Stay with me, let's just breathe (Eddie Vedder FanFic) | Completed

Chapter 10 - Phillipa

It's been a week since I started working again and things were going smoothly. Mr. Davies was pleased with my work so far, me and Phillipa are becoming great friends which was nice since I've really missed having a girl friend, my brother started to also look for a job, Dave is working on making me drive again, Patrick started hanging out with Jeff and Mike more, and Eddie and I are getting along perfectly. I was feeling like things were finally starting to settle down for me. I was now helping a young girl picking up some jeans to replace her old ones and Phillipa was in the register handling the payments. Robert, who I meet in my first day of work did all the heavy unpacking of mobilia, piles of clothes and heavy toys, and he didn't mind at all which was nice since me and Phillipa are really clumsy and not strong enough. Robert was a really nice and funny guy that loved motorcycles, the beach and his freedom, and hated the government, repetitive disco music and cocky girls. He was quite the character if you ask me, always with his shark tooth necklace, brown or army green t -shirts, ripped sneakers, messy
brown hair and loving smile, he was the type of guy you want to present to your parents but they were probably not going to approve it. Unless he got a new pair of sneakers, which he was never going to do. His old (once black now almost green) sneakers were his life.
- Can the two princesses give me a hand here? - I heard Robert yell from the door here all the packed clothes were.
- Going! - I yelled back before turning to the girl and saying - Try these ones, I will be right back, ok? - She noodled and I ran to the door. After opening it I saw Robert, sited on the floor with his hand full of blood.
- Fuck, what happened!? - I almost screamed.
- It's not a big deal, really. I was opening this box with a scissor and oups! - He laughed - Can you give me a bandaid or something? I still have some more boxes to open before lunch.
- Jesus, Robert! Honestly, you would even cut yourself with a freaking spoon! You're not going to open any more boxes, I'm going to call Mr. Davies and you two are going to the hospital because that's an ugly ass hound!
- No, no, no! Please! Came on, don't be a snitch Cass! I'm fine, completely fine! - He begged.
- There's no way you are getting away with a huge cut on your hand, go to the hospital with Mr. Davies and take care of it. I'll be right back, ok? - I said while turning to the door and running to Mr. Davies office. No matter what, Robert would always say it was nothing, even if he was shoot in the heart he would still claim that it was just a small boo-boo just not to disturb anyone. I knocked on the door and heard a friendly "Come in" before opening it. Inside the office was Mr. Davies sited on a chair signing a package. Beside him stood the mailman that probably delivered Mr. Davies mail.
- How can I help you Cassandra? - He asked looking up to me.
- There's been an accident, Robert cut his hand pretty badly and he needs to go to a hospital... - I confessed. He stood up all of the sudden and ran towards the door, making me follow behind him.
- He's right there - I pointed at the room where Robert was. Mr. Davies entered the small room and stopped all of the sudden making me almost smash against him.
- Robert for Christ's sake!
- Mr. Davies I'm so sorry, I'm fine really, this doesn't even hurt that much! - Robert tried to make his boss less worried.
- I don't care if you are in cloud nine right now, your coming with me young men! - Mr. Davies took Robert's not injured hand to help him stand up. Both of them got out of the room and before I could do anything they were running through the front door.
- Keep an eye on the shop for me Cass! And apologize to the mailman for me! - Mr. Davies yelled just before the door closed and I couldn't hear him anymore. At least Robert was being taken care off.
- Why is the floor with blood all over it!? - Phillipa yelled from inside the payment area before I could explain anything. I felt everyone in the shop turning to me.
- Robert cut himself with a scissor and Mr. Davies took him to the hospital... - I explained embarrassed by seeing the hole shop stair at me.
- That guy seriously! He could get hurt with ... i don't know! He's freaking sneakers! - She said frustrated. I laughed and started heading towards the cleaning cabinet near Mr.Davies office. I passed through the payment line and spotted the girl I was helping before with some jeans in her hand.
- So they fitted after all? - I asked smiling.
- Yes, perfectly! Thank you!
- I'm glad you like them - I awnsered before spotting the mailman heading out the door. I started running towards him before he could leave.
- Mr. Davies is really sorry but a worker here injured himself and he had to take him to the hospit... - He didn't let me finish and started speaking in a rush.
- It's cool really, I just need to get out of here... I can't see blood it makes me pass out... - I looked at him again and he headed out the door looking at everything but the floor. I quickly got inside the shop and went straight to the cleaning cabinet. I pulled out a mop and a bucket that I then filled with water. I rushed to the bloody floor and started passing the mop on it. Right after the payment line disappeared completely Phillipa came and helped me cleaning the floor.
