Brighter Days; Eric

[Sierra Eckler]

I step out of the door, following him towards his truck before I put Sam in and crawl in beside her, my arm wrapped cautiously around her. "Yeah," I respond before resting my head on the side of his seat. My hand finds Sam's paw and I lightly pet it with my thumb and smile down at her. Casper knew that he lived at the shelter since I would be killed for bringing him home but he still thought of me as his owner. I look back up as we drive and focus on the road, keeping my mind off of everything.

[Eric Sutton]

I nod as she replies and start forward and out of the parking lot, going down the road. Soon I'm pulling up at the curb outside my house and I kill the engine, stuffing my phone into my pocket and grabbing my can before opening the passenger side door for Sierra and I start up the walk to unlock the door and hold it open for her. "You can lay her on her bed in my room, or the couch- whatever you think will be best." I offer, watching closely and hovering like a mother hen with her eggs.

[Sierra Eckler]

We soon get to his house and I look down at Sam, hoping everything would be okay. Once he opens the door, I climb out, reaching in to get Sam and following him to the door. I go to his room, setting her down on the small bed and looking at the stitches on her stomach, covering them up so they wouldn't get caught on anything. "There, she should be better now," I say before walking past Eric and sitting on the couch. Was I being as awkward as I felt?

[Eric Sutton]

I squat down after Sierra elaves the room and gently pat Sam on the head ebfore getting to my feet and wandering to my walk in closet, tugging my shirt over my head and pulling on a Motley Crue shirt, pull off my shoes and change out of my khakis into straight leg jeans with holes, brushing my hair out of my face. I sigh and walk out of my closet, more comfortable. I go into the kitchen, pulling open the fridge to peer inside. "What do you think you want to eat?" I add, biting my lower lip.

[Sierra Eckler]

I look up when Eric wanders to the kitchen and shrug at his question. "Anything would be fine," I say shrugging before laying down and covering my eyes. I had no idea on what to do around here. "So.." I trail off, hoping he would come up with something to fill the silence. I really had no clue on what to day and I didn't think that having something to say would be appropriate at the time. My mind was racing and moving about in odd ways and anything could turn out in a jumble at the moment.

[Eric Sutton]

"Specific." I reply, finally pulling out a package of cheese. I felt like grilled cheese, for some reason. I pause in indecision for a moment before opening the fridge and pulling out a beer, cracking it open and taking a sip before pulling a pan out and butter. I grab the bread and start the stove heating, leaning back against the fridge as I take another swig of my beer before pulling out the bread and spreading butter on either side of them and setting them in the pan, tapping my foot absently.

[Sierra Eckler]

"Just cook whatever. I don't care as long as it's edible," I say with a slight huff at the end. I roll to my side, eyes closed and my hand under my head as I waited for the food to be done. How had I gone from not really caring what any of my teachers think to hoping that Eric wasn't just using me? I knew he had made out with Ms. Bell and I guess that is what made me wonder most. Was he really just using me? I mentally sigh and look around the room for a minute before closing my eyes again. "Are you going to be forced to go to the dance?" I ask, yawning after.

[Eric Sutton]

I carefully place the cheese on the bread and let it sit for a couple moments before dropping the other slice of bread on top and turning around to open a drawer and find a spatula to flip both sandwiches over, bringing the can to my lips again. "I don't know, depends how many chaperones they get." I reply, shrugging my shoulders. "Why?" I add, glancing over to where Sierra was laying on the couch.

[Sierra Eckler]

I smell grilled cheese and mentally shrug. I did say anything. His words reach me and I shrug, rolling over so my face is buried in the couch. "Just wondering. Don't worry, I won't be going," I say. Mainly, I wouldn't go if he did because I knew that they had a dance for the teacher and their favorite student and I really didn't want to go and ruin his night. It would be too much for me anyway; the strobe lights, the music, it was all too much for me. I hold the pillow that was beside me against my chest and keep my eyes closed.

[Eric Sutton]

I grab plates and take the sandwiches out of the pan ad put them on the plates before turning the stove off and dropping the spatula in the sink. I close the bread and stick the cheese and butter abck in the fridge before pulling a stool out at the island and plopping down. "Food." I say simply, taking a sip of my beer and taking a bite out of my grilled cheese. "Why ain't you going?" I ask curiously, looking over at Sierra with my eyebrows raised.

[Sierra Eckler]

I hear everything get put away and when he pulls something somewhere I look up, going over and taking mine before going back to the couch. "I have no reason to. It's not like there is anything to do; people don't pay attention to anyone but themselves there," I say shrugging, taking a bite before pulling my hair down and shaking it to make it even out. I huff slightly before I take another bite and keep my gaze away from Eric's. "Besides, I most likely will have to leave for another school that day," I say with a shrug. My aunt was hoping to send me away to live somewhere else but I doubted it would work. Even if it did, Ray said I could live with him and I would do so.

[Eric Sutton]

I frown slightly as she takes her plate before going back to the couch and I mentally shrug before taking a couple more bites out of my sandwich. "True." I reply, nodding and taking a sip from my can. I take another bite of of my sandwich and raise my eyebrows at her next statement. I didn't know why, but it made me sad. I unconsciously shake my head, not knowing where this ahd come from. Soon I finish my food and get up to wash it off in the sink, placing it on the otehr side and washing out the pan. I lean against the counter for a moment and bite my lower lip before mentally slapping my self and reaching for my beer. "I need to grade papers, turn on the TV or something." I mumble, walking into the living room to grab my bag before escaping back to my room, fleeing the awkward situation.

[Sierra Eckler]

I look up as he speaks and finish eating my sandwich before following him and putting the plate in the sink. Once back in the living room, I lay down on the couch and nod, not turning on the TV but instead my phone, turning on my music. Ignorance by Paramore comes on and I hum along, leaning back and closing my eyes before grabbing my homework and deciding to finish. I look back, watching as he went back to his room before looking down at my paper. Had I seriously mentioned my moving? Nobody, not even my closest friend knew about it. Ray was only told since he was family. I shake my head and keep writing before tossing it aside and laying down. "You treat me just like, another stranger. Well, it's nice to meet you sir, I guess I'll go, best be on my way out," I sing along quietly before turning it off and rolling onto my side, hugging the pillow and acting like I was asleep.

[Eric Sutton]

I shut the door to my room and sit cross legged on my bed, pulling my papers out of my bag and grabbing a red pen, my blue eyes scanning the page as I occasionally put an X and then circle the grade at the top. I get through about five before my beer's gone and I huff, putting it on the night stand ebfore getting up to wander into the kitchen. I glance over to where Sierra's sleeping on the couch and I crack open my beer and take a sip before the someone knocks on the door. I check the time- about eight. Holy shit, time flew. I start over to the door and pull it open to come face to face with an obviously drunk Ms. Bell whose cleavage was spilling out of her top and her legs showing from under a short skirt.

[Sierra Eckler]

I hear Eric come from the room and roll over on the couch when I hear a knock before sitting up when it opens. Ms. Bell was standing there, cleavage out and legs showing. Slowly, I got up and walked to Eric after I fixed myself to look unlike the student she knew and thankfully, I had forgotten to change back into my clothes. My eyes find Eric and I frown. "Who's this?" I ask, hoping he would play along so neither of us got caught. My hand lightly falls on his arm and I look at Ms. Bell, hoping that it killed her inside to see him with me. Quite honestly, I never liked her as a person or teacher and this didn't help her at all.