I do not own any of the True Blood characters, just mow own. This story is all human characters from the show/books, and a few of my own original ones. Enjoy and please review!!
Yes, I AM crazy to start another story. I watched a movie and ideas began to flow. So here it goes. Will I ever finish any? That remains to be seen.
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Lisette Stevens let her best friend tie the silk scarf over her eyes, hoping that it would not ruin all of the hard work she had put into her smoky eyes that night. Her skin was very pale against her dark brown curls and nearly black eyes, and she had really done them up tonight. She straightened the black dress that curved around her perfectly, accenting her small waist with the straight skirt with a small ruffle above the knee and her cleavage with a slightly low cut top. Not too much so, but just enough to be a little eye catching. Lisette tapped one stiletto heel on the hardwood floor of her spotless apartment, worried about how she would walk in them all night. "You're going to love it." Sophie Anne Jones gushed, and Lisette smiled at her friend's enthusiasm. Sophie Anne had insisted on setting it all up for her first art show in New York, and Lisette had no idea where it was or how it was going to look. Sophie Anne had only insisted on Lisette picking a hot dress for the night, and painting her best work. Sophie Anne handed Lisette her small jeweled bag, took her hand, and kissed her cheek as she told her best friend how proud she was of her for the millionth time that week alone. She guided her to the elevator in their older building, and down to the street where she flagged down a taxi. Sophie Anne seated Lisette first, and then scooted in after her and Lisette heard the crumpled of paper. She shook her head, realizing that of course Sophie Anne would not so much as whisper the name of their destination. She sat back and enjoyed the blind drive, praying that the cabbie did not kill her while blindfolded as he weaved around the busy streets,
Lisette thought about the events that had brought her here. She was young, only twenty two, but had been free of the foster family she had been living with for five years just a few years ago. She had come to New York to live with Sophie Anne and start painting in hopes of making something out of it, since the girls had been best friends prior to Sophie Anne's own move here from California when she had moved with her family. A lot of work and countless days of self promotion later, Lisette was surprised by an offer to show some of her work in one of the artsy parts of town, though not the heart of the city. Sophie Anne had stepped in from there, planning the entire event. Lisette had lost many hours of sleep painting what her imagination lent her, trying to create some of her best work. She had tried to catch up this last week, hoping not to look too worn out on her big night. Since she had not brought along much money with her to the city, she worked as a waitress at one of the popular restaurants in Times Square as well as at one of the comedy clubs on the lower east side. It was hard to keep up with everything, but she managed somehow. She loved painting and it soothed her sometimes distraught soul when nothing else could. Lisette came back to reality as she heard the car slam to a stop, and bit her tongue she would not tell the cabbie how she felt about his driving. It just never did any good. Sophie Anne pulled her gently from the car, and Lisette grumbled about the scarf as her best friend laughed at her. Sophie Anne had been her biggest supporter, aside from the few decent ones she had come across in foster care. "Ta da!" Sophie Anne announced in her lilting voice, taking off the blindfold with a gleeful laugh.
"Holy shit." Lisette stared at the quaint little restaurant that she had admired so many times, thinking how perfect it would be for an art showing. It was apparent that it had been changed over for the evening, but it was perfect. The lights were low, with the paintings spotlighted by brighter ones. There was already a small crowd wandering around, and the smell of food wafted out to the street as Lisette appreciated it with a deep inhale. "How does my make up look?"
"You look breathtaking, Lis. Go wow them in there." Sophie Anne told her sincerely, and the girl hugged each other for a long moment. Sophie Anne's bright blue eyes shone with obvious pride and she brushed back her curly strawberry blond hair with one hand after she straightened her own steel gray dress that ruffled around her waist. "Let's rock."
