AN: You're all wondering, what's in the file? What are the results of the test? Why is she getting headaches? What the hell is Eric doing this whole time? All will be answered...in due time... Thank you for reading and putting this on your alerts. I'm trying to make the chapters longer now.
Sookie went back to class, went back on auto pilot again. Tara and Amelia were trying to be supportive of her, but it just felt suffocating for her. She couldn't stand how they looked at her, she didn't' want their pity. She just wanted everything to go back to the way it was before she ever met Eric.
Pam had made herself scarce after the Thanksgiving break. She didn't want to be in the middle of them two. It was awkward and uncomfortable. And Sookie had to hold herself back when she was around Pam. She didn't want to know how Eric was doing, or anything about Eric. And Pam felt strange hanging out with Sookie after what Eric had done to her. She hadn't really spoke to Eric about it because he completely closed himself off.
Sookie was in her room packing for winter break. Jason was staying until June, in time for her birthday, her 18th birthday and all this would be behind her. No more social worker, no more skeevy uncle, no more people telling her what to do. Because at 18 you suddenly grew a brain and became an adult.
Sookie realized that the only bag she had was the one Eric gave her. She looked at the bag and opened her window. She picked it up and started to shove it out the window.
"What are you doing?" Tara asked
"Getting rid of junk" Sookie said
"Are you crazy?" Tara walked over to Sookie and pulled the bag back in, "You can throw it out after we drive to Bon Temps, cause you're not using garbage bags. We will not be those people. We may be from a small town, but we are not trash, and we do not use trash bags"
"Ok then" Sookie started to throw things into her bag
"Are you going to get your stuff back from his place?" Tara asked
"No, he can burn it for all I care. It's not worth going back there for it"
Sookie opened her closet door and saw the cranberry coat hanging there. And right below it was the pair of boots Eric had given her for christmas. She pulled the coat off the hanger and threw it on the bed. She wanted to throw it out, but at the same time it was cold and she needed a coat for winter. She didn't want anything from him. She didn't want any reminders of him.
"Do NOT throw out that coat, and do NOT throw out those boots Sookie" Tara said
"Why not?"
"Cause we have the same shoe size?"
"Tara!"
"Those are some really nice boots Sook"
"Fine, you can have them, I don't want to see them ok?"
"Thanks Sook!"
Sookie looked at the cranberry coat. She picked it up and ran her hands over the fabric. The last time she wore this, she was still happy. She reached into the pocket and inside was the giant goldfish container. She wanted to throw it out, but the goldfish was too damn cute. Funny how things can change in a matter of months.
Eric stood over his bed looking at his sheets. He knew the time had come. He pulled the blanket off the bed. He pulled the sheets off, he pulled the pillow covers off. He held her pillow and hugged it. He could still smell her on it. He dropped the pillow and went over to her drawer. He looked inside. He went and got a garbage bag and threw whatever was in the drawer into the bag. He opened the bottom drawer and threw all the things she left in there into the garbage bag. He closed it and dragged the bag out of his room. He stopped and realized he was about to erase her from his apartment. He opened the hallway closet and threw the bag in there and went back into his room. He grabbed the sheets and threw them into the hamper. He put on new sheets and picked up her pillow again. She was gone, and he had to accept that. He threw her pillow into the closet and closed it.
He went back to his room and sat on his bed. It didn't smell like her anymore. It was cold and empty. He sat on her side of the bed and remembered why she wanted that side. She said she didn't want to be facing the window. She'd rather be closer to the bathroom she said. She was always trying to find morning breath. He smiled as he remembered the last time she was here. He snapped out of it, he realized she wasn't coming back.
Sookie walked into the doctor's office. It was a wide open space with a large glass desk and white furniture. Sookie sat down on the chair facing the glass desk.
"Hello Sookie, I'm Dr Claudine Crane. I understand you're suffering migraines?"
"Yes"
"How long have you been experiencing them?"
"Off an on, but lately more since Thanksgiving"
"I see, and I was trying to get the rest of your medical history but seem to be having problems doing so. Is there any history of mental illness in your family?"
"Not that I know of"
"I was able to find some medical records for you. The car accident with your parents as a child. And your stay in a mental institution. You were there for 6 months?"
Sookie felt visible shaken and uncomfortable. That was a part of her life she never wanted to talk about. No one knew about it. Only her parents. Jason was young and was told she went to stay with a relative. Gran didn't even know what happened to her during those 6 months. 6 months she wished to forget and pretend didn't happen.
