302A/N: thanks for the reviews! i know! i know! it's been a LONG time. but i've been reaaaaaally blocked and busy and... yeah. replies to reviews at the bottom... because there are a lot.
Chapter 3
Paul had been gone for less then a moment when I heard a new voice say, "Wow." I looked up to see a girl with light brown hair walking over to me, hands in her black hooded zip-up sweatshirt pockets. "Now I feel definitely lame knowing that even he can get a date while I can't," her dark brown eyes shone.
"Took the words right out of my mouth, Cassie." I shook my head as I smiled at my friend.
"I'm guessing from the scene he just made that he doesn't get a lot of action," she smirked. She reminded me of Ana, about the same height and same wavy brown hair, except for her eyes.… and her personality. And I had known Cassie most of my life, we had gone to kindergarten together.… she was like family.
"Yeah.… but he's a bit of an asshole so it's not really that big of a surprise." I replied flatly. I could have sworn I heard a customer behind Cassie snort.
"He seems like it," she nodded in reply then smirked at me as she asked, "So Mr. Movie Man.… what do you recommend me seeing tonight?"
"Well Fight Club is pretty good." I replied thoughtfully but then shook my head as I told her, "But it's checked out right now."
"Why tease me?" she demanded though she smiled.
"I'm just saying.…" I put my hands in the air. "As a professional movie seller therefore I have the best opinion.…"
"What else?" she asked, leaning against the counter, and looking up at me with a smile.
"Hmm.…" I thought about it and then decided, "Gladiator."
"I've never seen that," she replied, smiling.
"You need to." I typed it into the computer. "It's a must-see."
"Well if it's a must see then I should, huh?" she teased.
"It's in.… want me to grab it?" I asked, jerking my thumb in the direction of the stacks.
"Well since it's so highly recommended, I think so," she teased in reply.
I smiled, went back into the stacks, and grabbed it. "So do you want to hang out later?" I asked as I rang her up.
"What will this "hanging out" entail?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.
"A wild party followed by jet-setting off to London for another wild party then Paris, Milan, Rome, and Japan." I dead panned. "All in one night."
"Huh.…" she contemplated, smirking. "Maybe a little much for a Sunday?"
"Realistically.… watching Gladiator." I smirked.
"Sounds boring. Just the way I like it," she replied, handing me the money, and then grabbing the movie.
"I'll give you a call when I get off work." I replied.
"Okay," she agreed but didn't leave. She sighed instead as she leaned against the counter, face suddenly falling.
I noticed the change in her expression and asked automatically, "What's up?" knowing the sign of distress.
"Jon and I broke up," she replied quietly, avoiding my eyes and instead fiddling intently with the movie case.
"What happened?" I asked.
She shrugged. "He got jealous," she replied softly.
"Jealous of what?" I asked.
"You," she looked up and locked eyes with me.
"Me?" I asked, frowning.
"Yeah," she replied quietly, scratching the back of her neck, and looking thoughtfully at me.
"But I'm only your friend." I pointed out with a frown.
"Tell that to Jon," she replied quietly.
"I'm sorry, Cass." I replied.
"It's not your fault. He was an asshole anyway. And he didn't break up with me," she said, voice stronger as she lifted her chin, fire in her eyes. "I dumped him," she told me forcefully.
"That's good." I nodded and then announced, "He always acted like a bit of a fucker.… including that weird jealousy thing of me."
"Agreed," she nodded, grabbing her video. "Anyway, give me a call later."
"I will." I replied. "Bye, Cass."
"Bye Erik," she replied as she left the store.
I closed up the store later and then locked the door with my key. I held my breath hopefully and checked my phone.… no missed calls. Highly unusual. I dialed Ana.
"Hey," she said when she answered.
"Hey." I replied as I walked over to my car and then asked, "What's up?"
"Nothing," she replied vaguely.
Yeah right. "Really?" I asked as I cradled the phone with my shoulder as I unlocked my car. Vague was not one a characteristic I'd use to describe Ana.
She paused for a minute, mumbled something on the other end, and the replied pointedly, "Andrew and I were watching a movie."
"Oh." I felt my face flush as I reached for the ignition. "My bad."
"It's cool.… I'll give you a call back later?" she asked, not sounding that mad.
"Sure." I agreed. "Bye, An."
"Bye, Erik," she replied and then hung up.
I backed out of my parking spot and drove out onto the street. I picked up my phone again and dialed Cassie. "Hello?" she answered, sounding half asleep.
"Hey." I replied, checking the clock on my dashboard. "It's 9:15.… you asleep?"
"Dozing," she replied then grunted as (I assume) she stretched before continuing with, "What's up? Do you want to come over or do you want me to come there?"
"I think I'll come there.… save you from Jake." I replied dryly. "I have to stop by my house though; I got something on my shirt during my dinner break."
"Okay, that's fine," she replied sleepily. "Give me a call when you're almost here."
"Okay I will, bye," we hung up.
I walked upstairs to my apartment and stopped outside the door. Quiet.… thank goodness. I opened the door and found Ben asleep on the couch, credits rolling on screen.
