Part 39 By Anistasia Allread Edited by Edeyn “Julian we need to talk.” Erika stated. “Okay. When?” “Now.” Erika took his hand and pulled him down the hall. “You come too.” She called to Krystal. The friend from camp looked nervously around as she followed them through a door that lead outside. |
 |
Previously. . .
“Do you like kissing Tricia?”
Erika didn't even hesitate. “Yes.”
“Do you have feelings for both Tricia and Julian?”
Erika shook her head. “No. I like Julian, but I have feelings for Tricia. It's just when I'm with Julian, SOMETHING FEELS STRANGE.”
“Strange? How?”
“I don't know, exactly. He is the only guy I've been attracted to. But Tricia. . . Tricia knows me. She's like the other half of me. I know this now. She loves me, and . . . . I love her.”
And now we continue. . .
Chapter 39
Erika's mother was very quiet on the ride to school. Erika didn't have much to say so she kept to herself. She was going to have a lot of running around to do at lunch and after school to gather up missed assignments. So far she had been able to keep up with her school work, but it was getting harder and harder the more she missed for different appointments.
The car stopped at a red light.
“Erika, I'm sorry that you felt uncomfortable at church yesterday.” her mother continued to watch the traffic light. “I did not set that up or even know that they were going to preach about that topic.”
Erika kept quiet.
“Tell you what.” She looked at her child. “You can pick the churches for now on.”
“I think I might want to go back to the catholic church.” Erika voiced.
Her mother nodded. “Alright, but I would like to try a few other churches as well.”
“Okay.”
Her mom drove on to the school.
“I need to sign you in, right?” Mrs. Martin checked.
“Yes.” Erika nodded.
They parked in the ten minute parking space and both entered the school.
“Shall I pick you up after school?” Mrs. Martin signed her in at the office.
“No. I'll walk home after cheer practice.” Erika corrected.
“No dancing.” her mother's voice took on that stern mother's tone.
“I know, I know.” Erika rolled her eyes.
Her mother gave her a quick kiss on the cheek, “I will love you, no matter what.” she stated before leaving.
“What period is it?” Erika asked the secretary.
“You've got just a few minutes before lunch.”
“Thanks.” Erika took her hall pass and headed down to her classroom.
She slipped into the classroom, waved the hall pass at the instructor, who nodded with a smile, and quietly took her seat.
“Where have you been?” Krystal whispered.
“To see Dr. Barts.” Erika whispered back.
“How did it go?”
“Okay. What did I miss?”
“Not much. Julian has been asking about you.”
“Oh?”
Krystal nodded.
The bell rang. The two friends gathered their books and entered the mob of bodies heading towards the lunch room.
“Are rumors going wild?” Erika asked.
“Some were this morning, but either Julian or Tricia killed them. The last rumor I heard was that Tricia was something stupid about why Tricia cut her hair.”
“What was it?”
“Nothing.”
“Tell me.”
“Someone said that Tricia was joining the Neo-Nazi's.” Krystal rolled her eyes. “Told you it was stupid.”
Julian smiled at her as she walked down the hall towards him and Stan.
“How are you feeling today?” Julian asked.
“Better than yesterday.”
He leaned in for a kiss. Erika turned her head, allowing him to kiss her on the cheek. He pulled back with a confused and slightly hurt look on his face.
“Julian we need to talk.” Erika stated.
“Okay. When?”
“Now.” Erika took his hand and pulled him down the hall. “You come too.” She called to Krystal. The friend from camp looked nervously around as she followed them through a door that lead outside.”
“What's going on?” Julian's eyes flicked from Erika's to Krystal and Stan's then back to Erika's. Krystal and Stan stood next to the door trying to give the two space without being too far.
“Julian I like you. I like you a lot.” Erika told him.
“I like you too.”
“But I love Tricia.” Erika stated. “I love her more than anything right now, and it's not fair to you. You have done everything that a girl could want from a guy, but as much as I like you, You aren't my soul mate. When you enter the room, my heart quickens. But when Tricia enters, it skips a beat and then flutters.”
Julian looked away, hurt.
“I would like nothing more than for my heart to flutter for you, Julian. You. . . well, you are incredible and will make some girl very lucky. I'm just not the one.”
Julian nodded.
“I'm going through a lot of shit right now. I may be going in for brain surgery soon.” Erika explained.
“When?” Julian asked.
