Spoilers: After cattle incident and snippets of future episodes
Disclaimer: I own none of these characters, and if I did, I would have never gotten rid of Eric! :D May indeed include fictional shops and stores.
Pairings: C/E, snippets of C/W
Chapter Twenty FiveThe holidays went by too quickly in Eric's opinion. His stay with the Lowe's had been wonderful, but when his parents arrived home, Eric definitely was excited. He'd missed them, not that he would admit it out loud. Now school had started again and a new semester had began. Things were looking up in the New Year.
New Year's.
It certainly had been an eventful celebration. The Lowe's had his family come over and ring in the New Year. There were plenty of games, food and laughing. Jim had even gone all out to buy some wicked fireworks from the local store. Eric had never been happier to be home.
Griffin and Eric had spent most of the early evening hiding out from the old folks though. Spending time together was good and all, but there is that saying, 'Too much of something is never a good thing'? Especially when it came to hanging out with the folks. That was Griffin's motto anyway.
Eric had kept a look out for Caitlin who had been chatty ever since the Anderson's had arrived. He kept finding her in conversations with either the Lowes or his parents. As Griffin had began whining about hanging out in such a lame party and hinting at ditching the older group for a while, Eric searched for Caitlin, in the hopes that she would join them.
"Don't bother!" Griffin groaned. "What do we need a girl for?"
Eric tried to remain casual about the whole thing. "Nothing. It's uh, just...well, not nice not to invite her too. I mean, just because Caitlin's a pain sometimes, doesn't mean she has to suffer through my Dad's opinions on the cattle market."
Griffin rolled his eyes. "And plus the fact that you want to spend time with her!" Griffin drawled, batting his eyelashes.
Eric felt the blood rush to his face and tried to cover. "Give me a break Griff!" Eric scoffed. "It's not because I like her."
Griffin laughed loudly, enough for Caitlin, his parents, and the Lowes to peer over to the kitchen and look suspiciously at the pair. Both of the boys averted their gaze to the lovely wooden cabinets in the kitchen. When Eric finally felt like the audience had drifted back into their normal conversation, he hit Griffin on the shoulder. "Shut up!" he warned through clenched teeth.
His best friend shook his head and began heading outside. "You've got to be kidding? Everyone in the free world knows you got it bad for Caitlin!" Griffin mocked.
Eric exhaled loudly, as the two had reached the porch of the house. He breathed in the chilly evening air. "What are you talking about?" Eric asked offhandedly.
"Eric, everyone knows about the kiss. Aaaand, usually when you kiss a girl, that means you like her!" Griffin taunted.
Eric rubbed his face. "Yeah, I guess I messed that one up big time, huh?"
Griffin exaggerated when he nodded silently. "But people will forget over the holidays," Griffin chirped.
As they walked into the separate office like cabin beside the Lowe's main house, Eric sighed. "You think so?"
Griffin smirked. "No!" Griffin laughed as he scrambled away from the threatening Eric.
Finally when Eric had stopped chasing Griffin, both boys fell into soft cushy chairs in the makeshift living room. "I'll be honest with you Griffster, I do like her."
Griffin sat up suddenly and had this shocked look on his face. "No! You're kidding me? And I thought it was all an act!"
Eric frowned and grabbed the pillow underneath him and threw it at his best friend's head. "Shut up."
Griffin looked at him seriously. "But really, all kidding aside, all I have to say is that you've got good taste. I mean, I personally don't understand why, but hey, if you like her you like her."
Eric smiled. From Griffin, that was completely being supportive. "Yeah. I don't know. Things changed after I came back. I mean, it seemed like we grew up a lot. We didn't hate each other anymore."
Griffin nodded. "Yeah, you guys were actually getting along surprisingly well just before you moved too," he agreed. "To tell you the truth it was kind of eerie. It was like being in the Twilight Zone." Griffin made these ghost noises and threw Eric's pillow back at him.
