AN: This chapter drove me crazy.
You'll be getting some action at the end. So enjoy.
Thanks for the reviews and alerts. :D

During the walk home I kept thinking that Eric Northman –yes, that Eric Northman- apologized to me, he actually apologized, and looked like he meant it. The guy did what I had never expected him to do, and my mind went blank. I had left him standing there, yet again, despite the fact that there was a perfect speech drilled into my head.

It's not like I had time to prepare for it, no, I was caught out of the blue. He came out of nowhere, tapping me on my shoulder like a shy little schoolboy trying to get the teacher's attention, and telling me that he was sorry. How does one react to that? I, for one, turned around and walked away, after telling him "Ok. Thanks". The guy that stalked my thoughts had followed me, in nothing but jeans –displaying his faint-worthy body- and apologized. Total mindfuck.
If he had apologized in his house, or at his front door it would've been ok, I guess, but in situations like this I was hopeless. I needed structure, I needed to know what the other was up to. Bill was predictable, even at the end because he was always drunk, so that wouldn't surprise me it was just very annoying, but Eric was like weather. Always changing, not really easy to pinpoint. Last minute changes, surprises. Yes, that was Eric in a nutshell. I thought I knew him, but suddenly he had broke out of his corner and took place in another, only to burst out of it again. It was frustrating, but surprising. A breath of fresh air, even more so than Amelia. Even Amelia had some sort of pattern. Eric had none, at least not one I had the opportunity to detect.

With my mind still replaying the memory, I stuck the key in the keyhole and opened the door.

Should I call him?
I entered my bedroom, the sheets still a mess from my restless night. The red clutch that started it all was emptied and put away in my closet. The contents still scattered around, Amelia and Tara went through it like whirlwinds and hadn't bothered with hanging or putting it back. Oh well, that wasn't new. Amelia wouldn't know that she had wooden floors, there were that many clothes covering it. My hands kept themselves busy with picking up the disapproved clothes and putting them back in my closet. They stilled when my fingers touched the fabric of the red dress I was wearing last night. With a small smile on my face I thought back how Eric looked at me when he first saw me last night, telling me that I looked good and how flustered I felt when he did so.

Text him? Go back? Email him?

With a sigh the red dress was put back on it's hanger, but it didn't go back in the closet. I was too fond of it now to let it hang in the darkness, no, this dress was my happy memory, and the only hope I had of fixing my stupid mistake. Perhaps I should wear it to the launch party. The other dresses in my closet were nothing compared to this one, and this would give a message to Eric. A very subtle one, but I had no doubt he would understand. A silent apology and hint combined into a fitted, cherry-red, smooth dress. Perfect.

Amelia stumbled into the appartment together with Tara. Both had at least four bags, all covered with the same expensive brand logos. They had gone shopping today, for tonight. They had asked me to join them, but I declined. My day was spend relaxing in the sun outside, reading a book I had wanted to read for a while and some baking. Amelia immediately ran into the kitchen after sniffing in the sweet smells, and came back with a couple of cookies stacked in her hand. Tara followed, and both were now nibbling on them, praising me for making them. It was my grandmother's recept, and it pleased me very much that everybody liked them.

This night was the launch party, the night we all looked forward to, all be it for different reasons. Amelia will be seeing Tray again, Tara will be having a great time to attend the party she helped organize, and I will be seeing Eric. The thought alone made me giddy and warm inside. Amelia kept giving me sideglances, noticing my schoolgirl state.

"Sooks. Tara. Cab." Amelia shouted from the front door while she patted down non-existant crinkles in her darkblue dress. It was another typical Amelia dress, with peacock feathers on the shoulders and at the hem of her dress. Of the three of us, she sure was popping out when it came to originality. Tara wore a black dress, a very stylish one, and I was feeling very confident in my red dress. Amelia had groaned when I mentioned that I would wear it again, and if I hadn't stopped her she would've had a closet-raid again. Thankfully, she did stop with pushing me to wear a different dress. Amelia was pushy, but knew when she was walking on thin ice. There was a little tension afterwards, but we were both too excited to even let it bother us.

Tara had styled my hair and did my make-up, and she once again did an amazing job. She sure was an artist when it came to cosmetics and beauty products and when she was finished there was a whole new Sookie. It made me even more excited than I already was, which was a good thing, because I needed all the distraction I could get to not think about all the press that would be hording the entrance. All those photographers would shoot away, and if you were lucky, they would all be praising you the next day. If you weren't.. let's say your confidence would receive a very hard blow.

Not speaking from my own experience, thank God, but I knew the tabloids all too well, and the people in it. It's a cruel world, but you just needed to deal with it.

The cab –Amelia called it a cab, it actually was an expensive car with chaffeur- slowed down, papparazzi huddling around it. The flashing lights of their camera's were making me dizzy at first, but my eyes got used to it after a while. Amelia was bouncing on her seat with a big grin spread on her face, ready to jump out of the car and start having fun. Her enthusiasm rubbed off on me, and the few nerves I had dissappeared, making me exit the car with a smile. We had made a deal that we would let the photographers only take pictures of the three of us, so we stuck close to eachother till we stepped inside.

