I wrote this fic just for storiesforevy, pimping some AZ pride and giving her a little taste of home while she's away. Baby, this one's for you *Creeper Wink*

E-POV

"This paper is 40% of your final grade and your final exam. Do it right or don't bother coming back, because I'm not going to even bother grading it if it seems sup par. Now get the hell out of here." I said to my class. I'm a tenured professor at ASU, I and the head of the Astronomy department. I graduated high school at 15 and had my doctorate by 23; I started teaching at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, but moved to ASU when my parents died. My baby sister had just started college at ASU much to my chagrin. Honestly I'm surprised they don't have a bachelor degree of beer pong here. I applied and they cleared out most of the department and tenured me just to keep me. I wasn't going to say no even though I was staying no matter what. Pam always has been and will be my number one girl.

That was three years ago. At 29 about two thirds of my students are older than me. But many are still very stupid. I have done work for NASA for god's sake and I have people failing out of my 'Intro to solar systems astronomy' I mean really! Half the shit I teach in that class you should have picked up most of between the third grade and high school.

I sat down at my desk and took my lunch out of my bottom drawer. I could go eat in the teachers' lounge, but that would mean being social. Other than Pam and my next door neighbor Tray, I really hate people. I still like to fuck; I just don't want to know your life story or your name in most cases. I'm good looking, 6' 5", blond, blue eyes, long lean toned body (I work out… a lot) and I have a sort of nerd chic style as Pam says, so I don't need to look hard for someone willing to spread their legs for me. I'm not one to spend the night or cuddle, you will never come to my home, and I will never spend the night. If I can fuck you in a car or bathroom and not even have to go back to your house, even better.

I took out my sandwich and unwrapped it, tucking the plastic evenly under it. 60% peanut butter,40% strawberry jelly, perfect. I opened my chips and laid them on a paper plate so I can eat them without the chip bag touching my hand. Then I lined up my fruit in alphabetical order, first my apple, then my banana, my grapes and last my orange. What can I say, I really like fruit. I also packed 12 nilla wafers for desert. I left them in their baggie until I was finished. Last I took out my iced tea and placed a straw into it. I was making sure my napkin was at the proper angle when I heard someone open my door and walk in without knocking.

I looked up and I was met with the sight of one of the most beautiful women I had ever seen, she was a vision in white. She was wearing a flowy white bohemian style skirt, her shirts was low cut and white, with angle wings crochet into the open space on the back, showing off her smooth tan skin, her sandals were gold and tied to her feet. Her golden blond hair was long and pulled into a side pony tail with flouncy curls. She was wearing a white head band that had white feathers hanging off of one side. Her face was flawless; she was wearing mascara and blush, but nothing more. Her body had these curves that were just asking to be held onto and caressed, also the fact that she had double D breasts maybe larger only served to draw her to me more. She was so perfectly put together, even her jewelry was perfect. Around her neck a gold feather, on her wrists gold bangle bracelets, her right hand held a large floral cocktail ring with white stones and gold embellishment's. She even had on a gold toe ring.

She was gorges, perfect, lovely and symmetrical. She was my Venus. I must have been sitting with my mouth open, oggeling her, because she snapped her fingers at me and said in an annoyed tone.

"You done?"

"Yes." I wasn't going to deny or try to defend my actions that would be a waste of my time.

"Good." She said smoothing her dress and continued. "I'm sorry to interrupt your lunch, but I need a telescope and I was told I could ask you to borrow one." She was pretty, I would like to fuck her, but not so much that I would risk handing over my equipment to. I bet I can still get her to fuck me anyway.

"No." My answer was final and so was my tone.

"I'm sorry, what?"She looked confused; I don't really see how this could have confused her.

"Yes, I said no. Funding for my department is low and I can't afford to lose any equipment to…" I motioned for her to tell me why she wanted it. Was she a professor, a student, friend of someone?

"The art department, I teach ceramics and sculpture I wanted to…" I cut her off with a hearty laugh and held up my hand for her to stop.

