Red and Hyde were sitting at the breakfast table one morning, with Izzy making chocolate-chip pancakes for everyone. She and Hyde still weren't talking, but she knew it'd just make things worse if she didn't at least try.

Kitty stood over the phone in her nurse's uniform, about to leave for work. "Oh, so she's gonna be out the whole week?" She said into the receiver. "Well, you don't drink and go ice fishing! That is just common sense. No no, it's fine, I'll be happy to pick up her shifts. Uh-huh. Okay. Bye." Kitty hung up the phone, and the two girls joined the men at the table.

"Ah jeez, Kitty," Red said. "You work so hard as it is, I don't want you working double shifts!"

"Well, Red, we need the money. You know, it's not every week that Charlene's gonna get septicemia from a rusty hook. We have got to take advantage of that!"

"Well, I don't like it."

"If I'm going to be working nights, Isabelle, could you cook for the boys?"

Izzy took a bite of food. "Mm. Yeah. For sure, Ma. Men are slightly incompetent and I'd be glad to help."

"Come on, Isabelle," Red said. "I'm not helpless! I think I can get these guys some dinner."

Kitty and Izzy shared a look, and Kitty awkwardly stood from the table. "Okay. Yeah, um... I'm sure you'll be great," she said, heading out the sliding glass door.

"Fire extinguisher's in the garage, Daddy." Izzy said, smiling. Red just rolled his eyes.

"So, money's a little tight, huh?" Hyde asked.

"No no, Steven, everything's fine. We're great." Red said with a smile Izzy was sure was fake.

The kitchen door swung open, and in walked Eric, a little pep in his step. "Good morning! And I am not just saying that."

"Eric, Mom's working double shifts and Daddy's insisting that he cooks for us."

Eric looked at his sister, eyebrows raised. "You know the fire extinguisher's in the garage, right?"

Red sighed. "Yeah. I know." He got up and walked out of the kitchen. Izzy got up, handed Eric a plate of pancakes, and started making herself some tea.

"So where's Donna, man?" Hyde asked as Eric sat down.

"Donna? Donna? Oh, you mean that girl who spent last night in my bed?"

Izzy's head shot up. "Oh my god, that's what I was hearing?"

"She went home this morning."

Hyde raised an eyebrow. "So? Eh? Eh? So?"

Eric grinned. "So let's just say she went home a very happy woman."

Hyde laughed. "Alright, man! You finally did it!"

"You men are disgusting." Izzy said. "I don't want to hear about how my brother and my best friend did it across the hall from me."

Eric nodded awkwardly. "You know, it can mean a lot of things."

"No? It means one thing, Forman. And you either did it, or you didn't."

"Okay, then we didn't! But we did plenty of stuff--good stuff, new stuff!"

Izzy hopped up onto the counter. "You know I'm gonna hear all about this from Donna later on, right?"

"Forman, man, you're bumming me out. Can you at least lie to me?"

"Uh. Okay, we did it."

"Liar."

-

"So, what made you want to apply for this job?"

Izzy looked at the lady sitting across the desk from her. She was dressed sharply--a bit too sharp for someone running a youth center.

"Well, I saw you guys offer classes for kids after school. I love art, and I thought it'd be great to bring that to them." Really, Izzy was just looking for a way to bring a little extra money home.

"Have you had any experience working with children?"

"Well, no, but-"

"We stated on the application that we need someone with experience. It was nice meeting you, you may see yourself out now."

-

"So! You're a Forman! You know, your brother worked here for a little last year."

Izzy smiled confusedly. "How do you remember Eric? He barely worked here."

"Well the Fatso Burger family is just that: a family! I remember all the faces who worked here, no matter how brief!"

That's a little creepy, Izzy thought.

"Yeah, you know I send them Christmas cards sometimes."

That's really creepy.

He smiled brightly. "I don't have a family, though. Not after Ruth left me. It's just me and my iguana dressed like elves every year!"

"Okay, I think I'm gonna head home now." Izzy said, grabbing her jacket.

"O- Okay! I'll see ya around, Isabelle Forman!"