I caught sight of Christine filling up a glass of water at the sink and paused, watching her slim body move silently as she shut off the water. The only noise she made was the bracelet that jingled around her wrist. She caught sight of me, undoubtedly noticing movement out of the corner of her eye, and then smiled. "Hey," she greeted me.
"Hey." I smiled back automatically.
She gestured to Ben. "He's out cold.…" she smirked.
Okay. Erik, get a grip. Sure, Christine was beautiful but I had to be realistic: she was either on her way to being or she was Ben's girlfriend. I had to get over this ridiculous crush. So I pushed aside my attraction and went on like she wasn't the most beautiful thing in the room. "Probably hung over." I replied, setting my keys down on the kitchen counter.
"Probably," she nodded in agreement and then smiled back at me. "So how was work?"
I shrugged. "Better once my boss left." I replied. "Not that many people come in on a Sunday night." I walked over to the fridge and pulled out a Coke.
"That makes sense," she nodded slowly and then looked at Ben. "Does he always drink that much?" she bit her lip anxiously.
More, usually, but I didn't want to scare her. I shrugged nonchalantly and replied, "Usually."
"That's not healthy," she looked up at me with scared eyes. A part of me longed to touch her, tell her that it was going to be okay.… Erik. Get a grip!
I knew it wasn't my place to warn her about how much Ben drank so I shrugged nonchalantly again and replied, "He's a college guy.… it's probably some phase or something."
"Advice about a college guy from a college guy," she stated flatly, raising her eyebrow.
"Advice about a college guy who drinks from a college guy who doesn't." I corrected, walking out of the kitchen.
"Wait, you don't drink?" she asked, footsteps following me.
"Nope." I replied, walking into my room and turning on the light.
"But you live here; with the guys.…" she said slowly as I pulled open my drawers and grabbed a new t-shirt. "You live with Jake, who is the biggest drinker I've ever seen." I looked up in my dresser mirror and saw that she was leaning against the door frame, scrutinizing me.
I shrugged. "If everyone else is jumping off a bridge, why should I?" I asked, took off my shirt, and then smirked at her.
She paused for a second and something crossed her face. She stared at me as I unfolded my t-shirt. I glanced down at my chest and then looked back up at her, raising an eyebrow. She started. "Sorry.… drifted," was she blushing? Was I just imagining things? Or was she just warm?
I raised an eyebrow and was about to ask when my phone rang in my back pocket. I pulled it out.… Cassie. "Hey." I said as I answered.
"Are you coming in my lifetime?" she asked sleepily.
"Are you falling asleep?" I asked.
"Hell yes," she shot back impatiently.
"I'll be right there." I promised.
"Hurry up," she whined back.
"Bye," we hung up. I turned back to talk to Christine and found her gone. I shrugged, pulled on my t-shirt, and then left my room, turning off the light.
I walked back into the living room and found Christine on the couch with Ben. I shrugged a little to myself and then grabbed my keys. "See ya." I said as I left the apartment, glad to see that I had regained my sense of composure around her. Sure she was beautiful but I had to face the facts: she was Ben's.
"Bye." I heard her say quietly as I shut the door. I locked the door and then walked down the stairs to my car.
A/N: okay, here we are.
Loriency: yeaaah definitely no love life! poor erik really needs the job. i don't think she loves him or anything... immediate attraction. maybe more then erik. haha i'm glad you finished the shadow.
Alyssa Pires: he really is too nice. maybe he'll grow a backbone... HOPEFULLY... right now he just kinda makes you wince and want to tell him to quit being such a sissy.
darkness-is-shiny: yep, no backbone. oh it's cool about the questions, i know you're curious! :-D
justaguestfornow: hahaha i've only seen troy once. paul is definitely gross. i think laura is probably about as desperate as paul is. uh okay, story vs. the sculpted and chisledbrad pitt... i can see why you're distracted!
CandyKisses: hey thanks!
Elemental Moon: no one likes ben that much right now. ben may know or ben may be oblivious to erik's actions... most boys are completely oblivious /
cowsgoquack: thanks!
AnnikaSummers: poor poor erik
Kythia: sometimes people have absolutely no decency whatsoever... says me, who has been the victim and unfortunate third wheelof several uncomfortable makeout sessions. and iz, ana, and andrew are going to pop up here and there... ana runs to erik with all her problems. she'll always be around.
flawlessly evil: paul is an asshole, yep. maaaaybe christine thinks that... maybe not. i threw in a little ana and the rest are not forgotten.
aqua-angel: it's 12:11 right now so it's EARLY haha... i had an awesome thanksgiving... i was home. hahaha paul and laura... playing the game of who's more desperate. haha if i was erik, i would have done that anyway even if i didn't like christine. PDA bleck. and erik is sweet awwwww
buttshovingmonster: hehe yep! erik has, how shall i put it... no backbone whatsoever. / hopefully he'll grow one!
we'll see how inspired i am... this chapter has felt like a horrid hurdle to cross for some reason... it started off ok, started going into an ana - andrew - ryan love triangle plot, got weird... i dunno. anyway, i had to rewrite and rewrite and i FINALLY got something together! anyway, more later.
love, a smile that explodes