Disclaimer: I do not own the characters and storylines of That 70's Show.

Stand

Chapter One

You Feel Like a Candle

"You know, my sister says that we shouldn't be left alone," Eric said in a joking manner after Kelso and Jackie had run out.

"We're alone now," Donna pointed out.

Silence followed and he became very aware of Donna's shoulders under his arm and her arm around her waist. It shouldn't have been that weird. They had been best friends for years. Everyone thought that they would eventually end up together.

"Listen, Eric," Donna said awkwardly, drawing her arm back and crossing it with the other under her chest.

It struck Eric then that he didn't find the thought of her chest, or any girl's for that matter, didn't affect him in the way it was supposed to. God, what was wrong with him? Luckily, he was drawn away from his self-evaluation by Donna speaking again.

"I have a confession to make," she admitted. "Promise me you won't think any different of me and that you won't tell anyone."

All Eric's personal worries flew out of his mind at the somber tone of her voice. "I promise."

"I'm… not attracted to you," she said before hitting her forehead and rolling her eyes. "God, that came out the wrong way. It's not you, specifically, more like your… gender."

Eric looked at her for a minute before his eyes widened. "You mean you're…"

"Yeah."

"Wow," he said, dazed and looking anywhere but at her.

"Look, I'm sorry," Donna said contritely and sincerely. "I know I kind of strung you along, but I just figured that it was better than being shunned and hated by everyone, you know? I know it was wrong, and I hope you'll forgive me."

He froze as he realized that this where his early thoughts had been taking him. Everyone had expected him and Donna to get together eventually, and he had never been inclined to take that step. However, he had never corrected anyone. Could he have been doing the same thing that Donna had? Could he be…?

His terror must have shown his face because Donna was calling his name in worry.

"Eric, what's wrong?" she asked, concerned.

"Donna, you shouldn't apologize to me," he mumbled. "I think… I think I did the same thing."

"Eric, are you trying to tell me you're gay?" Donna asked, straightforward as always.

"I don't know!" he cried, getting up and starting to pace. "All I know is that I've never been attracted to a girl before."

"So have you been attracted to a guy?"

"No!" he exclaimed, but stopped suddenly as he thought about earlier that night when Hyde had put his arm around his shoulders. He hadn't thought anything of it before, but then again, it wasn't something that was 'acceptable' to think. "Crap," he muttered, sitting back down heavily and putting his head in his hands.

"Hey," Donna whispered soothingly, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. "It's okay. It's gonna be okay."

"How?" Eric asked, looking up with devastation in his face. "If anyone knew…"

"That's their problem," she insisted.

"Not when they happen to outnumber me a thousand to one and want to pummel me to a pulp!" he exclaimed in panic.

"You cannot let a bunch of stupid narrow-minded people stop you from being happy," she ordered. "You can't hide who you are just so people will accept you."

"You're one to talk about that," he argued, transferring his own fears into anger against her. He immediately regretted it. "That was uncalled for. I'm sorry."

"No, you're right," she agreed. Before she could say anything more, the basement door was thrown open and Hyde strolled in.

He raised an eyebrow at the two of them together. "Apparently I'm interrupting something…" he said. "Would you like for me to leave you two lovebirds alone?"

"That's not necessary, Hyde, I was just leaving," Donna said, standing up and walking towards the door. "By the way, Hyde, I'm gay." Paying no attention to his dumbstruck expression, she walked out the door.

Hyde looked at Eric with raised eyebrows. "Is she serious?"

"Yep," he said, looking after Donna in awe.

"And why did she just admit it like that?" he asked in confusion.

"She was making a point," Eric replied. "You don't have a problem with it, do you?"

Hyde shrugged. "Doesn't bother me. But how are you taking it?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you and Donna…"

"We were never going to get together. Neither of us wanted that from the other," he admitted.

"Well, I know her reason, but what was yours?" Hyde asked, sitting down beside him on the couch.

"Oh, you know…"

"No, I don't," he replied, leaning in closer.

Eric swallowed self-consciously, suddenly hating Donna for making him realize his sexuality and then leaving him alone with Hyde as he was extremely aware of the other man's side brushing against his own.

"Well, you see… Donna and I…"

"I think I know what's going on here," Hyde stated, leaning in closer still, making Eric even more uncomfortable.

"Really?" he asked nervously, trying not to lean away and give anything away.

"Yeah," he replied before doing something that Eric never would have thought he would do. He kissed him.

True, it was a very chaste, very short kiss, but it had happened. Steven Hyde had kissed Eric Foreman, leaving the former staring at the latter intensely through his shades, waiting for any reaction.

As for Eric, it was as if all the terrible things that had been pressing down on him ever since he had realized his sexuality had disappeared, if only for a short moment in time. And he never wanted it to end, which led to another unexpected event, more specifically, Eric grabbed Hyde and crushed their lips together again.

This kiss was anything but short and chaste. Eric groaned as Hyde ran his tongue over his bottom lip and immediately opened his mouth. As Hyde slipped his tongue into his mouth, Eric gripped his hair to anchor himself in the moment. He moaned as the other teen wrapped an arm around his waist and practically pulled him onto of his lap.

They both were panting when they finally broke apart. Eric looked down into Hyde's shaded eyes and smiled softly at the small smirk on his face. He leant down, into on enjoying whatever it was that was happening between him when—

"Eric, honey! Dinner's ready!" his mother called.

Eric groaned in frustration and moved to get up, but Hyde gripped his hips tighter and pulled him back down for another kiss.

"Eric! Get your ass up here so we can eat!" Red yelled.

Eric broke the kiss and tried to catch his breath. "I guess you better go…"

"Yeah," he said, allowing the smaller teen to stand up. "Guess I'll see you later then."

"Yeah," Eric replied, watching as Hyde stood up and began to walk out the door. "Hyde," he called, causing the him to turn around. "What exactly is this?"

Hyde smirked. "Whatever you want it to be," he answered before he walked out.

Eric stared after him a moment longer. "What do I want it to be?"

Tbc…