They joined hands for support, and walked inside to greet their friends that had come to support Lisette. She hugged and smiled and took in the whole experience with a feeling of disbelief. Lisette spent what seemed like hours just chatting with friends and strangers, and was happy to finally grab a glass of champagne from the tray that was being taken around the room. She sipped it gratefully as she prayed for it to take the edge off, and looked around the room. The walls were all painted various shades of deep and vibrant colors that complimented her work perfectly. The lighting was light enough to see the person to whom you were having a conversation with, but the spotlights really brought out the paintings as the room flowed around them. The music was a pleasant mix of a soft club beat with a touch of new age, and just loud enough to hear above the conversations. Many of the tables had been hidden, but there were a few out for people to sit it if they chose to. Candles were lit and placed around the rooms on tables and shelves and made it smell amazing. Lisette took a moment to walk around the spread out rooms slowly as she took in the set up with a deep smile, taking another glass of champagne with an appreciative smile at the attractive waiter as he paused for her. She was feeling the liquor now, and she giggled a little as she took in that all of this was for her. She gave Sophie Anne a huge smile across the room as her best friend mingled with a few friends, and blew her a kiss when they made eye contact. Lisette saw the waiter come by with an hors d'oeuvres tray and took a small crab roll as he paused with a warm smile in front of her. She turned to walk to another room when she lost her footing and fell towards one of the tables, closing her eyes and bracing herself. Lisette was surprised by the arms that caught her and held her steady just above the marble tabletop. She closed her eyes in sheer embarrassment and sighed. "Thank you so much." Lisette turned as the arms straightened her, meeting the most amazing blue eyes that she had ever seen. She lost her thought for a long moment and she stared into them, and realized that the hands of the owner still held her bare shoulders gently.
"It's quite alright. That table could have done some damage." He told her in a voice as smooth as honey, and she felt parts of her body tighten. Oh my. "Are you okay?"
"Fine, fine." Lisette murmured, and he smiled a breathtaking smile at her. "It's the heels. They may look great when we wear them, but they can be so dangerous." She saw his eyes slide down her legs to the stilettos and he raised one blond eyebrow at her with another smile. Can that be your hand instead of your eyes? Lisette was horrified by her own thoughts, and she giggled helplessly. He was just stunning. He was taller than her 5'7" frame, probably a good 6'4" himself. He was muscular without being too buffed, and had smooth blond hair that hung like silk to his shoulders. His face was sculptured like a models was, and his blue eyes were mesmerizing. "Thanks again. I'm sorry. Champagne and nervousness do not blend so well." She smiled a warm smile at him, and he finally let go of her shoulders.
"Why are you nervous?" His words were soft, but his eyes searched her brown ones earnestly, and she swallowed the lump in her throat and cursed the feelings in her body.
"I…..ah…..I am the artist." Lisette blushed a deep pink in her pale cheeks, and he smiled as he took a long look around the room. "Now that I sound like a complete snob, what are you doing here?" She laughed sweetly as she heard herself, and shook her head as she glanced down.
"Well, this is some amazing work. You have a lot of talent." Lisette blushed deeper as she mumbled a thank you, and met his eyes again after a moment. "I am the owner of the catering business that Sophie Anne hired. I come to some of the better events to oversee it, and this is some of the best art I have laid my eyes upon."
"You're just saying that." Lisette teased him weakly, and he smiled another winning smile at her.
"I'm really not. You should be proud of it." He seemed to look across the room and Lisette followed his gaze to see Sophie Anne staring at them with a smile on her face. She wrinkled her face at her best friend and Sophie Anne looked away after a wink. "Are you Sophie Anne's girlfriend" Sophie Anne was not shy at all about her preference for girl's, though she was not tasteless with it either. She was happy to be herself, and most everybody loved from the start.
Lisette laughed a genuine laugh and shook her head. "Best friend. She'll claim that there were some drunken nights here and again, but you know." She saw his eyes darken and he gazed seriously at her. "She did all of this for me." Her words were sincere and soft, and he nodded slowly.
"I could sense her pride in this event." He took all of her in with his eyes and she held onto the table to secure herself. "What is your name?"
"Lisette Stevens." She extended her hand, and he took it tightly in his quickly.
"I am Eric Northman." He met her eyes, and she found herself speechless. "I suppose you should mingle, Miss Stevens, being that this is your event and all. It's too bad."
"It's Lisette." She corrected him quickly and he smiled.
