In Another Life... by PersianFreak
Disclaimer: Everything belongs to Charlaine Harris. Please don't sue.
Rating: M
Spoilers: None
A/N: So sorry about the long wait; I had finals and things have been pretty hectic. Pretty short chapter, and we're also getting pretty close to the end, I think. Anyways, let me know what you think, please =)
University was ridiculous.
Sookie had about three hundred people in every single one of her classes and she already had two papers due by mid-September. It was enjoyable though, on some level. She loved the campus with its red-roofed brick buildings and the heat that was drier than Louisiana, and yet somehow comforting. She loved the new people – alright, she liked the hot guys – and the clichéd parties where people drunk themselves into oblivion. Above all, she loved that she had Amelia with her and that Eric had promised to visit every few weeks. Sookie smiled to herself as she lay on her bed and flipped a page.
"Can I come in?" A male voice asked and she looked up from the textbook she had been absent-mindedly looking through to smile.
"Hey! Yeah, come on in!" Steven stepped in through the open door and sat on the bed, letting Sookie take in his easy grin and curly brown hair. She liked Steven; she had lent him a pencil in class once and he was pretty funny, and tonight he was dressed in sweats and a t-shirt that was nearly as filled out as it would have been on Eric.
Eric. His name made Sookie's heart squeeze painfully; she hadn't seen him in three weeks now.
"This is what you do on Friday nights?" He asked with a raised eyebrow, breaking into her reverie.
"Hmm? Yeah," she shrugged, "I'm not really in a partying sort of mood."
"Really?"
Sookie laughed, "Why do you look so shocked? Do I look the type to party every week?"
His cheeks darkened, "No, that's not what I meant! I was just thinking that guys would be lining up to ask you to go to parties and stuff."
"Maybe," Sookie grinned, "But that doesn't mean I would want to go with them."
"Oh," he looked a little confused.
"I have a boyfriend," she clarified.
"Oh?"
She nodded, "My high school boyfriend. He doesn't go here, though."
"You're in a long-distance relationship?" He asked incredulously.
"Hey, it's not that bad!" She defended quickly. "I mean, I'm not going to pretend that it's not hard, but..." She shrugged.
"But?" He pressed, now looking amused as he made himself more comfortable lying on the bed. "You love him?"
"Yeah," Sookie nodded shyly.
"Lucky guy," Steven commented.
"I am," a cool voice agreed and Sookie gasped, launching herself into Eric's arms.
"Eric!" She squealed, her legs locked around his hips as he stumbled backwards but managed to keep his balance.
"Hey, Sook," he chuckled, letting her down after a moment and looking up at the now-awkward Steven.
"Oh, Eric, this is Steven from my Lit class. Steven, this is my boyfriend, Eric." Sookie introduced, feeling herself blush at her outburst.
Eric's gave Steven a cursory look that let Sookie know he had already deemed Steven unworthy of her attention. "Hey." He nodded curtly.
"Hey." Neither boy made a move to shake the other's hand and Sookie bit her lip to keep from laughing out loud at the both of them. "Well, I'm gonna leave you two to it, then." Steven smirked a little bit, "Catch you later, Sook."
"Bye," Sookie waved at him.
"Bye, Eric."
"Bye, Stuart."
"It's Steven."
"My bad," Eric smiled angelically and Steven scoffed, closing the door behind him. Sookie shook her head at him and he aimed his innocent look at her. "What?"
"Nothing," she smiled, putting her arms around his shoulders. "You didn't tell me you were visiting this week."
"I wanted to surprise you," he pulled her body flush against his.
"Well done, Mr Northman," she murmured, standing up on her toes so that her lips were nearly touching his. Eric made an appreciative noise and nudged her nose with his. "I missed you."
"Missed you," he echoed, claiming her lips and leading her to her bed.
***
"So, next time," Sookie began drowsily, "You should probably make sure I'm not out when you surprise me." Eric's lips were pressed into her shoulder and she could feel his smile against her skin.
"Hmm, don't worry, next time I'll call ahead so you can kick out your new boyfriend before I get here."
"Hey, not nice," she pouted.
"I'm better in bed anyways," he commented.
"Not really," Sookie shook her head with a frown, "He does this thing when he's on top-" She never got to finish her sentence because Eric chose that moment to push into her again, grinning at the incoherent noise she made.
