Girl Scout Cookies
Be prepared to read a very strange story. This was a plot bunny that started jumping around while on a trip. It hasn't stopped yet.
One day I started to wonder: What if someone tried to sell Erik Girl Scout Cookies? And this story was born.
This is a modern day, AU story, very unlike what I usually write.
Also, I've got pretty good spelling and decent grammar, but I can't type worth a flip. Please excuse any mistakes. I'm doing my best.
This is mainly ALW based, but there will probably be some Leroux undertones, as in most every fic I write.
Disclaimer: I don't own Phantom of the opera or Girl Scouts. I'm working on a plan to kidnap Erik, though. And I used to own a box of Girl Scout cookies. Once upon a time. JUST DON'T SUE ME, OKAY?
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Chapter 1:
Unwanted Visitor
Erik played a few tentative notes on his large organ, scribbled something down, marked something else out, and began to play again. A loud knock on the door interrupted him. He rolled his eyes and continued playing. Unfortunately, whoever was outside continued to knock. After over five minutes Erik stood up. "I'm COMING!" He shouted, stomping to the door. He flung open the door and looked out. "WHAT DO YOU- Oh," He looked down to see a short, brown haired, brown eyed little girl smiling up at him.
"Hi, Mister. I'm selling Girl Scout Cookies. Wanna buy a box?"
Erik started to answer an abrupt "NO!", but the look in the little girl's eyes clearly said she wouldn't accept defeat easily. Erik sighed. 'Fine. I'll take a box. How much?"
"Three dollars."
"Wait here." Erik turned to enter his house.
"It's cold."
"What?"
"It's cold out here."
Erik wanted to scream. Instead he said, "Fine. Come in!"
The little girl grinned and followed him into his house.
Erik searched through some things on his table until he found three dollars in change. "Here. Take it."
"You don't have to pay until they're delivered."
"What?"
"You don't have to pay 'til I deliver the cookies."
'Why didn't you tell me that?"
"I didn't know that was what you were doing.
"What did you THINK I was doing, Child?" Erik asked, almost angrily.
"My name's Jessica." The child said shyly.
"What?"
"My name's Jessica. What's yours?"
Erik stopped, his mouth opened slightly as he tried to take in the sudden change. "My name?"
"Uh-huh."
"My name… Is Erik."
"Eric? That's my Daddy's name."
"Is it."
"Yep. But he's a lot shorter than you. And he doesn't have that funny thing on his face."
Erik froze. "It's a mask."
"Yeah, whatever."
"Shouldn't you be going home? RIGHT NOW?"
"Nah. I've got ALL day."
"A-All day? Wouldn't you rather spend it doing… Anything else?"
"No. I don't have many friends around here. And I like you."
"Lucky me…" Erik said through clenched teeth.
"Do you have anything to eat?"
"To eat?"
"Yeah. I'm hungry."
"You shouldn't take things from strangers."
"I know you."
"You just met me."
"I know you as well as I know my friends…" Jessica said sadly. Suddenly she brightened. "And you're nice. I can tell."
Erik couldn't help but grimace. Of all the things he was, 'Nice' wasn't one of them.
He glanced over at Jessica, hoping to get her to leave. The smile on her face showed that it wouldn't be nearly that easy. Erik sighed and pulled out a package of crackers. After putting a few down on a napkin he shoved it towards her.
"Thanks!" She said happily. A few minutes later, with her mouth full of crackers she declared, "I'm thirsty."
"That's nice."
"Whaddya have to drink?"
"Nothing."
"You've gotta have SOMETHING."
"Water. Erik said grudgingly.
"I like water."
Erik rolled his eyes and filled a small glass with tap water. He handed it to Jessica, who gulped half of it down. "Thank you."
"Uh… You're welcome?" Erik said uncertainly.
There was a moment of silence before Jessica asked, "Where's your wife?"
Erik stiffened visibly. "I'm not married."
"Then who lives here?"
"Just me."
"all by yourself?" She asked incredulously.
"I like it that way." Erik said pointedly. Jessica didn't seem to take the hint.
"Don't you get lonely?"
"No." Erik liked.
"What do you do all day?"
"I write music."
"I like music. My favorite song is Mary Had A Little Lamb. What's yours?"
"Avant de quitter ces lieux." Erik said, mentioning the first opera aria that came to mind.
"Oh. How old are you?"
"Old. Shouldn't you be getting home?"
"My mommy won't tell me how old she is either. I'm eight-and-a-half."
"Wonderful. That boy down the street is nine. Go play with him."
"He doesn't like me."
'Why not?"
" 'Cause I hit 'im!"
"You hit him?" Erik asked, slightly amused.
"Yep!" And I'm glad! He wouldn't give me my doll back!"
"You shouldn't… hit people." Erik said, nearly choking on his words.
"But it was MY doll!"
"Point taken." Erik said with a shrug. Personally, he found her philosophy made perfect sense, but figured he ought to warn his rather unwanted guest of the evils of violence, although he really didn't care what this child did to her peers.
After finishing her impromptu snack, Jessica stood up. "I guess I'd better leave now."
"Good," Erik said, relieved. Jessica looked shocked. "-BYE!" He added quickly. Jessica grinned.
"Goodbye, Eric. Your cookies will be here in four weeks."
Four weeks? Erik realized that in his haste to get rid of his visitor (not that it had worked), he had completely forgotten that ordering a box of cookies (Which he intended to throw out the moment he received them), assured a return visit. "Right. Four weeks. Cookies. Good. See you later."
"WAIT! You forgot to tell me what KIND of cookies you want! We have Thin Mints and-"
"Thin Mints. Fine. Perfect."
"Oookay…" Jessica said, bewildered. Erik attempted a smile as he showed her to the door.
"See ya later!" Jessica said with a wide grin.
"Right." Erik said, giving her a gentle shove out the door.
As soon as she was down the steps, Erik slammed the door, relieved to be alone. And yet, not so relieved.
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There you have it! My first chapter! I hope I kept Erik in character. I've never done a story like this before.
Also, I think I should clear a few things up. (1) I have no idea what the actual age is to be a Girl Scout or a Daisy or a Brownie or whatever. I just decided that Jessica would be eight. (2) It's winter in this story, simply because I remember selling Girl Scout cookies in the winter as a kid. (3) I have NO idea what the translation for the name or the Opera aria is, only that it came from Faust. (4) Before you start thinking I'm really, super perverted, this is NOT A ROMANCE STORY. At all. Whatsoever. Case closed. (5) When Jessica says 'Eric', it's spelled that way on purpose, because that's how SHE thinks it would be spelled. It will continue to be spelled like that until she finds out otherwise.
Now, PLEASE REVIEW! I would like to have at least five reviews before I post the next chapter.