So here's chapter 3, and its bus time. I will take a moment to thank Charlaine Harris for these wonderful characters, they are hers not mine but I love to play so very much.
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The cab picked me up for 6am. Well, someone told me the cab would pick me up at 6, but I couldn't remember who. If I could I would happily shake them. It was 6.27 and I had been standing outside the apartment for 38 minutes. Sure I had came out early, but I didn't want to miss the cab and be scolded. I was cold, sleepy and irritable. I had been since I met Eric Northman. My nights were long, cold and sleepless. I would get little bits here and there but I could not for the life of me get to sleep. I had tried everything. Counting sheep, warm milk, warm milk with honey, chocolate, anything I could to make it work. Ok so maybe chocolate wasn't supposed to help you sleep, I wasn't sure but it sure did something for me.
It didn't. Nothing worked. And here I was in the remnants of last night's darkness, standing on a sidewalk in New Orleans, three big bags at my feet, and a laptop bag and a purse over my shoulder. I snuggled into my warm coat, grateful for the comfort. I was just beginning to wonder if I should call Pam when a black car stopped beside me. A man I didn't know got out and smiled politely at me. "Sookie Stackhouse?" He asked. I nodded. I didn't like him. He was late. I was cold.
He told me his name was Graeme and helped me to put my bags in the car and we were on the road. We arrived shortly after 7 am at a massive warehouse complex. There were lorries and buses all over the place. I recognised Maria Star snapping away with her camera already. Boy that girl was dedicated. Pam was gliding around shouting here and there and Clancy was following her around scowling at her and giving his own orders. No love lost there I thought to myself.
Alcide was chatting to a guy I didn't know in front of a large orange bus. I walked over towards him, carrying as much as I could. Graeme carried one bag. So he was late and he was letting me carry most of the load. Creep.
"Sookie!" He called. Someone took the bags from me and stood behind me. "You're the last to arrive. We chose your bed for you."
"Oh I hope I'm not beside someone who snores!" Alcide's good mood was infectious.
"Would I do that to you Sweetie?" He teased. He showed me onto the bus and it was amazing. We went around a staircase and down a narrow corridor. "There's a bathroom at the end of this isle. Its pretty basic, narrow shower, toilet, small wash basin." I looked to the door he pointed. On either side of us were curtained boxes. Alcide threw back a curtain to reveal a bed. It was slightly wider than the old single bed I would sleep in at home. The curtain and the sheets were blue. It seems as if I'm to be surrounded by blue for the rest of my life. I hate blue.
There was space for storage under the bed and a slight ledge between the mattress and the window. "Sometimes we sleep in the bus but it wont be twenty four seven, we sleep more in hotels when we get the chance." He winked at me. "This one's yours. Pam's to your left and Eric's to your right. Maria Star will be on the other side here. I'm to her left." He grinned. He was clearly looking forward to the tour. I dumped my stuff on the bed indicated as mine and tried to ignore the where Eric was to sleep.
I followed Alcide upstairs to a sitting area. It was luxurious. Two tables with leather high back chairs complete with armrests were along one wall while the other was all comfortable seating, again leather. At the back a large sofa swept around the bus. The low coffee table didn't leave much room, and it would be perfect to rest your feet on, which was what Claude was doing right now. It looked brilliant, but with how many people sharing it all day, the band made five and myself, Maria Star, Pam and of course Clancy made nine.
I wondered quietly, as my eyes sought Eric, who was lounging on the sofa at the back of the bus, how many arguments would happen over the next few months in this bus. I sat down at one of the tables with my back to Eric and smiled warmly at Pam who was coming up the stairs. She joined me, and a few moments later the big engine of the bus roared into life and we were away. Alcide sat on the comfortable seats at the window as Maria Star showed him her camera. I peeked at my watch and was shocked to find it was after 8am. I couldn't believe I had been on this bus for an hour already. I hadn't even done anything other than got a mini tour. The bus drove out of the big warehouse, pulled in beside a lorry, and promptly stopped.
"What now!" Pam snapped but Clancy was quicker. He shot past us and practically flew down the stairs. Behind me someone groaned. I heard what I thought might be a head thumping against a window. I hoped the windows were strong. We were sitting for about 5 minutes when I felt someone slide into the seat beside me. It was Eric. I was trapped. Behind me was what looked to be some sort of solid wall, and to the other side of me was a window. Yes sir, well and truly trapped.
