Chapter 11: Moving day
The next day, Erik had asked Nadir to move in with them and the trio of college students vacated their dorms to go live with Erik. They filled out paperwork in the college's office in order to move and afterwards went out to dinner together. As they were all seated around the table, Christine had a warming feeling inside her. She hadn't been this content in a long time. Erik had insisted on the going to an upscale restaurant and payed for their meals. He wanted them to be happy and using his money was the only way he knew how to do that. That's how his parents were while he grew up. They had given him things and money hoping it would be good enough for their constant absence in his life.
After their meal, Christine took Erik's hand underneath the table and kissed his cheek. "I don't think I've ever been so happy now that I have you back in my life," she crooned lovingly.
He grinned and kissed her. "I can say the same, my dear." He looked over at Meg and Nadir. "So, what do you say we ditch this snooty place and go get drunk?"
"Thought you'd never ask," Nadir laughed in relief. They got in a cab and went to Nadir's favorite bar that so happened to be a club that allowed underage college students. Erik had grown more comfortable in his skin and didn't seem to mind the crowds so much.
When they had a few drinks in them, Christine turned to Erik. "Care to dance with me?" Erik grinned and eagerly took her hand out to the dance floor. They laughed and kept their bodies close to each other. The music was a lot faster than Christine was used to, but she just went with it. She was tipsy and just didn't care, going with whatever rhythm Erik created. They looked over at one point to see Nadir dancing with Meg. Erik smirked and pointed them out to Christine.
"Excellent," she giggled. "Now Nadir owes me fifty bucks for saying he wouldn't end up with Meg."
"They're not together, they're just dancing."
"Oh right because grinding on each other doesn't lead to anything afterwards."
Erik laughed and kissed her. Her words had got him to thinking. "Let's get out of here."
"Mm if you say so," she said smugly and ran out of there with him. They hadn't even bothered to tell Meg and Nadir that they were leaving. When they got outside, bursting with drunken laughter, all seemed well. However, halfway to Erik's apartment, Christine froze in the middle of the sidewalk suddenly.
Erik sobered up a bit when she stopped giggling and looked over at her. "Christine? What is it?"
She was staring at someone down the street; there was a distant look in her eyes. She took his hand firmly. Christine finally snapped out of it and shook her head. "W-we should keep moving," she trailed off.
He frowned at her, "Love, what is it?"
Christine dragged him along the sidewalk, really wanting to get out of there. "It's nothing, my Erik," she murmured. "Just thought I saw something."
"What did you see?"
She waited until they were a ways away to answer him. "Remember Raoul?" Christine knew that was a stupid question. She couldn't even imagine the hell Raoul put him through after she left for Sweden.
His frown deepened. "Yes… Why?"
"Most unfortunately, I saw him," she grumbled.
"What? Why is he here?" he groaned.
"A cruel irony," she mumbled to herself.
He frowned and hurried the back home, but the mood had been killed. Christine was really anxious and wrapped her arms around him when they got home. Erik hugged her close. "Christine… I have something to tell you," he breathed out.
"Hmm?" she sighed against him.
"I know who attacked me freshman year…"
"Yeah… I figured out who it was, from the way you acted around him."
"I didn't know until high school was over," Erik trailed off.
Christine shook her head. "He won't bother us anymore. Don't let him get to you. I should have said anything when I saw her.
"If that bastard touches you again, I'll snap his neck with a Punjab lasso." She was awfully specific.
He made a face at her. "A what?"
Christine laughed softly, "Nothing, nothing. Let's go to bed, hmm? First official night in our first home."
"Yes, please." Erik changed and crawled into bed with her. "You can redecorate if you want."
"I'll probably just unpack and place a few of my pictures, but I won't make many changes," she yawned and cuddled up against him.
"Do whatever you want, baby." He held her as they both fell asleep.
That night, Christine had dreams of the past and of Erik. She woke up with a jolt and in a sweat after she'd heard Erik's cry of agony after she'd left his lair.
Erik's eyes opened partly, "Mmm baby are you okay?"
"Y-yeah," she panted out, placing a hand on her forehead. "G-go back to sleep…"
He pulled her down into his arms, "Shh, sleep…" Erik could feel her heart racing against his chest and didn't see the tears that threatened to spill from her eyes. In order to calm her down, He hummed comfortingly to her.
Christine whispered to him, "I love you, my Erik." She closed her eyes tightly and tried to go back to sleep again.
"I love you too." He easily fell back to sleep.
The next day was Saturday and they were all off, which gave them all time to sober up. Christine laid on the couch with Meg and they had a movie on quietly while they were dealing with their hangovers.
"Did you and Nadir have fun last night?" Christine asked and rubbed her aching head.
Meg couldn't help but smile to herself. "Yeah...I did."
"Did you do the dance with no pants?" She smirked and waggled her eyebrows.
She blushed, "No! He...He said he wants to get to know me first."
"Well, that's nice too," she chuckled
"I really like him…" She looked down at her hands.
"You two are adorable together," Christine sighed and closed her eyes again.
"Are you okay?" She frowned.
"The booze isn't what's killing me," she murmured. "I had dreams about the past last night…"
"Oh...what about?" Just as Christine was about to tell her, Erik walked in sleepily with just sweat pants on and curled up with his head on her lap.
"Mmm… S'early…"
"Oh my poor hungover baby," she giggled and stroked his hair back. At hearing her master awake, Ayesha came running over and hopped onto the couch with them.
He took her into his arms, "Mm hello, my princess."
"Your princess?" Christine gawked. "Don't make me regret getting you that damn cat." She laughed softly and stroked the cat's head instead of his.
"Yes, indeed. She is my princess." He sat up and brought Ayesha into the kitchen and fed her canned food into a crystal dish.
"Good god," Christine groaned and then laughed. "He treats the cat like damn royalty."
Meg looked over at her and smirked, "Nothing's changed."
"I know," she giggled. "That damn cat."
Erik called out from the kitchen, "Nadir's still asleep?"
"Uh huh, he had a lot to drink last night," Meg called back.
"Wake his ass up, I want breakfast."
Meg and Christine played rock, paper, and scissors in order to see who would go wake up Nadir. Christine was the one who ended up having to do the dirty deed and decided to just make breakfast herself. She fried eggs, bacon, and sausage so they could cure their hangovers.
Erik smiled and nuzzled against her, "Mmm you are perfect."
"I know," she smirked and smacked his ass before setting the table.
Erik sat down and started to eat, he was starving. Nadir grumbled and sat at the table with his eyes still closed.
Meg laughed softly, "Rough morning, babe?" Nadir just grunted and ate his food blindly. The three laughed at him and ate quietly as to help his headache.
"Up for a run later Nadir?" Erik smirked.
"Fuck off Erik."
"Oh hush, Erik," Christine chided and sent him a mischievous grin. "You know he feels like ass. Besides I was hoping today could belong to us since we haven't really had a full day to ourselves."
"What do you have in mind, baby?"
"A Broadway musical," she smirked and Meg shot her a warning look. "I was thinking of going to see Beauty and the Beast and then go to dinner afterwards. I have been told that New York pizza is a must have."
"Indeed it is! I know a great place."
"Perfect," she got up and kissed him happily before putting the dishes away.
They all sat around for a few hours before Erik and Christine got ready to go to the show. Christine wanted it to be pretty casual since they were both feeling poorly and lazy. She got dressed in a nice sweater and jeans, yanking her tangle of curls into a ponytail.
Erik got dressed in his usual, all black attire. "Ready, babe?"
"Mm you look hot," she chuckled. "I'm glad we're doing this."
"Me too." He smiled and took her hand. They headed their way to the theater.
