Thorns Have Roses

Part 2

Christine placed the straw between her red lips and took a drink of her Long Island Iced Tea. She looked over the heads of the crowd towards the door keeping an eye out for Eric and his date. Amanda just shook her head, she couldn't believe she'd let Chris talk her into this.

"Chris, Eric is our best friend, we really shouldn't be here. We should leave before they get here and let them have their date in peace." When Christine looked at her and smiled Amanda knew she'd lost this round. It never failed, that smile and that look in her eyes always undid her and she always caved. 'Why do I even try?' She asked herself.

Chris reached over and placed her hand on Amanda's arm and began to rub it. "It's because he's our best friend, that's why we're here." Christine's brow wrinkled in anger when a memory came to the surface. "You know what happened the last time he had a girlfriend!"

Amanda sighed, yes she remembered. She remembered the late summer nights they spent with him drinking, and them introducing him to their favorite ice-creams and movies just to try and get his mind off of her and what happened. "Just because she hurt Eric doesn't mean Brooke will."

Christine looked towards the door before looking back at Amanda. "Hurt?" She took the straw from the glass and knocked back the last of her drink then slammed the glass on the bar. "Hurt is an understatement…" she took a deep breath, "that bitch crushed his heart when she slept with his so called friend in their bed."

Amanda took Christine's hand in hers, "I was there I know what happened." She smiled at a thought.

"What are you smiling about?"

She looked at Chris and continued to smile, "I'm just glad you weren't there."

Christine scrunched her face up in confusion, "Why?"

Amanda wanted to laugh, "You said it yourself once, you would have beaten that bitch half to death." She took a drink of her scotch. "I understand, he's more than our best friend. He's more of a brother to the both of us." She gave Christine's hand a squeeze and continued, "But you have to calm down, you can't project your anger at that bitch towards Brooke."

Christine turned towards the bar leaned over it, and held up her hand to get the bartenders attention, when he turned to her she flashed him her best smile. "Long Island, please." When the bartender gave her the drink she took a sip, smiled and nodded. She turned back to Amanda. "You're right, I need to calm down and give her a fair shake." She started watching the people on the dance floor. "I just don't want to see our Eric hurt again."

Amanda looked towards the door and her jaw dropped, she started hitting Christine on the arm with both hands.

"What the hell Amanda, you're gonna make me spill my drink." When she looked at Amanda she saw shock.

Amanda pointed and said, "Look."

Christine looked to where Amanda was pointing and her eyebrows rose at what she saw; Eric with a dark haired woman. "Wow, she is…..gorgeous." Then she felt Amanda hit her hard, "Owe!" She reached up and started rubbing her left bicep. She looked at Amanda and glared, then she frowned when she saw the angry look she was getting. "Sorry, but you gotta admit she is gorgeous." She dodged another swing, "Ok, sorry again." She got in close and gave Amanda a kiss on the cheek and whispered in her ear, "but nowhere near as gorgeous as you." For that she got a smile.

"That's better, and don't you forget it."

They waited to see what table they were going to sit at then Christine grabbed Amanda's hand and started dragging her to their target.

Eric and Brooke walked into the club, and right off he saw Amanda pointing at them and rolled his eyes. He placed his hand on the small of Brooke's back. They made their way to a table that was somehow empty, as they walked over to the table Eric leaned close to Brooke so she could hear him.

"Brooke, be prepared to be ambushed."

She looked at him confused.

Eric pulled out her chair for her and pushed it in when she sat down. "My two best friends spotted us and are on their way over to more than likely have a go at you." He sat down in his chair and said, "I apologize now and be further warned, Chris is a bit nuts." Right after that the two ladies came up to the table. They both gave Eric a kiss on the cheek and Chris glared at Brooke.

Brooke grabbed Eric's hand when the two women sat down in the empty chairs. When Chris glared at her she got a bit more nervous.

Eric introduced them. "Brooke, these are Christine and Amanda my best friends, girls this is Brooke my date."

Christine looked at Brooke then started in on her. "So, Brooke, tell us about yourself."

Brooke looked over at Eric who gave her an apologetic smile and shrugged.

Brooke took a deep breath and began. "Well, I was a librarian for a while. I now work for my best friend Jackie as her personal assistant/gopher and gatekeeper. I'm also a single mother to a very beautiful little girl." Brooke gave the two girls the once over and decided that she wasn't going to let these two run her off so she made a decision and turned to Eric, "Could you get me an Amaretto sour?"

