Inner Pain / Inner Beauty (Eric)

[Carmen Erickson]

Carmen was not even going to go to the carnival. She was still nursing herself after the last run in with the dark lord. The thing was, her window was open and Carmen could hear the the people moving along the street and those already on the rides. She could smell the popcorn and cotton candy. Carmen tried to resist but could not. With a sigh, she moved to her closet and started to decide what to wear. Nearly forty minutes later, Carmen was tightening the belt around her waist and adjusting the cap. Her red hair hung down her back.

She had not stopped to ask Claudia if she might want to join her. Carmen was still bearing marks from the visit back to the Dark Lord's manor and did not want to have to explain.

She reached the field and then stepped onto the grass among the other people. It was more crowded here that she had originally expected. Carmen took a quick glance around and saw a few people she knew. She looked up at the towering Ferris Wheel and then stepped in line for tickets. When she had reached the booth, Carmen bought what she needed and then moved towards the wheel. That was what she wanted to do first.

She did not have to wait long as the wheel held so many people. Carmen boarded a car and sat. The operator was about to close the restraint when someone else hurried forward. Carmen met the mans eyes very briefly and then looked away.



Wearing

www.polyvore.com/cgi/set?id=48132953

[Eric Draven]

"A carnival...really?" Eric asked himself as he was pondering inside his room and Hogwarts. He couldn't believe it, he hadn't been to one before but always wanted to know what it was like. He could smell the food, even from where he was. "Ah what the hell..I've been through hell and high waters", he said to himself as he grabbed his coat and shoes and his wand of course and headed out the door.

He couldn't help but think of Carmen, and wished that she could have been with him on this night. They both have been through hell because of what the dark lord had put them through, but it has been a few days with no word from her and Eric grew very sad about that not knowing if she would ever speak to him again.

As soon as he reached Hogsmeade he couldn't believe his eyes. The lights were bright and wonderful, the people all around were happy and joyful, the food in the air was mouthwatering and the rides looked exciting. "I've only seen this in pictures...but I had no clue". he said to himself as he walked towards the biggest ride of them all...the ferris wheel.

Eric seen a booth with the word tickets on it, so he headed towards it to make his purchase for a long awaited adventure. While in line keeping a close watch on the sky above, he noticed an all to familiar figure standing next in line to get onto the ferris wheel. He quickly got his tickets and budded all the way to the front of the line.

As the operator was about to close the restraint, Eric got there in the knick of time to stop him. He stepped a bit closer and looked at the woman. "Hi" he said with a gulp, as people behind him started to get feisty with him for budding in line. "I have never been on one of these before..and ...well....is this seat taken?", he asked her with a hesitant smile.

[Carmen Erickson]

"Hi" Carmen heard Eric say. It took a long moment before she glanced back at him. Carmen could hear the people in line complaining and the operator was looking at her. "I have never been on one of these before..and ...well....is this seat taken?" Eric added and Carmen felt a mental war. To say yes or to say no. Finally she nodded slowly. The Operator ushered Eric into the seat. and the seat was not very wide so when Eric sat, their thighs were pressed together.

Carmen was silent as the restraint was finally closed and then the car started to move so that the next empty one could move into place for more people. Carmen was nervous now. Almost every time she had been with this man, he had hurt her. Was it wrong of her to fear him? She did not think so.

The car continued to move higher and higher. Carmen looked out over her side and the front taking in the view. She did not know what to say to him. It was not until they had reached the top of the wheel and had stopped there the Carmen finally turned her head to look at Eric slowly.

[Eric Draven]

Eric heard the people behind him get more and more angry with him by the minuite, as he awaited for Carmen's response to his question. He looked back at the line and waved at all the people waiting their turn, then looked back a Carmen and noticed that she slowly waved a "Yes" to enter the ride with her.

He was grateful that she didn't decide to flip him the bird right then and there, instead she was very civil as it was the first they have seen eachother since their meeting with the Dark Lord. Eric crawled into the tight space as he himself was quite big, and practically took up the whole car. The man closed them in and they were tight together from the hip to hip, and how awkward the feeling was, even for Eric.