"Oh wow, yes, that is a big no then. Like fuck I will lone out a piece of equipment worth thousands of dollars to someone who teaches a useless subject. I would really like to have sex with you, but not that much. I'll fuck you but you're not getting one of my telescopes." I saw her little lip quiver, but I stood strong. "I mean how long have to been teaching? One two years?" She started wringing her hands together and said.

"This is my first year." I smirked and said.

"Ya, that just cemented my point, but we can still have sex." I looked up at the clock and said. "I don't have another class for two hours." He eyes were watering and her lip quiver had gotten worse. I was getting uncomfortable now, I don't like tears.

"You listen here Mr. Northman."

"Doctor, but you can call me Eric." She crossed her arms across her chest in a defensive posture and said.

"Dr. Northman, I am not a whore!" Her voice cracked and now she started to cry. I recoiled and wished she would stop it. "I would never sleep with you to use your equipment and most of all I would never sleep with a big ol' meannie like you." She was sniffing and crying, but I had to laugh.

"Meannie, really?" She nodded.

"Yes, you're a real butt head." I quirked an eyebrow, and retorted.

"And they let you teach at a college level, oh right art." She broke out into sobs and ran out of the room bumping into my sister on the way out.

"Ms. Stackhouse… Sookie!" She called after her. She came back a few moments later and asked.

"What the fuck did you do to her; I have never seen her be anything except sunshine and rainbows!" I shrugged and said.

"I was honest, she wanted to borrow a telescope, I said no, but offered to fuck her instead. Next time you see her, tell her my offer still stands." Pam let out a high pitched scream catching me off guard and swept her hands over my desk knocking everything to the ground. I stood up and yelled.

"Hey!" But she cut me off and said with venom in her voice.

"Ms. Stackhouse is not only a teacher here, but she also runs the group for survivors of sexual assault, because she is one. You went and treated her like a common whore and you wonder why she cried. Your offer does not still stand and you will stay away from her and you better hope she doesn't report you for sexual harassment." She looked me up and down with disgust before she finished. "Fucking pervert." I grabbed her hand and said in a low tone, not meeting her eyes.

"I… I didn't know." She pulled back from me and hissed.

"I know you're socially retarded, but that's not an excuse. You better hope your looks never fade or no one will want to be near you." She picked up her bag and said.

"I'm going to go find her and see if I can smooth this over, you just stay out of my face, I can't even look at you right now." And with that she stormed off. I decided to abandon the mess on the floor, I also canceled my last class and left. I decided to walk up to the roof and watch the sun set and think. I was ashamed of myself. I didn't quite know what to do with that feeling. I had been with many women, but I have never and will never force myself on one. Honestly I have never had a woman not jump at the chance to be with me. I opened the door and froze, I could hear someone chanting to themselves and I knew who it was, and it only made me feel worse hearing what she was saying.

"I am not damaged goods, someone will still love me, he can't hurt me anymore, I will not give him power anymore, I am beautiful, smart and I have value." She said this over and over to herself through her sobs. I found myself not only angry with myself, but also wanting to rip the man to shreds who hurt her, who forced himself on her. I felt like I wanted to go and give her a …..hug? and tell her I would protect her. These were not normal feelings for me. I turned to leave, but the door made a horrific squeak and she turned around, her scared eyes meeting mine. She buried her head between her knees and started to rock, chanting faster and louder.

I knew I couldn't leave her like this, so I approached her. I went to lay a hand on her, but she shot up and screamed.

"Don't touch me! I do not consent!" She started to cry harder and I went to set down my bag and move a respectful distance away, but she shot up and her foot got caught on her dress. I reached out to catch her, but she pushed away from me and caught her leg on the iron siding, cutting her leg and making her bleed all over her beautiful white clothes. She just started shaking her head back and forth, ignoring the bleeding and sobbing over and over.

"I have value!" I crawled over slowly, knowing she needed pressure put on the wound as well as to go to a hospital for stitches. I took off my sweater vest and cautiously held it out in her direction. I looked in her shattered eyes and I had never felt worse in my life, I was a monster, I was just as bad as the man who had done this to her. I slowly reached towards her leg and said.

