Eric n' Sooks - Summer of '69 One-shot Contest

Title: Great America

Your Pen name: Fariesteed

Characters: Eric/Sookie/Amelia/Pam

Disclaimer: These characters belong to the wonderful Charlaine Harris. They just keep coming to Texas to play.

A/N: Marriott's Great America, now part of the Six Flags chain of parks, opened in 1976. It never had a Tunnel of Love. But it should have.

Many thanks (again!) to VampLover1, for being a great beta. We'll both be in line when Six Flags opens "The Swede" as it's next feature ride!

SOOKIE

Amelia and I were on our way to Gurnee, Illinois of all places. She had been bugging me for weeks to go to the new amusement park, Marriott's Great America. I had to admit it looked like fun. I had been to the midways of our fairs and little carnivals, but I had never gone to Disney World or any other big amusement park. Gran had raised my brother Jason and I after our parents died in a car accident. While there was enough money for the necessities and some niceties, a long road trip and vacation were out of the question. The commercials for Great America covered the radio and TV stations. It felt like if we didn't go now, we'd be the only ones in the Midwest who had missed out.

Amelia had convinced me to go, in part, by telling me that Pam was coming down from Minnesota to join us. Amelia introduced me to Pam last fall. They had really hit it off together, in a way that I wasn't interested in joining, but I had enjoyed Pam. She had a wicked sense of humor as she watched the customers in the bar where both Amelia and I worked. I was working to save money for college. Amelia had money from her family; I think she just worked to have something to do. We had been roommates since we graduated high school, Amelia the witch and Sookie the telepath, two weird girls together. Most people didn't know about our little differences. It had been Amelia who taught me to shield myself somewhat from people's thoughts.

We were dressed for the bicentennial, like the rest of America, at least in the Midwest. We both were wearing blue denim shorts and red, white and blue shirts, not quite matching but close. Everywhere you looked people wore the colors of the flag, and the flags themselves were planted everywhere. It seemed incredible that the United States had made it through 200 years; it was longer than Amelia or I could contemplate. It was three or four lifetimes; just about forever. We drove down the tollway, listening to the radio. It was late afternoon; tonight the park would be open late, until 3 A.M. as part of a special promotion. Ride under the lights and stars, the ad said. We had been talking nonstop since we left the apartment.

"When is Pam going to meet us?" I asked Amelia. "And where?"

"Sometime around nine or so, by the big merry-go-round. She said we won't be able to miss it."

"Why is she down in Illinois anyways? She doesn't seem like the amusement park type."

"She said she was going shopping in Chicago. And some relative of hers is here doing an internship at the park. He's from Sweden. Hey, maybe he'll be your type!" Amelia said, raising her eyebrows speculatively at me.

"I don't know what 'my type' is. Definitely not like that Bill Compton guy you tried to set me up with." She had met Bill one night while he sat in her section of the bar, nursing a 7&7. He wasn't much of a drinker, but was friendly enough. He worked for some computer business that kept him busy all day and some nights. I didn't know much about computers, but I could imagine him running around with his hands full of punch cards all day long. He even worked weekends or so it seemed; he never made time to go to anything on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon, just late nights. I had finally dropped trying to see him, but he still showed up occasionally at a party. It seemed like sometimes I could feel him watching me.

Bill was one of the people whose minds I could not read. But he wasn't the only one I couldn't read. Not everyone has clear thoughts in their heads. Some people are blanks like Bill, some are snarled and tangled, some just too blurry. It was part of what made everyone different, I guessed.

"Swedish." I mused. "I don't think I ever met anyone from Sweden. Hey, I hope he doesn't go around singing ABBA songs all the time."

"Sookie! Mellow out. Just because he's Swedish doesn't even mean he likes ABBA. Give the guy a chance. You haven't met anyone from anywhere else than home."

"Yeah, sure." I muttered. Like it had been a cue, ABBA's "SOS" came on the radio. I hoped it wasn't a bad sign.

