handfull of problems

You and Julia Campbell had been best friends since Junior High. Seeing all the good, the bad, and the ugly of your most awkward years. Trying out every makeup trend you saw online on one another. Doing silly internet challenges. Sleepovers every single weekend. Having worn matching friendship bracelets since your freshman year. Keeping no secrets from one another. Going to prom together because Julia's date had blown her off last minute, and you would be damned if she wasted all those hours practicing makeup and up-dos just to not go. Hell, your periods were synced up.

Julia was your ride or die.

Even now as adults. Your bond was completely unbreakable. Almost like you were the long lost sister she never had. A welcomed addition to the family. You practically lived with the Campbell's. Rent was too high to afford, and besides all her siblings still lived at home too.

Bobby and Erik, her younger and older brothers. Bobby was a senior in High School. Sporty, and absolutely caught up with his pet turtle. Lovingly named Paco. Always losing her somewhere in their house. He was sweet, but his blonde hair was definitely natural. Erik was a High School burnout who worked at some sleezy old tattoo parlor on the other side of town. Edgy, but funny. Piercings hung from many places on his body. Tattoos decorating his pale skin.

You had grown up alongside both boys. Loving Bobby like a younger brother. Always defending him against the tyranny of his older siblings, even if it was fun to prank him from time to time. He had always been so easy to scare.

Erik was a different story, however. Yes, he accepted you in his life the same as the rest of the family. Playing video games together growing up. You were always his player two, despite being younger. One time you even let him practice piercing on you. Leading to a bloody needle and a melted ice cube on his comforter. But, hey, the piercing took. The family would refer to the two of you as 'Double Trouble' because their mother would swear any time the two of you were alone something happened. Makeshift piercings. Stick-and-poke tattoos. Choppy haircuts based off something he had saw in some punk music video. You were a mess together.

But there was more to it than that.

As you got older, things shifted between you. After you had graduated and Erik had returned from some far-off apprenticeship. You had not seen each other in a few years. Simultaneously missing each other with each return visit he made. Whether it be because you were off on your own endeavors, or out of town visiting your own family. Somehow your paths kept pivoting away from one another.

You had been living with the Campbells for a few months when he returned home. Able to hear the squealing of his mother downstairs. Julia had wide-eyed you and bolted down the steps. Yelping Erik's name as if she barely recognized him. His entire family swarmed and surrounded him. Bobby showed him some new spot that had changed on Paco. His father bear hugged him, lifting his slim figure off the ground. You stood halfway up the stairs. Happy to watch the family reunion in progress, not wanting to nudge yourself into their moment.

That was until he looked up at you. His baby blue eyes widened as he saw you. Shocked that you had changed. Surprised to see you hiding in the stairwell. His smile widened, "Hi, stranger. Just gonna act like you don't know me or something?"

Heat flooded your face as you returned his smile. He waved to have you come join the group hug. You were a little hesitant, but obliged. Embracing your found family in celebration of the eldest's return.

Mr. Campbell instructed Bobby to help carry Erik’s bags up the stairs to his bedroom. Offering your own help, but quickly being shot down.

“Didn’t expect you home so early, son. We should celebrate. We can run to the store and grab some things and grill out tonight. How’s that sound?” his father asked with a glint of pride in his eyes.

“Hell yeah,” Erik nodded, happy to be welcomed home with open arms.

Julia interlocked arms with you, one hand gripping your bicep. She jumped up and down with excitement, “Y/N and I can make dessert!”

Remembering how growing up the two of you were always put in charge of the sweet treat for parties. Even when you were little girls, Mrs. Campbell would buy you cake mix or cookie dough so that you could easily participate in the family fun. It was your tradition.

You beamed at Julia, “Oh my God, YES!”

Faster than you could think, Julia was tugging you behind her into the kitchen. Swinging the pantry door open and peaking at what all ingredients already in her possession. Filing through all the sugars and flavors she could choose from.

She turned back to you holding a big bag of mini chocolate chips. Shaking it and smiling, “Chocolate chip cookies?”

“Classic,” you pointed at her with a nod.

You spent the next bit preparing what would have to be the largest batch of cookies you had ever made in your life. Mixing, measuring, combining; the two of you had your aprons covered in raw ingredients. And despite the large kitchen and the double oven, you still found yourself bumping into every member of the Campbell family atleast once. The boys returning with enough groceries to feed an army. Knocking elbows and countertops as you all attempted to dance around each other. Ending with Mrs. Campbell banishing the boys outside. Where you could see Bobby’s head occasionally appear from how high he was jumping on the trampoline.

Finally, you were taking the last batch of cookies out of the oven. Turning to see Julia snapping pictures of the countless cookies you had made together. Always looking for the next best picture to post. You saw an idea click behind her eyes. Quickly holding her phone up to you, “Pose!”