"You have value." Her eyes snapped to me, as I moved my vest over her wound and pressed down.

"I have value." She whispered, and shot her eyes away from mine.

"Yes you do, I'm sorry, I was an asshole." She moved her hand down to where the vest laid and shoved my hand away, replacing it with her own. I'm not going to say her action didn't hurt a little. It was abrupt and her eyes looked closed off.

"Fine." She said accessing her wound and quickly deciding to replace the vest.

"You need stitches and a tetanus shot, can you walk?" I asked, she looked up at me with puffy eyes and said.

"Please go away, I'll be fine." I shook my head and said.

"No, I won't leave you." She let out a humorless laugh and muttered.

"The one time I want someone to leave me and they won't."

"What does that mean?" I inquired.

"Nothing and none of your business, please leave, I will manage fine."She spat out at me. She was shutting down, she was no longer sad, hurt or broken, now she was just hostile and retreating into herself. I have to say, I can already see that this afternoon will be one of the biggest regrets of my life.

"Can you walk?" I asked again, crouching next her, in an attempt to look less intimidating.

"I will be fine." She retorted sharply.

"That wasn't my question." I stated simply. She shot her eyes to mine, and the look she was giving me almost knocked me over.

"What is your issue? One moment your propositioning me like a hooker, the next your trying to come to my aid and rescue me."

"I didn't know your were a survivor of sexual assault, I'm sorry." I said sincerely. She just fired up again at that.

"That is none of your business! Also it's no excuse; you should never treat anyone that way!" I flopped back in defeat and rested my elbows on my knees and hung my head.

"I know! This is a mistake I will never, ever make again, lesson learned." She flinched and softly said.

"Don't yell at me."

"I'm sorry." I said again in a whisper. Now I was ashamed that I had yelled at her. Jesus Christ, save me from myself.

"Okay." She said, I got up and kneeled in front of her and said.

"My sister say's I'm socially and emotionally retarded. I skipped a bunch of grades, and I never had friends. I have my sister and my neighbor doesn't grate me too much, but I have never had to be…"

"Normal?" Sookie offered. I flinched, I knew I was weird and awkward; I just didn't like people pointing it out.

"Yes, I don't handle human interaction well." She laughed and said.

"And you're a teacher?" I shrugged, and took her moment to levity and slid my hands under her lifting her into my arms. She gasped and struggled a little but before she yelped.

"What are you doing?"

"You need stitches; I'm taking you to the hospital. This is my fault." She felt light in my arms, she was warm and her skin was smooth. She smelled like a pina colada and lemons. I needed to remember to calm down, because I was the pervert who made an unwelcomed proposition towards her. I carried her out of the building, ignoring the stares and took her to my car. She looked up as I opened the door to my SAAB and asked.

"What are you doing?" I was confused.

"I thought I was clear, I'm taking you to the hospital." She sputtered as I set her in the front seat and said.

"I guess I just thought, you know what never mind, you are obviously and enigma who can't be predicted." I shrugged and got into the front seat. I took off my glasses and put on my prescription sunglasses. The sun hadn't gone pat the mountain yet and the glare off of all the mirrored buildings was awful. I drove us to Tempe St. Luke's and carried her inside. She filled out her paper work and we waited for her to be called.

"So Is Pam Northman your sister?" Sookie asked after we sat down. I turned slightly towards her and said.

"Yes." She nodded and said.

"You two are nothing alike." I shrugged.

"We have something's in common." Sookie laughed and asked.

"Like what DNA?" I smiled at that. I don't smile a lot, I found myself out of practice.

"That looks good on you." She said.

"I'm sorry, what?" I replied.

"Your smile, it looks good on you, you should use it more often." My smile had once again retreated and I shrugged.

"I use it when it's called for. Pam and I have similar tastes in women and we both have a mutual love for water parks." She snorted and said.

"I can't picture you at a water park." I raised an eyebrow and said.

"Try harder, because we buy season passes every year." Sookie giggled and I smiled again, shit, that's two for her.