"No you won't!"

-

"Oh, it says here that you're a student?"

"Yes, I am. I'm a senior in high school."

The man laughed. "Oh! Here I was, thinking about how... mature you look."

Izzy raised her eyebrows. "I'm sorry?"

"Oh, nothing bad, just... you're a very beautiful young woman."

"Sir, I think that's rather inappropriate of you to say."

He sat back in his chair, crossing his arms. "Okay. Well, Miss, I'm sorry, but this job doesn't seem to be fit for you."

"I'm sorry, what? It's a cashier job, anyone can do this."

"You just don't seem very... friendly."

-

"Hey, Izzy, what's up?" Izzy hastily tugged her jacket off as she headed inside her house, running into Donna, who was playing basketball in the driveway.

"You wanna hear some bogus shit?"

Donna laughed. "Always."

"I went to job interviews all day today-"

"I thought Red doesn't want you guys working," Donna said with a smile.

"I know, I know, that's besides the point. Everywhere I went, no matter how easy the job was, they just wouldn't give me the time of day. I was either underqualified, too young, or just 'unfit.'"

Donna shrugged. "Maybe you just need more experience."

"But how am I gonna get experience if I can't get a job to get experience?"

"Why don't you try selling your art? People sell crappy stuff at the flea market all the time, you could totally get your paintings in there!"

"Thanks."

Donna laughed. "Not like that, I mean you're better than them already. Look, my dad knows an art appraiser in Madison--she helped him find those creepy clown pictures for his store--you can talk to her, show her your art-"

"Really?"

"I mean, yeah! You're-"

Izzy threw her arms around Donna. "Oh, that's amazing! Thank you, thank you, thank-"

"Calm down!" Donna laughed. "We haven't even got you a meeting with her yet. I'll call her tonight, maybe we can get you something set up tomorrow."

-

After going grocery shopping later that evening, Izzy walked into the kitchen to see Donna give Eric a quick kiss and head out the glass door.

Izzy set the bag of food on the counter. "Whoa, what did I just walk into?"

Eric jumped up. "She's sleeping here again tonight!"

"Do I need earplugs?"

"No! Yes? Maybe. I don't know!"

Izzy laughed. "Well, if you don't know, then the answer's no."

"Shut up!" He started rummaging through the bag. "So you're making food tonight after all?"

"Yeah, Dad had to ask me how to boil water, so I decided it'd be a crime against us all to let him cook."

"Oh, thank you, Izzy."

"You're very welcome."

At that moment, Hyde walked up to the kitchen door, about to go in and get a pop, but he stopped when he heard his name.

"How're things with you and Hyde?"

Hyde stood next to the door, trying to peek in and hear what was happening as the twins talked.

"Not great. I don't know what more I can do, Eric." She paused. "I should apologize again, and maybe-"

"No, Izzy, you've apologized enough. I mean, you made him cookies for cryin' out loud! You never make me cookies when I ask!"

"That's because you eat them all in one sitting and get a stomach ache."

"I just want cookies!"

"You're not getting any!"

"Please?!"

"No!" She paused, thinking a moment before she continued putting the groceries away. "I know it sounds weird, but that's how I apologize. I'm not good with my feelings, so I just make baked goods and offer them as an apology. He knows that. And him not taking them..."

"You need to apologize more. To me, specifically. Seriously, Izzy, I want cookies."

"Eric, be serious!" Izzy laughed. "I feel like I've lost my best friend."

Hyde took a step back from the door, his brows furrowed. He didn't realize how this was hurting Izzy. I mean sure, he knew that his grudge was affecting her. But he was just being his tunnel-visioned, stubborn self, too blunt to realize that it was hurting her.

He sighed and went back downstairs. "Hey Fez."

"Oh, hello, Hyde!" Fez said, sitting on the couch, clearly bored out of his mind.

"Hey, if I were to do something to, say, apologize to someone... how do I do that?"

Fez shook his head. "My friend, you are about as good with apologies as you are with trusting your country's flimsy government."

"That bad, huh?"

