Revisions
HI! Soooooo, yeah, I recently got back into writing. Well, kind of. More so recently got back into posting stories. I have had this one in the works for a while now, and finally decided that I should just post it and see how it goes :) Have NO idea where this story is going to head, kinda making stuff up as I go. Regardless review with your thoughts if you'd like!
Thanks!
Disclaimer: I own nothing that belongs to True Blood.
"Hey, Lexie, I need another beer! Budwiser!" I looked up from wiping down the countertop as I heard Arlene, having not been aware enough to see her approaching. I smiled some seeing the exasperated look on her face as she leaned against the side of the bar.
"Long night already?" I sympathized as I moved, getting the glass and pouring the beer into it before setting it down in front of her to take. The red-head rolled her eyes as she nodded some.
"When is it not a long night here?" She huffed a bit and I giggled slightly, shaking my head then as I watched her take the beer and fairly well storm over to the other side of the room. I took notice of the portly group of men that seemed to be leering at her as she approached, and I shook my head some before jumping slightly feeling tiny arms come around my waist.
"Hey there, sugar." Dawn grinned, laying a sloppy kiss on my cheek as I groaned a bit, wiping the wetness away with the back of my hand.
"Dawn, how many times do I have to tell you that I simply do not swing in your direction, babe?" I teased lightly as she threw her head back some, laughing a bit as her eyes twinkled prettily.
"Honey, you'd only be so lucky if I swung in your direction." She replied as she let her arms fall from around me, grabbing a stack of shot glasses and setting them out on the bar top before filling them all with tequila.
"Don't I know it!"
This had become the normal night for me since I reached the age of twenty-one. I had lived in Bon Temps my entire life and grown up with Sookie, Jason, Tara and Dawn, though Dawn was older than Sookie and I by a couple years. When it had come time for me to find a job Sam Merlotte had opened an opportunity for me at his bar, despite the fact that I hardly looked like I belonged. I most definitely could not pull off short-shorts like Dawn, Sookie and Arlene could, nor tight shirts; wearing either would have the opposite effect of what Sam was wanting for the waitresses in his bar.
Unlike the three other waitresses in Merlotte's I was overweight. Not by too much mind you; if I could lose another twenty to twenty-five pounds I'd be well on my way to being average weight for my build. I had already lost fifty pounds since high school, and if I was being honest I had only done it to stop the ridiculing I had received throughout my childhood. I wanted to be a normal young adult, and if that meant losing fifty to seventy pounds then by golly, I had decided one night, I was going to do it! I'll admit that now I looked a lot better than I had, in fact it always felt nice when I ran into someone from school and they commented on how good I looked. They only problem now would be that those who didn't know me before would still see me as some fat chick, and that had been proven over and over by the drunken patrons of Merlotte's bar.
Though snide comments on my weight still hurt, it didn't hurt me nearly as much as it had when I was younger. I'm finally feeling comfortable in my body, and that for me is a huge step that I don't take lightly. Mind you, I'm not comfortable enough to slide into a pair of short shorts and a skintight t-shirt, but I have found out how fun it is to wear skintight jeans and stiletto boots.
Overall, though I have no romantic life to speak of, I'm happy with where I am at the moment. I'm finally happy with myself.
Sookie could sympathize with me on the very desolate romantic life, as with her ability to read minds she often found it difficult to put up with boys she dated for very long. Yes, I knew about Sookie's abilities as I am considered one of her closest friends. Closest next to Tara of course, and Tara and I were quite close as well. I enjoyed her spunk and she let my down to earth attitude help to ground her every once in a while. Overall the three of us had a well functioning friendship, and I hoped it would last.
Back to Sookie, though. It was a shame she was unable to find someone considering she was pretty and had a decent personality to go with her looks. Sure, she wasn't pretty in the same sense as Dawn's long legged, raven haired, exotic pretty, but in a down to earth blonde haired, blue-eyed pretty. Even I could see that if I put effort into it I could be pretty as well, but that was just it; I had to put effort into it. Effort that I rarely had the energy to put forth, as it were, on a daily basis. I could turn heads, though, if the mood caught me. Maybe not many, but some, and that helped me walk with my head a little higher and back straighter than it had been in high school.
I shook myself out of my deep thoughts and reflections to notice that Dawn had already moved away with her shots of tequila, and I went back to wiping down the counter.
"Hey, sweetheart." Sam's voice came from beside me as I looked over and gave the older man a small smile. "How you doing tonight?"
"They're actually pretty well behaved tonight." I replied, knowing what he had meant. Being at the bar usually meant being harassed at one point or another, even I couldn't get away from grease balls trying to pick me up every once in a while. I could normally handle it pretty well, though, and I had far less trouble than the other women here when manning the bar. Hence why more often than not I was stuck back here instead of out on the floor, and I could tell Sam felt guilty about always placing me here so he helped out when he could.
"That's good to hear, though Arlene doesn't seem to be having as easy a time. Had to talk to those men at table number five three times already." Sam frowned as he nodded towards the group of men I had noticed giving Arlene trouble before.
"Yeah, she's not happy right now so I'd avoid her as best possible." I smirked, knowing Sam would be in for a lecture on how he ought to do more about his patrons, and Sam chuckled.
"Noted." He murmured as he took some of the glasses that I had finished washing and began to dry and stack them back up. After a few moments of silence I noticed him looking out over the floor to a very familiar blonde, and I couldn't help shaking my head slightly. He had a concerned look on his face as Sookie had a look of concentration bordering on pain on her own. Sam had it bad for the woman, but I knew for a fact that Sookie wasn't interested, at least, not to the same extent as poor Sam.
"As your friend, Sam, I'm going to tell you something." I murmured to him as he jumped out of the daze he was in after watching Sookie walk out of sight. He sent me a questioning look as I sent him one of sympathy back. "You're barking up the wrong tree." Sam snorted hearing me, his mouth curving up into a slight smirk as he did.
"Sweetheart, you've no idea." Was all he muttered before leaving me at the bar for a moment as he went and did his rounds of the restaurant once more. I watched him go curiously, wondering what on earth he might've meant by that, before shrugging my shoulders to myself and taking more orders from men and women alike that began to line up once more at the bar.