"Stackhouse, Sookie?" the nurse called from the door. I scooped up Sookie again, much to her dislike and carried her behind the curtain. They did her vitals and set to work stitching her up. Fourteen stitches and one tetanus shot later, she was hobbling out of the hospital with me.

"Back to the campus to get your car?" I asked, she just bit her lip and said.

"That's fine, I don't own a car. I usually car pool or take the bus."

"Okay, I'll drive you home then, where dot you live?" She gasped and little and said.

"You don't need to do that."

"I want to." I replied turning to look at her; yet again she turned her eyes from me.

"No, no I can call a cab or take the bus." I shook my head.

"Where do you live?"

"You don't need to go out of your way for me." I let out a loud sigh and rested my head on the steering wheel. She apparently caught on that she was really annoying me because she said in a soft voice.

"I live at Alma School and Queen Creek."

"She can answer a direct question, thank the lord." I said sarcastically. I put the car in gear and hopped on the 101 towards Chandler. Pam and I live in Gilbert so it wasn't out of my way at all.

"I live in Gilbert, so it was on the way." I said to try to soothe her.

"Oh, okay then." We drove to her house in silence, except for when she gave me directions as we got closer to her house. I got out of her car and helped her out. When we got to her door step for some reason I felt like a teenager after their first date. It was awkward. I patted her back and said.

"Well here you are, goodbye." I turned to go back to my car and she call after me.

"Eric?" I turned to face her.

"Yes?"

"Do you want to be friends?" I must have looked confused because she elaborated. "You know, because you said you never really had any." I nodded and said.

"That should be fine, how does it work?" I walked back up to her and she said.

"Well, we will exchange numbers and we can go out and do things as friends or just hang out. We could eat lunch together." I shrugged and put my number in her phone and sent myself a text so I would have her and said.

"That should be fine, I don't like the teachers' lounge, I usually eat in my office." I shrugged and turned to leave again.

"I could eat in your office with you!" She called out; I smiled again, but didn't turn.

"I guess I could pull a chair to the other side of my desk for you." I swear I could hear the smile in her voice when she said.

"Okay, see you tomorrow." I heard her open her door and go in. I returned to my car and headed home. I felt like a new kid a school that just made his first friend. I still wanted to have sex with Sookie, but not as much as I wanted to have a friend of my own.

"So you eat your fruit in alphabetical order?" Sookie asked. I nodded.

"Yes, I also like my sandwiched to have a 20% higher protein ratio than the other ingredients." Sookies' eyebrow furrowed. I reached across the desk and smoothed it out and said.

"You make that face it's going to stick that way." She scowled and then punched my orange off my desk.

"Hey!" I yelled as she laughed as I got my fruit back and we ate the rest of our meal in silence. Over the last month Sookie and I have spent a ton of time together. I really like having a friend, Sookie never judges me and she clues me in quietly when I miss social cues. I'm just generally happier. Mill Ave. must miss me because I stopped trolling for loose women. At first I kept up with it, but I didn't like that it cut into my friend time with Sookie.

"?" I asked quickly and way too loud. I don't know why I was nervous, I spend time at Sookies house all the time, but she would be my first friend to come over, even Tray has only ever been in my back yard and her lives next door.

"What?" Sookie asked frozen over my trash can while she was tossing her lunch waste away.

"I asked, if you wanted to come over to my house tonight." She laughed and shook her head.

"Ya that sounds fun, my last class is at three so I'll just chill in here till your done. Wanna get some Sonic on the way home?" I smiled, she called my house home, my house isn't even home to me and it used to be my parents. They had it custom built about 10 years before they died. Sookie seems like the type who is at home anywhere.

"Okay that sounds fun, is t my turn to pick the movie or yours?" She sighed and said.

"It's your turn." I smiled and nodded.

"Revenge of the Nerds it is!" I lifted both of my hands in a thumbs up motion.

"Eric, we watch that every time it's your turn to pick." I rolled my eyes and said.

"Fine, we will watch on of the sequels instead." She came and gave me a hug, I returned it awkwardly. She made me feel… funny. I can't put my finger on it, but something about the way I feel about her is different. This must be what having a friend is like. Pam has lots of friends, so she must be very happy.