We finally got to Great America, waited in a huge line to park in a lot the size of a smaller state, and took the trolley up to the gate. We paid to get in and got our hands stamped (for in and out of the park privileges, the attendant explained). The first view of the park was a big reflecting pool and a giant double decker merry-go-round. It was beautiful; I had never seen anything like it. Pam was right; there was no way to miss that! Like everyone else we went to stand in line to ride it. Amelia and I picked horses on the top deck, where we could look out over parts of the park. She was carrying the map and was already starting to plan out what to ride and eat. When the merry go round ride was over, we started roaming the park, riding whatever looked like fun. I had been worried that the park would be filled with nothing but kids, but as the evening wore on there were more young adults like Amelia and me.

At about 8:30, Amelia and I stood in line for a hamburger at the stand near the merry-go-round. We had eaten some of the usual amusement park snacks as we were walking around, but our stomachs were calling out for real food. Burgers, fries and a bucket sized cup of coke seemed to fit the bill. We were eating and Amelia was singing "Born To Run," along with the Boss when she suddenly stood up and started waving her hands over her head frantically. I turned around in my seat and saw Pam and what was surely a Norse God walking towards us. I looked at Amelia.

"That's her cousin?" I asked.

"Maybe, I've never met him either." she replied. I really hoped I didn't have the same expression on my face as she had on hers. I grabbed a napkin to make sure I wasn't drooling; after all, Gran had taught me that drooling in public was not polite.

By then they had reached our table. Amelia hugged Pam, and left me and her cousin looking at each other. He was very tall and very broad and very muscular. His blond hair matched mine in color and fell down past his shoulders, although he had it in a neat tie at the base of his neck. He was wearing a black Styx t-shirt and faded blue jeans and carried a denim jacket over one arm. Pam stepped back from Amelia.

"Amelia, Sookie, this is my cousin Eric. He's working here at the park as a management intern for a Swedish company."

"Hi Eric" Amelia and I managed to blurt out at the same time, and laughed at each other. Eric looked down on us with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. Of course, he was most likely used to females becoming incoherent around him. He didn't offer to shake hands, I wondered if that was just a Swedish thing.

"We just started eating, are you going to get something?" Amelia asked.

"No, we already ate," answered Pam. She exchanged a glance and smirk with Eric as she said it. I hoped they weren't that sort of cousins, although it might have been too much to hope that Eric was unattached for his stay and needed someone to show him around and…I was daydreaming about him already.

Eric and Pam sat down while we finished eating. Amelia was talking to Pam between mouthfuls. Amelia was describing our co-worker Arlene's current flame to Pam when her eyes suddenly got big as she looked over my head.

"Hello, Sookie." Bill Compton was the last person I expected to see at an amusement park, but here he was talking to me.

"Hi Bill" I answered weakly. Gran's good manners took over. "Did you ever meet Pam at the bar? And this is her cousin, Eric..." I trailed off.

"I don't think I ever had the pleasure," he said, but he sure didn't look pleased. "I've missed seeing you the past several weeks. I've been hoping to take you to another movie or something".

Great. I hoped Eric didn't think Bill and I were attached in any way. He and Pam and Eric had nodded at each other when I introduced them. Eric and Bill looked like they were sizing each other up. My bets were on Eric.

"Well, Bill, you hadn't called for so long, I thought you were too busy with work to do anything. What brings you down here?"

"I'm visiting some friends for a few days. Diane and Malcolm have a home near here, and they thought I would find it interesting to come here."

"And have you?" asked Eric, sounding rather cold to my ears.

"Yes, very," replied Bill. "The assortment of people here is very interesting."

I grabbed my tray and Amelia's and emptied them in the trash can. When I got back to the table, everyone was standing. Eric was considerably taller than Bill, and was glaring down at him from his heights. He came and stood next to me.

"Well, should we be off to try some of the rides?" asked Amelia.

"Yes, we should," answered Eric, apparently for all of us.

"Bye, Bill, see you later," I said, although I hoped I really didn't. I still couldn't escape the feeling that he was following me and watching me wherever I went.

ERIC

This human was...interesting. Pam had insisted that I meet her. I agreed once she told me she was a telepath. A telepath could be very useful. Pam didn't think she could read vampire minds. Again, very useful. Possibly it would keep her alive. Vampires were still myth to humans, myth and bad movies. And we wanted it to stay that way. So here I was, posing as Pam's cousin from Sweden. It was not the first time we'd done this act together.