The phone rang suddenly, and I politely excused myself to answer it as I quickly picked it up off of the wall, waving to Sookie as she stopped at the bar and offered me a small smile. "Hello, this is Merlotte's."
"Hey, Lexie, is Sookie there? I quit my fucking job." Tara's brash voice came over the phone as I winced slightly, and Sookie moved behind the bar with me, a look of concern over her features.
"Oh Tara, honey, what happened?" I sighed softly as I moved the phone between Sookie and I. "Sookie is here too." I added as Sookie frowned deeply.
"Tara, what on earth is going on? This better be an emergency." Sookie sighed, and I knew she had a point. After all, neither she nor I were meant to be taking personal calls at the bar.
"What's going on here?" Sam's voice washed over the both of us as he walked in behind the bar as well, and Sookie gave him an apologetic look.
"I'm sorry, Sam. It's Tara, and she knows better than to call me at work." Sookie's voice emphasized the last part into the phone towards Tara as I heard her scoff in return.
"Don't worry about it, at least you girls don't abuse telephone privileges like Arlene does."
"Hey! I heard that." Arlene snapped on the way by as I couldn't stop a giggle, Arlene and I sharing a wink.
"Well I wish you would hear that!"
"Please, Sam, I have kids!" Arlene replied easily, and all of us knew that it was just an excuse. Most of the times it wasn't her kids calling anyways, it was Réne.
"I just quit my job." Tara spoke up then to Sookie, sounding irritated as Sookie rolled her eyes at me and I rolled mine back.
"Again?" Sookie asked in disbelief as I held back a snort of laughter.
"Well shit, if you're going to be like that I'd rather just talk to Lexie." Tara huffed indignantly. "I can't work for assholes." She explained as I couldn't stop a smirk from coming on my lips.
"You and me both, honey." I replied easily as I laughed when Sam lightly smacked my arm on the way by to grab a bottle of whiskey. Obviously he had heard. I flipped him off and he just winked back at me before returning to tending the bar.
"Well I'm glad that you can afford to be so picky, Miss. Say-Hello-To-The-Rest-Of-Us." Sookie replied lightly with a small smile on her face. No matter how brash and immature that Tara could be, we couldn't help but still love her at the end of the day.
"Shut up," Tara replied bitingly as I heard her opening the door to her car, "Sam is not an asshole and he is totally in love with you Sookie." I smirked hearing Tara as Sookie suddenly looked extremely nervous, her gaze darting around to make sure Sam wasn't in hearing distance now.
"Tara, she's blushing!" I squealed lightly into the phone and Sookie gave me a look.
"Alex, you're not helping. Tara, he's my boss." Sookie hissed into the phone, her blush still staining her cheeks.
"Jesus, look, Lexie and I agree that you need to lighten up."
"No, keep me out of this!" I exclaimed into the phone as I smiled widely, holding back my laughter seeing the expression still on Sookie's face.
"You know I hate it when you use the J word." Sookie sighed as she pinched the bridge of her nose lightly. "Now I gotta go."
"I do too, Tara." I spoke up as I noticed that Sam looked like he was getting nearly overrun with orders to fill, and I felt a little bad, even though he had basically given Sookie and I the okay for the phone.
"I'm coming over. I need a margarita. A big one."
"I'll have it ready for you when you get here."
"Lexie, did I tell you that you're my new favorite person?"
"Should I add a pint of cookie dough ice cream to that margarita?"
"Now you're just being an overachiever." Sookie broke in with a playfully disgusted look and I shrugged innocently.
"Don't hate the player, hate the game." I grinned as I winked at her and she laughed, grinning brightly. It was good to see her smiling, knowing how much stress she put herself under coming into work on nights like tonight.
"See ya soon."
"Bye." I hung up then, before looking to Sam as he walked over.
"Alexandria, could you help pick up a few tables for an hour or so till the restaurant part slows down a bit? We're falling a little behind." Sam asked as I nodded with an easy smile.
"Sure thing." I replied, laughing as Dawn flung herself around me once more in a hug. For some reason to Dawn I was the most huggable human being on the earth. She let me go though and straightened up as she looked towards the door, and I looked as well, groaning seeing who it was. And where they were about to sit.
"Mack and Denise are just about to sit down in your section." Dawn sighed to Sookie as Sookie groaned, looking tired already.
"Sookie, let me get them this time?" I asked her as she gave me a small smile and shook her head.
"No, I've got this. Besides, I'm not letting Mack anywhere near you after what that asshole said to you last time." Sookie murmured as she frowned deeply and placed her hand on my shoulder to gently squeeze it. I flushed a bit in embarrassment, remembering the humiliating experience. Mack was one of those men that would take the opportunity to rag on my looks, and did so with a certain amount of glee and help from his bitch Denise. Basically they had made a fit about the food, before starting in on the service they were getting. I remember seeing Mack's greedy, perverted gaze looking around me at Sookie, Dawn, or Arlene the entire time, and finally he demanded that one of them serve him and Denise instead. Apparently my 'services' just weren't as inviting as the others.
"I should banned them from here, it would save everyone the trouble." Sam murmured as he frowned deeply.
"Sam, don't. They're not worth it, remember?" Dawn replied as she frowned hearing him, before looking towards Sookie as Sam nodded, sighing heavily.
"Well, you just remember that, don't let them get to you, chére." Sam spoke up as he looked over towards Sookie. "They're not worth it." He sighed, before going back to filling more orders as I glanced back to Sookie and offered an encouraging smile. She put on an extremely fake smile, or at least I could tell it was fake, before moving over towards Mack and Denise's table.
"You know what Mack said about you isn't true, right?" Dawn spoke up from beside me as silence settled between us for a moment. I started out of my thoughts and looked to her with confusion.
"Huh?" I asked oh so intelligently. Dawn rolled her eyes, before reaching out and letting her hand lay over my own as she squeezed it gently.
"You're not ugly, sugar. Men like him can't appreciate curves and fullness, and they aren't worth your time or hurt feelings." Dawn murmured as she smiled softly and I flushed at how easily I could be read. I really did hate sounding like I was some sort of pathetic girl who needed all this extra reassurance about her looks, but some nights I suppose it couldn't be helped. I acknowledge that I have low self-esteem, but at least I knew it wasn't totally undeserved. Dawn was right though, I wasn't ugly, I was just someone who was different and appeared to be easily picked on.