"How's your blogging coming along?" He asked quietly. His voice was like chocolate, I wanted more.
"Not too bad actually. I've done a few bits and pieces already, from meetings and stuff we were in during the week. I just wanted to show you guys before I posted them. Its just silly really, Victor dropping that paper in Alcide's hair and Claude being late and not caring…just silly bits like that." I was babbling a bit, but he didn't say anything, he just nodded.
"What about me?" He said. "You didn't say anything about me."
"You didn't really do much. You seemed to be listening. You were behaving."
"I can be bad if you want." Oh jeez. His voice was husky and I could feel his warm breath on my neck. I tried to ignore the tingling I was feeling but it didn't work. He was getting to me and it wasn't even 9am!
"Oh, I'm great just the way I am thanks very much Eric."
"Any time you want Lover, just shout and I'll misbehave."
It was after 11 before we left, apparently there was something wrong with one of the other lorries. I was a little shocked that one lorry should hold up the whole shebang but who I was to question those who knew what they were doing. By then I had my laptop out and made sure the guys were happy with what I wrote for the blog. They were. Eric never left my side, and I found myself grateful for it. Even though I knew Tray from school it was Eric I felt most comfortable with despite the fact that he made me so uncomfortable. We weren't on the road very long when I decided that perhaps the motion of the bus would help me sleep. I told Pam I was off for an afternoon nap. She just told me to sleep well and turned back to her conversation with Victor and Maria Star.
I slipped into the little bed. It was like a secret cove I thought as I cuddled onto my side. The mattress was a bit hard but the pillow was really comfortable. I snuggled in and within moments my theory was proved correct. The motion of the bus had me lulled into a comfortable sleep. I dreamt a little of Eric, but all he was doing was lying beside me cuddling into me, then he turned into Gran and she was telling me I had to eat more, I was losing weight. I slept like a baby.
Something tickling my nose woke me. I tried to brush it away but it didn't work. I opened my eyes and met a pair of beautiful blue eyes. "If you don't wake up you won't sleep tonight Sookie." Blue Eyes said to me. I frowned a little, trying to work out what was happening. "You're cute when you're just awake."
Eric! That's who owned the voice. And the blue eyes. Eric.
"We're stopping for something to eat soon. Its gone 3 Sookie."
"Oh." Was all I could say. My mind was somewhere else, like thinking about waking up like this every morning. With Eric. Wow, where did that come from? I sat up and let my legs dangle over the edge of the bed. I smiled up at him. "Thanks for waking me." I said.
"No problem. Come on." He reached both hands out to me and I slipped my hands into his. His big hands closed over mine, and they were lost. Sometimes, I realised, that's how I felt when I was with him, lost in him. He tugged his arms pulling me against him.
Just when he pulled me to my feet the bus slowed and turned into a quick corner. His eyes widened and we fell backwards into Pam's bed. Eric landed first and I landed right on top of him. He was firm and warm. His arms caught me to hold me safe. We locked eyes once again and I felt my head lower to his, our lips brushed together…
"Eric, hurry up!" We heard from behind the curtain. It was Pam. We jumped up as quick as we could. "Is Sookie awake?"
"I'm awake. I'm coming now." I thought my voice sounded even. I hoped I looked ok. I wished we hadn't been interrupted. Eric echoed my thoughts.
"I wish." He growled low in his chest. I blushed when I realised what he meant. No one else heard him as we emerged through the curtain. Eric looked his usual cool self, but I knew I was flustered. Pam told me so.
"You're all sleep flustered." Pam said, taking my arm. I walked ahead with her listening to her chat about pastries and other delicacies we could have after lunch.
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When we arrived in Dallas we pulled into a secure parking lot at the venue. Big gates were locked behind us but I was assured by Pam there was a way out. I didn't see it. She wanted to know why I wanted an escape route, what I wanted to escape from. I told her not to be silly, I didn't want to escape from anything. I was looking at Eric sitting at the back of the bus with ear buds in, head thrown back and eyes closed listening to music. Beside him Claude was doing the same thing.
