Ghastly Familiar
By BeckyLynnetteCohen
Disclaimer: I own Anna Maria, Samantha, Jean Claude, Sydney, and Savannah. That is it.
Chapter 11: Fire and Flames
When Erik awoke the next morning, he realized that he wasn't in his lair as he should have been. He looked around and saw a clock with blinding red numbers that said '9:30'.
"Ya' slept like the dead Erik!" said Anna Maria, her back to him.
Erik groaned. He so was not in the mood to get ridiculed by a 21 year old woman this early in the morning.
"Must you be this cheery so damn early in the fuckin' morning!"
"Yep. I know it annoys you so I gotta do it."
"Anna Maria NOVEUX! GET YOUR ASS DOWN HERE!!!!!" came Savannah's voice from downstairs.
"Coming!!!" said Anna Maria. "I'll be back to harass you in a minute."
"Looking forward to it." Said Erik, sarcastically.
Anna Maria smiled. "I'll sneak you up some breakfast if you want."
"Go for it." Said Erik, throwing off the blanket, and yawning.
Anna Maria smiled and went downstairs. "Good Morning familia!"
"Good Morning Anna. How was your date with Ryan?" said Sydney.
"Let's just say that I don't want mom setting me up on anymore dates."
"Oh why not? Ryan's your best friend!" said Savannah
"Not anymore." Said Anna Maria.
"What did he do?" said Sydney, nearly dropping his fork.
"…. Only the worst possible thing that a guy could do to a girl." Said Anna Maria
"R-A-P-E?" said Savannah.
Anna Maria nodded and didn't look up from her pancakes.
"Hon, why don't you go eat up in your room. Your mother and I need to talk." Said Sydney.
"Ok." Said Anna Maria, giving herself extra pancakes and stealing a second fork.
Anna Maria ran up the stairs and knocked at her own door.
"It's not like I'm indecent or something." Said Erik, groggily.
Anna Maria chuckled having a feeling that he would go back to bed after she went downstairs and opened the door. Erik was sprawled out on Anna Maria's bed and his mask was off.
"I come bearing pancakes."
"Hn.."
"You're still tired I see."
"Uh Huh."
"Ok, I'll let you sleep. Just FYI, you have pancakes."
Erik gave her a thumbs up. Anna Maria laughed and pulled out her iPod. Within minutes of silence, Anna Maria heard Erik snoring. 'Out like a light…' thought Anna Maria with a smile. For the next hour and a half, Anna Maria did some reading for her next semester of school and Erik slept. Anna Maria couldn't concentrate all that well on her Music Theory book because her mind kept wandering to the musical genius asleep on her bed.
'You're doing it again Anna!!'
Shut up. I'm trying to study here!!!
'You've been a study-holic since you were born. When you finally get something that's worth actually sitting down and going "I like this guy" you study! What the hell is wrong with you?'
Is it that obvious that I like him?
'It was last night when you stayed up until 2 am singing with his ass.'
That was only to bring him back.
'But you enjoyed it, didn't you?'
Yes… immensely.
'He was nice to you.'
But he doesn't like me. He wants to kill me remember.
'Supposedly. Remember, he had a douche bag like Christine the last time he was in "love" with someone.'
Like he'd ever think that I was as good as Christine in any aspect of life. My real parents gave me up remember?
'Yeah, yeah. I remember. Sydney and Savannah adopted you cuz they couldn't have kids.. wah wah wah.'
I don't think I'm ready to tell him that yet.
'Did Ryan know?'
Yes. And he exploited every minute of it last night.
'Erik won't. Believe me.'
You know this how?
'Cuz I know Erik.'
What the frick ever.
Erik awoke, fully this time, and glanced over at Anna Maria, reading and listening to her music.
'Thinking about her again.'
Not so much that but about the dream I had about her last night.
'ooooh.'
I don't know why but I have this urge to just pull her into my arms and not let her go.
'That's called love dear…'
PAH! And I'm 7'1" and can do riverdance.
'When will you learn that I'm your voice of reason?! And you can do riverdance??"
Funny… and I'll believe that you're my voice of reason when you start making sense…
'Whatever.'
What do you suggest I do?
'Tell her how you feel.'
Yeah, that would work… She would laugh at me.
'Erik, she's not Christine. If she's still around you after you showed her your face and doesn't seem to mind your company, she won't laugh at you."
I guess you're right.
'When aren't I?'
I won't answer that…
'Fine.'
Erik walked over to Anna Maria and was about to tap her on the shoulder when he noticed what she was reading. It was sheet music for a song.
She can read sheet music too?
'DUH
RETARD! She's a music major. She'd better know how to read sheet
music!'
I didn't ask you!
'Don't care.'
Go away.
'You're mean today.'
Go. Away.
"Good morning Anna." said Erik.
"You fully awake now?" said Anna Maria, pulling out her headphones and setting down her 'assignment'.
"Yes, as awake as I'm going to get." said Erik.
"That's good." said Anna Maria. "So now that you are human, what are you gonna do? I mean you can't just vanish into nothingness anymore."
"Or attempt to kill you." said Erik.
"You could. But then there might be the messiness of dealing with cops." said Anna Maria.
Erik laughed. An awkward silence occurred between the two before Anna Maria picked up her iPod and books and put them back where they belonged.
'Too awkward Anna.'
Yeah, just a bit.... But damn is he cute.
'Then tell him!'
And get laughed at? HELL NO!
'Then get him jealous.'
Huh?
'Go out tonight. Find a nightclub or something, meet someone and get Erik jealous.'
That's an idea.
Anna Maria pulled out her laptop and searched for nightclubs while Erik eyed her suspiciously. Anna Maria smirked when she found one and walked over to her closet.
"What are you doing, Anna?" asked Erik.
"Looking for something to wear." said Anna Maria.
"What you're wearing is fine." said Erik.
"Erik, I meant for tonight." said Anna Maria.
"Going out again." said Erik, frowning.
"Yep. To a nightclub. Kinda promised Ryan..." said Anna Maria.
"Why? He raped you last night. Or did you forget?" said Erik, the comment coming out a bit more scathing than he would have liked.
Anna Maria winced in the closet. "No more Mr. Nice Guy, huh, Erik? Ok, fine. No I didn't forget that the asshole raped me but he's still a buddy of mine... actually my only buddy and I really am not in the mood for not having any friends ok?"
"Hmph. Have fun. It's your funeral." said Erik, leaving quietly.
Anna Maria sighed. 'It's going to be an extremely long night.'
