Waterloo

8. Eric and EJ's Christmas Party

Warmth and good cheer filled the Forman household in the days leading up to Christmas.
Even the basement was getting in the holiday spirit. Donna and EJ decorated the artificial tree in the corner while cartoons played on the tv.
"Man, the Grinch has a big butt!" Jackie said.
"Yeah, nothing says Christmas like a big, green Grinch ass." Fez replied.
EJ piped up, hanging another ornament on the tree, "Well, you know what they say, the more, the merrier...Christmas."
"So, Eric, what are you doing for Christmas Eve?" Hyde asked as he stood up from his seat and made his way to the tree where Eric stood, holding ornaments for the girls.
Eric scoffed. "Ugh, my parents are having the same lame party they have every year. "Hey neighbor, is that MISTLETOE?"" He mocked the adults and their feeble attempts at flirting.
Donna had stepped up onto the ladder to hang more ornaments. "Ok guys, how does that look?"
Eric's eyes landed on her butt, which was right at his eye level. "Fabulous."
"Eric, the ornaments are up here."
He snapped out of it, looking at the tree. "Yeah, looks great."
Donna dismounted the ladder, but EJ paused. "Hang on, the star is crooked." She climbed the ladder and titled the star to straighten it.
"There, is it straight now?"
She turned to see that Eric and Donna had sat down, and only Hyde stood steadying the ladder, staring at her ass.
"Yep, looks perfect."
"Hyde. The star." EJ deadpanned.
"That too."
The blonde rolled her blue eyes and stepped down from the ladder, smacking the back of the boy's curly head.
Jackie sighed happily. "I just LOVE Christmas! All good tidings and cheer. And SHOPPING!"
"Yeah, I pretty sure that's what Jesus was going for," Hyde grumbled, sitting in his usual spot.
"Hey, I give, too! Every year me and my friends deliver gift baskets to the unfortunate."
"I think you mean less fortunate," Donna corrected.
"They're unfortunate because they have to see Jackie and her airhead friends pretend to be nice at Christmas," EJ whispered to Steven, making him chuckle.
"Fine, whatever. Bums." The brunette huffed.
Footsteps on the wooden stairs alerted the teens to Kitty's arrival. "What are you kids doing watching cartoons?! /Holiday Inn/ is on!" She switched the channel with a click, and began singing along to the movie, even though she didn't know the words.
"Tree tops glisten...lalalala, listen..."
"Mom, you're the next Bing Crosby," EJ laughed.
"Oh, hush, I'm just having fun! Eric, help me get the decorations."
Eric obliged, following his mom into the back room.
"You know my favorite Christmas gift? Lite Brite! It's fun makin' things with Lite Brite!" Kelso said enthusiastically.
"My favorite gift is cash," Hyde said. "Right EJ?"
"Hm?" The blonde turned from the tv to the boy.
"Say someone gave you $6 or so, to buy a gift. What would you buy?"
"Hyde, it doesn't matter how much a gift costs, just as long as its personal," Donna interjected.
EJ nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I love handmade things. Besides, I don't need any gifts, I already might be getting extras this year."
Jackie whirled around to the girl sitting on the back of the couch. "Really!? Disco Chris is gonna buy you a gift?!"
EJ blushes madly and bit her lip in a smile. "I don't know....."
"He is, isn't he?! What are you getting him?!" Jackie continued to shout demanding questions.
"I don't know! We've been hanging out, but I don't know if I should get him anything, and he hasn't hinted at getting me anything, but what if he does and I don't have anything ready?!" EJ rambled.
"It sounds like EJ is in loooooove." Kelso teased, and EJ bopped him one in the back of the head.
"Come on, we'll help you," Donna rose from her seat and began to lead EJ and Jackie up the stairs when Kitty came screaming out of the back room, with Eric close behind.
"We were going through the Christmas decorations and we found a Christmas rat." He explained.
Everyone vacated the basement.

In the kitchen, Kitty and Red were catching up with Laurie, newly returned from college on winter break.
"So, seeing anyone special at school?" Her mother asked, preparing snacks at the counter.
Laurie, sitting in a barstool, shrugged. "I like to date around."
Eric fake sneezed, with the strong undertone of "SLUT", earning a glare and a sarcastic "bless you" from his mother.
"Hey, Dad," EJ nodded discreetly at Eric, letting him know she was initiating the plan, "we were thinking about having our own Christmas party down in the basement."
"We're old enough," Eric added, sitting down at the table.
Red didn't even look up from his paper. "Fine."
"Fine?!" Everyone chorused, surprised at his nonchalant reaction.
"Every year he mopes around like it's the end of the world, and EJ just sneaks off with Donna and the bossy one to her room anyway."
"Thanks, Dad!" The twins chorused.
"Whose gonna sing the high parts of the Little Drummer Boy?" Kitty asked.
"Typically the man who can't grow facial hair," Laurie smirked.
"And, uh, Dad," Eric said, "one more thing about the party..."
"We need money," EJ finished, knowing she was more likely to get money out of their father than her brother was.
"Sure, kitten!" He handed two $20 bills to the girl. "But here's the deal: I want you to pick out this year's tree. The rest, you can use for your party."
"Come on, Dad, I hate haggling with those tree guys!" Eric whined.
"I can haggle," EJ smiled.
"Of course you can, sweetheart, you're the smart one, and you learned well from me, but it's your brother's turn now. Haggling is a part of life. Pick out a good one!"
Eric sighed, turning back to his food. EJ kicked him under the table to get his attention. "I'm the smart one," she giggled, receiving an elbow to the arm.