It had probably been one of the longest school days Lucy had ever had the misfortune of having. All she wanted to do was get home, bundle up in all her blankets and take a nap.

She walked out to the Vista Cruiser and pulled on the door, but it didn't budge. She looked around in shock, she hadn't even noticed Eric wasn't in the car yet. She sat down on the hood of the car and waited for her brother.

Kelso and Hyde walked out of the school doors. They were also too miserable to notice Eric wasn't there and pulled on the door handle. Their heads snapped up in realization.

"Hiya boys," Lucy said, the cheekiness of her tone lost through her chattering teeth. She avoided looking at Hyde, they hadn't really talked since the night after her date more than two weeks ago.

"How long have you been out here LSD?" Hyde almost sounded concerned.

"Maybe twenty minutes. Eric must be talking to a teacher or something," she shrugged, confused that he decided they were on speaking terms.

Kelso laughed moronically, "Your lips are blue."

Lucy frowned and quickly wrapped her scarf up higher over her face. "Well Eric better get here soon otherwise your last remaining brain cells may freeze," she retorted, her voice muffled beneath her scarf.

❁

Lucy cursed herself for wearing a skirt and tights, she should've just worn jeans. When she tried to get up from the hood of the car, her skirt had almost ripped off from being frozen down, much to the boys delight when they had to carefully pick her up.

It had been about an hour now and the three all stood huddled together. Hyde had pulled Lucy into his coat and buttoned it around her. Only her ponytail could still be seen. He smelled like smoke, weed, and mint. It was kind of weird but oddly soothing to the young girl.

"Where the hell is Forman man, this isn't like him?" Hyde shivered.

"He'll be here," Lucy mumbled. Red had clearly said he had to drive Lucy wherever she wanted, whenever. This was a clear rule breach and Eric wouldn't leave her, they had their Twin Code.

"I'm really starting to get worried. What if something happened to him?" Kelso said.

"Nothing happened to him," Hyde nodded towards Lucy, trying to get Kelso to shut up and not worry her.

"What if he's lost or hurt somewhere?"

"Calm down Lassie, I'm sure Timmy's just fine."

"Maybe we should check the school morgue."

Lucy turned her head beneath Hyde's coat, and stood on her tiptoes to look at Kelso. "What?" her muffled voice bewildered that he actually thought there was a morgue.

"Kelso, the school doesn't have a morgue," Hyde said.

"Then what do we pay all those taxes for?"

"Okay, we get it, the school system failed you. But let's not stand here all day, we got to go," Lucy said starting to walk, and pulling Hyde along with her.

Hyde came to a halt and Lucy stumbled back into his chest, "No, if God wanted us to walk he wouldn't have given us Forman."

"Yeah and if God hadn't given you me, you'd stay here and freeze all night. Let's go," Lucy continued walking, pulling one of the boys along as the other followed obediently.

❁

The walk was miserable. Lucy had gone from being confused, worried, and furious. Kelso just stayed in a state of confusion and bewilderment. Hyde went from denial to anger, Lucy could basically feel it radiating off of him.

Hyde mumbled complaining about his boots. Kelso was still trying to figure out why the school wouldn't have a morgue. Lucy was still worried that her skirt ripped and the boys hadn't told her.

They finally reached her driveway. Lucy still couldn't see anything from Hyde's coat but looked down and could tell by the pavement. They got to the basement stairs and Hyde lifted her up to carry her down the stairs and avoid having the two of them fall. Lucy had squealed in shock when his cold hands went around her waist to pick her up.

Kelso opened the basement door with a bang, and they stepped through the door looking like a hot mess. Kelso's hair was wind blown, Hyde was basically fuming, and all you could still see of Lucy was her ponytail and her feet which were still lifted off the ground by Hyde.

"Oh there you are, where have you been?" Lucy heard Eric's voice.

Lucy squirmed out of Hyde's grasp and dropped to the floor, quickly ducking out of Hyde's jacket.

"Where have we been?" Kelso and Lucy said simultaneously.

"Where have you been? We've been worried sick!" Kelso continued.

Lucy began to run forward to lunge at her brother but Hyde grabbed her hand and kept her behind him.

"We had to walk all the here man! My feet are killing me!" Hyde yelled.

"Are your fingers broken? Can't you use a phone?" Kelso yelled.

"I think my skirt ripped and the boys aren't telling me!" Lucy yelled.

"Do you know it's freezing outside? And I'm wearing my uncle's boots, so now I have a blister and Lucy might have frostbite!" Hyde yelled.

"You can take Twin Code and shove it up your a—" Lucy started.

"Shaggy, Scooby, Velma! We got company!" Donna said, nodding towards Hyde's seat where a new face sat.

"I'm totally Daphne!" Lucy yelled, insulted.

"I'm the redhead," Donna pointed out, Lucy begrudgingly agreed.

"Well then Jackie is Velma, she's the brunette. I'm not anyone," Lucy pointed out, the girls taking the topic seriously.