"I can see this is difficult for you to discuss. The file is rather archaic, and I believe you were misdiagnosed. It stated that you heard voices, but they thought it was a mental illness when it wasn't."
Sookie looked up at her confused.
"I've seen cases like these, especially in young children. They are misdiagnosed because they hear voices. They weren't crazy. They had the ability to hear into people's thoughts, a form of telepathy. But it doesn't last forever, the onslaught of puberty and hormones apparently causes the ability to become dormant."
Sookie got up from her seat.
"You're not a real doctor!"
"Oh I am, we could have you tested, go through the same tests you did when you were a child or we could find out the truth"
"What truth?"
"It's rare, but it does happen where a child's ability remains after puberty. I believe a traumatic event caused your ability to become dormant. As you put up shields around yourself you forced the ability into dormancy. However it seems that it's trying to become active again, perhaps you didn't allow it to mature as a child"
"Lady you're crazy! I'm here about migraines!"
"As a child you did hear voices didn't you? But they weren't from your head, they were the voices of people around you, you heard their thoughts"
"I'm leaving" Sookie grabbed her bag and started to head for the door.
"You're thinking about how crazy I am right now, how none of this is real. You're trying not to think about your stay at the mental institution. You're trying to block it out. And you're trying not to think about a tall blonde with blue eyes. You miss him"
"Shut up! Get out of my head!" Sookie turned around
"So now, do you believe me?"
Sookie was home at Gran's house with Jason. The tree was up and a few presents were under the tree. They decorated as best they could but it was still Gran's house and it felt empty without her.
"Everyone's going to the party at Merlotte's, cmon Sook" Jason said as he put on his coat.
"I'm really tired Jason. You go on without me."
"You sure? You've been acting all weird since you got back"
"It's just strange without her here"
"Yeah it is, that's why we should go surround ourselves with friends at Merlottes where they're having $1 beers"
"Have fun Jason, Tara's coming over"
"Alright, have fun"
Jason left and drove off to Merlotte's. Tara showed up an hour later. She brought over burgers and fries from Merlotte's that Lafayette made for her.
"Thanks for coming Tara" Sookie said
"You look better"
"Thanks," Sookie said as she sat on the couch, "Sorry if I worried you guys"
"We figured you'd snap out of it eventually"
"Yeah, eventually. Anyways, I wanted your help on something"
"Shoot"
"The year's almost over and I need to just end this part of my life. He never gave me closure, so I have to find my own. I'm burning everything he ever gave me. And I need you to make sure I don't hold onto anything"
"Can we make smores after?"
"Yes, already have the jumbo marshmallows"
"Let's go!"
Outside Tara started a fire in an old barrel she found lying around. She got the fire blazing and was ready to make smores. Sookie came out with her LSU #35 bag of stuff. She opened it and took out the white note cards she had kept. Cards from the peaches, the sweet tea, the pies, the chocolate bunny. She had read them and kept them all. She threw them into the fire. Tara just watched her. She reached in and took out the velvet box that came with the chocolate bunny. She threw it in. She threw in the old tin box that her iphone came in. She took out a large tin and opened it. Sookie threw the lid in, she took a handful of the hand written notes inside and threw it into the fire. All the I'm Sorry notes she threw them in. She threw the tin and the remaining notes into the fire. She threw in all the torn pictures of them together. The pictures from the photo booth in Sweden. She threw the bag into the fire. She took out her iphone. She made the motion to throw it into the fire, when Tara grabbed it from her.
"What are you crazy? Do you know how much how much this phone is?"
"He gave it to me, I don't want it"
"Fine, trade it in, but don't be stupid Sook" Tara took the hello kitty case off and handed it back to Sookie. Sookie threw the plastic case into the fire.
"Feel better?"
"Not really, but I didn't want to keep holding onto that stuff"
Tara took a marshmallow out of the bag.
"We gonna make smores now or what?" Tara asked
"It was negative"
"What?"
"The tests from the woman doctor. The STD test, all of them, 3 vials of blood later, they were all negative. I can breathe now"
"Good, let's make smores already!"
Pam was walking down the hallway to her room when she opened the door and saw there were vases and vases of red roses filling her room. Pam looked around. She saw no card and then looked at her phone. She saw a text from Eric.
