The Curse of Being Me
Chapter 10- Bobby the human
The sound of a ringing phone woke Sookie. She quickly scrambled up from the bed, fighting Eric's heavy arm, in order to put the lamp on and answer it.
"Where the hell are you, Sook? I've been worried sick. Sam told me what happened when I got home last night. How are you?" Amelia's voice was a shrill squeal of panic.
"I'm alright, Amelia. Eric is taking good care of me and to be honest, I don't think I'm ready to talk about it all yet." Sookie said through a yawn.
"No problem, Sook. I'm just glad you're okay. I knew I should have cancelled my trip. You know I'm here for you, right?"
"Yeah, I know. I promise you'll be the first I call when I'm ready, Amelia you've become my best friend, but so much has happened- I need some more time."
"Listen, I know. Believe me, I know and if I wasn't positive that Eric was taking perfect care of you I would be coming and dragging your ass home. Take all the time you need, Sook."
"Thanks, Amelia. Would you pass my thanks along to Sam, too? I haven't been ready to call him."
"Sure. Take care of yourself and I'll talk to you real soon." They hung up and Sookie fell back into the bed. She felt like a huge hurdle had been overcome. She knew she would have to face them eventually, just like she knew they were only worried about her because they cared. It didn't change that she wasn't ready.
Peeking at the alarm clock by the bed she was shocked to see it was already one in the afternoon. She felt a little achy, but otherwise alright compared with the night before. Springing from the bed she headed for a quick shower where she spotted a note from Eric by the sink.
My dear Princess,
I want you to make sure you eat and rest well today.
Bobby should have brought you some lemonade and will be waiting to take you out shopping. Don't worry- I spoke to him and he will be nice. Plus, he is under orders to get a few things so, please indulge me. I want you to go out and have fun.
You really are everything to me, Sookie, and I want you to be happy.
Besides, your fairy family might stake me if I don't treat you like the princess you are- I'm not kidding.
All my love, always.
E xxxxx
A whole range of emotions flitted through her at the thought of Eric's high handedness. She was mad and annoyed; she really didn't want to spend the day with Bobby Burnham. But, she was also a little thrilled. His high handedness, while it drove her crazy, was so typically Eric and she loved him. Plus, it made her feel cherished that he wanted to take care of her so much.
At the end of it all, though, it wasn't Eric's actions or the note that stayed with her. "They might stake me if I don't treat you like the princess you are." The words rang through her mind until the figurative light bulb went off.
Claudine.
Taking her phone from the bedside table (where Eric had placed it for her) she dialled the fairy. She sat down on the bed as she waited, playing nervously with Eric's hair.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Claudine, it's Sookie. Am I related to you?" She hadn't meant to just spit it out like that but maybe it was better to be direct.
Claudine laughed, the sound like bells. "Yes, yes you are, cousin."
Sookie felt her chest tighten as the dark hole inside her grew a little more. "Why didn't you tell me?" Sookie asked sadly.
"I wasn't allowed to, Sookie. I am sorry, but there are strict rules about hierarchy in fae. I love you, Sookie. You are my friend and my kin. Can you forgive me?"
Sighing dramatically, "Fine. I just wish you had been honest with me. I suppose this is part of all the stuff that will be revealed later?" Sookie knew her voice was laden with
childish petulance, but she couldn't help feeling hurt.
"Oh, Sookie! Yes, it sure is. Uncle Fintan will tell you everything when he visits in two weeks and then there will be no more secrets between us. I promise."
Sookie felt a wave of dizziness, but she lay down and ignored it. "Whatever, Claudine. I've got to go. I'll talk to you in a couple of weeks." As the tears started to fall, Sookie hung up the phone before Claudine could say anything else.
Why did everyone have to lie to her? Was she so bad that not even her own family could be straight with her?
Rolling to the side in a tight ball she felt like she was breaking apart into a million pieces. Briefly, she thought about going downstairs and finding a nice sharp knife. She could easily make up a reason to Bobby...
One look at Eric's handsome face banished such thoughts, leaving Sookie feeling ashamed and very much alone. She wished with all her heart that he could wake up and hold her together, but that was the price of loving a vampire. The hot tears rolled down her face as her body shook with spasms from the sobs. She knew she had to find a way to bottle the pain back up., but it was so hard. She didn't want to get up and live her life. She just wanted to melt away.
Sookie didn't know how long she had been in bed crying before the phone rang again. "Hello?" Her voice was broken and scratchy. After a quick glance at the clock she understood why. It was three in the afternoon. She had been crying for nearly two hours.
"Miss Stackhouse, is everything alright? The master asked me to take you shopping and see to your needs, but you've yet to come downstairs. Do I need to call a doctor, or...what can I do?" The genuine concern in his voice took Sookie by surprise, even if it was laced with pity.