"Thanks, Dawn, I really do appreciate that." I murmured back softly as I squeezed her hand gently in return, offering her a small smile. "Well," I sighed softly as her hand left my own and I moved out from behind the bar. "Might as well get started, do you have orders you need help with?"
"Always could use some help, let's go and see how Lafayette is doing." Dawn grinned as I smiled and we linked arms, heading on back. There was a single plate sitting on the ledge, and Dawn quickly picked it up.
"I've got this one." She winked at me and I nodded, before leaning against the ledge now as I watched Lafayette cooking.
"Hey, bitch." I grinned as he turned quickly hearing me and he grinned in return, shaking his head.
"Hey there, skank." He replied easily as I look mock offended, and he waved me off with a chuckle. "You're losing more weight again, aren't you?" He asked lightly as he looked me over, or however much he could with me standing there covered mostly by the dividing wall.
"Well, not exactly." I shrugged as I played with some ripped paper on the slick surface, dragging it around with my finger. I knew how he felt about me trying to lose more weight, and he didn't approve. So, whenever he saw me, he would always make comments about me getting too thin (which in reality, not being self pitying here, was totally not the case).
"And what does 'not exactly', mean?" He asked as he came over to the ledge and leaned against it with me, quirking his an eyebrow at me as he did. I smiled guiltily as he looked down at me, ducking my head some as I did.
"It's just five pounds."
"Five pounds?!" Lafayette exclaimed as he stood up straight, looking down at me with displeasure. "Five fucking pounds? Girl, you don't need to lose five pounds!" He huffed as he turned around towards the deep fryer. "Honey, I've got some onion rings with your name on them that you will eat, or mama bear here is going to spank you."
"Lafayette…." I groaned in embarrassment, my blushing face falling down onto my arms on the ledge. "Please don't do this? You know how much I love onion rings."
"Mhm, onion rings with mustard and ketchup coming right up, honey." He replied easily as he shook the basket around in the deep fryer and I sighed, lifting my head and running my fingers through my brown waves.
"You're the best, Lafayette." I smiled widely as he popped his hip out in a saucy fashion.
"Don't I know it, girl." He replied easily before looking behind me as both his eyebrows rose.
"Ohhh, Sookie," He cooed as he stood back from the fryer for a moment. "Bow-Chika-Chika-Bow-Wow." He crowed out as he moved and dipped his hips in a sexy fashion. I couldn't help giggling as Sookie stood up next to me now, her eyes looking a little bewildered.
"Onion rings, and if you drop a few on the floor I wouldn't mind in the slightest." Sookie replied, her voice sounding a bit unsure now as she gazed between Lafayette and me. "What on earth is going on here?"
"Don't ask me. Looks like Denise took away my order of onion rings though." I pouted as Lafayette walked up to the both of us.
"You look like a porn star with that tan." Lafayette stated as he leaned against the ledge opposite of us. Sookie, meanwhile, still looked a little bewildered although this was normal kind of conversation and the type of compliments that Lafayette was known to give. "And look at that pink lipstick. You got a date?" He asked as I grinned, hiding it behind my hand though.
"No…" Sookie began, still looking a little unsure. "When I wear make-up I get bigger tips."
"And that, my friends, is the ugly truth." I muttered as I sighed some, propping my elbow on the flat surface and resting my chin in my hand. Everything was about looks.
Lafayette laughed hearing us both as he turned back to the food. "Yes, girls, that's just it, isn't it? Rednecks are suckers for packaging." He gave us both a saucy smirk as Sookie rolled her eyes.
"And I get even bigger tips for acting like I don't have a brain in my head. But if I don't they're all scared of me." Her tone ended in a depressing note as I looked over to her, lightly bumping my hip against her own.
"Just remember, they can't handle the truth." I commented in a deep voice, and Sookie broke into at least a small smile, shaking her head slightly as she did.
"They ain't scared of you, honey child, they're scared of what's between your legs." Lafayette hummed, as I couldn't stop from bursting into laughter, especially after seeing the absolutely disgusted look on Sookie's face.
"Lafayette, that is nasty talk, and I won't listen to it!" Sookie exclaimed, clearly offended, and meanwhile Arlene had snuck up to put another order up.
"Do you even know what is between a woman's legs, Lafayette?" Arlene giggled, clearly amused with this conversation.
"I know that any man, gay, straight, or even George motherfucking Bush, is terrified of the puss." Lafayette dipped slightly with his words, making a rather risqué gesture between his legs as Arlene and I laughed and Sookie once again looked absolutely disgusted.
"Lafayette!" She exclaimed with clear indignation in her voice, and disbelief that he was taking things this far at work of all places.
"What are we talking about" Dawn asked as she walked up with her orders as well, and Arlene spoke up.
"Listen, Lafayette, not everybody is gay, okay? Not everybody wants to have sex with you."
"Oh, you'd be surprised Arlene, the people you know." Lafayette replied with a mysterious voice and Arlene scoffed playfully as she watched him. "That's all I'm saying."
"Well, I don't want to have sex with you." Dawn replied easily as she stood there, obviously enjoying this conversation. Sookie was still looking rather uncomfortable, and to be honest I was feeling rather uncomfortable as well, I was just better at hiding it.
"Me neither." Arlene spoke up as Lafayette grabbed onto the table and began to buck into it.
""Shit. Y'all bitches don't know what you're missin'. I got six gears on these hips." He replied easily as Dawn started to make moaning noises to go in time with his thrusts.
"Uh. No, baby. You don't know what you're missing. You can watch her walk away." Dawn replied as she turned away, strutting from the kitchen. "Make you wanna slap it?" I laughed loudly as she actually slapped her own ass whilst walking away. "Huh, you wanna slap it?"
"Everybody knows it. Everybody been there. Ain't that right? John's been there." Lafayette replied playfully as my mouth fell open in shock.
"Lafayette! Are you calling dear, sweet, innocent Dawn a slut?" I gasped in mock shock as Dawn turned around and winked at us all and slapped her ass once more.