E: Won't you be my valentine?
Pam raised an eyebrow and responded to him.
P: I have standards
E: Doubt it
P: Don't you have 8 dates again this year?
E: No, been busy scouts here and all. Can't be distracted
P: See you this weekend then
Tara and Amelia had dragged Sookie out of the room and back the the bonfire party. She hadn't gone out since she got back from winter break. Tara and Amelia thought it would do her some good if she went out. Amelia disappeared with Trey. Tara kept Sookie company while they stood near the fire.
"Are you ok?" Tara asked
"Yeah, I haven't been to these in a while" Sookie said
"I'll go get us some beers" Tara went off to get beer from the cooler
Quinn and Alcide showed up. Sookie turned around, her heart skipped a beat when she saw them, it meant HE wasn't far behind. She started walking towards Tara. She tripped and fell onto the ground. She felt a pair of hands pull her up. Sookie looked up and saw violet eyes not blue ones. It was Quinn.
"Funny seeing you here" Quinn said
"Were you expecting someone else?" Sookie asked
"Not really, thought you and-"
"We're not"
"Oh ok, he didn't say-"
"I don't want to talk about him"
"Ok, sorry. Um, you want a beer?"
"Yes"
Quinn went to get the beers passing Tara who was talking to a guy. He came back and handed Sookie a beer. She opened it and downed it quickly.
"So what's up with you?" Quinn asked
"Nothing much, still in school. You?"
"I had my knee bend about 90 degrees the wrong direction in a game. I'm done. I get to ride out the rest of the year, but that's it. I will be an official college drop out"
"A lot of poeple are college drop outs. The guy who made facebook, bill gates, steve jobs"
"yeah, bet they were all on football scholarships"
"Sorry to hear that you lost your scholarship, but you'll be ok ketchup"
"Yeah, I guess"
Sookie and Quinn drank a few more beers before heading into the woods together. Sookie was by no means drunk, she was a bit tipsy. She went with Quinn into the woods knowing what would happen. Part of her wanted it to happen, because somewhere in her mind she thought if she could give herself to someone else, anyone else, that she could finally be over him. That something she had given him she could give to someone else, and not have to think about him. She wouldn't think about him anymore. She didn't think about him, when Quinn's hands were on her. She didn't think about him, when Quinn was inside her. And she didn't think of him, when Quinn was done after a few minutes. Sookie just pulled her clothes on while she heard Quinn ramble on about something.
"This has never happened to me before." Quinn insisted
"It's ok" Sookie walked out of the forest.
Sookie stood next to the fire and looked at the bright flames. She let someone else have her and she didn't think of him. She would never think of him again.
When she got back to the dorms, she went to the bathroom and with a pair of scissors she cut off her long blonde hair. She watched it fall into the sink. What was left was a short chin length bob. The long blonde hair that he loved to pull, to bury his face in, to inhale her scent from was gone.
Pam was sitting in Eric's car as he drove her to the game. She didn't say anything to him.
"Are you going to stay mad at me?" Eric asked
"That's the idea big brother"
"Is she-"
"She's alive and well and breathing. If you wanted an update on her why don't you ask her yourself?"
"Because she doesn't want to talk to me"
"How do you know that? Have you tired?"
Eric didn't answer. Pam looked out the window.
"I figured you were too much of a chicken shit to talk to her"
"She doesn't want to talk to me"
"I wonder why? You know you two have put me in this weird position. I was totally against you two hooking up in the first place, then you do, then you do this stupid asshole thing to her and now I'm stuck in the middle. Thanks a lot bro"
"I didn't know this was gonna happen. It's not like I purposely went after her!"
"Right you just magically fell between her legs, repeatedly"
"It wasn't like that. She wasn't a random hook up"
"Don't you say she was special or any of that crap"
"I know I blew it. You don't have to remind me every time you see me."
"Then why don't you try to fix it?"
"Because I can't! Don't you think I tried? She won't talk to me."
"Because you haven't tried. I never knew you to be such a coward Eric"
"I don't need this today! There are scouts here today to see me! I can only handle so much crap from you! Can't you just back off and be my sister for a few hours?"
"Fine! I'll be your supportive sister that always gets screwed over! Oh did my back get in the way of your knife? You've betrayed me so many times when you think with your dick than your brain. So fine, I'll be your sister, but don't fucking ask me anything about her again!"
