Okay to those that made note about how my story is going I'm sorry, but this is what I came up with. I know I had started out with EC pairing, but when I saw a chance to rewrite my freshman year with a bit more happiness I took it and changed things around a bit. It's not real life and I wish people would calm down a bit.

I've seen plenty of stories were Erik falls for another girl after Christine leaves him and some have been pretty good, but I wanted this to be a big group of conflicts. Christine still likes Erik even though she likes Raoul, Erik still has feelings for Christine, but begins falling in love with Brittney, and Brittney is caught between the love of Erik and a friend from high school that hasn't been introduced yet.

I will try to clear up as much in this chapter as I can so allow me for me to do that at least. If anyone read the author's note I had put up it has been removed, because I felt awful for writing it sorry.

Vera you get to be in this chapter hurray. You will come up every now and again to, so don't think this is it for you.

Chapter 6: Second Thoughts

When Brittney woke up the next morning she was still lying with Erik. She felt so safe and protected here with him, but then she began to feel awful. She knew damn well that she was hiding things from him and he had allowed her to stay by his side. He had no idea of the hurt she felt inside.

Fresh tears slid down her cheeks and landed upon his chest. She rubbed at her eyes. There was no way she would let him she her like this, like a timid little child crying for attention. It was time to grow up and ignore the past, but as she thought more and more about it the more her tears fell.

One of her chocked sobs was what brought Erik out of his slumber and he looked down upon her confused. He thought she was happy here with him, but he had only driven her to tears. But if he had done so, she wouldn't be clutching onto him as tight as she was. He reached up a hand and wiped at her cheek. "Brittney, what ever is the matter?"

Afraid of him seeing her like this she backed away and sat up the comforter still draping over her shoulder. He also sat up and grabbed the mask off the desk and put it back on. She watched him timidly her whole body shaking as he gazed upon her again.

"Won't you tell me; what's the matter?" he asked again wiping away some more tears. "I thought you were happy here with me."

She let out a long hesitant sigh before turning away. "I'm having second thoughts Erik, about you and me."

"What are you talking about?"

"I also feel as if I'm lying to you. I had said my life was good and happy, but for a time it wasn't. Oh, Erik, once my life was horrible and things could have been taken so far out of hand."

Taking her time she managed to tell him about what had happened within her home and why she had been desperate to come to a school so far away from there. She also mentioned her friend, Phil, who had made the place sound so wonderful. "I needed to get out of that house for a time. I didn't want to be surrounded by the anger within it anymore," she sobbed.

Erik listened closely feeling so much sorrow for her. Her life wasn't perfect, nobody's life was, but he smiled as she explained that the problem hadn't gone farther than it did. What had gone on was awful and at least everyone was making up for what had gone on, but he noticed right away that the event still lingered in Brittney's mind haunting her.

"I was almost afraid to like you Erik. After the incident with your mask I was for awhile afraid of you. I don't want someone, who is violent and hurts me when I do something against there wishes."

"I understand completely. And I'm so sorry I had done that to you. I too don't want someone, who would take advantage of me or make me feel low down about myself. Nobody wants that and nobody deserves to be treated like that. I'm glad you told me Brittney and I promise to be here for you whenever you need a shoulder to cry on."

He reached up wiping away a few last tears before brushing his fingertips gently across her cheek. She leaned against his shoulder and gave a few shuddering breaths trying to calm herself down a bit.

"Thank you for listening to me."

"You're welcome. I'm glad you trusted me with your story."

xxxxx

Through the length of the week new activities had been offered to the students to get them used to the college life and meet their floor mates. Brittney had once again become cheerful again, much to Erik's relief. She had felt as if the biggest weight had been lifted off her shoulders and she could begin enjoying her new college life.

Thursday morning brought about volleyball tournaments for the girls and guys of the dorm halls. The girls played at the McElroy field and the guys would play at the fields over by Gage. Brittney looked forward to the games and when she went to sigh up she saw that Christine and Meg had already sighed up. RaeAnna came up to her as she gazed at the paper.

"Hey there, what's up?" she asked cheerfully.

"Just signing up for the volleyball game. Are you going to play too?"

"Yeah, sure. Hey are you spending the night with your guy friend again tonight? I'm enjoying the thought of having the room to myself again."

"I don't know. If he offers I won't say no, because I feel so safe with him. I know he'll never hurt me."

"Well that's good. I'd have to pummel him if he did," RaeAnna warned signing her name on the paper.

"You'd do that for me?"

"Yeah, no one harms a hair on my roommate without getting through me first. You better warn him, before he finds out the hard way."

"Okay, I'll remember to do that," Brittney said wearily as she signed her name.

"Will you relax? I'm only giving you shit," RaeAnna said with a chuckle.

Their community advisor, Mitch, stepped out of his room and looked upon the list. "Glad to hear you guys will be playing. We really want people to sign up to get out house more points. We have a nice turn out for the guys I see."

Brittney glanced at the paper and saw that Erik had signed his name along with Nadir, and Raoul. "This won't end well," she thought to herself.

xxxxx

At 3:30 the girls from G3 had assembled outside at the volleyball field watching the other game finish up and await the opposing team to show up. Erik, Raoul, and Nadir's game didn't start till later, so they had come to watch and give the girls some support. Another guy stood along side. He too was dressed in black shorts and a t-shirt except he had bright red hair aside from Erik's black hair. Brittney was sitting in the grass watching the other girls play eager to get up there and show off how good at volleyball she was when she noticed him. "Hey there Phil. Did you come to watch?"

"Yeah, my game doesn't start for awhile, so I thought I would come check out this game. I had a feeling you would be out here playing."

"Yeah, I like volleyball. What have you been up to?"

