A/N: Sorry for the wait, but she's a longer chapter!

Chapter 06– Drama Over

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Jackie smiled and held her books close to her chest. This was the last day of detention and that meant no more listening to Mr. Stewart slide his dentures in and out of his mouth while he read his paperback book. The night before, she gave Eric his last Donna lesson and Jackie smiled again.

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"Okay….I recognized that Donna is a generic woman." Jackie admitted as she huddled by the side of the Vista Cruiser.

Eric stuffed his chilled hands into the pockets of his jacket and nodded in agreement. "She didn't go crazy for your other methods." He pulled out his right hand and held up his index finger, "But! I will admit that I did like the Embellishment lesson – I'll never look at ice cream in the same way."

Jackie laughed softly. "I approached your lessons the wrong way. I realized that Donna is like….a transistor radio - a volume button, a dial to change stations and an antenna. Whereas, girls like Jackie Burkhart are stereos. We have AM and FM stations, our speakers have woofers and sub-woofers, we have a smoother sound, shiny dials and we are high maintenance, but totally worth it if you are into making beautiful music." She grinned. "I will admit that I love *my* stereo, but we are talking about Donna."

Eric shuffled his feet on the icy concrete driveway. "Yeah…Donna and I had a similar talk…I mean she could be a stereo, but music is music…ya know?"

Jackie nodded. "I know. So, you need to approach her and find her *favorite* station and I'm going to show you how."

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Eric looked up at the smiling student. "What put you in a good mood?"

Jackie thrust her Pangea paper onto Eric's desktop. He saw a circled A+ and the scribbled word "Excellent". Jackie squealed softly, "Mr. Amato said that my paper should be an example to all the rest of my geography class!"

Eric grinned. "Good for you! I know you worked hard on that paper – glad we got this Detention out of the way."

Jackie slid into her desk. "Me too. Now I can finally tell Michael that we can date again."

Eric scanned her Pangea essay and was impressed at what Jackie had retained from his lessons – perhaps he was destined to be a teacher after all! "So…..I was playing with Donna's radios last night….er….making out, I mean…and she loved it!"

There was a slight smirk on Jackie's face but she only replied, "You are welcome."

Eric frogged her in the shoulder, "So are you still coming over tomorrow for turkey?"

She nodded. "Sure. My parents left this morning before I woke up – Maria showed me the note they left."

"They left a note?" Eric asked incredulously.

Jackie opened her book and pulled out a light pink piece of stationery. "Dear Daughter. Daddy and I have left for the slopes. If you are a good girl, we'll bring you back a mink scarf. Love Mummy."

Eric shrugged, "Well….at least you got a note."

She sighed, "Eric, I have a cigar box full of notes and excuses. The thing I have to worry about now is that once Michael knows my parents are gone, he's gonna want to spend the night EVERY night."

"And you don't want that?" Eric asked with a lifted brow.

Jackie shook her head. "No, once in a while it's okay, but after it's over, there's not a lot to talk about. Like…he would never understand anything about Pangea. I guess I'm outgrowing my boyfriend."

"Sounds like you're growing up." Eric smiled.

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The Forman kitchen smelled like roasting turkey and apple pie. Warm scents of simmering cranberries wafted from the stove top as Laurie flipped her blonde curls from her face and pouted. "I don't know why we have to set a place for her….I mean Kelso isn't coming!" She plopped down onto the green kitchen chair.

Kitty set a salad bowl in front of her daughter. "Start tearing the lettuce dear, it won't make a salad by itself and Eric was allowed to invite a friend and he picked Jackie. Lord knows why, but that's who he picked." Kitty patted her curls and tightened her apron strings

Red looked up over the top of the Thursday morning's Point Place Herald and uttered, "And Kettlehead was not invited because of what he did the last time he was here to eat."

Laurie's pretty face frowned, "So we had a little mash potato fight. You didn't say anything when Hyde smushed Kelso's face in the plate…besides, I think I like him."

Kitty threw a glare in her daughter's direction, "Don't you dare! He has a girlfriend…or two….Laurie, you really need to get out and expand your horizons."

