[M] Junkie [Erika]

[Everett King]

Erika Conner (Bellefonte)

The bell had been ringing when Everett had pulled Erika out of the halls and away from Erika. I was only halfway through the day, classes were still running and he was hoping that by holing up in Erika's dorm they'd be able to have some time to talk. While it was more likely that they wouldn't be disturbed in his own dorm, Ayn's movements were not so easily predicted. And besides, he in no way wanted to bring any discomfort to Erika. 

As soon as they reached the front of the dorm he released her wrist quickly, stepped away and rubbing his fingers in an almost awkward manner. "I think we need to talk," he muttered, stating the obvious in his uncomfortable desire to get to the point. 

He'd watched Erika plant her first in the blonde bitch's face, and it had been sexy and scary at the same time. He was more than prepared to accept the same punishment, though he'd rather do it inside. 

Smiling softly, he gestured with a half shrug towards the door, eagerness and dread swirled around inside his stomach. He wanted to hurry up and get this over with, but if his presence was going to cause Erika even more pain, then perhaps it wasn't worth the closure after all.

[Erika Conner (Bellefonte)]

Okay, so the entire thing with Ellen and then Everett's sudden appearance had left Erika a little emotionally drained, and very confused. And before she had been able to react, the entire thing had ended and she was being pulled down the hallways without as much as a word - which was fine, because it had given her a few moments to take it all in. And before she knew it, she found herself standing outside her dorm room.

The hand she had used to hit Ellen had already gotten red and had started swelling, but if anyone asked, she couldn't exactly say she regretted it. It was only a matter of time before something like that had happened, and now that it had, she was actually sort of glad the punch had been that successful.

Though, she was still a little surprised. She wasn't normally a violent person.

Nodding silently, Erika unlocked the front door and stepped inside, assuming he'd follow her as she strode through the common area towards her own room, the thought of it being awkward not once crossing her mind. Once more unlocking the door, she swung it open before walking inside, putting her keys on the drawer, Erika ran her hand through her hair before letting out a sight. She wasn't sure what to say or how to feel, but she was exhausted and had far too many questions to count.

Like always, Erika's room was tidy to the point of it being nauroticly, as once of her many OCD's were to keep things tidy and in place. Sitting down in the window tilt above her bed, Erika crossed her feet and leaned forward with her chin leaned against her palm, her eyes finally settling at Everett.

''All right, talk.'' she said calmly and pursed her lips.

[Everett King]

Everett shuffled into the common room as if afraid to touch anything. While Erika seemed to make a beeline to another door -her room he presumed- Ever took a detour into the kitchen. Hunting around he pulled out a paper towel and some ice from the freezer, wrapping it up into a neat bundle. It was something he'd had a lot of experience with. Leaving the ice-cube tray on the side he made to follow Erika.

He paused in her doorway and examined the room. Unconsciously his eyebrow raised in amusement, not at all surprised at the calm order everything held. She'd probably have a heart attack if she saw his own room. He was probably one of the most careless people alive, the only cleanliness he was focused on maintaining was in his kitchen.

Walking across the room slowly, he held out the makeshift icepack with a soft smile. "For your hand," He offered gently, doubting that he had imagined the redness he had noted before.

Popping his knuckles he sat on the ground, spreading his arms out wide. "I want you to hit me." he admitted with a sad smile. It was undoubtedly selfish of him to ask such a thing of her, but he well enough deserved it. "I have nothing else to say, but if you had something to ask me, I can answer it." Ever promised with a firm nod. 

[Erika Conner (Bellefonte)]

Accepting ice wrapped in paper with a sigh, Erika leaned back against the glass as she pressed the ice against her knuckles. She frowned a little at the pain, but seconds later, her features fell still again, and she watched as the paper grew damper as the ice started melting on her warm skin. ''Thanks,'' she said quietly.

She kept her eyes on her hand as he started speaking, chewing on the inside of her cheek before peeking up, ''I think we've had enough hitting for one day,'' she said with a faint smile before her eyes averted downwards to her hand again. Letting out a sigh, she removed the ice and continued to clench and unclench her fist. She had no idea where to begin.