You held the tray up and put on your best smile. Not concerned with how messy your clothes were. Still high on having fun with your best friend. Julia squealed, “You’re too cute. This is gonna get so many likes.”

Which you laughed at, but begrudgingly thanked her. The door to outside slid open. Erik walked in looking down at his phone. Thumbs tapping quickly before he rounded the counter. Bumping his hips into yours and faking an ‘oops’. You chuckled under your breath, looking over to him. The perfect distraction for him to swipe a cookie. Swiftly taking it between his lips, letting it hang out while he finished the text he was typing.

“Hey! You’re gonna ruin your dinner,” Julia swatted at him.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Erik shrugged, looking over and winking at you. Chocolate chip cookie still dangling from his mouth.

“Go start the fire or something!” Julia pushed him away from you and out the door. Spinning back around to look at you, faming being out of breath. She crossed her arms a little annoyed, “I wanted us to be the first ones to taste test.”

“Eh, who cares? It’s Erik, he ate the damn thing without even tasting it,” you grinned, grabbing a cookie for each of you.

Julia smiled.

The rest of the night went off without a hitch. Perfectly grilled food and the nicest weather you had in months. Playing some backyard games and enjoying some nice, fruity drinks. All wrapped in a familial bow.

But something in you made you feel like you were prying. Invading a space that belonged to the Campbell bloodline, not their daughter’s best friend who lived with them. So slowly throughout the night you drifted away. Pulling back from some activities, sitting your seat further away, not speaking up as much as you normally would. Erik was finally home, they needed this. Needed to enjoy each other’s company. Savor that bond that no amount of friendship could ever replace.

You were curled up in a blanket by the firepit. Distancing yourself from the abundance of chatter from the Campbell family. Talking about the city Erik had been to. How strange the people were there. Julia and Bobby were practically awestruck by their older brother. Listening to him like he had been off to war. Stories as good as gold to them. They were all sat around the lounge area, drinks pinched in their hands as the conversation somehow shifted to where they would be taking their next family vacation.

Footsteps pulled your attention up from the flames. Looking up and seeing Erik scooting one of the lawn chairs closer to you. A closed mouth smile tugging across his lips. Flopping back into the seat, his body positioned so that he was looking at you. Warm orange hues illuminated the sides of your faces.

"You hiding from me?"

You furrowed your eyebrows. Looking over at him and grinning. You rolled your eyes and sighed, "No."

"Look, I just got some more ink. It's not like I went off and changed everything about myself," Erik chuckled gesturing to his body. Both of you sharing in the comfort of laughter. His family was off behind you arguing softly and playfully. Both of you looked over to them, barely audible discussion making you smile.

Erik turned back to look at you once more. Crackle of the fire reflecting in his blue eyes. Silence hovered over the two of you. Taking the time to look at each other. Noticing all the new tattoos he had acquired. Septum ring was new too. Scruff looking more like a beard than when he was younger.

"You look... different," you admitted.

"Like, Bad different, or..?"

"Good different," you smiled softly.

"So do you," Erik readjusted in his seat. Looking at your hair and clothes. Different than he remembered you wearing them. Older. Having a soft grunge to yourself that almost made him proud. But, the punk spirit had always been alive in you. He remembered the way you had headbanged at one of the underground concerts he had taken you to. But your smile was the same. How you would squint up your eyes and scrunch up your nose. Soft sparkle in your eyes. It welcomed him home in a way words never could.

It was nice. Just to have him close like this.

Even if there was a hint of something blossoming between you. A feeling neither of you would, or could, ever acknowledge. Maybe it had always been there. In the all nighters you pulled when a new game in your favorite series came out. Sitting with legs crossed on the carpeted floor of his bedroom. Snacks and half drank two-liters scattered across the floor. Or how he would let you braid his hair when he had grown it out. Laying back in your lap when you were both still in high school. Eyes closed and breath steady, just liking the feeling of your hands on his scalp. In the way you knew each other’s favorite foods and songs.

It had all been pushed down. Deep in your guts. Repressed in the back of your mind. Because you knew it could not be. Not when Julia was your best friend. And when the Campbells had so generously opened their home to you.

So you settled for smiling and looking into his eyes. Longing for the possibility of something more. Both of you leaned in as close as you could get without making it too obvious. Words unspoken lingered in the thick air between you.

“Y/N…”

“Uh-oh! Double Trouble’s back together,” Mrs. Campbell teased from across the yard.

Erik perked up awkwardly. His back stiff and shoulders stern when he turned to look over to his family. Smiling and blowing the air out of his nose. Turning back to you with pink cheeks. His smile still written on his face. Eyes scanning down your figure for only a split second, jumping back up to your face.