She held up a lettuce leaf and envisioned Michael Kelso's smiling face in the green vegetable then Laurie shredded the iceberg into thin strips, "But I'm going to college…kind of."

Red scowled, "Is that what I'm spending my money on? A kind of college? What kind? Why don't you get a part time job or something useful?" Red Forman set his newspaper on the table and looked at his oldest child. "Laurie, you are a pretty girl…surely there is a job or something that you have a talent for."

Eric pushed through the kitchen door and heard his father's well-meaning advice and couldn't help but reply, "Yeah Laurie – I heard there's an opening at Cliff's Bar and they installed a new pole!"

Kitty snickered and Laurie narrowed her eyes at her insolent brother, "Spaz."

"Whore." He replied in kind.

"At least I didn't get detention." Laurie gloated.

Eric smirked, "That we know about!" He turned to his father, "I finished cleaning the gutters…was there anything else you needed me to do?" Eric was still paying for his detention – Red Forman wasn't happy with the last two weeks but at least his mom's disappointment was short lived. His sister however…..

Laurie glared at her brother, "Daddy, why does Eric get to invite a friend and I don't?"

Kitty laughed, "Ahahaha…honey, you have no friends….whoops! I'm sorry, that slipped out! Had you let me know you wanted to invite someone…."

Red lifted a brow, "Someone you have not and would never date. I would have approved of that."

Laurie threw the shredded lettuce into the bowl. "You are mean! It's not like I would bring over some hippie like Leo or worse! I'm going to my room."

Eric chuckled, "I'll make sure we save you some pie."

Laurie glared. "I'll make sure Donna knows you invited Jackie."

Eric blanched slightly – Donna might have liked to have known this first – ah hell, Jackie was an assignment and she taught him some things that school would never prepare him for – tit for tat! "That's okay Laurie….I won't tell your next boyfriend about your special visit to the pharmacy."

Red grunted and Kitty butted into the conversation, "Well! Okay! That's something that is NOT holiday talk! Let's change the subject to what we are going to do after dinner."

"The Cowboys are playing the Cardinals so I'll be watching football in the living room." Red announced, "I don't care what the rest of you are doing so if you aren't bringing me a beer or dessert then leave me the hell alone for the rest of the day."

Kitty pressed a kiss on her husband's brow, "I know it's a big football day – that's why I'm going to have Eric drive me to the hospital. I'm taking leftovers to my co-workers."

"But mom! What if I had plans? I mean with Donna?" Eric spluttered.

Red leveled a glare at his son, "Do you? Have plans?"

"Well…no…not yet." Eric confessed.

Kitty laughed, "Ahahaha….good! Your little friend, Tammy Robinson from school, is bringing her baby in – so adorable. You can see so yourself."

Eric groaned inwardly. He did not want to see ex-prego detention-mate. Mr. Stewart had been pretty clear that the teen was not headed for a successful career with having babies in high school. At least as far as Eric was concerned. He sighed and hung his head. If he didn't go, then he'd have to deal with Red but if he went with his mom….he could take Jackie! She owed him one for that A+ on her paper! The after dinner plans didn't seem so grim anymore.

"Sure Mom, but I'll have to bring Jackie – she might be interested in…nursing." Eric offered.

Kitty smiled, "Now see there Red? That is logical thinking. Now… if we could only get Laurie motivated. Eric, make sure you bring back some brochures for your sister." Kitty lifted a delicate brow, "And not the kind on sexually transmitted diseases…"

"Ah jeez Kitty! Why do you have to ruin my Thanksgiving morning with all this sex talk?" Red groaned.

Kitty popped a kiss on the top of his balding head. "He's growing up honey; we have to talk to him sometime. Would you rather do it?" Eric's mother winked at her son.

Red pushed out of his chair. "No and I'll be in the living room when you start talking about food and not s.e.x."

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Jackie would swear that this was the best Thanksgiving dinner she ever had. She would also swear she couldn't remember her mother cooking a holiday meal on the actual holiday! "Mrs. Forman, this was delicious. Thank you for inviting me over."