When I sat next to her at the table I could smell fairy all over her. Pam apparently had not met any fairies, but I had and enjoyed every one; the scent was unforgettable. I could imagine the taste, even if she was just part fae. I needed a taste of her blood to be sure. I wanted more than a taste if she was truly fae, although to be useful as a telepath I would have to keep her alive.

I had known a psychic some years ago. She was very clear on predictions for humans and shifters, but found vampires to be blurry, she said. She was very difficult to glamour. I wondered if this Sookie would be equally difficult. If so, it increased the problem's difficulty, but I was sure I'd be able to get her under control. First, the blood, though, and then I could work on tying her to me. And I wanted her tied to me, for reasons that were unclear to me now. She was already attracting other vampires. I had heard of Bill Compton before, but never met him. He was known to work for other, older vampires as someone to do their dirty work with humans - never killing, just underhanded. Me, I did my own work, dirty and all.

SOOKIE

"So Pam," I said. "What're you doing in Minnesota? Are you living in Minneapolis?"

"I'm a night manager for a bar, since I like working nights. Actually I'm living just north of Minneapolis. As for living in Minnesota - where else would a Viking fan live?" As she answered she smirked at Eric again and he laughed back.

"Viking fan? I didn't even know you liked football."

Pam smiled. "What's not to like about a bunch of big guys in attractive uniforms?"

"I didn't remember you enjoying uniforms so much Pam," Eric said, smiling. "I'm sure we can make some arrangements for you to see more of them."

His smile was dangerous.

"This is a trial site for something different. The whole park is new, of course" said Eric, leading us into a path with an overhead arch. The arch held a sign: "America's Midway."

"But this area is a new concept for Marriott's that we are testing here."

"We've tried to recreate the feeling of a traditional fair's midway, with rides and games. You'll have to let me know how we've done - I've never been to an American fair, so I find I am unable to judge it well." Eric held out a hand to usher us into the area. It was lit by neon lights and strings of bulbs. American flags and red-white–and blue bunting decorated every booth. The music from the speakers in the area was all of the standard fourth of July parade marching tunes. A vendor was pushing a combination popcorn and ice cream cart - a strange combination in my mind, but it seemed to be working, based on the line of customers that formed when he stopped. They certainly had all of the look and feel of a carnival down pat, I thought.

ERIC

As we walked, it came to me how to finally get a taste of her blood. While she was playing a game that involved trying to throw rings onto bottles - and I could see Pam's concentration to throw them between bottles rather than get a ringer every time - I walked over to a stand that was selling flowers and purchased the standard red rose that human females seemed to find so appealing. I also pulled a small nail from the siding of the stand. Surely she had a current tetanus shot - it would be a shame to lose her to a common illness after I had gone to this much effort. It needed to be risked though. I had to have a drop of her blood to know what she was, and to see if she could be controlled if glamouring did not work on her.

I took her flower and the nail in one hand, and walked back to stand behind her. I wasn't abnormally quiet, but she still jumped, startled, when I put one hand on her shoulder, and reached around in front of her with the rose.

"For you, beautiful," I whispered, taking the opportunity to slide my lips down her neck and inhale her scent again.

"Eric! You shouldn't have! Thank you" she said. As she took the flower from my hand, I managed to prick one of her fingers when our hands met.

"Ouch!"

"Did it still have a thorn? Let me see." I raised her hand to my face. "There is a little scratch. Let me make it better." I put my lips to the scratch, and while I was kissing it, licked up the drop of blood. She shook lightly as I did. I suppressed the urge to shiver back. Definitely part Fae of some sort. I wrapped her hand around the flower and dropped the nail into my pocket. I stayed behind her with both hands holding her shoulders. I knew how to make almost any human woman want to be with me, and I was going to make this human mine.

SOOKIE

We wandered away from the ring-the-bottle game. Amelia had won a fuzzy purple bear. I didn't ask if she had used some sort of spell to make her rings go over the bottle tops. We came to an old fashioned Scrambler ride, the kind that looks like an oversized egg beater gone crazy. We got in line. Eric stood behind me with both hands on my shoulders. I didn't even know this guy and it felt good to have him holding me. Amelia was singing along with Elton John's "Philadelphia Freedom." She loved to sing, and what she lacked in ability she made up for with her enthusiasm.