"Wow. Tara you did an amazing job!" I said in awe. The club had gone through a whole transformation. There were silver trees standing everywhere, draped with sheer silk and the high ceiling decorated with tiny flickering lights. The club resembled a fairytale garden, to go along with the theme of the perfume that was being launched.

"Thanks. I really busted my ass trying to get it all right. Some of those girls I have to deal with are just plain lazy." Tara rolled her eyes, but straightened herself right after.

"I have to go. Work is calling, I'll see you later." And she was off, weaving through the crowd like it was nothing. When I wanted to turn to talk to Amelia, I noticed she had already ran over to Tray, and they were now eating eachother's faces. At least they enjoyed themselves.

With a sigh I walked to the bar and ordered my usual gin and tonic. There, I was greeted with a familiar voice.

"You haven't brought your purse here with you this time?"
Even if he hadn't said anything, I would've noticed his presence. Eric had this scent around him, musky and manly, and it was just Eric. Slowly, I turned around to face him. He was standing very close, and my neck got quite the stretch from trying to look him in the eyes. The best part was, I got the chance to take him in. Eric was wearing a gray fitted shirt, it had to be tailored, because the thing hugged his muscles. Just like his black dresspants, that hugged other parts of his body. There was something different; something very different.

"You cut your hair?"

Eric smiled and let his hand run through his now short hair.

"Yeah. I wanted something different, so I made it happen."

"Well.. You look good."

Eric gave me another smile, an even bigger one, making my knees go weak.

"Eric." I started, he nodded for me to continue after a short pause. He was now standing even closer to me, our bodies almost pressed against eachother.

"I'm sorry." Eric eyes were sparkling when the sentence left my mouth.

"Thanks." He said, using my own words against me. It made me want to crawl in a dark corner, this was too embarrassing. I told him that I had to go to use the bathroom, but Eric wouldn't have it and grabbed my hand. This time I didn't pull away, I just thought about how my small hand was swallowed by his and how soft his skin was. Our gazes connected again, and my breathing hitched. Eric had an intense stare, and it left me breathless.

"Can we talk? I need to tell you something."

I nodded, and Eric directed me to a booth in the corner of the club. There weren't many people around, most were dancing on the dancefloor, or hanging close around the bar. The party was in full-swing, Tara must feel so good right now. She had worked so hard, and it payed off. People had fun, that much you could tell.

Eric and I sat in a comfortable silence, giving sneaky glances to eachother. I had finished my gin-tonic already, and had ordered a new one, trying to get some liquid courage in me. Eric looked very serious, and it made me feel uneasy.

"So.. what did you want to talk about?" I sais, breaking the silence.

"Sookie.." Eric started, saying my name like it was a caress. He took in another breath, and opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted by people shouting and the sounds of a scuffle.

We both turned around to see what was happening. It was Bill, drunk and aggressive, ready to smack one of the security-guys in the face. Pointing in my direction, screaming that he missed me and wanted me back. That I was a bitch and he hated me for leaving him.
To say my party mood was gone, is an understatement. I felt embarrassed, and I buried my face in my hands. There suddenly were two arms, that wrapped themselves around my shoulders. It was Eric, and he now was guiding me through the club, and exiting it through an emergency exit. The cold air felt great, and I took a deep breath.

"You don't have to stay with me... I'll be fine. I don't want to ruin your night." I didn't want Eric to feel like he had to put up with me.

"I want to stay with you and you're only making my night better." He said, while smoldering me with his eyes. I hadn't even noticed he moved towards me untill he was in front of me.

"Why?"

He didn't answer. Instead Eric kissed me, and how. It was raw, feverish and passionate. Eric backed me up against the brick wall.

His tongue ran over my bottom lip, asking for permission that I immediately gave him. My hands found their place at the nape of his neck, pulling him closer to me.

"I wanted to do this for so fucking long." he growled as he moved to my neck, nibbling and sucking on the right spot. He pulled away. We were both breathing heavely, trying to catch our breath.

"You drive me crazy." And his mouth was attacking mine again.

Our bodies were now mashed together, which made a certain part of him very happy. His hands were roaming my body, grazing the sides of my breasts. A soft moan escapes my lips, and it made me want so much more. Any rational thoughts that I might have had, left my brain. My hands moved over his back, only to end up on his perfect ass, groping it. Eric's hips bucked a little, causing friction that made us both moan into eachother's mouth.

After a while of making out like teenagers under the breachers, I realized where we were; behind a club surrounded by photographers.

"We can't do this." I said between kisses. Eric pulled away, looking like a kicked puppy. Except with swollen red lips and messy hair.

"Not like that. I've wanted to do this" my hand moved between us, "for way too long. But there are photographers around here. What if they'll see us? You're Bill's best friend in their eyes. It'll ruin you."

Eric nodded, and grabbed my hand to pull me with him.

"Where are we going?"

"Your place, or mine." He said with a husky tone in his voice. This will be a very interesting night.