A/N: Don't own a thing. This one is has not been beta-ed so any mistakes are my own. Hope you enjoy it. Please review
Chapter One.
My hands were shaking when I stepped out of the car. I sat on a nearby bench and pulled my friend down with me.
"Amelia? Help!" I whimpered
"Sookie Stackhouse. You should be doing a Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks at the end of You've Got Mail right now." Amelia squeaked at me… she was so past frustrated that she couldn't get the words out.
I couldn't really blame her though… I had dragged her halfway across the state for back-up so I could meet a man … on her first weekend off work in 3 months… and had woken her up at 6 am with my nervous pacing…
"What if something goes wrong Amelia? I love this guy. I don't think I could take it if he..." I whispered.
"Honey" Amelia said calmingly stroking my hair and holding my hand "You'll never know if you don't meet him. Now… take a deep breath, everything will be fine… you've known each other since forever… I'll be watching you from the coffee shop." she said pointing to the tables nearby "Wave to me when you're ok and call me when you want me to pick you up."
"Kay." I said quietly "I can do this. Love you Meals"
"Love you too Sook. Now go get him" she said with a little push.
I had been friends with Amelia since forever, I loved her to pieces, but to this day, I don't know why I let her dye my hair black and talk me into wearing stilettos. I do know it was the best mistake I'd ever made.
Deep breath Sookie, you can do this. Oh crap oh crap oh crap oh crap oh crap.
"Hi" he said
"Hi" I answered and then threw myself into his arms.
My name is Sookie Stackhouse and I have no will power. Sigh.
It was the end of our third year at LSU. Amelia was going through a re-invention phase and decided I needed to be made over as well. She dashed out one afternoon and bought hair dye and an hour later I had my head hung over our bathtub while she rinsed me off and I was mentally kicking myself.
Amelia was in raptures over her own make over. She had dyed her mouse brown hair to a rich mahogany that complimented her complexion and coloring perfectly… I should have gone to the shop and picked my own colour… oh well… at least it will wash out.
Despite the fact that it was a complete and drastic change for me, making me look like a short Morticia Addams, I kinda liked my once blonde hair being black; as it dried it looked better and better, silky and smooth and totally not me. It also really made my blue eyes pop. I'd need to pencil in my eyebrows until it washed out, but I wasn't too fussed about that.
"Sookie" she squealed "we are going OUT! I look too fabulous to be locked up studying for the weekend. Get yourself ready for FUN… AMELIA BROADWAY STYLE!"
"Amelia, I love you, but no eff-ing way." I said firmly, knowing that she was going to talk me into it in about another 2 minutes… like I said; no will power.
5 minutes later I had been transformed, from a 'good' Christian girl with blonde wavy hair and a passion for sundresses, into a goth vampire wannabe with pin straight black hair and a dog collar… Amelia's dog Mutt was slightly put out that I stole his bling, but Amelia gets what Amelia wants.
Another 2 minutes found me in serious pain, Amelia in tears and an ambulance on the way.
I had decided (read – gave up and agreed) to splash out big time and wear stilettos. Now… because I was a completely uncoordinated, accident prone klutz, who had never worn heels before; this 'decision' spelt disaster. I walked out of our apartment and started down the stairs, caught my heel on the edge of a step and ended up at the bottom with a broken leg and a minor concussion… Sigh.
Amelia had taken off the dog collar and had me semi-comfortable by the time the ambulance got there and I was over the moon that I was wearing hot pants under the ridiculously short skirt Amelia had me in. My cheeks were fire-engine red as the medics walked in and assessed me, but my whole face turned deathly white as they moved me into the van… it really hurt.
My leg was broken in two places, I had to wear a full leg cast and I was kept over night because of my concussion. Amelia had called my family and they drove up early the next morning. Gran and my big brother Jason came in looking a little frantic although Amelia had told them I was basically ok. My parents had abandoned us when I was three, leaving Gran to raise us. We were everything to each other and I hated to worry them like this.
After they saw I was ok, Jason sat holding my hand and keeping an eye out for hot nurses… of which there were none, but he kept looking anyway… my brother the horn dog, at first glance he was easy to misjudge, but he was wicked smart and as honest as the day is long. I loved him to bits. Our Gran was a beautiful southern woman who was sweet as honey and quick as a whip. She was inclined to think the best of everyone, but get on her bad side and look out, she was meaner than a mamma alligator in nesting season.
As soon as she was happy that I was comfortable she took me to task over my hair and scolded Amelia so bad I thought she was going to take her over her knee… I assured her that it would wash out to brown and then I could get it stripped back to the natural colour… so she eased off and gave Amelia a hug instead.