''What happened to having no reason to come back?'' she then asked and looked back up again, furrowing her brow, the icepack once more pressed against her sore knuckles.

Pushing herself up, Erika wobbled over her bed before planting her feet against the ground, walking over to her desk. Opening the top drawer, she pulled out a plastic bag she placed the ice in, before wrapping it shut.

Was she supposed to feel mad or furious? Because oddly enough, she didn't. Maybe it was because she had vented all her anger out on Ellen, or maybe it there hadn't been any to begin with. She simply felt... Tired? Rubbing the back of her neck, Erika turned around and crossed her foot over the other before leaning against the desk, her arms crossed over her chest. ''What was the point?'' she began, ''In leaving only to come back, I mean. Doesn't that defeat the purpose of leaving in the first place?''

[Everett King]

Everett frowned and sighed when she rejected his plea. It was surprising in the least that she wasn't prepared to at least smack him lightly, and it was disappointing too. He couldn't live with the guilt in his heart. Well he wouldn't ask her again, it wasn't fair. He'd find some other form of punishment for himself. For someone like the straight-forward, simplistic Everett, physical punishment was a logical conclusion that he arrived at.

Rubbing his eyes tiredly, Ever shook his head. "I always had a reason to come back, I just had more to stay away," he reasoned quietly, dropping his hand slightly to look at her. "I'm a weak person, my resolve didn't last long at all. I'm sorry."

He watched her move but didn't respond, merely turning to face her again. He wished she'd be angrier at him, it would be easier than this.

"I'm sorry, Erika. I'm sorry. I'm weak and I broke. I meant to stay away but I couldn't; you took over my mind and drove me crazy every day I was gone. I'm sorry that I love you; really I am!" All this erupted in a burst, Everett bending at the waist to bow in apology, gripping his hands together to keep them from shaking.

[Erika Conner (Bellefonte)]

Maybe it would have been different if she saw him right after actually reading the note, instead of now. Maybe she would have been madder and maybe she'd actually have hit him. Maybe running away had been the best option after dropping a bomb like that, since it had given her time to think - and to calm down. Right now, physical punishment was out of the question. She didn't believe that even cowardly behavior and excuses deserved to be punished with actually striking someone. Unless that someone was Ellen. Her Erika would gladly hit again.

Nodding slowly, Erika looked away before sighing. What was she supposed to say? She understood why he did it, after all, it was the easiest solution. Sure, it was cowardly and unfair, but if the roles were reversed, would she have done it any differently?

Cocking her eyebrow at the notsosudden outburst, Erika shook her head and let her arms drop to her sides before walking over, pulling him up by the arm. How could she possibly stay mad at that? It was just so pitiful and beneath him, it made her feel like the guilty part, ''You're a moron,'' she said with a sigh, giving his arm another yank. Cupping his chin between her hands Erika looked up at him with her brows furrowed and her nose scrunched, ''What am I supposed to do with you?'' she whispered, unable to keep the faint smile from creeping to her lips.

Watching him like this was more painful than what she had expected it to be. At first she had thought she'd enjoy it, but that was as far from the truth as it could ever have been.

[Everett King]

Everett went limp at Erika's hand on his arm, obediently straightening as she tugged him. Perhaps she had changed her mind after all and was going to hit him. No, that wasn't it. 

Ever blew out a shuddering breath as her hands held his face, lifting one of his own scarred hands to touch hers gently, hardly daring to believe they were there. He wanted to kiss her. Smiling gently he used his other hand to cup her cheek, stroking it with his thumb gently. "You can do whatever you want to me, princess. I am yours, after all, even if you don't want me." This was more a resolute promise than anything, honestly at this point he'd lover her whether she accepted him or not.

Breathing out slowly, Everett let his head drop, just a little and smiled. Blinking slowly he met Erika's eyes, surprised to find no visible trace of anger there. She was more beautiful than before he had left, he was sure of it. Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

He couldn't control himself any more; he very rarely could. "Erika," he whispered huskily. "I'm going to kiss you now. Is that ok?"