***
"I love you," Sookie whispered to Eric's sleeping form, loving the way he was sprawled with half his face hidden against the pillow. Pushing his hair back from his face, she snuggled closer to him in the bed and smiled in surprise when his arm snaked around her waist and he kissed her cheek.
"If you love me, tell me when I'm awake," he challenged with his eyes closed.
"Sorry, can't do." She pursed her lips in mock regret.
He opened one eye. "I bet you tell your other boyfriend you love him."
"My other boyfriend is better-looking," she informed him.
"Okay, I no longer like this game," Eric decided, looking more awake.
"You started it," Sookie pointed out, mouthing at his shoulder.
"Say it, Sookie." There was a strange hardness in his voice, one that made Sookie meet his eyes in surprise.
She cocked her head to the side, "What's wrong with you? You know I love you."
"Yeah, I know." But he didn't look very convinced.
"Eric, you're not jealous, are you?" Sookie asked incredulously, "Steven is just a friend!"
"Yeah, I know." He repeated gravely.
"Eric..." she murmured, placing a light hand on the side of his face. "Don't be like this. Don't be distant."
"I'm not distant," he countered, "I'm here, aren't I?"
"And I'm so glad you are," she smiled, kissing his forehead. "I missed you so much, and before you came here I was sitting here thinking how much I wished I could see you tonight and then Steven came in and I was just comparing the two of you in my mind, and you won every single comparison." Eric's eyes flicked up to hers.
"You like him." His voice was even; not even accusatory.
"I think he's cute," she told him honestly. "But he could be Brad Pitt and it wouldn't matter because he's never going to be as good as you in my eyes."
Eric gave that some thought before meeting her eyes again, "You know, I wasn't jealous."
"Oh, I know," Sookie nodded with a straight face, smiling when he pulled her face down to his.
***
It wasn't Sookie's idea to go to the party. It wasn't even Eric's. But Amelia had seemed so enthusiastic about it that Eric had shrugged and Sookie had rolled her eyes and so on Saturday night they had ended up following the other girl into the frat house practically spilling with drunken shenanigans.
"Oooooh, this is great!" Amelia was practically clapping in excitement.
This is every after-school special I have ever seen and then some, Sookie thought as she took in the partygoers. Loud house music was blasting from the basement and there were people everywhere: dancing and flirting and making out, occasionally even having normal conversations. Wincing, she noticed a particularly enthusiastic couple doing things on the couch that made Sookie blush and turn to Eric.
"This is extremely clichéd," he commented though there was amusement in his eyes. They both watched as a particularly pretty boy took Amelia's hand and wordlessly dragged her towards the makeshift dance floor.
"Oh, let's just stay long enough to please Amelia," Sookie sighed when she was gone and clasped Eric's hand.
Eric shrugged, "Sure. Want a drink?"
"Might as well," Sookie nodded. "Um, gin and tonic if they have it. Beer if they don't."
"Will do." He kissed the side of her head and disappeared into the crowd towards what he guessed was the kitchen. Left alone, Sookie continued to admire the frat house.
"Hey there," a deep voice greeted and Sookie whirled around to face the owner of it.
"Oh, hi." She didn't have to look very high to meet his eyes.
"I'm Dave." Dave's dirty brown hair was slicked back, and he had a particularly wide forehead and deep-set eyes. He's sort of cute, Sookie observed.
"Um, Sookie." Her um sounded like I'm, but she figured it got the message across.
He raised a brow, "Sookie, huh?"
"Yeah," she half-smiled, "My parents wanted a quirky name for their little girl."
Dave smiled and Sookie noticed how lovely he was when he did. His eyes all but shone and the corners of them crinkled in an infectious, genuine grin.
"Are you in your second year or what?" Sookie asked.
"Third. Pre-law."
"Ooh, impressive."
Dave nodded appreciatively, "You?"
"English Major."
"Well, I hope you're prepared for the infinite number of 'cunning linguist' remarks that are going to be made by drunk boys for the next four years."
Sookie laughed out loud but couldn't help blushing, "I wasn't, but thanks for the warning."
Dave grinned, suddenly closer than before, "So can I get you something to drink?"