- So, you and Dave? - I asked with a giggle.
- Me and Dave what? - She asked playing innocent.
- Have you talked to him recently?
- Maybe I have... - She confessed, hiding her face behind the mop.
- Uh! When? - I continued to wash the floor, this time more interested in the conversation.
- We went out for breakfast that's all...
- Yeah sure, just breakfast... - I teased.
- Oh please, shut up! - She laughed embarrassed. Luckily for her the door opened so I couldn't continue with my questioning. We both turned to face it and my mood suddenly lighten up. Eddie was standing at the door with a big smile on his face that instantly made me melt. He had his hair down, he was wearing a simple light brown t-shirt, some black long shorts and boots. He could spend all year dressed in those shorts, no matter what the weather was. I ran towards the door to his embrace not carrying if I slipped on the wet floor or not, it always made me so happy when he came to visit me at work. With all the band practice that intensified due their growing success we haven't been around each other that much. I ran towards him and he opened his arms for me to embrace him. He spin me around hugging my body thigh and making me get lost in his hair. I kissed his lips missing him with every part of my body. He pulled away and whispered in my ear "I've missed you, beautiful" which made me shiver just by listening to those words. "I've missed you too", I said before pulling him again for a kick hug.
- Don't I get a hug too? - A voice beside us asked. I turned to face it and smiled recognizing my brother.
- I see you everyday Joe! - I approached him and gave him a hug as well.
- Unfortunately! - He teased. I punched him in the stomach and he ached in pain - Easy there Cass!
- Man up Joe! - I laughed and turned to both Eddie and my brother - Come on, there is someone I would like you two to meet.
We entered the shop and headed towards Phillipa who was putting the cleaning supplies on the cabinet. I ran to take her hand and started walking in a fast pace to both Eddie and Joe. She suddenly started squeezing my hand hard, so I turned my head to see her and her face was even paler than it as ever been. We reached both of them and I noticed that Joe's eyes were clued on Phillipa, and he seemed pale and shocked as well.
- Hi I'm Eddie, Cassie's boyfriend - He smiled politely at her, taking my hand when he said "boyfriend", that was the first time Eddie presented himself as my boyfriend and that made me so warm inside.
- Nice... to meet you... - Phillipa tried to get to her normal mood. What was the matter?
- I've been here two times and I never saw you, how can that be? - He asked trying to make her feel more comfortable.
- I hm... Don't get noticed that much so it's normal... - She said quietly, almost whispering.
- With that bright red hair of yours? I doubt it! - Eddie smiled, but before she could speak my brother stepped in:
- You were blond... why did you dyed it?
At this point me and Eddie were completely out o what was going on. Did Joe knew Phillipa? Don't tell me he as really fucked with every single girl in all Seattle? Joe started approaching her and their eyes were locked. There was definitely something between them.
- I was sick of people... calling me stupid... just because I was blond... so I dyed it red... - She mumbled, tears accumulating in her eyes.
- But people often say that blonds have more fun... - Joe almost whispered, taking a piece of hair from her face and putting it behind her ear.
- Not with you... With you I was just stupid... - She putted her head down and closed her fists. Something was terribly wrong and I had no idea what it was. My brother lifted her chin with his thumb and they locked eyes again. Me and Eddie just staid there, not moving, barely breathing, completely shocked. Out of nowhere Phillipa turned her head and started running to the backdoor of the shop, tears falling down from her face.
- Joe... can I ask what is going on? - I said, still not moving.
- Me and her... shit, I thought I was never going to see her again...
- You and her what?
- I fell in love with her... - He confessed rubbing his face with his hands. Joe? Falling in love with a girl? That's not possible, he only feels something for them when they're naked. Unless...
- Is she... the girl you talked to Patrick about? - I risked asking, I had to.
- Wh... How do you know that? He told you?
- Yes, but he didn't told me who it was, you didn't tell him either.
- Yes, she is... The only girl I truly liked... We never fucked or anything but we slept together just after we moved here...
So she was the girl I saw while I was hidden in his room. Sadly I couldn't see her face at the time because it was dark but she had the same body structure as Phillipa. I couldn't believe that the girl I saw that day was the same girl who was starting to become my friend.
- What happened between you two? - I asked, stepping forward.
- I did to her what I usually do with every girl...
- Find a new one?
- Precisely.
Joe seemed confused and shocked, and Phillipa was nowhere to be seen and I hoped she was still in the back of the shop because I wanted to talk to her.