[Erika Conner (Bellefonte)]

Closing her eyes at his touch, her faint smile grew somewhat as she let out a faint chuckle, ''Now that's a silly thing to say,'' If she hadn't wanted him, she'd tell him to get lost the second he showed his face. Sure, she knew women could be complicated to the opposite sex, but she wasn't that complicated. She had played through this scene a million times in her head, though never fully allowing herself to believe it would actually happen. And somehow, this wasn't exactly how she had pictured it to be.

It was better.

Opening her eyes again, Erika run her thumb along the features of his chin, letting the moment run through her head in replay, wondering if there was anything else she wanted to ask - or say. But truth be told, there was only one thing she could possibly want.

Smirking, she cocked her head to the side, ''No.'' she said quickly before leaning up on her toes, her arms sliding around his neck before leaning in, ''Because I'm going to kiss you,'' she whispered before her lips pressed against his.

[Everett King]

"I am very silly," he agreed readily in response, keeping his voice low and a smile on his face. He'd be any kind of idiot she wanted, if it made Erika smile. Not that it was a hard feat for someone like him.

He couldn't believe his was actually touching her, actually in her presence again. It was better than anything he could have ever thought. Her sweet smell, the curve of her neck and the way her hair trickled over her shoulders and down her back like water. She was his goddess, the absolute best that he could have ever achieved in life, and had ever wanted.

Ever's heard literally stopped when she rejected him and he began pulling his hand away, before he was frozen in place by her words. He hardly dared to breath as she reached up to him, and he groaned almost involuntarily when she kissed him.

His dropped arm circled her waist, pulling her closer to his chest in a movement both jovial and desperate. They'd only done this once, but shit he'd missed her. His other hand tangled into her hair as he angled his head, sucking on her bottom lip gently, tentatively.

[Erika Conner (Bellefonte)]

People could believe whatever they wanted. Ellen could think and look at him as lowly as she wished, but if there was anything Erika had learned from life as a Bellefonte it was to never judge a book by its cover or the place it held on the shelves. She could care less if he was just a cook, or the size of his bank account. None of that mattered. None of that would ever matter. One didn't choose the life one was given, nor the place one was put in the eyes of society - but when it all came down to all, the only thing that mattered was this. Right here.

There was no better or worse, no person being above another. It was only equality, and the sooner she made him see that, the better. She was no princess and he was no prince; They were human, and that was about it.

Running her hand through his short hair, Erika moved her other hand to his cheek, holding it there, completely ignoring the pain from her swollen knuckles. Things like that didn't matter to her right now. This mattered. Tracing the features of his chin once more before her hand dropped slowly to his neck, Erika leaned back on her feet with a smile and peeked up at him through her dark lashes, ''Now, that's an apology,'' she whispered with a chuckle.

Leaning up again, she brushed her lips over his before placing a peck at the corner of his lips, slowly moving her lips along the line of his jaw. Their first kiss had been far too fleeting for the moment to be properly enjoyed, and she wasn't about to waste any time now.

[Everett King]

It wouldn't be easy; making it work with Erika. But nothing worth having was ever easy to obtain, and he was more than willing to work for what he wanted. It was how he had ever achieved anything in life. If that was the case, was Erika something he was allowed to allow himself to have? He liked to believe so. Even if it was just the two of them that thought it.

He still found it so hard to believe that she could ever want him as much as he adored her. He said the word 'love' so frivolously, throwing it around. But he threw his heart around with it, every time. Caution was something he lacked. Everett loved with his entire being, and Erika had been chosen as his unfortunate target.

Everett shuddered at her touch, swaying his body subconsciously closer, wanting to hold her to his chest and never let go. Laughing breathlessly he placed a chaste kiss on her nose, accepting her compliment as an acceptance, a forgiveness. It would take a lot more for him to forgive himself, but right now, there was nothing more that he wanted from this moment. 

His breathing was ragged as Erika left her line of kisses along his cheek, and while it was perhaps a simple action for her, his heart was racing. Even her presence was enough to drive him crazy. Stirred into action he dropped his head, tilting it until he could kiss her neck. Slowly he worked his way down to her collarbone where he rested his teeth gently, tenderly sucking on her skin. If he could treat her as a princess he would, even if she claimed stature didn't matter. 