"Um," Sookie turned to Eric who was nearly at her side again and accepted the plastic cup he handed her, half-raising it at Dave.
"Gotcha."
She smiled, "Dave, this is my Eric. Eric, Dave."
"Hey," Dave nodded and Eric returned the sentiment, casually slipping an arm around Sookie's waist.
"DUDE, COME ON, WE'RE PLAYING BEER PONG!" was yelled across the room at Dave who rolled his eyes.
"I'll catch you later Sookie, Eric," he nodded at them both, smiled briefly at Sookie and hurried towards the set of stairs that led down.
"A friend?" Eric inquired, sipping at his beer.
Sookie shook her head, "He's in his third year of pre-law; I just met him."
"Huh, that guy is checking you out," Eric nodded at someone over Sookie's head and she turned to find a stocky blonde with his eyes glued to her.
"What," she turned back to him, "I'm hot, I can be checked out."
"Hmm," Eric frowned, "That you are." Sookie smiled but Eric's expression didn't change, nor did his demeanour for the rest of the night. If anything, it worsened. A few hours later, Sookie watched Eric burst into her room ahead of her and flop down angrily on her bed, grabbing a magazine at random to flip through.
"Eric, what?" she sighed, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Nothing," he flipped the page, getting his anger under control even as she watched. Sookie paused, tilting her head as he continued to ignore her.
"I'm taking a shower, then," she muttered and went into the bathroom, closing the door more forcefully than was entirely necessary. She had no idea what was going on, though she could guess. Other guys hitting on her at parties had never been a problem before because all the other parties she had been to had been high school ones where they all knew everyone and everyone knew them. More importantly, everyone knew that they were dating and so no other guys had ever actually hit on Sookie knowing that Eric was her boyfriend. It wasn't important; or Sookie hadn't considered it a big deal. The same wasn't true for Eric, though. Pam had somehow always been around to flirt with Eric whenever Sookie drifted away from him at parties, but her trust in him had allowed her to keep her distance and watch as Eric continually waved the other girl off, though it had gotten tiring after a while. She hadn't even been the only one to flirt with him, just the boldest one.
But this, this was different, Sookie thought as the warm water warmed her skin. She closed her eyes and tried to remember if she had shown any interest in the blonde boy or in Dave(the one with the brilliant smile) or in any of the other boys who had hit on her in front of Eric. Or Steven. She hadn't, had she? And if she had, why wouldn't Eric just tell her he was mad at her? Since when had he become the type to keep those kinds of things to himself? Telling him that she thought Steven was cute was clearly a mistake, in hindsight. She turned off the water and stepped out, putting on her bathrobe before walking back into her room.
"Going somewhere?"
"Yeah, Pendleton," Eric shoved more clothes into his bag and zipped it shut, patting his pocket to make sure he had his keys and wallet.
"You don't have to leave." Something in Sookie started trembling.
He checked the bedside table drawer and retrieved his keys, "Yeah, I do. Sookie, this isn't going to work out."
"You're breaking up with me?" She laughed incredulously. This wasn't happening. Why was this happening?
"Yeah," he straightened up and levelled her with his hard blue eyes.
"Is this about the party?" Sookie stepped forward, "Jesus, Eric, that was just a couple of drunk guys wanting to get laid."
"I know," he spun his keys on a finger but he was no longer looking at her.
"So that's it, then? You're just leaving without an explanation?" Eric met her gaze but didn't say anything, instead choosing to pick up his bag and turn towards the door. "Wait," Sookie walked to her closet, finding what she had been looking for in a shoebox. "Here." She thrust the little box into his hands.
"What is it?"
"Your birthday present." Sookie didn't add that she had been planning a romantic night for them during his next visit; there was no need for him to know that.
"Sook, I don't want it," he said gently, pushing it back.
"I got it for you, okay Eric?" Her voice rose in pitch and she suppressed the tears, "I threw away the receipt and I'm not gonna give someone else something that was meant for you, so just take it. You can toss it in the trash, but just... take it." Eric studied her for a second and then nodded.
"Thank you." Sookie nodded in acknowledgement and stepped around him to open the door. Eric stopped in the doorway and turned back to her, "You take care, okay?"
