Chapter 2 - Linnea borealis
SPOV
After last night I've kinda been in a daze, Eric actually asked me out. We're going to dinner on Friday... that only leaves me with today to go shopping. What's he going to do while we're there anyway I know most vampires don't like to watch us mere humans eat. Curiouser and curiouser.
Tara looked real busy when I walked into her shop so I figured I'd just look around on my own for a while. It didn't take long before something caught my eye, over in the far corner was one of the most gorgeous dresses I have ever seen. A delicate coloured peach swing dress, which came down quite low on the bust with one thick strap that hooked round the neck, what really finished it off though was the pretty ivory lace belt wrapped around the waist.
"I bought that in with you in mind Sook, I was just about to call you"
I turned around to find Tara stood behind me; I must've been staring at the dress for longer than I thought because the large crowd of people originally around the check out are now nowhere to be seen.
"Go try it on quick, I can't keep the shop closed all day just for you"
A girl could only ever have one friend like Tara in a lifetime and I was just so lucky to have grown up with her. "Come on that dress was just made for you" she said with a little wink leading me towards the dressing room.
As usual she was right the dress just fit like a glove, hugging my body in all the right places and its pale colour made my tan glow even more than usual! I caught Tara looking at me in the mirror so I gave her a little twirl.
"So who's the lucky guy Sook?" she asked giving me a knowing look.
"Um, Eric Northman, you know the guy that runs Fangtasia round the corner from here? And before you say anything Tara, things are going to go different this time, I know what you think about vamps but I honestly think he's different; he's agreed to date me for God's sake..."
Tara held my gaze without changing her expression, "Mhmhmmm, so long as you remember that, oh and here's a little something else I picked up for you, you might need it." She hands me a small blue velvet box, my eyes widened with awe as I opened it up to see two beautifully curved hair slides encrusted with tiny peach coloured pearls that matched the dress perfectly.
"What the Hell Tara? These are so pretty! I don't think I can afford them as well as the dress." I sighed thinking about how I would feel wearing these on my very first date with Eric.
"You're my best friend, do you really think I'd charge you for these after all the things you've done for me in my life and by the way those hair slides are silver just in case big blonde gives you any hassle."
Tara never ceases to shock me but this was just on the next level, "That's just plain rude! What if he notices, how will I explain that, "Oh sorry Eric, my paranoid best friend made me" just not gonna happen." I still couldn't take my eyes off of the slides; they did go perfectly with the dress... and if I wasn't going to use them on anyone then what's the harm in wearing them. I closed the box but still kept it in my hand, Tara stood there looking smug all over.
EPOV
Only 5 minutes had passed since the sun had set and I have already showered and dressed in a navy Armani suit Pam had picked out for me. Now I only had 1 hour and 55 minutes left to pace the house, how is it even possible for a 1000 year old vampire to feel like this?
"Eric would you like a donor before you go out on your... um... date?" Pamela said with a hint of what could only be sarcasm in her voice while leaning against the door frame of her living room.
"No thank you" I replied, looking away not wanting to waste my time with her personal jokes tonight. When I looked around I saw a different woman in the room, she had been born and brought up in Sweden and her diet mainly consisted of blueberry soup; the flavours of which were kept within her blood. She had been my favourite to drink from for a few weeks at the end of the summer. This was Pam's idea of a joke, right now I can't comprehend how I've known her for over a century and not felt this urge to send her to her final death before. The donor must have got the hint as I saw her curtsy out of the corner of my eye before she left the room.
By the time that had all happened it was just past 7:30, I wouldn't be flying tonight, I don't think Sookie would appreciate getting her hair all messed up or whatever women worried about these days, I would just have to settle with the Corvette...
So many women who come to Fangtasia would give a limb to sit in the passenger seat of this machine. They'd probably give even more to have their brains fucked out in the back seat. I'm thankful Sookie cannot read Vampire minds although when I'm around her she's all I think about.
What should have been a 30 minute drive at my normal speed to Hummingbird Road only took me 15. I tried to kill some more time by pulling over before her driveway; well I didn't want to look too eager did I? Before I left Shreveport Pam had insisted I wait a little longer as being a little early for a date was "weird". I really should invest in some modern social etiquette classes pretty soon as it looks like us vampires are going to stay out of the coffin for a while yet.
