Hey everyone!
Wow! Thanks so much for the amazing response to the new story! I'm so overwhelmed. Frankly, with the crappy day I had at work today, your alerts and reviews and favs were the only things keeping me from going berserk and quitting. But nevermind that now. Thanks for all your kind words and I really hope I'll manage to lull you girls that are not AH-fans to read this through.
Big thanks go to Keri and her little butthead cat that liked my story so much that his ass wouldn't leave the laptop. or something like that, right? :D
Song - www(dot)youtube(dot)com/watch?v=PTwU3S1lp4E
I'm touching hands with someone seriously beautiful
I feel it burning and I know I'm standing far too close
I'm telling lies and if it shows I see that he don't care
I know he wants to take me home and get on outta here
But I got someone
Waiting at home
He says he in love but lately I just don't know
He don't see me
Or make me feel hot
Banging in the club with all my ladies and he don't know that
He about to lose 'bout to lose 'bout to lose me
He about to lose me
He about to lose 'bout to lose 'bout to lose me
He about to lose me
I feel my body losing focus as he touches me
And I should go but I can't ovecome this chemistry
He pulls me close before he whispers something in my ear
He says he wants to take me home and get me outta here
I got someone
Waiting at home
He says he in love but lately I just don't know
He don't see me or make me feel hot
Banging in the club with all my ladies and he don't know that
He about to lose 'bout to lose 'bout to lose me
He about to lose me
He about to lose 'bout to lose 'bout to lose me
He about to lose me
Someone by the back keeps looking at us dancing
I see him staring at me I see where he wants to be
Someone by the back keeps looking at us dancing
I gotta I gotta go, he don't know that
I'm touching hands with someone seriously beautiful
(Britney Spears - He About To Lose Me)
SPOV
I shivered slightly when Eric called me beautiful and our eyes met for a brief second; I knew he noticed. Bill never called me that and never made me feel beautiful, but with Eric it was different. He was my best friend, yes, but somewhere deep inside I knew that if we'd try for something more, it'd work out.
He made me feel special, smart and witty, funny and beautiful. He had ways to shown me how much he thought of me, and I loved him for everything he ever did for me.
Eric led me to the car, opened the door for me and helped me get seated. He was always so careful and attentive of me. He went around the car, paused by the door, and then finally opened it and got inside, settling in the driver's seat.
"Thank you for the compliment, Eric. I never thank you enough for all that you do for me," I told him, tears threatening to spill because of all the tender feelings I had for him.
"You have nothing to thank me for, Sookie," he said with a smile and his big hand gripped mine and squeezed.
It wasn't the first time, and I knew it wouldn't be the last, that I felt an electric current running through my skin where he touched me. I gasped a little, but masked it quickly in a returning smile.
He put the car in drive and we spent the time talking about the letter I had received in the morning. He was curious about the details and he told me about his hopes of finally writing a full novel. He would turn and offer me a smile from time to time, being careful to pay attention to the road, as he had a bit of a lead foot, and he was driving pretty fast. He was always a speed-o-maniac. Ever since he got his license that's how he drove – pedal to the floor. But I was never scared of being in the same car with him, no matter how fast he drove. He was a good driver and he would always pay extra attention to the road when I was in the car.
He pulled into the parking lot at Fangtasia, claiming his owner spot. He was so thrilled and excited about his very own café. He took us all on vacation the day he found out his mother left him a fortune, announcing that he'd open up the bar of his dreams with some of the money from the inheritance. It's been five years now and business was better than ever.
He came around and opened the door for me and helped me make a graceful exit out of his Corvette. With a skirt as short as mine, it was a miracle I didn't flash him. He pulled me after him through the door, and led me through the maze of hallways.
"I have a little paperwork to do and it's still early. Do you want me to take you to the table, or do you want to join me in the office until I'm done? It's not gonna take long," he asked me.
"I'll join you. I'd rather have a bit of peace and quiet before facing the madness that is our friends," I said laughing a bit.
He smiled at me and let me into his office, his hand on my lower back. The skin there felt all tingly when his touch disappeared.
I went to take a seat on the couch and he went behind his desk and began working on his papers. God knows, there's a lot of that to do in a business. Bureaucracy for the win, right? I watched him work, watched his blue eyes scan the pages with the orders he put in and whatnot. His short blonde hair was glistening slightly under the neon light. I remember when it used to be long. He looked so handsome with his long tresses, like he was supposed to play a Viking in a movie or something. But the shorter do fit him as well. It was more suited for his position and for his age, I guess, but I don't think I'd mind it too much if he let his hair grow again.
His right hand kept flipping a pen through his long fingers as his eyes focused on the pages. He really was handsome. I could see why ladies flocked to him. But I knew him. I knew there was so much more about him than his good looks, and I appreciated him for everything that he was – a beautiful human being.
