Chapter 4- Holy Hail!

A/N: I own nothing… Much to my dismay!

Big thanks to my beta ladies, ninmesarra and prettyflour. Trust me- they deserve your thanks too- they make this easier to read. Your magic red pens make things better! xo

Thanks to all of the new readers that have started following this story or me- I love your support! Hope you continue to enjoy this!

~*C2C*~

Eric was a gentleman, holding doors for me and making sure to open the car door. He even let me choose. the radio station- well, until I put on the classic rock station and started to sing along with Pat Benatar. It was definitely more interesting than Clare de Lune. Don't get me wrong, I love to unwind with classical music, but I figured if I fell asleep on the way- before the date even started- that it would go over like a lead balloon.

Maybe I was singing loudly- but that's just me. Who can sing Heartbreaker quietly? Some songs just call for soul-singing. You know, when you push your voice out from the very depths of your being? I could understand his horror if I couldn't carry a tune, but I actually have a very good singing voice. I always get standing ovations when we go out for karaoke- Ok, so maybe most of those people are drunk, but let me have this one. It's one of the few things I've got going for me!

I turned the radio volume down and stopped singing. "So, Eric… Ang tells me you work with Ben? What do you do over there?"

"Oh, I'm the resident computer programmer and tech support guy. You'd be surprised how many issues a small office like that can run into. I also do some contract work on the side. Just the other day, a lady downloaded a Trojan virus from clicking on a link from her fanfiction site and I had to kill it with malware and totally reload her drive. I thought I was going to be there all week."

"Oh, I love fanfiction! But, she downloaded a Trojan? How do you put a condom on a computer?" So, maybe I was giving him total crap, but I had to keep it interesting somehow!"

He turned his head to gape at me. He hemmed and hawed around trying to find a way to explain it to me. His stuttering was hilarious and I couldn't help but laugh.

"Oh my god, Eric! I'm only kidding! Close your mouth before you trap a fly in there, man."

"Um, Bella…"

"Yes, Eric?"

"That was really kind of inappropriate. But I guess it's whatever."

Realizing I had totally hurt his feelings, I patted his hand and put on my innocent face, "I'm so sorry. I'll try to take your work more seriously."

"Are you patronizing me?"

"Not at all," I told him, eyes wide and mouth slightly agape. "I'm so sorry if I sound that way!"

He glanced at me while we waited for the light to change, "Ok. I take my work very seriously. Can you imagine what the world would be like without computers?"

"It would be horrible. As a copy editor, I am very glad I don't have to use an actual red pen to mark up transcripts."

"See, so you understand how important they are to our lives now."

I was spared a response when we pulled into the museum parking lot. I didn't wait for him to open the door, but hurriedly jumped out and met him at the front of the car. I followed him into the building and realized the museum was hosting an art show for a local artist.

I followed Eric around as he explained piece after piece to me. I didn't think he really understood the pieces, because the black canvas with red and white squiggles on it certainly didn't look like it resembled lost love to me. I was really enjoying a sculpture that was on display. It was made with everyday items and had been molded into what looked like a mother and child. Eric told me that it was a brilliant piece that was meant to try to coerce people into being more environment-friendly. He didn't want to hear what I thought about it, and looked at me like I was just a lost little girl when I told him what I thought it was.

It was really starting to make me mad. I am not just an empty-headed female. I graduated magna cum laude from college and was valedictorian in high school. He had no reason to be condescending. He tried to lead me off to another piece, when someone grabbed my hand.

"You are correct, mon amour. It is a mother/child piece," the dark-skinned man with straight teeth smiled at me. His voice was thick with a French accent.

Eric looked annoyed, "And how would you know?"

"Simple. I created it." Turning his attention from Eric to me, the artist introduced himself, "I am Laurent Delacour. And who might you be?"

"I'm Bella. This is my date Eric," I motioned toward him and then to the sculpture, "You made this?"

"Oui. I did indeed. You know, I give lessons on how to create your own masterpieces. If you are ever interested in a one-on-one session, I'd be very happy to teach you my methods," he kissed my hand and I had to fight the urge to wipe it off on my skirt.

I glanced at Eric and noticed he looked extremely irritated. I grabbed his arm and asked what he thought about grabbing dinner.