"FINE!"
"We're going to the after party right?"
"No, I don't go to parties anymore. I have to focus"
Pam raised an eyebrow at his statement. This was a definite change in her brother.
Sookie sat there in outside in her seat with her cap and gown on. She hated the cheap polyester fabric they used for their graduation gowns. But it didn't matter. She didn't make valedictorian or even salutatorian. She graduated and honestly that's all that mattered. She was she cut her hair short, as the heat was getting to her. Her hair had grown to her mid neck. She was done with this place, done with that part of her life. She was done. She didn't hear the speeches. She completely zoned them out. But when she heard the cheer from her fellow students, jumping around her throwing their hats into the air, she stood up. It was finally over. As the hats rained down, she moved to find Jason.
Lafayette drove from Bon Temps with Jason to see her and Tara graduate. They took an obscene amount of pictures. Amelia's parents were there taking pictures. Sookie was posing for pictures when she saw Pam standing there. She walked over to her.
"Hey" Sookie said
"Hey, congrats, you made it" Pam smiled
"Thanks, I'm sorry you weren't able to"
"It's no big deal, seriously, I don't think I ever went to class. My dad is letting me transfer to another school to finish up."
"So you won't be here next year?"
"No, there's no real reason to stick around. He's not here if you're wondering"
"I'm not"
"You don't have to worry. He doesn't come around anymore. He won't bother you"
"Whatever, maybe we can keep in touch or something."
"Or something"
Sookie smiled and gave Pam a hug before walking off. Pam stood there knowing it would probably be the last time she'd ever see her again. Great going Eric. Pam walked off.
Sookie sat in her room at Gran's house. She was looking at the help wanted ads. Jason had gone out to work, part time for the road crew. He said it let him stay in shape and look at pretty girls.
Sookie saw an ad for a foot model. She called the number and left an message. A minute later a woman named Georgina called her back.
"We're going to have a party night tonight at a club. Please note this job is for a foot model, and that nothing illegal will be occurring"
"Ok,"
Sookie wrote down the address and drove to the club in her Gran's old car. She didn't think anything of it as there were girls lining up outside the door. Sookie walked and stood on line. Georgina stood there looking over the girls, and dismissing a few of them. Then she made the rest of them take off their shoes to look at their feet. A few more were dismissed. Sookie stood there with her foot out wondering what else was going to happen.
Georgina let the remaining girls inside. There another man came out. Ron who said he wanted to look at their feet and their ID's to make sure they were 18. This was a bizarre experience for Sookie. And after they had all made the cut Ron had to explain things to them.
"Yes you're all foot models, yes this is for a foot fetish party, yes this is legal, no there will be no sex of any kind here. The men coming here are very shy about their tastes, so this isn't like a strip club where they'll be coming in groups and hounding you. If at any time you feel uncomfortable say so. You are free to leave whenever you want. No one is making you stay. However, if you do anything illegal we will kick you out and call the police. Now the men coming here only care about your feet. They will ask you if you want a session, which is basically 10 minutes for $20. They will worship your feet for 10 minutes, it is your job to keep track of time. Some guys will want to tickle your feet, or kiss them or whatever. You set the limits, if you are uncomfortable at any time, tell them to stop and come find me or Georgina."
Sookie stood there wondering why she was there in the first place. Apparently being 18 meant she could do stupid things like this. Honestly she didn't know why she was here. She looked around and the girls were standing around. She saw a few men file in and look around. They were shy and old. Sookie was officially creeped out by what she had walked into. She sat down at the bar and a middle aged man came up to her and offered to buy her a drink.
"I'll have a ginger ale please" Sookie said
"What's your name?" he asked
"I'm..." Sookie realized she shouldn't use her real name, "Erica"
"Nice to meet you, I'm Arthur. I'm an accountant"
"Nice to meet you"
"You have lovely high arches"
"Thanks"
"Can I, I mean, can we have a session?"
"Sure"
Sookie walked over to a booth that was empty and sat down. Arthur sat next to her and gently lifted her feet onto his lap. He slowly took her heels off and brought her feet to his face. He looked at them, examined them. He was only interested in her feet and the rest of her disappeared. Sookie felt weird as she started kissing the bottom of her feet and placing it on his face. This was definitely weird. Ten minutes later, Sookie told him his time was over. He gave her another $20 and he started to massage her feet.