He raised his gaze towards me and smiled when he caught me looking. My breath caught and I smiled back after a second.
"Come on, beautiful, I'm done here. We need to get to the others before they tear my place apart," he said to me, and a small blush colored my cheeks.
He offered me his hand to help me stand up and soon we were with our friends. Everyone hugged us and the girls kissed my cheeks.
"Ok, everyone, there's a reason why I called you here tonight. I have some news…" I managed to say before Amelia cut me off.
"You two are finally together, aren't you?" she asked, half squealing.
I looked at her confused, then realized she was talking about Eric and me.
"My book is gonna get published!" I answered instead of saying anything in reply to Ames' statement.
There was a slight pause before everyone started cheering.
Laf and Sam came and hugged me, while Alcide and Amelia found a spot on my shoulders to keep a hand on.
"To Sookie!" Diantha cheered in a surprisingly clear sentence, raising her glass of whatever-it-was she was drinking.
Everyone else seemed just as excited and mimicked her toast.
We all fell back in a comfortable discussion, and all my friends seemed curious as to what my novel was about. They all knew bits and pieces, but no one knew the entire story. No one but Eric, that is.
Sam had always been supportive of my writing and always understood me when I needed a few days off to get something straightened out. He had a diner in Bon Temps, and I had worked there as a waitress when I was younger, when the business belonged to his father. He had since passed away and left him the diner and a bit of money to go about.
Lafayette was a sweetheart. He was the biggest queen of them all and he was proud of it too. He had a fine ear for music, which is why he was a DJ. With all his glamorous, glitzy clothes, he fit right into that booth and attracted all attention towards him. He was excited when I told him that one of my characters was actually based on him. He was so proud that he said he'd refer to himself as LaLa from now on.
We were all enjoying ourselves, with Eric keeping a close eye on whatever everyone needed. I felt my purse vibrate and grabbed for my cell phone inside. There was a text from Bill waiting for me.
I am not coming home tonight. Don't wait up for me. I'll sleep at the office.
My shoulders immediately slumped forward, and my head lowered to keep everyone from seeing the tears that were threatening to fall. No one saw anything, and I thought I'd be safe if I just tried to stall the moment a bit longer. I knew in that moment that Bill was cheating on me, and I promised myself I would not cry.
Eric draped an arm over my shoulders and his lips came near my ear.
"Bill?" he asked slowly. I merely nodded and passed him my cell.
He read the message quickly and I felt him tremble slightly. I was sure he was barely containing his anger. He probably came to the same conclusion as I did. His lips found my temple and he pressed a kiss there while his arm squeezed my shoulder.
Everyone else was talking over the music when he pulled me up and after him towards the little dance floor. He dragged me to the far end of the room, away from our friends' eyes. His arms gathered me to his chest, and we swayed slowly as my mind reeled and reeled at what I was about to do. This had gone long enough. The late hours, the missing attraction, the bad sex, and now this. It was the last straw. I was sure he was cheating on me. And even if he wasn't, I was sick of this relationship. When two people are in love they are supposed to support each other and here I was, alone, without my significant other, celebrating the most important thing in my writing career so far. I let out a sigh and felt myself calm down. My mind was set.
I realized that Eric had taken me away, knowing that I'd want space to think. He always knew what I needed. We were dancing slowly, swaying from left to right, during a catchy and upbeat song. The second I listened to the lyrics it was like they were speaking to me.
I gazed up to Eric's face and found him watching me patiently. The lyrics were right again. I was holding hands with someone seriously beautiful. I smiled to him and he smiled back, cupped my face and kissed my forehead.
EPOV
That motherfucker was cheating on Sookie. I wanted to rip him apart. I knew it wouldn't change things and I knew Sookie wouldn't hurt any less if I beat him within an inch of his life, but I was sure I'd feel better. How could he do that to her?
I took her hand and dragged her to the other end of the dance floor where I knew she would be safe from our friends' eyes. I was sure she wouldn't want to talk to anyone about this right now and she must have had a lot on her mind. We swayed from left to right like we were dancing on a waltz. It didn't matter that Beyonce was blasting through the speakers. I held her tight as she mulled things over and I wished there was something I could do to make her feel better.
I was watching when her eyes finally came up from my chest. She smiled at me and I couldn't help but smile back. I grabbed her face in my hands and suppressed a serious urge to kiss her lips. I kissed her forehead instead. Her mind was set about something, but I'd only ask about it later. Now was the time for her to do what she came here to do, celebrate.
I dragged her back through the crowd and to our friend's table. Only Diantha was still there, the others filling the dance floor. Lafayette was making a show of himself, pretending to use Amelia's body as a make-shift pole and dancing languidly around her on a song that sounded very much like Britney. For all I knew, it could have been.
