Warning:
Slightly OOC.
AU – both modern day and in the Divergent universe.
These are short stories between my OC (Ana) and our favorite bad boy, Eric Coulter.
Mistletoe Law
Modern-Day AU.
Mistletoe Law Summary:
"I'm going to marry that girl," Eric told his brother.
Edward chuckled, shook his head in disbelief before leaning his head back against the headrest of the car. "She's wearing someone else's ring, Eric."
Eric glanced back at the door to see Ana still standing there, a soft smile on her face. He nodded - as if to agree with his internal dialogue - and looked over at Edward. "She sought me out."
"For a ride home," Edward countered.
"Think what you want to," he glanced one more time to see Ana blush and wave at him shyly. "Something happened that night under the mistletoe, I know it did."
Disclaimer:
I do not own Divergent. Credit goes to Veronica Roth.
All OC's are property of missalohahula.
Chapter 1: Not A Real Mistletoe
Ana sighed as she waited for Christina and Tris to wrap things up. Christina had dragged her along with the two of them to Dauntless University's nearest bar. Ana wanted to stay in and study. She had one more final that she had to take in a couple days.
Staying in their room tonight wasn't an option – not only because Christina declared it so. Lauren, their fourth roommate, invited some hunky engineering major to come over.
That meant that Ana would have to stay at this dance for two hours.
She pulled out her phone from her purse.
Maybe an hour.
The engineer may have been built to handle anything. Chances are though, if she knew Lauren well – which she did - the guy would be out for the count. Then, Ana could go back, kick the engineer out of their dorm and return to studying for her final.
Ana looked up and caught sight of Christina calling her over. Right now, the girl was dancing between two of the University's baseball players. That was Christina's goal in coming here. One of them was Will Turner. The other was his best friends – but Ana couldn't remember his name. They all liked Christina anyways. She was Miss Popular.
She attempted to spot Tris in the crowd. Like Ana, Tris wasn't one to stay out at the bar too late. Perhaps she could convince Tris to leave with her. She was proven wrong when she spotted Tobias Eaton speaking to Tris over towards the side of the bar - where there was no crowd. Chances of convincing Tris to leave now were null and void. The two were going to be making goofy eyes at one another all night.
Those two had a serious case of 'friend-zone' issues with one another. Christina had all but given up on trying to hook the pair up. It was their last year at University - surely by now, something would have happened.
Sighing, Ana looked down at her phone. Only two minutes went by, she thought before stuffing the phone in her bag. She had to do good - no screw, that - she had to perform truly above par on her exam. That meant, she had to get back and study - NOW.
Passing her final was the only way for her and Robert to gain a future - a bright, well-to-do, independent future. Thinking about Robert and his lax view on matters made her feel sour again.
Robert Black - Ana's fiancé and high-school sweetheart - had taken a year off from going University after they had graduated. A year had turned into two. Two had changed into three. And now it had been going on four years that he had just been working as a stock clerk at one of Amity's Produce Market - a job that her father got him after the one year of 'nothing-ness'.
It wasn't a word but that was what she used to describe his first year out of high-school: 'nothing-ness'.
After her father got Robert the job, he proposed to her. Lifting her hand, she watched as the lights danced around the ring. That one year of nothing-ness was gone. He was working and wanted to build a life with her. At least that was what she believed when he proposed.
Working for her father was only part-time and a good portion of the day Robert spent eating pizza, take-out and playing video-games. It was good to take a day and relax, unwind after a long week. But Robert and his friends to it to the extreme.
That is why she needed to go back to studying. Her father had told her that it was okay for women to be the breadwinners in the family. He had never thought less of her mother for being a house-wife, especially since she helped to raise such a large family as theirs.
Ana didn't hear one word of her fiancé's lack of work ethic from her brothers. She knew that her two sisters-in-law would gossip about it. The gossip didn't bother her. Okay so maybe it did, she sighed as she let her hand fall. She just wanted Robert to have some sort of direction in life.