"Thanks Carmen..it was awfully nice of you" he said to her as he noticed there was no emotion from her...absolutly none what so ever. Eric let out a bit of a yelp as the car moved slightly upwards to let others on the next one. "Whoo!" he yelped, and then quickly covered it with a cough. He was more prepared when the car moved again, and since he was never on one of these before he found it quite exciting...more like a schoolboy really.

He watched as the higher they got the more he had noticed the silence between them, but he couldn't help wonder what the reason was that they had to go through all these horrible times together and how they always met up afterwards, or meerly have the same through at the same time...was it destiny?? he thought. He noticed Carmen's face and how the lights of the night made it shine with pure beauty..he quickly looked away , as he didn't want her to notice or to think that he was being too pushy.

He seen out of the corner of his eye, her for the first time turn her head in his direction. A little flutter went off inside him when he noticed that, and of course he had to be Eric. "I knew you missed me!!" he said to her jokingly, knowing that she probably wouldn't find it funny. "I've missed you Carmen...and I hope to god you don't hold me responsable for this past incident...it was out of my control..you know me Carmen..when have a hurt you when I was just myself?" he said to her pleadingly as he looked outside and seen the whole carnival high in the air.

He paused for a moment and turned towards carmen and spoe again to her. "Ya know, haven't you ever wondered why us?..why did we have to go through what we have been through together and we always, no matter what... find eachother...do you ever not wonder that?" he asked her, as the car started to move continuously.

[Carmen Erickson]

Carmen had jumped slightly when Eric had his little outburst but now she simply watched him. She made no offer of conversation. Carmen did know that this was not her fault. She knew that he had been under a spell. She knew that he had not wanted to harm her. But that did not stop her from being afraid. It was Voldemort that had made him attack her but it Eric that was capable of such damage and strength and violence.

"I knew you missed me!!" He said suddenly, making her jump slightly again. "I've missed you Carmen...and I hope to god you don't hold me responsible for this past incident...it was out of my control..you know me Carmen..when have a hurt you when I was just myself?" Carmen nodded and she bit her lower lip as her eyes started to fill with tears. "Ya know, haven't you ever wondered why us?..why did we have to go through what we have been through together and we always, no matter what... find each other...do you ever not wonder that?"

The car began to move again and Carmen watched the scenery as they began to go down. Her hair lifted in the wind. "I have thought about that." She replied speaking for the first time. "It seems that it may be that we are meant to be together. I don't understand why we have to suffer. I should not have this fear in you." Carmen did not know if what she was saying was for the best but it was how she felt.

[Eric Draven]

Eric listened as she spoke for the first time, and it made his heart skip a beat. "It seems that it may be that we are meant to be together. I don't understand why we have to suffer. I should not have this fear in you." she said with tears in her eyes. Eric took his finger and brought it to her face. "I'm not going to hurt you", he said to her..reasuring her that he wasn't going to harm her. He took his finger and wiped the tear that was about to fall from her eye. "There...that's better" he said to her with a loving smile.

There was a bit of a silence, but one step at a time since this was indeed their thrid run in with eachother. Eric loved her so much that he wondered sometimes if it would be best that he just stayed away from her and never see her again, but he knew that it was going to be one of the hardest things that he would ever have to do...leave the love of his live and regret it forever.

He reached over and pulled his arm out from in between them, and rested it over her shoulders and held her a bit close. " I have never loved someone so much Carmen..as much as I love you." he said to her, as he held her tightly in his arms. He gazed around and throughly was enjoying his first ride, and what made it even better is that Carmen was in his arms. "Carmen....do you want me to stay away from you, because you fear me so much?", he asked her still holding her tight. "I believe the same as you", he whispered to her. "I believe we are to be together too", he said to her as he rested his head against hers while the ride was finishing.

