Hey everyone! How have you all been? I'm sorry this chappy took so long to post but hubby prohibited me laptop access on our vacay in the mountains. On the other hand, we walked a lot and now I have blisters and bruises on my feet, therefore I have every right to keep my feet up for a while, right? Right! I knew you'd all agree with me. hehe.
I'd like to thank each and every one of you that has read the story so far. I'm completely excited to get this much support from you all, new and old readers alike and I much appreciate your reviews and kinds words.
I know I've accustomed my old readers with a visual guide and I promise I'll get to it soon. I have just been too excited to get these words out of my head to do much of anything aside from pen out the story. Oh, and I redid my blog. Gabrielleblue(dot)wordpress(dot)com.
Please check it out, subscribe if you want to get the chapter earlier cause I promise I'll update there earlier than I do here. I know my entire 10 subscribers are probably frustrated cause I promised a 24h lead in there, but I'll get to it soon. I'm just on an adrenaline rush whenever I have a new chappy ready and i HAVE to post it. *crazy*
Big thanks to my dear Keri for doing yet another chappy for me. Love you, babe!
I've updated the playlist - http:/www(dot)youtube(dot)com/watch?v=P27MPi3ZhCg&feature=BFa&list=PLF9712A4E8F8DE2C4&index=4
Incompatible, it don't matter though
'cos someone's bound to hear my cry
Speak out if you do
You're not easy to find
Is it possible Mr. Loveable
Is already in my life?
Right in front of me
Or maybe you're in disguise
Who doesn't long for someone to hold
Who knows how to love you without being told
Somebody tell me why I'm on my own
If there's a soulmate for everyone
Here we are again, circles never end
How do I find the perfect fit
There's enough for everyone
But I'm still waiting in line
Who doesn't long for someone to hold
Who knows how to love you without being told
Somebody tell me why I'm on my own
If there's a soulmate for everyone
If there's a soulmate for everyone
Most relationships seem so transitory
They're all good but not the permanent one
Who doesn't long for someone to hold
Who knows how to love you without being told
Somebody tell me why I'm on my own
If there's a soulmate for everyone
Who doesn't long for someone to hold
Who knows how to love you without being told
Somebody tell me why I'm on my own
If there's a soulmate for everyone
If there's a soulmate for everyone
(Natasha Bedingfield - Soulmate)
SPOV
I woke in the same way I fell asleep – wrapped up in Eric's arms. I sighed softly and cuddled closer to his body.
The sun was only just rising and it was no surprise, given that we had gone to bed right after sunset. I must have been exhausted to have slept for so long.
Eric's arm tightened around me and I raised my eyes to find him watching me.
"Good morning," I said into his t-shirt.
He chuckled at my attempt to hide my morning breath.
"Good morning. Stop trying to hide it, I've known you for too long," he said smiling.
"Fine, but I don't want to catch you complaining, Mister!" I told him as I got out of bed, skipping to the bathroom and closing the door after myself.
I ran to the toilet and relieved my bladder which was threatening to burst. I was still in a happy mood until I moved to the sink to wash my hands and brush my teeth. Purple and green mixed on the side of my face. I felt like crying. No amount of foundation would cover this up, and I had a meeting with Pam and her husband the next day. Fucking Bill!
A knock on the door startled me.
"Sook? Are you ok?" Eric's voice called.
"Yeah, I'm fine," I replied, wondering how long I had stayed there staring at my face.
I washed up and walked to the door and opened it, gazing at the floor as I passed Eric. He wasn't having any of it.
"Let me see," he said, stopping me and putting his fingers under my chin and bringing my face up. He tilted my head to the side and I watched him from the corner of my eye. His features hardened and his eyes squinted a little.
"We should put some red meat on it," he said after a few seconds, his voice leveled. "Go get some out of the freezer while I go wash up as well."
With that he walked past me into the bathroom and closed the door behind him.
I made my way towards the kitchen and took out some veal, put it in a bowl and popped it in the microwave to defrost. I put on a pot of coffee, happy I had bought the kind Eric liked. I heard the bathroom door open just as the microwave dinged, and the coffee boiled. Perfect.
