Chapter 2 – EPOV
This was it… I was finally going to meet the girl of my dreams. I can't believe how long it had taken for us to finally meet in person.
I was so nervous I kept running my fingers through my hair. I hope this worked out. I couldn't take losing her.
Finally I saw her walking toward me… she was an angel… a goddess… she was perfect and she was mine.
"Hi" I said
"Hi" she replied and threw herself into my arms…it was the best feeling. Now that I had her in my arms I never wanted to let her go.
I was bored… so bored. I have no idea why I volunteered to be a moderator on this room. There were so many twits, noobs and bimbos on here I could feel my IQ getting lower by the second.
A private message window popped up on my screen, interrupting a conversation I was having with some of my friends who actually had a clue.
Fairy_girl81: Hi Vikingboi *waves*
Vikingboi: Hi.
Fairy Girl… seriously? Sure to be a bimbo this one… I went back to my conversation and ignored her.
Fairy_girl81: Have you been hanging out in this chat for ages? I've never seen you around before…
Vikingboi" *shrugs* a while...
Leave me alone… bad enough I have to read all the stupid conversations in here without taking part in them, unfortunately there was no way to block her from talking to me and I was scheduled to moderate the room for another hour yet… Maybe if I was boring enough she'd leave me alone.
Fairy_girl81: Wow. A real conversationalist here! Are you always such a snob?
Vikingboi: !
WHAT!… A lack of interest in boring conversation doesn't make me a snob, lets break out the big guns and see if she can get her sawdust brain around this then…
Vikingboi: Beautiful Fairy_girl81… Forgive me! I was so enraptured by your beauty and grace that I was rendered speechless. Wouldst thou converse with such an unworthy suitor? Or wouldst thou have me fall upon my sword, that I might forever rue the day I angered thee?
Need me to translate Barbie?
Fairy_girl81: ROFL. You don't have to go over the top VB, I'm just bored with all the "omg like omg!" hair flipping bimbo conversations in here and I noticed you aren't saying too much, so I thought you might have a brain :o) Psst – btw Vikings didn't speak like that.
Hmm… maybe she wasn't such a Barbie after all. My other friends had gone off on a rant about the pros and cons of FPS games which didn't interest me… I can spare 5 minutes Fairy…
Vikingboi: Well then… thank you for the… compliment? Lol, I'm Eric. Psst – I know :op
Fairy_girl81: Nice to meet you Eric. I'm Sookie.
Sookie? What the hell kind of name was that?
We ended up talking for ages covering so many things, she explained about being out of commission at the moment after breaking her leg. She explained about her friend Amelia dying her blonde hair black, which made me laugh… she was obviously over the bimbo label. Having blonde hair myself I was often mistaken for an idiot and loved proving them wrong by kicking their intellectual asses as often as possible. We chatted for a while and made arrangements to meet up the next day, I'd like to get to know her better. I guess you really can't tell a book by its cover.
I lived with my Mom and sister Pam on a beach in California during my down time, I looked like I belonged there but we had only moved here about 5 years ago. We lived in Sweden until I was 10 when Mom and Dad divorced…we moved around for a while and finally ended up settling in California when Mom fell in love with the view from our current home.
I went to Cornell, but lived off campus. I loved my privacy and it allowed Mom and Pam to visit whenever they wanted to. Also I was obsessed with astronomy and IT so I kept strange hours. Sookie was studying to become a psychologist so we often got into intense discussions about the weirdest subjects. I was amazed at how easy it was to get to know her and be comfortable with her. She was funny, clever and never held back when she thought I was being an ass… the only other person who ever called me on my shit was Pam. It was such a change and so freeing to have someone wanting to get to know me for my brain rather than my looks. I was a 6'4", decently muscled Swedish man with longish blonde hair and blue eyes. I was always chased for my looks, so I knew I was good looking, I didn't have an ego about it, but I was very wary of whom I showed any interest in as a result. The internet was so much easier to make friends as they didn't care about what you looked like as long as you could hold up your side of a conversation.
Months passed quickly and my friendship with Sookie was rock solid. We talked every day and I didn't feel right if I had to miss out, it made me feel like I had let her down. We'd shared so much with each other and I knew she had been let down by so many people in her life, including her parents, I didn't want to be another one on the list. I was falling for her and I had never even met her… I didn't even know what she looked like. I was trying to figure out a way for us to keep in touch regularly now that we were going into our final year… I was about to suggest working some kind of schedule out with her when she surprised me…
Fairy_girl81: Hey Eric?
Vikingboi: Mmmmm?
Fairy_girl81: Can I ask you something?
