I do not own any of the characters or story lines from the show; those rights are reserved to HBO & Charlaine Harris

Chapter One

Mystery guy

Brooke had been living in Dallas for over two and a half weeks and had moved the day after graduation. There was a job advertisement online for a receptionist at the Carmila hotel with great pay and decent hours. She aced the interview, got the job and moved to Texas with her best friend Iris.

The bar at hotel Carmila was lively with both humans and vampires and even though Brooke and Iris were underage the bartender still served them drinks; at half price. Brooke had her lunch breaks at the bar and Brad had been trying to get Brooke to go on a date with him and had failed every time.

"When are you going to go on a date with me?" Brad asked Brooke from behind the dark wooden bar which sat in the middle of the room and surrounded him. He was 24 years old and was funny and kind but he looked too much like her ex-boyfriend Todd with his green eyes, short blonde hair and cocky grin and Brooke had no romantic or sexual interest in him whatsoever.

"Well that was quick last time you waited until the fourth drink," Iris teased as she swallowed the last mouthful of her first drink. Her blonde hair was down and fell over her bare shoulders and half way down her back. She wore a strapless blue dress that clung to her body and showed off her curvy hourglass figure and big DD chest.

"I thought I would try something different." Brad smirked. He had claimed love at first sight the day he saw Brooke for the first time not that Brooke fell for it although they were getting served cheap alcoholic drinks so she couldn't complain.

"Well hurry up and say yes so we can get our drink on," Iris nudged Brooke. Iris wasn't leaving until she was at least tipsy.

Brooke thought about it; the last thing she wanted to do was encourage his feelings but she would feel bad for turning him down a second time, and he wasn't going to quit until he got the answer he wanted besides Brooke wanted another drink.

"Fine one date," Brooke spoke after she skulled the rest of her margarita and slid the glass towards him for a refill. Just because she was agreeing to a date didn't mean they were going to have sex or have another date.

"Good I'll remind you tomorrow when you are sober and we can figure out a day," Brad smiled as he refilled their glasses and tried not to stare at Brooke's cleavage. She was wearing her favourite little black dress that fanned out slightly from her waist and had a deep V-neck.

"You should get back to work people are waiting," Brooke's gaze lingered on a good looking guy who sat across the bar beside a dark haired woman and dark haired man. He didn't look any older than Brooke; maybe even a year younger and he was very pale.

A vampire. Brooke assumed as she sipped her drink. She had never been to the bar at night. Her shifts always started at 7am and finished at 4pm; the hours when vampires slept. It was her first time mingling with vampires and they hadn't stopped staring at her for the past half hour since she entered the bar.

"Come on now drink faster." Iris spoke before she sculled her alcohol and placed the empty glass on the bar.

"Why are you in such a hurry to drink?" Brooke asked.

"Well I met this cute guy today and even got his number but I need a few drinks before I can call him. I know I'm being weird but he's so hot and funny; we met at the supermarket. I wasn't watching where I was going and crashed right into his trolley. How cliché is that?" Iris laughed.

"Very but since when are you shy?" Brooke asked surprised. Iris was the outgoing, confident and flirty one who never held back.

"I don't know I guess there is a first time for everything. Now hurry up!" Iris chuckled.

"Fine." Brooke smiled and sculled her drink.

"Oh Brady boy another round," Iris called out as Brooke's glass hit the deck. "I'm thinking tequila." Iris grinned at Brooke.

"Another margarita?" Brad asked.

Iris looked at Brooke and waited for an answer. You have to try it eventually maybe it will give you some courage to talk to the hot guy across the bar. Brooke decided.

"No we want a shot of tequila." Brooke answered.

Iris clapped her hands excitedly, "Maybe two." Iris added and smirked.

Brad raised an eyebrow, "No more than two." Brad replied as he got out four shot glasses and poured the tequila into them. "Remember not to attract attention; my boss will eat me," Brad smirked trying to act un-phased as he got the salt and lime wedges but Brooke could see the fear in his eyes as he spoke. "Enjoy." He left them and tended to the other customers.

Brooke was looking across the bar again and her eyes met with his; she had caught him staring at her. Brooke didn't look away embarrassed like she usually would have; instead she focussed on him and noticed part of a tattoo showing under his V-neck t-shirt. Brooke loved tattoo's and even had a few designs she was deciding between for a tattoo of her own.

He didn't dress up but wore casual clothes and looked miserable and Brooke guessed he wasn't there by choice.

