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English
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Part 5 of Fics [Completed & On-Going]
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Published:
2024-05-28
Updated:
2024-10-28
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40,146
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23/?
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214
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37
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Gold Dust Woman

Summary:

What if Eric broke up with Donna in 03×24, "Backstage Pass," instead of in 03×25, "The Promise Ring"?

Notes:

Song That Inspired the Title of the Fic: Gold Dust Woman by Fleetwood Mac

Lyric(s): "Well, did she make you cry?/Make you break down?/Shatter your illusions of love?/And is it over now? Do you know how?/Pick up the pieces and go home" (9-13)

Chapter 1: "I Didn't Wanna Get Attached But Now, I'm Far Too Close/And He Knows Just What He's Doing"

Summary:

When Eric breaks up with Donna after the Ted Nugent concert, he meets someone he hadn't seen in years in the aftermath.

Notes:

Song That Inspired the Title of the Chapter: Valentino by Olly Alexander (Years & Years), MNEK

Lyric(s): "I think I must have met him yesterday/He waltzed in from the outskirts of east L.A/He seems to be the name on everybody's lips/So I told myself I wouldn't fall for it/But then//Quicker than a flash, he had me at hello/He took me by the hand, we started dancing slow/I didn't wanna get attached but now, I'm far too close/And he knows just what he's doing" (1-9)

CW: Manipulation and grooming (Eric/Casey)

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Eric sat on the hood of the Vista Cruiser, contemplating his future with Donna. He'd been considering buying her a promise ring for some time now, but he wasn't sure if purchasing a promise ring was the best course of action for their relationship at this point. Did she feel the same way about him that he did about her? She did love him, just as he loved her, but now he wasn't certain if they were on the same page. He tried to block out the sounds of Kelso and Jackie making out in the backseat of the Cruiser, inwardly dreading the lecture he'd receive from Red if they made a mess back there. Hyde and Fez still must've been with the cops that booked them for selling counterfeit T-shirts.

I'm happy for Donna. I am! She's got her job at the radio station. She got to go backstage to meet Ted Nugent! That's huge for her! I'm happy for her. But I hate this feeling like I'm being left behind. She has a bright future ahead of her. I don't want to stand in the way of that. Maybe we don't belong together, after all. I don't fit into her world, so the best thing I can do is let her go.

Someone running up towards the car snapped Eric out of his thoughts. Donna's grin and excitement would have made Eric smile before, but all he could feel was anger at how she ditched him. He didn't mind her going backstage, but she'd said she'd be back in five minutes. It'd been a hell of a lot longer than that. Red would never have ditched Kitty, and Kitty never would have ditched Red.

"Oh, my God, Eric, I have so much to tell you!" Donna said excitedly. "I actually met Ted Nugent, and I got an interview. And I know I said I'd be right back, but it was so exciting!"

Eric got off the hood and said sarcastically, not bothering to conceal his anger, "Oh, my night, too! I met the janitor! And then I got to see Kelso take his pants off! Rock 'n' roll!"

Donna's expression shifted from happiness to confusion. "Eric, you're mad at me for going backstage to meet Ted Nugent?"

"No, no," answered Eric. "I'm mad at you because you ditched me."

"I didn't ditch you!" Donna exclaimed. "This was Ted Nugent! This was a huge opportunity for me! So come Monday, I don't have to just talk about the farm report. I could talk about the interview. Like an interviewer."

"Well, you know what, Donna? All I can say is that my mom would never have bailed on my dad like that."

"Yeah, but they're married."

Eric could only stare at Donna, dumbfounded, like this was the first time ever he was seeing her. Only this didn't involve the puppy dog feelings he'd felt when they were children. This was completely different than how he'd seen her that day. Is being married the only way our relationship will be balanced? What the actual fuck?

"Okay, okay, let's just forget it. You're sorry, everything's fine."

"I never said I was sorry."

"But you are, right?"

"I shouldn't have to be."

"You shouldn't have to be? You ditched me for hours, Donna! God, I'm happy for you, I'm happy that you got the interview with Ted Nugent, but our relationship matters, too, doesn't it?"

"For someone who says that he's happy for me, you don't sound like it."

Hyde and Fez came up as Eric and Donna had raised their voices. Kelso and Jackie stopped making out to hear the argument. Eric clenched his fists against the seams of his jeans, trying to control his breathing.

"Sorry, but I don't think I can do this any longer."

"What are you saying?"

"I can't do this. You're in my future, Donna, I know that, but if I'm not in yours, what the fuck is the point of us being together?"

Eric got into the driver's seat of the Cruiser, not talking to anyone else. Hyde, Fez, Kelso, and Jackie decided not to speak to Eric, Fez choosing to sit between him and Donna on the way back to the Forman's house. His decision weighed on his shoulders, but he'd deal with his emotions surrounding the break-up later. He had to be neutral for just a few more hours. If he could feel numb for just a bit longer, he'd be fine. Right?


I broke up with her. Did I do it for a good reason? Yes, I did. She has a bright future ahead of her, and I do, too. Although, she must have a better idea of what she wants to do than I do. All I'm really doing is focusing on school and graduating with good grades. Red would kill me if my grades started to slip now.

