Familiar

The leaves turn increasingly yellow, orange and red. The colorplay dances down from the trees to the ground. The lecture-free period is near the end. Christine lives a life of two worlds, the free casual student life with Meg and Raoul. Dancing until dawn. Long conversations about the history of the world, artists and business studies and the consideration to change the field of study. Raoul felt everything, but not comfortable in the business area, law appeals to him more. He had registered at the end of the last semester for the upcoming one and got on the waiting list.
He got the place, the three of them celebrated it with a lots of beer.
Christine sleeps until noon and then makes her way to the Place of the Old Synagogue. She sits next to Erik on the cold ground, wrapped in a thick olive green parka, a red scarf up to her nose and her hair tied into a bun. Erik wears the same clothes as always. "Looking at you only makes me colder" she grumbles, sitting down to it "How do you stand it..."
"The trick is to be dead inside" he smirks behind his mask. Signals to her that it's meant to be a joke and she wrinkles her nose "Pathetic Erik! That's a bad joke" then she is grinning and punching her elbow into his side. "HEEE HEEEE, more singing, less boxing!" Over the past few weeks, they've become friends. She still doesn't know much about him. But it's okay. He's starting to trust, that was the main thing.

He tunes the guitar, she takes a breath, and a delicate tone sweeps through the autumn air. The people who often came to the Place already knew the mismatched duo. Some would sit within audible range. Some regularly bring food or blankets. Not just for Erik, the other punks benefited as well. The donations Erik passes on, the money he keeps.

"Your voice, you overdid it yesterday, or the cool air isn't good for you." Erik stops playing and looks at her "Yeah, that could be it. I don't handle the cold so well, I get bronchial problems pretty quickly" His eyes widen behind the mask "You're just saying that now?"
"It's not so bad" she counters. He shakes his head "If you had said it earlier, then-"
"...-then you would have made sure that we didn't sing together anymore. But I don't want this to end" she interrupts him. He packs his stuff. "Come, let's have some tea"
She sighs, knowing that only she would drink the tea. Even after more than three months of getting to know him he is not able to eat or drink with her. Sighing, she stands up. Erik grabs the guitar case and reaches for Sasha's leash.
"By the way, my birthday is coming soon" she throws into the ether, blushing a bit. Erik was aware of this traditions, Nadir celebrated in and out of his birthdays every year. "May I know how old you'll be?" Erik learned to ask counter questions. Even when the subject doesn't particularly interest him. She smiles broadly "I'll be 20 this weekend".
"Oh, young 20 then."
"Are you coming to my birthday? I'd love to invite you", he pauses "To...to your place?"
"We're going out for a drink"
"We...?"
"Meg, Raoul and I", unaware Erik pulls Sasha closer to him. The leash is now wrapped around his hand several times "I don't know"
"Please, just this one time. I'm only going to be 20 once and I already don't have many friends to celebrate with, but you're one of them" Erik feels an indescribable heat behind the mask, he slowly backs away from her. "Erik, wait" she reaches out for his hand, she knew if it got too much for him he could just leave like that. "Listen, you don't have to make a decision right now. You have time to think it over" he stares at the hand, concentrating on not giving in to his impulse to flee. "It's fine" he forces himself to stay. She smiles. "Thanks, remember October 11" he nods slowly.

Erik is sitting at the kitchen table, the mask is next to his right hand, he is holding a cup of black tea. He looks out of the kitchen window. The music, the golden thread, dances through the kitchen. He can feel it.
Sasha sits under the table, listening to the soft hum of her master. Nadir comes through the door, "Oh, you're here so soon?"
"I live here"
"Funny guy, why so early? Are there thunderstorms in paradise?" Erik rolls his eyes and sighs, "It's her birthday this weekend. I've been invited. What do you get someone who's turning 20?" Nadir falters "Wait, you're dating someone who's not even 20?"
"She's turning 20 and we're not dating. We are kind of friends" the Iranian sits down at the table "My friend, in the beginning, they always just want a friendship and then BANG" he claps his hands together "Then the sparks shoot out and well, the rest is told by the angels"
"Your optimism in all respect, but can you please stay on topic" Erik sips his tea. Nadir relents and brings up some suggestions. They are sitting at the table until late at night discussing gifts, what Christine's likes and dislikes. Finally, they count Erik's savings.
"Okay, that money may be enough. Are you absolutely sure she has one of these things at home?" Erik nods, "Pretty sure" Nadir types on his smartphone.
"Oookay so I was having it put back for you, look, that's where you have to go tomorrow and you have to tell them this pickup number. Can you do that or should I come with you?"
"I can do it," Erik grumbles, standing up and putting his empty cup in the sink.
"I'm going to bed, Khan."
"Sleep well" Nadir calls, cleaning up the kitchen.

