Disclaimer: I do not own any of Charlaine or Alan's character's. I just like toying with them!
"I said extra ketchup for my burger and fries for my ranch!" A rather "round" customer bellowed as I flitted past. I cringed with my back turned to her. I plastered on a smile huge enough to tug the corners of my mouth painfully. I wheeled around and faced her table.
"Comin' right up!" I promised, scooting back to the service station in a hurry. As I made it to my destination of choice, I let out a hearty sigh.
"You okay, Chere?" My boss Matthew Porter asked as he peered at me from above a dirty mug, his fingers intensely trying to rid the glass of an offensive speck.
"Oh, I'm fine. Just the usual naggin' of the buzzards," I shrugged, earning a chuckle from my boss.
"Emery, the crawfish is done," Cassius, the cook, told me, tapping his spatula on the plate.
"Gotcha. Could you hand me an extra cup of ranch, maybe let a few hairs weasle their way in?" I asked, resting up against the metal counter.
"Oh, who's got you fired up?" He wondered, his eyes sparkling under the fluorescent lighting the kitchen offered.
"That customer over at table five, she's all rialed up about waitin' on her extra condiments she asked for after she got her food," I related, grabbing a few ketchup packets from below the counter.
"Dontchu worry 'bout her, child. You's just about the best waitress these here parts have seen," He patted my shoulder, a genuine smile spreading across my face.
"Thanks, Cass. You're the smoothest." I told him as I grabbed the ranch and crawfish, making may way back out to my section.
Porter's Lot was awfully crowded this balmy Friday night. Just about every adult within the city limit's of Ravensborough, Alabama was out tonight, ordering up baskets of fried green tomatoes, frog legs, crawfish, and platter's of ribs.
Tonight was extra tough on my mental shields and my mental motions. Thats what it's like when you can hear thoughts and certain thoughts of yours can move objects. Yep, you guessed it. I'm telepathic and telekinetic. And no, it's not the least bit fun. The latter especially when I'm angry. My minds been known to throw a mustard bottle or two. It's not too easy explaining that one to a restuaraunt full of customer's on a weekend night.
I've been this way for as long as I can remember. My parent's feared me, but loved me all the same. Quite the conflict of human emotions. But, they tried their best and they loved me as much as two people could love their daughter. My brother, Kyle, who I live with, had not one shred of my abilities. While he envied me, I envied him. He was the normal one. He was the one who had the flock's of friends and admirer's. And me, everyone just stayed away from. They didn't know whether or not the stories were true, or if they were thing's my demented mind believed to exist. Boy, I wish it was that way. Being crazy would be better than this.
As my last difficult table left, leaving me a tip big enough to forget my un-Christian thoughts of them, I let my hair down from it's crumpled side ponytail, feeling relieved that the night was over. My denim suspender shorts and black crew neck t-shirt with "Porter's Lot" written across the front in white cursive lettering suddenly felt a little more comfortable.
I walked back to my employee locker and grabbed my purse, retrieving my cell phone from it as I slung it over my shoulder. Turning it on, my face lit up as I saw I had a missed call and voicemail from my best friend, Alcide Herveaux. Alcide was a Were, though they currently weren't well known to the world like the vampires were. I only knew because I grew up with him and his family, seeing as we used to be neighbors before he moved twenty minutes away to Montgomery. I navigated to voicemail and listenend.
"Hey, kid, It's Al. I know you're probably workin' your tail off for Matt, but I was hopin' to see you later. Call me back and let me know? Love ya," And then the voice cut off. I smiled and went into my recent calls, pressing call and waiting as it rang.
"Hello?" I heard a voice thick with the gruffy undertones of sleep.
"Hey, Al. It's me, Emery," I told him, closing my locker and walking toward the back door.
"Em! Hey, sorry, I kind of fell prey to sleep waiting desperately for your call," His voice was suddenly alert. I chuckled.
"Hey, yeah sorry. You know Matt's policy with phones during shift's," I told him as I made my way to my white 1990 VW Jetta. She was a golden girl, but she got me from place to place with little trouble.