"I'm slappin' it. Take these, baby. Peaches and cream." Arlene showcased her breasts, with her shirts still on thank heavens, as she moved away, a big grin on her face.
"I'll give you a little cocoa. Little cocoa. Ain't that right, John? Shit." Lafayette, not to be outdone, ended. I laughed loudly, shaking my head before grabbing the next order up and taking it out to the table.
That was one thing about working at Merlottes; it was never boring.
"My life sucks." Tara murmured bleakly as I smiled sadly at her from across the bar top, leaning against it now. Merlotte's had slowed down a bit and I was back to serving drinks again for the time being, and had managed to get back in time to catch Tara as she walked in. I had handed her, her margarita in silence, and simply stood there with her, unless an order needed to be filled. This was the first time she had broken her silence since she had gotten there.
"Sweetheart, come on now. I know it's been rough for you, but-"
"Tara, quit feeling sorry for yourself, that's just lazy." Sookie replied in a rather cutthroat manner as I sighed heavily, slumping my shoulders. Sometimes I wondered if Sookie realized that some of the stuff Tara seemed to be overdramatic about really mattered to her.
"Why can't I keep a job?" Tara asked in annoyance as Sookie lifted an eyebrow at her.
"Maybe cause you can't keep your mouth shut."
"Bitch, who asked you?" Tara snapped, but her lips curved into a smile and she winked as the three of us shared a soft laugh, shaking out heads.
"How you doin', Sookie?" Sam asked as he walked over to the three of us, setting down a glass of beer on the countertop.
"I've had better nights." She replied lightly, obviously in a better mood now, and I was happy to see it. I shared a look with Tara though as Sam leaned on the countertop across from Sookie, an easy, almost flirtatious grin on his face.
"Anything I can do to improve this one for you?" He asked with a boyish grin on his face as he did. He suddenly looked uncomfortable as Sookie gave him an equally uncomfortable look. Sookie looked speechless and Sam looked plain embarrassed, but suddenly Sookie's face relaxed almost as she turned slowly towards the door. I frowned, looking the way that she was before my heart nearly stopped seeing who…or should I say what, walked through the door.
"Oh my god!" Sookie gushed as she turned around to us, looking extremely bright as she did. "I think Merlotte's just got its first vampire!"
"I think you're right." Sam replied, looking uncomfortable still, but almost angry, if I was looking at him correctly. Tara and I exchanged an unsettling look, both of us obviously concerned for Sookie's enthusiasm about this.
"Can you believe it? Right here in Bon Temps?" Sookie scrambled for her pad and pen as she had this glow of excitement about her that I hadn't seen in a very, very long time. "I've been waiting for this to happen ever since they came out of the coffin two years ago." She walked over there, a certain bounce in her step as both Tara and I looked to Sam, uneasy about all this. I mean, after all, we were dealing with vampires, here, bloodthirsty vampires from our nightmares as kids. I personally didn't see how Sookie could be excited about this. Ever since I had heard about them coming out of the coffin I had been, and still am, terrified of the dark and being caught outside at night. Hell, I couldn't even let myself go to sleep for the first few days after the news had come out!
Sookie walked back over after a few moments and ordered a red wine, which I got, but gave her a questioning look. She explained that he wanted a reason to stay, and since we had no True Blood, he'd take a glass of red wine. Was he trying to flirt with Sookie? I mean, I was all for Sookie having some romance in her life, but I never would've picked a vampire as being the first after a fairly long dry spell. I wisely kept my mouth shut about my concerns for her regarding this matter and poured the red wine, handing it to her after I did.
"What a bitch." Sookie muttered as she stood next to Tara having already delivered the red wine to this vampire character. "You really think she'll let him bite her?" She asked in a more hushed voice as I sighed heavily.
"Sookie, sweetie, unfortunately Denise is the whore of both the living and the dead, she'll let anyone do anything to her." I muttered disdainfully and Tara snorted down her laughter as Sookie sent me a sharp look.
"You shouldn't speak of vampires like that." She murmured. "They were human once too."
And should've died as humans die, not lived on for eternity like some freak of nature. I thought to myself, only nodding in apology to Sookie, realizing I had offended her.
"Do you know how many people are having sex with vampires these days?" Tara asked with disgust clear in her voice as she leaned back against the bar top. "Sometimes those people disappear." THANK YOU TARA! I shouted to myself as I heard her, hoping it would knock some sense into Sookie. What she said was true; those who got deeply involved with vampires were often never seen or heard from again.
"No," Sookie replied with a firm assurance as she stood there, her hand on her hip and continuing to watch Mack and Denise as Denise rubbed herself up against the clearly uncomfortable vampire. Well, at least even if he was a vampire he seemed to have some sort of good taste in woman. "He's not like that."
"Yeah, you can tell that after blundering your way through taking his order?" I asked skeptically, before raising my hands quickly when she glared at me. "I'm just saying…" I trailed off uneasily now, not really wanting to be in direct way of the blonde's warpath. She definitely got her fiery attitude from her Gran, God love that old woman.
"Lexie is right, you talked to him for a minute, and you've no idea how many people he's sucked dry in however many centuries that he has been alive." Tara replied bitingly as she was obviously not afraid of Sookie's wrath like I was.
"He just doesn't look..scary." Sookie tried to defend as all three of us, Sam included, rolled our eyes and gazed at Sookie with concern.
"Sweet Jesus in Heaven Sookie, he is a vampire." Tara replied back quickly as she looked at the girl with an exasperated face.
"Yeah, but the synthetic blood has everything-" Sam obviously felt the need to step in finally. Maybe he could talk some sense into her.
"Are you willing to pass up all your favorite foods and spend the rest of your life drinking slim-fast?" He asked with a quirked eyebrow and I resisted the strong urge to hold up my hand to high-five him for his very valid point.
Sookie, obviously giving up on trying to persuade us over to her side, instead moved back to the table, obviously trying to attempt to help this vampire out of Denises' own vampire like clutches. I watched in concern though as she so suddenly ran from the table and out back, Tara having left a few moments ago back there to go to the bathroom.
"What on earth is she doing now?" Sam sighed heavily as I gave him a sympathetic look.
"If it helps any, I would much rather Sookie date you." I replied and Sam chuckled a bit, shaking his head slightly.