He didn't even try to romance her anymore. His text messages, phone calls, showing up to dinner with flowers, foot rubs, holding of hands, stolen kisses had all but ended shortly after they got engaged. It was like he couldn't even bother with it. And she couldn't bring it up because she felt like she was being a bitch about it.
Whether Robert found a decent job or not, spent quality time with her or not, did something with his life or not - Ana was going to have to pull ranks at home.
She rolled her eyes when she saw Christina with one of the players sucking her neck while she made-out with Will, who was in front of her. There went her ride back to their dorm. And there was no way she was walking back - not this late at...
"I can't believe that someone as beautiful as you are, is sitting here all by yourself."
Ana turned her head to see a handsome face looking at her. His smile was welcoming - a bit naughty as well. And though he appeared to be safe, she couldn't help but shift in her chair and feel her purse for her rape-whistle. And if that didn't work, she knew how to punch and kick her way out of this - especially in a crowded bar. Tris would rush over to help her, that's for sure.
"I'm not by myself," Ana replied hotly, turning in her chair to face the other direction.
"Shit, did I say that out loud," the stranger questioned, scratching the back of his neck and appearing a bit nervous now. "Dammit, I cursed in front of a lady, too." He shook his head and looked away. "I did it again," commenting on his use of the phrase 'dammit'.
Ana couldn't help but smile.
"Forgive me, truly ma'am," the handsome, outspoken - yet total and complete stranger - man stuck out his hand in front of her while placing his other hand over his chest. "I didn't mean to offend you or appear rude," he leaned in and Ana couldn't help but take in his manliness - the jaw, muscled arms, smoky eyes or manly smell. And in no way, was she referring to his sweat, because there was none. "I didn't even want to look like some creep trying to hit on you."
Ana bit back a laugh and shook her head, holding out her hand to shake his. "You are trying to hit on me, though."
"Ah, guilty as charged," he said as Ana felt her hand light up in a way that it never did with anyone else. Her heart beat faster as he tilted his head to study her. "Can you blame me? It's not often I see someone from across the room and feel like I need to get to know her."
Ana shifted slightly, blushing wildly. Stranger danger, stranger danger - she always told Christina and Lauren when they brought some guy from the University back to the dorm and kicked her and Tris out. In the back of her mind, she was hoping that this wasn't someone who had hooked up with Christina and Lauren. She'd definitely would have to cut him loose.
Cut him loose? What was she thinking? She's already...
"It's a crime to sit under a mistletoe and not share a kiss."
His voice interrupted her - his deep and husky voice, albeit. She shook her head and tried not to think of his voice. Instead she narrowed her eyes and looked up at the ceiling.
"There is no mistletoe," she replied, withdrawing her hand quickly from his and leaning back, away from his body.
With his other hand he gestured behind her. When Ana's eyes landed on the poster on the wall, she burst out in laughter and shook her head. It was a picture of some girl in a sexy 'Mrs. Santa' costume holding a mistletoe, promoting their annual Winter dance.
"That's not a real mistletoe," Ana countered, turning to look at the stranger.
His eyes gleamed, luring her in and his body leaned towards hers. "As I said earlier, it's a crime not to share a kiss under the mistletoe."
"Really," she flirted back. "I didn't know there was such a law."
"Oh yes," he smirked, leaning closer. "If you break the mistletoe law, the consequences are severe."
"I think I'll survive."
"Do you really want to take that chance," he questioned, tilting his head as she did the same.
He was so close, so near to her. She had never felt this alive, this awake, this... This everything! Her entire body hummed in anticipation as her head tilted and inched towards his. Just as she lifted her hand to grab onto his head and draw him close, a light sparkled off her ring - reminding her that this was a definite 'no'.
"I'm engaged," she said quickly and loudly enough that he froze in his spot.
His eyes widening as she held up her hand in front of his face. The lights in the bar, reflecting of the engagement ring as if to chant: 'Robert, Robert, you're engaged to Robert, Robert'.
A small defeated look appeared in the stranger's eyes before he smiled and held out his hand to her. "Do you want to dance?"
"I don't think..."
"It's just one dance. If you want, I can even be a gentleman and ask your fiancé before we hit the floor?"