Everyone else on the bus began to slowly filter off the bus here and there. I heard Tray, Alcide and Maria Star discuss where to go for dinner. They invited the rest of us along but I said I'd grab something later, I was busy with my work. Clancy, Victor and a few of the sound guys were talking about going to a bar for a few drinks. Eric, it seemed, decided not to go, opting instead to grab his own laptop and sit opposite me. Claude was still on the sofa's playing with his blackberry and listening to music. Pam walked past a few moments later. She winked at me as she leaned down to Eric. "I'm going for food? Sookie says she's busy so I'm going to bring her food. Do you want food?"
"Why do you keep asking me if I want food, you know I want food." He grinned. "I'm always hungry." Eric looked at me as he said hungry. I wondered how me could make the word sound sexy.
"I just wondered. Mac 'n' cheese from that place you like." Pam said. His eyes lit up and he grinned up at her.
"You want some cash?" He asked. I was already pulling my purse out to pay for my food.
"No." She said as she walked away. "Its on me. You like macaroni cheese Sookie?" She asked.
"Yes, but let me pay you."
"I can't hear you." She walked away waving her hand in the air.
"Do you mind if I plug this into speakers? Can you concentrate?" Eric asked me. His eyes held my above the screen of my laptop.
"Go ahead." I said. Black Sabbath were playing on his little ipod speaker. I wondered what he was doing on his laptop but didn't want to be nosey.
I had just saved my work and decided to relax a little with some of the games on my laptop when something happened to it. My screen somehow flipped onto its side, which meant the top of the screen was lying to the left of my laptop. I freaked out, I let out a little squeal. I'm not good with technology and this wasn't even mine it belonged to S.A.R.C. And I just broke it.
"What's up?" Eric asked.
"I broke my laptop!"
"How?" He asked. He immediately got up and pushed me aside to join me at my side of the table. When he seen the screen he laughed. "Easy fixed Darling." I tingled when he called me that. Long fingers flew over a few keys. It was upside down. It was to the right. It was in its correct place. "Crisis averted." He grinned at me.
"Thank you. I don't even know what I did!"
"No problem." He grinned. He nudged my laptop to me and reached for his own. We were now sitting side by side. He turned the volume of the music down slightly. I was trapped again. I found I didn't mind so much.
He stretched out his long legs and let them fall open slightly. His thigh was pressed into me, again from hip to knee. He went back to whatever it was he was doing. I felt so stupid now. What was I supposed to do, just sit beside him and play the card games I knew I was no good at!
I had nothing else to do and I was all wrote out for the evening. I opened my schedule anyway to check. I had an interview tomorrow morning with one of the support acts, and I had notes on the guys already. I done some research on them so I could find some decent questions. I had heard a few of their songs on the internet last week when Hadley told me they would be appearing in a few gigs with Last Request. I knew if I had about a dozen quick questions for them that eventually by their answers it would lead to more questions. I decided improvisation would be better than delicate planning which could all fail. I noticed Eric peeking at my screen out of the corner of my eye. "Do you like them?" I asked him.
"They're not to bad. I like their bass guitarist, he has talent. I like bass."
"Why do you play guitar then?"
"Because I'm awesome with a guitar." He wasn't being cocky. He was being honest. Well, he was being a little cocky but I didn't mind. He was cute when he was cocky.
I left my notes then and went to the card games. I hoped he wouldn't think I was a loser but I really wanted to relax a little. I opened a new game of solitaire and peeked at my cards. I didn't really know what I was doing. Warm breath on the back of my neck told me he was watching me. His chest pressed into my shoulder. His hand was leaning on my upper thigh.
"I don't know what to do." I admitted in a small voice.
"I do. Listen." Eric explained a few of the rules and help me move some of my cards. I followed his directions and soon I was at the bottom of the pack. I was stuck and he said it was game over, and to start a new one. We did and his own laptop lay forgotten.
That's how Pam found us. Eric was making hints but letting me work it out for myself. It wasn't really that difficult and I was sure I didn't need his help this much but I didn't want to tell him to stop.