"Do you sing, Sookie?" Eric asked. I turned out from his hands to answer.

"In the shower sometimes, and in the car when I'm by myself. Other than that, I don't make anyone else listen to me sing." I looked up at him. His eyes were a very intense blue. He was looking at me like he was trying to put his thoughts in my head. I could almost feel his thoughts pushing at me, but I wasn't reading anything from him. He continued to stare at me for what felt like a very long time. I stared right back at him. Those eyes...I could look into them forever. Finally he smiled and glanced away.

"Not everyone should be singing in public anyways. Do you dance?"

"Yes, I love to dance. Amelia and I have even gone to one of the new disco music bars in town - you can really dance to that music!" I said enthusiastically.

"So, you go out with Amelia because you have no boyfriend? That Bill is not special to you?" He had just enough accent to make his voice even more appealing.

"Bill...well, Bill and I have gone out a few times, but I don't think he's really interested. I don't know him that well. I wouldn't consider him a boyfriend. Or anyone else right now." The line had moved and it was our turn to get on the scrambler. Amelia got into one car and we got into another. Eric's hand slipped down to hold mine as I got in. He climbed in gracefully after me and closed the safety bar in front of us.

The ride started turning and spinning the cars, faster and faster. I saw Amelia and Pam's car shoot towards us on a collision course, only to turn away at the last second. The centrifugal force of the turning pushed me into Eric's side. He didn't seem to mind. He put his arm around me and pulled me even closer. The night had cooled since the sun was down, and his jacket was cool to lean against. When the ride stopped, he held my hand as I got out of the car and didn't let it go.

We walked around the park some more, trying out the rides and games as we came to them. Eric was a bad shot at the shooting gallery with the air rifles, but both he and Pam could throw a wicked softball at the stack of three milk bottles. We walked past the guy guessing people's ages. Amelia wanted to let him try with us. Eric said that they were never right about his age, and Pam just smiled and threw her hair back over her shoulders.

"A lady never gives her age away." That was Pam.

I loved roller coasters and I loved the log ride that was like a roller coaster through a water flume. Amelia and I had ridden it three times earlier. When we walked past it I wanted to do it again. Standing in line seemed to be an integral part of being at an amusement park, so we went and stood in line again.

"Eric should ride in the back of the log, so we make a bigger splash," said Amelia. Eric laughed and agreed.

"I'll hold Sookie in front of me so she doesn't slide out," he said as he smiled. He moved to stand behind me again, and slid his hands down from my shoulders to my waist. I shivered lightly. I wanted badly to lean back against him. I had never been so attracted to a guy right off the bat before. There was something almost magnetic about him.

It was finally our turn. Eric climbed into the log first, seated in the back. I got in next. There was one long bench that all the passengers straddled, so I swung a leg over it and slid back to sit in front of Eric. He had been dangling his hands over the edge of the log. He brought them up dripping wet and rested them on my thighs as he wrapped himself around me.

"Eric! You're hands are like ice!" I yelped. Amelia and Pam laughed at my expression. Eric put his head over my shoulder and snuggled up against me.

"I'll just have to warm you up then, won't I?"

I shivered again and it wasn't entirely the cold causing it. Just his voice was certainly enough to warm me up. Amelia and Pam were seated and the attendant opened the gate that was holding back the log. The ride started with some gentle dips and curves. Eric still had his arms around me, and was nuzzling my neck. The first downhill run of the log flume pushed me back against him. His legs were snug against mine and his hands on my thighs pulled me even closer. It should have been an uncomfortable position with a stranger, but it felt right with him. The log made a hard fast turn in the water and a wave splashed up over the side and soaked us all. Fortunately Amelia had the foresight to put her bear in a plastic bag...and then I lost all thoughts of Amelia's bear or anything else because Eric's hands were sliding up and down my thighs, flicking the water off of them. They slid up into my shorts as we went down another drop.

"I like the wet t-shirt look on you," he whispered with his lips right against my ear. I squirmed because it tickled and because his hand had somehow slipped under my panties and his fingers were exploring my folds. It felt like he'd done this before and I wasn't going to let his experience go to waste. The log continued to go through a series of tight turns and I rocked back even closer against him. I could feel him hard against my back, even through his jeans. I had to gasp as I felt him, he felt huge against my back, confined by the pants; I wondered what he felt and looked like free of the jeans.