Eric got up, "Sure, I could use something to drink myself right now." He gave his two friends a look that said don't do anything to ruin his date, then went to the bar. He also knew that Brooke didn't need protection, if she could stand up to an angry Jackie she could stand up to anyone.

When Eric left Brooke sat up further. "Alright, listen up, I know what's going on." She leaned forward. "I really like Eric, I'm not out to hurt him, far from it. I'm not after a daddy for my daughter, even though he would make a great father." She took a breath and continued. "I meant it, I really like him. There is something about him that gets me all excited." She looked to make sure Eric wasn't coming back. "I can tell Eric means a lot to the both of you and you are only here because you don't want him getting hurt, I'm glad about that, but you two need to know this. You are not running me off"

Amanda and Christine looked at each other and smiled, then they both looked back at Brooke. At the same time they both said, "We like you."

Christine, then leaned forward and said, "You're right, we do care about our Eric and we don't want him hurt again…." She leaned in further. "If you hurt him…."

Amanda interrupted Christine by pulling her back, "Stop it, you're going to make her think you want him."

Christine glared at Amanda, "I do not…ewww."

Amanda wanted to laugh at that but turned to Brooke. "Look you have to understand we look after Eric." She looked at Christine. "Christine especially, can be very protective of him." She turned back to Brooke, "Eric means a lot to us; he was there for the both of us when everyone seemed to turn their backs on us." Amanda took a sip of her drink then continued, "You also have to understand, he's more than a best friend, he's like a brother to us."

During the speech Christine calmed down and came to a decision then said, "You have my permission to date Eric." That's when they heard a cough and looked up and saw Eric standing there with his and Brooke's drinks.

Eric sat down and looked at Christine. "Chris, Brooke doesn't need your permission to date me, nor do I need your approval."

Christine had decency to look chastised, then perked up when her favorite song came on. She grabbed both Amanda's and Brooke's hands. "Let's dance," she said as she pulled them both from their seats.

Eric took a big swig of his beer and said to the backs of the three ladies, "Don't worry about me, I'll stay right here and look after your stuff."

A waitress came over, "Can I refill your drink or get you anything else?"

Eric looked up. "Yes, can you please get me another beer?"

"I'll be back with your order."

After several songs, the three women came back to sit down, all laughing.

Eric watched as Brooke interacted with his two friends. On their way here he was afraid that Christine and Amanda would show and sure enough they did, then he was afraid that Christine would scare Brooke off, and he was glad that didn't seem to happen. They seemed to be getting along quite well; hopefully they would continue to get along.

Upon hearing the music change from a fast song to a nice slow one, Eric smiled. "Brooke, care to dance?"

Brooke smiled at "Yes."

Christine turned in her seat and watched the two on the dance floor. She took a drink of her Long Island and looked at Amanda. "I like her, but I'm still worried that she'll hurt our Eric."

Amanda took Christine's hand in hers. "I don't think we have to worry about her hurting him." She looked back at the couple then stood up. "Come, let's get out of here and let them have their date."

Christine shook her head, "No, we can't just leave yet."

Amanda pulled her out of her seat. She winked at Christine, "You owe me and I want to collect."

Christine smiled and blushed. She set her drink down and let Amanda lead her out of the club.

As Eric twirled Brooke around the dance floor he spotted his two friends leave and he inwardly sighed in relief. Now he could relax and enjoy the rest of the night.

Brooke also noticed the departure of Eric's two friends and smiled. She liked them but she was glad they'd gone, now she would have the rest of evening alone with Eric.

They went back to the table. "Can I get you another drink?" Eric asked.

Brooke nodded and said, "Another Amaretto sour."

Eric came back with their drinks and sat down next to Brooke.

Brooke looked at him and said, "Eric, can I ask you a question?"

Eric smiled and shrugged, "Ask away I'm an open book."

Brooke sat up and took a drink, "How did you meet your two friends?"

Eric smiled, and thought about how to start. While he was thinking he slowly rotated his glass of coke between his hands. "I met Amanda back in college. We were in a few classed together and in the same study group." He took a drink of his soda and continued, "After a while we became friends."

