Bet y'all thought I forgot ...
I didn't ... I got a job, so I was working today! It's yet to be determined if it's a good thing or not ... I haven't decided if I like it.
I'm in a bit of a hurry, so I just wanna say thanks to everyone that reads and reviews and to Northwoman for betaing ...
Everything SVM is Charlaine Harris' and Changes is David Bowie's.
Eric walked into his office, shutting the door behind him. He couldn't believe what he'd just done.
As if things between him and Sookie weren't complicated enough for him, he'd had a moment of weakness on his way back to work from the gym. He'd found himself compelled to buy her flowers – a shitload of flowers – and a pretty expensive bottle of Champagne for her birthday.
He didn't know why he'd done it. In fact, he'd never bought flowers or Champagne for anyone. So, why Sookie? He wondered. Sure; she'd told him about her birthday, the day before, but that didn't mean he had to go out and buy her a gift. It wasn't like they were even that close.
All he knew, was when he saw them, in the window of the florist shop two doors down from his bar, they totally reminded him of her. They were beautiful and dainty, yet they gave him the impression they were also wild and free, and their colors of orange and yellow were reminiscent of the sun; just like her smile, which he was sure could light up any room.
Upon seeing them, he'd marched right into the shop with no question in his mind. He was buying those flowers for Sookie. He just had to.
The shop had been empty, aside from him and the florist, so she'd greeted him promptly. "Hi, Sir. Is there anything in particular I can help you with?" She'd asked.
"Those flowers in the window … the orange and yellow ones." He'd pointed to them. "I'd like to buy them."
"Oh … the Gerbera Daisies. They're gorgeous. Someone's very lucky." She'd nodded, smiling. "How many would you like, sir," the florist had asked him as she walked over to the bin in the window, which held them.
"All of them," he'd answered. "I'll take all you have."
He'd bought them all. Not just the four dozen which had been arranged neatly in the bin in the window, probably to draw in suckers like himself, but every single orange and yellow daisy in the shop and a fucking bottle of Cristal.
He had surely fucking lost his damn mind. He'd just spent ridiculous amount of money, in only about five minutes of time, on a person he barely knew, and now, he was seriously questioning that decision.
He strode over to his desk, taking a seat in his chair; completely stuck in his own head. The way things were progressing between them, and the fact it was happening almost involuntarily really fucking freaked him out.
He hadn't even actually decided to take the leap and let himself get close to her, but that was exactly what he was doing. And it wasn't just the flowers or the Champagne. His inability to keep his walls up around her had started way before them. They were just the tip of the iceberg.
When he was around her, it was as if no matter how hard he tried, he just couldn't hold back from her; even though it went against every fiber of his being. He didn't understand it and he just couldn't take it. He was losing all his control, he felt, and he had no clue how to get it back.
But the scariest part, though, was he wasn't sure if he really wanted to.
In spite of everything about Sookie, which frightened him, concerned him, and drove him absolutely nuts, he felt she was just so incredibly perfect, in such an imperfect and chaotic way and for some reason; that was really tempting to him.
She made him feel warm inside, like Hannah did and Pam had and whenever he was around her, he felt cared for and wanted. And the more time he spent with her, the less empty his heart felt. It was almost like she was filling the space Pam had left there.
God, and the way she smiled at him, he thought, shaking his head. Her smile could be such a fucking breath of fresh air. He shut his eyes, hoping if he concentrated really hard he could catch a glimpse of it in his mind. It worked and for the briefest of moments, he felt completely content, until he caught himself slipping and realized what he was doing.
He buried his head in his hands and sighed. "Fuck!" Would it really be that bad if he got to know her a little better? He wondered, sinking down into the chair; his legs stretched out in front of him, but then he finally got it. He realized the question he'd been pondering was totally irrelevant. He was already so in over his head with her, it was ridiculous and he realized because of Hannah, there was no going back; no matter how much his instinct told him to. "Fuck me," he groaned, shaking his head. He definitely needed a drink.
*s*S*s*
"Sorry we got you in trouble the other day," Lafayette said, as he skillfully wrapped a strand of Sookie's hair around the barrel of the curling iron he held. "Was he real mad?"
Sookie winced, remembering their argument. Eric had said some pretty hurtful stuff. "He was pretty pissed," she answered, looking at Lafayette's reflection in the mirror in front of them, as opposed to actually looking at him.
Lafayette nodded, to the mirror as well. "He seemed it."
"But don't worry about it." Sookie shook her head. "It's no big deal, now," she insisted, assuming that was the case now.
Eric had spent the better part of the day with her and Hannah, the day before, and he hadn't acted like it still bothered him; nor had he mentioned it. Plus, he hadn't exactly shown he was the pillar of responsibility, showing up at her loft drunk, in the middle of the night, so she'd chosen to take the high road and forgive and forget. She was fairly confident he'd come to the same conclusion.