Vikingboi: You realize you just asked if you could ask me something.
She was nervous about something… she was never this indirect with her questions.
Fairy_girl81: lol sorry *blush*
Vikingboi: *hugs you* np. What would you like to know?
Fairy_girl81: Would you be ok with swapping cell numbers?
Vikingboi: Really?
I couldn't keep my seat! I jumped up and ran to grab my phone so I'd be able to answer as soon as she called me. I was going to hear what she sounded like! I was going to be able to hear her laugh! I couldn't believe it. I was over the moon! Oh Shit I was turning into a squealing fan girl. Deep breath… Eric Northman is not a fan girl… keep it together.
Fairy_girl81: nm… it was dumb
What? No!
Vikingboi: No Sookie! It's not dumb at all. I've been wondering for ages what you sounded like… what your laugh sounded like… Are you sure you'd be ok with that?
I knew all about her boyfriends pushing her to do things she wasn't comfortable with, I didn't want to seem too eager and scare her off the idea…
Fairy_girl81: Well I am if you are…are you?
WOOT! FUCK YEAH I WAS! I couldn't wait to talk to her, wondering if my imagination was anything like the real thing.
Vikingboi: Abso-frikkin-lutely. My number is *** *** ****
Fairy_girl81: Thank you! *bounce bounce* calling you right now.
Vikingboi: Can't wait.
I couldn't wipe the grin off my face, I went into the lounge and flopped onto my couch, I was hoping this would be a long conversation and wanted to be comfortable… God I hope Pam isn't back any time soon… Shit what if Sookie sounds like that woman from The Nanny…
"Hi, Sookie?" I answered the unknown number
"Hi Eric," she said with a smile in her voice "this is so weird, but thank you for letting me call you"
"Any time Sookie." I said. I was grinning from ear to ear. This was even better than I imagined. Her soft southern accent was perfect and her voice so smooth it made me shiver. Shit this could be awkward… thank God she couldn't see the effect she had on me.
"So why did you want to call me? You ok?" I was slightly worried, did she not want to talk to me anymore… no that's stupid, she wouldn't have asked for my number if that was true.
"Well… yes and no." she said quietly. "Our final year is starting on Monday, and we'll both be so busy that we won't be able to hang out like we used to. I'm going to miss talking to you every day so…"
SCORE! I tried to get myself under control. Hearing her admit this gave me courage that the next thing I was going to say would be appreciated… God I hoped so…
"I'll miss talking to you too Sookie," I admitted…I felt like a complete girl saying this, but I owed it to her to know how I felt "I don't like the idea of not speaking to you every day…I… I think I'm… falling for you." I waited for her laughter and prepared myself for rejection… I didn't know why but now that it was out of my mouth I was nervous.
"Really?" she squeaked
"Yeah. I mean I can talk to you about anything and you're funny." I said "we just get each other… Is there any way you could… I mean… do you think you're….you know… do you think you could ever like me… like that?"
Shit I sounded like a stuttering teenager… she was going to laugh… is shouldn't have said anything, I should have just left it at being friends.
I was about to say something to that effect when I heard a muffled joyous scream followed by the rustle of the phone coming back to her ear… maybe it wasn't such a bad idea after all… I started smiling
"So was that a maybe?"
"Did you hear that?" she was surprised and sounded embarrassed.
"Ah… Yeah." I chuckled.
"Oh crud…" she groaned. I couldn't help laughing…she was even cuter on the phone than she was online. I knew she was funny, but I didn't think she meant to be this time. Her laugh soon joined mine and I died a little, it was just as perfect as her voice, I'd do anything to make her laugh again.
"Yes Eric" she said with a smile "I could definitely like you in that way… I'm falling for you too, have been for months."
I shot up off the chair and ran a victory lap around the room… She liked me… she liked me for me, not for my looks… this was AWESOME! Shit I was glad Pam wasn't here right now, she'd never let me live it down
"That makes me really happy Sookie… really happy" I told her softly, she had made my year with that little statement… surely things could only get better from here.
"So seeing as we're falling for each other, what do you think about swapping photos?" I asked after few moments giggling at each other.
"I think that'd be great, I can't believe we've been talking for all this time and we still haven't swapped. I'll send you one before I go to sleep tonight." she chuckled,
"Ok… thanks" I said holding back a squeal of joy… it would not do to act like a little twihard fan girl and squee, although I dearly wanted to.
We talked for so long our phones started to go flat.
"Holy Eff… Honey we've been on the phone for 2 hours" she squeaked
"You called me honey…" I said in surprise with an enormous smile "I like it."