"Then call me Eric." He kissed her hand with a soft brush of his lips and she heard herself gasp audibly. He smiled one last smile at her and walked back towards the kitchen with a smooth walk, and she could see how confident he was. He also offered a very nice view as he walked away. She took a few deep breaths and finally made her way around the room again, passing out cards and finding herself selling some of the pieces before night's end. She took a grateful seat as the crowd thinned, and took off one heel and rubbed her manicured feet with her hand as she smiled at Sophie Anne. Her friend was ushering out the last of the crowd, and Lisette glanced down.
"Will your feet survive? You might want to soak them in some hot water." It was Eric, and she glanced up at him with wide eyes. He took a seat near her, and his eyes raked over her legs again. Only if you join me in that hot water. Lisette blushed again at her thoughts, and smiled.
"I'll be just fine." Lisette assured him, seeing Sophie Anne walk up and take off her own heels. Lisette kicked off her other heel and the friends hugged each other with a squeal. "This was fantastic!" Lisette told her, and kissed her cheek. "You are an amazing friend and I love you so much."
"Well, you are the amazing artist that started this all." Sophie Anne said, and laughed happily. Lisette glanced sideways to see Eric standing and observing them with interest in his eyes, and she looked into his face for a moment. He met her eyes and she felt herself shiver for a moment. He excused himself after a moment to see to his employees and Sophie Anne looked at her with a smirk. "Lustful much?"
"Just you shush." Lisette told her, and Sophie Anne glanced around the room.
"Well, you two were obviously a little into each other and I sure don't see the face here this fine evening." The face was Jacob Yorrow, a casual guy that Lisette would see from time to time. One might call it friends with benefits, if they chose to. Lisette didn't feel like he really shook her world around, and he seemed to agree.
"The face works late. Besides, he has not been into my painting all that much since day one." Lisette told her, and Sophie Anne snorted.
"Because you can't fuck him while you're doing that is all. Please, girl." Sophie Anne said, and Lisette stared at her with wide eyes. "You have a thousand times more chemistry with Eric, and you know it." She spoke low, but Lisette still glanced around with curious eyes.
"Shut up." Lisette told her, and Sophie Anne just shook her head. Eric came back into the room and stood near them. "Hi."
"We are all done for the evening, ladies. We are just going to finish up and be out of your way. Thank you for your business again, Sophie Anne. I look forward to getting a call again, and I do with you good luck." His gaze rested on Lisette for a long moment, and their eyes locked. "Perhaps we'll meet again." He shook their hands politely and headed out the back to help his crew load up trays and supplies into their van. Lisette bit her lip and smiled as Sophie Anne greeted someone else coming in the front door.
"Lisette, this is Jack. He owns this delight of a place and I would highly recommend it for any future dining experiences." Lisette greeted the plump man in his early fifties with a smile and a handshake and they arranged for the paintings to be picked up the next day, and the girls took them down as Lisette's friend Jimmy showed up to help.
"Hey, gorgeous! I am so sorry I could not be here, but the club had a big headliner tonight. Louis CK. They needed help on the floor." Jimmy worked at Caroline's with Lisette, and he assisted the comedians with whatever they needed. He cheerfully started to take the work off of the walls, and they put them into a storage room to pick up the next day. Lisette took one last look around for a long moment, and felt a tear in her eye. This had been nothing short of amazing. The three left the restaurant so Jack could close up for the night, the girls holding their heels in their hands. They hailed a cab for the few blocks to their apartment, while Jimmy went onto the artist loft that he let Lisette use to store her work for the time being. It was a larger one and had plenty of room for Jimmy, Lisette, and his roommate LaFayette to store all of their pieces. Lisette walked slowly to the front door of their building and they took the rickety elevator to the fifth floor, where they both collapsed on the green wraparound couch in their living room. Lisette rubbed her feet thoughtfully as she imagined Eric's eyes in her mind. She had never met a man that had gotten to her so much in her life. Jacob was just someone to spend a little time with, but Eric had picked up her world and turned it upside down with a mere few looks and smiles. The memory of those lips on her hand made her shudder, and she closed her eyes.
"I need to not sleep in this dress tonight. I might end up returning it if I fail miserably in the art world." Lisette said in a tired voice, and Sophie Anne smiled at her.