It was no longer a big deal and even if it was, she didn't care – not tonight.
Tonight, she didn't have a care in the world. Sunday was her birthday, but she was celebrating it tonight. Ashley was keeping Hannah and she was going to do whatever it took to have herself a damn good time.
She deserved it after the week she'd had.
By the time she was dressed and ready to go, Claude had arrived, but so had something else.
As he rolled a pre-party joint, he pointed out an enormous bouquet of flowers and a box, sitting on her kitchen counter. "Those came while you were in the bathroom." He motioned to the counter with his head. "You been hidin' shit, sweetpea?" He asked, inquisitively.
"No!" Sookie giggled, shaking her head, then shrugged. She was just as perplexed as him. "I, honestly, have no clue who they could be from." She walked over to the counter and inspected the beautiful and massive arrangement of orange and yellow daisies and the tall, slender box which sat beside it.
She took the card from the flowers and read it.
Happy Birthday … E.
E, she thought, nearly dumbfounded. Eric had sent her flowers – a lot of flowers. And they were really pretty! Although she tried, she was unable to stifle the smile, which was quickly spreading across her face.
"They're from Eric," she announced; not quite sure what to think.
Next, she opened the box and pulled out an obscenely expensive bottle of Cristal Champagne. Her smile only grew bigger and it really made her wonder. Sure, she loved gifts, regardless where they came from, but why was a gift from Eric making her feel like a fifteen year old girl who'd been asked to senior prom?
Suddenly, she realized she really, really, really liked Eric; despite the fact he was an asshole. Hell, the fact he was such an asshole made things like this, that much more special and sweet, she thought.
But she still didn't know what to make of it. She hadn't ever expected Eric, of all people, to send her flowers or Champagne. It seemed so unlike him; especially given he'd never gone out of his way to be nice to her, even when he was actually already being nice. She shook her head, confused, but still smiling from ear to ear, as she stared down at the bottle in her hands and the plethora of daisies on her counter.
Finally, she turned to her friends, holding the bottle in the air. "Well, let's get drunk!"
*s*S*s*
A drink turned into two, then three, until eventually, he lost count – a typical night in the life of Eric Northman. He probably wouldn't stop till the bottle was empty; especially after what he'd just decided to do.
He was well aware he'd have never even thought about doing it, if it weren't for the fact he was drunk, but he was also well aware it was very necessary, if not for himself and for her, then for Hannah. He couldn't ignore or deny what was building between them; not if they were going to give Hannah the life she deserved. Plus, he was kind of running low in the friend department and Sookie was the only candidate for the position. He'd come to the conclusion he really liked her. She scared the hell out of him, but he still really liked her and he had to give her a chance.
He picked up his glass, taking a drink as he typed his message into his phone with his other hand. When he finished, he read over it; reluctant as hell to press send. But he knew if he didn't do it, he'd end up doing it anyway in some other compulsory way and at least this way, it was on his terms.
He had to do it, he thought. He knew he had to do it, but he was still freaking out. Actually, he felt like he was diving into a kiddy pool, head first and at nearly six-five, that was completely insane, but he hit send anyway.
*s*S*s*
Thumping music and flashing, colorful lights filled the club as Sookie danced atop the table where her friends had gathered. "This is the best birthday ever!" she shouted, waving her arms in the air; never missing a single beat.
Drunk.
That's what Sookie had wanted and that's exactly what she'd got, but even she had to admit, despite all she'd had to drink, what really had her going was the Ecstasy Claude had given her. It had been the best gift of the evening, as far as she was concerned, and may have even topped Eric's flowers; although, the flowers definitely took the cake for most unexpected.
Four of her closest friends had treated her to dinner at her favorite Mexican Restaurant, and then they'd all headed out to dance and drink the night away and they were all succeeding.
Tara, one of Sookie's oldest friends and Lafayette's cousin, was passed out on the seat of the booth at their table. She'd had a few too many and had apparently partied way too hard, too fast.
And Amelia, who was another artist and a self-proclaimed witch, was off; who knows where, doing who knows what, with who knows who. She was definitely the wild one of the group and the only other, besides Sookie, who'd taken Ecstasy, so there was no telling where she'd ran off to, or if she was even still there, for that matter.
Claude and Lafayette were still around, though, and although they were both reaching their limits, they were definitely still in the game, drinking and dancing, right at her side.
She was on cloud nine, loving everyone and everything imaginable. She had not a care in the world. In fact, she was pretty sure she was having the time of her life. "I love you guys! And I love the music and the pretty lights! And I love to dance!"
She never wanted the night to end, but all too soon, last call was called, the music stopped, and the lights came up. Her night was over, just like that.
It wasn't till she reached her loft that she looked at her phone, which had been safely tucked away in her purse, all night long. She realized she had a text from Eric.
Do you have plans on the 4th? Club's closed. Wanna do something with Hannah and me?
Tell me what you thought!