“I'm not sure yet.” Erika bit her lower lip. “The other night you stated that you would be anything I needed right now.”
Julian nodded. “That still stands, Erika.”
“I need a friend. A good friend. A guy friend who can help me and my girlfriends get through this.”
Julian nodded understanding.
“Can you be a friend who happens to be a knight in shining armor?”
“If that is what this damsel in distress needs, yes.” Julian smiled.
Erika stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him. “Thank you Julian. Thank you.”
Julian wrapped his long, strong arms around her and held her close for a long moment.
“Okay, I need food, and then I need to get my homework.” Erika said pulling out of his embrace and including Krystal and Stan in her smile.
“See, I told you she'd make it.” Samantha nudged Tricia.
Erika put her salad down on the table. She leaned down, cupping the back of Tricia's head and kissed her hard in front of the whole school.
“Wow.” Tricia blinked. “Are you alright?”
“Yes.” Erika smiled. She ran her long nails through Tricia's short hair savoring its texture. “I just wanted you to know how much I love you.”
“I think the whole school knows now.” Victoria shook her head in wonderment.
After school at cheer practice, Erika got started on the posters for the upcoming game. She brought out large sheets of poster paper, markers and paint and began drawing a mean looking warthog charging over a patriot.
“Damn girl. I didn't know you could draw.” Taylor looked down at what Erika had drawn.
“I haven't had a whole lot of time to do much of it lately.” Erika sighed.
“You're really good.”
“Thanks.”
“Do you do other art things too?'
“Like what?” Erika asked.
“Like T-shirts and stuff?”
“I haven't though much about it, why?”
“It would be cool to have shirts made up for the squad. Or perhaps have a bunch of shirts made up so that we can sell them to the student body as a fund raiser.”
Erika shrugged.
“Think about it. With your talent, I'm sure a lot of people would be walking around wearing Warthog shirts.
“Call me when you get home.” Erika waved to Samantha. She closed the door and stripped out of her jacket, gloves and set her backpack against the stairs.
“How was your day?” Mrs. Martin asked from the kitchen.
“It went better than expected. I have a lot of homework though.”
“Dinner will be ready as soon as your father gets home, which will be in about fifteen minutes. Why don't you wash up and set the table, please.”
“Okay.” Erika washed her hands and began her chore.
“I set up an appointment for you to see Dr. Lipdick tomorrow.” Her mother stirred a pot of chili.
“What time?” Erika sighed.
“After school. I figured you have missed enough classes in the past couple of weeks.”
“Thanks.”
“Dr. Arts told me to set it up. Did you not want to talk to him?”
“I do. I'm just tired.”
“I'm home.” Mr. Martin announced from the entryway. “Smells good, what's for dinner?”
“Chili, cornbread, and salad.” Mrs. Martin said greeting her husband with a kiss.
“Mm mm — mm.”
Erika ladled some chili into a bowl, added some cheese and a dollop of sour cream and sat at he table and stirred it all up.”
“I've got some bad news.” Mr. Martin announced as he sat down with his bowl of chili.”
“What?” Mrs. Martin asked.
“My work is sending me out of town for two weeks on a business trip.”
“Can't you get out of it?” Mrs. Martin asked.
“No. I tried.” he shook his head. “It's a big project and I am the most knowledgeable one on this area in the company.”
“But I thought you were done traveling for them.” Mrs. Martin protested.
“I had hoped so too, but we can't afford to lose this account in this economy. I've got to go.”
Oh God, Erika thought. Please don't do this to me now. Please don't strand me here alone with my mother like this.
To Be Continued...
Comments
A note from the author : )
I know this is shorter than what I have been wrting lately, but I may have to post shorter episodes for a bit in order to get back into the swing of writing again.
I hope you will enjoy
A.A.
I'm glad to see a new
I'm glad to see a new chapter, even if it is shorter. If this is what you need to do to continue these, we'll manage.
Mir
Good to see
more about Erika and nice to see her sorting things out with Julian, Now she just needs to sort out her relationship with her mother....I have a feeling that might prove to be a little!!! more difficult!!!
Kirri
Time with mom
might be the best thing for the both of them.
If Erika gets to choose what church they try next, it might be fun to drag Mom to the METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCH, if there is one in their area. I don't think they'll hear any sermons like that last one, LOL! And it might be good for Mrs. Martin to attend a service with "those people"...
