Chapter Text
It’s almost noon when Erin arrives at the cafe, immediately greeted by the smell of hot chocolate and muffins. She smiles, glad to be out of the cold. She uses her hands to get some of the snow off of her sleeves, before finally making her way over towards a booth in the corner of the place.
“Hey Erin.” A waitress says, placing a hand on her arm briefly to get her attention. Erin stops and turns, smiling softly at her. “The usual?” She asks. Erin nods and thanks her, before slipping into the booth.
About a minute later, the waitress returns with Erin’s coffee. “Thank you.” She says, “Could you also bring a hot chocolate? My friend should be here any minute.”
The girl nods before turning on her heels and welcoming some new customers. Usually, Abby arrives before she does, already halfway through a hot chocolate with extra whipped cream. Maybe the snow has slowed her down, it is pretty bad out there. Erin pulls out her phone, frowning when she notices a message from an unknown number. She opens it, curious to see what it says. It could just be one of her students who found her phone number, and wants help on some kind of assignment. She frowns when she reads the simple message.
+1-202-555-0188: Hey!
She stares at it for a little while, contemplating whether she should just delete it or ask who it’s from. Just as she’s about to make a decision, Abby slips into the seat in front of her.
“Hi!” The brunette greets her, dressed in a ridiculous Christmas sweater.
“Hey Abby. I ordered a hot chocolate for you, it should be here any second.”
“Awesome! Thanks!”
Mere seconds later, the waitress returns with Abby’s drink, the two already wrapped up in a conversation.
After about thirty minutes and three hot chocolates later (Abby had been able to convince Erin to get one as well), their conversation is suddenly interrupted by the loud buzzing of Erin’s phone. She frowns as she picks the device up, gesturing to Abby to keep talking.
+1-202-555-0188: How are you? :)
Erin stares at her phone again, wondering what to do. Finally, she decides to just send something back, instead of ignoring the message.
Erin Gilbert: Excuse me, I think you’ve got the wrong number.
The moves to put her phone in her purse, Abby still talking about something that happened at work today, but it buzzes again and she finds herself curious to see what it says.
+1-202-555-0188: You’re Erin right?
Before she gets the chance to respond, another message shows up.
+1-202-555-0188: Got your number from Abby, didn’t she tell ya?
Erin’s head shoots up. “Abby.” She says, startling the brunette who had been wrapped up in one of her own stories. “What is this about?”
She pushes her phone towards her friend, who smiles almost instantly.
“Abby.” The physicist says again, finally getting the other woman to focus on her.
“Sorry.” She just says, shrugging her shoulders.
“Did you give some creep my phone number?” Erin asks, deadpanning her friend.
“No! NO!” Abby says, holding up her hands. “Of course not. It’s just Holtzmann.”
The redhead squints her eyes; she remembers hearing the name before in one of Abby’s stories. “Isn’t that the woman who works in the lab with you at Higgins?”
“Yeah!” Abby responds, clearly pleased that Erin remembers.
“Isn’t she also the person who set the entire lab on fire one time?” The redhead asks, recalling a story her friend once told her. The two of them deal with dangerous equipment all the time, and nothing too bad ever happens (as far as Erin knows), but they try to make pancakes one time, and end up setting the whole place on fire.
“Might have been, yes.” Abby answers, suddenly avoiding the woman’s stare.
“Okay, okay.” She pauses, “So why exactly did you give her my number? If you guys need any help with equations you could have just asked me.”
Abby actually laughs then, before shaking her head and smiling at her friend. “No, none of that. She saw a picture of you on my laptop and she asked me who the pretty lady with the ridiculously tiny bowtie is.”
“It’s not ridiculously tiny.” Erin says, reaching up to adjust said bowtie.
“It kinda is.”
“Anyways, she seemed totally into you, so I figured I’d just give her your number.”
Erin actually groans then, lowering her head onto the table.
“What?” Abby asks, “She’s actually really lovely Erin, and a great friend. Yes, she may be a little bit of a mad scientist, but I think you two could really hit it off.”
Her phone buzzes again, both women now staring at it.
+1-202-555-0188: You are Erin though, right? Because I can totally see Abby giving me a random phone number.
“Just respond!” Abby says, “It’s rude not to. You don’t actually have to talk to her, you can just tell her you’re not interested, but you have to at least say something.”