Eric absentmindedly ran his left index finger over the rim of his glass, lost in his thoughts. Spring break for the students at Point Place High had just begun, and Donna had decided to go to California with Midge. Midge had been wanting to leave Bob for a long time, and she finally had an opportunity to do so, and Donna had gone to clear her head after the break-up. Honestly, Eric didn't blame her; if he was able to leave Point Place, he would have been gone by this point. Eric ran his right hand through his hair, sighing heavily.

Am I going to regret doing what I did? No, no, I don't think so.

"Hey, sweet cheeks, what are you doing sitting alone?"

Eric eyed the person that sat down in the empty stool next to him, an uncomfortable feeling washing over him. He adjusted his sitting position to where his back was slightly to the guy. "Could you leave me alone, please?"

"Well, you seemed lonely, so I thought I'd keep you company."

"Just because I'm alone doesn't mean I'm lonely." Dumbass.

The guy scooted closer to Eric now, the smirk on his face only making Eric's discomfort grow. "It doesn't mean you have to be alone." The guy's hand drifted towards Eric's thigh, but someone caught the guy's wrist, holding on as tight as he could.

"He's pretty much told you to back the fuck off, Sanders. Take a hint and leave him alone."

"Jesus Christ, Kelso, I'm just being friendly."

"Leave him alone."

Kelso? No, don't tell me that my savior is Casey fucking Kelso. Eric didn't want to look at his savior, keeping his eyes on his drink, stirring the liquid around with a straw.

"Fucking hell, fine!" Sanders snapped, getting up from the stool, walking through the crowd and away from Eric.

Eric breathed out a sigh of relief. "Thanks," he said.

"It's no problem, Forman."

Eric paid for his drink, leaving the bar, getting some fresh air. He took a few minutes to breathe, and his savior had followed him outside, placing a hand on his shoulder. Eric now didn't have much of an option except to look at Casey.

"You ... you changed" was all Eric could say.

"Basic training and four years in the Army will do a lot to change you," chuckled Casey. "You still got that haircut, huh?"

Eric ran his hand through his hair again. He'd gotten the same haircut for years; he wasn't sure if it simply suited him now or if it was easier to him to manage. "Yeah." He cleared his throat, flushing a bit at how Casey had matured. It had been different than how he'd been while Eric was growing up. "I remember a lanky teenager being a reluctant babysitter for Hyde, Kel-Michael, and me."

"You can call my brother Kelso around me. I know who you're talking about."

Eric nodded in response.

"What were you doing in there? There are people like Sanders who do that shit all the time in there."

"I just needed to clear my head."

"In a bar?"

"Bad idea, I know." Eric shrugged his shoulders, rubbing his forehead. "I broke up with Donna."

"You broke up with Pinciotti? Why?"

"I can see her in my future, but I don't think she sees me in hers."

Why am I opening up to him? I always made sure not to do that when I was younger.

"You're going to have to explain it more to me." Casey led Eric to a red Trans-Am, which reminded the latter of another red Trans-Am and its owner.

"Where do I start?"

"At the beginning, I suppose."

I should be heading home. I didn't drink that much, so I won't get in so much trouble with Red and Kitty. Eric opened his mouth to tell Casey that he needed to go home, but he hesitated in doing so. Who did he have on his side back home? Whatever friendship he and Donna had was most likely damaged beyond belief now, Hyde slowly became a bit of an asshole, Fez and Kelso were both becoming two perverted peas in a pod who deserved each other, and Jackie reminded him too much of Laurie. Eric hadn't told Red and Kitty about him breaking up with Donna, but he had an idea of how they'd react. "I guess there's no harm in talking about this with you," said Eric as Casey unlocked the Trans-Am, both of them getting into the front seats.

Casey drove them to a secluded spot in the forest so they'd be able to talk in peace and quiet. After Eric had gotten everything off his chest, he felt better, and the usual worries that ran through his mind had progressively slowed down. "Thanks. This is a relief," admitted Eric, staring at his shoes. "I've spent way too much time worrying about everything with Donna, and what my friends and family seem to think about me."

"Hey, I learned something in the Army. When times are tough, turn up the music and crack open another beer," said Casey, handing Eric a cold one after turning on the radio.

Eric accepted the drink, opened it up, and took a sip. "Yeah, like you mean things will eventually get better."

"I don't know about that, but if they don't, at least you'll have a beer."

That made Eric smile and chuckle, taking another sip of beer. Casey wrapped his arm around Eric's shoulders, making the latter blush.

"Could I also suggest something that might really piss off your friends and family?"

"What is it?"

Casey tilted Eric's face to where they were making eye contact. When the former Army man kissed the lanky teenager, it took Eric by surprise, but he found himself melting into the kiss. Unfortunately, Eric was unaware of the game Casey was playing.

Notes:

https://archiveofourown.org/works/48969466/chapters/140970043

https://www.tumblr.com/randomwriter23/749155711763857409/hey-sunshine-can-you-write-a-drabble-where-eric?source=share

Those are the links to the drabble posted both on here and on my Tumblr. My Tumblr is randomwriter23 💜