-Wait here, please - I told them before I started running to the backdoor. I opened it and Phillipa was nowhere to be seen, and her car was not there. She was gone.
- She left? - Eddie's voice appeared in my right ear.
- Seems like it... - I answered - Joe, if you where in love with her why did you got yourself another girl!?
- I never felt that way about someone! And besides she was too kind for me, I was just trash! She was and still is... beautiful... - He looked away not wanting to face me - Can we go home now? When does your shift end?
- Well Robert is in the hospital and Phillipa disappeared, so I guess I have to stay here until Mr. Davies arrives.
- Shit! Look, I need to go home... - He said rubbing his neck with his hand.
- No one is stopping you, I have to stay though - I looked at him, realizing that I've never seen my brother so upset about a girl before.
- I'll stay with you for a bit, I had band practice in the morning so I'm free now. - Eddie said sliding his hand so that he could grab my waist.
- I... I'm going okay? - Joe mumbled while opening the door. Before I could even ask just one more thing he was out the shop heading to his car.
- I have work to do you know? - I asked Eddie, walking towards the payment area.
- Oh I bet you do! This place is loaded! - He pointed at the empty shop. I let out some giggles and he hugged me from behind, placing sweet kisses on my neck making me shiver.
- I kind of finished the song... - He continued to trail kisses down my neck.
- When... can I hear it? - I managed to ask trying to control my breathing.
- Whenever you want. And we are going to play a gig in two days, I hope you show up...
- Another one? That's great! Where is it? - I jumped around making him giggle.
- In a bar, a big one again thankfully, I'll drive you if you want.
- I'm leaning how to drive you know? - I asked, grabbing his hands.
- So I've heard! - He picked me up and sat me on the payment table.
- My boss can appear at any time... And so do customers... - I teased, placing my hand in his face.
- I just can hold myself... - He said quietly before placing a deep kiss in my lips and grabbing my tights. I returned the kiss and he squeezed my tights making my breathing accelerate. He pushed himself against me and I putted my hands around his neck, grabbing his shoulders. I felt his hand lifting up my t-shirt and my face turned bright red. Warmness and pleasure both grew inside of me as the kisses became more passionate and the breathing became more heavy.
- Please sleep in my house tonight, I need you near me... - He breathed out slowly, making my urge to kiss him even bigger.
- And you will show me the song? - I asked making sure I wasn't flashing someone that could possibly appear.
- If you just want me to show you the song... - He teased lifting up my t-shirt again and making me breathe heavily, closing my eyes when his hand reached my breast.
- I have stay here until Mr. Davies arrives, there is no one here to take care of the shop... - I managed to say between moans. He had start kissing me again but he suddenly stopped, looked at me, and with the most serious face I've even seen anyone do, he simply said:
- Ok, I'm going to be around just entertaining myself, I will come and check if you can leave by eight, ok?
Is he joking? I was in another planet and he stops just to say this? I grabbed him and tried to pull him to me but he didn't even moved and looked at me with a half smile. So he was playing games. I tried to also reach him without getting of the payment table but he took a step back. God damn, that man drove me crazy!
- You're mean.
- Why? I'm inviting you to sleep in my house tonight, how is that mean? - He giggled before kissing my cheek - Now, off to work you go!
- Yeah, because this place is loaded! - I pointed at the empty shop trying to reproduce his voice from earlier and jumping of the table I was previously sited on. He picked me up bridal style and spun me around before placing me on the floor and saying:
- See you at eight, beautiful.
I watched him leave the shop and out of nowhere happiness invaded my body making me jump up and down in circles like the kids do when their parents tell them that they are going to the zoo. They just went crazy, like I did. He looked like he had everything under control, and I felt like I had anything under control so he made me feel like a kid, in a good way.
I spent the hole day waiting for Mr. Davies to come back to the shop, but he didn't. Phillipa hadn't come around either which was making me worry, I didn't know my brother knew her or that they once were in a relationship or something that Joe ruined so I didn't knew how bad the breakup was since my brother cheated on her, basically. Hours went by slowly and I couldn't wait until eight to get out of there and spend the night at Eddie's house. Being around his things, in his four walls, feeling that I belonged there made me fell positive that he was someone I could trust and love.