"Amelia honey, you are always and forever gettin' yourself in trouble, but God knows I love ya. Ya keep me young." She said with a smile. "Now get over here and hug mah neck." She reached out an arm and pulled Amelia into a motherly embrace, wrapping her in love and letting her know everything would be alright.
We Stackhouses had adopted Amelia as our own when she and I were just little girls. Her parents were always too busy socialising to spend time with her, so she was always at our house, playing tea parties, chasing my brother with the hose when he would serve mud pie and helping Gran make real pie. We loved her dearly and she knew it.
"I'm so sorry Gran" Amelia snuffled into her shoulder "I just wanted Sookie to relax a little for once and have some fun, and look what happened."
"Well now," Gran said soothingly "Nothing time can't fix. You just hush now and we'll forget all about it."
Amelia hugged her for a little longer and then kissed her on the cheek as she pulled away. Gran kept hold of her hand, knowing she'd had just as bad a scare as anyone.
"I do love this color on you though Amelia honey, it makes your eyes look so beautiful and green" Gran said "I think it was a won'erful idea and you should keep it that color."
"Yeah 'Melia" Jason piped up, taking his eyes off the corridor for a second "Really suits you, you don't look like death warmed up like Spooky over here" he turned his cheeky grin to me with a squeeze of my hand.
"You hush your mouth Jason Stackhouse. At least my hair didn't go orange like when you tried to put highlights in yours" I snapped back, poking my tongue out at him for good measure.
"I'd forgotten about that!" Gran laughed, her laugh was like bells ringing and none of us could help but join her.
It was close to the semester end break so Amelia and I went home a little early to Bon Temps with Gran and Jason. I always loved being home and this time was no different, despite the less than ideal circumstances.
I had a hard time entertaining myself this time, I didn't want to be a burden on anyone, but it wasn't easy to get around on my own… not to mention I couldn't drive with my leg in plaster. I wasn't a fan of daytime TV and I had read all my books and Amelia's so many times I had them nearly memorized… so I spent a lot of time online chatting with people through the social networking sites… it was also how I met Eric.
Fairy_girl81: Hi Vikingboi *waves*
Vikingboi: Hi.
Fairy_girl81: Have you been hanging out in this chat for ages? I've never seen you around before…
Vikingboi" *shrugs* a while...
Fairy_girl81: Wow. A real conversationalist here! Are you always such a snob?
Vikingboi: !
Vikingboi: Beautiful Fairy_girl81… Forgive me! I was so enraptured by your beauty and grace that I was rendered speechless. Wouldst thou converse with such an unworthy suitor? Or wouldst thou have me fall upon my sword, that I might forever rue the day I angered thee?
Fairy_girl81: ROFL. You don't have to go over the top VB, I'm just bored with all the "omg like omg!" hair flipping bimbo conversations in here and I noticed you aren't saying too much, so I thought you might have a brain :o) Psst – btw Vikings didn't speak like that.
Vikingboi: Well then… thank you for the… compliment? lol. I'm Eric. Psst – I know :op
Fairy_girl81: Nice to meet you Eric. I'm Sookie.
…And that, as they say… was that.
My leg healed slowly and we developed a great friendship, he kept me entertained for hours on end and had me laughing all the time. Over the months we spent more and more time together to the point where we met online every day and talked for hours about classes, music, books, cartoon characters, toaster settings and everything in between…
I'd never had this kind of connection with a straight man before… I had a few gay male friends who were so flamboyant it was like hanging out with another girl, but I'd never had the courage to open myself up to someone I was interested in. I had crushes and couple of boyfriends, but they would get to a point where they would start to push me for one thing or another and I'd call it off. But everything just came so easily with Eric.
I was starting my final year at LSU soon… and as happy as I was to be getting close to the end, I was sad that I wouldn't be able to spend as much time with Eric… we had been talking every day for six months and had grown very close. I couldn't tell him yet, but I was definitely falling for him. Given the fact that we would both working our asses off for graduation and we would barely have time to chat online anymore… I took the plunge and asked him something I had wanted to ask for a really long time…
Fairy_girl81: Hey Eric?
Vikingboi: Mmmmm?
Fairy_girl81: Can I ask you something?
Vikingboi: You realize you just asked if you could ask me something.
Fairy_girl81: lol sorry *blush*
Vikingboi: *hugs you* np. What would you like to know?
Fairy_girl81: Would you be ok with swapping cell numbers?