"He is cute!" Iris nudged Brooke, "But we need to get our drink on. Then you can have eye sex from across the bar," Iris giggled and handed Brooke a shot of tequila. Oh god what if he heard that? Brooke worried to herself but shrugged her shoulders. There was nothing she could do about it anyway.

They drank the tequila shot after shot and it tasted horrible although the bad taste didn't stick around for long which Brooke was grateful for.

"That was so bad," Brooke laughed worried the faces she made were hideous and she hoped the hot mystery guy hadn't seen.

The alcohol was starting to affect Brooke and she felt light headed but in the good way and suddenly it was like all her insecurities, fears and worries had packed up and gone on holiday. You are going to go talk to him. Brooke silently decided.

"He's looking at you again GO!" Iris practically shoved Brooke off the bar stool before Brooke could stand to her feet. By some miracle she gained her balance before she could fall although she did bump into a guy who was standing by her chair.

"Whoa pretty lady." He spoke as he steadied her and held her shoulders. He was very tall and Brooke had to lift her chin slightly to see his face. He looked to be in his late thirties. He wore a black cowboy hat and had a dark short trimmed beard.

"I'm fine." Brooke assured him as she neatened her wavy brown hair. It was half up half down and reached past her breasts.

"Yes you are. Can I buy you a drink?" He asked and Brooke heard Iris chuckle in her seat. Brooke had a rule; not to date or hook up with men if they were more than ten years her senior although she had only been in one serious relationship which was Todd, and he was her age but the rule was just in case the situation ever presented itself. It was the first time she had to follow her rule.

"Thanks but no thanks."

"Come on now it's just a drink." He smirked and it was menacing and almost evil or maybe it was just the alcohol.

Brooke shook her head, "Sorry."

His smirk turned sour and he was glaring at her; if looks could kill she would have been lying on the floor dead to the world.

"Let me ask you again. Can I buy you a drink?" He stared intently into her eyes and it sent shivers down her spine.

"I've already said no." Brooke replied as the hot mystery guy suddenly appeared beside the goof ball in the cowboy hat which was the nickname Brooke decided on for him.

"Enough Stan," He ordered although Stan was staring at Brooke stunned and confused.

My nickname suits him better. Brooke decided.

"How?" Stan demanded so loudly that everyone in the bar turned their attention to the three of them; the silence was eerie.

"How what?" Brooke asked utterly confused.

"I compelled you how did you reject it? What are you? And why the hell do you smell so GOOD?" Stan's voice was a hushed whisper as he spoke but Brooke knew that the vampires in the bar would have heard him anyway.

I can't believe he tried to compel me! And what the hell is he talking about? Maybe it's my perfume; it does smell good. Brooke wondered.

"Reject it?" The hot mystery guy asked the question as he looked between Stan and Brooke.

"You tried to compel me?" Brooke scoffed, "So the rumours are true. Well that is just sad and pathetic is that the only way you get girls?" Brooke hissed in rage. She may have been close to boarding the drunk train but it didn't mean she was completely care free and able to just shake it off.

Stan's fangs instantly released and he growled at Brooke, "You better watch your mouth human. I have no problem with having a little taste in fact I might just help myself and see if you taste as good as you smell."

"Enough! Stan you need to leave. I'm sorry about his behaviour." The hot mystery guy apologised on Stan's behalf. Stan didn't speak but barred his fangs again before he turned on his heels and left.

Maybe I should stay away from vampire bars. Brooke decided.

The hot mystery guy went to leave but Brooke had to know his name first, "Wait what's your name?" Brooke asked.

"You're safe now have a good night," he spoke before he got back to the couple he was sitting with. They all looked at Brooke with curiosity as he spoke and then they left the bar.

"Well that was entertaining." Iris looked at Brooke concerned as Brooke sat back on her bar seat.

"Are you okay?" Brad asked as he poured them another shot of tequila.

"Yeah," Brooke replied; she was now suddenly very sober.

"Here but it's the last one." Brad pushed the shots closer towards the girls.

"Well I think we should get hassled by vampires more often." Iris smirked before she licked her hand, poured on the salt, drank the shot and finished with the lime wedge.

"I don't really think it's worth an extra shot." Brooke laughed. It was impossible to stay angry; she was a happy drunk after all even in her sober state. "I didn't even get his name." Brooke spoke disappointed before she attended to her tequila.

"It just means it's not meant to be or that you haven't seen the last of him." Iris tried to comfort Brooke.

I hope I haven't. Brooke silently replied.