[Carmen Erickson]

Carmen looked down when he tried to assure her that he wouldn't hurt her. When he touched her face, she bit her lower lip to stop from saying anything. "He was not going to hurt her? He had hurt her on numerous occasions. Carmen molded into his side as he put his arm around her. " I have never loved someone so much Carmen..as much as I love you." Eric told her now.

"Carmen....do you want me to stay away from you, because you fear me so much?" Carmen looked up at his face slowly. Her eyes widened as she slowly understood what he was offering. Did she want him to leave? Her life would be more relaxed and normal without him. But then again, it would be so lonely. There was love for him. If there had not been she would not be here right now.

"I believe the same as you" Eric said now drawing her from her thoughts. "I believe we are to be together too" Carmen shook her head slightly. "Don't go." She told him after a long moment. Her voice was very soft. The ride was ending and before long their car stopped at the bottom and the operator opened the restraint bar.

Carmen stood and with the car rocking slightly stepped out onto the metal platform. It had gotten a little chillier now. Carmen looked back at Eric as she stepped down onto the grass and then stood there looking at all the lights. "where to next?" She asked softly.

[Eric Draven]

As the Car came to a stop, Eric leaned over and gave Carmen a kiss on the cheek."Thanks for that Carmen, it wouldn't have been the same without you" he said to her, as he snugged her tight before he had to let her go and get out of the car.

Eric got out and stepped onto the grass, and seen Carmen standing there looking at all the lights. "Where to next" she asked him with a bit of a whisper. "Eric new nothing about these things, he only knew what he had seen in pictures...so he thought he would just whing it and try and giver her a great night.

Eric looked at her and smiled, "Well we could walk around and see what catches our eyes" he snickered. Eric took a quick look around, as that wasn't a very good answer for a lady. He pointed up in the air and noticed something moving quite fast. "What about that contraption over there?" he asked her as he was pointing at a very fast rollercoaster.

[Carmen Erickson]

"What about that contraption over there?" Eric asked and when he pointed, Carmen looked over at the tall ride. It looked pretty scarey to her. High and fast but maybe it would be okay. It was just a ride after all. Carmen nodded slowly and then stepped forward and moved towards the ride with him.

Carmen had to admit that the screams from the ride were very intimidating. She stepped up to the end of the line and then looked to Eric. She considered saying that she did not want to go on this but she knew that he did. After what happened last time they had been together, Carmen knew that she had to make it better. Not the part about the attack at The Dark Lord's of course, but what had happened afterwards in her room.

The line was moving slowly and Carmen stepped forward when she could. She was not sure what to say to him. Carmen was feeling awkward. She slowly slipped one hand into his. It was not too long before they were up at the front of the line and when it was their turn, Carmen let Eric lead the way and then sank into the plastic seat beside him.

[Eric Draven]

Eric was touched when Carmen agreed to go on another ride with him. He didn't want to say anything as they were walking together to ruin the mood, so it stayed rather quiet on their journey to the line up. Eric watched as the screams of the ride filled the air with excitement.

"Carmen this really looks fun..don't you think?", he said to her as he turned towards the ride looking up. He looked back at Carmen and noticed that she wasn't feeling the same way. "If you don't want to go on here it's ok" he said, as he lifted the bottom of her chin with his forfinger.

Eric felt her hand reach onto his and held it in hers, but she didnt' say anyting. He took that as a yes..this is fine..type of way. It was such a nice feeling that Carmen reached for his hand, and again he felt like the luckiest man in the world.

He noticed that his was their turn next to get onto the ride as the car pulled up next to them. "I'll get in first Carmen", he said to her as he stepped in and then held out his hand to aid her in getting in the red plastic car. Once they were in, Eric looked over at Carmen and held her hand. "I guess this is the point of no return" he said to her as the car started to move slowly and towards this big steep hill.

[Carmen Erickson]

"I guess this is the point of no return" Eric told her and Carmen smiled then nodded. The car was moving now and Carmen's hands moved to tightly clutch the lap bar. This was not good...oh no...it was not good at all. The car began to move up the first hill and Carmen braced herself. People would find it funny that she was frightened.

