Edited 2019

AN: Thanks for everyone who is reading big kudos for my reviewers.

Standard Disclaimer: Blah blah, not mine blah.

Chapter 7

"Sook are you ok?" I looked up and saw Jason yawning with bleary eyes. I could see Alcide stretching behind him. "Eric woke Alcide and me up when he slammed the front door. Did he do something to make you cry?"

"Eric is not the reason I'm crying. He and I just had a differing of opinion. I am upset because of mama's cello. Gran asked me about my day and I just broke down is all." I said whipping away my tears. I stood up and gave Gran a hug. "I am going to go to my room I have some homework I need to do before bed. Goodnight." I went upstairs to my room.

I pick up my bag from the floor and got my notebook out. I sat down on my bed. The only thing that I needed to do was to make a nameplate for my Swedish class. Thinking of class made me think of Eric and how he helped me to pick a name. I muttered to myself "I just don't understand boys. He was so nice during class today. Then tonight he was off. I seemed almost like he was jealous that I spent time with another guy. It is not like we are dating; he just sees me as a little sister, I think. He even looked mad when I asked the boys to give Godric a ride home so he could stay longer. It is not my fault that John pulled me onto his lap. That is just the way he is around me. Then he had the audacity to make fun of Godric. Why does he have to be so dang cute?" I decided that if he could act immature then so could I. I don't have to talk to him anyway it is not like he is my friend; he is my brothers.

I got up and walked to my desk grabbed my sketch pad and a pencil. If I was gonna get this nameplate done, then I needed to get started. I drew out the name Sanna like the letters were musical notes on a sheet of music. I thought that it was good enough for what Mrs. Fant was asking. It was not like she was looking for a masterpiece she just wanted us to show something of our personality. I took out the page and folded it so it could stand up. I then put it in my notebook for school and returned it to my bag. I decided to work on the dance for Godric for a while. I spent the next hour coming up with a routine that was masculine but still had a lot of feeling to the movements. I was happy with what I came up with. I was starting to feel tired, so I figured it was time to get cleaned up and go to bed.

I went over to my dresser and got out a pair of light blue shorts and a t-shirt. I put the clothing on the bed and went across the hall to take a shower before getting ready for bed. I washed my hair with my favorite shampoo that smells like mint. I finished getting clean got out and enveloped myself in a towel. I took my hairbrush off the counter and walked back to my room. I sat on my bed and brushed out my hair. Once I was done, I got dressed and turned off the light. I climbed into bed and looked up at my ceiling. I could just make out the stars I had painted from the light coming in through my window. I stared at the ceiling until my eyes drifted closed.

I woke the next morning to the smell of bacon. I stretched and got up. I wandered downstairs to the kitchen. Gran was at the stove making breakfast. I looked over to the table and to my surprise saw Eric and Mr. Northman sitting there.

"Good morning Sookie how are you doing today?" Mr. Northman asked. I sat down looking anywhere but at Eric.

"I'm fine, I just woke up. What are you two doing over here this morning?" I countered picking up a slice of toast to munch on.

"Well, I came over to ask your Grandmother if it would be alright if Eric stayed here for a couple of weeks. I have to go oversea on business, and I would rather not leave him home alone. I know that he is capable of care for himself, as he has pointed out to me several times, this morning. I would just feel better knowing he had adult supervision." Mr. Northman looked over at his son amused.

"He will be staying up in the guest room across the hall from yours. Why don't you take him up so he can put his stuff away and you can get dressed for the day? Oh, and wake your brother on the way up he ignored me when I went in there ten minutes ago." Gran said waving her spatula around.

I got up from the table without looking back to see if Eric followed. I knocked on Jason's door and got no answer. So, I went to the bathroom and filled a cup with cold water. I walked back into his room and turned the light on. He rolled over and covered his head to escape the light. "Jason Gran sent me in here to wake you up. If you don't get out of bed, I am going to pour water all over you in about ten seconds. 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4." Before I could get to three Jason shot out of bed scowling at me. "I am not the one you have to be mad at Gran wanted you up so you could start getting ready." He mumbled something along the lines of fine and get out, pushing me from the room. I went back into the bathroom to dump out the water and set the glass down.

I came back out to the hall to find Eric leaning against the wall with a smirk on his face. "Is that the fine southern hospitality I have to look forward to if I don't get up when Gran says?"

"Only if you act like Jason does when he is waking up. Come on I will show you where you will be sleeping." I walked upstairs not waiting for him to follow. I stopped in front of the door to the guest room. Eric was not far behind carrying a heavy-looking suitcase. I opened the door and walked in turning on the light. The guest room was the smallest bedroom in the house. The room had a floral print wallpaper in shades of green, yellow and pink. The one window in the room had long lace curtains draped around it. The room had a small closet and a dresser. The bed was a small twin bed adorned with a lacey duvet, pink sheets, and pillows with yellow shams. I giggled to myself imaging Eric sleeping in such frilly accommodations. "Well, this is it. I guess you will be sharing a bathroom with me so put your stuff down and I'll show you." I walked out into the hall and took a right into the bathroom.