I poured two cups and went to sit at the table, waiting for Eric to make his way into the room. My eyes locked onto his chest and abs peaking through his opened shirt. He caught me staring and smirked at me, but said nothing as I busied myself turning redder than a fire truck.
He sat across from me and picked up the veal, putting it to my face gently.
"It's supposed to make the bruise fade faster. I hope it works," he said and I nodded weakly, trying not to move too much.
I took a gulp of my coffee and he did the same, using his free hand to hold his cup.
"You want to kill him," I said.
"Is that a question or a statement?" he asked.
"Both, I guess."
"Well, it's yes to both. I can't imagine how he could hit you. I want to tear him to pieces and I'm frustrated I can't. I don't want to go to prison for that idiot," he said.
"I bet you could," I said, smiling a bit, thinking of what Eric could do to Bill. I knew it wasn't right, but I was angry as fuck at the moment.
"Could what?"
"Rip him to pieces. Part of me wants you to, but mostly I want you safe and around. I don't want to visit you in prison," I teased.
"Yeah. Unfortunately, I don't know enough forensics to actually kill him without a trace," he said and smiled at me. We loved watching those CSI and NCIS shows together. Another thing that Bill hated…
"It means a lot to me that you're here now, you know that, right?" I asked him, holding his gaze.
"There's no other place I'd rather be," he said, and his left hand stretched and grabbed mine, giving me a little squeeze.
"So… wanna watch season 7 of NCIS?" I asked, giddy at the thought of a lazy Saturday.
"You just want me to find a way to cross the cemetery to Bill's and kill him without a trace, don't you?" he teased and I giggled.
We spent the day watching episode after episode, taking short breaks to eat. We even ended up napping cuddled together on the couch.
It was the perfect day.
Monday morning came way too quickly, and I faced the problem of concealing the bruise he-who-should-not-be-named gave me. Yes, that was his name from now on. I was huffing and puffing as Eric was waiting patiently for me in the living room.
After fifteen minutes of painting my face like I was doing the Great Wall of fucking China, I walked out of the bedroom, dressed in jeans and a shirt. Pam and I were past formalities, so I figured I could wear comfy clothes instead of stiff-suits.
"You look great," he said as I entered the living room.
"Thanks, but I'm still thankful it's sunny outside and I can wear my shades. It's still too visible."
"You're beautiful no matter what," he said, his voice deeper than usual.
I might have blushed, but I was fairly certain he couldn't notice, considering how thick the concealer layer was.
"Thank you. Now, to the coffee shop!" I said, mimicking the Batman voice.
He chuckled, shaking his head and followed me out the house.
We got into his car and he drove to his home first, where he hopped in to the shower. In no time, he was ready, and we were on our way.
"What the hell happened to you?" Alcide said instead of greeting.
"I… ehm…" I mumbled.
"Bill hit her, that's what happened," Eric said from behind me.
"Traitor," I murmured under my breath. I didn't want everyone knowing what had happened, but Alcide was closer to me than my own brother, so I guess he had a right to know.
"I'll kill that motherfucker!" Alc roared and threw the towel he was holding.
"Eric's already visited him," I said and he shifted his gaze from the bruise on my face enough to see Eric nod.
"Come on, get your coffee and I'll drive you to Pam's," Alc said in his "I-mean-business" voice.
Eric made me three black coffees to go as our friend kept muttering under his breath while he looked everywhere for his car keys. Everywhere but the drawer he always put them in. His mind was in a dark place, that was certain.
"Call me and I'll come get you when you're done with Pam, ok?" Eric asked as he gave me a half hug and picked up Alc's keys and threw them at him.
I nodded and followed Alcide to his Land Cruiser. I put the coffees on the seat as I climbed my way inside the car. I gave him the address and he just nodded. He was silent for five minutes and I was wondering if he'd ever speak again. It was so unlike him.
"Give me a good reason for not going over to his place and putting him in the ground," he said in a steady voice, his knuckles white with how hard he was holding onto the steering wheel.
Alcide was a tall man, built like a bull, his neck as thick as my thigh. Despite his size and how menacing he looked he was a peaceful soul… until you screwed with his friends.
"Because he's not worth it," I told him, remembering how Quinn looked after he broke Diantha's heart two years prior. When Alcide found out he went to talk to him and when Quinn thought himself smarter than he was, he got an "attitude adjustment" that left him barely seeing anything with his right eye for over a week.