The family all stood and began walking over to where you and Erik sat. Chuckling and readjusting chairs to circle the fire pit. Julia taking the seat next to you, Bobby next to his brother. Their parents still hovered behind, grabbing the chairs that had all been lined up in a formation. Beginning to carry them so that they were across from you.

“Over here coming up with your next harebrained scheme?” his father patted both your shoulders as he stood between you. Erik laughed looking quickly up to his father then back to you. You grinned, giving Erik a knowing look.

“We’ve got lost time we have to makeup on,” Erik raised his eyebrows, “There’s years of missed opportunities for mischief here.”

Julia scoffed, morphing quickly into a laugh. Rolling her eyes playfully at you and shaking her head. You laughed, covering your mouth with your hand.

“Let’s let the misbehaving wait until morning,” his mother laughed as she waved off Erik’s tomfoolery.

Erik looked to you with a wide grin. His smile softening when he saw your face scrunched up in hidden laughter. Feeling so welcome and home. It made his insides feel all warm and cozy.

As a family, you all sat around the fire pit just having casual conversation. Something you had earlier tried to distance yourself from. Sometimes you forgot that you were practically a member of the Campbell family. Often shrinking yourself down to only a friend of their only daughter. Forgetting that you spend more time with them than you do your own family. This was your family.

The wee hours of the night encroached faster than any of you could have tracked. That was when a loud yawn ripped from Bobby’s mouth. Over exaggerated and loud. Stretching his entire body with it, then looking down at his phone to check the time, “It’s way past my normally bed time.”

Erik perked up, preparing to mock his younger brother, “Your ‘bed time’?”

“Look, man. It takes a lot to stay being the best looking sibling,” Bobby grinned.

Earning a loud groan from Julia, “Oh please.”

“Julia’s right. Everyone knows it’s me,” Erik gestured towards himself. Devolving into an argument between the three of them. Some minor shouting and a lot of eye rolls. All playful. You simply sat back and watched it all unfold.

Mr. Campbell stood, “You’re all my kids, so you’re all equally hot. Get it from your old man.”

Physically, the three siblings cringed. Scoffing and pretending to gag at their father implying he was hot. Especially when they looked to their mother and saw her eyeing him.

“Of all the words to use, you chose ‘hot’?!” Bobby gasped in surprise.

“Gross, dad. I’m going upstairs,” Julia stood, a shiver shaking its way through her body. You were laughing at the whole situation as you stood up, beginning to follow behind your friend. Turning to thank Mr. and Mrs. Campbell for the dinner before making it fully inside. Catching Erik’s eyes as he looked over to watch you leave. Watching them rake down your figure then back to your face. Perfect teeth smiling at you, giving you the most awkward wave of your life.

Julia recalled the extremely weird thing her father had said as the two of you walked up the stairs. Acting entirely disgusted. Looking to you to make sure you were sharing her sentiment.

“I feel like I need to shower to get the uncomfort off of me,” Julia laughed, walking over to your shared bedroom door. Both of you slipping inside to throw on your pajamas. Following your nightly routine like you always did. Ending with you in the bathroom while Julia was in her room.

You brushed your teeth in front of the large mirror of the shared bathroom upstairs. Matching set of pajamas adorning your figure; a tank top and shorts. Makeup removed and face washed.

A creak in the doorway pulled your eyes to the side.

“So you just live here now?” Erik had his arms folded over his chest. No shirt and some shorts that more resembled boxers. Eyes hooded, but expression soft. A tiny smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

“Kinda,” you shrugged, leaning to spit into the sink.

His eyes raked down your body. Lingering on the way your shorts barely covered your ass. And how your cleavage hung out of the tank top. He was a little embarrassed by the soft flutter in his stomach.

“Take a picture, it’ll last longer,” you teased, rinsing your tooth brush off under the faucet.

Erik’s face flushed immediately, straightening his posture and stammering.

You giggled, filling a cup with some water so you could rinse your mouth out. Gargling with your head leaned back, you could see Erik’s eyes still looking you over. Teeth clicking together as he thought. He took a step further, joining you at the sink. Intentionally reaching around you for his toothbrush. His chest pressed into your arm. Capturing your figure between his and the sink. Unbearably close, he was so warm. It made you choke on the water a little. Hand swiftly covering your mouth before you spat it all over him.

Erik smugly smirked. Looking at your face in the mirror with hooded eyes. You leaned forward to spit down the drain, back arching a little causing your ass to press into him for a moment. Erik’s eyes flew wide at the contact, looking down to watch. Jaw hanging open and face as red as a tomato. Fighting back his body’s natural instincts out of fear of you feeling his excitement.

He was not the only one good at playing games.

