No rambling this week, just my appreciation to the fans of this story, my fantastic beta chisaii-kitty, and two awesome Thanksgiving dinners. Blame it on a turkey induced coma. Here's date night part 2!
Disclaimer: I own nothing!
Their first stop was the bar where Sookie introduced him to Sam. While the handshake was friendly, the look on Sam's face read one thing loud and clear; hurt her and I'll tear you to shreds. Eric should have seen this as a threat, but he decided to only appreciate the amount of concern Sookie's friend had for her. The other bartender behind the counter leaned over to give Sookie a hug and a kiss. Eric, again, should have been concerned, but the amount of make-up on the man's face told him he had nothing to worry about. She introduced the new man as Lafayette.
"Well ain't you a tall drink of water? I feel as if I've been in the desert for a hike and need you to quench my thirst."
Eric couldn't form a reply to that even if he tried. He gave Sookie a questioning look, silently begging for help. She simply laughed, "Oh, Laf, you have to stop flirting with all the pretty boys that come in here and save some for us girls! Now you behave, and I'll go introduce Eric to everyone else."
The pair approached a few tables that had been pulled together by the large group of people that sat around them. Eric looked at all their faces, seeking out the comfort of Amelia's familiarity. When he noted the person sitting next to her, his jaw fell to the floor in shock, "Pam?! What are you doing here?"
It was Amelia that spoke up. "I thought you might be a bit uneasy about meeting this rowdy bunch. I knew how much Pam meant to you so I thought I'd give her a call. She was listed as your emergency contact on your membership form. Oh, you were definitely right; she and I should have never met." She turned to Pam before continuing, "You dress the boy well, I approve."
Sookie wrapped a supportive arm around Eric's waist, noticing how perfectly she molded into his side, her head rested perfectly at his shoulder as if they were made for each other.
"Eric, you know Amelia, and I can assume the woman to her left is your friend Pam. This is my brother, Jason; his business partner, Tray Dawson; Jason's best friend, Hoyt Fortenberry; Hoyt's girlfriend, Jessica Hamby; and the rest of this rag tag bunch are trainers at the gym; Alcide Herveaux, Crystal Norris, and Claudine Crane. Everybody, this is Eric Northman."
Rounds of hellos and handshakes went around the table before Sookie and Eric took their seats. He thought it was endearing she included everyone's last names in their introduction; it must have been a Southern quirk. Eric had ended up next to Pam who leaned over and whispered in his ear, "I've been here maybe twenty minutes, they're a fun bunch. Did you know Amelia swings both ways? I'll give you one guess which way she's swinging tonight."
Sookie was making idle conversation with her friends, but shaking at the look Pam was giving her. Pam's eyes could speak volumes, and every word was critical of Sookie. She understood the intimidating blonde's intention; for the past three years she had done everything to protect Eric from the world and from himself. If she was in Pam's shoes, she would be hesitant about a new love interest too. She felt a little better when she looked at Jason, and realized he was appraising Eric the same way.
Eric knew he needed to break into the circle of friends eventually and tried desperately to find the easiest way to get involved in a conversation with anyone at the table. Something about Claudine drew him in. "You wouldn't by any chance have a brother who works as a hair stylist would you?"
"A twin actually, Claude, why do you ask?"
"I met him a few days ago. He's the man responsible for this haircut."
"Be thankful you visited him now. A few years back, when he was going for his license, I let him cut my hair. It was awful! He ended up dying my hair purple and nothing was straight!"
Crystal added, "Claudine, nothing about your brother is straight. By the way, thanks for letting me know that before I started hitting on him."
The table laughed and the mood lightened considerable. Eric felt comfortable around her friends, and could tell they were receptive toward welcoming him into their circle. The conversation was going great for a few rounds. Eric found himself involved in a conversation with Hoyt who was sharing his journey to New York.
"After Jason and Sam left Bon Temps, I was feeling awfully lonely. I had always been part of Community Theater, so I decided to come up and join them to try my hand on Broadway. That's when Amelia and Sookie got their own place and I moved in with Jason and Sam. One month into living here I got a part in the chorus in Chicago. That's where I met Jess."
"That's fantastic; but I'm afraid I've never seen the show."
"I'll get you guys tickets, just tell me a night. You and Sook will love it; it's a real sexy sort of show."
The night had been going great. Eric was bonding with all of them; even Jason was warming up to him. When talk turned to his writing, he grew shy at all the praise. Some of the table had read the books, but everyone had seen the movie. They let him know that Sookie had dragged each and every one of them to see it. Eric loved the way this group of friends interacted. They joked and teased each other ruthlessly, but anyone could see how deep the friendship ran. Eric knew he was officially accepted when Jason turned the teasing his way.
"Now, I've got no problem with you, man, but I gotta say, what's with the beer?"
"What's wrong with Heineken?"
"It's a lame-ass Euro-trash beer. You need a real man's beer, like Bud or Coors."
Sookie was quick to defend him, "Eric is European, Jason. Of course he would drink European beer. Eric came here from Sweden a few years ago."