"But you're worth it. I want to break him so badly," he said, glancing at me.
"I know. Eric went over to his place. He punched him and threatened him. He won't come near me again. I've moved out, by the way."
"Good for you. What happened?"
"I think he's been cheating on me. I dumped him yesterday morning, moved my stuff with Eric's help and then, after I left the coffee shop, I remembered Mom's brooch was still in his house. I went there, we argued, he hit me. I threatened to cut off his dick, and I ran off. Then Eric went over and kicked his ass. End of story," I told him.
He didn't respond, but nodded and continued to stare at the road in front of him. Soon he pulled in front of the address I gave him. Pam waved at me from the front porch and I waved back.
"Alcide, I know it doesn't matter what I tell you, and you'll do whatever you want, but at least be careful, ok? You're a good friend and I don't want you to get in trouble because of me." I told him as I jumped out of his "tank".
"Fine. I'll be careful," he said with a smile. I slammed the door shut and he drove off.
I knew it wasn't very Christian of me to accept the fact that my friends wanted to pummel that jerk into the ground for me, but I couldn't find myself to care too much. He made his bed, now he had to sleep in it. After he hit me, any compassion I felt towards him was gone; I just didn't care what happened to him. The only thing I did care for was my friends' safety.
I took my shades off as I approached Pam.
"Sookie, so good to see…" she said before stopping mid-sentence as she noticed my face.
"It's good to see you too, Pam," I said, trying to snap her out of it.
"What happened?" she asked.
"Apparently my concealer isn't good enough," I sighed, but she raised an eyebrow at me, urging me to continue.
"My ex happened. He-who-shall-not-be-named hit me."
"If you want, I know how to kill Voldemort. I read it in a book," she said with a serious face, making me burst into laughter.
"Thank you dear, but I've got this Viking friend that went and punched him. Now I think tall-dark-and-curly that was driving that tank just now is on his way to do the same," I said, pointing back at the place where Alcide had just left.
"Let me know if they need to hide a body," she said and guided me inside, sniffing the air for coffee vapors.
I stepped inside her house and it was like walking into one of those catalogue houses. Everything looked like a museum. Neat, clean, dust-free. Not a thread out of place anywhere. She led me into the living room where a man was waiting in one of the chairs that looked big enough to be comfortable to sleep in. He was tall, judging by the length of his legs, lean, with dark, short hair, and thick rimmed glasses perched on his nose. He was reading what looked to be a manuscript.
"Stan dear, this is Sookie," Pam said to the man.
He hadn't seemed to notice us enter the room and was startled when he heard her voice.
"Hi! I'm Stan. I'll be your editor. I'm sorry, I didn't hear you come in; I was reading the manuscript you sent us. Please sit," he said and I went around the coffee table and took a seat on the comfiest couch ever. I finally put the coffees down and they both jumped on them.
I stifled a laugh at how hilariously addicted they both were.
"It's a pleasure to meet you," I told him.
He looked me over and said.
"Same here, but it would be a greater pleasure to meet the one who gave you that shiner over there. Do you need some "knight-in-shining-armor" help?" he asked, his voice level.
I was impressed that even though he'd known me for all of one minute, he was offering to protect me. Pam's eyes got a bit misty and I knew it was probably one of her favorite traits in him.
"Actually, no. Thank you, but I've got two knights-in-dirty-armor already taking care of Voldemort," I replied and Pam burst into laughter.
"Voldemort?" he asked and his eyes went from one to the other.
"I called him "he-who-shall-not-be-named", and Pam suggested we refer him as Voldemort," I explained and he chuckled.
"Of course she did. She worships J.K. Anyway, since you don't need my aid in that department, let's get down to business. This manuscript here is pure gold," he said and for the next hours we talked about what needed to be adjusted and how to correct some of the stuff in my book. They were both thrilled when I told them I was thinking of making a series out of it.
By the time we parted ways, we'd agreed to meet at least twice a week to go over what I was rewriting, and what Stan was editing, so we didn't have to go back and forth over the same things over and over again. This way, we'd both be on the same page.
It was dark outside when Pam hugged me goodbye at the end of the driveway. She waved to Eric as he pulled up. I had a feeling we'd be good friends in no time.