"My fiancé isn't here."
The guy's smile widened before he cleared his throat and looked back at her. "Then, I'm sure he won't mind if you spare one dance with me."
No, Ana told herself. Robert wouldn't mind. He probably wouldn't even care. Whenever she came home, he hated it whenever she texted or called to let him know where she was going and who she was with.
"Ana, you act like I'm your parole officer or something. I don't need to know where the heck you're going every night," he told her as he played video games. She had thought about arguing with him, but when he began cheering it was evident that he was no longer interested in what she was doing.
Whenever she asked him where he would be going, the response was always the same. He was going to be out with friends and then came the famous reasoning: he never asked her where she was going, so why was she asking him twenty-one questions about what he'd be doing?
No, she thought again, Robert wouldn't really give a damn what she did.
She sighed and held her hand out for him to take, which he did. Just as she stood, he pressed his body to hers causing her to look up at him. "Don't sigh," he whispered, running his free hand down her cheek. "Sadness isn't a good look on you."
He took her out on the dance floor, glad that she didn't have to pass Christina who had gone back to dry humping her two dance partners. Stranger danger, she almost said before looking up at the guy who recently wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close.
"I don't even know your name."
He smiled. "Eric. My name is Eric Coulter. And what is your name?"
"JoyAnna. But my friends call me 'Ana'."
"Ana," he said it as though it was the most beautiful thing he had ever heard. His arms held her securely to him as he smiled. "I like it."
God, she wished that he wouldn't.
Ana tried to ignore the warmth - no, the undeniable scorching heat - that was running through her as his hard body pressed up against hers. They didn't grind up one another - as Christina and her players were. No, this was more of a sensual swaying.
Robert hated dancing - of any kind. Maybe not any kind of dance, he quite enjoyed it when she attempted to strip dance for him the last time she had returned home. It was the only way she got his attention, these days. And if she had sighed - just like earlier - he'd never tell her something as sweet as what Eric said.
Bugger! Why was she comparing the two?
"Are you a student at the University," Eric asked as they continued to sway.
"Yes. I have one more semester to go. How about you," she asked, looking up at him - pleading silently that he wasn't one of Lauren or Christina's conquests. "Are you from Dauntless U?"
He seemed to pause before his smile widened. "I'm an alum actually."
"You? An Alum? Really?"
"I graduated two years ago. Four years ago, actually," he nodded his head back and forth with a mixed expression. "Two years ago, was something else."
Ana narrowed her eyes. "I'm going to assume that you got your masters in one field and then went back to school for another," she stated.
"Nothing gets pass you, does it," Eric smiled at her response, making her feel light.
"So, what was it," she asked in a conversational tone.
"I majored in business law and then minored in accounting."
"Nice," she smiled. "So, what have you been doing this entire time with your degrees, Mr. Coulter?"
She was enjoying the feel of being in his arms, the way he looked at her as though he was intrigued with everything she said or did. It was a look that she had longed to see. His hand felt warm on her back as his fingers splayed out, pulling her closer - as the space between them seemed to disappear.
Yes, this was dangerous territory.
"I'm helping with my parent's woodcraft shop. It's been passed down through the generations," Eric explained, keeping his gaze on her. "I want to expand it or at the very least keep it running should my brother decide he doesn't want to stay with it. Hence, the reason why I did the extra two years of accounting."
"You're building a future for yourself," she added. "That's admirable."
"Thank you. And it's more like trying to make sure that the future of the business stays there," he nodded.
Ana went to ask another question, enjoying their conversation. However, Eric pushed her back gently to the music and spun her around. It made her feel delighted and wonderful. She smiled up at him when he pulled her back and immediately went to holding his shoulders as his hands went to her lower back.
"My brother, Edward, is a Senior here at Dauntless University, same as you - with one more semester to go," he said. "That's why I'm here, to pick him up and bring him home to Erudite for Christmas."
"Aw, did he make you come out tonight, too," she teased as he laughed.
"He did," Eric chuckled. "And then he and his friends ditched. When I was getting ready to leave, I saw you."
