Eric's POV:
"And the award for best actor in a dramatic tv series is…. Alcide Herveaux!" the presenter announces.
I watch as the camera pans to my dark-curly haired best friend who was rising from his seat in the audience. He kisses his co-star on the cheek and saunters up to the stage.
He beams with pride as he receives his Emmy statue.
"Thank you! I had only ever dreamt that I would receive one of these things, but here we are!" Alcide exclaims as he stands proudly in front of the audience, his English accent very much prominent. He continues on and thanks his agent, manager, mother, father and whoever else. He doesn't mention me, his decade long best friend. Not that I was expecting him to throw me a shout-out.
I smile and salute him silently. The show cuts to a commercial and I take a swig of my ale. After finishing, I throw the empty bottle in the recycling bin and head to bed. Though Alcide had invited me to the afterparties, I declined. I had to get up early in the morning to meet with a new potential manager. My last one dropped me because I wasn't getting anywhere despite the enormous amount of auditions I had gone to over the last year. My agent had recommended me to an up-and-coming manager who had just arrived from London. I was also hoping that I wouldn't get dropped by my agent either. That would just be the cherry on top of the trainwreck of what you could call my career. I hadn't exactly been one of the agency's most profitable clients.
Finding work in this town was tough.
Though I was still struggling, I was glad that Alcide's hard work was finally paying off. He had landed his biggest role to date in an HBO series last year. Though I was happy for him, I couldn't help but feel a tad envious. We had come to Los Angeles together and he was rising quickly in the world of showbiz.
I had met Alcide in Shreveport, Louisiana many, many years when I had moved there from Sweden with my father. My mother died of breast cancer when I was fifteen and my father decided he needed a change of scenery. He found a job as an executive at one of the local businesses. I never knew why my old man chose to move to Shreveport. I was insanely unhappy with leaving Stockholm to move to some backwards town in the United States. I hated the heat and I hated how big the town was. You couldn't get anywhere without having to drive. I was used to walking and taking the metro to get to my destinations quickly. In Shreveport, that was nearly impossible. It was years later that I found out the real reason why my father, Appius, wanted to leave Sweden. He wanted to get away from everything that reminded him of my mother. He had loved my mother dearly and the pain of her loss was too much to bear for him, but he never really considered what I lost as well. I had lost my mother and my home at the same time.
After our arrival in Shreveport, my father enrolled me into one of the local high schools, though I begged him not to. I would have preferred homeschooling instead of being surrounded by arrogant, uncouth American adolescence all day long.
"It would be good for you to be with people your own age," my father, Appius, had said to me as he dropped me off for my first day at Shreveport Public High School.
So, I got out of the car and made my way into that school. Right away I had stood out from the crowd. I was much taller, leaner and paler than most of the other students. I had long blonde hair and sapphire blue eyes, the complete Nordic look. I had always been popular with the girls in Stockholm and Shreveport was no exception. I had not been in the school for more than five minutes before I was bombarded by a swarm of girls offering to help me find my classes or to invite me to lunch or to 'hang out with them'. I made my way to the guidance counsellor office just to get away from the vermin. I also wanted to look for apprentice programs that the school offered so that I could eventually make my way back to Stockholm.
"There are a few shop classes, but those are full," Mr. Clark, the guidance counsellor had said to me.
"You seem very…. athletic," the tiny bald man commented as he looked at me from head to toe. "How about trying out for the football team?"
"American football?" I scoffed, my face filled with distain. "No thanks. How about the drama club?"
It was on that day when I had my first meeting with the high school drama club that would greatly influence where my life would take me. I had always been fascinated with the theatre. I had always wanted to audition for local theatre groups in Stockholm, but never found the time. I had been too busy caring for my ill mother. She fought her illness for three years until she finally succumbed.
"Hey man," one of the members with a surprisingly foreign accent says at the meeting, as he shakes my hand. "You're new in town?"
"Yes," I replied. He was my age and height as well. Admittingly, he was a lot more muscular than me, though I was sure I was much more stronger than him.
"My name is Eric Northman," I told him.
"I'm Alcide Herveaux," he replied back. He took a seat next to me. "You don't seem too happy to be here."
I nod my head.