I could definitely get used to swapping pet names with her… I was caught… hook line and sinker and I didn't even know what she looked like yet… then she killed me by snickering and admitting she liked it too
"Time always goes too fast when I'm spending it with you Sookie," I sighed "but I'd better let you go"
I didn't want to, but I had to… she had early classes and I needed to get ready for my nights course work, not to mention Pam was sure to be back soon.
"Kay." she whispered sadly.
"I'll talk to you again soon my angel." I whispered back, I didn't like to hear her sad.
"Kay." she said again… sounding a little different now… maybe she liked the pet name?
"We'll hang up together? Is that lame?" I blurted out… oh Northman… you are such a girl, why don't you have a fight about who is going to hang up first.
"It's not lame at all… it's sweet…G'bye Eric." I heard the smile in her voice and I knew that I hadn't completely blown it by being a completely lame sap.
"Bye Sookie." I said and we hung up.
"FUCK!" I shouted to the air… that was awesome… that was better than awesome… that was fuckawesome… that was… wow… I was so fucked.
I went and got my equipment set up and waited for Pam to get in, I need to talk this over with the only other female that really knew me
An hour later she walked in, looking none the worse for wear than when she walked out… if she hadn't stumbled slightly on the way through the door I wouldn't even have known she was slightly drunk.
"Pam… I'm fucked" I blurted out as soon as she shut the door, not even giving her time to say hello.
"Hello to you too you loser…What did you do now?" she growled at me
I ran through the whole story and gave her a blow by blow of the conversation.
"I'm impressed brother mine! Someone smart and funny… you sure she's not gay?" she asked with a twinkle in her eye. She loved teasing me about that.
I rolled my eyes and confirmed that she was in fact straight. Pam was a lesbian and was always and forever on the look out for someone that could keep up with her, unfortunately one of those women was an ex girlfriend of mine… yup… I had been dumped for my sister.
Checking the clock and wondering if she had emailed me yet, I walked over to my computer and logged into my email. Sure enough, as she had said she would, there was an email waiting from her.
Hi Eric,
Thank you again for letting me phone you tonight. I hope it wasn't too weird for you and I didn't come across like a complete ditz.
You have a fantastic voice and it took all my will power to stop from squee-ing like a little girl. Don't let that go to your head lol ;o)
As promised, I've attached a picture for you. Please don't run away in fright, it was the best one I could find :op
XOXO
Your Sookie
Mine… she said she was mine…WOOT! Maybe she felt more than she said she did… maybe I should be a little less reserved next time we talk.
"Awww…isn't that just precious" I heard a snarky voice behind me.
"Shut it Pamela" I growled at her and moved to open the photo.
I don't think I moved for the next 10 minutes. Sookie was definitely the master of understatement. She had described herself as small, blonde and sunny, I was met with the radiant smile of an honest to goodness fairy or angel or goddess, who had definitely worked her way under my skin… she was even more beautiful than I had imagined… I was completely fucked and I couldn't care less.
"Earth to Eric… come in Eric" Pam said as she slapped the back of my head
"She's beautiful Pam… I am so completely fucked" I groaned, lowering my head onto the desk and banging it repeatedly trying to kick start my brain.
"She's hot" Pam agreed "I'd do her… if I went for the nice girl thing"
I spun around and shot her a deathly glare… she poked out her tongue and I heard her start getting ready for bed. As soon as she went into the bathroom to wash off the night's party grime, I was sabotaging her room.
I clicked through my collection of photos trying to find a recent one… unfortunately the only one I had that I would even think of showing Sookie was of me and Pam in front of the Kremlin in Russia. I had lost a bet with Pam so she made me wear a stupid furry hat for the rest of the trip. We were visiting our Dad and spent a lot of time doing touristy things instead. He was not used to having us around, so we entertained ourselves and then had something to talk about over dinner.
I heard the shower start and snuck into Pam's room. I flipped up the covers and short-sheeted her bed. Then removed her drawers and turned them upside down… she was going to flip, and I was sure this was going to start a prank war… but she asked for it.
I was in and out in record time and was sitting innocently at the computer by the time she came out of the bathroom. I wrote Sookie a reply email and attached the picture I had settled on. Knowing she would be well and truly asleep by now, I addressed it for the morning, hoping that she would open it when she started her day. I liked the idea of being on her mind as soon as she woke up. I was confident she would like what she saw, but I couldn't completely kill off the butterflies that had taken up residence in my gut.