"I'm fine, Bobby, and please call me Sookie. I'll just get dressed and then we can go. Would you mind if we stopped for something to eat first? I don't really feel like cooking."
"No, not at all."
"Well, okay then. I'll see you in a few minutes."
"I look forward to it, ma'am." The statement was spoken sincerely.
Sookie could hear him in the kitchen, even if his thoughts were faint. She had assumed by 'talk' Eric had meant threaten and scare senseless. She could hear that it was partly true, but he had also told him everything and appealed to Bobby's humanity. What was worse was that it had worked. Once Bobby had heard what Sookie was going through he had been eager to help and was feeling remorse at having judged her so harshly.
Knowing she couldn't avoid it, Sookie got up and quickly got ready. Taking the fastest shower of her life, she was soon clean and pulling on a pair of tight jeans and pink cami. It was effortless, yet she still looked good.
Resigned she plastered on a smile and headed to the kitchen. She found Bobby sat reading a newspaper at the breakfast table.
"Good afternoon, Bobby," she greeted politely. She had to work hard to reinforce her shields as pity crashed over her from Bobby's thoughts.
"Hello, Ma'am, are you ready to go?" He stood up as he spoke.
"Sure," Sookie stumbled a little as they headed to the front door, but Bobby steadied her before she could fall.
"So, where are we going?" Sookie asked once they were settled in Bobby's black Volvo.
"How about I take you to Marvin's diner? They have a good selection and it's right next to the electrical store."
"Electrical store?" Sookie queried confused.
"The master ordered me to buy you a lap top and iPod."
"Oh, in that case Marvin's sounds good." Sookie looked out the window at the passing landscape. It was a nice day. The sky was blue, not a cloud in sight, and it was warm, but somehow she felt like she was in the middle of a hurricane.
"Is there anything else you need? The Master said I should take you to buy anything you want."
Glancing over at him, Sookie noticed that Bobby looked really nervous. He kept looking at his watch. Too tired to puzzle over it for long, Sookie answered the question. "No, that's enough. Pam is going to take me shopping for clothes and I don't need anything else right now." Her answer seemed to calm Bobby and he drove with a silent smile all the way to the diner.
Marvin's diner was a small family place, but at half-three on a week day it was practically empty. They quickly sat in one of the red leather booth's and took a laminated menu. Bobby had been right. There was a large selection and Sookie was really impressed with the options. However, her stomach was in knots and she suddenly felt nauseous.
"What will it be?" Their waitress was a plump woman in her fifties with curly grey hair and a bright smile. She wore a pink and white stripped dress and a small white apron. Her green name tag read, "Natalie".
"I'll just have a cup of black coffee and a piece of apple pie, thank you." Bobby spoke with authoritative assertiveness, but his smile was polite.
Natalie took his menu and turned to Sookie. "Can I have a couple of pieces of toast and a cup of green tea, please?" Sookie asked gently. Her head was starting to ache and she felt really warm.
"Sure thing." Natalie took Sookie's menu before turning to sort their order.
"Miss... Sookie? Are you alright?" Bobby asked a little alarmed. She had gone really pale and he could have sworn she was really hungry before.
"I just feel a little off, I'll be fine. Do you know what sort of laptop you're going to get?"
They talked about what Sookie would be using the laptop for for several minutes. That led into a discussion on what software to buy and then what iPod to get. They talked all through the meal, pausing only briefly to thank Natalie as she delivered their orders.
Bobby was worried by the way Sookie's eyes seemed to have tightened as if she were in pain. She spoke really softly, too and he had to ask her to repeat herself several times. Despite this, however, she continued to assure him she was 'fine' and distracted him with questions about the purchases. By the time he had paid the cheque, he knew exactly what he needed to buy...along with what music and video to download when he set up her new iPod.
In less than an hour they were on their way back to Eric's house. Sookie stumbled three times on the way inside.
"Sookie, you don't look too good. Why don't you go lie down for a while and I'll set up your laptop. I'll be right here if you wake up and need something." Bobby spoke as if he were trying to sooth a child, but Sookie couldn't deny that she needed to lie down.
"Thank you, Bobby, for everything," she said kissing his cheek, before going back to Eric's chamber. In that moment she felt truly grateful for Eric. Bobby had been like a whole new person and feeling so hot, dizzy and tired made her relieved to know she wasn't alone. He had saved her from face planting the sidewalk several times and had ensured the snooty salesmen at the store had left her alone.
As she curled into Eric's side and breathed in his spicy scent, she was amazed at how much this felt like home. She could still feel the burning hole inside her, but it was overpowered by new feelings.