My day dragged by, Sookie came in for my last class and sat in the back. She drew silly pictures and held them up, forcing me to avoid her completely. She was quite the rabble-rouser. When we finished we headed to my house, picking up two chili cheese Coney's, two orders of chili cheese tot's and two cherry limeades. We also bought a couple of bags of that Sonic ice to put I the freezer, I mean really it makes every drink better, except milk, watered down milk is disgusting. We were passing Sookies neighborhood on the way to my house and she yelled.

"Stop at my house real quick!" I frowned and said.

"But I thought you wanted to come to my house? I mean we don't have to…" She cut me off as I pulled into her drive.

"Hush, I want to get some things because we're going to have a sleep over! She ran into her house and I slowly followed her as she gathered a bunch of stuff.

"I've never had a sleep over before." I said honestly. Sookie snorted and said.

"Well maybe not like the one we're about to have, but you are kind of a slut." I smirked and said.

"No, I have never spent the night with a woman. I don't like post coital tactile advances. I also haven't slept with a woman in a little over three weeks. I still masturbate a lot though." Sookie gasped and I smirked again. The word Masturbate creeps her out; I try to find any in context opportunity to say it around her now. She quickly shook it off and said.

"You really haven't slept with a woman in three weeks?" I shrugged and said.

"I didn't like how it cut into our friend time. I like having a friend now. You were my first text message, it was fun." She smiled and shoved a sleeping bag at me and grabbed her 'my little pony' duffle bag and headed out to my car.

"Aren't you a little old for that?" I asked indicating to her bag. She narrowed her eyes and said.

"Eric, your spare bedroom is filled with toys." I mock gasped and said.

"Those are collectable item's, I consider them and investment." Sookie laughed and patted my hand, letting it linger for a moment. I had never held hands before, but I guess I liked it. It was only for a second so maybe it didn't count. I will have to look up the time frame that constitutes the difference between hand holding and casual touching later when Sookie is not around.

"Maybe I should put my retirement into Star Trek toys also."

"Collectables." I corrected, that just made her crack up. We pulled up to my house and she gapped at it. It was my parents, so I didn't have the heart to part with it or to kick Pam out on her ass, so I pay the overhead on it. It has a pool with a water slide so that's pretty cool, but all of the landscaping makes it expensive and wasteful to keep up. I grabbed Sookies hand and dragged her inside, carrying our food and her thing's. Pam was sitting watching project runway with her girlfriend Amelia in the family room. This was my first sleep over and I was not about to let my little sister spoil my fun.

"Hello Sookie." She purred. "What are you two up to?" I grabbed Sookies hand and started to haul her towards the stairs and up to my room, my sanctuary, my Pam free zone.

"I'm having my first sleep over, you stay away." She laughed and called.

"No one likes a bossy friend Eric!" up the stairs. I didn't care Sookie was my friend and Pam could talk to her later, when I wasn't about to have my first sleep over with my best friend. I decided that was what Sookie was, this must explain the feelings I have for her, she is my best friend.

"This is my room." I waved my hand around and set her stuff down. "This is my bed." I pointed to the Viking sized bed at the far end of the room in front of the wall of picture windows. "This is my couch and TV area. This is my Lord of the Rings chess board." I showed her with pride. "This is my bathroom and closet." I pulled her stunned little body to look at it. I was very neat for a man. I like organization and order. I pulled her back to the couch and pushed her onto it. "Here, sit. I'll start the movie and we can eat." She nodded silently as I got everything set up. Soon we were laughing and eating. When the movie was over I asked.

"What happens next at a sleep over?" She smiled and said.

"Let's go put on our PJ's and we can play uno."

"What's uno?" I asked, she rolled her eyes and said.

"Eric, were you ever a child or did you pop out of the womb grown." I quirked and eyebrow and said.

"That would be impossible Sookie." She laughed and said.

"Sweet, sweet Eric, it was a joke." I shrugged.