Alright, it wasn't that bad. Sookie was getting paid $20 while some guy was massaging her feet. This went on for another 10 minutes. By the end of the night she had made $300. She walked back to her car and drove home. She looked at the pile of crumpled $20's in her purse. Men wanted her, men were willing to pay for her, for her time. She kinda liked this new found power. But the whole feet thing was weird and creeped her out. And she never went back.
Amelia called her the next day.
"Hey, what's up?" Sookie said
"Hey, I was able to find an apartment in New York for a decent amount. They just want a security deposit. It's like 1500"
"What?"
"It's not so bad, my dad will cover it, but I think he may freak out when he finds out what I'm majoring in. I know he's totally against hit. So we just need enough rent money to last us the semester"
"Ames, where am I gonna get that kind of money?"
"You could go back to that foot thing, Erica!"
"Oh my god, I'm never telling you anything ever again!"
"You got paid $300 to get your feet massaged. I'm sure you can find something that pays well during the summer"
"I don't know why I agreed to be your roommate"
"Cause you love me, and because it's cheaper than living in the dorms"
Sookie drove to New Orleans and parked her car in the parking lot. She walked down a street that was filled with craft and fabric stores. She found the building and buzzed at the door. The door unlocked and she went to the 2nd floor and opened the large black door into a room with a green door. She waited and the door opened and a short fat older woman stood there to greet her.
"You must be Sookie"
"Yes, hello" Sookie extended her hand
"I'm Natalie," the woman shook her hand, "please come to the office"
Sookie walked in and saw she was in a corridor of sorts. She followed Natalie through one of the wooden doors and saw it was an office with tv's showing the different rooms. Natalie sat down in her chair and Sookie sat down on the couch that was there.
"So Sookie, are you 18?" Natalie asked
"Yes, I have my ID" Sookie showed it to her
"Ok, well you do understand what we do here right?"
"Yeah, you cater to people who have special tastes"
"And?"
"And you do it discreetly"
"And?"
"And there's absolutely NO sex involved here"
"Oh no, of course not! I wouldn't have agreed to come if there was!"
"Alright, have you ever worked in a dungeon before?"
"No, I did do a foot fetish thing before. It was so odd and weird"
"Alright, but you were able to handle it right?"
"Yes, game face, I worked the rest of the night and left."
"Ok, well since you're relatively new, we will train you for 3 days and see where it goes from there ok?"
"Ok"
"Now, you have to understand that the girls who work here, we don't pay per hour, it's more like a manicurist, where you get paid when the client comes in and sees you. There are 2 shifts, a day shift and a night shift. We ask that you try to work one of each each week. We're pretty flexible. It's $130 for half an hour and 250 for an hour."
"Ok"
"Relax, I know it sounds weird at first, but you get into the routine of it. Now. You have to pick out a name for yourself, and please don't use a stripper name like candy, or bunny. This will be the name you will go by and everyone will call you that here. Never call a girl by her real name infront of a client."
"Understood"
"So have you come up with a name yet?"
"Erica"
"Mistress Erica"
Sookie came back a few days later and talked to some of the girls there. Some of them were normal college girls. Some of them were just passing through. Some of them were really out of it and seemed strung out on something. And apparently no one was shy about nudity. In fact a lot of girls would sit around in their underwear or close to it. Some would just wear sweats.
Since Sookie was new, no one really bothered her. They were still feeling her out. Once a client walked in, the girls jumped up, clothes were being thrown, lashes glued, corsets cinched, and heels came out. Sookie tried to get dressed and not get trampled on. Since she was the new girl, she was last in the line to walk into the room and introduce herself to the client.
She didn't think much of it. She was in training and she entered a room where there was a mistress already in there with her client. Sookie was to come in and observe and assist if it was necessary. She was wearing a black corset and black mini. She wore black fishnet thigh highs and black heels.
The first guy was an old guy in sweats who wanted nipple torture. Sookie watched for a few minutes and then assisted in the nipple torture. After a few minutes she was dismissed and went back to the general holding area.
Sookie sat there for a second before reality snapped back to her again. She just had the oddest experience ever. Natalie called her into the office and told her to go to the red room. Sookie got up and went to the room where she found a Mistress there with a leash and an old man crawling around like a dog. Sookie said nothing and the Mistress allowed her human dog to greet Sookie. She felt the man grovel at her feet and then whimper as his Mistress pulled him back.