I said good night to Pam and locked my door as a precaution… I didn't want to wake up to a wet mattress or a pillow being lowered over my face when she realized what I had done… I was about an hour into my recordings when I heard her outraged scream swearing revenge. I couldn't help but laugh… bring it on Pammy…
I finished my research for the evening at about 2 am, so I packed up my gear and settled into bed with a book for a while to put me to sleep, I couldn't concentrate on it though and ended up rolling onto my back and thinking about Sookie instead… I was definitely one lucky S. O. B
I slept late the next day of course and it was just after lunch when I managed to drag myself out to the kitchen. Pam was still in bed apparently so I left her a note to remind her I was out for the afternoon
I drove to campus and walked over to my first lecture… everyone was milling around outside like lost sheep. I found my friend Trey and discovered that some moron had let off a stink bomb… the day was getting on so we ended up just sitting on the nearby lawn and having the lecture outside. I couldn't stop thinking of Sookie though, remembering how she loved to tan on days like this. Luckily Trey had nothing on his mind today and was taking notes… I should really get a tape recorder so I didn't have to keep stealing his notes.
"Northman… what the hell is with you today?" Trey asked on the way to our next class.
We had been instant friends, bonding over my secret shame. I was a comic book nerd… I didn't look the type but neither did he. We met while searching through the latest shipment at our local store, we grabbed a comic at the same time and then tried to out nerd each other for it. Living off campus meant I didn't run into people other than in class, so to find out that Trey was actually just as big a nerd as me and was also in some of my classes was a surprise. I decided then that I really needed to get my head out of my ass and get to know my fellow students.
Trey and I had become fast friends, and we hung out together quite often, so he knew when I was thinking too much and how to get it out of me. If Pam and now Sookie were the only girls to know me well enough to call me on my shit, then Trey was one of the few guys brave enough.
I told him all about her, unable to stop myself from grinning like a complete moron. I flipped open my wallet and showed him the photo I had printed out this morning. I was proud of my girl… she had called herself mine and I was happy to boast about it.
"So when are you going to meet her?" Trey asked after some light hearted teasing about the goofy smile I couldn't wipe off my face.
"I have no idea" I admitted "I want to take it pretty slow, I don't want to fuck it up… she's… special" I said with a soft smile "really special."
"Fuck man… you're toast" Trey joked, shoving me to the side to try and snap me out of my Sookie induced haze. I couldn't agree with him more.
The day continued and I couldn't stop thinking about her, the stupidest things reminded me of her, I saw a daisy and remembered it was her favorite flower, a car drove past that was the same model as hers, a little blonde haired 4 year old girl ran past wearing a tutu and fairy wings and I couldn't help thinking that she could have been ours.
Shit… I was just dreaming about having kids with this woman and we haven't even met yet. I groaned internally and headed for home. I hoped I had the patience to take this thing as slowly as she needed me to.
I got home and checked my email again trying to contain my glee when I found she had replied and attached the photos I asked for.
Hey Honey,
I can't tell you how excited I was to get your email this morning. I squee-ed and ran around like a complete noob. Amelia is never going to let me live it down… although I think she understood when she saw your photo and came up with some rather interesting nicknames for you.
Lol at you short-sheeting Pam's bed, thank you for defending my honor and make sure you tell me all about the resulting prank war you know you started.
Amelia and I had a bit of a photo shoot today so I've attached plenty of shots for you, including my 'study tree', my favorite place in the library, favorite coffee shop, the local comic book store (just for you). I've also attached a picture of my room, the house at Bon Temps, my room here and of course a picture of Gran, Jason, Amelia and myself… please don't tease me about the stupid look on my face, I was slightly tipsy.
I'd love to see photos of your favorite hangout on campus, your car (seeing as you talk about it almost as much as your comics) your room, your favorite spot off campus and I have to see your comic collection *pokes you* and anything else you feel comfortable showing me.
I'll end the email here as I'm sure we'll be talking soon anyway, I want to get this to you so you can ask me questions if you need to.
Can't wait to hear you again
XOXO
3 Your Sookie.
I opened the attachments and lost myself to her world for the next hour. She was even more beautiful than I remembered and I loved the photo of her under her 'study tree' her hair was lit by the sun coming through the leaves above and she looked even more ethereal than before.
Her room was a typical girly room, surprisingly she only had a twin bed but I could still imagine myself wrapped around her at night, keeping her safe from the nightmares I knew she still had. The Bon Temps house was exactly as she described, it could use a coat of paint, but it looked homey and relaxed… I wondered if I'd ever get to visit her there. The photo of her family was enlightening. Her 'Gran' was an older version of her, it was easy to see the family resemblance and I could tell that she had been almost as beautiful in her younger days as Sookie was now. Jason looked exactly as she described and I could see why people would make the mistake of thinking he was just another pretty face, being in that situation myself I was glad to know he was smart as well. If Sookie looked like a fairy, Amelia looked like a wood sprite, her green eyes shone with mischief and humor and you could tell she had just said something to make them all laugh.
