The group sat in the basement, listening to a loud guitar solo. There finally wasn't any awkwardness between Donna and Eric; she had beat him in basketball, making everyone accuse Eric of being a wuss. But that entire stupid fiasco was over.

The guitar solo finally finished and Lucy massaged her temples, it was the fifth time they listened to it on Jackie's request.

"I just want to hear the guitar solo one more time!" Jackie insisted.

"Just use the headphones!" Hyde pleaded.

Jackie sneered as she dramatically plugged in the headphones.

"Good now wrap the cord around your neck," Hyde whispered. Lucy just shook her head, and hit his arm.

"Hey would you guys respect me if I worked in the town dump?" Eric asked as he flipped through the help wanted page.

"The town dump? No. Now the state dump..." Donna answered. "Why are you looking for a job?"

"Everything costs money. Gas, clothes, fun." Eric responded sadly.

"Dates. Dates cost money," Kelso added.

"No Kelso that is prostitution," Fez laughed, believing his friend was mistaken.

"Dating is prostitution man, except you don't always get what you paid for." Hyde answered.

Lucy rolled her eyes, "Don't complain when you don't get laid but talk like that."

"Trust me doll, I get laid."

"Hyde, you've never had a girlfriend," Donna reminded him.

"What? You guys don't remember Esther the Biker Chick?"

"Ah yes, where did you tell me she was Steven?" Lucy propped her head in her hands with a smirk.

"She's dating my uncle," Hyde responded casually.

"Well I'm going home for dinner. Oh by the way, my mom and dad are going away to the playboy club at Lake Geneva this weekend. Do you guys want souvenirs?" Donna announced as she stood up.

"Ooh! Ashtrays!" Hyde answered excited.

"A life!" Lucy replied jokingly.

"A woman!" Fez dreamed.

"Your parents are going to be out of town?" Jackie asked, taking off her headphones.

"I mean I'll be babysitting my sister Tina all weekend. Just me. Alone. Watching TV. I might order a pizza..." Donna said, looking to Eric, who was absorbed in the paper.

Lucy looked at her brother like he was an idiot. Which he was. It was clear that Donna wanted him.

"I got an idea! We'll have a party at Donna's! A toga party!" Kelso jumped off the couch.

"Michael! Maybe Donna doesn't want to throw a party. Maybe she wants to be alone!" Jackie tried to get it through to her boyfriend.

"Yeah, just me. Alone. If someone happens to stop by that'd be pretty cool." Donna rocked on the balls of her feet.

"So we're on! I'll bring the beer!" Kelso said.

"Donna I've never been to an American party, can I come?" Fez asked.

"Uh yeah, I don't care," she waved away the question, still looking to Eric. "Uh so Eric, are you going to be there?"

"What? Yeah that sounds fun," Eric said barely looking away from the paper.

"Cool, catch you guys later," Donna said as she walked out the basement.

"Party at Donna's!" Kelso cheered.

"You are both so stupid!" Jackie stood behind both boys and smacked them upside the head as Lucy threw a pillow at her idiot twin.

"Ow why?" Eric asked.

"This is a first, I actually agree with Jackie," Hyde said. Lucy faked a gasped and Hyde rolled his eyes.

"What, you think I'm stupid?" Eric asked.

"I don't think it, I know it little brother," Lucy replied.

"Donna just put on the full court press man and you dropped the ball!" Hyde explained.

"What are you talking about all she said was that she'd be alone Saturday night with a pizza—oh my gosh I'm so stupid," realization dawned on Eric.

Jackie rolled her eyes and walked away as Lucy and Hyde just nodded at Eric.

❁

The Formans sat around the kitchen table eating dinner.

"So Dad, the guys and I are thinking about getting jobs," Eric started.

"No, no, no, you have a job. Your job is to go to school, getting good grades, go to college, graduate, and leave me," Kitty interrupted.

"Trust me, I'm trying," Lucy replied, not realizing her mother was saddened at the thought and quickly hugging her mother.

"Kitty when I was their age I worked in a slaughterhouse. It was a good experience. I learned how to use a hammer," Red laughed.

"Uh the new Fatso Burger's hiring people. Jackie's dad owns it. I guess I could get a job there," Eric said.

Lucy just grimaced and shook her head at her brother. Fatso Burger was not a place he would want to work.

"I was thinking about getting a job at the mall, maybe in Macy's?" Lucy offered.

"Honey, you should not have to work. You need cash? Red get her a twenty!" Kitty insisted.

"Mom, I'd like to earn my own money," Lucy pulled her mother down before getting her purse.

Eric just laughed at her sister, thinking she was trying to sucker them into giving her more money, but quickly stopped when he saw she was serious.

"You don't need a job. Get one over the summer," Red said.

Lucy looked down at her plate. She wanted to help their financial situation. She wasn't oblivious.

❁

The next day, all the boys went to be interviewed by Fatso Burger. The girls stayed over at Donna's since no parents were there.