[Erika Conner (Bellefonte)]

Even if it was something she felt, the actual word 'love' didn't come as easily to her as it seemingly did to him. He had already used to words twice, once by letter and once by actually saying it. Maybe it was her being silly, or maybe it was her being old-fashioned, but she strongly believed such a word was something that should be spoken at the right time, the right place. As much as she adored him saying it, she still felt as if a little time was needed for her to being ready to say it back. Though, it didn't change the fact that the feelings were there.

Forgive and forget. Life was far too short to spend it being miserable and putting others through pain just to have one's own ego boosting by watching them squirm and crawl for forgiveness. Maybe she was being as naive as ever, so blindly putting her faith in him, but whatever happened, that was the one thing she knew she'd never regret. She didn't want to waste her time being petty or denying them both what they so obviously wanted.

Really, what was the point?

Once more she closed her eyes as his lips moved their way down her neck to her collarbone, letting out a slight chuckle at the prickling she felt move with his lips, Erika dropped her hands to his waist. Her fingers worked their way under his shirt, as she ran her fingertips slowly over his abdomen to his hips before finally stopping at the dip of his back.

Whatever happened, however long they could manage to keep it going, she was one hundred percent sure she wouldn't regret a second of it.

[Everett King]

He would say it as often as he needed to, and as much as she liked. If it helped convince her. He could wait however long she needed. There wasn't a doubt in Everett's mind that one day he'd be able to hear her beautiful voice saying those words. Now though, right now, he just wanted to hear her voice.

She was trusting him, opening herself up to him. This time Ever was determined not to break her, not to hurt her again like he so foolishly had the first time. He didn't deserve a second chance, but this time around he was too grateful to linger on his own petty thoughts. 

Ever groaned against her neck as he felt her hands explore his hips and abdomen. He was, admittedly, proud of his body; chiseled and strong. With an impatient sigh he nuzzled at the line of her shirt, trailing kisses along the hem as his hands followed her lead and slipped under her shirt.

Unwilling to push any boundaries he merely traced his fingers back and forth over the area above her pants. While he longed to travel higher, to feel and consume her being, he had to remember that today wasn't about him, and it wasn't about what he wanted. 

[Erika Conner (Bellefonte)]

It could easily be blamed as being a normal teenager having her mind clouded by raging hormones - whatever it was - his kisses had her almost driven to the point of insanity. Holding her breath, Erika let out a muffled chuckle, biting her lower lip as she felt his hands move across her skin.

Pushing all doubt aside, Erika readied herself to - unlike last time - keep her walls from popping up. She couldn't keep pushing him away. She had to let him all the way in if she wanted this - whatever it was - to survive.

Her fingers traced the curves, the features and the lines of his lower body before curling themselves around the hem of his shirt, lifting it slowly up his body. Once off, she let the shirt drop from her fingers and let her hand back to his hips, moving them slowly up his stomach before they settled at his chest. Leaning up again, Erika pressed her lips against his chin, propping his head up with her nose before kissing the underside of his jaw, brushing her lips across his skin until they too settled at his neck.

Pushing herself against him, Erika egged his body towards the bed, her arms sliding around his neck again, taking her time to appreciate the view with a smile before her lips found their way back to his, kissing them hungrily and passionately.

[Everett King]

She was letting him in, not fighting. He half wished she would; he liked her fire. What he was awed by was the way they so easily seemed to move together, as if he had been created just to fit by her side. The thought was a warming one.

As his shirt fell away Everett shifted, running his hands higher up Erika's back. His fingers ghosted around to her waist and circled her belly-button gently. He was obedient as she pushed him back, legs buckling as he fell onto the bed. His hips bucked automatically, pulling Erika back on top of him.

He began tugging her shirt up gently, eager to be rid of it. Pulling it away he tossed the fabric onto the floor without a second glance. Everett broke away from the kiss panting and tilted his head back, taking his time to examine Erika's beautiful body, ever inch of it that he could see. Reaching one hand up he traced her cheek bone, while the other snaked over her back. "You're beautiful," he murmured, half in wonder and half in enrapture.