"Doesn't matter, sis. He's living in the States; he needs to drink American beer."
Alcide was the next to come to his defense, "Yeah, but Jason, he might like Euro beer but at least he doesn't like girlie drinks. At my bachelor party, this fucker was double-fisting appletinis!"
"You swore you'd take that to your grave!"
The entire table was hysterical but it quickly died down with the next patron to walk through the door. Everyone was quickly on edge and it appeared a fight was about to break out. Sookie had to be the voice of reason, "He's allowed to come to the bar guys."
"Son of a bitch deserves to be taken out back and shot, sis. I won't stand him coming into our bar."
Eric shot Amelia a questioning look since no one else was cluing him in. "That's John Quinn, Sookie's ex-boyfriend. Everybody calls him Quinn. She's trying the whole 'I want to be friends with him' crap but no one wants that to happen. He's kind of a prick."
Sookie waved him over and pulled up an extra seat. Jason and Tray looked like they were about to kill someone, while Eric didn't know what to feel. If Sookie wanted to be friends with him, then he could give Quinn the benefit of the doubt. It appeared he was the only one who felt that way. Soon enough, Sookie and Quinn were talking and joking, Sookie taking only a second to introduce Eric and Pam to the taller man. It was rare that Eric met men taller than him and couldn't help but feel a bit intimidated by him, especially considering the history he shared with Sookie.
Eric leaned back over to Amelia to hear more of the story. "They dated after she broke up with Bill. She was still feeling pretty lonely in the city, and reached out to the first guy that showed an interest in her. I'm surprised you haven't heard of him, he's a big shot party planner, ridiculously rich."
"So what's so bad about him? Looks like half the people at this table are ready to crawl out of their skin to kill him."
"He bought her love. He showered her with expensive gifts, jewelry, clothes, and a new car, which she really didn't want. She was raised not to accept those sorts of things."
Jason had picked up on the flow of the conversation and added his own two cents. "He wouldn't quit no matter how many times she told him to stop. He barely spent any time with her and would make up for it with presents. Not to mention that every time his mom called, he was off to Connecticut to be at her side. Between clients and Mommy, he was with Sookie maybe twice a month. Not to say he didn't make plans to see her, but he canceled every single time."
Amelia picked back up narrating the story, "She put up with it for months, convinced he was a good guy. She made excuse after excuse for him. He never came to Thursday nights with us before they broke up. You guys have been on one date and you're already here making an effort."
"So he comes out with you guys now?"
"He hasn't missed one since they broke up last month, no matter how much we threaten him to stop. He's doing this to spite us. All I know is I want that scum away from my sister. I don't generally say this to guys, but, Dude; stake your claim on her now. He's always trying to get back in her pants and I'm sick of it."
"You're okay with me pursuing your sister?"
"You make her happy and Amelia's been talking you up all week. Know that if you fuck up, I'll break your legs and your face. I wanted to take Quinn out, but Sook won't let me. I've let her talk me out of it two bastards in a row and I won't make it three. I will take every ounce of my aggression from her exes out on you. Now, man up and make a move!"
Eric pulled his chair closer to Sookie and tried to join in on her conversation with Quinn, but the taller man just kept shooting him death stares. He looked back at Pam for some encouragement, which she offered by wrapping an arm around Amelia with a wink. Eric took the hint and soon he had an arm wrapped around Sookie, hand resting on her shoulder, tracing circles on the bare flesh that had been revealed as she took off her layers. She visually shivered at the gesture and moved in closer to his warmth.
It appeared that Eric joined in at the perfect moment. Quinn had been getting a bit too cozy with Sookie, leaning in a little too closely during the course of their conversation. Eric coming over got the intruder to take a step back in surprise.
"Gosh, I've been ignoring you for a bit haven't I? How rude could I be? Quinn was just telling me about this huge wedding he's planning. It's real extravagant."
"Ours would have been better, Babe," Quinn was sure to add to the end of her comment.
Eric felt a rage course through his body at the term of endearment this jerk had so casually thrown in. This was definitely going to be a battle of wills, but he needed to play his hand properly. If he acted too brutish, it would turn Sookie off to him but if he didn't make it clear that Sookie was with him tonight, she might go home with the wrong man.
"I guess the world will never know will it? Besides, Sookie strikes me as the kind of girl who wouldn't want all the glitz and glamor. I think she'd like something a little more elegant and refined, am I right?"
"You've known her for what, a day? You think you know her better than I do?"
"Since she's here tonight with me, not you, I'm going to go out on a limb and say yes. But this really isn't a conversation to be having now, is it?"
"You're right, why don't we step outside and have a more private chat?" Eric had Quinn exactly where he wanted him. Eric wanted to aggravate him into getting violent, so he could show Sookie that he was the bigger man by not fighting back. Hopefully she was looking for a man to defend her with his words and not his fists. The author was good with words, not so great with his hands.
"Quinn! Where do you get off threatening my date? You and I are long over; you have no say in who I go out with. But for argument's sake, Eric's right. My whole life I've dreamed of a small wedding back home in Bon Temps. How'd you guess?"
