Tiptoe

' Please Abby?'

'You know I would if I could Erin but my cousin's baby shower is the same day and my mom will kill me if I don't show. You know how momma Yates gets.'

'Okay, okay. I'm just sick of my family trying to set me up with people when I'm perfectly happy as I am.'

'I know, but it's one week, right? Just get through it and you can come right back here and forget about the whole thing.'

'Yeah, I guess you're right.' Erin smiled halfheartedly.

Erin left the room feeling disheartened. It was two weeks until her aunt's wedding and she had to find a date or deal with an entire week of her extended family and their attempts to play matchmaker. University life had the benefit of being far enough from home that Erin could often miss family gatherings without consequence but that did not extend to this wedding unfortunately. It wasn't that Erin didn't love her family, she just didn't love them prying in her personal life, which was a given when they all got together.

'Screw it.' she thought, heading towards the engineering research building, where she found her friends, Holtzmann and Patty discussing the pros and cons of Holtzmann's newest invention idea.

'Look Holtz, all I'm saying is it sounds dangerous.'

'Duh' Holtzmann grinned. 'All the best ideas do.'

'Right, sure, well I'm going to get to my history lecture. Try not to blow up the building while I'm gone.'

'I make no promises! Oh hey Erin, are you okay?' Holtzmann's brow furrowed as she noticed the stressed look on Erin's face. 

'Um yeah, can we talk?' Holtz placed the blueprints she was holding on top of a pile of scrap metal and glanced at Erin, trying to hide the concern she felt. 

'Of course, pretty lady.

Erin sat on the bench opposite Holtzmann. 'So, let me cut to the chase. My aunt is getting married in a week and I am dateless so my family will spend the entire week I'm home trying to resolve that problem unless I find a date.' Erin took a breath. 'So I was thinking that you could um, maybe, you know, if you didn't find it too revolting, you could pretend to be my girlfriend. You don't have to but having you there would make it a lot easier'. Erin smiled sheepishly.

'Yes!' Holtzmann was relieved that Erin's problem wasn't something more serious.

'Yes?' 

'Yeah, a free meal and spending time with you. What's so bad about that?' Holtzmann smiled dorkily.

'So girlfriend' Holtzmann raised her eyebrows suggestively. 'When do we leave?

Erin let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. 'Tomorrow afternoon? I've got some preparations to do at home so I want to get there sooner rather than later. I'm going to drive there. The drive shouldn't take too long and we can get some snacks and stuff. It'll be fun, promise. You're a lifesaver, Holtzy. Thank you'

'That sounds good to me, darling. Is your family conservative or can I wear a suit and flaunt my gayness?'

Erin grinned. 'By all means, wear your suit. They know I'm bisexual and they're fine with that so you're good.'

That night in her dorm, Holtzmann thought about the events of the day. Packing a bag and taking her suit out of the closet, she smiled. Erin Gilbert's girlfriend. It had a ring to it.

Erin pulled up outside Holtzmann's dorm early the next day, sending a text to let the blonde know she had arrived. Holtzmann staggered out of the house soon after carrying a bag, her blonde hair piled on her head and a tube of pringles tucked under her left arm.

Erin grinned, pushing open the door. 'Gilbert!' 

'Hey Holtz, you ready?'

'Ready, set, go.' She grinned. 'I brought sustenance.' she says, shoving the pringles towards Erin, who takes them placing them on the dash while Holtzmann gets her seatbelt buckled. 

The engineer switches on the radio, groaning when talk radio comes on. 'Er, got any CDs we can listen to?'

'Yeah, I'm sure there's something in there.' Erin pushed the button switching on the CD, filling the car with the sounds of Erin's mixtape.

'Stars shining bright above you, night breezes seem to whisper I love you...'

Holtzmann begins to sing along softly and Erin feels an unfamiliar tug at her heart. Who knew Holtz could sing.

The rest of the journey was filled with singing, chatter and Holtzmann's many questions about their fake relationship.

'Gotta get the story straight for the in laws, Er.' She had said and Erin would deny that the idea of Holtz as her girlfriend made her all warm and tingly.

Pulling up in the driveway of the home she grew up in, Erin glanced at her friend. 'You ready?'

Holtz nodded and sensing Erin's nervousness, she smiled reassuringly and reached across to take the other girl's hand. 

Erin smiled, leading Holtzmann to the door. 

'Mom, dad?' Erin called out. 

'Oh honey you're just in time! We're about to have some snacks'

Erin's mom made her way out of the kitchen. 'And this must be Jillian. It's very nice to meet you.' 