"Surprisingly that doesn't help, but thank you. I just hope we can get her to see reason and stay away from that…" Sam shook his head as he sighed heavily, running his fingers through his hair as he did. I jumped as Sookie ran around back by the bar, dragging a clearly confused and resistant Tara with her.
"We have to stop them!" Sookie exclaimed as I frowned deeply.
"No we do not! We do not have to get anywhere near that vampire." Tara replied easily as I frowned more, moving with Sam towards the two girls.
"Hey, what's going on? Stop who?" I asked gently as I moved up, frowning even more seeing the frantic look on Sookie's face.
"They're going to drain him for his blood." Sookie hissed quietly at me as my mouth fell open in shock. Sure, I knew that they couple were into some nasty shit, but this just took the cake.
"Drain him? Like, drain his blood?" I asked in disgust as Sookie nodded quickly, glaring at Tara a bit though as she did.
"And I must say that I am disappointed in you, Tara, you and your small mindedness." Sookie hissed out before Sam stepped in to try and obviously do his best at preventing a scene.
"The vampire can take care of himself, I promise you." Sam told Sookie firmly as he frowned all the more whilst watching on.
Sookie turned sharply towards where the vampire had been before, and I noticed now as well that the bench seat was empty. What a dumb ass; if he left with those two he deserved to get drained.
"SHIT!" Sookie exclaimed as she ripped off her apron, throwing it to the ground and rushing for the door.
I groaned loudly, knowing that my role as one of her best friends would be to follow her out there, despite my own better judgment.
"I swear if I don't die tonight, Sook, I am going to fucking throttle some sense into you once this is over." I muttered darkly as I threw my apron off as well and ran after her outside. I took in a deep breath of the fresh air as I jogged up to where Sookie was currently stopped, surveying the area. I knew what she was doing; trying to pick up on Mack and Denise's thoughts to try and figure out their whereabouts. Silently I walked up beside her, narrowing my eyes to try and see into the darkness, my heart hammering in my chest as I did. No, I wasn't scared for that stupid vampire, I was scared for us. I mean, didn't this seem the least bit fishy to Sookie at all? This was a vampire, for Christ's sake, he could take on a couple humans, couldn't he? Especially ones as dumb as Mack and Denise.
Sookie suddenly took off and I followed her, running past the open bed of a truck and grabbing her wrist, getting her attention. I pointed to the chains there, and she nodded silently, and we both, as quietly as possible, pick up a set. We walked around the bend, and underneath a huge tree we finally saw them. Mack was standing there and pacing, whilst Denise stooped over the prone form of the vampire as he laid pinned to the ground by silver. For a single second I felt a little bit of pity for him, but it didn't last long. Even more now I felt like this was suspicious, that this shouldn't have happened. How could a vampire not defend himself against two weak humans?
"Hurry!" Mack complained as he paced around, his hands running over his head in a nervous tick.
"We should have taken him home." Denise hissed back as she worked furiously at switching from one quickly filling blood bag to the next empty one. The sight made me sick, knowing that humans would willingly feed upon a vampire's blood, no matter the pleasant side affects I had heard rumored. It was disgusting.
"Too dangerous. Where would we hide a dead vampire in our trailer?" Mack asked as I held back a sarcastic snort hearing him. Where they hid the rest of their trash obviously.
"Well at least we wouldn't be out in the fucking open like this." Denise replied bitingly, obviously nervous at being caught as well. My hands tightened on the chains as I looked to Sookie and she nodded for me to stay steady, before we both looked back to the sick scene before us.
"I just need some V-juice, I need it bad. My body is starting to hurt now, I just need to get it in me." Mack ranted on like the true drug addict he was as I shook my head listening to them.
"God dammit, Mack. You're a fucking drug addict, you know that?" Denise quipped as I really had to hold back my laughter hearing her.
No freakin' duh.
Mack continued to pace, the both of them still oblivious to Sookie's and mine's presence, but the vampire took notice as I saw him look at both of us. I clenched up, seeing his fangs glinting in the light, and everything in my body was telling me to run for the hills and never look back. Unfortunately, Sookie had other ideas, as did my conscious about leaving her alone with them.
"Woman would you just shut the fuck up." Mack gripped as he stopped pacing for a moment. "Sometimes when you talk, this is what I hear. A yiddy yiddy yiddy a- Sookie threw her chains directly into Mack's shoulder whilst I went for Denise, throwing mine with all my might at her and catching her at the shoulders, the chains plowing her into the ground with a pained scream.
"You crazy bitches!" Mack shouted through his pain as he quickly got off of the ground and turned towards the both of us. Meanwhile, whilst Sookie had her chains, I had nothing as I had stupid thrown my only defense away. I watched wide-eyed as Mack drew a knife, and I breathed heavily, stumbling back with Sookie. As he came at us Sookie threw her chains, catching Mack right around the neck.
"You go cowgirl." I muttered as Mack began to choke, obviously finding it difficult if not impossible to breath as he fell to his knees. Denise, meanwhile, had recovered and went rushing for the knife that Mack had let go off. I reacted faster than I ever thought possible for me and dove for the knife, standing and holding it right at her and motioning for Sookie to get behind me. My arm shook slightly, as I was clearly unsure of myself whilst I held this woman at knifepoint, Sookie's hand gripping my shirt from behind me as I did.
"This ain't your businesses you stupid cunts." Denise stated as she shook her head, her body tense and my own grew tense as well.
"Now see, that just proves how low-rent you really are." Sookie replied with a sure voice from behind me as she glared at the woman over my shoulder.
Yeah, sure Sookie, you can be brave when I'm standing between you and this crazy bitch.
"Just get your pathetic excuse for a husband and take his and your fake ass outta here, bitch." I murmured, my voice coming out far braver than I felt at that moment.
"You have any idea who you're messing with you ugly piece of shit." Denise replied in a deadly serious voice as my gaze hardened at her insults this time. Oh no she didn't.
"Yeah, I'm dealing with a real-life Barbie. Thing is, is I hated Barbies growing up. In fact, I used to just love pulling apart their fake body parts. Would you like me to continue practicing that right here and now?" I asked evenly as I glared back at her, my legs feeling like they were about to give out on me. Mack was still choking in the background as the woman dared to take a closer step towards us.