"I'm also an unhappy and unlucky chap from across the ocean as well. My parents moved me and my sister here to start a contracting business a few months ago. I was absolutely gutted to leave home."
"Did they ask you to join the football team as well?" I asked.
"Yea, I told them 'not on your life' will I ever play American football," Alcide said with pride.
I grinned at him. It was then that I knew that Alcide would be my life-long best friend, the brother that I never had.
Alcide and I had a lot in common. Alcide's father, Jackson, was heavy into fitness, so he had a fully equipped gym in their large four-bedroom home in the posh neighborhood of Shreveport. We would spend hours working out and running at dawn through the streets of Shreveport. I spent a lot of time at Alcide's house. His mother and father adored me and always welcomed me into their home.
After we finished high school, we both got accepted into Louisiana State University's Theatre Program. We graduated with honors and Alcide returned to London to find work, while I went back to Stockholm. I had wanted to go with him to London, but my home country was calling me back. For the next few years, we both managed to find jobs, but not in the acting field. I found a job as bartender in the city, while Alcide worked as a theatre usher, but managed to land random work as an extra in local British tv productions.
My father and Alcide's family had remained in Shreveport. It was when we both went back to Shreveport at the age of twenty-three to visit, that we decided to try our luck in Los Angeles and move there together.
I managed to get an agent early after our arrival while Alcide struggled for months. My first agent found me jobs as a model in print ads and tv commercials. I hated it, but it paid the rent and bills. A year later, Alcide finally got an agent and was getting auditions with the major studios. He finally found success with his tv series getting picked up for ten episodes. He left Los Angeles for Georgia to film his new show while I stayed in L.A., still trying to find meaningful acting roles, but with little success. I was either too tall, too European, too blonde, or too good looking for the roles I auditioned for.
"You should've become a football star," Alcide would tease.
"Haha, fuck you," I would reply in a deadpan voice.
Though we would constantly joke about his success and my lack of, I was slowly becoming despondent.
That was until the day I met my new manager, Pamela Ravenscroft. After watching Alcide win the Emmy, I was determined to become as successful as him.
"Hmmmmm…." Pam said as she studied me behind her Gucci sunglasses. She was wearing a white halter top and white slacks. I look down and lick my lips at her toned stomach. She was indeed a beautiful woman with sleek blonde hair, blue eyes, and red lipstick. She looked exactly like my type and I pondered briefly whether to flirt with her right then and there. I wanted to eventually seduce this woman, of whom, I was hoping would become my manager. I was always successful in my attempts at seducing women. I never had any trouble finding a date because women were always attracted to me. I had no doubt Pam would be no different, but boy, I was wrong.
As I attempted to flirt coyly with her, she brushed me off right away.
"Oh please, Northman," she said with a posh English accent, "Do you really think your pretty boy act would work on me?"
"Listen, if your only objective is to try and seduce me, then you can leave right now. I am a business woman. I am only interested in managing successful actors," she retorted. "But if you are ready and you want me to help you to make a name for yourself in this industry, then I suggest you begin taking yourself seriously."
I look at her, taken aback. I had never had any woman respond to me the way she did.
"I apologize for my behavior Ms. Ravenscroft," I replied. I knew then that I wanted her to become my manager. She was honest, tough, and ballsy.
A few months later after the meeting with Pam, I finally landed a supporting role in an independent film called A Halo Around My Heart. Principal photography was to take place in a small town near Shreveport for two months.
"Bon Temps," I say to myself as I read the email that Pam had sent to me. I think back and don't recall every seeing a town called Bon Temps. But then again, I rarely ever ventured away from Shreveport during the years I spent there. I shudder at the thought of having to return. Living in Shreveport had been like a blur, I couldn't wait to get out of there. Now I was going back for two months to shoot a movie in a much smaller town close to it.
"Good luck, you're going to need it, Madden is directing," Pam sends in a text. Victor Madden was a huge asshole. Actors hated working with him, but his brother Felipe ran the studio who was financing the film. Nepotism at its finest.
I texted Alcide and let him know that I landed the role and was going to Louisiana for shooting. He was currently back in Georgia in the middle of filming the second season of his tv series.
A week later, I, along with the production crew and other actors arrive in Bon Temps to begin principal photography. I was playing the brother of the lead actress, Indira Roberts.