Kitty smiled, "Well thank you for opening your father's liquor cabinet. This is some of the best Kahlua and the most expensive Vodka I've had in a while."

Red smirked, "The beer is cold. Just the way I like it."

Laurie still was peeved. "Why didn't I get something too?"

Jackie looked at Eric and grinned before replying to boyfriend-stealer Laurie, "Oh Laurie, but you did! One of the cheer squad saw you crying outside the free clinic last week."

Eric snickered and coughed back a chuckle until his eyes watered. Laurie glared and threw her napkin on the table. "I'm so done. Mother!"

Kitty was wiping her teary eyes at Jackie Burkhart's casual joke, "Yes honey?"

"Eric's guest is rude and I didn't get anything from the free clinic last week. They only refilled my prescr….." Laurie choked when she saw her father's glare from across the table. "I mean refilled my head with proper information about being a safe single woman."

Still embarrassed, Laurie beat a hasty retreat from the dining room. Eric busted out with guffaws and Jackie giggled. "I'm sorry Mrs. Forman, but your daughter hates me and I couldn't help myself."

Red blew out an exasperated breath. "I understand, but couldn't you have waited until after we were all done eating?"

Properly chastised, Jackie lowered her head and nodded. She looked sideways and Eric was giving her a *thumbs up* from under the table. She pretended to frog his shoulder. "Mrs. Forman, can I help you with the dishes?"

Kitty was taken aback by the request from the Burkhart girl. No one ever volunteered to help! "Well….sure Jackie, but remember, we don't want to be late to the hospital."

Jackie frowned, "Why are we going to the hospital?"

Eric cleared his throat. "Uh…I forgot to mention that we are helping mom by taking leftovers to the staff that had to work and to see Tammy Robinson's baby." He expected a shin kick under the table but Jackie merely shrugged and replied with an "ok".

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The nursing staff was enthralled to see Thanksgiving leftovers placed in the break-room. Many of the nurses had been pulling a 24 hour shift and were starved for food or seeing someone who was not sick.

Kitty basked in the glow of compliment's about her cooking while Eric stood against the wall listening to the quiet conversation and watching Jackie flirting with a young intern. Flirting was something that girl did well!

Eric reflected back on the last two weeks and realized that although in the beginning he thought detention was going to be hell; it actually was fun! Sure, he was penalized for something his friends did, but in the end, Eric Forman came out for the better.

It only seemed like minutes but in reality an hour had passed while Eric was musing to find his mother tugging his sleeve, "Eric honey, we have to go home. I still have a couple of pies to put in the oven."

Eric shook his head as if to clear it and looked up to find Jackie handing Tammy Robinson back her baby. He felt like he was in an alternate universe. "Yeah, sure mom we can leave. Get Jackie and I'll go warm up the car."

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Jackie gave Red a goodbye hug and thanked him again for inviting her into his house for dinner. Red was confused why he was getting the big thanks when the damn girl was in the basement almost every day – well, except for the last two weeks. "Sure, it was nice having decent company over for dinner." Red patted Jackie's hand. "Tell your dad I said hello."

Kitty hugged the smaller girl and thanked her for bringing the booze and let her know she was welcome back any time. Eric touched Jackie's arm and offered, "Let me walk you to your car – I mean before it starts snowing again."

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Eric waited until Jackie was in her car and the engine idling. He could feel the heater wafting warm air out of its vents. He leaned down and rested his forearms on the window frame. "So…I guess I have to thank you for the excellent burn on my sister."

Jackie smiled, "It was my pleasure. I know she has a thing for Michael and I just wanted to give her a little smack."

Eric grinned and shivered, "Man, its cold out here."

Jackie reached over to the door frame and put her soft palm on Eric's hand. "You know that when we go back to school on Monday, I'm going to have to pretend to hate you again."

Eric's brow lifted slightly, "Hate me? How about despise me a little instead? It sounds a bit sleazier that way. "

She laughed and Eric knew he was going to miss that light laughter. "Okay, I'll despise you at school and ignore you when I'm around Michael."

Eric held out his hand to seal the deal. Jackie shook his hand as he confirmed it, "Deal."