Holtzmann smiled, extending her hand towards Erin's mom. 'Mrs Gilbert, it is lovely to meet you. ' Holtz said, the genuine tone in her voice surprising Erin slightly. 

The party moved to the kitchen and settled in for some light snacks . Holtzmann took in the kitchen, it was simple and spacious with a nice sized dining table for just three people, she noted. Perfect for a family.

'So, we've heard a lot about you Jillian.' Erin's dad started

'Oh you have?' Holtz smirked at Erin, who was blushing slightly. 'All good I hope.' 

'Oh yes, of course. Our Er-bear is head over heels.'

'Er-bear?' Jillian grinned and Erin wished that the ground would swallow her whole. 

'Okay, enough of the mingling' Erin interjected akwardly. 'Let's get our bags upstairs, Jillian.'

'You two can take Erin's old room. your cousin will be coming tomorrow, Erin and she and her family will have the guest room.'

'Okay, night mom, dad. Love you'

'goodnight love, night Jillian. Sleep well'

'goodnight' Holtz smiled for what felt like the millionth time that day. Holtzmann carried both hers and Erin's bags upstairs following Erin to her room and smiled seeing the wooden letters spelling out her name on the door.

'You're loving this way too much.'

'Well you know, you did say it would be fun and you weren't wrong.' She winked at Erin, resting the bags next to the bed, the single bed she noted. 

'Um you can have the bed, I'll take the floor' Erin said, pulling an oversized shirt and some shorts out of her bag. 'I'm going to get changed, I'll be right back.' 

'Are you sure? You know me, I can sleep anywhere.'

'I'm sure, get ready for bed, I'll be right out' Erin smiled, making her way into the ensuite. 

Holtzmann quickly pulled on a plain white shirt and batman pyjama pants and sat on the bed, unpinning her hair from its position on the top of her head.

Erin gasped quietly as she came out of the bathroom, seeing Holtz sitting on her bed, a pile of bobby pins next to her and her hair falling in unruly curls around her shoulders. 'See something you like?' Erin blushes and laughs, setting up a duvet on the floor in lieu of a bed. She shoves holtzmann playfully. 'Go to bed you dork' 

'Holtzmann gets herself ready for bed before shuffling under the covers. 

'Erin?' She speaks into the darkness 'I'm glad I came'

'Me too, night holtz' 

'Night er-bear' 

------------

The few days following were uneventful. Holtzmann spent her time working on assignments during the day while Erin ran errands and prepared for the wedding. In the evenings, they relax with Erin's family and that is where the fun begins. Erin's cousin, Leah and her family had arrived the day before and it had melted Erin's heart to see Holtz interacting with Leah's young daughter, Alexis. 

 'Nuh uh, Jillian. There is no way that you've met the guy who invented pop tarts?!'

'Totally lexi, our pet goldfish fell in love on fin-der, the dating app for fish and that's how we met' 

'You're silly' alexis giggled and

Erin's family burst into laughter, overhearing the innocent conversation between the two. 

Erin's heart skipped a beat at the sound. Look at this, look at how well she fits in here, look at your niece sitting on holtz's lap, having the time of her life she thought to herself, a smile playing on her lips as she slid into the space left on the sofa next to Holtzmann. 'So how long have you two been together?' Leah gestured at the pair. 

'Well officially, only a few months but it has been a great few months, right Erin?' Holtzmann intertwined her fingers with Erin's on the sofa and gave her hand a small squeeze. 

'Right' Erin managed, trying to ignore the butterflies that were in her stomach.

'Well, I'm glad you found each other.' 

'Thank you leah. I'm glad we did too.' Erin leaned into Holtzmanns side, freezing internally when Holtzmann kissed her cheek softly. 

----

That night, Erin was settling into her bed on the floor when Holtzmann leaned out of bed and looked down at her. 

'Er?' 

'Yeah?'

'Will you please sleep up here tonight? I know it'll be kinda cramped but don't think I didn't notice you wince earlier when lexi jumped on your back. It's not comfortable down there.' 

'Are you sure?'

'Of course' Holtzmann pushed over to make some room for the other girl, who made sure to stay far enough towards the edge so as not to make Holtz uncomfortable. 

They fell asleep next to each other, centimetres between them, with both of them silently wondering what it would be like to cuddle the other. 

That question was answered when Holtz woke the next morning and found Erin's arm wrapped around her, their legs tangled together and the light sounds of Erin's breathing hitting her ear. She smiled, taking in the moment. Erin Gilbert was adorable and being her fake date was possibly the sweetest punishment.