I browse my sparse schedule as we do costume fittings. It looked as though I was going to be having a lot of time on my hands between shooting. But at least I was getting paid.
"Mr. Northman, we are ready for you," a production assistant says to me.
I take a deep breath and go to the set to prepare for my scenes.
A couple hours later, we finally have a break and the whole crew heads to the tent for lunch.
I briefly ponder whether or not I should eat. Usually I didn't eat anything until after my day is over.
"The shrimp is divine," one of the crew members comments as she walks past me holding her plate of food.
Why not? I was more than prepared for the rest of the day. My role wasn't too complicated. I shrug my shoulders and join the back of the line at the tent, which was moving slowly.
I answer messages and emails on my phone as I wait, rarely looking up. Finally, I reach the caterers' table and look up from my phone. I become somewhat startled by the most gorgeous Aphrodite I had ever seen staring back at me.
I hold my breath as I take in her features. She had the most beautiful blue eyes and her blonde hair was in a bun with a black headband around it. I gaze down slightly to see that she was wearing a white apron that had a logo with the word Merlotte's on it. Her white -t-shirt covered up what I was sure was the most delectable pair of breasts I had ever seen. Her full lips curve into a small smile as I continued to be captivated by her. From the expression on her face, I was sure she was feeling the same way about me.
"Would you like some gumbo? I made it using my Gran's recipe," she asks me in a breathless voice. Her Louisiana accent was strong, but also smooth and gentle.
"Yes, it does smell delicious," I reply back with a smile.
She begins blushing, puts some soup in a bowl and places it on my tray.
"My name is Eric," I say as I hold out my hand to her.
"Hi, my name is Sookie," she replies back.
I feel the jolt of electricity as soon as her hand touches mine. I rub the back of her hand a little with my thumb as we relish in our moment.
"Come on Eric, I'm starving," the cinematographer says behind me.
"Sorry sir," Sookie replies as she continues to blush.
I reluctantly move to the side, but I continue to stand there staring and smiling at her.
She tries to focus on serving the other crew members, but keeps on looking back at me and smiling as well.
I find a seat at one of the tables. I barely hear the conversation around the table as I continue to be mesmerized by the gorgeous blonde woman who apparently worked with the caterers. I watch as she begins to clear dishes and pack up the rest of the food after lunch is over. I would catch her giving me occasional glances as she continued to work.
"Come on Eric, let's get a move-on," the AD says to me.
"Yeah just one second," I mumble.
I get up right away as I watch Sookie grab her bag, preparing to leave.
"Uhhh, excuse me," I say to her as she picks up something off the table.
She looks up at me and smiles again as she wipes her hands on her apron. I look into her eyes briefly again. She had one of the most genuine faces I had ever seen.
"Did you need something sir?" she asks me, sounding astounded.
"Uhh noo, I mean, yes I was wondering about something, and please, call me Eric," I stammer. I was shocked by my own reaction. I never got nervous when I approached women, except with this one. "Are you busy tonight?"
She looks at me for a moment. "No, I don't have any plans. I was just going to curl up in front of the fireplace and relax. It's my night off from work."
"That's good," I smile. "I hope I'm not being too presumptuous. But would you care to go out with me tonight, that is if you are not seeing anyone? I'm new to this town and I haven't seen much of it since my arrival."
"You want to go on a date?" she asks me in a confused tone.
"Oh sorry! I don't know why I said that. No, I'm not seeing anyone," she laughs gently. "Ummm, yes I would like to go out with you. I can show you around our small town as well."
She writes her number and address on a paper she takes out from her purse.
"Sookie, the van is loaded up," a man with shaggy dark blonde hair says as he approaches us.
He gives me a hard stare as he looks between Sookie and I.
"Thanks Sam, I'll be along," she says to him.
"I have to go," she says to me.
"That's too bad," I reply in a low husky tone.
"I'll see you later?" she asks me.
"You can count on it," I reply back with a smile.
I spend the rest of the day with Sookie on my mind.
I head back to Shreveport to the rental property the studio got for me. I didn't want to stay with my dad. He had started dating again and was now seeing a 40-something divorcee who had apparently moved in with him. I had no intention of intruding.
My phone rings and I put it on speakerphone, it was Pam.
"So how was the first day?" she asks me.