Ana smiled and quickly looked away. She didn't want to enjoy his friendly demeanor more than was necessary.
"So," she tried to get back on topic. "Your brother must be celebrating the completion of his classes."
Eric shook his head. "Edward? Nah," he chuckled. "He's a procrastinator, that one. He wanted one last night out to hang with his friends before his final exam on Wednesday."
Ana smiled. "I have a final exam to complete, too. But it's in the morning on Thursday," she sighed and looked down. "It would be great if I could get it on Wednesday, like your brother."
"Regardless if my brother's exam is a day earlier or not, I would still have to talk him into leaving so that we can head home." He glanced down at her. "Where is home for you?"
"Amity," she replied easily, wondering why she was sharing this type of information with someone she just met.
Stranger danger, stranger danger - an alarm kept going off in her head. But she felt safe with him. He hadn't attempted anything - other than that kiss under the 'false mistletoe'. And he appeared to be well-mannered. Something that...
"And what about your fiancé, what is he studying?"
What a way to ruin their conversation, she thought. She immediately pictured Robert, sitting on the couch - in his underwear and shirt that most likely hadn't been washed in days - playing video games until his next shift at the grocery store.
He was currently studying the television, she wanted to answer.
Instead lifted her chin in defiance. "He's building his career as an inventory control specialist back in Amity."
"Inventory control specialist," he raised an eyebrow.
Ana looked down in shame. "He stocks shelves and collects wagons at the local grocery store," that has been in my family for generations, she finished the last part in her head. How pathetic did that sound compared to what he just said about his own life?
"What's wrong with that? Like you said, he's building his career," Eric suggested as the song ended and another began, simply twirling her once again before pulling her back.
It was in that moment that Ana realized that she was the one who seriously had a problem with Robert's choices in life. She had brushed it all on the side, defended him to her brothers and even her mother. Her father had even said that everyone hits a rough patch in their lives. She even labelled a part of his life as 'nothing-ness'.
Ana hoped that things would change once they were married but the thing was, she knew he wasn't going to change. She had become an enabler - working her butt off while allowing him to cruise through, convincing her grandfather to speak to one of the store managers and give him a job, convincing her brother to loan him money so that he could buy a used car. The list went on and on.
Eric cleared his throat and changed the subject, seeing that she was lost in thought about his occupation. "So, how did the two of you meet? High-school sweat-hearts?"
"Yes," Ana replied.
"When is the wedding?"
Ana sighed once again. "We haven't really set a date."
We've been engaged for three years but still no date, she thought. She argued with her mother that Robert was saving up for an apartment. When in truth, it was Ana who was saving for the apartment. The reason why she had to get a good grade on her final exam. If she didn't pass this class with flying colors, who knew what the end grade would be. She needed this class. Like Eric, she needed to secure her future.
"Perhaps you could plan something for the Summer. It's still some time away. You'll be finished with school," he prompted, which is exactly what she had suggested to Robert last year. "It could be a triple-celebration of sorts – your homecoming, your graduation and a wedding."
"Something to think about, I guess," she shrugged, trying to ignore the practicality of his suggestion and how similar it had been to hers.
"I think you would make a beautiful June bride," he commented as Ana's face brightened and looked up at him.
"Thank you. I've always wanted to be one," she said as he smiled. "They say that when you marry in June, you're a bride your whole life. I know it's a fairy-tale dream, but I thought that..." she paused and, in her head, finished with, she thought she could have at least one thing to look forward to in life, at least she could choose her own wedding date.
"Whenever I hear 'June bride', I think about Seven Brides for Seven Brothers," he added.
Ana beamed up at him - glad for the distraction but also for the comment about the movie. "That's one of my favorite musicals. It's a classic. I love the dance scenes in there. I'm surprised that you know about that movie."
"Well," he shrugged, still smiling. "I grew up in Erudite. Classes on art and music are pretty intense," he chuckled as did Ana. She was glad that he had somehow picked up on her reluctance to speak about setting a date and went off on a tangent. She very much enjoyed classic movies.