The morning holds the first mist of autumn. Erik walks through the streets, Sasha at his side. It takes him almost half an hour on foot to reach the Record Store. The store owner opens the door to slide out the postcard racks, and Erik hurries past him. Sasha walks along under the radar. "Yeah what, yeah what? Rocking visitors so early?" comments the aged owner "Can I help already?" he asks, coming closer. Erik turns, towering over the older man. Dressed all in black, hoody pulled over his head, the white mask shines out. "What's this going to be? A robbery? Boy, you don't do that in the morning when the cash register's still empty!" He points toward the exit. Erik shakes his head, "I had something reserved, the number is 2458" the man stares at him for a while. But then, finally walks to the counter and pulls out a record "You're lucky boy. It's the last one, this edition is already sold out" he shows him the red record. Erik nods. "Perfect. Can you wrap it up as a gift?"
"Sure"

A few minutes later, Erik walks home, satisfied. In his left hand Sasha's leash, in his right hand a gift bag, with an expensive present for a friendship that has only existed for three months. But it was worth it to him. She is worth it to him. Always.

Christine's cell phone lights up, she reaches for it and reads.

I'm willing to offer you a deal.

She raises her eyebrows and replies.
I'm totally listening.

A short time later, the cell phone lights up again.

I'm celebrating in with you.
She reads this sentence over and over.

Bring some sleeping clothes, then we two will have a pajama party. Don't worry, my mom won't be around this weekend.

She puts the cell phone on the nightstand and turns to take Raoul in her arms.
"Hmmm who was that?"
"Erik. He's coming for my birthday after all"
"Nice" he gives her a kiss on the forehead. "Does he know about us yet?"
"Not yet."
"Why?"
"There hasn't been an opportunity yet"
"Chrissy, two months isn't an opportunity?"
"You know how he is. New things take time."

Erik rings the doorbell, meanwhile he kicks his combat boots clean on the doormat. Christine opens the door and wraps her arms around him. For the first time she hugs him. His knees go weak. "What...what are you doing?" he asks gently. She breathes in his scent, he smells like soap and fresh air, "I'm greeting you like friends do, now come in" she lets go of him and steps aside. "Hi there Sasha" she greets and Sasha shakes herself. "Ok, you brought sleeping clothes, right? I made up the bed for you in the guest room" he nods, trots after her.

A room next to Christine's, a small table lamp shines. "Tadaaaa!" she exclaims proudly, pointing to a freshly made bed. "Cool." he comments dryly, setting down his backpack. "Make yourself comfortable for now, I'll meet you in the living room in a minute," she blinks at him with twinkling eyes and stomps out of the room. Erik wipes his sweaty hands on his pants. "Sasha...stand by me..." the dog leans against him. Christine runs past his room in sleeping clothes, down the stairs to the living room. Sasha barks and runs after her. Erik stares after the two of them. Wordlessly, he puts on his sleeping clothes. A black shirt and dark gray jogging pants. He sits on the bed, resting his head in his hands, trying to breathe. A night away from home, a night with a stranger, but a familiar person. He begins to tremble. Nausea rises in him, his throat tightens. Sasha comes in the door, gently wagging her tail, coming closer and licking him over the scar on his elbow. The melted skin begins to shine.

Erik appears in the living room. He is wearing his sweater again. Christine smiles at him "I thought I'd show you my top 3 favorite love movies" Erik sat down next to her, Sasha jumps on his lap "Sounds like fun" he hums in a hotter tone. She looks at him for a second "Are you getting sick?"
"Nonsense"
They start with 27 Dresses, while Christine laughs, cries and giggles as she lounges on the couch ans eating chips, he sits stiffly next to her and stares at the TV in disbelief.
The credits rolls, "AND?" she looks at him with wide eyes, Erik looks to Sasha for help. "Cheesy."
"Yaaaaaa sometimes I need that! The next one will be more emotional"
"...Fine." he looks at the clock and stands up "Wait a minute" he walks out of the living room and comes back a little later. "It's midnight. Happy birthday Christine" he hands her the gift bag and drops back in his seat. "Awwww thanks" she looks in the bag and pulls out something narrow rectangular. "A vinyl record?"
"Just wondering which one" he mumbles.
A Florence and the Machine - Lunge - 10th Anniversary Limited Edition beams at Christine from the ripped wrapping paper. She stares at the record, saying nothing. Erik gets nervous.
"Erik..."
"I...I can return it!" he interrupts her "If you don't like it..." she puts the record away and for the second time that evening, she takes him in her arms. "Thank you very, very much. But the record was expensive, do you have any idea how expensive it is?" carefully he puts his arms around her waist. She presses her head on his shoulder. Soap and fresh air. "Thank you Erik. No one has ever given me anything this beautiful before," with glazed eyes she looks up at him. The first time they are this close. She can see how worn the mask is, small fine cracks at the edges stood out on her profile. She could see his jaw line and melted skin. Feeling her gaze, he pulls out of her hug and stands up. "I'm going to have a drink" Erik disappears into the kitchen, closely followed by Sasha.
Christine looks at the record again. She knows this limited edition, she wanted to buy it once before, the price was too high. Had he stolen it or really paid for it? Where did he get so much money?