"You don't want to end up on my bad side." She hissed out in advisement as Sookie snorted a bit behind me.
"I'm not so sure you even have another side you no count back-woods trash." Sookie hissed out to her as the woman's face hardened even further.
"Look Sookie, I think we've slapped the bull enough times." I murmured lightly, starting to get a little nervous with this whole standoffish thing going on between us three. Especially since I was the one holding the knife. Sookie reached around quickly, grabbing the knife from me once Denise had moved and following her with it as she moved back over to Bill to obviously grab the blood.
"Ah, ah, ah, don't even think of taking that blood." Sookie told her as I frowned deeply, watching the furious look in Denise's eyes. There was something rather unsettling about that look.
"I will kill you for this." Denise snarled as she stalked back over towards Sookie now, looking between the both of us as she spoke.
"Get out." Sookie spat at her as Denise stood behind Mack, who was still trying desperately to breath. "Now."
"Come on, Mack." Denise hissed as she walked over to grab her bag, before walking back to Mack and grabbing his shoulder, heaving him up onto his feet with surprising strength. "This ain't over." She snarled to the both of us in a threat as I felt the color rush from my face for the first time (surprisingly) during this whole encounter. I didn't take well to threats.
Mack stumbled and fell continuously as Denise impatiently hurried them along, before giving up on Mack as he fell uselessly to the dirt and running out of the clearing, Mack trailing severely behind.
Sookie rushed forward towards the vampire now as I wrinkled my nose in disgust seeing her pulling the silver from his skin, his skin bubbling and steaming as she did. The vampire was huffing in pain and I watched as she slowly removed the final string of silver, stiffening up now knowing the vampire was essentially free.
"Sookie, we should probably head back inside." I spoke up, my voice shaking a bit with my nervousness. It was truly my nightmare come to life; stuck in the dark with a vampire. Granted, he looked absolutely exhausted, but I still couldn't stop the images of being bitten and drained from rushing through my mind. When his fangs retracted, though, I felt slightly more at ease.
"Shut up." Sookie whispered in amazement as his skin began to heal on its own, and I couldn't help rolling my eyes, clearly she hadn't heard me or chose to ignore me.
"Sook!"
"You've no reason to fear me." The vampire spoke up as he glanced from Sookie towards myself now, trying to obviously come off as friend. Sorry, I hate to disappoint him, but I've never heard of a Friendly Vampire. That title is reserved for Casper.
And I swear if I ever found out ghosts were real too I would shit bricks.
"Yeah, I'll take that into consideration at some point." I replied nervously, trying not to sound snotty as I did.
"Alex!"
"It's alright." The vampire offered a dry smirk after hearing me. "I'd think her rather strange if she didn't fear me at first at least."
"So I'm strange then?" Sookie asked lightly, under her breath as if talking to herself.
"Yeah, that's what I've been trying to tell you since we were kids, Sook." I muttered as the vampire chuckled lightly, looking between the both of us. He opened his mouth, about to speak once again but the sound of a car could be heard. I gasped as Denise, the crazy bitch, came at us with her shit box of a car. Sookie grabbed onto the vampire, whilst I dove out of the way.
"I'm going to get you bitches!" She shouted from her car. Now, now I was seeing red. I reached around, grabbing the discarded chains and whipping them at the rear of the car, shouting in elation at the sound of the chains smashing the rearview window open.
"TAKE THAT YOU CRAZY BITCH!" I shouted at her retreating car, hearing her screams of anger as she rushed away. I brushed my hands off then, before frowning and turning back towards Sookie and the vampire, wanting to make sure that Sookie was alright.
"Oh, bless your heart," I had to bite back a smart ass remark of what heart?, as I approached the couple and heard Sookie. "I'm so sorry I didn't get here faster." Sookie apologized and I had to refrain from rolling my eyes. "You'll be okay in a minute, right?" She asked as the vampire looked clearly stunned now, glancing between the both of us. Dear lord I hope he wasn't hashing out which one of us would be a better snack. I suddenly had the desire to state that even though I was big, it didn't mean I tasted good, but held back as I kept my distance. Crazy Sookie, though, was nearly right up in his goddamn face!
"Do you want me to leave?" Sookie asked then, looking extremely unsure, but I was happy with this turnabout.
"Oh, yeah, because by all means we will leave you be to do…whatever it is…you do." I spoke up rather lamely, but desperately wanted to take Sookie and leave at this point. We'd saved the vampire, that's all we set out to do, what more could be done?!
"No," Mr. Vampire answered gruffly and I felt my hopes deflate immeasurably. He looked between the both of us, clearly indicating he wished us both to stay. "They might come back and I can't fight yet." Oh, so now he's going to get two weak girls to fight all his battles?
Sookie looked a little downtrodden for a moment, and I realized then that she was hoping he wanted her to stay for her, not for his own selfish safety. Balls, she was getting caught up in a forbidden romance scenario. We both needed boyfriends…human boyfriends, and pronto.
Suddenly barking could be heard as a dog came rushing up to us, brown and white in coloring with long fur. "Awwwww," I cooed as I walked over to him, reaching out and scratching behind its ears gently. "Hey there buddy, where did you come from?" I cooed to him, frowning though as I watched him continue to bark at the vampire, who looked awfully nervous. The dog turned to Sookie, licking at her face as Sookie giggled and I pouted. What? Not even dogs wanted to give me kisses now? I rolled my eyes, watching him go away then before leaning back and sitting on the ground, pulling my knees to my chest and holding them there. Maybe if I curled into a ball I'd appear to be a smaller morsel?
"He's checking on you." Mr. Vampire spoke up as he sat up a bit straighter now, clearly speaking to Sookie at the moment as I watched the old stray rushing away back towards Merlotte's. I wouldn't doubt that Sam snuck the poor thing food every once in a while.
"It's just an old dog that hangs around the bar sometimes." Sookie replied easily as she knelt closer to the vampire. "He must live nearby." The vampire seemed to scoff at this, lifting an eyebrow.
"Well, no doubt." He replied and I couldn't help hearing the sarcasm in his voice. Wonder what that was all about? Sookie stood, about to offer him a hand with the belt around his arm, but he ripped his arm away from her, and I tensed up. The sudden movement startled me, and the vampire looked towards me for a moment as if sensing so, before looking back up to Sookie.
