, but this is it. You- this is my second chance." She was still listening to him. "I thought if anyone was going to support me in this, it was going to be you."
"So, good, go start it."
Eric sighed, clapping his hands again. "Look, I really just don't want to fight about this."
"What do you want to do?"
"I want to talk about this."
"You're going to be thousands of miles away. How could you not consider me before you made your decision?"
"I hate that I love you," whispered Eric.
"What does that even mean?!"
"If you can't support me in this, how can I trust that you'll support me in the future?" Eric asked, getting up from the chair, leaving the room, Bob standing outside the door.
Eric entered the Forman living room, finding Red and Kitty on the couch. Kitty looked at him and asked, "Oh, you're back from Africa?"
"I already dealt with Donna and Bob, Mom. I'm not in the mood for this," replied Eric.
'Well, since you made your decision without consulting your mother, the one who brought you into this world, I'll be upset about this all I want."
"You know, most parents would be happy to know that their children are moving forward with their lives. But you're not. Before you call me 'selfish,' you might want to look in the mirror before you call me that."
Eric left the living room so he could read up on the survival tips on Africa that Mr. Bray had given him earlier, ignoring the shocked look on Kitty's face.