"Is Alcide at the café?"
"Yeah, he just got back before I left," Eric said as he drove off.
"What did he do?"
"He had a talk with Bill. He's not going to bother you again."
"I already knew that. Did he hit him?"
"I don't think so. He was pretty disappointed when he came in," he said smiling at me.
"Well, at least the cops aren't going to come after him," I replied and let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.
"Yeah. So, home?"
"Sure. Will you stay with me again?" I asked hopefully. I really didn't want to be alone and I felt safe with Eric.
"Of course. I even packed an overnight bag," he winked at me.
"You knew I'd ask!"
"No, but I got it in case you did. Sleeping in my jeans is a bit uncomfortable," Eric said and I instantly felt guilty.
"I'm sorry for that," I said.
"Nothing to worry about. Now, tell me about the meeting," he asked, his voice excited.
We spent the drive talking about the book and the editing. When he pulled up to the house we noticed there was another car parked there with three men in dark suits.
We got out and walked towards them, and they perked up as they noticed us.
"How may I help you?" I asked since they were waiting in front of my house.
"Are you Miss Susannah Stackhouse?" one of them asked.
"Yes, who's asking?"
"Ma'am, were from Castro Bank. We are here to seize this house. We've been waiting for you for three hours."
"You're here to do what?" I half yelled.
"We are here to seize the house. We've already secured the other house under your name, the one beside the lake. We were waiting for you to sign over these papers before we lock this one too."
"What is this about? You can't do that!"
"Actually we can, Ma'am. One Jason Stackhouse, co-owner of these houses, took a big loan from our bank and he hasn't paid a dime in over a year. According to the contract, we are the new owners of the houses. If you can pay up his loan within a month, they will be given back to you. If not, they will be put for sale at the end of said month and you can re-buy them from us," goon no. 1 said.
"But how could he do this? I own these houses as well. They were given to us after our grandmother passed away. Didn't he have to have my signature to take this loan?"
"He did. Here is the contract you signed two years ago," he said and handed me a stack of papers. I went through them and my blood started boiling. Jason has faked my signature.
"That is not my signature," I said.
"Ma'am, I assure you it is. You were there with him when the contract was signed, otherwise our clerks wouldn't have agreed to anything," he said, confused.
"I wasn't there. I was never in Nevada. Someone else signed in my name," I told him.
"I am sorry. Even if this is the case there is nothing we can do about it now. You can go to the police and report that someone has used your signature illegally, but there is nothing we can do now. The house needs to be closed down," he insisted.
"I'll call my brother and clear everything up, just wait and see," I said, confident it was somehow just a misunderstanding.
I stepped away from the three goons and Eric started talking to them and asked to see the contract. I heard him say he was my fiancé in order to get them to show him the papers.
"Yeah, Sook," he said as he answered. Great way to greet his sister, right?
"Jase, there are three guys here saying they're from this bank in Nevada and they want to close up my house and sell it. They say you took a loan and didn't pay it off and now they're here. What is this about, Jason?" I demanded.
"Well yeah, I did. It was two years ago. Both the houses for a loan of a million. I got into some trouble with a loan shark, and I needed to get the money from a bank to pay him off," he said like it was the most normal thing on Earth.
"They have my signature Jason, how did they get it?"
"Oh, Crystal signed in your place. You're not mad, are you?" he asked like everything was perfect.
"Of course I'm mad, you idiot! They're taking my house! Where the fuck am I supposed to live? Why didn't you pay it up?"
"Well, shit Sook! Because I didn't have the money and I only took the loan to save my ass from that loan shark. I guaranteed with the houses because no one was living in them so no one needed them."
"I AM living in Gran's house Jason. What the fuck!"
"How was I supposed to know? Weren't you living with Bill? You two were getting married!" he said like it explained everything.
"I am not living with Bill anymore, we broke up. I am certainly not marrying that cheating asshole and I am not moving back with him after he hit me, Jason!" I yelled at him.
"You broke up?" Of course my idiot brother would only pick up the fact that we broke up, instead of the more important things like him hitting me.
"Yes. Now where am I supposed to live?"
"Well, I don't know. Get back together with him?"
