Because
By: Maylea
Author's Note: This is my first Traveling Pants fic, so please review. I don't care 'bout flames, but it would be nice to receive good feedback from readers.
Summary: This is set before Bridget goes back home from summer camp in the first book. What if Eric followed his instincts and gave in to a relationship with Bee? What would the counselors say about that? Will he fight for love? Bee's heading home next week, would they spend enough time together? Okay, 'nough rambling. I hope I didn't get you confused.
Disclaimer: I don't own Bridget, Eric, Tibby, Lena, Carmen, and all the other characters from the book. They belong to Ann Brashares – who is incredible. How I wish I wrote like her. I can only dream – but who cares anyway…
Chapter I
Bridget moved herself out to the little porch of her cabin. She could look at the bay at least. She had a pen and a pad of paper. She needed to send the Pants off to Carmen, but today was a hard day for writing.
She was sitting there, chewing on her pen cap, when Eric came over. He sat on the railing.
"How's it going?" he asked.
"Fine," she said.
"You missed the game," he said. He didn't touch her. He didn't look at her. "It was a good one. Diana tore up the field."
They were rewinding the clock. He was back being the benign coach, and she was the irrepressible camper. He was asking her permission to pretend that whatever had happened didn't happen.
She wasn't sure she wanted to give it. "I was tired. Big night last night."
His face colored. He held out his hands and looked at his palms. "Listen, Bridget." He seemed to be picking over a very paltry assortment of phrases. "I should have sent you away last night. I shouldn't have followed you when I saw you pass by my door. …I was wrong. I take responsibility."
"It was my choice to come." How dare he take her power?
"But I'm older than you. I'm the one who… I'm the one who would get in serious shit if people found out."
He still wouldn't look at her. He didn't know what else to say. He wanted to leave. She could see that clearly. "I'm sorry," he said.
She threw her pen after him. She hated that he'd said that.
Carma,
Here are the Pants. I'm very mixed up. If I had listened to your advice about good sense, I wouldn't be like this.
So right back at you. Good sense rules. I wish I had some.
Love,
Bee
Author's Note: Okay, I only put in an excerpt from the first book for introduction. I didn't write that much in "me" language, but I would be for the next chapter. I allow flames and everything, but it'd also be great if you gave good reviews. I also appreciate suggestions. Chapter's 2'll be up soon.