"That sounds great. It's about time for us to leave anyway. Our reservations are in the next thirty minutes." He grabbed my hand we made our way to the exit. "I'm sorry I subjected you to that miscreant," Eric apologized on the way out the door.

"You can't predict the future Eric, it's okay. No harm, no foul. Let's just go." He held the car door for me and I found the classical station that he had it turned to earlier. It sounded like Beethoven, but I was no expert.

The drive to the restaurant was quiet. Both of us lost in our own thoughts. I shifted in my seat, and heard a slight rip. I glanced at Eric but he didn't appear to have heard anything. I ran my hands along the edges of my dress and realized the edge of it was caught in the door. I'd probably ripped a hole in it when I moved. How awesome is that?

Eric parked at La Bodega and this time I waited for him to open the car door for me. I noticed he was standing at the front of it checking his watch. I sighed in frustration, so much for being a gentleman. Chivalry really is dead. Then again, I'd not been having a great week, maybe I was being irrational.

Opening the car door, I grabbed my skirt and checked the damage. A rip the size of a ping pong ball was evident. Oh well, nothing I could do about it now.

Once I was at the front of the vehicle with my inconsiderate, know-it-all date, I started walking into the quaint little restaurant. The host took Eric's name and led us to an empty table on the terrace. I ordered a glass of wine and glanced over the menu. I didn't have a clue what to order. It all sounded good.

I drummed my finger on the table while we waited for our drinks. I ignored Eric's crooked eyebrow that I'm sure was him begging me to stop. He wasn't talking to me, and I really didn't know what to say beyond asking mundane questions like what's your favorite color, so I kept my mouth shut.

The waitress, Kate- her name tag read, set our wine glasses on the table and Eric ordered. She asked what I wanted and I told her, "Surprise me." She grinned and agreed to put in an order for her favorite.

"Are you really going to let her surprise you, Bella? Don't you want to know what you're eating?"

"Where is the fun in that? I love food, so I'm sure I'll love whatever she brings out to me."

"If that's what you want…" he let the sentence hang there for a moment before asking, "So, uh, what's your favorite color?"

I couldn't help but laugh. He was staring at me like I'd lost my mind. "It's not you. Really, it's not! I was just trying to come up with something to talk about and didn't know if I should ask something that mundane." Apparently my filter was turned off tonight. "I'm so sorry! I didn't mean it like that!"

"It's okay I guess. I don't think this is really working out do you?"

"Um, not really. But maybe we're both trying too hard?"

"I don't know Bella, are you really trying?" I was saved from having to answer by a sudden onslaught of rain. We jumped from our seats and rushed toward the door only to find the door was locked! I started banging on the door. The waitress came in sight just when the rain changed to hail.

Have you ever been pelted by hail? It hurts like, well, like hell. The waitress hurriedly unlocked the door and offered us a table inside. I declined. I really just wanted to go home, change clothes, and go to my favorite piano bar. This night reminded me of something out of a comedy film. I was ready for it to end. I'd said all the wrong things, and insulted my date, been flirted with by a creepy artist guy, and am now dripping wet and going to have bruises all over from stupid balls of ice and on my derriere from falling down the steps. Not to mention the almost-naked-embarrassment from before the date even actually truly started.

We waited in the entrance for the hail to stop and then dashed to the car. Eric wasn't happy about getting his leather interior wet, but there was no way I was standing in the rain waiting for him to cover it with plastic. OCD much?

He started the car and blasted the heat. I was shivering from the cold, rain-soaked dress that was clinging to me. I glanced at him and thanked him with a smile. He smiled in return, "You know, this night may have been a nightmare, but how bout we grab a bite somewhere quick? I'm still hungry and I can hear your stomach growling over hear."

"Okay. Where were you thinking?"

"There's a Wendy's on the way back to your house. Is that okay?"

"Sure! I do love a greasy cheeseburger."

Eric surprised me when he turned the radio to classic rock station I'd had it on earlier and started singing with the Eagles to Witchy Woman. I couldn't help but join in.

We were there in no time and dashing through the rain again. I ordered a burger and baked potato. I filled our cups with soda and found a vacant booth. He slid in not long after me and passed me my food. I made it halfway through the burger that was literally dripping with ketchup and mustard when a big glob of the messy mix dripped out the back of the burger to land with a plop on my dress. It was just par for the course, right?