"I reckon you're not to happy about being rescued by women." Sookie replied as she placed her hands on her hips, looking down at him with a raised eyebrow. Why, oh why, did she have to show that attractive southern sass now of all times?!
"Thank you," He replied, seemingly chastised as he glanced towards me. "The both of you." I swallowed heavily and nodded in return, before resting my chin back on my knees as he moved to undo the belt around his arm, his attention shifting back to Sookie. I watched Sookie close her eyes for a moment, obviously concentrating once again and watched her curiously, wondering why she was concentrating so hard all of a sudden.
"I can't hear you!" Sookie suddenly exclaimed as her eyes snapped open to look down at this vampire, and I nearly smacked her myself. What the hell did she think she was doing?!
"Thank you." Mr. Vampire replied again a bit louder this time, obviously a little irked still as he roughly undid the belt around his arm.
"No! I can hear you!" Sookie exclaimed as she knelt down in front of him, her hands reaching out and clasping around his face as she leaned in close. "But I can't…." She trailed off as if finally realizing what she was doing, and I nearly smacked my palm against my forehead. So now she clicks in, and by the curious look the vampire was giving her, I doubted he'd let it go. "Oh my stars…" She trailed off and I had the very sudden urge to reach for her ponytail and yank her back by it.
"Sookie, you might want to observe the personal space bubble; remember we talked about it?" I spoke up sardonically, but both of them ignored me. I rolled my eyes, asking myself why I was even still here, but already knowing the answer. Making sure Sookie didn't get herself killed.
"Aren't you afraid to be out here alone with a hungry vampire?" The guy spoke up with a quirked eyebrow and a smirk and I nearly raised my arms into the air and shouted out AMEN. Finally someone was showing some sense, even if it was said hungry vampire.
"Exactly. Sookie, we really should be getting back to the bar. Sam will be wondering where we are." I spoke up, and the vampire looked at me with amusement, probably able to easily tell how nervous I was to be out here.
"Your friend is right, and smart." He commented before looking back to Sookie, who still looked awestruck and in her own little world. See, this is why you didn't make blonde friends; they ended up putting you in life or death situations due to their fucking curiosity.
"No." Sookie answered easily and I sighed, burying my face into my knees now.
"Vampires often turn on those who trust them, you know. We don't have human values like you." He added lowly, and I turned my head back up, watching as they both stared at each other intensely. Had I known better I would have thought I interrupted the lead-up to a very steamy sex scene; luckily even if that had been the case I wasn't about to let my friend go through with it. That's right, awkward turtle is here to stay!
So I'll just sit here quietly…and continue to be awkward…quietly.
"A lot of humans turn on those who trust them too." Sookie replied as she thankfully broke away from the leaning vampire, stepping back and moving to sit back on the stump of an old tree, crossing her legs daintily and wrapping one of the silver chains around her neck. "I'm not a total fool." She added, gesturing towards the silver chain.
"Hey, where's mine?" I whined at her as she looked to me and simply shrugged her shoulders. Wow, some friend.
"Oh, but you have many other juicy arteries." Oookkaaayyyy, creepy vampire was coming out to play now. I shifted back further as he shifted forward, though his attention was completely on Sookie at this point. Suddenly I felt extremely self-conscious for a moment. Of course his entire attention would be on her, I thought jealously, she is beautiful after all. I quickly shook myself, realizing that I was getting jealous of my best friend, and not only that, but jealous cause a vampire was paying her more attention that he was me.
Dude, I really needed to find myself a human boyfriend.
"There is one in the groin that is a particular favorite of mine." He added as he obviously leered at her, his eyes drifting down to her delicate and long legs.
"Hey, you just shut your nasty mouth, mister!" Sookie replied haughtily, but I could tell, I could tell she actually liked his nasty mouth right now. Dear lord, Sookie, really?! "You may be a vampire, but when you talk to me you will talk to me like the lady I am!" I couldn't help snorting some hearing her, and she sent me a slight glare to which I raised both my hands up in mock surrender.
Sure, she was a lady; a lady who swore like a sailor when the mood caught her, rescued men instead of being rescued by them, and willingly got in the face of a stranger within seconds of knowing them.
Sookie, you are a real lady.
The vampire snorted a bit in amusement, clearly impressed with her fire though as he leaned back against the tree, glancing towards the bags filled with blood. "You want to drink the blood they collected?"
"Ew!"
"No!" Came Sookie's responses and mine collectively and the vampire looked at me with amusement at my more childish exclamation.
"I understand it makes humans feel more healthy." He explained as he looked to me, before turning his attention back to Sookie once more. "Improves their sex life." He added in a lower tone, his eyebrow quirking once more as he looked at Sookie directly.
"I'm as healthy as a horse, and I have no sex life to speak of so..." Sookie admitted without shame as I rolled my eyes hearing her. Way to make yourself sound MORE appealing. The pretty virgin, ripe for the taking! I could see the look of renewed interest on the man's face; it was obviously exactly what he was thinking. "You can just keep it…" She trailed off awkwardly now, and I smirked some seeing her come to the realization of what she had blabbed and the intense look that Mr. Vampire was giving her now. She looked clearly uncomfortable, and I took some sadistic glee in that fact.
"You could both always sell it." He offered now as he looked between the both of us, and I furrowed my eyebrows some in confusion.
"Are you actively trying to jump start my career in selling drugs?" I asked dryly as he smirked a bit and chuckled at my response.
"I wouldn't touch it." Sookie replied evenly as his attention was once again diverted back towards her, and I could see that her answer slightly shocked him. I watched as he suddenly moved forward with lightening fast reflexes and was in front of Sookie, kneeling in front of her. My heart stopped in fright as I tensed up, ready in case something happened, though I'd be a fool to think I had a hope in hell of stopping him. I stood quickly as I looked between the both of them, watching as Sookie even looked a little unsure, whilst he regarded her with an intensity that sent a shiver down my own spine.
"What are you?" He asked huskily as he gazed at her, and my breath caught in my throat. Yeah, he definitely hadn't let that whole 'I can hear you but can't' comment go. Don't tell him about your mind reading powers, Sookie. I repeated that over and over in my head, praying she was listening in just this once.