"Yeah, you too." Sookie was staring at her bare feet and Eric's old Nike's. Leaning forward, Eric pressed a kiss into her forehead while Sookie squeezed her eyes shut. When she opened her eyes, he was gone.
***
There was someone pounding on Sookie's skull. The vibrations reverberated behind her eyes and made her groan before dying out, only to be replaced with a high-pitched voice calling her name.
"Christ, what! It's open!" The door opened and Amelia practically stumbled in.
"Morning! Whoa." Sookie's friend gaped at the boy who was sitting up and flashed them both a little bit when he pulled on his boxers.
He smiled shyly at Amelia, "I guess I'll be going then. Bye Sook." Sookie groaned and mumbled good-bye into her pillow.
"Sookie, that wasn't Eric..." Amelia pointed out cautiously, putting down the coffee and donuts she had been carrying on the bedside table.
"I know."
"Why was a non-Eric boy in your bed?"
"Clothes," was Sookie's only response. Amelia sighed and tossed her shorts and a tank top from her closet, turning around obediently to allow her to get dressed, waiting wordlessly as she went to the bathroom.
"Sookie, talk to me." Sookie emerged and claimed one of the paper cups, sipping a little at its contents before finally meeting her friend's gaze.
"Eric broke up with me."
"He what?"
"Ow, hangover!" Sookie complained, flinching.
Amelia sat down beside her on the bed, "Sookie, why?"
"I don't know why." Was her chin actually quivering? Sookie put down the coffee.
"Are you okay?" Amelia asked gently.
She shook her head, "No. No, I'm not okay."
"Oh, honey," Amelia let her friend lean into her, hiding her face in her hair as wracking sobs began to shake her body.
"This wasn't supposed to happen," Sookie wept.
"I know," Amelia wrapped her arms around Sookie's body.
"I love him so much..."
"I know, honey, I know." Sookie squeezed her eyes shut, random memories of her time with Eric flashing through her mind in some sort of a sick joke. Thinking of exactly where her phone was sitting on her dresser, Sookie wondered if she could just call him, just to hear his voice one last time. That would probably be needy, she decided.
"I gave him his birthday present," Sookie mumbled, lifting her head.
"Aw, did you?"
Sookie nodded, "I didn't know what else to do with it. What else was I supposed to do with it?" Her voice trembled dangerously.
"Nothing, nothing," Amelia assured her hurriedly.
"He'll probably hate it anyways. Probably threw it in the trash on his way out."
Amelia smiled sadly, "I'm sure he loved it."
"I don't care if he loved it," Sookie snapped savagely, "He's an asshole. You all told me he was an asshole."
"He is an asshole," Amelia agreed, "And you deserve much better, and you will find someone much, much better. You know all that, right?" Sookie nodded and eyed the cups of coffee, now cold.
"He told me he was an asshole," she muttered, thinking back to how he had told her he couldn't be the perfect boyfriend she wanted. He had become the perfect boyfriend, though. They had fit, in their own strange way. They'd argued over the smallest things but had worked them with the ease that came with knowing one another for years and now... Fuck.
"Come on, let's go get some actual breakfast. My treat." Amelia suggested.
"Urgh, shower first," Sookie groaned, "I need to wash all the Phil off of me."
"Was he good, at least?" Amelia asked with a grin.
"Wrong question to ask, Mel!" Sookie backhanded her friend.
"Sorry, sorry," Amelia laughed quietly. Sookie picked out some clothes from her closet and returned to the bathroom, closing the door behind her. Her reflection stared back at her, her eyes looking strangely empty with the bags under them. Poking lightly at the flesh, Sookie fleetingly wondered if Eric had broken up with her because he had seen prettier girls at the party, and then laughed out loud.
"You okay in there?" Amelia called through the door.
"Yeah, just thinking," Sookie called back, still smiling. You're a lot of things, Sookie Stackhouse, but self-conscious is not one of them so don't start now. Eric had loved her, she knew that, and he had wanted her. The problem was that Sookie didn't know what had led to him breaking up with her.
"Whatever," she told herself quietly once under the hot stream of water. "I'll get over him. He was just some guy. I'll get over him."
Fifteen minutes later, Sookie was following Amelia to the car Amelia's parents had surprised her with when they had landed in California.
It was not lost on Amelia that Sookie casually checked all the trashcans between her door and the parking lot.