Even though Erin doesn’t really want to admit it, she knows Abby is right. She picks up the device and types a quick reply.
Erin Gilbert: Yes, I am Erin.
+1-202-555-0188: Awesome! Sorry if i’m bothering ya, it’s just that Abby talks about you so much and you seem really cool. And then she gave me your number, and I wasn’t even gonna send anything…
Erin Gilbert: Thank you, and you’re not bothering me.
+1-202-555-0188: Besides, I just really want to know where you get those tiny bowties?!!?!
Erin rolls her eyes, smiling softly now. Abby notices, and tries to pull the device from her hands.
“Hey!” The redhead responds, holding it closer to her chest, out of Abby’s reach.
“Fine,” the woman says, pouting now, “Just tell me what she said.”
“It’s nothing! She just asked me if she was bothering me.” Erin says, already looking down at her phone again.
Erin Gilbert: They come with the shirts.
The reply comes almost instantly.
+1-202-555-0188: I don’t believe you. You seem like the person who has a collection of tiny bowties at home.
Erin Gilbert: You don’t even really know me! Abby might be giving you false information about me.
+1-202-555-0188: I know enough to know that it’s plausible.
Erin Gilbert: It might be a little bit true.
+1-202-555-0188: I KNEW IT!
“Okay!” Abby says, finishing her drink and placing some dollar pills on the table. “I’m gonna leave you alone now, I have to get back to work.”
Erin just hums in response, causing Abby to roll her eyes.
“Just so you know,” She says, finally getting Erin to look up at her, “if you two end up screwing I expect a whole lot of free hot chocolates.”
Erin snorts, waving goodbye to her friend now. She lowers her gaze to her phone, noticing that the engineer has apparently send her a picture. She opens it, gasping whens she sees the flames on what looks to be Abby’s desk; Holtzmann sends a text as well.
+1-202-555-0188: Oops.
Erin Gilbert: What did you do?!
+1-202-555-0188: Nothing too bad, just a small poof…
Erin Gilbert: Yes well you better put it out, because Abby just left the cafe and is on her way over.
+1-202-555-0188: Well fuck me then. Gotta go! Thanks for the warning!
Erin suddenly notices the time, realising she should probably head back to Columbia as well, since she has a class to teach in about half an hour.
A few days later, Erin is sitting on her couch in her apartment. She just finished dinner (though you couldn’t really call the poorly heated microwave food dinner) and is now lounging on the couch with a book. It’s still snowing outside, and Erin has to admit she loves New York at this time of the year.
She’s enjoying the peaceful moment, which is suddenly interrupted by the unmistakable sound of her phone’s ringtone. She reaches for the device, checking to see the caller ID.
Abby.
She decides to let it go to voicemail, not really feeling like talking to anyone right now. She’s not a big fan of Christmas, it just always reminds her of how lonely she sometimes feels, and always has felt, so she’d rather choose to spend it alone. At least that way it’s her decision. Tomorrow is Christmas eve, and even though her mother has send her several messages asking her to come over, she just doesn’t really want to. Christmas at her house was never fun, always a reminder of things that happened many years ago, nobody ever able to shake it off completely. So it seems weird to go now, all of them sitting around a table, smiles on their faces that never quite reach their eyes. Abby invited her over to hang out with her as well, but Erin couldn’t tell if it was just because she felt sorry for her, or if she really meant it. In the end she just politely reclined. She doesn’t mind staying at home anyways. Her phone buzzes now, a message popping up.
Abby: Are you gonna keep ignoring Holtz?
Erin panics. She had indeed been ignoring the blonde’s messages the last two days, partly because of the whole ‘almost Christmas’ thing, partly because the blonde seemed so.. different.. Erin never really knew how to reply to her messages. Figuring she’d end up boring her anyways, she just started ignoring the messages. She wasn’t about to admit this to Abby though.
Erin Gilbert: I’m not ignoring her.
Abby: Oh really? Then why was she pacing around the lab today, looking like a lost puppy? We had 5 fires today Erin, 5!!! That’s a record!
Erin Gilbert: I don’t know! Stress maybe?
Abby: Come on, Erin. You and I both know that’s not the truth.
Erin sighs, wondering if she should tell Abby the truth or just ignore her as well. She’s always been great at ignoring her problems, figuring they’d disappear eventually. Not that that has really worked out for her in the past, ever. She groans, knowing what she has to do.