Vikingboi: Really?
Fairy_girl81: nm… it was dumb
Vikingboi: No Sookie! It's not dumb at all. I've been wondering for ages what you sounded like… what your laugh sounded like… Are you sure you'd be ok with that?
He knew all about my dating experiences and family, he knew this was a big thing for me and being the sweet man I knew him to be, he didn't want to push me or make me nervous.
Fairy_girl81: Well I am if you are…are you?
Vikingboi: Abso-frikkin-lutely. My number is *** *** ****
Fairy_girl81: Thank you! *bounce bounce* calling you right now.
Vikingboi: Can't wait.
I hopped over to my bed and grabbed my phone and before I could over think it, I dialed his number and proceeded to freak the hell out… Oh crap oh crap oh crap, what if he sounds like Professor Frink…
"Hi, Sookie?" a low, slightly accented, male voice answered the phone. His voice was like silk and made the hair on the back of my neck stand up and made my skin break out in goose-bumps.
"Hi Eric," I said with a huge grin "this is so weird, but thank you for letting me call you"
"Any time Sookie." he said. I could hear his smile and I melted… I made him smile!
"So why did you want to call me? You ok?" he asked, sounding slightly worried.
"Well… yes and no." I said quietly. "Our final year is starting on Monday, and we'll both be so busy that we won't be able to hang out like we used to. I'm going to miss talking to you every day so…" I was blushing so hard I was almost sweating. I had been falling for him for a long time now and hearing his voice was just another plus for him.
"I'll miss talking to you too Sookie," he admitted… sounding embarrassed himself, but still smiling "I don't like the idea of not speaking to you every day…I… I think I'm… falling for you." He admitted.
"Really?" I squeaked
"Yeah. I mean I can talk to you about anything and you're funny." He said "we just get each other… Is there any way you could… I mean… do you think you're….you know… do you think you could ever like me… like that?"
I collapsed on my bed and grabbed a pillow to put over my face while I screamed then shoved the phone back to my ear.
"So was that a maybe?" he asked as soon as he heard me back on the line
"Did you hear that?" I asked… mortified that I had made such a fool of myself.
"Ah… Yeah." he chuckled.
"Oh crud…" I groaned. He laughed… it was the best sound I had ever heard, it was such a joyous sound that I couldn't help joining in.
"Yes Eric" I said, smiling so hard my cheeks hurt "I could definitely like you in that way… I'm falling for you too, have been for months."
"That makes me really happy Sookie… really happy" he said softly.
"So seeing as we're falling for each other, what do you think about swapping photos?" he asked after a few moments where we just giggled at each other.
"I think that'd be great, I can't believe we've been talking for all this time and we still haven't swapped. I'll send you one before I go to sleep tonight." I chuckled, going back to my computer and starting to click through all the candid shots I had taken with Amelia…
"Ok… thanks" he said, almost sounding like he was holding back a squeal of his own, which made me laugh.
We talked until our phones started to go flat, beeping in our ears.
"Holy Eff… Honey we've been on the phone for 2 hours" I squeaked when I glanced at the clock while reaching for my charger.
"You called me honey…" he said with surprise and a smile in his voice "I like it."
I snickered. "I like it too."
"Time always goes too fast when I'm spending it with you Sookie," he admitted "but I'd better let you go"
"Kay." I whispered, missing the sound of his voice already.
"I'll talk to you again soon my angel." He said just as softly.
"Kay." I said again… he called me his angel… oh swoon.
"We'll hang up together? Is that lame?" he asked
"It's not lame at all… it's sweet…G'bye Eric." I said… if he was any sweeter I'd have a toothache.
"Bye Sookie." He said and we hung up.
I flopped onto my bed holding my flat beeping phone to my pounding chest with the biggest smile I could manage. I couldn't wait to see the face attached to the guy I was falling for.
I scooted over to my computer and dug out the best photo of myself I could find. It was only a head shot, but I looked happy and I knew it would make him smile.
I typed out a quick email and attached the picture to it… now for the hard part… how to sign off… I settled for "XOXO Your Sookie" and clicked send before I could rethink it for the sixth time then flopped back onto my bed and squealed some more. Eric liked me and all was right with the world.
The next morning I shot out of bed and over to my computer to check my email. Sure enough there was one from Eric. I was so excited my hands were shaking and I was bouncing up and down on the seat.
Good Morning My Angel,
This is a picture of me with my sister Pam. Please excuse the stupid hats, we were in Russia visiting my father and she made me wear it… unfortunately it's the most recent one I have where I'm not pulling a stupid face. I'll take some more and send you some other stuff too asap, what would you like to see in my world?