"You made some sales tonight, and a whole lot of contacts. You are going places, Lis." Lisette smiled and walked into her room to pull her dress off and put on a longer tee to sleep in, washing her face off while she was in there. She stretched and fell into her full size bed, dozing off just after she pictured Eric again.
"Thanks, Ali." Lisette called from her room, and she saw a figure in her door. "I really really love you for this."
"I really really love you, sweetie." Lisette smiled and was out for the night.
She woke up in the morning and hurriedly showered as she brewed some coffee. Lisette put on a little make up and clipped part of her hair up, sipping the hot liquid as she worked. She pulled on some worn jeans, a random graphic tee, and pulled on her broken in converse to finish off her casual outfit. Loading up paintings did not require nice outfits. Lisette finished her coffee and ran down to hail a cab, ready to call Jimmy as one stopped. She told him that she was on her way to the restaurant, and he assured her that he would not be leaving for an hour and to grab a bite to eat. Lisette stuck her tongue out at the phone and sighed, telling the driver to go to her favorite little Japanese place instead. It was lunchtime and she was hungry, if not a little wiped out from the night before. She paid and got out slowly, yawning as she strolled up to the door. She walked into the busy room, looking around reluctantly to see if there were any empty tables. "Damn it all." Lisette muttered to herself, ready to leave when she saw a familiar figure stand up. She smiled slowly as he beckoned her with his hand, and shook her head as she walked over.
"If it isn't the artist." Eric smiled widely at her, gesturing for her to sit beside him at a small table. He looked incredible in a deep blue fitted tee and jeans that hugged him perfectly.
"What are you doing here?" Lisette asked, and he laughed gently.
"I expect I am here for lunch, just as you are." He looked at her face, and she looked down as she felt a moment of awkwardness. "How do you feel after last night?"
"Wiped out, as expected. We have to get the pieces moved from the restaurant to the loft though, and then sort of what I did sell and prepare it for pick up." Lisette explained, smiling widely. She was still riding the high of last night, and she looked up to meet his eyes. They were a beautiful shade of blue in the daylight, and brighter than they had been in the dark. He seemed a bit more handsome too, and she gazed at him silently. "Thanks for taking care of the grub last night."
"Did you have any of it?" Eric asked her, his gaze curious, and she thought for a moment.
"The crab roll was delicious before I attempted to take out that table." Lisette replied, and he smirked. "Last night was a liquid diet, I suppose." She took a sip of her water and glanced at the menu slowly, and they both ordered when the waitress came. Eric moved his seat closer to her, and she gulped. She looked up into his face, and he seemed to take hers in slowly with his eyes. She stared down at his full lips as she pressed hers together, and then met his eyes again as they seemed to darken. "Why do your eyes change color like that?"
"It depends on the mood I am in." Eric replied, his arm sliding to the back of her chair to gently touch her skin through the think material of her shirt. "I have always been told that I show my emotions too well in my face."
"Oh." Lisette said, not sure enough about him to read anything yet. God forbid I speculate too much. She sipped her water again and the waitress brought out their soup and endemame and ran away again. She glanced over to see the soy sauce next to him, and glanced at him. "Could I trouble you to hand me the soy sauce please?" Her voice was low as he was so close to her, and he stroked her shoulder with one hand. He handed her the soy sauce with a quick look at it, and returned his gaze to her face. She shook some into the bowl and focused on the task at hand. "Thank you." He smiled at her and she closed her eyes for a moment.
"Tell me about yourself, Lisette Stevens." Eric murmured into her ear, and she gripped the table for a long moment. She grabbed an endemame from the small dish and dipped it into the soy sauce for a moment, gazing at him as she slid it gently into her mouth and worked the beans from it. His eyes darkened a few shades as they struggled to stay focused, and she felt his grip on her shoulder tighten slightly.
Lisette slowly swallowed the food and looked at him. "What would you like to know, Eric?"
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Let me know what you think, if you would. This may end up all over the place as I progress with it. I picked a last name for Sophie and I am sure it is wrong, but that's how it goes. Y'all know who I mean! And review, please review!