"Okay, next time I'll be ready for your surprise sarcasm." And I would be, I was getting better on picking up on it when she did it. She laughed and grabbed her bag and went into my bathroom.

"Get changed, I'll be right out." I nodded and went to my dresser. She said PJ's which are what you sleep in, I only sleep in boxers, so that's what I grabbed. I put on a fresh pair of boxers that had the bat symbol over the crotch. They were a gift from Pam's girlfriend for my birthday she said I could fight crime with my penis now. I laughed, not because I thought it was funny, but everyone else was doing it and I didn't want to embarrass Pam by letting people know I missed the joke. Sookie never get's embarrassed by me, she even say's I'm cute and it makes her laugh sometimes when things go over my head. I sat on the edge of my bed and waited for Sookie. She came out wearing a red silk tank ton and red silk lounge pants… no bra. I know you're not supposed to want to fuck your friends, because it's bad form, but my god she was testing my will power in that. She just stared at me and said.

"What are you wearing?" I looked down and said.

"Pj's, this is what I sleep in and PJ's are what you sleep in right." She gulped and nodded.

"Yes, your right. Let's play uno." As she taught me the game, and I discovered she was a bold faced cheater after I found the instructions, our earlier night clothes related weirdness had passed. We were getting tired and Sookie rolled out her Barbie sleeping bag on the floor. I shook my head and said.

"I'm sleeping in my bed; you can join me if you don't want a sore back tomorrow." She scoffed and called me a pussy. I rolled my eyes and closed the shades and got in bed. I was just about drifting off when I heard Sookie shuffle and the bed dipped next to me. I opened my eyes and she was about an inch from my face and said.

"You were right; I don't know how I did that as a kid." She was whispering and I wasn't sure why, but I decided to go with it.

"I have to say, I'm not all that upset about missing sleeping on the ground in a polyester tube." Sookie giggled and settled further away from me.

"Good night Eric."

"Good night Sookie." I could see her smile in the moon light and I was sure I was smiling also. I woke up in the night to find myself wrapped around Sookie, our fingers were twined together. I was confused. I had no urge to shove her away like I normally would have. I took a few minuets to enjoy the feeling before I broke away from her. I didn't want her to wake up and think I was taking advantage of her. I would never hurt Sookie like that; I care about her too much. Putting space between us was almost painful, I yearned to… snuggle her again? Shit, now I'm awkward and weird with a side of emasculated.

Sookie was laying next to me on her bed and said.

"Eric, I want to go out and drink."

"Okay, let's go." I grabbed her hand. I knew exactly where I was taking her.

"Eric! I need my shoes!" She yelled as I stuffed her in my car. I went back grabbing her flip flops and locked up her house. I can back and said.

"Get ready, the place I'm taking you is amazing." I winked at her and she snorted. "Does it still look weird?" I seriously asked.

"Ya, you just shouldn't wink." I sighed and she rubbed my shoulder before saying. "It's okay Eric; some people just can't pull of the wink. You still have a great ass!" She added reassuringly. I pulled onto the 202 east heading towards the 101 so we could go to Scottsdale and said.

"You're right; I still have that going for me." I smirked and she playfully slapped me. About thirty five minuets later we pulled into 'The Skeptical Chymist' It was one of my favorite pub's and I had never picked up women from here so it was relatively safe. Poor Sookie got quite the tongue lashing in the bathroom of Martini Ranch when we went to see Metal Head a few months ago. Now I only take her places where I have never fucked a woman for found a woman to fuck. We walked in and took the only empty table. I ordered us a pitcher of Blue moon and an order of fish and chips to share.

We were having tons of fun; the place was crowded and screaming at the soccer game on TV. Sookie got up to use the restroom and I directed my attention to the TV. I noticed she had been gone a while so I got up to look for her and I found her leaning on the bar next to some guy. She was laying her hand on his shoulder and laughing. I was filled with a sudden sense of jealously and stalked over to her.

"Sookie?" I asked as I approached. She smiled and said.

"Oh Eric, this is Alcied. He was just telling me a funny story about the parking at ASU." I furrowed my brow and said.