After a long while of teenagers coming and going, old ladies buying plates and mugs, a young man buying a par of sneakers and a rather attractive girl buying a hole bunch of underwear, the rest of my day was fairly quiet. Around 19:45 I started locking Mr. Davies office, cleaning the payment zone and turning on the shop alarm. At eight I had already locked the front door and was standing outside with my hands in my pockets, trying to make my body warm since the night was cold and I was freezing. I only had my work t-shirt underneath an old sweater of mine, so I could feel my stomach ache in pain from the cold. Just when I thought that maybe waiting inside wasn't a bad idea I saw Eddie's car parking in front of me. I walked quickly and almost running to make sure I made it to the car without breaking any of my limbs.
- Cass you're freezing, come here! - He said the second he touched my cheek. I got the closest I could get to him, and I felt his warm embrace instantly making my body fell relaxed and safe from the cold.
- Are you a bit better? - He asked kissing the top of my head. I shook my head "yes" and he turned on the engine saying:
- Let's take you home baby.
I wrapped myself in my sweater trying to conserve as many heat as I could.
- I stopped by your house to tell your brother you were spending the night with me. Guess who was there besides Joe when I arrived?
I started praying that he would say "Phillipa" because I had no idea where she was and I wanted her to be safe. I wasn't sure if she was safe with the guy that broke her heart, but at least she wasn't walking or driving around with no destination.
- Phillipa was there, I saw her walking down the stairs with her eyes all red like she had been crying, but she was alright.
- At least Joe is treating her right this time, huh? - I looked at the water dripping window glass.
- I hope so. Anyways, now you can stop worrying about it - He turned to me, smiling.
- How did you...
- Know you were worried? You can't stay still when you are worried, and you haven't stopped shaking your leg ever since you entered the car.
I giggled, looking at the window once more and started drawing on the glass. I did a stick man with some weird messy hair, and his hands pointing at the sky.
- What's that? - Eddie looked at my drawing in his window glass.
- It's just a silly stick man.
- I like him, he seems happy and pleased to be in my car window! - He smiled while looking at the drawing. He drove for some more minutes before we arrived at his house. It seemed like he had been cleaning it and the bed had been made.
- Did you cleaned up the house for me? - I asked while approaching him and smiling.
- Kind off... and I have food if you are hungry... - He said in the most adorable way possible.
- And you cooked? - I hugged his waist, still smiling at him.
- Well... - He started to say but I interrupted him.
- Jeff helped you! - I giggled, making him laugh as well and leaning down to give me a kiss on the cheek. He took my hand and he both sat down in the kitchen table to eat. I was not going to lie, I was seriously starving.
- I like having you here, you know? - He asked picking up some pasta with his fork.
- I'm not a pain in the ass? - I asked trying to look preoccupied.
- Oh yeah, you are! Totally! - He mocked me.
- Well in that case, you are a pain in the ass too mister! - I tried to said with an annoyed voice. We both looked at each other with a serious face but than started laughing uncontrollably.
- Eddie, it's your turn to tell me about yourself... - I heard myself asking when I was putting the plates in the sink.
- Are you sure you want to know? - He stopped and looked at me half worried half uncertain.
- Yes, you know about my past and know I want to know about yours.
He took my hand and guided to the bedroom, both of us sitting down on the bed. It took him a while to start speaking, and for what felt like forever he just starred to nowhere, but soon after I heared him saying:
- I was born in Illinois and I lived with my mom and dad. I've always loved music and my mom got me a guitar, and since then my interest in music started growing. Soon after my mom and dad got a divorce and it was just me an her, and one day she told me that we needed to talk. I remember sitting in my living room sofa with her by my side and she started to tell me that the man she had recently divorced wasn't my biological father. My biological father was a man I had meet and that was presented to me as being a friend of the family, and that he died some time ago. And just like that everything I thought was true, wasn't. So music became my refuge, and the only thing I had for granted, and because of that I started to sing in some bands and some years after a bunch of guys wanted me to sing in their band. So I did, and we are called Pearl Jam, ta-da! - He finished with some jazz hands. First his face was sad and nervous, but than he relaxed more and tried to make himself look like it wasn't affecting him, but it was. I got close to him and placed my hands above his making his eyes meet mine. I kissed his cheek softly and whispered in his ear: "Thank you for trusting me" before he leaned to place his lips on mine. I didn't want him to think about his past anymore, so I tried to loosen up the mood a bit.
- Do you want to show me the song now? - I asked making him smile and stand up to go pick a guitar that was in the other side of the room. He sat beside me again, turning to me and said before starting to play: "It's not ready yet, I still have to make some changes but, there it goes..."