She was enjoying being with him also - a bit too much - that she didn't realize another song had ended and that there was no music playing. They were still currently swaying in the middle of the dance floor when Christina bounded towards her – Will and the other player flanking at her sides.
"Hey, Ana Banana," Christina smiled as Ana pulled away from Eric and blinked her eyes rapidly. "You're under the mistletoe!"
Ana paled before looking up to see that this time she was indeed under a mistletoe. This one was real - not like the one on the poster that she sat in front of. Her eyes turned back to see Eric with a soft smile. His face gave off that he was surprised but also pleased that they were in this situation again.
Ana just about turned around, when Christina - as sly as she was - linked arms with Ana and kept her in place.
"You have to kiss, Ana. It's like the law... or something," she waved her hand and pushed Ana towards Eric before giggling and leaving with her two new friends.
Eric's gaze remained fixed on her. The heat between their two bodies radiating, causing her to melt as his arms slipped around her waist. How could someone make her heart soar like this? Ana placed her hand on his chest, her fingers itching to grip his shirt and tug him closer. It was so tempting. What was wrong with one little kiss? Then again, she had thought to herself what was wrong with one dance. His smell was consuming her, his voice intoxicating her, and his smile had seduced her. No, think of Robert.
Instead, she pushed him back slightly. She couldn't betray Robert - no matter how much she liked spending time with Eric and talking to him. It was just a dance. It wasn't supposed to lead to anything else - especially a kiss.
Eric's eyes widened before a look of disappointment flickered across his handsome features. She wasn't sure who she was hurting more - Eric or herself - when she turned away and left him standing there in the middle of the dance floor.
He didn't go after her. She had hoped that he would. Stupid, stupid Ana, she chanted in her head as she exited the bar, wrapping her hands around herself and looking up at the sky. Why was she longing for something that wasn't hers? Robert was waiting for her back in Amity. She couldn't kiss someone else while he patiently waited for her. It was Christmas, after all. She nodded as if to reaffirm her thoughts.
Glancing at the ring on her finger, she did all that she could to remember the good times that she and Robert shared together. Wiping her eyes, she reached for her phone and quickly dialed Robert's number.
He didn't pick up - as usual. But she did her best to remain optimistic.
"Hey," she smiled into the receiving end of the phone when his voicemail came on. "I was just thinking about you," she sniffed her tears away.
Why in the world had she gotten so worked up? It was just one dance. One dance that led to a couple more but that wasn't what she needed to focus on. No, she was engaged. It was just a momentary set back. She was better than this.
"I miss you," she said, desperately trying to convince herself that she was speaking the truth. "I can't wait to come back home. Anyways, call me when you get this message. Or whenever you can," she finished, remembering that she didn't want to pressure him into calling her right away.
That might make him frustrate him and she didn't want…
"Ana?"
She whirled around, pressing the end button and looked over to see Tris and Tobias with concerned expressions.
"Are you okay," Tobias asked. He looked back over his shoulder. "Was it that guy we saw you dancing with? Did he do something?"
"No," she assured him as his eyes narrowed. "Honestly, he was a gentleman. Nothing happened."
Except maybe that she had thought of kissing him because she enjoyed his company, his smile, his voice, his arms. She shook her head quickly and gave the pair of them a smile.
"If you're sure," Tris replied.
She turned to Tris and nodded. "I just wanted to get back to studying. But I know that Lauren - and now Christina," she glanced down the street, "are going to be occupying our dorm room."
"Did you check with Myra," Tris looked at her phone. "She sent me a text earlier about looking for a study partner."
Ana sighed in relief and pulled out her phone. "I didn't think about that," smiling she sent a text to Myra who immediately replied that she was in the library.
"Ana," Tris began as she looked up at Tobias, "maybe we should walk you there. It's awfully late, Tobias."
"Of course, we'll take you," Tobias responded, "I'd hate for you to be on your own."
Ana walked through the parking lot with Tobias and Tris in front of her, every now and then one of them would ask her a question - probably just to ensure that she was still with them. She glanced one last time back at the bar. She'd never see Eric again - she was sure of it.