"I am not Velma," Jackie shrieked.

"Well then you're Fred," Donna said, looking at Lucy.

Lucy shrugged, "I'll take it."

Hyde stalked around to his seat, "Buddy Morgan, yeah I know you."

"Didn't Donna have a crush on you in second grade?" Lucy asked, Donna punched her side.

"Um, yeah—I guess it's my fault. I gave Eric a ride home so—" Buddy explained.

"Get out of my chair!" Hyde yelled.

Buddy jumped up, "Okay, I really have to be going. So, your car is still at school right?" he looked to Eric.

"You're damn right it is!" Kelso yelled.

Buddy, Eric, and Fez all ran to drive the fancy car while Kelso and Jackie left to make out.

Hyde sunk into his seat. Lucy stood in front of him, trying to look behind her to see if her skirt was ripped. "Are you sure you didn't rip it?" she asked him concerned.

Hyde nodded, "Positive," he said, smirking at the large tear that revealed her pink panties.

❁

For the rest of the week, Eric hung out with Buddy Morgan, one day in the kitchen she was talking to Fez.

"It's so obvious he is gay, yes?" Fez said as she handed the boy some toast.

"Well yeah, but he's not with Eric for the money so that's good," Lucy said as she took a bite of toast.

Just then the phone rang, Lucy picked it up licking the jelly off her fingers. "Hello?" she answered.

"Lucy! Some friends and I are throwing a party tonight." It was Nick.

"Sounds fun," Lucy said, waiting for him to invite her outright.

"You want to come?" he sighed, realizing what she was doing.

"Sounds peachy, if only my busy schedule allowed for it," she smiled.

"I know for a fact you aren't doing anything tonight."

"You're right so when will you come get me?"

"8:00"

"All right, I'll see you then."

She hung up the phone and walked to the counter across from Fez.

"Why are you with college boy?" Fez asked intrigued.

Lucy put down her toast in thought, "I don't know. He thinks I'm pretty and makes it so I'm not around here all the time."

"So you do not love him?"

Lucy shrugged, "I don't know. Too soon to say."

"Then I still have a chance?" Fez asked hopefully.

"Of course you do!" Lucy laughed.

❁

Lucy walked down the stairs quietly, wearing jeans and a tight blue top and matching eyeshadow making her icy eyes pop.

"Now wherever are you going dressed like that?" she sighed, turning around at the door to see Hyde grinning mischievously.

"Out."

"Disco boy?"

"Yes, and I need to go now," Lucy slipped out the door. "Don't tell my parents and I'll bring you back some beer," she gave a grin before closing the door.

❁

Lucy and Nick walked into the party and she instantly felt out of place. She was with college kids; in theory it'd be cool, but in reality they were just as lame as high schoolers. There was more beer than she'd ever seen in her life and her vision was clouded by smoke.

"There's a lot more people than I thought," Lucy yelled over the music.

"What did you expect?" Nick asked laughing as he handed her a cup.

She shrugged and downed the drink, going to refill it.

"Nick!" a boy came up behind them, obviously wasted. "You made it!"

"Yeah, and hey, this is Lucy," Nick wrapped his hand around her waist and guided her forward. She waved giddily, the two cups of whatever mixture of alcohol already making its way through her system.

"The high schooler?" his friend asked. Lucy and Nick nodded. "Nice to meet you sweetheart," the boy slurred, he walked away to get another drink and high-fived Nick as he went.

For the rest of the night, Nick had kept Lucy glued to his side. She didn't mind it though, she was afraid of getting lost. They got to a table where they were playing cards. Nick pulled Lucy into his lap and she dominated at cards, despite being completely wasted.

The night went by in a haze. For some reason, Nick had taken her away from game, even though she was winning at cards.

"Where are we going?" she giggled, drunk beyond belief.

They passed rooms where giggles and moans were coming from, Lucy gasped, "I think they're having sex!" she whispered and giggled.

Nick chuckled drunkenly. "Come here," he said as he pulled her into a room and began kissing her. He tasted like cheap beer—but then again, so did she.

Her hands wrapped around his neck and his hand slowly crept up along her thigh, playing with the waist of her jeans. She giggled and swatted away his hand. But then he tried again, and she slapped him away once again. When he tried again she unwrapped herself from him and pushed him away.

"What are you doing?" she asked, dazed.

"You're at a college party Lucy calm down," Nick chuckled, stepping closer to her.

She held out her hand and stopped him, holding her other hand to her temple. "Wait, is that why you brought me here?"

"Well...yeah?" Nick smiled, confused that the young girl wasn't understanding. "I mean, why else would I be hanging out with a high school girl?"

"I thought—I thought you said you liked me," Lucy tilted her head confused.

"Well yeah, look at you!" Nick said, gesturing to her.

"Okay, I need to leave," Lucy nodded. "Where's the phone!" she yelled as she slammed the door shut, close to tears of embarrassment. She was so stupid. Why was she so stupid?