Sookie looked even more like an angel in this photo, she was relaxed and at home with her loved ones and it showed in her face, I couldn't wait until I was the one making her look that way… soft, loved and happy.
I glanced at the clock and saw it was about time to call her so I scooped up my phone and stretched out on my bed.
"Hi Eric" she answered, squeaking a little in what I hoped was excitement.
"Hi Angel, how was your day?" I asked… it was just too easy to call her that now that I knew what she looked like.
"Good good, you know… same old same old. Amelia and I took pictures for you around campus" she blurted… maybe she was nervous I wouldn't like them?
"Yeah I checked my email about an hour ago and got the one you sent me" I said with a smile "Thanks for doing that for me."
"One?" she asked in surprise "Oh yeah… no problem, any time" she sounded a lot more relaxed after that… I couldn't figure out why, maybe Amelia had done something; I'd have to check my email again later.
I told her about the stink bomb and that I hadn't stopped thinking about her all day… I kept the little fairy girl to myself though, I didn't want to scare her by moving to marriage and kids before we had even said I love you… and I did want that with her. I wasn't falling anymore, I was done for. Sookie was perfect for me and I loved her already.
"Way to make me blush Vikingboy" she smirked, jolting me from my daydream of family picnics and little blonde haired children… I really was turning into a girl.
"Now that's something I'd like to see" I whispered, flirting just a little.
"Hush you…I didn't stop thinking about you all day either. Luckily I tape my lectures so I won't miss anything" she was flirting back! Mini woot!
The fact that we both had the same trouble with concentration today made me laugh a little… "I'm glad" I added softly.
"Hey McSexerson, its Amelia" a new voice quipped with rustling sounds of running and Sookie in the back ground yelling for her phone to be returned.
McSexerson? That's a new one… I'd have to ask Sookie about that, maybe she was just as attracted to me as I was to her?
"Did you get that second email I sent you from Sookie's account?" Amelia continued
Second email? "Not yet, I was going to wait until Sookie and I were finished talking to reply… why? What did you send me?" I asked moving to my computer and clicking up the email to receive new messages.
"No? Go check quick! AHHHH!" she ended with a scream as the sound of rustling got louder for a minute as Sookie obviously retrieved her phone.
Ahh… there it was…another photo? Huh? What had she forgotten to… Oh Fuck me…
My mouth fell open as I took in the sight before me… Sookie was under her study tree and looked so sensual and sexy that I could barely breathe. Her hand looked as if she was beckoning me and I so desperately wanted to follow.
"No Eric don't!" she squeaked.
I took a deep breath and tried to regain my composure… my pants were suddenly very tight and I felt like I was drunk… she was a goddess and deserved to be worshiped.
"I'm sorry Eric, she got to my computer while I was out of the room, I didn't mean for you to see that one, I don't want you to think I'm…" she babbled
"Hush dear one" I said soothingly "you are a goddess." I couldn't believe how lucky I was… she was smart, funny, beautiful and completely oblivious of how sexy she really was. The great thing was she considered herself mine.
"Amelia deserves my gratitude. Please tell her I said thank you." I said, trying to keep the lust out of my voice
"Uh… sure" she mumbled, placing her hand over the microphone and passing on the message to Amelia who was sure to have stuck around to see the aftermath of her mischief making.
"She ah… she said no problem" Sookie stuttered sounding a little shocked.
I laughed softly to try and let her know everything was ok. I could tell she was conflicted about the fact I had seen the photo, so I let it go for now and went back to talking about my day like nothing had changed although it most definitely had. I was in love with an earthbound goddess and I couldn't wait to worship her.
She let out an enormous yawn and apologized. I checked the clock and saw it was getting late for her.
"I should let you go dear one, you're tired" I said gently.
"I am, but I don't want to say goodnight" she said with another huge yawn… this made me smile, remembering her room I could imagine her snuggling into her pillow and wrapping my arms around her.
"Well, how about I read to you and I'll hang up when you're asleep" I offered. I wasn't really ready to let her go just yet either, even though I knew I should.
"I'd like that" she whispered,
I swiped my book of Yeats from the shelf and settled in to read her to sleep… before long I could hear the soft puffs of her breath as she slept and I listened to my heart being stolen by a little blonde fairy goddess who called me a snob.