"Yes, it is quite inadequate." She smiled at me, but didn't pat my shoulder like I thought she would. Instead she turned around and Alcied asked.

"Is he your boyfriend?" She laughed and I found that this time instead of her laughter making me happy that it cut like a knife.

"Eric? No, we're just friends." She looked at me and I did not smile back. I saw no need for fake smiles. Alcied seemed to perk up at this and asked.

"Can I have your number?" My heart clenched as she said.

"Ya here." And handed him her phone, I wanted to be away from her, as far away as I could get. My chest hurt and I couldn't breathe, I didn't understand it. I walked back to our table and sat down. Sookie came back a while later and asked.

"Are you okay?"

"I do not feel well and would like to go home." She nodded at me and I paid our tab and we left. The car ride was silent. I dropped her off and declined her offer to stay over. I didn't want to stay over with her anymore. She could stay over with her new friend Alcied now. I went home and stormed up stairs. Pam came up a while later, cautiously opening my door. She wasn't allowed in my room, but I had nothing left in me to fight with.

"Are you okay? I thought you were with Sookie." I rolled over as she came and sat next to me.

"I was." I answered plainly.

"Did you have a fight?" she asked.

"No." I know my tone was sharp, but I was hurting and I didn't understand it. Why did Sookie need another friend? I thought I was a really good friend to her. I don't know what I could have done to make her want to be my best friend too.

"Did something happen?" She sounded angry. I sighed and said.

"She wants' to be friends with a guy named Alcied, she gave him her phone number. I don't know if I want to be her friend anymore. She makes my chest hurt and it's hard to breath now." Pam laid next to me, but was careful not to touch me. I don't like touching except from Sookie, well now I don't want her touching me anymore either.

"Oh Eric, did you think she was your girlfriend?" I shook my head.

"No, she's my best friend, the only one I ever had. I don't want her to be friends with other men. I don't want to be friends with other women. I don't know what I did to make her want another friend." Pam sighed and gave me a sad smile.

"Eric, I think you're in love with Sookie."

"No." I said. She used to be my best friend; I established those were the source of my feelings a while ago.

"Eric, did seeing her with that other man hurt you?"

"Yes."

"Do you miss her?"

"Yes, it's annoying."

"Do you want to kiss her?"

"All the time."

"Would you like her to live in your room with you?"

"Yes." I answered without thinking. I had thought many times how much more convenient it would be if she lived with me. I could spend time with her all the time with no commute.

"Have you ever felt like that about anyone else?"

"No."

"Eric, my socially inept brother, you love her."

"Are you sure?" I asked her, hoping she was just being a bitch.

"Yes Eric, I'm sorry she broke your heart." I nodded, I understood the pain now. Pam was right, that's what it felt like. My heart was breaking and I left most of it with Sookie.

"I would like you to leave my room now." I said to Pam. She nodded and gave me a kiss that I pushed at. I was back to no touching.

"Good night big brother, I will always love you."

"Thanks." I said as she left. At least my sister loved me.

I had taken to eating my lunch in my car so I could avoid Sookie. I didn't want to see her, because that would make my chest hurt every time. I started locking my door in between classes and pretending I wasn't there. I had managed to avoid her for three weeks. I was very committed when I set my mind to it. I was walking back to my room to meet Pam, but stopped at the door when I caught a glimpse of her and I backed away. I was actually going to run in the other direction until I heard what she was saying.

"I know you know what's wrong with him Pam! Why is he ignoring me?"

"Why do you care?" Pam sneered. Pam had not taken my broken heart well, apparently I had never acted happy before and she didn't like me reverting back to my old ways of bruiting and isolating myself.

"Because he's my friend, or he was!"Pam scoffed and said.

"Why don't you go spend time with Alcied and leave my brother alone?"

"Who? Oh…." It seemed to hit Sookie like a ton of bricks. "But I was, I mean… he never called and I oh my God."

"He was in love with you, and inside of his mind watching you 'make a new friend' who was a man as he put it, must have been like watching you cheating on him. He has zero social skills, but he learned to love you and opened himself to you. You need to leave him be, he has been eating in his car and that's just not healthy. I want him to start dating." Pam said gently.