"You finally off, then? I was hoping to maybe come by and visit. It's been too long."
"Yeah, I'm heading out now. Just give me a few minutes to change and you can head over, okay?" I asked as I started up my car, pulling out of the lot.
"Perfect. See ya then," He said as we both hung up.
Once I made it home, I hopped out of my car and made my way to the front steps of my two story, antebellum home nestled quietly in the woods. It was yellow with fading paint and the front porch possessed two brown rocking chairs and a matching porch swing. This was home and always would be. My parents and I had lived here since I was born, inhereting it from my Grandma. The house had been in our family for over a hundred years, the only modifications being the paint, electricity, and roofing. Both of my parents had died and left the house to me and my brother. My father had died ten years ago from an agressive brain tumor, and my mother died a few years ago from a heart attack. I missed them with every bit of me and I still thought of them everyday. My brother and a few stray cousins were all that I had left.
When I made it inside, I saw that my brother's downstairs bedroom door was open, revealing it to be empty. I walked into the living room and kitchen, seeing him in neither spot. I guess he was still at his job. My brother had been an electrical engineer right out college and he had loved it. He was also damn good at his job. I couldn't think of him as anything else really.
I trotted up the stairs and into my bedroom. I stripped off my work clothes, which smelled way too heavily of french fries, and took myself a steamy, well welcomed shower. I finished up and brushed my teeth, feeling fresh and clean. I changed into a pair of black gym shorts and a white tank before brushing out my hair. Right as I brushed my last few strands, I heard a knock on my door. I set my brush down onto my vanity and made my way downstairs.
Hooking a few strands of my long, raven hair behind my ears, I answered the door. There to greet me was all 6'5 of Alcide. His curly dark hair hung just above his eyes, looking perfectly mussed. His green eyes sparkled in the light of the moon and his olive complexion matched that of my own. He was dressed in a red and black checkered flannel shirt, a pair of worn denim jeans accompanying it.
"C'mere," I smiled as he stepped forward, his arms opening just as mine did. We embraced each other in a warm hug, his arms strong enough to crack a few ribs. As he pulled back he looked into my blue eyes, making me melt just a little inside. He placed a soft kiss to my cheek and disentangled himself from me.
"It's been too long," He said as he made his way past me and into my living room. And he was right. It'd been over a month since I'd last seen his face. Felt his warmth. His kiss. We weren't dating, technically. We were friends with a twist. We'd occasionally kiss, touch, all that. Never sex, though. I was a virgin and I wasn't ready for that yet. At 23, I was just about the oldest virgin that I knew. And Alcide, a respectable 26, was far from one. It didn't bother me in the least though, because we were never intimate when he had a girlfriend. I didn't think that lowly of myself. There were times though when he'd had a girlfriend, or a fling, and had come to my house, expecting a little slap and tickle. I politely declined, or fumed, and he understood. Alcide was the only guy I'd ever done anything with. Hell, he was my first kiss even. I was a little attached, I'll admit, but he'd never know that. I didn't want to seem weak. I'd often longed for something deeper with him, but I wasn't going to press the issue.
"So, what'd you have in mind for tonight?" I asked him as I made my way into my kitchen, peeking into my fridge. I felt a woosh of air behind me and two big, strong arms enricling my waist from behind. I smiled and looked over my shoulder, a look of lust in his beautiful eyes.
"Already? We've just had our greetings!" I joked, turning my body in his grasp to face him.
"Well, when you look the way you do now, I just can't help myself," He smirked, pressing his body against mine. I felt a tingle shoot up through my spine, pooling in my core. I was already getting damp.
"Alcide...just wait a bit? I haven't eaten anything since this morning and I'm starving," I said weakly, placing a soft kiss on his lips. He grunted and nodded, reluctantly releasing my hips from his strong grip. I smiled and nodded my thanks.
"You want anything?" I asked as I continued my investigation of my fridge.