Di came around to us and hugged Sookie. She bent to her ear and said something. Her left hand was twitching a bit, and I knew she was trying to speak slowly so Sook could understand her over the music. It was weird, but her hand always did that when she was trying to slow herself down. It was quite funny to watch.
Our quirky friend stood up to go on the dance floor, but made sure to kiss Sookie's cheek before going.
As we were left alone in the booth our eyes met again and she reached for my hand. She gave it a slight squeeze and she mouthed "thank you" to me. I smiled at her and nodded once, letting her know that it had been received. I pulled her hand and brought her closer to me. She settled in the crook of my arm and my hand went over her shoulders. I whispered in her ear, asking if she was ok.
"I am now. Thanks for being here for me," she said, her breath tickling my neck and ear.
"Always," I whispered so she couldn't hear.
"What?" she asked.
"I said 'anytime'," I lied and she smiled at me, but there was a slight crease in the corner of her eyes, like she didn't believe me.
"What time are you meeting this Pam tomorrow?"
"Noon-ish. She seems like my kind of girl," she laughed and I joined her. We both hated waking up early and we became caffeine addicts in our first year in uni, just so we could wake up for classes.
"It's nearly eleven. Do you want me to take you home?" I asked, and cringed when I said it. Home would be the last place she'd want to be.
She was silent for a few seconds.
"Gran's," was all she said, and I nodded.
I rose to my feet and motioned everyone over. We said our goodbyes to everyone, and Sookie got a lot of "good lucks" as well, along with a unanimous request for an immediate call as soon as the meeting was finished.
Sookie followed me through the hallway that led to the back exit, and I helped her get settled in my Corvette. Her panties were the same blue as her shirt. She didn't know it, but she was flashing me every time she lowered herself in the car. I needed another pause before entering the car, my hard-on becoming quite uncomfortable.
I settled in the seat and found that she had been watching me. Damn. I was pretty sure even the top of my ears were red. Although I was pretty sure she saw me handling myself she said nothing. Instead, she leaned forward and planted a kiss on my cheek.
"Thank you for tonight, Eric," she said and retreated to her seat after a second of lingering there.
"Nothing to thank me for. You deserve it. Plus, now I have someone on the inside who can get me a publishing deal faster when the time comes," I laughed and she joined in.
It pleased me that she could still laugh, despite the SlimeBill situation.
We drove in comfortable silence, a slow tune playing on the radio.
The buzzing of my phone interrupted the silence. I slowed down a bit and looked at the caller ID. Yvetta. Great.
"Yes?" I answered.
"Hey honeybunny! Where are you?" she whined, and I cringed, praying to God that Sookie didn't hear what she just called me.
"In the car, heading to Bon Temps. What is it?"
"I was just in front of your door, knocking and pressing the doorbell, wondering where you were. I came to visit you," she said. I'm pretty sure that meant she needed money.
"Well, go home. I'm gonna be a while and I don't have time tonight. I need to be up early tomorrow," I told her, trying to get her off my back.
"You're with that whore of yours, aren't you?" she asked and I immediately pulled the car to the side of the road and got out.
"Don't you ever call her that again!" I half yelled to her as I got around the car. I was pacing and fuming.
"But that's what she is. She's your whore! You two are involved behind my back, aren't you?" she accused.
"We're not, but it's none of your business anyway. Now stop accusing of things you have no clue about!"
"What things? That you've been cheating on me with that whore of yours? You spent your evening with her and now you're going to Bon Temps? What do you want me to believe?"
"I don't give a fuck what you believe. We're over. You've only been with me for my money and don't even try to say otherwise," I said angrily.
"The money? I don't care about your money!" she said defensively.
"Yeah, right. What did you buy last time? Louboutins?"
"Yeah, so? You offered!"
"No, I didn't. But that's not important anymore. We're over. I don't want to see you anymore. Don't call me. Don't visit me. Just, don't!" I told her, disconnecting before she could protest anymore. I turned around and saw Sookie's sad face watching me from the window.
I took a deep breath and returned to the car. I got back in and she kept watching me. I put the car in drive, and sped off to Bon Temps.
"I'm sorry," she finally said.
"What for?"
"For causing this. I know you stepped out because of me. She called me a bad name, didn't she?"
"Yes. But it doesn't matter anymore," I said, my eyes fixed on the road, still mad from the conversation.
"You didn't have to react like that in my defense," she said.
"Sookie, this wasn't just in your defense. I was sick of it. She has been using me for my money ever since we started dating. I'm done. I can't deal with this shit anymore. And don't apologize again cause I'll tickle you until you scream," I said with a slight smile on my face.
"Fine. I'm not apologizing, but I will say I'm sorry you two broke up because you're mad. However, I am not sorry you broke up with her because she was not good enough for you," she said.
I searched her face for a second, and then asked her why.