"Moving my stuff in and meeting up with old friends. How are you getting along?"

"Fine, I have some really interesting people on my floor."

"How are they interesting?"

"They seem to all know each other in one way or another and bicker a lot about things from the past. It's rather complicated."

Finally the other game had ended and the girls began leaving the field. Brittney stood up and grabbed the volleyball. RaeAnna went on the other side of the net and the two of them practiced bumping and setting. Erik watched and was pleased to see that Brittney was having a wonderful time. Suddenly Christine came and sat next to him.

"Hello there, Erik," she said sweetly as if nothing had changed.

"Hello there Christine. Are you playing today as well?"

"Yep, Meg and I are ready to take on the other floor. Are you playing on the guys' team?" He nodded his eyes never leaving Brittney as she practiced serves. "Just know I will find out if you're chucking volleyballs at Raoul's head when he's not looking."

The idea had never passed Erik's mind, and he wasn't about to let it. "You have nothing to worry about Christine. I'm finished pestering your precious Raoul."

"Why Erik how come the sudden change of heart?" Meg asked.

"Because my heart has changed. Changed from one of evilness and hatred for those around me to one of love and caring."

Brittney glanced over and gave Erik a look of confusion. He nodded to her and she gave a smile before turning back and sending the volleyball over the net. Christine gave Erik an angry glare and stood up.

The ball had rolled out of bounds and Brittney went to get it, but when she came back Christine asked if she could have a try. Eager to be friends Brittney agreed and threw her the volleyball. Christine raised up her hand and served the ball nicely over the net. Everyone watching clapped their approval.

RaeAnna returned the pass and Brittney called out to Christine to set it up, so she could spike it. Christine set the ball, but it was low and Brittney went face first into the sand as she tried to bump the ball over instead. She was spitting sand as she got up and dusted herself off.

"If you can't get the ball you should have just let it go," Christine said picking up the ball.

Brittney walked off the field, took a drink from her water bottle, gargled, and then spit out into the grass hoping to get out the rest of the sand. She did it once more before going back onto the field.

Mitch came over and showed them the time. "Looks like the other team never showed up. You guys win by forfeit."

The girls cheered. But Brittney went over to Mitch. "Can we just have a regular game and warm up for the game later on?"

"I don't see why not. You still have some time left before the next team shows up."

"Come on guys let's play," Brittney said picking up the volleyball that Christine had let fall at her feet.

Erik jumped up and came to stand on her side. "I'll play."

RaeAnna, a girl from the floor named, Vera, Nadir, and Mitch joined them. Christine, Meg, Raoul, Phil, and two other students got on the other side. They volleyed for the serve and Brittney's team was awarded the first serve.

Brittney served the ball over and it went right to Christine, who set it up and Raoul spiked it. Erik dove for the ball and got it back into the air. Mitch set it up and RaeAnna spiked the ball back over sending it into the ground. Raoul threw the ball back to Brittney. "1-0," she announced as she sent the ball flying over the net again.

Meg gave it a hard bump sending it back to Brittney. "Got it!" Brittney set the ball up and Nadir was right there to get the ball up to the front, so RaeAnna could spike it. Christine was quick in jumping up and blocking the spike sending the ball back on to Brittney's side.

Erik saved it and got it up. In an instant Brittney was behind him and had bumped the ball back over the net. It looked good until it went out of bounds.

"Out!" Christine shouted. She retrieved the ball and got ready to serve it.

"Don't worry guys we can get the ball back," Brittney said encouraging her teammates.

"1-0," Christine sent the ball flying and Vera had gotten under it sending it back into the air. Nadir got the set, and Erik spiked it. Phil got the rebound and set it back over. Mitch had saved it from going out and RaeAnna got the set. Brittney ran up and bumped it over. Christine went for it, but the ball fell short.

Erik gave Brittney a high five as Phil threw the ball to Mitch, who was up next to serve. He sent the ball over and Phil got another rebound. Raoul was under it and set it up allowing the other girl on their teamto spike it over.

The game kept up for another 20 minutes until the score was Brittney teamahead 14-13. They needed this point to win. It was her turn to serve and she could feel sweat trickling down her back. She was so nervous.

"Come on Brittney you can do it," her teammates called out to her. With a new boost of confidence Brittney served the ball and watched it soar over the net. Meg bumped it up and Raoul set it. Christine was there and spiked it. Erik was once again forced to dive and bumped the ball back into the air before scrambling to his feet. Mitch set it and RaeAnna got in the final spike sending it right in between Raoul and Phil.

Brittney looked in amazement as her teammates began to cheer. They had done it they had won. Erik came up to her a big smile on his face. She turned him around and began dusting the sand off of his back. "I think you took more dives than any of us out there."

"If it wasn't for those serves of yours they would have creamed us. That was amazing."

"Um…Erik," Brittney said looking down at her watch.

"What?"

"You better hurry or you'll be late for your game."

"Oh, crap. Guys let's go we don't want to be late for our own game," he said running over to the picnic table and throwing on his sandals. Raoul, Nadir and Phil soon accompanied him. "I'll be back for your next match okay?"

"Okay. Go and win it for G3," she said giving him a kiss.

The four of them took off running and disappeared around the side of the complex. Erik felt so pumped up for the game thanks to the practice and that kiss.

Okay I hope this clears up most of your guys' questions. I didn't go too much into the issue with the past, because I felt it wasn't something to be shared with everyone. The next chapter will go into why Erik likes Brittney and he also reflects on what he likes about Christine still. Let me know what you guys think.

Also I know the characters are OOC, because this story is no way in contact with the story except in certain cases that come up later on. I wanted to be different from everyone else. Yeah for difference.