Sookie only stayed for a few minutes and then was dismissed. She went back to the general holding area in shock. This was a day for seeing things.
Another hour and she was sent to the blue room, where inside was a man laying naked on a table getting his head shaved. The Mistress asked her to tickle his feet. Sookie took the giant feather and ticked his feet. Things were getting stranger and stranger. She was dismissed after a few minutes and went back to the holding area. Natalie called her again.
"They want you back in the room"
Sookie went back into the room where she found the same man now dressed in his armani suit. The mistress was talking to him, and he tipped her. He saw Sookie and smiled. He tipped her as well.
"I hope to see you soon" he said as his Mistress led him out
Sookie looked down at the bill in her hands. It was a fifty. She got tipped $50 for tickling a mans' feet. Not bad.
Next day Sookie went back and Natalie told her to go to the Medical room. Natalie told her to change into a nurse's uniform. Sookie changed quicly. She walked in and saw the mistress from yesterday dressed as a naughty nurse. She saw an old man with a santa beard naked sitting on the exam table. At this point she wanted to run, run screaming down the hallways. But no, she had to keep her game face. The Mistress was explaining to her about how to administer an enema. Sookie pretended to listen and was dismissed.
She walked back to the general area and changed back into her normal clothes. Natalie called her to go to the kitchen and fold towels. Sookie walked down the hallway to the last door and walked into the kitchen. She saw the towels in the dryer and started folding them. Another girl walked in and started to smoke near the window. The kitchen was the only area you were allowed to smoke and eat in.
"Hi" Sookie said
"Hi" the girl said as she sat on the counter near the window
"I'm new, I'm Erica"
"I'm Beatrice. I know it sounds so lame, but I guess it caters well cause I get the librarian and secretary fetish"
"Oh ok"
Sookie realized that she was in a world she didn't want to be in. She had been there 2 days and seen enough for a lifetime. And this was only training. She wondered why she was doing this to herself. Why was she exposing herself to this.
She knew she'd never make enough money waitressing at Merlott's like Tara. She'd make a good amount but she needed to make a lot of money before she went to New York. Jason only worked part time and he wasn't much help. Sookie knew men would pay for her time to do the most bizarre things.
She decided that working in a dungeon wasn't for her. She decided that since men were willing to spend money for her time, she'd find the most cost effective way of using it. She just had to make enough money for New York.
Sookie drove back to New Orleans and this time she walked towards the club named Hooligans. It was daytime, and the lights weren't on. She walked in. If there was a time to wear her big girl pants this was it.
Sookie sat in the dressing room looking at herself in the mirror. What led her to do this? She looked at herself wondering if this really was the right thing. This had been an interesting summer.
"First night?" a girl said as she sat down at the mirror next to Sookie
"Yeah, does it show?" Sookie answered
"I was like that once, don't worry, once you do it, it'll be easy"
"I wish"
"You know what helps? I don't see a bunch of guys staring at me, I see a bunch of dollar signs"
Sookie laughed a bit.
"I'll do that"
"It helps to just not see them as people. But as giant dollar signs and atm's spitting out money for your time. If a man wants to give you his money, just make sure you make it rain"
"Make it rain?"
"When he throws all the bills on you, you know so it rains"
"Oh ok"
"You are a newbie. I'm Crystal"
"I'm Sookie"
"Is that your stage name?"
"No, that's my real name."
"So what's your stage name?'
"Erica"
"Ok Erica, have you picked your first song yet?"
"Not really, I don't know how to pole dance either. I'm just a disaster"
"Oh relax, it doesn't really matter if you can work the pole or not, most men don't care, they just want to stare, and that's all they get to do, is stare"
"how do you do it?"
"Do what?"
"Just see them as dollar signs and not care like that?"
"Honey, I live over in Hot Shot, we ain't got no money, no food, no clothes, no electricity. I got to feed my family. Take care of my parents, my brothers and sisters. If all I have to do is get on stage and shake my ass a little and men will give me their money, then hell I'll do it. It's survival"
"Oh, I'm just doing this cause I need money to go to New York"
"What's in New York? Boyfriend?"
"No school"
"And the boyfriend?"
"I don't have one. He hooked up with some other girl"
"Are you doing this to get back at him?"
"No"
"You sure?"
"I'm doing it cause I need money, and waitressing won't cut it. And because, because..."
