Disclaimer: grumblesyesNickoledonownsthemsoIhavenopartinthecreationoranythingelsegrumbles
Pairings: Caitlin and Eric
Summary: Eric has arrived back in town and put a wrench in Caitlin and Will's relationship. Caitlin and Eric find themselves drawn to each other and having to deal with the emotions that were left unresolved when he moved away. They must deal with the future and whether they will remain in each other's lives, or will college and other things get in the way?
Author's notes: Whoohoo! Another chapter. I bet I fooled you again. nods Yup. I actually was inspired to write for them again after a few encouraging notes. I have to say that I did actually have stuff written, but then I was too lazy to actually type them up...sheepish grin So ya, shoot me if you will...but ahh, catch-22, cuz i won't be able to muse about these two anymore ;) It's rather short, but hopefully next time will be a little bit longer...hmmm, why am I apologizing? take what you get girlies! :P
Chapter Thirty Nine
Hey Caitlin!How are things going with you? I'm settling into college life okay. There are tons of people here and it seems like I've managed to meet all of them...or at least most of them. It's weird being here without you, Jordan, or Brett.
Classes are boring. Right now I'm taking mostly prerequisites. Intro to this and that...you know.
Well, um this is all for now. I gotta go to class. Miss you and all that mushy stuff.
E
Caitlin stared at the blank email form in front of her. Everything she wanted to write was so generic. She couldn't tell him how miserable she was because she wasn't really miserable. In fact, her classes and professors were actually interesting and helpful. She had met several new friends in her classes and wasn't having any trouble fitting in, like she thought she would.
She bit her bottom lip as her fingers rested on her keyboard. What could she write that didn't sound distant? Caitlin groaned and sunk down into the couch.
"Hey Cat! What are y'all up to?" A 5' 9" red-head bounded into the apartment-style dorm. "I hope you're not studying again," she chided, as she walked passed the living room and into the kitchen.
Caitlin cringed at the nickname her roommate had given to her. "It's Caitlin," she reminded, not loud enough for her roommate to hear.
"What?"
Caitlin heard several cupboard doors open and close. She was always rummaging in the kitchen for some assortment of snacks. The girl had an amazing appetite for someone with such a lanky physique.
Maisy had made her way up from Virginia to New York to become an actress. It was her dream. Caitlin had listened to the whole Maisy saga when she moved in. It almost seemed like too much to take; but the cheery 19-year old somehow grew on her.
"Nothing," Caitlin yelled. She glanced down at the computer screen one more time before shutting down her laptop. "So are you and Lane going out clubbing again?" Caitlin shuffled into the kitchen and opened the fridge door, not looking for anything specific, but doing it out of habit. She grabbed a container of juice and closed the door.
"No," Maisy smiled, licking her index finger and thumb, which was covered in icing from the cupcake she was holding. "I think tonight is a study night for both me and Lane."
Caitlin's other roommate, Lane, was also in the drama program. She was very outgoing and boisterous; definitely the party-girl of the dorm room. She was always out late and getting up even later. Sometimes Caitlin wondered how Lane made it to classes or if she went to them at all.
"Oh."
Maisy spun around to face Caitlin and leaned against the kitchen counter. "So what is it you do in this apartment, Cat?" she drawled, her southern accent prominent as she spoke. "I mean, y'all don't get out much other than to go to class and thangs."
Caitlin shrugged. "I'm pretty busy with just those things," she laughed, pouring herself a glass of orange juice. "But, yeah, I'm not very interested in the whole party scene..." She allowed her voice to trail off, as she took a sip from her glass.
Maisy furrowed her brow at the information and bit thoughtfully into her cupcake. "You know, you haven't spoken much about your life in Montana much," she said distractedly, as if thinking out loud. "Did you have a 'bo' back in..." she looked down at Caitlin, "where is it that you said you lived again?"
"High River." Caitlin folded her arms across her chest, while still holding the glass tumbler in one hand. "And yeah, I guess you could say I had a 'Bo'," she smiled at the obvious slang for boyfriend. "He's going to U of C."
Maisy raised an eyebrow, suggesting she elaborate.
"Colorado," Caitlin clarified.