"Because she used you, and she's just not bright enough to be with someone like you. I can't believe you two ever had a decent conversation, seeing as how her neurons feel pretty alone up there," she said.
"I'm going to be brutally honest, then, and say that I'm glad you're breaking up with Bill, then," I said. "He's dull, and he doesn't understand you, and he certainly doesn't appreciate you." I shut up and watched her face lock up.
"You are breaking up with him, right?" I asked in a small voice as I parked the car in her farm house driveway.
She fell silent, so I got out of the car and went around to help her out. She flashed me again, but this time it had no effect on me. I was just too lost in my thoughts. I didn't know why I was so eager for her to break up with Bill. Was it the right decision for her? Yes. He was probably cheating on her and she wasn't happy anymore. Their relationship wasn't going anywhere in these conditions. I wondered if that was it, but then quickly admitted to myself that no, it wasn't. As her friend I wanted her to be happy. As the man who was in love with her, I saw it as an opportunity. But why would now be different from all the other times when she broke up with some guy? Why did I see it differently? Was I ready to take a chance and see if she'd respond the way I hoped she would?
"Come on in, Eric. You can't get home now with that nutjob at your door," she said from the porch. When did she get there?
I made my way towards her and followed her inside the house. The air was stale so she went and opened up a few windows to let the fresh evening breeze in. She plugged in the TV and powered it, choosing VH1. Friday Rocks, great!
She settled on the couch and took off her shoes and started massaging the soles of her feet. I went and settled next to her, kicked off my own shoes and grabbed her feet, settling them in my lap. The moan she let out as I started massaging her soles brought back the hard problem I had earlier.
We were silent for a few minutes before she broke the silence.
"Yes," was all she said.
I looked at her questioningly, but said nothing. She'd say whatever she set herself to say when she saw fit to do so.
"I am breaking up with Bill. I can't do this anymore. He's been distant with me for over a year. I blamed it on him being tired, but then his hours became longer and longer. I started wondering why that was, but never really put that much thought in it. I am starting to realize that I just don't care anymore. I'm not in love with him anymore. Haven't been for a long while now. I care for him, but that's it. I'm moving back here tomorrow. I'll gather my things when I get back from the meeting with Pam," she said.
"Do you want me to come with you?" I asked.
"Yes, but not tomorrow. I'll get my clothes and other light stuff first. I'll need your help with that dresser Gran gave me, though," she said with a smile.
"Sure, anything. Sookie?"
"Yes?"
"Are you ok?"
"Yeah, I am. I really am. It hurts, but I'll be ok. I have a lot in my life right now to keep me excited and happy. I'll get over it. My book is gonna get published! Can you believe that?" she asked, a little of the left over excitement coming forth.
"You deserve it so much, Sookie. You're an amazing writer," I told her truthfully.
"Thank you. So are you. You don't give yourself enough credit, you know? Find something you're passionate about and write about it. I'm sure you'll do great," she said, stifling a yawn.
"Scoot forward, come on," I told her and she did as I said, making room for me on the narrow couch.
I settled behind her, snuggling her body to mine. Her head rested on my arm and she sighed and scooted further into my body. My hand found her hip and I squeezed the spot a little, trying really hard not to think of how her body fit with mine perfectly and how her ass was so close to my dick.
"Thank you, Eric." She turned her body a bit, so her she could look at me. As she did this, her ass came closer to my hard-on, and she must have felt it. Her eyes widened a bit in surprise, but she quickly composed herself and stretched a little to kiss my cheek, close to my chin.
My left hand went from her hip to around her torso, hugging her body to mine. My face turned towards hers to look into her eyes and our lips were so close. My heart was hammering in my chest at the prospect of finally tasting the lips that had invaded my fantasies for so long. Her eyes fell to my own lips and then she met my gaze again. I'm sure I swallowed empty.
"You're welcome," I whispered, my breath tickling her face.
She sighed softly, then yelped in surprise as a gust of wind raised the drapes and pushed the windows wide open. She scrambled out of my embrace, effectively ruining what could have been the best moment in my life, as she got up to close the windows. She settled on the side of the couch and reached out for the remote, setting the sleep timer.
Sookie returned in my embrace and her body molded to mine. Her back was to me, her head on my arm. My lips felt parched. I couldn't resist and reached forward, kissing her exposed neck. She arched her back and let out a little moan in both surprise and pleasure. Her ass pressed in my dick again. She froze for a second, realizing that she didn't imagine it earlier, I'm sure, but relaxed soon after. If she had any problem with my body's reaction to her, she sure didn't say anything.
"Good night, Eric," she said, her left arm reaching backwards to touch my neck and give a little tug at my hair.
"Good night, Sookie," I replied and hugged her even closer.
We fell asleep to Bon Jovi's soft ballad "Always", playing on VH1.
Let me know what you think! Reviews are love! :D
xoxo
Gaby