I'd love to see pictures of your Gran and brother Jason and of course Amelia, your house, your room (if that's not too creepy) and your favorite hangouts on campus.
You're so beautiful Sookie. Your picture took my breath away and Pam thought I'd lost it because I couldn't stop grinning. She said to tell you, you're hot and if she went for the nice girls I'd have a competition on my hands. I short sheeted her bed and turned her drawers upside down for that one… so if you get any strange, not like me, messages from my phone or email address you know why.
Eric X
P.S. *hugs* I am one lucky S.O.B.
I giggled and melted a little, opened his picture and nearly died. He was the most beautiful man I'd ever seen. Longish blonde hair, blue eyes that were sparkling with mischief, a strong jaw, cleft chin and a smile that would light up the darkest day. He was perfect, even in the stupid furry Russian hat.
I ran around my room squealing and jumping like a Dalmatian on speed. I was falling in love with the most beautiful man I had ever seen and he felt the same way. I wish everyone could be this happy.
Amelia stood in my open door with a look on her face that said 'Uh oh… I need to call for the men in the white coats…she's gone mad.'
"Uh…" I said, coming to a dead stop and looking at her in horror "How long have you been standing there?"
"Long enough to know you've lost it!" she said with a grin "What in heavens name has you so excited at this time of the morning? You usually need two cups of coffee before I'm even allowed to speak to you."
"Eric sent me his photo" I squeaked "and he's GORGEOUS!"
I ran over and hugged her tight, jumping up and down in my glee. Sensible behavior can go jump… I was happy and I wasn't going to hide it.
I dragged Amelia over to my computer and showed her.
"Fuck me!" she gasped "He's sex on toast… sex personified…Sexy McSexerson!"
"Amelia Broadway" I scolded "watch your mouth… and yes he is" I smirked, bouncing up and down again, unable to contain myself "Do you want to know the best part?"
"Wait… there's more?" she gasped.
"We spoke on the phone last night and he said he's falling for me" I squealed
"Sookie!" she said, grabbing my hands "If I wasn't so happy for you, I could kill you for being so lucky." She jumped up and started bouncing around with me "Sookie and Eric sittin' in a tree… K...I…S...S…I…N…G…. SQUEE!"
This was why I loved her. She was so generous of heart that she was just as excited as I was about the possibility of my finally having a love life with someone who understood me and wasn't after me just for my looks.
I printed out his picture and settled it into my wallet, that way I could see his smile any time I wanted.
I typed up another email and described the whole scene from when I opened his email and let him know I had made a print out for my wallet. We didn't hide anything from each other and I wasn't about to start now. I ran through my photos and attached a couple of pictures of Gran, Jason, Amelia and home in Bon Temps, then let him know the other ones would be coming soon. I did not tell him about his new nickname yet, I wanted to tell him that in person so I could hear him laugh. I signed off again with XOXO, added a text heart 3 and Your Sookie.
I wasn't falling anymore… I was done for. I would probably have ended up loving him anyway regardless of how he looked, but for him to look the way he did… I was happy as a pig in mud and couldn't wait to talk to him again.
I got ready for my day and grabbed my digital camera. After explaining to Amelia what I wanted to do we parted for our classes and met up again later in the afternoon at my favorite tree.
Amelia took the camera and stepped back a little so she could get the right angle. I sat at the base of my tree and spread my books to one side, like I was ready to study and was just waiting for someone to show up. I put a hand on the grass beside me and thought about Eric.
Amelia bounced over a few snaps later and we moved off to take some other shots around campus, my favorite spot in the library, our favorite coffee shop. The window of the local comic book store, just because Eric had a thing for Thor.
With that done we went home, made dinner and finished off some class work with Amelia snapping photos all through the night. If I didn't know better, I would think she was more excited about showing Eric my world than I was.
We hooked the camera in to my computer and checked Amelia's handiwork.
"Oh Sookie…" Amelia cooed "Send that one"
We were looking at one of the shots of my tree and I was in the process of looking up at the camera while still thinking about Eric. The sun filtering through the leaves lit up my blonde hair like a halo, I had a slight smile on my face, my eyes were soft and the hand I was moving to put on the grass was slightly curled like I was beckoning. It was the sexiest picture of myself I had ever seen, and I wasn't even trying.
I blushed and clicked on to the next one.
"I can't send him that one 'Melia" I said softly "I don't want him to think I'm coming on too strong." I perked up again and said "You're a fantastic photographer though, lets check the others."