Did Eric have a really unique style as a comix artist? Some artist's styles are as distinctive as fingerprints, and a really astute student might make a connection back to that Plague kid who---loser that he was---could really draw.
Loved Erica's public affirmation of her love for Tricia!
~~~hugs, Laika
And remember...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifLqzLEB3E0
Even if the Style's The Same...
...there'd be a question as to how many people at school who had seen the online strip would have connected it to the school's Eric the Plague. Even if it had been signed Eric Martin, the name seems common enough that it wouldn't necessarily ring a bell, and what little we know about his strip doesn't suggest that there'd be anything school-specific in it that they'd recognize. I'm guessing the only ones who made that connection were loner types like Summer, and I doubt that he had many mainstream readers. But of course I could be wrong on both counts.
It's an interesting question, anyway, and something I hadn't really thought of.
You're likely to be right, I think, as to positive effects if Erica and Mom spend time together. Mom did seem more supportive this time around, and seems to be willing to meet at least halfway on the church issue. It's the brain tumor question, I think, that might be the next strain between them: I think Mom's not going to stand for a compromise of Erika taking care of the brain tumor and being placed on androgen blockers, assuming the MD suggests it tomorrow. If Mom tries to force the issue and Dad's not around to referee, Erika may do something dangerous.
Eric
A note from the editor :)
This isn't the edited version! :)
Thanks A.A.
For another chapter. Erika continues to grow as a character as she learns from her mistakes. I just hope that Julian accepts things, and doesn't try to get Stan to help him break up Erika and Trish.
May Your Light Forever Shine
May Your Light Forever Shine
Well done Anistasia.
Nice chapter and well written. I look forward to seeing a bit more soon (no pressure!)
Hugs
Sue
Glad to see you back so soon
Dear A. A.
It was a great pleasure, when I signed on this morning to see that you posted another chapter. Short is better then none, and it probably works better for your R.L. needs.
I'm probably just going to be adding to what others have said.
Julian seemed to have taken that very well. I guess those of us who questioned his contact may have been wrong. But he still has time to prove us right. He is an enigma.
I wonder what the other rumors were and how they were quashed. The skin head one was funny, but I'm sure others were closer to the truth. Did Julian and Trisha get others to help quash what was being said?
Mom apologized. I believe that she did it sincerely and did not take them both to the evil church intentionally. She did the right thing. Dad not being there for two weeks, is scary considering that Erika may need to go for surgery during that time period. Hopefully, dad will be able to return if necessary. By the way, unless I missed it, mom and dad still do not have first names.
I am also concerned with the art work. If I remember correctly there were several people at the school who were Eric's if not friend, they were fellow club/comic group acquaintance. We also know at least one person (forgot name)other than the Camp K girls who knows of the Eric/Erika duality. I think this may create some chance of exposure. I do not think that that person will intentionally out Eric/Erika, but if questioned about the art work, might blurt it out.
"Hey, that comic on the T-shirt, looks like something, "The Plague" used to draw", said A. B, the friend replies, "Of course it does, don't you know that Erika Martin is actually, Eric.", as he immediately faints after realizing what he said.
I am not sure if this has been discussed before, but it appears that no one else in the town, neighbors shop keepers, etc. have questioned the existence of Erika and the disappearance of Eric. Were the Martin's so isolated that even the parent's had no friends?
RAMI
RAMI
too fast too soon
You are getting ahead of me again, Rami. I have plans for some of the things you have brought up.
as for the parent's names. I have mentioned the father's name once. (It's John)
A.A.
Interesting...
We'll see if Julian's able to be the FRIEND she needs. A lot of guys can't.
The next two weeks will be "interesting". Mom's showing what appears to be a different side. Ho boy...
And Tricia... Can she be "worthy" of Erica? Or, will she continue to put Erica in situations where she may stumble due to lack of experience and then blame her for stumbling? Will she continue to be self-destructive when things don't go her way? Maybe Tricia will manage to grow up as well.
Thanks for finding time to continue this interesting saga.
Annette
Is it just me?
Or wasn't dr. Barts a girl and Dr. Lipdick a boy? And now that seems reversed O_o Dr. Arts and Dr. Lipstick? Meow O-o
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I know who I am, I am me, and I like me ^^
Bisexual, transsexual, gamer girl, princess, furry that writes horror stories and proud ^^
I know who I am, I am me, and I like me ^^
Transgender, Gamer, Little, Princess, Therian and proud :D
Welll excussssse meee but Mom is NOT being nice here
Did we all read the same chapter here Folks?