"So why don't you just ask her out?" Griffin asked irritated.
Eric got up, adjusted his baggy jeans and looked out the window, which framed the Lowe's house. "Like it's that easy?"
"Sure it is," Griffin exclaimed. "Why not? I mean, it's not like she's still dating Will or anything."
Eric shook his head. "Griffin, me and Caitlin, we're just…well, we're not like that."
The excuse was vague even to him. "That's just stupid." Griffin scoffed. "If you like her, ask her out. She must have some feelings for you. I mean, she actually let your lips touch hers!"
Griffin shivered. "That would definitely be a set back for any girl. So she must like you!" He came up beside Eric and nudged him with his shoulder.
Eric made a face at Griffin. He would have hit him, but Eric knew Griffin was just trying to be encouraging. "You know there's no point, don't you?" Eric asked.
Griffin snorted. "Why not?"
Eric scratched his head and turned around to face Griffin. "Cuz Griff, we're in grade 12. What's the point? She's going to go to some fancy photography school, and we'll be at U of M. See? What's the point?"
Griffin put his arm around Eric and shook his head, smiling a knowing smile. "Eric, Eric, Eric," Griffin repeated pityingly. "Just because we're graduating doesn't mean you can't date her!"
Eric rolled his eyes. "I don't want to just date her!" Eric exclaimed. "Besides, what's the point of dating someone and becoming really close to them, only to break up because you're moving in different directions?"
A confused look appeared on Griffin's face. "When did you get all serious about this stuff man? Dude, it's just dating! It's supposed to be fun!"
Linking his hands behind his head, Eric looked up at the lit ceiling fan. "You just don't get it do you? I don't want to just date Caitlin. I have feelings for her Griff."
Griffin's eyes widened and then his eyebrows furrowed. "I didn't know it was that serious dude? Aren't we a little young to be getting serious about a girl?"
Eric laughed. "See! I told you!" Eric sighed and headed towards the couch. I figure what's the point? It's not like long distance relationships work anyway!"
Griffin began shaking his head and then held his hands out in front of him, seemingly to stay balanced. "Okay, dude, let's not get ahead of ourselves. Maybe it could work out. I mean, both of you are stubborn! Maybe it could be you guys could be the one out of one and a million high school couples to make it. Maybe you and Caitlin…"
Griffin was interrupted by a soft knock at the door. Both of them sat up rigidly as the auburn 17- year old girl stepped slowly into the one room cabin. "Hey!" Caitlin smirked. "Why are you guys looking at me like that?"
Eric looked at Griffin and then back at Caitlin. Both were speechless.
Caitlin shifted uneasily and didn't seem too interested in the boys' conversation. "It's almost 12. Jim and Dori told me to come out to the yard. They're just about to start setting off the fireworks," Caitlin informed.
When she left, both Eric and Griffin exhaled loudly. "That was close!" Griffin exclaimed.
"Do you think she heard anything?" Eric asked anxiously.
Griffin shook his head. "Nah. She wouldn't have come in if she'd overheard any of our conversation."
The rest of the evening was spent with both families. Each member of the families were able to set off one rocket, to Eric's excitement. But when the clock struck 12, there was a blur of hugs from family members and Jim. Dori gave him a kiss on the cheek. Eric and Griffin hugged like the ending of a romantic movie. Running towards each other in slow motion, Eric picked up the flailing Griffin and swung him around. Lastly, Caitlin stood beside him as the last of the fireworks exploded in a shower of colored lights.
"Hey," Caitlin greeted casually.
Eric nodded once. "Pretty good fireworks eh?" Eric grinned self-consciously.
Caitlin smiled. "Yeah," she replied, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. "Look, I just wanted say Happy New Year's!"
Eric looked over at Caitlin whose eyes were gazing up at the stars. He nodded. "Happy New Year's!" Eric repeated softly and joined her in gazing at the clear twinkling white lights draped on the dark velvety midnight sky.