Eric was intent on answering Sookie's question, but it was the other man's eyes that held his gaze, slightly tightening the grip he had around her. "Oh, you just seem like the type to appreciate the smaller, more intimate details rather than the over the top. A smaller affair makes it easier to spend time with your guests as opposed to ignoring them the entire night."
The connotation of Eric's words was not lost on Quinn. Everyone at the table had quieted down and had begun observing the slowly brewing dispute between the two large men. Quinn might have been larger than Eric and probably stronger too, but Eric had numbers on his side. It helped to know everyone at the table had your back.
Quinn was quickly losing his temper; his face had turned beet red and the veins running through his neck were pulsing with rage. He didn't know who this new asshole was, or how he knew details of his failed relationship with Sookie, but what he did know was that New Guy was about to get intimately acquainted with his knuckles. Quinn quickly rose from the table, fists clenched in anger, ready for a fight. Eric, while panicked on the inside, wore a mask of calm on his features. "Really? You're going to start a bar fight? That might not be the best idea."
"Oh no? I know I'll feel a whole hell of a lot better after I pound your face into the pavement."
"Your violent tendencies just go to further cement Sookie's brilliant decision in leaving you. Besides, you might have the advantage one on one, but you know this wouldn't be just between me and you." To emphasize Eric's point, Jason, Tray, Hoyt, and Alcide stood up, looking intimidating. Even Pam joined in; she might be petite, but never count her out of a fight. She once knocked a girl out cold during a Gucci sale and was never afraid of a challenge.
Sam walked over with the baseball bat he kept behind the bar for times like this in hand. "There isn't going to be a problem here, right? Quinn, weren't you leaving? Or do I have to let these boys show you the door?"
Just to make his point, Quinn leaned over and placed a kiss on Sookie's cheek before he grabbed his coat and stormed out. Everyone took their seats and Sam went back behind the bar. Eric could feel all of the tension leave his body, but sadly, it flowed directly into Sookie.
"Where do you idiots get off acting like that? I can't count the number of times I told you I want to work on being friends with Quinn but every time he makes an effort you meat heads threaten him! I can't look at any of you right now."
Luckily she didn't leave the bar, but just stormed off towards the back end, through a door marked "Employees Only". Jason was the first to find his voice, "I vote Eric to go talk to her. I don't think she was mad at him, only us."
Eric glanced around the table and realized he was officially nominated. Amelia and Pam both gave him a nod of support, and Tray passed him a shot of liquid courage which Eric declined at first, only taking it when the look on everyone's faces told him he'd need it. He stood hesitantly at the door before Sam gave him the okay to go in his employee lounge. The look on Sookie's face was a mixture of hurt and rage.
"Don't think I didn't realize how much you were antagonizing him. I don't know what those morons told you, but I don't hate Quinn. We only broke up because he wasn't there for me when I needed him. I still value him as a friend even if everyone thinks I'm crazy for doing that."
"I know, Sookie, and I'm sorry if I acted disrespectfully. I just…"
"Just what? Needed to lift your leg and mark your territory? You were so underhanded out there, trying to piss him off under my radar while throwing compliments my way. Do you think I'm that dumb that I wouldn't catch on?"
"No, Sookie, I would never think that, but please…"
"I can't deal with you right now. What you said in the cab was right, this is too easy. Of course you had to go and mess it all up. You're no better than he is just because you didn't get violent, so get off your high horse. Let me fill you in on women, Eric. We don't like being treated like a piece of meat or a prize to be won. If that was the name of the game tonight, you both lost. So just go home and leave me alone."
"If that's what you really want."
"Yes, it's what I want. Go!"
He left feeling completely dejected. He walked back to the table and the look on his face must have spoken volumes. Pam was quick to reach in her purse, throw down some money to cover their drinks, while offering their mutual send offs before leading him out the door. They were just about to get in a cab before Amelia exited the bar and stopped them with a shout, "I'll talk to her. Everything will work out."
The best friends rode home in silence. Eric couldn't form words to express how much he hurt and Pam knew nothing she said would comfort him. She followed him into his apartment, but he completely ignored her besides to ask her to take Clancy out for him. He stopped dead in his tracks when he looked at the table, still covered in his notes. He calmly approached it, gathered up the sheets of paper, throwing them all in the trash. The book was about her, for her, and he couldn't look at it. He entered his bedroom and slammed the door shut, knowing that Pam would bring Clancy back up and lock the front door for him.
His adventure back into the real world was shot down after not even a week of trying. He knew he wasn't ready, knew everything was moving too fast. He was re-emerging as a person he barely recognized. He took off the designer clothes, pulled on his lounge pants, messed up his designer hair cut, and in a final step, placed his wedding band back where it belonged. This process was easy when things were going his way, but this road block was the type you turn back from. It made it abundantly clear he couldn't handle this life yet. His last memory of the night was the sound of Pam locking the door of the apartment as Eric shut the door on trying again.
AW! Angsty Eric is back :( Let's hope he doesn't stick around for long. Please leave a review, every time my inbox dings an angel gets its wings.