You turned around so that you could face him now. Head falling slightly to the side as you examined his face. Taking the time to get a better look at all his new ink. A skull that nearly took over his entire torso. Nipple rings accented the dark color. Your hands almost dared to reach up and flatten across the expansion of his chest. This was different than before.

His arms were paralyzed at his sides. Looking between your eyes as he mouthed words that could not escape. Immediately regretting not closing the door behind him. Then he could have really showed you exactly what he couldn’t say. He could have turned the shower head on. Flow of water to hide the sounds—

“What the hell?!” Julia’s voice startled you both immediately.

Erik stepped back and you stiffened your posture. Trying to make the very compromised position you found yourself in look innocent. Both your faces bleeding with guilt. You leaned to throw away the disposable cup you had been grasping the entire time.

“Jesus, Kiki! Give the girl some space,” Julia reached out and intertwined your arms. Pulling you flush to her side. You smiled at Erik from the doorway. Blushing from the protective nature of your best friend, but also by the moment she had just interrupted.

“There’s only one bathroom up here. What am I supposed to do when she’s moving slower than a snail? It’s not like she minded it. Right, Y/N?” Erik smiled, obviously checking you out in front of his sister.

“Come on, Y/N. And Erik, stop being such a creep!” Julia turned you both, stomping towards your shared bedroom door.

“You can always stay in my room, Y/N! Bed’s big enough to share,” Erik waved, wiggling his eyebrows when you looked back at him.

“Yuk!” Julia scoffed. The two of you giggled as you escaped from the disgusting boys she had to call her brothers. Jumping onto your respective beds across the room from one another. The soft glow from each of your phone screens the only thing illuminating the room. Mindlessly scrolling through every social media app you had downloaded. Passing by pictures of people you had not spoke to in years; some married, some parents, some divorced.

Then Erik’s name popped up at the top of your screen.

It made your heart jump. Swiftly rolling over and hiding your screen, even if Julia was on the complete opposite side of the room. Your thumb hovered over the green message icon. Holding your breath as if you were a teenager whose crush had finally texted her. Butterflies flapped around your guts.

You finally gave in. Clicking the red notification away. It was a picture. Of Paco, who had someone snuck into Erik’s bedroom. The small turtle was caught mid march as she headed for the door. The text underneath read “Sure Bobert is gonna be scrambling in a few.”

It made you grin. Looking over your shoulder to see if Julia had caught on yet. But her back was to you, phone still lighting her side of the room. A soft hum of a video playing in the distance.

You quickly typed, “Don’t hold her captive.”

The three dots appeared. Thinking it must mean he was staring at the conversation. Waiting for your reply. It made your face heat up.

“Don’t tell me what to do,” punctuated with an emoji sticking its tongue out and winking.

“Be nice!” was all you could reply.

“Come over here and make me,” he sent back.

And it made you pause. Thumbs floating right above your screen. Wanting to sneak out. Tip toe down the hall to his bedroom. Let him wrap you in his lanky arms. So you looked over your shoulder once more. Seeing that the light from Julia’s phone had disappeared. A soft snore rolling through her body. She was out cold.

This was your chance. Julia was the heaviest sleeper you had ever met, something she and her siblings seemed to have in common. It would be so easy to creep out of bed. To rush the embrace of Erik’s arms. Her brother’s embrace.

But you could not do that to her.

“You know your sister would kill me,” you tried to soften the blow.

Typing. For what felt like ages.

“She wouldn’t. I wouldn’t let her. Besides, I don’t care what she thinks. I miss you still.”

You rolled to face Julia. Breathing out hard. Dropping your phone onto your chest. You covered your eyes with your palms. Weighing everything in your mind.

Another ding.

“She’s asleep isn’t she?”

Smiling, you could practically hear his plotting mind from the other room.

“Goodnight, Erik,” you rolled your eyes, cheeks all too full of blush.

“Come on,” Erik sent a picture of himself in bed, body shifted to one side so that there was plenty of room beside him, “I’ve got your spot saved.”

You sent the emoji blowing a kiss.

Which had Erik smiling like a lovesick idiot in the other room. Recalling all the late nights you spent together. Sneaking out to go throw rocks in a nearby lake. Secretly piercing each other. The way you would struggle to stay awake when he wanted to pull an all-nighter for a new release. Truthfully, he never realized how good he had it with you until he left. But he was back now. And he had all the time in the world to win you back.

“Goodnight, Y/N.”

~~~

[END//Part 1]

// Thank you so much for reading! Although I have not written for Erik in a while, I’ve not stopped thinking about him and working on fic ideas for him. I’m excited to peruse this fic further. As always, my inbox is always open! If you want to be tagged in future parts, let me know. Comments and Reblogs are appreciated! //

{tags}