"Son, she said
Have I got a little story for you
What you thought was your daddy
Was nothin' but a... "

Hearing him singing those things I knew that the song wasn't inspired by my past, it was inspired by his. He had a certain sarcastic and hungry tone in his voice, like he was so mad at the world for not knowing the truth about his father from the beginning.

"While you were sitting
Home alone at age thirteen
Your real daddy was dyin'
Sorry you didn't see him
But I'm glad we talked....

Oh I, oh, I'm still alive
Hey, I, oh, I'm still alive
Hey I, oh, I'm still alive, well...

In every word I could feel anger and rage coming out of his mouth. He was tense, not comfortable, and it was like he wasn't singing to me but to someone else.

Oh she walks slowly
Across a young man's room
She said I'm ready, for you
I can't remember anything
To this very day
'Cept the look, yeah the look
Oh, you know where
Now I can't see,

Is something wrong she said
Of course there is
You're still alive she said
Oh do I deserve to be?
Is that the question?
And if so, if so
Who answers, who answers?"

He repeated the chorus a few more times and than the hole room was dead silent. I loved him, I loved every single thing about him and the more I knew him, the more that feeling grew.
- It's amazing, everything about it is amazing - I looked him straight in the eyes, still seeing how hurt he was to sing that. He putted down his guitar and turned to me again, taking of his shirt and laying on the bed with his hands behind his head.
- You really think so Cass? - He asked, letting his hurt face disappear, replacing it with a smile.
- I really think so - I said honesty, leaning back as well and resting my head in his bare chest. He hugged me tight and in some minutes I could hear him sleep quietly. I turned to see him sleep and for the first time I had the guts to whisper to him: "I love you Eddie", falling asleep right after.

A.N.: Hey there guys! This chapter is even bigger than the last one, wow! What is wrong with me xD? Anyways, I needed to introduce some things in this chapter and I just hope it hasn't been boring to read. You can expect some drama in the future chapters to make things more interesting :3 Until then, thank you so much for reading and I will see you in the next one, hopefully <3