"He hit me, Jason! I am not stepping back inside that house," I yelled at him.
"It's not my problem, Sook! I live all the way over here and I have no need for those houses. It's not my problem," he said and I froze.
"Jason Corbett Stackhouse, you are no brother of mine. I hope to never see your face again, you idiotic asshole!" I told him and disconnected the call before he could answer me. I was infuriated, disappointed, enraged, sad, exasperated, and a gazillion other things I couldn't pinpoint.
My eyes met Eric's and he came towards me, draping an arm over my shoulders. I saw the three men were getting back into the black SUV they came with.
"They're going to be back the day after tomorrow. I checked the contract Sookie. There's no getting out of it, unless you sue Jason and accuse him of forging your signature," he told me and my shoulders slumped.
"He doesn't even care. His best line was "weren't you living with Bill?", right before he ignored the fact that Bill hit me and told me to get back together with him so I'd have a place to live."
"The hell you are," Eric said and stepped in front of me.
"Oh, relax. I wasn't even thinking of that. I'll ask Pam for that down payment earlier. I should be able to get a rental or something."
"No rental Sookie. You're moving in with me, ok?" he said, his eyes pleading with me.
"With you?"
"Yeah. We've been friends for a long time. There's enough room at my place for everything you own. That place is huge. If you still want to move out, you can, later on, when the books gets published and you get rich. I might move in with you then, if you buy yourself a palace," he said smiling, trying to snap me out of the mood I was in, I was sure.
"Ok. Thank you," I said after mulling things over for a few seconds. There was no reason I'd say "no" to his proposal.
Once again, I was falling and he was there to catch me. Another stumble in my road and he was there to help me up, dust me off, and put a smile on my face. I only prayed he'd always be there, as selfish as that sounded.
"Great. Now get in the house and lock the door. I need to go back over at my place and get something. I'll be back in an hour, ok?" he asked and I nodded.
I took my keychain out and took off a key and handed it to him.
"So you can get in when you come back. I'm exhausted. I'll take a bath and get in bed. Come upstairs, ok?" I asked him and squeezed his hand.
"Of course. Now get inside so I can get going," he urged me, and I made my way towards the porch.
He got in the car and waited for me to get inside. He only turned the engine on after he heard the lock on the door turn.
I walked towards my bathroom, undressed, and started the hot water in the tub. I put in the plug and spilled some vanilla scented bubbles in the growing water line. I closed the door in case Eric came back early, and dimmed the light a bit after starting up the CD player at the other end of the room.
Soft music started coming through the speakers as I settled in the warm water. I relaxed my back against the tub and closed my eyes. I wanted everything to go away. Tears ran down my cheeks. The pressure and events of the last few days had gotten to me. I started crying for everything that happened. I should have known that a joy as big as getting published couldn't come without bad news.
I cried in frustration for losing my house. My home. The home of my family for generations was lost because of Jason's stupidity. I needed to fix this. I needed to do something. I'd call Pam no matter what Eric said. There must be something that could be done.
I mourned the end of my relationship. No matter what happened between Bill and I, we had been together for three years. Three years I was not getting back. Three years that had been both good and bad. Three years that were now a closed chapter of my life.
As the first chords of "Soulmate" came through the speakers, I broke down because I realized I had thought Bill was the one. I had thought we'd get married and have children and life happily ever after. Now I was alone and I felt lost. I wanted someone to love me, truly love me. I wanted the soul mate Natasha Bedingfield was singing about. I wanted to find the other half of my heart.
I got out of the tub when the water got chilly, toweled off and changed into my PJs. As I opened the door to my bedroom, I found Eric waiting for me, on the side of the bed that he'd slept on for the past two nights. He smiled up at me; a comforting smile that told me he knew what I had been doing in the bathroom; a smile that held the promise that he'd make it better.
I crawled up under the blankets and settled next to his body, reveling in this warmth. My head was over his heart and I fell asleep watching the moon outside the window while he caressed my back. The last thoughts that went through my head were the lyrics of the song I had been listening to.
"Is it possible Mr. Loveable
Is already in my life?
Right in front of me
Or maybe you're in disguise"
Ok, I know you all know where this is getting to and I know you all want it to be faster, but all I can promise is...it's getting there.
Leave me some love!