"Because he cheated on you, you want to show him look at me, men are willing to pay for my time, men are willing to pay for me. I'm worth so much to these men. But you'll be chasing after that self worth from him forever. Cause what he did to you showed how much you weren't worth it to him. Don't get on the pole for that, don't carry that with you. You have to realize you're worth more than that. You're worth more than he is."
"Crystal, how do you know all this?"
"I've seen a lot of girls go through here. I've seen a lot. And if you just see them as dollar signs then you'll be ok."
Sookie stood behind the curtain nervous as it was almost her turn to take the stage. She had picked her song and was anxiously waiting. Crystal walked past her and gave her a thumbs up.
"Good luck Erica!" Crystal said
"Thanks" Sookie said
She heard the DJ announce her and she walked onto the stage. She couldn't see anything except the light pointing at her. She saw the pole and gabbed onto it and walked around it slowly. She heard the music and started to move her hips to the music.
She, she ain't real,
She ain't gonna be able to love you like I will,
She is a stranger,
You and I have history,
Or don't you remember?
Sure, she's got it all,
But, baby, is that really what you want?
It was now or never. Go big or go home.
Bless your soul, you've got your head in the clouds,
You made a fool out of you,
And, boy, she's bringing you down,
She made your heart melt,
But you're cold to the core,
Now rumour has it she ain't got your love anymore,
Sookie swung around the pole and arched her back, something she learned from Crystal. She could see the men just staring at her, hypnotized in a trance, watching her every move. She had power over them. And she didn't even take her clothes off yet.
Sookie walked off stage, huffing and puffing and gasping for air. She couldn't believe what she had just done. Crystal came up to her and smiled.
"You did it!"
"I did! I can't believe I did it!"
"Next time don't forget to pick up the dollars off the stage"
"Oh!" Sookie ran back out and saw the dollars on the stage. She bent down to pick them up.
Sookie spent 2-3 nights working at Hooligans for the rest of the summer. Some girls rotated between clubs. Sookie just stayed with Hooligans because she made good money there, especially on the weekends. She was able to make the money she needed for the security deposit for the apartment in New York and rent for the rest of the semester. She didn't feel right that Amelia's father was going to pay for all of it.
She felt an odd sense of power over these men who were willing to empty their wallets out for her. She only stage danced and never went onto the floor to give out lap dances, that was something she was never comfortable with.
"Sook, I mean Erica, you're up!" Crystal said coming backstage
"Thanks" Sookie heard her song play and walked onto the stage.
Things were getting routine for her. She knew how to work it, she knew what to do and how to do it. She had complete power over them when she was on stage and she did like it. Except this night was different. As she swung around the pole and pulled at her bikini top she saw a familiar face. A large, tall dark haired guy sitting nearby. Alcide. Sookie smiled. This would be fun. She tugged at the strings and the fabric fell. She looked up and saw Alcide's mouth drop wide open. His eyes were glued on her. Sookie walked over to one of her regulars who proceeded to make it rain for her. She collected all the bills and stuffed them into her purse. The song was over by the time she got up. One of the nice tricks they did at the club, speed up the song so they were all 2 minutes, making the lap dances 2 minutes long.
Sookie put her bikini top back on and walked off stage. She decided to pay Alcide a visit.
She walked onto the floor and most of her regulars were surprised and excited to see her walking the floor. They all tried to get her attention, but Sookie ignored them. She walked over to Alcide. She didn't say anything but just slipped right onto his lap.
"Hi" Sookie said as she made herself comfortable
"Hi" Alcide answered back as his entire body stiffened
"You know, I don't normally work the floor, but I will just for you"
"That's ok, I don't want to take up your time"
One of Alcide's friends came back from the bathroom and sat down at the table.
"Who's your friend?" Sookie asked
"That's Peter" Alcide answered
"Hi Peter, I'm Erica, do you think I should give Alcide here a lap dance?" Sookie asked as she played with Alcide's hair
"Hell yes! This is what you need! Screw that girlfriend of yours" Peter said
"I don't want one!" Alcide yelled
Peter took out a 20 and gave it to Sookie. She stood up and took her top off. Alcide gripped onto the armests on the chair. Sookie's thigh brushed up against between his legs.
"Relax, I won't hurt you" Sookie said as she put her hands on his shoulders
"What are you doing here? Does Eric know you're here?"