"Maybe your t-shirt isn't the only thing I like wet about you," he said quietly, so the other two girls surely could not have heard. His fingers continued to move, first on my nub, then sliding into me. I had to stay quiet with Pam and Amelia right in front of me, but the rest of the outside world had disappeared to me. We were approaching the last and largest drop of the ride. As we went over the edge, Eric brought me over the edge with an orgasm. A bright light flashed as I came and I knew that the photographer had caught my expression along with the others as we made a big splash at the bottom of the drop.

We were all soaked when we got out of the log. Eric in the back had apparently made a difference, Amelia and I had not gotten as wet the other times. I, of course was wet all over and weak in the knees for another reason, but I hoped that the others wouldn't notice.

"That's really a great ride," Eric said with a sly smile. "I really didn't think much of it before, it must be the company." Pam gave him a knowing glance.

"You do like getting wet, don't you," she said. "You seem to make quite a splash."

We started walking around the park again. I saw Bill once, standing with a woman and three men. The woman and one of the men had minds that were blank to me; the two men were sort of red and wild in their thoughts. I would have to talk to Amelia about it sometime and see if she knew why I'd see a difference in people like that. Eric was right at my side, holding my hand. After what he'd done on the log ride, I didn't want to let him go. Any guy who was that talented with his hands had to be good in other ways. And I felt like I owed him back. We had made a full circle back to the midway section. It was getting very late; we only had about a half hour until the park closed.

"Ride on the tunnel of love with me?" asked Eric.

"Umm, sure," I answered, blushing. We went over to the ride's entrance. Surprisingly there was just a short line, and we got into a little boat built for two. As tall and muscular as Eric was, it was a very tight fit and I was sitting right up against his side with his arm around me. Eric had his free hand in the water, splashing.

"You've already done the 'cold hands, warm heart' thing on me, Eric," I said, a little warily. I had felt what he could do with a hand in public; in the dark, by ourselves...

"I don't think I've been accused of having a warm heart lately." He smirked as the little boat took off in the current and slipped in the dark. "You know, we have one of these rides in an amusement park in Sweden, at Grona Lund Park. I'm told they are not so common in the states anymore."

"I've never been on one before," I told him. It had gotten very dark, and my eyes struggled to adjust. We went around a corner and through a dark cloth that blocked the light from the next room. It was a black light, and there were moving shapes on the wall. It was very surreal. The painting made it look like we were moving to a doorway that was much too small, but we slid through it anyways. Another sharp turn took us into a room with a bright strobe light, and there were people dressed in black moving and jumping at us.

"Don't worry, Sookie, I have you," he said in my ear. I was a little freaked out by the lights and the jerky movements of the people lunging at us. I had thought a tunnel of love would be a peaceful ride where we might be able to do some making out, but this one seemed designed to get me sitting on Eric's lap. He took advantage of my closeness by running his hands up under my t-shirt and his thumbs over my nipples. Even through my bra they were hard. I squirmed on his lap. I could feel him hard under me and went still, not wanting to make him more uncomfortable.

"Keep moving, it feels good." He was nibbling at my neck, and slipped his hands under my bra and pushed it up out of his way. His hands cupped my breasts. We were in a very dark quiet section of the ride, but I still felt like there were people moving around us, although I couldn't sense any thoughts. Eric might have driven every thought out of my head, I thought. His hand suddenly darted out and pulled open a metal gate that let the boat into a little alcove.

"What's this?" I asked.

"It's a maintenance area. I feel like there is something I need to take care of here." The boat was still in the small area. Eric's hands gripped my waist, and he turned me around to face him. He slid my shirt up and ran his lips over my breast.

"Eric! What if someone comes along and sees us?" I whispered.

"No one will see us, it's too dark," he said.