"How about a sandwich or somethin'? I'm easy enough to please." I didn't miss his double meaning as I giggled. I pulled out some left over chicken salad and a pitcher of lemonade. I grabbed the bread from the pantry and assembled the food, pouring us both a tall glass of lemonade. I sat at the kitchen table where he currently was and handed him his meal. He smiled and tore into his sandwich with the gusto unique to him. I smiled and took a small nibble, savoring my first bite of food in hours. After I chewed sufficiently, I took a long gulp of my lemonade, a pleased 'ahh' escaping my lips.
"So, how goes work?" I asked him as he wiped his lips of bread crumbs.
"It's alright. Dad hasn't made me partner yet, but at least I get to wear a tie with my hard hat," He said, pointing to his head for demonstration. "How 'bout you, what's goin' on at Porter's?" He asked me.
"It's going good. I got my yearly rasie so now I'm up to ten bucks an hour plus tips. I really can't complain. Matt's just about the nicest boss a person could ask for," I said honestly before taking a bite of my sandwich.
"And the...'gifts'," Alcide said carefully, his eyes making their way to mine warily.
"They are what they've always been. Awful, annoying, draining. But, I'm managing. I haven't been too bombarded with thoughts or flung a basket of dills across the resturaunt recently," I said as he chuckled, resting back in his chair as he finished his sandwich.
"That's good to hear. You know I worry about you," He took his last sip of lemonade, draining the glass.
"I know you do, Bubb, and I appreciate it. I'll make it through like always," I said as I stood, gathering up our dishes and setting them in the sink.
"So, what about a movie? You can never go wrong there," He said as he stood, walking toward the living room. I smiled, knowing his code word of movie. 'Movie' usually meant makeout and fondle, and I can't say I didin't want a little of both.
"Sure, what you in the mood for?"
"Sci fi? Maybe a little Alien," He said as he plopped down on my couch, kicking off his shoes and patting the cushion next to him.
"Go ahead and pop the movie in, I'm gonna grab us a blanket and a few pillows," I said, making my way to the hall closet. I pulled out a fluffy brown fleece blanket and two red pillows, making my way back over to a smiling Alcide who was holding the DVD remote in his hand. I sat next to him, spreading the blanket over the both of us and handing him a pillow. He pressed play and wrapped his arm around me, pulling my body close to his. I smiled and rested my head on his shoulder, breathing in his calming and familiar scent. I always felt so safe around him. I knew he'd never let anything happen to me. He proved that time and time again throughout my life.
The first time was when I was five and he was eight. We were out on the playground and Damon Walts pushed me down, causing me to scrape my knee. Alcide came up and rammed a fist into his stomach, causing Damon to topple over and gained Alcide a trip to the Principal's office. There were countless more times throughout my childhood, teenage years, and adult life, too. Recently actually, at work. I was serving a table full of college kids, who were rowdy from a night or partying and drinking. One of the guys decided it was a good idea to grab my ass as I turned to fetch their orders. Alcide had just so happened to be visiting me and Matt. Before one of my curses could kick in and send a beer mug crashing into his head and showing everyone just what I was, Alcide was there, pinning the guys arms behind him and slamming his face into the table. He was made to apologize and leave, making the apology rather unneeded. I smiled at the thoughts, causing Alcide to look down at me.
"What is it?" He asked, his fingers making circles against my hip, causing me to sigh in comfort.
"Oh, nothing. It's just nice to see you again is all," I said, mostly telling the truth.
"Oh, yeah? How nice is it?" He asked as he moved his free hand to my chin, tilting my face up before placing a kiss to my lips. We kissed softly for a few moments before the kiss heated up. His tongue ran along my bottom lip, probing for entrance. I parted my lips slightly allowing him access, moaning softly as his tongue danced a lovely dance with mine. His tongue swirled around mine, causing my legs to squeeze together from the growing arousal between them. He slowly pushed me down onto my back, climbing on top of me. He rested his weight onto his arms that were resting on either side of my body. His hand snaked down my body, slowly making its way into the elastic of my shorts. My hips rose into his touch, begging for more. He smiled against my lips as his fingers bypassed my panties, stroking my already slick folds.
