A/N: Another chapter up. Eric is going to be a tiny bit more OOC in this. I figure I have taken a huge leap with him so far in this whole story. Sookie gets to speak her mind a bit also. I hope you enjoy it! Remember, I only play around with the characters. I wish I could do more but I digress. Did you hear that Stephen Moyer is to be Captain Von Trapp? Can the Bill sing? Until later- Krys
Chapter ten:
When I am dressed, I go to find Pam. She is having a coffee and talking to Freyda.
"Are you ready to go?" Freyda asks. I smile. "Yes, let's shop 'til I drop." Between Eric's card, mine, Pam's, Alcide's and Freyda's, I think I bought out the whole inventory of the Deb, Forever 21, and H&M, not to mention a bunch of shoe stores. I have had my hair highlighted, cut and styled. I bought just about everything in the two scents that I love, including the spray colognes, at Bath and Bodyworks. Pam makes me promise that I will wear make-up and style my hair every day. I think I can keep it up for five months.
Freyda drags me into a specialty underwear shop, much to my chagrin. After they poked and prodded me for a while and I tried a few different sizes, they agree on what I should buy to keep me penned in but also show off what I have. I use Eric's card to buy every bra, panties, and some other nice things I can here. I figure he won't mind the price, once he sees the store's name on the statement. The receipt details each item bought. Also it's a little payback for last night.
In a dress shop, I try on this one that both Pam and I spy, it fits like a glove and I slap my card down. It is exactly what I would pick if I was to get married. Simple, short, fitted at the bodice and a flare skirt. I don't want a "Wedding". I'm the type to go to Vegas and be perfectly happy for the rest of my life. We end up having to buy a new suitcase and garment bag for everything. Even then, Eric will need to bring up another shipment, the next time he visits. If he ever wants to visit me again, that is.
Four pairs of eyes pop, when we get home. Thank god, we took the BMW. I hand Eric and Alcide their cards with the receipts for each. Alcide smiles and nods at what I bought. Eric squirms a little in his seat, which Sam notices.
"What's wrong Northman? Did she clean you out before the truck payment?" He jokes and looks over his shoulder. 'Serves you right if she did, you were an ass last night. I brushed them all off, saying I had a girlfriend, but you didn't. You were flirting right back.' "Oh my God!" He pats Eric on the back. "You lucky dawg!" Everyone laughs at their faces, other than me.
"I hope I didn't spend too much on either of yours." Eric gets up and whispers in my ear. "I'm fine as long as I am the only one who sees you in this stuff." 'I better be.' I smirk at him and raise my eyebrow. "No one is going to see any of this until they can prove to me that I am the only one for them."
It is my turn to strike, when we lock the door that night. It had been boiling up inside me all day, but I could not vent around Pam and Fredya. I walk to the window, looking out over the ranch. He walks up to me and folds me into his arms. That is when he feels the tension coursing through me. "What's wrong?" He asks as innocent as he can. I break away from him and turn to confront him once I got some space between us.
"So how long do I have to wait for the hammer to fall? Now? No, let me guess, when I get home, I'll get a Dear Jane letter huh? All those words that fell from you lips were just lies? You forgot two very important parts about me, Eric. I have trouble trusting people, especially men. With my history; why wouldn't I. The other is that I can read minds. No one needs to tell me things, I don't try to pry into other's heads, but with exaggerated emotions and contact, it fires through anyway. I heard Sam's thoughts about what happened when I went to the ladies room. With me chasing away Sophie and Debbie, you can move on huh? I never had a doubt about your love and devotion to me, until I actually went out with you last night. I even gave you the benefit of the doubt with Debbie because she was younger than us and she actually admitted that it was all on her side. Even Sophie thought of how you never showed any interest in her. At that, she was still possessive of you. From what I got from Sam, you never even tried to chase her away, or ignore her. When I came back in, you and Alcide were flirting with those girls. I refuse to continue to fight for a relationship if you will not." I start packing my bags and walk down to the guest room. "I don't want to let your parents know that we are having problems, but I don't feel right staying in there while we work things out, if that is what you even want." I tell him as he follows me into the room. I still have almost a week to go.