Maisy smiled and nodded. "Oh, I hear it's beautiful out there." She took another bite of the pink frosted dessert, bending forward to catch the stray crumbs. "Not as hot as Virginia, I'm sure."
Caitlin chuckled. "Yeah, probably not."
"Hey girls!" Lane's heavy footed entrance was recognized by both Caitlin and Maisy.
"We're in the kitchen," Caitlin called, stepping over to the dishwasher and placing the tumbler inside. "How come you're so late?"
It was six o'clock and Lane's classes finished at four.
"Well Mom," Lane drawled, as she hopped up onto the kitchen counter. "I was catching up on a lab due the end of this week." She fiddled with her long, ebony hair that was pinned up by several sparkling clips. "And what fun have I been missing?" Her tone was dry and sarcastic.
"We were just talking about Cat's boyfriend back home," Maisy chattered excitedly. "Apparently he's going to school out west."
Lane's eyes flickered in amusement. "Really, so our little shut-in has a life?"
Caitlin sighed. "And that surprises you?" she replied drolly. "Yes, I have a boyfriend."
"Well no need to get defensive, Katie!" Lane slid off the counter and grabbed the bag she had dropped on the floor and placed it on the counter. "I was just teasin'."
"Whatever." Caitlin rolled her eyes and shuffled past Lane and into the living room. "I'm going to meet a couple of friends for supper," she said over her shoulder. "I should be back about a quarter to eight."
"See ya!" Lane yelled, unconcerned.
Maisy stuck her head around the corner and waved. "Have a good night!"
Caitlin gave a backhanded wave and headed out the door. She was definitely missing High River and Eric right about now.
-- & --
"So how are tryouts going?" Griffin asked, while methodically chewing on his lunch.
Eric shrugged. He had managed to stay focused during workouts, but during lectures and labs, he found his thoughts trailing to Caitlin and how she was doing. Was she having an amazing time?
He hadn't heard back from her after his latest email yet.
"You gotta buck up!" Griffin hated seeing his best friend like this. Eric tried to put on a brave front, but he knew better. And Eric was miserable. "She's probably locked herself in her dorm room with the exception of classes," he suggested optimistically.
Eric raised a skeptical brow. "Do you know Caitlin to do something as melodramatic as that?" The idea had its merits, but he knew Caitlin was not the 'mooning schoolgirl' type. "Do you see her not making new friends and having a great time?" He grudgingly took a bite of his peanut butter and jelly sandwich. "I don't," he told Griffin irritably.
Griffin held his hands up in surrender. "Okay bud," he sighed. "Maybe not. But she would definitely not want you to freak out over this long distance thing." Shaking his head, he stuffed the remainder of his lunch into his backpack.
"You're getting upset over nothing."
"Am I?" Eric threw his sandwich on the picnic table. "You know how those New York city types are!" he exclaimed, pointing in the direction he assumed New York was. "Flash and glamour! They'll dine her on fish eggs and champagne."
Griffin pressed his lips together, trying hard not to laugh at the absurd notion. "Uh, champagne and caviar?" He couldn't. Griffin burst out laughing. "I think you've seen one to many Hollywood movies," he said wryly, wiping away the tears from his cheeks. "I don't think there are any NYU students throwing money out to the masses."
Eric stuck his tongue out at Griffin; he knew the boy made sense, but he was in a mood to rant. "Shut up." Packing up his lunch, he swung his leg over the bench and grabbed his bag. "You try having a girlfriend long distance and see how well you do," he lectured.
"Ahh, grasshoppa," Griffin said, in his best Bruce Lee imitation. "That is the key." He threw his arm around Eric's shoulder. "No girl, equals no mental and physical trauma." He laughed.
Eric groaned. "Yeah, that wasn't what you were saying this summer when Nikki left for U of M," he said knowingly.
"Nope." Griffin shook his head. "Don't know what you're talking about." He smiled at Eric with a feigned look of ignorance.
Eric punched Griffin in the shoulder and shook his head. "Whatever..."
As long as he had Griffin around, he knew he wouldn't go insane. Well, at least from Caitlin anyway.
tbc...
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hopefully. i appreciate the recent reviews that have been submitted as i kind of stopped writing for it after a while. but since there seems to be renewed interest, i'm willing to see where it takes me...