Erin Gilbert: She’s just.. a lot. I don’t really know how to say it.
Abby: I know what you mean. I was pretty taken aback when I met her, but honestly that’s what makes her.. well her. She marches to the beat of her own drum, I guess.
Erin Gilbert: Yes, I got that.
Abby: But honestly, underneath of that craziness, she’s really really wonderful, and a very loyal friend.
Erin Gilbert: It’s not that I don’t believe you, Abby. Don’t get me wrong. From what I’ve heard she seems lovely.
Abby: But? Don’t tell me you are straight Erin Gilbert, because I will literally come over right now and slap you in the face. You honestly can’t tell me the only reason you walk 20 minutes every day to have lunch at the cafe is because you like the coffee so much there. We both know it tastes like crap, mostly because you end up drooling in it when you’re checking out the waitress.
Erin Gilbert: I don’t do that.
Abby: You do.
Erin Gilbert: Okay, perhaps maybe a little.
Erin Gilbert: The checking out part, I mean. I don't drool.
Abby: Yeah yeah.. anyways, what’s the real reason? Because from what I heard you two were having a nice conversation until you suddenly stopped replying.
Erin puts her phone down then, not actually knowing what to answer simply because she doesn’t know. She doesn’t know why she ignores the blonde, why she doesn’t want to see her. It’s definitely not because she’s not interested, because she is. Holtzmann seems sweet, odd yes, but sweet. Also, she’s extremely beautiful, which she found out this morning after almost choking on her drink when she was casually checking out the girl’s Facebook page (not stalking, definitely not stalking) and saw a picture of her.
She decides not to answer now, and Abby seems to be fine with it, for now. She picks her book up again, quickly forgetting about all of her worries.
She wakes up at 8am the next morning, feeling fully rested after sleeping for much longer than she normally would. Today’s a Friday, her day off, a day she normally spends doing groceries and other chores. However, since it’s Christmas Eve tonight a lot of the stores are already closed, meaning she has some extra free time. She reaches over to take her phone, checking if maybe there are some students who need some help on the current assignment about applying the Feynman diagram, which they had been talking about in class. She’s almost disappointed when her mailbox appears to be empty.
She pushes herself out of bed, opening her messages as she walks over to the bathroom. She hadn’t really planned to, but it just seems natural to do so in the morning, so now she feels forced to respond to the 11 unread messages she still has. Four are from her mother, basically asking her if she’s sure she isn’t going stop by later today. Five are from Abby, asking her if she’s okay and if she wants to hang out with her and her friend Patty tonight, who apparently she had met in a bar the other night and now they are best friends. The other two appear to be from Holtzmann, whom she quickly adds as a contact. She doesn’t really know why, it’s not like she plans on talking to the engineer for much longer. It’s just easier this way, right? This way she’ll recognise it better and won’t have to remember who the messages are from when the number pops up (not that she has ever forgotten).
Holtzmann: Good morning!1!!
Holtzmann: Any plans for Christmas Eve?? ;)
She frowns, having expected something else, something along the lines of ‘why are you ignoring me?’ or ‘are you not interested because I’d rather have you just tell me now.’, or maybe even an angry message. But then again, that always seems to be the case with the blonde, always saying the opposite of what you’d expect. Maybe it’s because of her conversation with Abby, or maybe it’s because she feels particularly lonely today, but she surprises herself by answering.
Erin Gilbert: Not really, just a quiet night at home I think. Alone..
The reply comes almost instantly.
Holtzmann: Whaaaaaaaat?!!! That is unacceptable! You must come with me!
Erin chuckles at the message, rolling her eyes when she does.
Erin Gilbert: No, it’s alright! I’m just going to order some food and sit on the couch and watch some movies, maybe grade some papers.
Holtzmann: That’s probably the most depressing thing I’ve ever heard, Gilbert. Seriously, you are welcome to join my family dinner. It’s pretty exciting! Drunk uncles, homophobic aunts, crying children.. the whole package!
Once again Erin finds herself laughing at the blonde’s messages, though she can’t really tell if she’s being serious or not. She can’t be right? Holtzmann wouldn’t actually invite her to her family dinner; the two of them haven’t even met in real life.. so it would be really weird. Not that she wanted to go or anything, she definitely didn’t want to.