My mooching around her drive way took all of 5 minutes before I couldn't wait to see her any longer. Our faint blood bond was just humming with happiness which got even stronger the closer we were to each other. Sookie must've realised I was here through her telepathy as she'd opened the door to her house when I had just put my foot on the first step of her porch.
She looked even more beautiful than she normally does; I had to take in a small breath. Her dress made her tan even more pronounced and her hair more radiantly blonde. She smelt like the sun and something even more exotic and wonderful to me, a scent which was unique to her.
I needed tonight to go well, I don't know what I'd do if I offer myself as I plan to and she reject me .
SPOV
I'd felt a blank spot at the bottom of my drive for a while, I was starting to get worried that Eric may have changed his mind about this date and was about to cancel on me. Just as I opened the door, there he was, just taking the first step of the porch; he just stopped dead (no pun intended). Why was he just standing there staring at me? With the colour of my face rising thinking I'd already disappointed him in some way I started straighten my dress out. This is something I normally do out of nervousness.
I heard him let out a small breath, why was he breathing? Boy did he know how to put me at ease... not. "You're perfect." Two small words that came from his mouth were all it took for me to smile the widest smile.
"You don't look too bad yourself." I think I might start drooling any minute; his suit was such a dark navy colour it made his eyes look even brighter and focused. His smile seemed to make his eyes light up even more as he slowly pulled out a box from his inner jacket pocket. He stayed on the bottom step so the height difference wasn't so much. I opened to box to find a silver looking chain (probably white gold for obvious reasons) hanging from it was a large clear locket containing two delicate looking flowers. "Eric I can't accept this, it's just too..." I couldn't finish the sentence without tears falling down my face so I left it at that. I looked back down into the box, "what are they? I've never seen them before."
"It's the national flower of Sweden, Linnea borealis also known as the twinflower as it always has two flowers growing on the same stem." With his large hands he scooped the locket up from its velvety box to look at it as if remembering something long ago; I could almost see the memories flitting across his eyes. His eyes locked with mine as he unclasped the delicate chain, smoke immediately started rising from his fingertips. It must've been silver after all, "oh no Eric, you'll hurt yourself." The tips of his fingers lightly blushed along my neck as he went to fix the necklace at the back.
"It was worth it just to see you with it on." God, why did I insist on dating this man and not just let him take me? "Thank you" was all I could think to say, I'd never been given a gift like this before, and I know the flower must mean a lot to him but I didn't want to ask any questions that might ruin this moment. Plus Eric Northman do harm to himself just to see a necklace on me, I don't know whether to think he's slightly crazy or whether what he's just done is quite sweet and romantic.
EPOV
The necklace looked like it belonged there settling on her chest. Many centuries ago I had it made for my first daughter's marriage but when I died somewhat unexpectedly she wanted it to be buried with me. When I first awoke from the ground I couldn't understand why the touch of it burnt my skin. My maker, after he had explain what I was and how certain things like this would affect my urged me to cast it aside. Appius Livius Ocella told me that now I was vampire I would have no family apart from him and that trinkets such as this would serve no purpose; never the less I clung onto this keeping it safe, knowing that someday I'd be able to give it to somebody I'd want to call family again.
I turned away from Sookie for a brief moment to wipe away a bloody tear with a convenient black handkerchief I now kept in my pocket.
With the silence comfortably growing in-between us Sookie pulled my hand up to her lips to place a soft kiss on the tips of my fingers where the silver had touched.
She gently cleared her throat before saying with a smile, "Where on earth are you taking me to dinner then Mr Northman?"
"Oh it's not on earth Miss Stackhouse" I replied, giving her my trademark smile for effect whilst pulling out a very large ornate key out of my pocket. "Not on this Earth at all."
Well there you go, chapter two! I wanted to get it up sooner but I wanted to make sure this next chapter would be a date you won't forget so I've been planning. I'm really sad to see the finale of TB season 4 so I'm hoping this story will be filling the gap it's left in my life (sad I know)
Don't forget to review! I'm still so new at this so comments are always appreciated!