"Over here honey!" a drunk college girl yelled back.

Lucy smiled gratefully at the girl and dialed her house. It rang for much too long for her liking. She covered her ear to hear over the chaos.

"Hello?" the line picked up.

"Eric! Oh thank god you're home!"

"Yeah what's up?" her brother asked concerned. "Where are you? I can barely hear you."

"Eric, I need you to listen very carefully and not let mom or dad or any of the gang know what's going on. Okay?"

"Okay," she could basically see Eric's face pale at the responsibility he was just given.

"I came to a college party with Nick, and I know, I'm very stupid, but can you please—" she always got emotional when she was drunk, she choked back a sob, "Please come and get me."

"Ah! I have a cure all to that bug, Cousin Joel. What you need to do is get a glass of water and then mix that with—" Eric spoke very loudly, probably because one of their parents walked in, "Okay drink water, sit outside but stay in the light and close enough to the building. Where is it?"

"Across the street from the college campus," Lucy winced knowing it was a long way.

"I'll be right there," Eric said reassuringly.

❁

The Vista Cruiser pulled up in front of the porch of the house where the party was. Lucy pulled her coat tighter around herself and rushed towards the car. Eric had stepped out of the car and wrapped her protectively in a hug.

"Come on, get in the car, you're freezing," he opened up the car door for her and she stopped to turn to her brother.

"I told you not to tell anyone," she sighed.

"He was there when I picked up the phone Luce," Eric explained.

Lucy got into the car with a huff, she was squeezed between the car door and Steven Hyde. "Came along so you could tell me I told you so?" she asked looking straight ahead. Dried tear stains ran down her cheek and her lipstick was smudged.

Lucy Forman had only cried over a boy once before in her life. For the 6th grade Valentine Day Dance, Zachary Curtis, the most popular boy in school, asked her to go as his date. But the night of the dance, when she was dolled up and excited, Zachary laughed in her face and danced with Pam Macy. She stayed in the bathroom the entire night, where Donna consoled her until Red came to pick her up. At this point in time, Steven and Lucy were still bitter enemies; once Lucy had rushed out, Steven Hyde had walked forward and tackled Zachary to the ground. Kelso and Eric soon jumping in to defend their friend. He had justified it later saying he was the only one that could make her cry.

Steven didn't like seeing her cry then and didn't like seeing her cry now. "Yeah actually," he said as Eric started the car. That was what he intended to do.

Lucy scoffed, "Well then say it!" she yelled hysterically.

"I don't want to anymore."

Lucy just rolled her eyes, "So Eric, where's Buddy? Was kind of hoping to get picked up in a Trans Am," Lucy chuckled dryly trying to change the subject.

"Yeah—um, Buddy, Buddy is—" Eric stammered.

"Gay?" Lucy smiled at her brother's reddening cheeks.

"Yeah, and he, uh—he kissed me."

The car went silent and then the three burst into hysterical laughter.

❁

They pulled into the driveway and Lucy quickly rubbed off her smudged lipstick and tried to rub away the tear stains, just now realizing what a mess she was.

She stepped out of the car and Eric waited for her.

"I'm fine Eric. I'll be in in a minute, just tell them I was tutoring some kids across town."

Eric nodded and went inside.

Lucy sat upon the hood of the Cruiser, deep in thought. "You okay?" Hyde asked, sitting beside her.

"Yes, just extremely stupid," she sighed. "Totally cliché isn't it: high school girl goes out with handsome college boy, thinking he likes her personality but he just wants to get inside her pants," she said the last bit with a higher tone, as if mocking herself.

Hyde turned her shoulders so she'd look at him, which she had been avoiding the entire night. "Look, you deserve better than that ass. So don't think for second that you're stupid,"

"You think so?" Lucy asked softly, leaning forward tiredly, their foreheads touching now.

Hyde nodded and Lucy smiled, her eyes fluttering shut as she leaned forward to kiss him.

Their lips barely brushed when Hyde jumped up, leaving Lucy to almost fall. Lucy looked up at him in bewilderment and was about to quip a sassy remark when Hyde said, "When I say you deserve better than him, that means you deserve better than me."

"Is that so?" Lucy's eyebrow arched in annoyance.

"Go to bed Lucy, sleep it off," Hyde said, turning away.

Lucy hopped down from the car, "Steven Hyde do not walk away from me!" she sounded like a toddler who didn't get what she wanted.

"What am I supposed to do?" he questioned.

Lucy stomped her foot, "I don't know! You're suppose to say something rude and then I say something demeaning and you laugh and annoy me but at the end we're still friends!" her voice was rising.

"Well are we still friends?" Hyde yelled.

"Yes!" Lucy yelled back.

"Okay good!" Hyde yelled

"Fine! See you tomorrow!" her voice steadied.

The two stalked off in opposite directions, not really sure what had actually just happened but Lucy excused it as being wasted.

❁