Brooke had to ask, "Did you two date in college?"

Eric shook his head, "No." When Brooke heard that she was relieved.

"Is that when you met Christine too?" Brooke asks.

Eric shook his head no. "No, I met Chris several years later." Eric took a drink of his coke. "I met Chris the first day I started working as a teacher." Eric laughed at the memory then continued, "Have you ever seen those movies where two people meet, they lock eyes and circle each other, without looking away?"

Brooke chuckled and nodded, "I've seen a scene like that somewhere."

"It was like…" Eric thought about what to say. "Not soul-mates…but kindred spirits, you know what I mean?"

Brooke nodded.

"After that day Christine started a practical joke and burn war that neither of us won."

Eric could see the same look in her eyes that he saw when she asked a certain question about Amanda.

"No, Christine and I never dated either." He could see the relief flow off of Brooke.

"OK." Brooke was relieved that neither one of them was an old torch turned friend.

Eric intertwined his fingers with his. "They are the sisters I never had."

"Um…what about Laurie?" She knew of Laurie and her reputation from high school, but not about her home life.

Eric chuckled, "Like I said, they are the sisters I never had." He looked at Brooke and said, "Tell me about Brooke?"

Brooke thought about it for a sec then answered his question, "Well… I work for and live with my best friend Jackie Burkhart, I just got my degree in business. I have a very beautiful seven year old daughter named Betsy and I really like a certain school teacher."

The music changed and Eric stood up and held out his hand, "Care to dance milady?"

Brooke smiled, took his hand then stood up and curtsied, "Why of course my good sir."

Later as they pulled up in front of Brookes place, Brooke turned to Eric, "Eric, can I tell you something?"

"Sure, anything."

Brooke took a deep breath before continuing. "Ok, you know what happened in my last relationship." Eric nodded. "I hope you don't mind that we take our time and really get to know each other before we do anything, because I really do like you and I want to see where this goes." She reach out and took his hand in hers, "I don't want to get hurt again."

Eric lifted Brooke's hand and kissed the back of it. "I'm willing to wait for as long as you want."

Eric got out and went around to help Brooke out of the car. They walk hand in hand to the front door. Brooke turned to Eric, "I had a really nice time tonight."

"I'm glad. I promise, next time my two over protective friend's won't show up."

Brooke laughed, "I like your two friends, I'm happy you have two people that care a great deal about you."

Eric leaned in to kiss her, and Brooke wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back.

After Eric told her he would call her the next day and tripped a few times walking backwards to his car, Brooke went inside. After she closed and locked the door she leaned against it and smiled. The smile faded as she caught the melody from an old Air Supply song coming from some place in the house and sighed and thought to herself, 'there goes my endorphin high.' She followed the music to the garage where her friend kept Charles' fifty seven Chevy pick-up truck. That's where she found Jackie, behind the wheel of the truck. Brooke went around to the passenger side and got in. She could see that Jackie had been crying and from the half empty bottle drinking too.

Brooke reached over to the radio that was perched on top of the dashboard and turned it off. Jackie opened her eyes, looked at Brooke and smiled.

"Hey Brooke," Jackie slurred.

Brooke shook her head and said, "How drunk are you?"

Jackie held up her hand and brought her index finger and thumb close together and squinted, "just a little, why."

Brooke sighed and asked, "What brought this on?"

Jackie frown and looked at the steering wheel, she ran both hands along the material of the wheel. "When Eric gave you those flowers, I flashed back to the night that Charles proposed to me."

Brooke rubbed Jackie's shoulder, "I'm sorry Jackie."

"It's not your fault that I'm such a mess." Jackie wiped at the tears that was running down her face. Brooke nodded and got out of the truck. She went around to the driver's side and helped Jackie out, "Time to get you in bed."

"I miss him so much." Jackie said as she leaned into her friend.

"I know you do sweetie." Brooke said as she helped her semi-drunk friend to her room.

As Brooke helped Jackie into bed, Jackie said, "Hey Brooke."

"Yes Jackie?"

Jackie said, "There's a Brooke Shields movie coming on tomorrow night, want to watch it with me?" Jackie grabbed the covers and slid down further into bed, "There's something about her that reminds me of someone, I just can't put my finger on who it is." When Brooke turned out the light, Jackie turned onto her side and looked at the picture on her night stand till she fell asleep.