"I can't think of the number of times I have been to your house and I have never been up here. Do you normally have this floor to yourself?" He asked carrying in a small bag of what I assumed to be toiletries.

"Yes, Gran's room is downstairs along with Jason's. Gran finds it hard to climb this may stairs on a daily basis, so it is easier for her to have her room downstairs. Jason's is down their cause Gran got tired of him falling out the window and getting hurt when he was trying to sneak out. Gran figured it would be easier on him to just walk past her room to get out, but he gave up sneaking out cause he said it lost all its fun of having to get out a second-story window." I said chuckling. "The towels are in the linen closet in the hall. The extra blankets sheets and pillows are in there too in case you would like to find some that have a more masculine quality."

"What you don't think I am man enough to sleep in pink sheets under a lace comforter?" He asked arching his left eyebrow.

"Oh I think you are plenty man enough, I just wonder what John and Alcide would say if they saw you sleeping in there," I replied trying not to burst into a fit of giggles as his face lost all its color and humor. "Well you know where everything is now, and I need to get dressed so I can go eat. If you want any of that I would suggest getting down there before Jason gets out of the shower." I left him in the bathroom and went to get ready for the day.

I decided to wear shorts and a light short sleeve peasant blouse. I dug in my closet for a pair of strappy sandals. I put on one of my mother's necklaces too. It was a white gold chain with a small diamond cross pendant. I pulled my hair up into a messy bun at the top of my head, with a few stray hairs framing my face. I picked up my bag and headed downstairs to eat. It was kind of hard to stay mad at Eric when he was being nice. I liked him better when he was nice.

I entered the kitchen again to find Gran sitting sipping coffee. Eric and Jason had plates heaping with food. Mr. Northman was in the corner talking on his cell phone. "Sookie your plate is in the oven. I wanted to make sure that you had something to eat with these two glutens." Gran said pointing at the oven. I got a glass down to have some milk. I have learned over the years that if I get my food out first the vulture that Jason is most of it will be gone before I sit down to eat. I retrieved my plate and sat down to eat.

"Eric I will call you when I get into Stockholm. Behave yourself while you are here. Is there anything you would like me to tell your mother and sister? I will be visiting Pam at university to see how she is settling in." Mr. Northman asked, closing his phone.

"Tell Pammy I miss her, and I can't wait till she is on winter break so I can see her. Ask her if she is planning to be here for Christmas this year. You can tell mother whatever you like I have nothing to say to her." Eric said with disdain. What little I knew about Eric's mother was that she was some type of European socialite. When she had married Eric's father it had been more of a business move than anything else. Once she had the two children she checked out. Eric rarely spoke of her. His older sister Pam had stayed with their mother after the divorce so that she could go to Uppsala University. She was in her first year of med-school. I had only meet Pam once when she came for a visit. She had been the female version of Eric. She was tall, blonde and gorgeous. I was jealous of just how skinny she was, not that I don't like my curvy frame, but I have always been self-conscious. She just exuded confidence and poise.

"Are you sure there is nothing you want to say to her? She is your mother." His father asked.

"She has never been my mother she was just the lady that birthed me. I will see you when you come home. Hej pappa, jag älskar dig." He said getting up and walking to the front door.

"Farväl son. I will see all of you when I return. Thank you again, Adele, for keeping an eye on my son. Good luck with your tryouts Sookie. Jason don't give him any stupid ideas." Mr. Northman stood up to leave.

I went to the front to check on Eric. He was sitting on the porch swing staring off into the yard. "Are you going to be riding into school with us or are you going in on your own?" I sat down with him on the swing.

"I was going to take my birthday bike to school, but I think it might be better if I rode in with you guys. I am sort of upset right now. I know that dad has to see her, but I don't have to care. She is the one who left us. It is not like she calls or anything. Why should I be the one to put in the time and effort when she doesn't?" He sat there trying not to cry. I leaned over and took his hand in mine. I understood that he was hurt but I had a hard time dealing with the fact that he had both his parents but did not want to talk to one. I would give anything to get to talk to my parents again. I also knew better than to tell him that at the moment. He just wanted to vent and be comforted. I looked up at him and he turned his head in my direction. A few tears had fallen down his check, so I reached up and whipped them away. As I was taking my hand back, he grabbed it keeping it against his face. He looked into my eyes pleadingly and leaned down.

Authors Note # 2: I know that it is really mean of me to stop the chapter there, but I just had to. I will get the next one done and up as soon as I can. Thanks again for reading.

Translation: Goodbye father, I love you.

Farewell son.