By the time the ride was over, Carmen was paler than normal and shaking slightly. It took a few moments for her to be able to get out of the car afterwards and Carmen stood shakily. "Lets not do that again...huh?" She asked him as she adjusted herself on the platform. "How about something a little less fast." Carmen led the way down back to the grass and then looked around. She saw many games. That could be fun.

[Eric Draven]

Eric didn't care for the ticking noise that was happening as the car was going up a very very steep hill. "I don't think I like this", he joked. He looked over at Carmen, and her face was full of fright and he chuckled a bit to himself. They were now close to the top, and the car was now at the peak and was falling very fast down a very steep and whindy track.

Eric was screaming like a school girl, and he really could care less at the time what people were thinking, but it was downright awfull. Carmen's poor ears will probably ring Eric's screams for about a week if she's lucky. Eric could not open his eyes the whole ride, and he really couldn't wait to get off the damb thing.

The car had finally came to the finish line and he felt like he was going to puke. He did his best to assist Carmen off the ride aswell as himself, but failed miserably since he was naucious. " Eric bent down and put his head between his knees and held himself there for a bit when he heard Carmen speak for the first time. "Let's not do that again...huh?" she said. Eric raised himself and looked up at her and knodded. "Agreed...never..ever again" he snickered. "Sorry for screaming like that...but that wasn't funny up there", he joked.

They started to walk as they needed to get some air, and came across some different looking games. Muggle made games of course. There were balloons, balls of a different sorts, fish of all things and some weapons of some kind. Eric looked over at Carmen "Do you want to give one of these games a try?" he asked her, as he was feeling a bit better.

[Carmen Erickson]

"Agreed...never..ever again" Eric told her now and Carmen smiled though his next words brought a happy does of laughter from her. "Sorry for screaming like that...but that wasn't funny up there" He added. Carmen had decided not to mention his girl like scream but it had just been too funny.

She walked with Eric now as they made their way among the many games. There were bright lights, loud laughter and magnified game operators. Carmen's head tilted as she looked around. "Do you want to give one of these games a try?" Eric asked her and Carmen nodded enthusiastically.

One with three metal hoops attached to the back wall and multiple orange balls caught her attention. "Basketball." The operator told them as Carmen stepped up to the game. "The objective is to get a ball through the hoop by throwing it...no magic." Carmen thought about it.

[Eric Draven]

Carmen seemed quite excited about the game idea, so he thought he would give it a try. Eric was looking at the different games around, when he had heard a man shout "Basketball" and noticed that Carmen was moving closer.

"How much is it to play sir?" he asked the man, as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a few coins. Eric knodded at the man and handed him two coins. "What is the objective of this game?" Eric asked him, when the man started a demonstration.

He watched as the man threw the ball and tried to get it into the hoop but it hit the side of it and bounced away. Eric ran after the ball and brought it back to the man and then looked at Carmen.

"Do you want to give this a try first?" he asked her with a smile and a hesitant tone. The man handed the ball to Eric, and he was going to try but he thought that since Carmen was wanting to play the games more, he would be a gentleman and let her go first. He handed the ball over to her and smiled and stood back a bit. "Good luck hun?" as he stood back and watched.

[Carmen Erickson]

"Do you want to give this a try first?" Eric asked her and Carmen gave him a small smile. She took the ball from his hands and then stood in front of the hoop. The game operator placed two more balls in front of her. Carmen had been watching what the operator had been doing and now she aimed and then threw the ball. It bounced off the rim and then to the ground. The second ball missed completely and bounced off the wall almost hitting her on the rebound.

Carmen looked at Eric with a giggle and then took up the third ball. She aimed more carefully this time and then threw the ball. It hit the back backboard and then the rim again. Carmen thought it was going to off off like the first one but it surprised her by teetering on the rim and then falling threw.

Carmen's mouth fell open and then she let out a surprised laugh. "I won?" She asked. "I won!" She hugged Eric forgetting herself. The operator asked what she wanted and Carmen looked confused before she understood she got to pick a prize. She took in her selection as she asked Eric. "Do you want to try?"