Erik comes back, "What's the name of the next movie?"
"PS I love you" Christine mumbles lost in thought, still looking at the record "Erik, why?"
"You picked out the movie" he looks at her irritated, "Why exactly this as a gift?"
"You have a record player here and the first song you sang for me was by Florence and the Machine. So it became this album" he rattles off monotonously, not understanding what she was getting at "This record is out of print. It's incredibly expensive. Why are you spending so much money on me?"
"It's your birthday?" he blinks with no understanding "Christine, I can return it if you don't like the record" he deflects again "No...it's fine, please don't spend so much money on me anymore."
"But, I'll be happy to do it" he shrugs "But you've hardly-"
"I like doing it" he interrupts her, holding her by the shoulders "You breathe music. You live music. Your voice is like an angel's. If I can give you even a little music, I'll be happy to do it," he pauses and lets go of her. "For you, I'll gladly do it..." he mumbles and looks away, embarrassed.

Sasha's soft snoring underlines Christine's relentless crying. The credits of PS I Love You, echos through the living room. "Flogging Molly... We could play that together sometime." comments Erik, unaffected. "That's all you have to say?" Christine looks at him with puffy eyes. He turns to her, pulls one leg up on the couch and leans an arm on the armrest. "The movie is pure nonsense," he searches for words "He took away her opportunity for a proper goodbye. He gave her these letters and this mission to solve his stupid assignments and in the end she gets coupled up because of it, but honestly. She didn't have a proper goodbye, he knew he was dying and he kept it from her" Erik gets up and walks into the kitchen. Christine hears water gurgling in a glass and blows her nose. "He just wanted to protect her...He gave her a farewell afterall", Erik's glass slams on the kitchen counter "This woman has lost her husband to cancer" he shouts and comes out of the kitchen "He had received his death sentence with the diagnosis. What is he trying to protect her from?" Christine is silent. He was right. "But the letters..."
"A huge hassle... A proper goodbye would have saved her 12 months of grief. In the end, he wanted to protect himself. Coward." he sits down next to her. She was a coward. He was right. She didn't want to tell him, because she was afraid he would turn away from her. She just wanted to protect herself.

She slides in the next DVD, Love Actually.
The movie doesn't run 30 minutes before Erik's head tips forward and he's asleep. As time passes, Christine slides closer to Erik and rests her head on his bony shoulder.
The movie ends, the credits roll. Both are asleep on the couch.

Sasha's bark snaps Erik out of his sleep. Jerkily, he sits up and looks around disoriented. His hand runs over his face. The mask is where it should be. He gets up in a daze and joins Sasha in the corridor. Christine is standing in the doorway. Raoul stands in front of her and they kiss. She is holding a large bouquet of flowers. Erik stares at the two, crouches down and grabs Sasha's collar, pulling her away from them.

Erik can hear something faintly crunching. His chest hurts.
The kissing ones break away. "Good morning Erik," Raoul calls, throwing him a perfect pearly white smile. Erik remains silent. He can't get the image of the two kissing out of his mind. "I brought a cake and donuts for breakfast" Raoul babbles on and enters, walking past Erik into the kitchen. Christine kneels down to Erik. "I didn't know Raoul was coming so soon".
Silence.
Stare.
"I have to go" he forces himself out. She wants to stop him. But she knows if she presses him now, forces him to talk, it would only make things much worse.

After a moment of packing, Erik grabs the leash, the leather jacket, throws his backpack over his shoulder and walks out the door. He says nothing and disappears.

Songs:

Agnes Obel – Familiar

Katzenjammer – Land of Confusion

Amy Winehouse – Valerie

Flogging Molly – If I ever leave this World Alive

Kelly Clarkson – The Trouble with Love is