Hello 1980!

Part 3 - Apple Cinnamon and Fish

January 17, 1980

Eric Forman's Kitchen

8:42pm

"Hello?" Eric answers the phone.

"Hey Eric," Donna says.

"Donna, how are you?" Eric says happily. He looks forward to Donna's calls all day. They've talked on the phone every day since she left for school.

"I'm good. I'm working on my communications project."

"Wow, two weeks in and you already have projects."

"I know. It's so much harder here than community college. How is that going?"

"It's okay. My philosophy teacher has me questioning the meaning of life, so, you know, happy fun time."

Donna laughs. Eric has always been able to lift her mood. An awkward silence lingers. They're getting to know each other again. Things don't come as easily as they used to.

"So, do you think you'll come home this weekend?" Eric asks hopefully.

Donna takes a deep breath. This is the reason for her call. "I don't know, Eric."

"What? Why not?" Eric asks.

"I think I need to stay and study," Donna explains.

"You can always study here. I just...I was looking forward to seeing you," Eric says. They haven't seen each other since New Years.

"I know. Me too," Donna says. "Maybe next weekend, okay?"

"Okay. It's...it's just so hard only talking on the phone," Eric sighs.

"Better than letters that take three weeks," Donna replies.

"That's true," Eric says. Once again, he kicks himself for having gone to Africa.

Donna fidgets with the cord. Eric's disappointment is deafening. "I better get back to work on this project," she says.

"Okay. Bye, Donna."

"Bye."

Eric slowly hangs up the phone. It is his only connection to Donna, and he struggles to let it go.

------------------

Early the next morning, Donna rushes around her dorm, gathering her books. She has to hurry to get to class on time. There is a knock at the door.

"Surprise!" Jackie cheers.

"Jackie? What are you doing here?" Donna asks. Jackie always comes with drama.

"I came to see you," Jackie says as she walks into Donna's dorm, "and to help you decorate. Donna, this is unacceptable."

Donna looks around her room. It is clean, if a little bare. She hasn't gotten around to putting up any of her posters yet.

"It's not that bad," Donna shrugs.

"Ugh, it looks like a prison cell!" Jackie says in disgust.

"Whatever. Jackie, I have to get to class."

"No problem. I'll come with you," Jackie hops right to Donna's side.

Donna sighs and rolls her eyes. She doesn't have time to argue. "Come on, let's go."

--------------

Red, Kitty, and Hyde eat breakfast at the table. Hyde circles apartments in the paper.

"Now, Steven, since we're not moving to Florida, there's no rush for you to move out," Kitty says.

"Kitty," Red says firmly, "if the man wants to get his own place, let him get his own place."