"Alcide..." I moaned, nibbling softly on his bottom lip. He growled deep within his chest, one finger pushing inside of my entrance. I whimpered against his lips, my tongue slipping out to run along his bottom lip. He moaned and added in a second finger, pumping in and out of my slowly. His mouth moved to the crook of my neck, licking and nibbling.
"You're so...wet and tight for me." He groaned against my skin, causing me to moan at his words. He removed his fingers and sat up, causing me to groan at the loss of delicious contact. He chuckled and looked down at me, his hands moving down to his belt.
I sat up and moved my hands over his. He let his hands release his belt, allowing me to set to work. I unbuckled his belt, then made short work of his button and zipper. I slid his pants down his lean thighs, surprised to find no further barrier between his pants and erection. I felt my self grow even more wet, if possible, at the sight of him. His size was very, very generous. Long and thick, tanned just like his skin. Perfect. I sat up on my knees and locked my eyes with his as he kicked his pants off his feet. I grabbed ahold of his erection, softly grasping it with my hand, not entirely able to wrap my hand around the girth. I pumped my hand slowly, Alcide's eye's fluttering closed. I moved my lips to his tip, precum had already made it's way to the surface of his slit. I lapped up a glistening drop, my tongue pressing down firmly against his slit. He let out a hiss, his hand moving to fist into my hair. I let my tongue slide out, slowly running along the length of his shaft. He shuttered and massaged my scalp, making me smile against him. He opened his eyes and looked at me.
Suddenly, my body was sent backward. Alcide moved his hands to my shorts, sliding them off along with my panties. His hands moved up to the hem of my shirt and brought it up over my head. My bra was all that kept me from falling under the classification of nude. His hands moved to unclasp my bra, bringing the straps past my shoulders and arms before tossing it aside. He looked down at my body, drinking me in as he licked his lips, my body beginning to tremble. I had never seen this look in his eyes before. He used his hand moved my knees apart, spreading me completely to him. He moved above me, grabbing his cock in his hand. He looked at me as the head rubbed against my clit, then my entrance. I instantly tensed, panic risining in my chest.
"Alcide...I-I'm-" I was cut off with a finger moved to my lips. I shook my head, my hand's moving up to push at his chest.
"Alcide, no!" I said. My scream broke through his lusty haze, causing his head to give a tiny, clearing shake. He sighed and sat back.
"Seriously? Twenty three years and I still haven't gained access yet? What else to do I have to do for you to let me be inside of you?" He spat, bending down to grab his jeans. I felt a lump in my throat at his words.
"Excuse me? I'm not just come prize for you to win, Alcide. I'm a person with, oh, what do they call 'em? Right, emotions. We aren't even together," I pointed out, pulling the fleece blanket up above my body self consciously. He scoffed.
"Aren't we technically? I mean, you never made it obvious to me that you wanted to be exclusive. I know that Brenda-" I didn't allow his sentence to continue.
"Are you telling me you're with Brenda right now? You just tried to fuck me, and you have a girlriend?" I yelled, the anger within me rising.
"Not really, we're just messing around," He confessed, his jeans finally fastened. I felt the anger creeping further and further up my body. Before I could stop it, I sent my lamp flying across the room, slamming into my staircase. Alcide jumped up from the couch, his eyes wide with fear.
"What the fuck, Emery? Are you trying to kill me?" He exclaimed, grabbing his shows before rushing to the door.
"Wait, I didn't mean it, I-I just got angry." I said, wrapping the blanket around me as I ran after him. He moved his arms out in front of me.
"No, don't come any closer. I never thought I'd have to fear your gift this way. Or, after what I've seen now, I'm not so sure that's what it is anymore," He said, rushing out of the door and to his truck, leaving me staring after him in my doorway, wrapped in nothing but a blanket and sheer sadness.