"What?" Sookie shrieked.

"Dating, I want him to be happy. He's lonely again and I don't like seeing him going back to his old ways, but he's worse now. All he does is go to work, and come home and watch TV. Maybe Claudine from the English department would be a good fit, if nothing else they would make lovely babies." I could hear Sookie start to sniffle.

"I shouldn't have taken him for granted."

"Did you love him?" Pam asked.

"It doesn't matter now." I heard her footsteps retreating and I flew into the men's room. I wanted to comfort her, but I didn't want to hurt anymore, and I was most defiantly not going to date or have babies with anyone. I managed to get out to my car without seeing her, but quickly learned a lesson about observing one's surroundings. I got into my car to go home and Sookie popped up from the back seat as soon as I started the engine.

"AHHHHH! MOTHER OF FUCKING BITCH!" I screamed as I almost jumped through the window.

"What the fuck do you want Sookie!" I yelled, trying to get myself together.

"I want… I love you." She said as she climbed over the seat into the front.

"What?"

"I love you, I should have never flirted with Alcied or given him my number, we were dating no matter what we said. You don't sleep in a friend's bed every night and cuddle, you don't spend every waking moment with them, you don't diddle to the thought of them."

"Masturbate." I corrected with a straight face.

"Do you love me?" She asked.

"Yes." There was no hesitation now. I had analyzed my feelings for her over the last weeks and decided Pam's theory was correct I did indeed love Sookie.

"Do you wanna' be my boyfriend?" She asked with a hopeful smile.

"no." I said she looked crushed so I quickly corrected myself. "You can be my Lover, and I can be your gentleman caller." She laughed and said.

"Jesus Christ, you're weird." I shrugged.

"Do you want to go watch a movie at my house?" She looked like she was going to cry and said.

"Yes, I would really like that. I missed you a lot."

"I was also unhappy in the absence of your company." I said, taking her hand and twinning my fingers with hers as I drove away. Touching Sookie was even better than I remember. We pulled up to my house and walked upstairs. Pam and Amelia made cat calls at us as we walked up the stairs hand in hand. I went into my room and suddenly felt awkward. Was I allowed to have sex with her now, or did we still just cuddle? My question was answered when She attacked me.

The kiss was hungry and intense; her hands were all over me. I clawed at her, ripping her little dress in two. I made scraps of her bra and panties quickly. I looked over her body; my imagination had done her no justice.

"Venus." I muttered as I pushed her onto the bed and buried my head in her thighs. I licked and sucked until she screamed my name, then I quickly divested my clothes and said to her.

"You hold all the value in the world to me." She blinked a few tears that she pushed away and smiled saying.

"You're my real first." I kissed her and said.

"Thank you."

"For what?" I smiled at her and said.

"For giving me the gift of being your first." She looked ashamed and started.

"But Eric…" I put my finger over her lips and said.

"I'm your first." I was smiling; I truly did consider myself her first and I hoped to be her last also.

"I love you." She whispered as I positioned at her entrance. I kissed her an whispered also even though I didn't know why.

"I love you too."I pushed into her slowly, letting her adjust to my above average size. I didn't start really moving until she rolled her hips against mine and I took it as the green light to lay my A-game on her. I sped up and slowed down, bringing her up and down with me. I was getting close and I was having an internal debate. Pull out or stay in? I usually pull out, but I also usually remember to put a condom on. I figured the damage was done, so I might as well just enjoy it, and I did, she came violently around me her slick walls milking me for all I was worth. I felt very manly filling her with me seed. I pulled out and flopped next her pulling her close and nuzzled her and whispered.

"I forgot the condom, sorry." She laughed and said.

"Your pillow talk is awful. I don't care unless you're worried you gave me something." She looked at me curiously and a said.

"No, no… I'm clean. I just don't know your views on procreation." She smiled and said.

"I'm fine with it, only because it's you." I smiled and said.

"Agreed, would you like to go on a date with me?" She smiled and said.

"That would be perfect."