Jackie sighed, "Eric…I'll never forget your help on my paper. I meant it when I said thank you to you and your parents."

"I know and when you're eating tacos with Maria, you'll be thinking of moi." Eric joked.

Jackie felt like she was going to cry. Curious. "Well…okay, I have to go. Have a nice weekend and I'll pass you in the halls at school."

"Promise?" Eric teased.

She smiled. "Promise."

Eric watched as Jackie Burkhart drove off and knew in his gut that something special had happened over the last two weeks and no one in his gang would ever understand it. Well, that was their loss! Eric stood in the street until he could no longer see the tail lights of Jackie's car. Blowing on his cold hands, he pivoted and headed back into the house for one of his mom's delicious apple pies.

Life was good.

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During the lunch hour, Donna grabbed a passing Jackie by the elbow and whirled the small girl along with her lunch tray over to a corner picnic table. "OH MY GOD! I have to talk to you!" Donna exclaimed.

Jackie sat down and put her tray out of the reach of Donna's flailing arms. "What is so Ohmygod?" Jackie asked.

Donna was fanning her face. "I don't know where to start – no wait – remember when I was telling you how Eric was trying all these weird sex things with me?"

"Ew, and yes." Jackie replied.

Donna smiled, "Eric got good! I don't mean improved or different but good like I wanna be with him all the time good!"

"Good." Jackie smiled. She knew exactly what Donna was talking about because Jackie was the Sensei in the Burkhart dojo and Eric was the student that night. It was all about the music . Donna went into detailed description of how her boyfriend seduced her, undressed her and danced her to bed while whispering things that she could barely remember. "But it was the way he said it…not exactly what he said that was so amazing….you know?"

Jackie nodded her head. She knew – she knew, because those were the things she wished Michael would do with her! "I know – sounds like you had a great holiday!"

Donna sighed, "Why did he have to get so romantic now? I mean I've been waiting forever and we've been wasting time….oh! How was your holiday?"

Jackie shrugged. "My folks went on a ski trip and left me home."

Donna frowned. "That sucks."

"It was actually okay. I got some extra credit work done…I think I'm going to pass my semester with all A's."

It was at that moment that Eric, Fez and Hyde sauntered past the lunch table. Donna actually giggled and Eric grinned, "Hello milady….and Jackie."

Jackie held back a smile and replied, "Fez….Steven…oh, hello Eric. I didn't see your twiggy little body there." It was a lame burn and she knew it. Eric's lifted brow let her know he knew it as well, but Fez and Hyde were sniggering so he played along.

"So Donna…" Eric conveyed in a low lazy voice, "What are you doing tonight?"

Donna's cheeks turned as red as her hair. "Waiting for you to come over."

Hyde and Fez chuckled, slapping hands and walked away with Fez commenting, "I owe you Hyde – you won the bet…Donna IS easy!"

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Jackie waited until most of the students left after the last bell before she went to her locker. Her nimble fingers twirled the combination to the lock and she opened the metal door sliding her textbooks inside. From the corner of her eye, she saw some of the cheer squad laughing as they headed towards the gym and behind them was a lone figure with his hands in his pockets.

"Hello," was his greeting.

Green eyes smiled and she greeted back with a coy smile. It wasn't a smirk – there was no one around that needed to be checked. It wasn't a fake smile but rather the kind that crinkled her eyes. She liked being Eric's friend.

He casually brushed by the Point Place cheerleader, their shoulders barely touching but as he walked backwards, he was a bit shaken by the innocent gesture. It was a moment. It was innocent but there was something there. Eric didn't know exactly what, but he liked Jackie. He loved Donna, but he definitely liked Jackie Burkhart.

Still walking backwards, Eric said, "Bye" but he was still smiling with those green eyes.

"Bye," Jackie echoed back.

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Pangea turned out to be more than just a continent. Two weeks with Pangea was actually an awareness of something bigger that would later separate on its own to become something unique.

Two weeks.

Two prior antagonists.

Two teens.

Two friends with a shared secret.

Thanks to Pangea

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The End.