I attached the pictures I was comfortable sending to another email and created a list of things I would like to see about his world. His favorite hangout on campus, his car that he loved, his room, his favorite spot off campus, his comic collection and anything else he felt comfortable showing me. Honestly I'd be happy with a picture of his toothbrush…I couldn't believe how fast I'd fallen since hearing his voice and seeing the face it was attached to. I was worried I was being superficial.
"Amelia," I asked quietly as I turned away from the computer "I'm not being superficial by being so happy he's handsome am I?"
"No Sook," she soothed, sitting on my bed and taking my hands in hers. "He knows you were falling for him before he sent you the photo, you've been friends for ages now and know practically everything about each other." She started to smile as she said "You said yourself that it wouldn't matter what he looked like really. It's just a really awesome bonus that he's drool worthy" she ended with a small chuckle.
I laughed "I'm just being silly aren't I?"
"Just a little bit sweetheart," she said with a push, "but I love you anyway"
I grabbed my pj's and danced off to the bathroom to get ready for bed… the sooner I was ready, the sooner I could talk to Eric.
Amelia wasn't in my room when I came back, but my email was open… I had a horrible thought and raced over to check the sent items...
Oh shit… she didn't
A few clicks later…
She did.
"AMELIA JANE BROADWAY!" I screeched.
"'Sup Sookie?" she asked, looking like butter wouldn't melt in her mouth.
"You sent him that photo?" I collapsed onto my bed. Oh crap oh crap oh crap
"What photo?" she smirked at me "Relax, he'll love it" she added and bounced off to her bedroom again.
Just then my phone started ringing… shit shit shit shit
"Hi Eric" I squeaked.
"Hi Angel, how was your day?" he asked, behaving completely normally.
"Good good, you know…" I stalled "same old same old. Amelia and I took pictures for you around campus"
"Yeah I checked my email about an hour ago and got the one you sent me" he said with a smile "Thanks for doing that for me."
"One?" I asked in surprise "Oh yeah… no problem, any time" I slumped in relief… he hadn't seen it yet, maybe there was hope for retrieval.
So we chatted about our day and he told me about the stink bomb someone set off in the lecture hall meaning that half his day was messed up trying to reorganize rooms, they ended up having a few lectures out on the lawn in the sunshine and he thought of me. He had seen someone in a car that resembled mine and thought of me…so he hadn't stopped thinking about me all day.
"Way to make me blush Vikingboy" I smirked.
"Now that's something I'd like to see" he whispered
"Hush you" I flirted back "I didn't stop thinking about you all day either. Luckily I tape my lectures so I won't miss anything"
He chuckled a little… "I'm glad" he said softly.
Amelia bounced into my room and swiped my phone from my hand before I had time to blink.
"Hey McSexerson, it's Amelia" she quipped, now running away from me and trying to keep the phone out of my reach "Did you get that second email I sent you from Sookie's account? – No? – go check quick! AHHHH!" she ended with a scream as I tackled her to the ground and snatched the phone back.
"No Eric don't!" I squeaked… but it was too late.
I heard him draw in a breath and he was quiet for a long time…
"I'm sorry Eric, she got to my computer while I was out of the room, I didn't mean for you to see that one, I don't want you to think I'm…" I babbled frantically
"Hush dear one" he soothed "you are a goddess"
My jaw dropped and my knees gave way in shock.
"Amelia deserves my gratitude" he added "Please tell her I said thank you."
I gaped at Amelia who was grinning at me like a loon.
"Uh… sure" I mumbled, placing my hand over the microphone and telling her what he said.
Amelia quirked an eyebrow at me and with a self satisfied smirk on her face said "Tell him I said no problem…You, Ms Stackhouse, can thank me properly tomorrow." she said over her shoulder as she left the room, bouncing in glee and poking her tongue out at me as she closed the door behind her.
"She ah… she said no problem" I stuttered, still in shock.
He laughed softly and everything was alright again. He could tell I was uncomfortable with him seeing that particular photo so he let it go and went back to talking about his day.
I was starting to get tired so I relaxed back onto my pillow and let out an enormous yawn.
"I should let you go dear one, you're tired" he said softly
"I am, but I don't want to say goodnight" I admitted, yawning again.
"Well, how about I read to you and I'll hang up when you're asleep" he offered.
"I'd like that" I said softly, snuggling into my bed and imagining his arms around me as he read me a bedtime story… before I knew it I was sound asleep and dreaming of a man I knew so well but had never met.
A/N So what did you think? please review.