Her fingers hover over her phone, finally deciding to shoot Abby a message, adding a screenshot of her conversation with Holtzmann.
Erin Gilbert: Is she serious?
The physicist quickly jumps into the shower then, figuring she’ll respond to Holtzmann after she has talked to Abby. She finds herself showering more quickly than normal, somehow eager to find out what Abby has to say, and also kind of wanting to continue talking to Holtzmann, even though it’s so overwhelming.
As she emerges from the shower, she reaches for her phone immediately, the device almost slipping out of her hands due to them not being completely dry yet.
5 unread messages.
Erin’s not surprised to see they’re all from Abby.
Abby: HAHAHAHAAHHAH
Abby: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
Abby: Sorry, okay! Not funny, I know. Real gay struggles here.
Abby: She’s totally serious, 100%.
Abby: YOU SHOULD GO.
She rolls her eyes, putting her phone aside for now as she gets dressed for the day. She decides to put on sweatpants, figuring she’s not going anywhere anyways. Erin walks over to the kitchen, preparing a nice cup of coffee for herself, along with some cereal. She pulls her phone out of her pocket and dials Abby’s number.
“ARE YOU GONNA GO?” Abby asks, talking so loud Erin winces.
“Jesus Abby, stop yelling.” She responds, daring to take the phone closer to her ear again. “And no, obviously I’m not going to go.”
“Then why did you ask me if she was serious?” She almost sounds upset.
Erin rolls her eyes, even though she knows Abby can’t see it. “Because I didn’t want to decline only to find out she didn’t actually mean it and end up looking like an idiot.”
Abby sighs. “I get that. She does mean it though, and I bet you two would have a great time together.”
The redhead snorts, “Abby.. I can’t actually go, it’s ridiculous.”
“Maybe, but oh my god, it would be so funny.”
Erin laughs into the phone. “Okay, okay. I have to go now. I’ll talk to you later.”
She sends a quick message to Holtzmann, thanking her for her offer but declining politely, before putting her phone away and starting some of the chores of the day. She puts on some music and starts cleaning the place, finding that it immediately helps to clear her mind.
At around noon she takes a break, dropping down onto the couch with her book, finally reaching for her phone again.
3 unread messages.
They’re from Holtzmann this time. The first one arrived only minutes after she had declined her offer to spend Christmas eve with Holtz and her family.
Holtzmann: That’s cool!
And then about an hour later she send another message.
Holtzmann: Just so u know, you’re missing out on a lot of good food.
And then another one twenty minutes later.
Holtzmann: And more importantly, alcohol. Here’s a picture of last year:
Attached was a picture of what appeared to be Holtzmann’s family. At first, nothing seemed (too) odd about the phone, that is until she noticed a very weird (and drunk looking) Holtzmann. She was holding up two bottles of beer, her eyes small probably due to the amounts of alcohol she had consumed. However, what made Erin laugh the most was the fact that her face was covered in different colours of paint. It looked like someone had apparently tried to create stripes, but it ended up messy and blurred together. The woman next to Holtzmann looked extremely uncomfortable.
She returned to their conversation, still smiling as she typed a response.
Erin Gilbert: What happened to you?
The physicist has learned by now not to put her phone away, the blonde responding almost immediately most of the time. Sure enough, a message appears after about a minute.
Holtzmann: Alcohol, mostly.
Erin Gilbert: I mean.. what happened to your face?
Holtzmann: Oh right.. my aunt got all homophobic again, so I decided to be passive aggressive and paint a pride flag on my face. Not my best moment.
Erin finds herself laughing out loud, taking a moment before responding.
Erin Gilbert: It doesn’t really look like a flag.
Holtzmann: Like I said, there was alcohol involved. Clearly, you’re missing out on a lot of good stuff by not coming.
Erin Gilbert: Clearly. Still have to decline though.
Holtzmann: Your loss.
Figuring that this was the end of it, Erin returned to her book. She couldn’t concentrate though, as her mind kept drifting to a certain blonde engineer. She finally decided to just grade some papers instead.
It wasn’t until 4pm that Holtzmann texted her again. It was just a simple message, and attached was a photo.
Holtzmann: ;)
The photo was of the blonde herself, and even though the angle wasn’t that good and it was blurred, Erin still almost choked on her own breath. The blonde was wearing a suit, black blazer with a white blouse underneath, and there even was a tie as well. Erin was sure she had never seen anything more gorgeous in her life. Though she couldn’t see her face (sadly) she could see some golden curls resting on her shoulders.