"It was great," I respond.
"Now that doesn't sound like sarcasm," Pam retorts.
"No, really it was a fantastic day. I met someone. I think she's special," I say as I button my shirt.
"Please don't tell me you got involved with one of your female co-stars. You barely have any! Well, except for Indira, but I'm pretty sure she's a lesbian," Pam says.
I chuckle. "No, it's not Indira, although she is pretty cool. No, it was one of the staff. I think she works for the catering company."
"You are dating a cook?!" Pam replies.
I stop and look at the phone. "Pam, are you saying you disapprove of her because of her occupation? I would have never guessed…."
"Oh please Eric, I may be a snob and normally I wouldn't give a shit about whom you are dating but….." Pam says.
"But what?" I answer back.
"Okay you told me from the beginning that you want to be a major star. And I totally agree with you, I have no doubt you have what it takes to become one of the most talented and well sought-after actors of your generation. It may take a few years, but we will get you there. And part of that plan includes building up your image. Eric, I don't think that dating a cook with a trashy trailer park accent from some hick town will help you."
"Pam, she is not trashy….." I reply. I could feel myself getting angry at her.
"Eric, do you want to be a star or not?" she retorts.
I am silent for a moment. "Yes, I do."
"Then you have to start thinking about who you date. And Eric, this woman is not good for you or your image," she says.
I stop getting ready and look deeply at my image in the mirror. I knew that Sookie would be an amazing woman to get to know better. There was something special about her and I couldn't put my finger on it.
"I'm not giving her up, Pam," I reply.
"Ugh well fine, don't listen to my advice," Pam huffs on the phone. "If you're not going to listen to me about this, then will you promise me something?"
"And what is that?" I say.
"That you won't get too deeply involved with her. Try and keep your fling discreet. And remember, once filming is over and you return to L.A., it is over with this girl and she will remain in the past. Do we have an agreement?"
I sigh out loud. I liked this girl. I had only spoken to Sookie briefly, but yet I was smitten. And though I was extremely attracted to her, Pam was right. My career was the most important thing in the world to me.
"Okay, fine. Once I leave here, I will drop her," I say reluctantly.
"Good boy," Pam says, sounding pleased.
We finish up our call and I call Sookie next to let her know that I would be there in an hour to pick her up for our date. I put a few extra condoms in my wallet. I had only a tiny glimpse of her round delicious ass and I was hoping to have the opportunity to see more of it tonight, along with that exquisite rack.
I had asked for a car rental as part of my contract and they had gotten me a red Corvette.
I finally reach Sookie's house after a few navigational errors and drive down Hummingbird Lane. The condition of the road was atrocious. I was glad that this was not my car that was currently getting wrecked by the uneven road.
I open my car door and take in the surroundings. There was a lot of trees and the farmhouse looked really old, but also seemed very comfortable. Like it had been lived in for many generations by Sookie's family.
I walk up to the porch and knock on the door. A few seconds later, the door opens. It was Sookie.
"Hi Eric," she says with a dazzling smile that causes me to feel something unfamiliar in my stomach. It was almost like a tingling sensation. I look down to see what she was wearing and I was not disappointed. She was wearing a white bodice dress with red splotches of flowers all over. She wore a white headband in her long and wavy blonde hair.
She looked perfect.
"You look beautiful," I comment as I hand her flowers. I was glad that I had remembered to stop at the flower shop.
She thanks me for the flowers and welcomes me into her home.
"My gran is out," she says from the kitchen as I walk into the living room and take in the surroundings. I look on the wall and see dozens of family photos from different decades. I look at one above the fireplace. It was Sookie and she was standing with another girl in front of a volleyball net.
"Your Gran?" I ask.
"Yeah, I live here with my Gran," she says as she comes into the living room. "My parents died in a flash flood when I was young. She raised me and my brother Jason. Jason lives in our parents' house, while I stayed here with Gran."
"I'm sorry to hear about your parents'," I say sincerely as I walk towards her. I knew how that felt to lose a parent. I couldn't imagine losing both of them at the same time.
"It's alright," she says in a somewhat sad tone. "It happened so long ago, but yet sometimes it feels like yesterday. My gran was heartbroken, but I think that having me and Jason around helped her heart heal."