I quote.
>>
“Erika, I'm sorry that you felt uncomfortable at church yesterday.†her mother continued to watch the traffic light. “I did not set that up or even know that they were going to preach about that topic.â€
Erika kept quiet.
“Tell you what.†She looked at her child. “You can pick the churches for now on.â€
“I think I might want to go back to the catholic church.†Erika voiced.
Her mother nodded. “Alright, but I would like to try a few other churches as well.â€
>>>
I'm sorry but this sounds like mom backing off only superficially as she realized she pushed too hard in her plan to *Scare Erik Straight* out of being a girl. This is not compromise at all. This is, "I will let you choose so long as you choose what *I* want." She says she will let Erika choose then immediately vetos most of that choice and uses Erika's/Eric's kind nature to trick him into agreeing. As to her not knowing about that anti gay/LGBT church, MY AS*!
Mom is being manipluative at best, a liar or worse if I guess corectly.
Very good AA and thought provoking and I agree with others here that Tricia has a self destructive streak.
John in Wauwatosa
John in Wauwatosa
"Choose What I Want?"
I don't see it, John. There's nothing in that exchange that suggests that she's planning to veto anything; she's simply unwilling to abandon her idea of trying several alternatives. She's not even saying -- look at her "alright" (sic) in the last sentence -- that she won't go back to the Catholic church; all she says is that she won't let them go there exclusively before examining further choices.
Eric
Setting the Record Straight
Hey! It's nice to see another chapter of this. Yay!
I like how Erika set the record straight. She handled Julian and Tricia very nicely.
I'm a little confused about the editing. I see a message from Edeyn stating that you didn't post the edited version. I was going to say that I thought some of the scenes changed a bit abruptly but perhaps that was changed in the edited version.
Thanks very much for the chapter. Please keep up the good work.
- Terry
Dr Lipstick? :-)
Sorry, had to say something.
I have to agree with the others. Mom wants to exercise options in selecting a church, and she may be biased against Catholicism too. Could be that she wants to find a church they are both comfortable in but one that also teaches doctrines they can both agree on. There aren't too many that can be both accepting and doctrinally sound. Many of the more liberal ones play fast and loose with the Bible, while the conservative ones so often get caught up in trying to reform everyone into their version of what's right and how to live. I suspect Mom's concept of "doctrinally sound" is pretty conservative, while Erika is just looking for acceptance.
It's unclear in my mind if Erika's concern over her dad leaving town is justified, there are just too many variables in motion to predict where Miss Anastasia is going to go with the plot. Anistasia did warn us a while back that troubled waters were ahead for Erika though, so we shall see.
The one thing I've learned to count on is that we aren't going to predict successfully what is going to happen. It's almost as if Anastasia reads the comments here and deliberately takes the story in a new direction every time it looks like we've figured it out! What a ride this continues to be. I just hope that in the end, Erika comes out okay.
Thanks, Anastasia for another great chapter.
Hugs
Carla Ann
Setting the record straight
::rolling eyes:: To set the record straight, I have an outline in my mind of where this story is going. (althought the end isn't set in stone.) I love reading the comments and I DO get good ideas, but I don't change the direction of the story by what you all are debating and talking about. ::Heavy sigh:: so there. ;p pbbt
A.A.
Just Kidding!
Thanks, A.A., you should know I really didn't think that, although I've accused you of it enough times!
As much discussion as your episodes get, and as complicated as the plot is, it would be hard not seem that way, no matter where you take it. Thanks for the comment.
Erika seems to be living the combined blessing/curse: "May you live in interesting times!"
I saw when I voted that the number outgrew the box again. I think you have the record for the number of times that's happened!
You go girl!
Hugs
Carla Ann
Mom is not likely to be anti Catholic
Mom is not likely to be anti Catholic since that was the first church she brought her to. I still believe she is honest about wanting to try various ones.
Kristy
One comment....
** Comment Removed by author as potentially inflammatory **
Her mother
I think her mother might try to pull something when her dad leaves.
hugs :)
Michelle SidheElf Amaianna
Julian handled it well
not easy to hear the "let be friends" speech, but he didn't do badly.