"No he doesn't, we're not together" Sookie leaned into him
"So you think doing this will make things better?"
"No, but I need the money" Sookie said as she pushed the girls into his face
"You can do other things"
"Oh believe me I've tried. I don't care what he thinks"
"He misses you"
"Oh you're a good friend Alcide. But he doesn't. He doesn't care about anything or anyone but himself" Sookie bent down and looked at him in the eyes
"He does, all he does now is train on the field. He doesn't do anything else, he's like possessed"
"It's good to have hobbies"
"I don't know what happened, but I know you were good for him. You have to believe that"
"I'd believe it if it came from him"
The song was over and Sookie stood up and put her bikini top back on.
"Will you talk to him?" Alcide asked
"Maybe, but he's never tried. Good luck with that girlfriend of yours" Sookie smiled and then walked off.
Sookie quit that night. She spent the rest of the summer waitressing at Merlotte's and tanning. The next week she got a call from Crystal.
"What's up Crystal?"
"There's some guy looking for you here. Specifically asking for you"
"Is he tall dark and handsome?"
"Well that's his friend, the guy who's asking for you is tall, blonde and hot"
"I'd never expect him to show up. Guess he did. Does he look mad?"
"Well I don't know, he seemed annoyed that you weren't here, and more annoyed at his friend for making him coming here"
"Good, he should stay annoyed then. Tell him Erica quit last week."
"That's it?"
"He knows where I am if he wants to find me. Obviously he doesn't want to find me. His loss. Though you should hustle him for more money. He's got it"
"Good to know"
Eric glared at Alcide as they stood in the strip club. He hated being there. He hated the fact that he had to even go there. He was pretty damn good looking and he didn't need to pay women to spend time with him. He felt places like these were just to prey upon men who had no self confidence.
"Are you sure it was her?" Eric asked
"Yes, it was definitely her"
"Did you talk to her?"
"Yeah, cmon she uses Erica as a stage name. If that's not a jab at you then what is?"
"Then where is she?"
"Don't you know where she lives?"
"Yeah"
"Then why the hell aren't you there? Hell I'd be groveling right now. I don't know what happened and I don't want to know. All I know is that you've been a complete asshole since Halloween."
"Shut up Alcide"
"Whatever you did, it screwed her up. Look where we are, this is where girls with daddy issues are! And Sookie is better than that"
Eric didn't say anything.
"You don't deserve her"
"Don't I know it. I don't need a lecture from you. I'm just gonna call Quinn instead"
"Why would you do that? You don't know do you?"
"Know what?"
"Quinn tapped that" Alcide said as he walked out
Eric walked out after Alcide and grabbed onto his shoulder to turn him around. They were standing in the parking lot alone.
"What the hell is that suppose to mean?" Eric yelled
"Quinn, you know bald Quinn? He tapped that, he had her, Valentine's day, at the bonfires"
"Fuck!" Eric yelled, "How could he?"
"She wasn't yours anymore. She made that real clear"
"I'm gonna kill him!"
"Why? She wasn't yours! You HAD her, and for whatever reason you fucked it up"
"Fuck, fucking Yvetta!"
Eric drove up the familiar road that was murder on his car. He put it in park and looked up at the old farm house. He got out of the car and walked up to the door. He knocked on it. The door opened.
"Must be my lucky day" Lafayette said as he fanned himself with a fan
"Is Sookie here?"
"Are you here to tell her the long list of other bitches you been hooking up with?"
"No, I just want to talk to her"
"Oh honey, that ship has sailed. She don't live here no more."
"Where is she?"
"She has left this fine state and gone up north for school. Them Yankee boys will be good for her. And that is all you're gonna get out of me"
"Did she leave a forwarding address? Can I leave a message with you?"
"Do I look like the post office? She gone. Just like you should before I call the police. And trust me I would love to see you handcuffed. Now get off my property!"
Eric sighed. He would not admit defeat or give up on her.
"Would I have ever had a chance?"
"Your window closed when you never called her. She would have eventually forgiven you had you actually apologized."
Eric turned and walked down the steps slowly.
"You know, her number hasn't changed" Lafayette said as he closed the door.
AN: *runs and hides* I know you all want to know what the hell is going on in Eric's head. Honestly I'd like to know too. I'm at a crossroads right now, debating if Eric should go and find her and they should talk, OR stick to the original run of the story. Hmmm...you gotta love drama right?