"Beautiful," he murmured. He sucked on a nipple and it felt so good I didn't wonder how he could see in the dark to tell what anything looked like. I ran my hands down his back and managed to move enough so that I could get my hand into position to unsnap his jeans. He kissed my lips, oddly gentle, while I got his zipper down. He wasn't wearing any underwear, and what sprang out of his pants definitely got my attention. The man was huge - maybe they didn't make underwear that could contain him. I wrapped a hand around him - my fingers would not meet around him - and stroked up. He sighed and moved under me enough that I could move his jeans to where the zipper wasn't a danger. His attention had returned to my breast and my hand moved up and down him. I just could not see stripping down enough to have sex in this little boat, as badly as I wanted to. And where that thought had come from, I wasn't sure; it wasn't like me to want to fuck with an almost-complete stranger. I was thinking too much, I told myself, and returned my complete attention to Eric. I pulled away from him a little, and he watched me like he was afraid I would try to run. I scooted back in the seat as much as I could and put my head in his lap. I licked up the backside of him and then took as much of him in my mouth as I could. I worked him up and down sucking and licking, and managed to reach between his legs to cup his balls. His hands rested on the back of my head and grabbed my hair.

"Fuck, Sookie, that's so good."

His hips were starting to move under me, helping to thrust him into my mouth in a perfect rhythm. I used my tongue on the little bundle of nerves under the tip. His thrusting came quicker. I sucked hard and felt him shudder his release into my mouth. He took a few deep breaths and pulled me up to his face.

"I just wanted to thank you for what you did to me earlier," I said. It was too dark for him to see me blush.

"I'll do it anytime for that kind of thank you," he replied. I was still facing him and ran my hands back through his hair as he pulled me into a kiss.

"How long will you be staying in the States?" I asked him, although I was afraid of the answer. I was afraid he would be leaving in a week or so.

"Oh, at least a few more months. I need to finish out the summer here and see how the operations are prepared for winter." His hands were putting my clothes back to rights as he talked. "Maybe you can come down here again, very soon? Or I can come up to see you?"

I was thrilled at the thought of seeing more of him, and told him so.

"I bet Amelia and Pam will be wondering what happened to us." He had stood up in the boat and rezipped and snapped himself. He sat back down, and opened the little gate again, to let us into the flow of water. The gate clinked shut behind us. We continued in the dark for another few minutes, me snuggled hard into his side, while his hand absently stroked my hair.

ERIC

It was almost too easy pulling this girl to me. Some humans could be bound just as easily with sex as they were with blood. But this one...I really liked the taste of this one. If I was careful, I might get her to be with us without her understanding what we really were. There was a better chance of trying to glamour her if she was looking into my eyes while I was fucking her, and what a sweet experience that would be...I wanted her close to me, to protect her. It didn't really make any sense, but I hadn't lived this long by not following my feelings. That and she had not known that the people in the tunnel had been Bill Compton and two Weres, not our usual college students on a summer job. I thought they might have really tried to grab her if I hadn't been there. I almost wished they had tried; it would have been a glorious fight, but there would have been a lot of explaining to do to Sookie, and blood to clean. We'd done it many times before, but it was easier to avoid it for now. I looked forward to getting myself wrapped around this telepath.

SOOKIE

The boat made it to the exit. I was sure I was a little disheveled looking, and Pam and Amelia's expressions confirmed what they were thinking.

"Did you two have fun?" Asked Amelia.

"Yes, we did." Eric sounded positive on that.

A voice on the loudspeaker told us that the park was closing. We made our way out to the parking lot. Eric and Pam walked with us to Amelia's car.

"I need your phone number," Eric told me. I found a piece of paper and pen and wrote it down for him. He slipped it carefully in his pocket. "Are you home tomorrow night?"

"I get off work at eight; I should be home by about twenty after." I really hoped he would call.

"I'll call you then." He sounded positive.

I got into the car, and he leaned over and kissed me.

"Drive carefully," Pam told Amelia, and they hugged each other. Amelia got behind the wheel, and we drove off.

"I think you made quite an impression on the Norse God. Pam told me she hadn't seen him take to someone that fast before," Amelia said.

"There's a lot of him to like," I replied. We spent the rest of the ride home talking about what fun we'd had.

ERIC

I told Pam that we needed to keep this one, if we could. I also told her about Compton and the Weres in the tunnel.

"Surely they wouldn't have been stupid enough to try to grab her out from your arms, even with three of them."

"I think they might have tried. But they thought better of it. We need to find out why Compton is interested enough to try to grab her like that."

"I'll get on that immediately." Pam was a good child. And this telepath would be mine.