"So you were hoping to get some action with my brother?" Lucy asked as she got a soda from the fridge.

"Oh please I already got this from Hyde I don't need it from you too," Donna reared her head on the table.

"I know, he told me. I just think it's funny," Lucy smirked as she sat down.

"Speaking of, why is Hyde at the interview?" Jackie asked. "I mean I know Michael's there because he wants to take me on nice dates, Eric's there because your family is poor, and Fez is there because he likes the American culture but why is Hyde there?"

"I don't know, knowing him it's either to buy some weed or to just make fun of corporate America and its consumerism," Lucy quoted an exact discussion she had with Hyde when he tried to cheer her up after she called him distraught about her dad getting pushed to part time.

Donna and Jackie exchanged a glance and Lucy furrowed her eyebrows, "What?"

"Oh it's nothing, nothing," Jackie said cheerily.

"Bullshit," Lucy laughed.

"So Donna! Are you excited for the party? We have to figure out what to have you wear!" Jackie changed the subject.

Lucy got up and followed them up the stairs, still confused but deciding to forget about it. It could just be Jackie's dramatic tendencies.

❁

Eric came back that day, excited that he got the job. Lucy knew Jackie would be calling her that night complaining about Kelso not getting the job. Lucy advised that Eric go to talk to Donna now, before the busy week ahead of him.

Lucy went upstairs and lo and behold her phone rang.

"Hi Jackie," Lucy answered as the girl already began her ramblings of why Kelso deserved the job.

"You know Jackie, since he doesn't have a job but Eric does, that's one less person to distract him from you," Lucy laid on her front and twirled the cord around her finger.

"You're so right! Why didn't I think of that before? Oh but I did talk to Michael after the interview today..."

"Ok, and how does that affect me?"

"Well apparently Steven was trying to make money so he could afford to take girls on dates, and to buy weed like you said," Lucy could basically feel Jackie smirking on the other end of the phone.

"Steven doesn't date. He just sleeps around and wastes girls' time," Lucy sat up and rolled her eyes, believing Jackie was mistaken.

"It seems he may be turning over a new leaf. I think Michael's been a good influence on him."

"New leaf? Yeah right! Look I got to go Donna needs to complain about my brother."

"All right. Tell me everything. See you tomorrow."

Lucy stood up and looked out her window to Donna's house, where she could see Donna in her room, grabbing her own phone.

Lucy dialed Donna's number and she instantly picked up.

"You're brother's an idiot!" Donna groaned as she plopped on her bed.

"I know. Luckily it's not genetic. What happened?"

"He can't come on Saturday because of his new job. Whoopee!"

"Yeah I know it's long hours and low pay so it's barely even worth it."

"It just sucks! I really wanted to hang out with him."

"He'll quit eventually it'll be fine."

"You think so?"

"Yeah, if he doesn't quit as soon as you like him to, I'll drive you by and you can flash him. That should do the trick." Lucy said seriously.

Donna laughed on the other end of the phone. "So did you hear about Hyde?"

"The whole motive for getting a job thing?"

"Yep. What do you think?"

"That he must've been high to think he'd want to take girls on dates."

"Be serious Lucy."

"I am!"

"Are you sure you're not just saying that to avoid the fact that he might start dating?"

"There's no fact to avoid because he won't but even if he did why would it bother me?"

"I don't know, you guys are just really close—"

"I hated Steven Hyde for the good majority of elementary school and junior high."

"Why was that?"

"He made fun of The Beatles and me. I was more offended about The Beatles honestly."

"And why'd you stop hating him?"

"Because grudges take away at least three years of your life—"

"Lucy!"

"I don't know! Why does it matter?"

"It doesn't. Nevermind."

"You know what else takes away years of your life? Sleep deprivation. So goodnight."

❁

The gang walked into Fatso Burger the next day to see Eric working.

"Hear, hear, my minimum wage friend! We demand service!" Hyde said.

"Welcome to Fatso Burger how may I serve you?" Eric asked.

"That is so sad burger boy," Hyde shook his head.

"A small fry and strawberry shake please!" Lucy looked for her wallet, but Hyde already paid for her.

Jackie and Kelso were sitting at a table as Fez watched them and once Lucy got her food she sat down in a booth and Hyde followed. Donna stayed up to talk to Eric.

"So why'd you apply for a job? And more importantly, how could they turn you away?" Lucy faked surprise and ate a fry.

"Well you know, we needed more stuff for the Circle and I knew Forman wouldn't buy it."

"Very true. Look at him it's so sad."

"He was so close to getting laid."

"Don't talk about my brother's sex life unless you want to see me throw up," Lucy said sternly.

"Oh please, we've all seen you throw up, I've held your hair back," Hyde teased as he stole a fry.

"Yeah New Years' did not treat me well."

"To be fair, it was bad alcohol," Hyde winced remembering it.

"There better be good alcohol tonight."