Eric walks up to me and pulls me into his arms again. "My turn. I am sorry that I even brought you there. I only meant to relax with you and our friends. It was a disaster. You are on the verge of leaving me, your strong as iron trust in me has been shot full on holes and you've been a crying mess since. If I had gone up and danced with you right off, none of that would have happened." Eric hits his knees. "Please Sookie, don't break up with me. Give me a chance to make it up to you. I meant every word I said to you last night. You are the only one for me. I want to marry you, I have wanted to since you said yes to dating me. You made me the luckiest man in the world when you agreed to that, and I went and flubbed it up with ripping into you about the gifts, brushing you off in the stables. Then after you accepted my apology, I went and was a complete ass to you last night.
Come back to our room, I can't bare thinking that you are sleeping in this house, but not in my arms. I am so sorry that you were hurt by me. I never want to hurt you." He is crying into my legs as I stand there watching him with a raised eyebrow. "I am a guest, Eric. I should be in the guest room. I would not dare to kick you out of your own bed, I told you that the first night."
"No, it's not my bed. It's been our bed since that night. You are not our guest. You are my future wife. That is how I see you. Unless you never want to be with me again." He still has tears pouring down his face. I nod and agree to come back into his room. I sit on the sofa and watch him pace in front of me.
"I will not break up with you. You have done nothing wrong to me. I was the one that wronged you. All I can ask is for not to give up on me. I have never once cheated or even thought about cheating on you. I know it looked bad and I made some mistakes in regards to how I should have handled things, but will never cheat on you. You mean way too much to me, to even think about that."
Eric kneels in front of me. "I want to take you on one more date, before you go. I want you to be able to trust me again. I still plan to ask for your hand, but not until we fix this." He all but vows to me.
Pam and Sam leave the day before I do. We say our goodbyes and Pam makes me promise to give her a weekly update. There goes my cell bill.
Eric takes me out to dinner once more that night and we spend some time walking down the riverfront. I don't want to leave but he promises to come up for the Valentine's dance. It's on a Friday this year. He drives me to the airport and kisses me goodbye. "I will miss you. I love you. Call me when you get home, I want to make sure you are safe." I board the plane. My grandfather is there in Portland to pick me up.
"Did you have a good time?" I nod. "That guy is the one, I can tell. Finish school, then it's your life. Just don't make your mother's mistake. Get married first." We drive home and I return my friend's calls. Claudine and Jess hooped and hollered over everything. I call Eric; we talk for a while and wish each other goodnight.
The next day, I get up two hours early and start doing my hair and make-up. I put on some skinny jeans and a winter blue twin set. I pull on my 4 inch heeled boots and spritz on my home cologne. I pull my hearts around my neck and close the clasp on my Pandora. I slip in some earrings and grab my bag. Ten minutes later I pull up to the school. Now or never. I walk in and head past the jerks to get my new schedule.
"Hey, Sookie. What's your first class? You smell really good." I laugh as I stride right by Hoyt. I put my sunglasses on my head, and continue to the window.
"Looks like an English class." I look at the paper in his hand, "Look at that, we are in the same class." I trace from his neck to his chin. "Crazy Girl" starts coming out of my pocket. I answer it. 'Man, if only I could make you realize that I would be a good boyfriend.' Hoyt face flushes
"Hey, Baby! I miss you. Yeah, I'm at school. Just talking to a classmate. I'm going to have to shut this off until lunch, how about I call ya then? Say hi to Alcide. Oh and Debbie, Sophie and her sister. Bye honey. Love you too. Bye." I look at the phone for a bit then shut it off.
"Now where was I? Oh yeah, I was going to see my friends, bye Hoyt." I caress his face and strut away, just as his girlfriend walks up. "I had fun talking to you." I wink and turn toward the band hallway. He has a dreamy look on his face. 'She is warming up to me. I just need to wait. Sookie, I want you to be my girl.'
My friends get into the idea and they love my clothes.
One month later, I have all of the worst guys under my spell. Who knew I had a body under those sweatshirts, and baggy jeans. Eric calls every night, even if he is on the road. It took a lot of work but he and I have mended our relationship and are going strong again, so we make more concrete plans for Valentine's. He and Alcide are flying up and are going to the dance with me. I think Alcide is lonely, but he won't admit it. They will stay at my house; there is no standing on ceremony when I have spent two weeks with them. They will leave Sunday, midafternoon.