"I like it when Izzy apologizes. She bakes for everyone."

"That she does, my foreign friend. That she does."

-

Izzy got out of the Cruiser and stormed up to her house the next day, hugging her jacket around herself. She walked right past Donna and Eric in the driveway, who were playing basketball until they saw Izzy in all her teary-eyed glory.

"Izzy, what's going on?" Eric asked.

Izzy stopped and turned to face them. They were shocked to see tears coursing down her face and her cheeks red with frustration. "I went to meet with that art lady."

Eric and Donna shared a look. "I'm guessing it didn't go well?"

"She said I'm untalented. Mhm. Yeah, she said my paintings are derivative and boring, and that they wouldn't even sell at a crappy flea market!"

Eric sighed and rubbed circles in her back. "Hey, Iz, it'll be okay-"

Hyde up to the three of them, heading home from the Hub. He nodded at Eric. "What's up, Forman?" He looked over and saw Izzy standing there, eyes on the floor and arms crossed. He felt his heart pang when he saw her shining cheeks and the way the corners of her mouth were curled downwards. He looked at Eric as though to say What the hell happened.

Eric waved him off, but mouthed "Tell ya later."

-

"That bitch." Hyde said, leaning back in his chair.

"Right?! I mean, who is she to say my baby sister is untalented? She got the talent genes! Laurie and I are just hangin' out while she creates all this great shit!"

"Is she still in her room?"

Donna nodded. "Yeah, she hasn't left since she got home. God, I feel terrible. I'm the one who told her to talk to that lady."

Hyde shook his head. "Nah, Donna, man, you didn't know." He thought for a second, then leaned forward. "Hey, so you know how I got that job yesterday? At the Photo Hut?"

"Dude, Izzy is not working there-"

"I know that, Forman! No, I stopped by the Hub after work with Kelso today, they're hiring. Sure, it's not a fancy art career, but-"

"No, Hyde, that's perfect." Eric said, standing up. "I'm taking her down there right now."

-

"Eric, I don't wanna-"

"Come on! I just want to get some fries!" Eric said, dragging Izzy through the Hub's front door by her hand.

"But I don't see why I had to come with you!"

"Just come on!" He dragged her up to the counter. "Hey Frank. Uh... are you guys still hiring here?"

"You bet, Stringbean."

"Okay... disregarding the name calling... can my sister get an interview?"

Izzy's eyes widened. "Eric, what are you doing? I don't want to-"

"Little Forman?" Frank asked.

"Yes?"

"How much you wanna get paid?"

Izzy looked at Eric, who gestured for her to go on. "Uh... what's minimum wage?" She whispered to Eric.

"$1.76." He whispered back.

Izzy nodded. "Uh... two dollars an hour?"

Frank shrugged. "Okay. You're hired, Little Forman."

Izzy turned to Eric, shock written all over her face. He grinned widely and hugged her, picking her up off the floor. "You did it!" He cheered.

Izzy laughed. "I didn't really do anything."

"Still! And look, you're gonna find someone who's not that bitchy art lady and they're gonna love your work. Because you're good!"

"You're just saying that because you're my brother."

He hits her on the back of her head lightly. "That doesn't mean anything, dingbat! If Laurie had your talent, I'd try to ruin it for her at every chance... because I hate her."

-

Izzy and Eric walked back into the kitchen, laughing and messing around. He was glad she was in a better mood. He knew she'd get the recognition her art deserved, just maybe not right now.

Izzy stopped when she saw Hyde in the kitchen, bustling about with an apron on. Eric stopped at the door to the living room, turned around, gave Izzy a wink, and then walked out. She looked around and saw that there was flour everywhere, and her favorite cookbook was lying on the counter, opened to her favorite recipe.

Hyde pulled a tray of cookies out of the oven. "Uh... hey, Izzy Bee." He paused awkwardly. "Here." He said, setting the tray on the counter. "Careful, it's hot."

She slowly sat on the barstool and tentatively took a cookie off the tray, holding back a smile. He smiled back at her, and, just like that, the words were said.