❁

Lucy, Hyde, and Donna stood in her backyard as more people filed in for the party. They waited miserably for Kelso and Jackie to arrive with the drinks.

"Toga!" Kelso chanted as he ran into the backyard, wearing only a bedsheet, Jackie standing further behind him.

"Hey man nice dress," Hyde joked.

"Where's the rest of the beer?" Lucy scrunched her nose in confusion upon seeing him holding only three beers.

"We'll share," Kelso shrugged.

Donna snatched a beer and Hyde the last two as he passed one to Lucy, leaving Kelso to sulk.

"Here's to our wasted youth!" Hyde said as they opened their drinks.

"Hey Fez!" Donna greeted their friend.

"Good evening Donna which of these women are easy?" Fez asked as he looked around.

"Donna some of your creepy friends are using dad's stereo," Donna's younger sister, Tina walked out.

"Oh hey Tina! Where have you been?" Lucy questioned.

"She's not around a lot," Donna shrugged the question off as she yelled to the house, "You guys! No one's allowed in the house!"

"Well hello pretty lady," Fez greeted Tina.

"Hi," Tina giggled.

"She's not a pretty lady she's my sister and she's 14," Donna explained.

"You know in my country—" Fez started.

"It's illegal here," Hyde cut him off.

"Oh I see," Fez frowned.

❁

Donna had left to go see Eric and most everyone had left when they learned the three cans of beer were gone. The rest of the group sat around on the patio furniture.

Hyde took his empty beer can and crushed it in his hands, throwing it into the garbage can.

"Wow aren't you just dreamy?" Lucy joked.

"You know it doll," Hyde chuckled and put his arm around her, they all watched as Fez attempted to crush his can before screaming and dropping it.

"Well what do you know Kelso we're out of beer. You know what? Forman's old man has a fridge in the garage and I know he has beer in it!" Hyde said.

"Shh! I swear my dad has a sixth sense about underage drinking." Lucy whispered.

"But he has a fridge full of beer?" Kelso asked.

"Shh!"

"Oh come on it'll be fine," Hyde pulled her up and the group went to sneak into the garage.

They stealthily opened the door and made way to the fridge. Hyde leading the group as Lucy clung onto his hand, terrified of being caught by her father.

Then the car lights went on just as they were about to open the fridge. They all jumped and Fez screamed.

"It was his idea!" Kelso pointed to Hyde.

"They made me Daddy!" Lucy yelled.

"Remind me to kick your ass," Fez whispered.

"Hey Red, is Forman around?" Hyde asked trying to make an excuse for why they were in the garage.

"Well he's sure as hell not in the fridge," Red smiled as he opened a beer. "Lucy get in the house."

"Yes sir," she walked quickly, shaking her head at Hyde as she passed.

❁

Lucy laid on her bed and heard a tapping at her window, she quickly went to open it.

Hyde climbed into her room and sat on her bench by the window. "Steven don't come in! What are you doing?" Lucy asked as she tried to find pants, she was only in underwear and an oversized t-shirt.

"Oh don't change! I wouldn't dream of it!" Hyde teased and Lucy threw a pillow at him.

Lucy quickly pulled on sweatpants and sat on her bed, "What do you want Steven?"

"I was just making sure you weren't grounded."

"Well if I were grounded do you think my dad finding you in my room would help?" Lucy raised her eyebrow.

"No, probably not," Hyde laughed.

"No, I'm not grounded. I told my dad I didn't know he kept beer in there and thought we were just getting sodas."

"And he believed it?"

"Probably not," Lucy shrugged.

"Been a while since I was in your room," Hyde stood up and began looking around.

"You weren't ever allowed in my room. I had a sign saying No jerks, aka Steven."

"Yeah, no, Kelso and I used to come up here to look through your stuff."

"What!" Lucy screeched.

"Do you still have—" Hyde opened up her closet to reveal her stuffed animals, "Ah yes."

"Cut it out," Lucy said only half joking as she stood up, picking up the stuffed bunny that fell.

"The bunny and her bunny," Hyde teased.

"I'm not anyone's bunny, stop making fun of Mr. Hopper. How often did you guys come up here?"

"Pretty often," Hyde answered honestly. "Used to read about how you hated my guts in your diary. Kelso would try to talk to Laurie and she'd kick him out and he'd come in here."

Lucy sunk into her bed, feeling as if her privacy had been violated.

"Those weren't there before," Hyde noted as he looked through her drawer with her bras.

"Ok I get it, you've always been a perv, now get out before my parents come up," Lucy began pushing him towards the window.

"Alright! Fine!" Hyde said defensively as he climbed out the window to the tree.

"I'll see you tomorrow, get out!"

"What, no goodnight kiss?" Hyde taunted.

"I'll push you right now," Lucy held back a laugh and tried to be serious.

Hyde quickly shuffled down the tree and waved up to Lucy as she smiled and flipped him off while he walked away from the house.

❁