She realises she’s been staring at the photo for a solid ten minutes, only now realising that Holtzmann probably knows she’s read the message. She quickly returns to the conversation, not surprised to see there’s a message already there.
Holtzmann: You still alive?
Erin Gilbert: Still here. You look great.
Holtzmann: Why thank you, dr. Gilbert! (just so you know, in case you decide to come, you’re expected to wear a dress).
Erin Gilbert: You’re not wearing a dress.
Holtzmann: Yeah well.. I’d like to see the look on my mom’s face when she sees I haven’t put on any of those ugly dresses she has send me the last few days.
Erin Gilbert: You’re evil.
Holtzmann: Thank you ;)
Once more, the conversation ends, and this time Erin finds it even harder to focus on anything else. Deciding just to give up doing anything productive today, she puts on a movie. Halfway through the movie, her phone buzzes.
Holtzmann: Just got here!
A second message appears almost instantly.
Holtzmann: In case you were wondering where here is, it’s 1612 Hoffman Avenue.
Erin rolls her eyes and smiles, deciding not to answer though. She’s not even sure what she’d say to Holtzmann anymore, and is pretty sure the blonde is just messing with her anyways by now.
She receives another message 45 minutes later, and attached it a photo of a glass of beer.
Holtzmann: I called in reinforcements.
This time, she finds herself texting back instantly.
Erin Gilbert: Already?
Holtzmann: I lasted 45 minutes longer than last year, I think I deserve some credit for that.
Another photo, showing an empty seat next to Holtzmann.
Holtzmann: Such a shame, I totally saved a spot for you. ;)
Erin Gilbert: You’re terrible.
Holtzmann: I’m taking that as a compliment.
She lasts about another hour of Holtzmann sending her photos and text messages before she gives up. The latest message includes a photo of Holtzmann’s food, attached with the message ‘We could be sharing a plate right now, just imagine how romantic that would be.’ She doesn’t know why exactly, but suddenly she’s up from the couch and rushing into the bedroom. She dials Abby as she’s looking through her closet, trying to find the perfect thing to wear.
“Hi!” Her friend says.
“I’m going.” She responds, having to speak up a bit now that the phone is on speaker.
“What?”
“I’m going to Holtz’s party!”
She’s sure Abby screams for a full minute.
“That is the best news I’ve ever heard!!!! Why did you change your mind?”
“Because’s she’s being all cocky and I wanna see the look on her face when I actually do show up!”
Abby laughs. “Oh my god, I wish I was there to see it, so does Patty! Anyways, I have to go, but have fun! Say hi to Holtz for me!”
“Will do!”
Not even thirty minutes later Erin is standing in front of what appears to be the home of Holtzmann’s parents. She can hear laughter inside, and suddenly she feels nervous. What in the hell is she even doing here? Is this too ridiculous? She should just head home right? She looks down, suddenly feeling unconscious about her clothes as well. She had opted to wear a red dress, figuring it would look nice for Christmas, but she’s not so sure about it anymore. Just as she is about to turn away and head back home, her phone chimes, signalling she has a new incoming message.
Holtzmann: Having fun!
Once more, there’s a photo, this time it’s Holtzmann who has her arm draped across the back of the empty chair next to her. For the first time during all of their texting Erin sees her face, and she can feel her heart skipping a beat. Seconds later, she’s knocking on the door, all doubts gone.
A woman answers the door, and Erin immediately recognises the similarities between her and Holtz. “Hello.” The woman says, squinting her eyes at Erin.
“Hello.” She responds, a smile on her face. “I uh.. I came to see Holt- Jillian. She’s sort of expecting me.”
The woman frowns, staring at her for a few seconds, before finally opening the door to let her in. “Thank you.” Erin says softly, following the woman inside. They enter the living room, Erin immediately noticing Holtzmann, who has her back turned towards her.
Holtzmann’s mother clears her throat, silencing everyone in the room. “Jillian. There’s someone here to see you.”
Holtzmann turns in her seat, the smile on her face fading and her eyes widening as she notices the redhead. Erin shifts awkwardly on her feet, maintaining eye contact with the blonde as she speaks.
“Hi.”