The food was good. Eric's eyes lit up when he seen Pam brought garlic bread. "She hates garlic." He leaned into me conspiratorially. I grinned at him. Pam scowled at him, threw a cushion at Claude's head to get his attention (he was dozing on the sofa's with those ear buds in he never takes out) and asked us what we got up to while we were away. Eric described how he helped me with my computer although me made it sound more like he was some sort of knight in shining armour saving me, a silly princess from a dangerous fate. Claude plopped down beside Pam and began to eat his food while Pam told me she was addicted to the card games on her laptop and had to keep away from them for fear she would get no work done.
I went to bed first, but I knew Claude, Pam and Eric were just behind me. They came down just after I had cuddled into that comfy pillow of mine. I had been lying on my back for about 30 minutes or so when I heard some of the others come back. Tray was first into bed, I knew because I peeked out of my curtains.. A few moments later I heard Alcide and Maria Star arrive together. I was sure I heard kissing noises and soft whispered good-nights. It didn't take Alcide long to get what he wanted apparently. Flirt, I thought good naturedly.
I dozed off for a while but was awoke by a loud bang from the door of the bus. It was Clancy and Victor staggering in. They were drunk. I could hear them stagger along to the sleeping area. A thud told me one of them had just thrown himself onto his bed.
"I want a woman." I heard a low voice mutter. I was sure it was Victor.
"No women here." Clancy answered. His voice was muffled. He was the one in the bed.
"There's Sookie. She has a great ass. I would do her."
"Can't. Out of bounds. Behave."
I listened quietly. I could hear feet coming towards my bed. What would I do if he tried to do something. I began to panic slightly.
"What are you doing up?" Victor slurred.
"Its hard to sleep with all the noise you two are keeping." It was Eric. I let out a breath I didn't realise I was holding. Victor made a noise and I heard his feet head the other direction. I was sure he was in his bed but I had another problem, namely of the using the toilet variety. The toilet which was right beside Victor's bed.
I waited for what I thought was 15 minutes and then got up. Eric was sitting on the edge of his bed. I wondered if he had been like this since Victor disappeared back to his own bunk. A warm hand touched my thigh as I moved past, then slipped into my hand. He pulled me to sit beside him. I cupped my hands around his ear. "I really, really need to pee."
He nodded and let go of my hand. I tip toed to the toilet not looking at the bed beside the door. I did what I needed to and opened the door to slip out. I was met by a solid wall of chest.
"Hi Sookie." Victor whispered. I opened my mouth to speak but I was beaten to it.
"Hurry up Vic some of us have to go." Eric said. He was just behind Victor. I breathed another sigh of relief. I moved past Victor keeping as much of my body away from him as possible, I didn't want to give him any more ideas. Eric's big hand took mine again. He led me towards my bed but stopped at his own. He pushed me into his own bed and leaned down. "Trust me." He whispered. He drew the curtain. I laid my head on his pillow. It smelt of Eric, his aftershave, his shampoo. I took a deep breath and realised just how much trouble I was in when my heart fluttered and my tummy tingled.
I heard the toilet door open then close again and I heard someone move towards my bed. Someone paused and I wondered if he was moving the curtain to my bed. I shivered, glad Eric had the sense to put me here. Then he made his way to the stairs and went up. I wondered if he was looking for me or just couldn't sleep. Eric slid in behind me a few moments later. He slipped an arm over my waist and nuzzled the back of my neck.
I'm in Big Trouble, with capitals. And it was not of the Victor variety but the Eric variety.
"He's not a bad guy really. When he's drunk he looks for a woman, and he hasn't found one when he's been out tonight. He'll sleep it off."
"He went upstairs." I whispered back.
"I know. You stay here tonight. I'll sleep in your bed if you want me to."
"No." I couldn't put Eric out of his own bed. It would be wrong. Wouldn't it?
I snuggled into Eric and I felt cosy with his long arms around me. As I fell asleep I marvelled that only this morning I was standing on a sidewalk in New Orleans tired and grumpy and wishing I were going anywhere but near Eric, ironic considering where I was now.
For the first time in many nights I had a long fulfilling dreamless sleep.
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Many thanks again to Jo for helping me with this, I am indebted to you for ever and ever and ever.
Jo says ... You are welcome keeps me out of trouble now I must away for I have a tour bus to catch …….. I'll send you a post card!!!!!!!!!!!
