One night Greta lay in her room at the Horton house thinking about Eric. Ever since Greta and Eric had come back to Salem, Greta had been feeling very insecure and unsure about their relationship. She knew that she wanted somethinig more than just a friendship, but she didn't want to ruin it either. Also, Eric's actions lately hadn't been helping out much, in fact he just made it worse. Especially after their night at Tuscany where they attempted to have their first date when NICOLE had to ruin it all and make her even more insecure than she already was. Greta still didn't know what had happened between Nicole and Eric. Plus, she wasn't entirely sure if she wanted to know. She was looking forward to going to the boxing match with Eric, but it seemed that fate was not on her side.
"I can't just wiat for Eric forever!" She sighed to herself. "I should get on with my lfie and it's up to him if he's still interested." ***It sure is going to be hard though*** she thought as she remebered their kiss in Paris... "NO!" she scolded herself, "Get on with your life!" She sighed softly before she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.
That night, Greta dreamed she was back in Paris again and that she was lost in the grand chateau. She called out to see if anyone was there. No one answered. She walked around aimlessly and was unable to find anyone until she finally ran into a man, she looked at him, but was unable to see his face. Then, the room started spinning and she found herself at the Hariiman's Ball and everyone was wearing masquerade masks. She tried to find someone familiar but couldn't, then she ran into the mysterious man from the chateau again. "Who are you?!" she asked. The man stood silent ly. Greta, frustrated, swiftly grabbed the mask and...
...Greta woke up!!!
Greta sat up in her bed, yawned and stretched. She looked at her alarm clock, it was 7:00 a.m. She sighed in frustration. ***What was that all about?*** she wondered as she got out of bed and got ready for the new day.
Eric had also been thinking about his and Greta's relationship. He was so unsure of his feelings for her. They were just so indescribable, unlike anything he had felt before. THis made him very unnerved and confused. He knew that they were great friend's, but he'd been feeling a little more lately. Especially since they had spent time together in Paris. ***Ahhh.... Paris....*** he thought ***we made a lot of memories there.*** Eric smiled to himself as he recalled their first night at the chateau and Greta had gotten scared and decided to sleep beside him on the floor...
"Eric! Hey Eric! You there?" Carrie interrupted his thoughts. "Oh , hi Carrie, I didn't see you there<" Eric replied as he sipped his coffee. He was brought back to reality and rembered he was at the Java Cafe. "Obviously," Carrie remarked teasingly, "You seemed a million miles away!" Eric looked at her, smiled and said, "Paris to be exact." Carrie looked at him, obviously confused. " I was thinking about the time Greta and I spent in Paris." he explained. "Oh," she said, "So what happened?" Eric was about to explain about Princess Gina and all of that, but Carrie interjected, "I mean between you and Greta. Anything special?"
"Yes actually," he said. "Like what?" Carrie asked. Eric laughed at his sister's curiosity and replied, "Well, we went on a picnic once and almost kissed. Then there was the time at theHarriman's Ball where we met some guy she knew when she was little, oh yeah his name was Nathan. We almost kissed at the party too. After the party I found a photo album full of her childhood pictures and she took them and we played "hide and seek" as I tried to get it back from her." Eric paused to take a deep breath, "Oh yeah, I kissed her after I found her." Carrie gaped at him in surprise. "Wow! So are you two like a coule now?" He reply at first, then said, "I'm not exactly sure." Carrie responded, "What do you mean you're not sure?""Well..." he started to say, but his breath caught in his throat. Right there at the other side of Salem Place, window shopping was none other than Greta herself.
Carrie noticed that his attention was no longer with her and followed his gaze to Greta. Carrie smiled and said, "What are you waiting for, go to her!" Eric looked at Carrie and simply said, "Thanks, I'll see you later." just before he got up and started towards Greta.
Greta gazed at the dress in the store window, it looked like the one she had worn to go to the Harriman's Ball. She smiled at the memory. ***Stop it!*** she thought, ***You need to stop thinking about Eric!*** "Easier said than done." she muttered under her breath.
"What is?" a familiar voice asked. Greta spun around and saw Eric. "Oh, nothing." she said. She didn't feel like talking to him right now, she was still confused about their relationship. Greta started walking to the park, but Eric followed, obviously not getting the hint to leave.
"Are you okay?" he asked. "Yeah," she replied not looking into his deep blue eyes. She sat down on a bench. "No you're not, something's wrong. I can tell." he said. She looked up at him and then turned away. "Greta, you can tell me, I'm your best friend, you can tell me anything." Eric told her.
"Am I still your best friend?" she inquired coldly. "Of course you are!! Why wouldn't you be? Are you mad at me?" Eric wondered. "I don't know." Greta sighed, "I just don't know where I stand with you! After we kissed in Paris I thought that we were going to be something more, then when we got back to Salem... it's as if nothing happened!! Maybe Nicole was right!!" she rambled.
"What did you say?" Eric asked. "I said I don't know where I stand..." she said before he cut her off, "No that last part." Greta looked him in the eye and replied, "I said: Maybe Nicole was right." Eric felt his anger at Nicole rising again, "About what?" Greta quietly responded, "Well, she said you weren't over her and that you never would be." ***There, I finally got it out*** she thought.
Eric cursed under his breath, but not loud enough for Greta to hear. He took Greta's hand, looked into her warm brown eyes and said, "Greta why would you listen to Nicole? She's justa manipulator, a liar! Please believe me when I say that I am over Nicole. I have been for a while now and it's all because of you." Greta looked at him curiously. Eric continued, "You helped me through my pain and frustration, and now I think..." he paused. "What Eric?" she said softly hoping Eric would say the words that she had been longing to hear....
Eric paused for a second, what did he think? Greta gazed into his deep blue eyes trying to read his mind. She couldn't stand the tension any longer and she just grabbed Eric and kissed him softly and deeply. Eric was obviously shocked at first, but as she started to pull back, he pulled her toward shim and gave her the sweetest kiss. As if that described what he could not say.
He looked into her eyes and she understood exactly what he had wanted to say, there was no longer a need for words to be spoken. Their souls spoke to each other whenever they were together.
Greta was the first to break the silence, "Wow, I can't believe I did that! I'm sorry for interrupting you." she blushed. Eric laughed, "You don't need to apologize. As a matter of fact, you can interrupt me anytime you want1" Greta smiled relieved. They talked more, obviously more happy than when their conversation had first started. Little did they know that a pair of jealous eyes were watching them at that very moment.
"Could those two be any more sickening?" Nicole muttered to herself as she watched Eric and Greta in the park. "Eric loves me and always will, he just needs to remember the love we shared!" ***That's it!*** she thought, ***I just need to make him remember...*** Then she walked away to put her plan into action.
Greta gazed at Eric apologetically, "I'm so sorry for believing Nicole over you." Eric smiled, "That's okay, it's not your fault. Nicole is just so manipulative. I wasn't to helpful either, I was a little distant for a while too." Greta replied, "I'm glad that we sorted this all out. I promise to be straightforward and honest with you from now on." "Me too." he answered as he embraced her gently. Greta smiled to herself relieved and assured that Eric did not care for Nicole anymore.
To be continued...