I sighed and put my burger down, only to smear the spot when I tried to wipe it off with a napkin. I crumpled the paper up and put it on the tray. I raised my eyebrow as Eric's shoulders shook with barely suppressed laughter.

"You really have bad luck don't you?"

"You haven't seen the half of it, I can promise you that!"

~*C2C*~

Eric had dropped me off at my house and we'd agreed to be friends. A relationship was never going to work out between us. He was trying way too hard and I really couldn't have cared much less. I realized I had a really bad attitude about the whole dare situation and apologized for taking it out on him.

I put in a call to Ang, and left a message for her to call me. I figured she and Ben were busy with other things and may have given her hard time about sexing up her fiancé instead of waiting for me to call. Not that I blamed her in the least…

After I changed my clothes and threw my wet hair into a low ponytail, I ran back down the stairs. I stuffed my feet into my new purple chucks and pulled on my raincoat. I was going to go see my favorite bartender.

The bar was busy when I managed to get inside. But my favorite barstool sat empty and beckoned to me. The blonde behind the counter was not who I expected. "What can I getcha?" new-guy asked.

"A cherry sour, please. Where's Eddie?"

The question barely left my mouth when I heard him playing. I spun on the stool and leaned back against the bar as he played a haunting melody that spoke to me. When the last notes fell away, I noticed I wasn't the only person wiping tears. I watched as Eddie stood and scuffed his feet along the floor back to the bar.

"Hey Eddie."

"Oh Bella! When did you get here? Aren't you supposed to be on a date?"

"I actually got here right before you started playing. That was beautiful, by the way. And I was but it was a complete disaster. I think I was mortified most of the night…"

"Was it really that bad?"

"Well, he was thirty minutes early and I answered the door in a less than fully dressed state… and ended by being beat half to death by mother nature with hail during dinner on the terrace and squirting ketchup all over myself. It was definitely a night I'll never forget."

"He saw you naked?" Eddie seemed to be stuck on that fact.

"I wasn't naked. I was in my, uh, my underwear," I could feel my cheeks turning crimson as I admitted that.

I watched him swallow. It really was hot. The way his adam's apple bobbed in his throat- such a small thing, but it was sexy as hell. I licked my lips and lifted my drink for a sip.

"Bella, Bella, Bella. What are we going to do with you?" he whispered the question and his eyes slid almost shut. His eyes roved over me from beneath his hooded lids and I felt my body heat at his perusal.

I could think of lots of things I'd like to do with Eddie. None of them were fit for conversation in a busy bar. I could feel myself starting to sweat just from thinking about it. I raised my glass to my forehead and tried to cool myself off.

"You are busy tonight!" I told him, for lack of better things to say at that moment.

"Yeah, but I'm never too busy for you. Did you get to use any of your lesson from last night?"

I laughed out loud, "Um, not exactly. I wasn't at my best and the only opportunity I'd have had to flirt really, wasn't even with my date!" I continued on with the story of Laurent. Eddie was kind of mad at his rudeness. The anger changed to concern when I told him he creeped me out.

"You know you can reach me anytime if you need help with anything, right, Bella? I'd come to your rescue anytime."

"Thanks Eddie, I appreciate that." I sipped at my drink again, and set the empty glass down. "But, there is a problem with that."

He mixed me another drink and set it down in front of me with a frown marring his beautiful face. "Why? What problem is there?"

"I can't call you if I don't have your phone number now can I?" I asked, setting my phone down on the bar.

He picked it up and programmed himself in, then sent a message to himself so he'd have my number too. "Problem solved. Call me anytime Bella," he said with a smile. "I need to go grab some more beer from storage. I'll be back."

"It's ok, I really should go. I have to work tomorrow." I tossed some money down on the bar and watched him walk around it.

"I'm serious Bella," he said when he'd stopped in front of me. "If you need help with anything, please call me. I'd like to help you." He kissed my cheek and walked away.

I couldn't help but stare until he disappeared behind the storage room door. I shook my head to clear it and left.

That night, I dreamed of haunting piano music and laughing emeralds.

~*C2C*~

A/N: So… a little more Eddie… What do you think? Reviews are better than Eddie playing piano for you… Well, okay, maybe not, but it's a very lose second! Also, since I'm ahead on chapters- if you are want a teaser for Chapter 5, mention it and I'll be happy to spoil you! But I'll only do it if you ask for it! Thanks guys!