I get closer to her and hold both her hands in mine. I rub her palms and look into her eyes. I start to lean in for a kiss but she begins to lean backwards, away from me.
"Oh, I'm sorry," she says breathlessly. "I'm not really used to this. I mean being with anyone or dating. Ugh, that doesn't sound good. Well, what I mean is, I'm not used to getting attention from other men. From men that I like, that is."
"Ahhhh," I reply in surprise. She was beyond gorgeous. Only a blind man couldn't see that and not be tempted by her.
"You see, when you're from a small town, where everyone knows everyone, it's hard to meet and find someone you like," Sookie explains. "I didn't like any of the boys at school or anyone from work."
"Well, I do apologize," I tell her.
"You don't need to apologize," she smiles. "I like you Eric."
"I really like you too," I reply back.
We make our way back to Shreveport. I had made a dinner reservation at the classiest restaurant in town.
The hostess seats us at our table and we order food. Sookie orders a salad as well as a steak with vegetables. I smile at her as she chats with our waiter. For the past several years, my usual dates were stick-thin women who only ate a few dry nuts and crackers and called it a meal. I was glad to see that Sookie had a healthy appetite.
Since we had first met several hours ago, Sookie had me captivated and tonight was no exception. Throughout dinner, she has me enthralled with her stories. She had a vibrant zest for life despite her limited experiences. She seemed very kind and very wise for someone who was just twenty years old.
"You mean you've lived here before?" she asks sounding surprised.
"Yes, my father still lives here in Shreveport," I reply.
"But you look and sound so European," she chuckles. "I don't mean that as a bad thing, but golly, you must've stood out in high school."
I nod and chuckle as well.
"I went to high school in Bon Temps. I wanted to go to college, but I couldn't afford it. I know I would've done well, but I guess it wasn't meant to be," Sookie says.
"You still have plenty of time," I tell her.
"Yeah, but…. I'm happy with what I do and where I am," Sookie replies proudly. "I am satisfied with my life."
After dinner, we go for a walk and chat around a park that I knew well.
"Did you want to go for a drink somewhere?" I ask as we approach my car.
"Uhhhh…" she says as her face reddens. "Not tonight, Eric. I like you a lot and I really enjoyed our date. But I have to get up early to help Sam prepare tomorrow's lunch for the film crew and then I have a shift at his restaurant."
"You're pretty busy," I chuckle.
"Yeah," she laughs lightly.
"I guess I should take you home," I say.
An hour later I walk her up to her front porch. The outside light was on.
"Thank you, Eric. I had a really great time with you," Sookie smiles.
"You're welcome Sookie. I enjoyed spending time with you as well," I reply. "Would you care to go on another date with me sometime soon?"
She smiles and nods. "I would like that."
I lean down towards her. "May I kiss you good night?"
She nods. I lean in and put my lips on her warm, soft lips. I didn't want to scare her and be too aggressive, so I place a few more soft pecks on her. Our breathing was shallow but my heart was racing. I know hers must've been as well. I had kissed hundreds of women throughout my life so far, but the feeling of being with Sookie was different. I couldn't explain it, but she made me feel safe, hopeful, and made me feel the kind of passion that I knew I would never get tired of. And we had only just met today and shared one innocent kiss so far.
"I should get inside. Gran worries," Sookie says breathlessly. "Goodnight Eric."
"Goodnight Sookie," I say in a low tone. "I will call you tomorrow."
She goes inside and I walk back to my car feeling oddly satisfied despite not getting laid. Normally when I dated women, my dates would always end with sex and me leaving afterwards, never to see them again. But this time it was different with Sookie. I was excited to get to know her better and to be with her. Though I did want sex with her eventually, she had me enthralled and wanting more.
I groan and look at the time. I had a four A.M. wake-up call and needed to be on the set by 5 am. I jump into my rental and head back to Shreveport.
A/N: This is an all human story. Not sure how many chapters it will be. I love Southern Vampire Mysteries! I wish the series didn't end and that Charlaine Harris gave us the ending that we all wanted, but alas it didn't happen. I'm glad for fan fiction and the all the amazing writers who have provided us with so many great Sookie and Eric stories. I thought about writing a follow up to the one I just finished. I already started the first chapter, but I need to think about where I am going to go with it more.