"Um, well," Sookie replied, her voice a little shaky, "I'm So-Sookie Stackhouse." She swallowed heavily. "And I'm a waitress." She took in a shaky breath. "And that's my friend, Lisa Hanson, also a waitress." She added, but the vampire didn't bother to even glance at me. I huffed a bit; how rude! "What's your name?"
"Bill." Oh. My. God. I bit down hard on my tongue as he said his name, in the huskiest voice I had heard from him yet. Bill? He's a vampire and his name is Bill? How pathetic would that be? To be killed and sucked dry by a vampire named Bill. Talk about a whole new level on an awful way to die. Sookie obviously found the same amusement as me as she started to giggle, unable to hold it back like myself.
"Bill?" She asked as she giggled a bit more. "I-I thought it might be Antoine or Basil or like, Lankford maybe," Bill scoffed at that one in amusement as he backed down onto his heels, obviously amused by our own amusement. "But Bill? Vampire Bill!" She continued to giggle and I noticed that despite it being his name we were making fun of, he seemed to be taking it in good humor.
"Why on earth would you go by Bill? And not Will instead?" I asked lightly as I couldn't stop a small giggle, and he looked to me, a small smile spreading on his lips and shrugging his shoulders. Obviously he really had no answer to that.
"So…" Sookie spoke up once more after a few moments of silence. "Silver? I thought that only affected werewolves. I-I'm not saying that werewolves exist, but it's what you see in the movies." She scrambled to add at the sardonic look he was giving her.
"I'd appreciate it if you didn't share this information with anyone." Bill spoke up then as he glanced to the both of us. "We don't like for our weaknesses to be made public knowledge." Okay, that I could get, and I think I could comply with. But I tell you, if I'm caught in a dark alley with one of these fuckers, out comes the silver and I don't care WHO sees.
"Well, okay." Sookie murmured as I nodded in agreement and she stood along with him, the silver still around her neck as she did. "Well, see ya, Bill. I gotta get back to work." Sookie added, obviously now trying to play it cool as she sauntered around him, and I shook my head slightly. I offered a wave, just to be polite as he nodded and offered a smile in return, before I scampered to follow her, determined not to be left alone with him.
"Sookie!" Sam exclaimed as he saw us both emerge, and once again I was hit with a useless wave of jealousy. So my safety wasn't thought about? "Thank god." Sam sighed as we approached him, Sookie wrapping the silver up in her hand. "You okay?" He asked as he placed his hands on his hips, gazing at the both of us in concern now.
"We're fine." Sookie replied easily as I rolled my eyes. Speak for yourself. I suppose, though, that I was alright, though I'm sure I'd never wanna be caught in a situation like that ever again. "And for your information, not all vampires can take care of themselves." She added in a snarky tone, before walking around, clearly proud of herself, as she strutted back into Merlotte's. Sam, meanwhile, looked unsure as I stepped up, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Sorry, but I think Sookie's vampire is going to be hanging around here more often." I murmured quietly as I squeezed his shoulder gently and he sighed heavily, his shoulders dropping.
"Yeah, I kind of had a feeling after she went running after him." He murmured, his arm wrapping around my shoulders and tucking me into his side then. "Come on, sweetheart, let's get back inside and close up. It's been a long night."
"Yes it has." I sighed as I wrapped an arm around his waist, walking with him back into the safety of the bar. Tonight had been a long night, and I couldn't wait to just get home.
I sighed heavily as I walked into my dingy basement apartment, throwing my keys into the old glass bowl beside my door. I toed off my shoes, sighing in relief as I did, before moving on further to the kitchen and dropping my purse and coat as I went. My apartment was located underneath a decrepit house, but it was the best that I could afford, and I was proud to call it mine. I worked for it, and I earned it, and it was mine. I saw the red light flashing on my answer machine by the fridge and pressed on the button to hear them. No doubt it was my Mom calling to check up on me; she always worried about me, same as my Dad, and I hadn't called them this week like I normally did. When that happened they would always call me to check up on how I was doing.
Hi, sweetheart, My Mother's voice filled the room and I smiled at the familiar tone, missing it in that moment more than usual, just wanted to make sure that you're still alive and not working too hard. Call us, okay? We miss you and love you! The message ended and I walked over to the fridge, letting out a heavy sigh. I really should go and visit them, but after they had moved from Bon Temps out to Shreveport it made visiting a little more difficult on my part. My SUV wasn't as reliable as it used to be, and it made me nervous doing longer trips like that to the next town over. Regardless I knew I'd have to make the trip sometime soon, and definitely give them a call tomorrow.
Not seeing anything worthwhile in the fridge I made my way instead to my bedroom, flopping down limply on my bed. I was beyond tired and emotionally taxed from tonight. I grabbed at my shirt, tossing it to one side of the room and wiggled out of my jeans, tossing them to the other side, before crawling under my covers, not even bothering to take my make up off.
And as I fell asleep, I reflected on how much my life changed tonight, not knowing how much it was going to continue to change in the months to come.
"Arrested, for what?!"
Ah, hell no, it was way too early in the evening to be starting up this type of shit for the second night in a row! How the hell Jason could get himself arrested was beyond me; I mean, the boy could be an idiot, but a criminal idiot he most definitely was not.
"I don't know." Dawn frowned as she gazed at Sookie with concern.
"Sook," I heard Lafayette's voice as he came up behind where I was standing, watching all this unfold before me, "sorry about your brother." This seemed to tick Sookie off even further.
"How come everybody knew about this before I did?"
"Well, I didn't know. This is news to me." I spoke up as Sookie sent me a glare.
"Shut it, Alex, you don't even like my brother. Why would you even care?" She replied as I pouted some. Though it was true, I never got along with Jason all that well as kids. He was one of the jocks in school that would constantly make fun of me, but it didn't stop at school, no, it continued on at the Sackhouse household whenever I'd come over to visit with Sookie. It had gotten a bit better since we were all out of high school, and after I had lost a lot of weight, but I still held a rather childish grudge against the man for being a shithead in the first place.
But to say I didn't care what happened to Sookie's brother was a bit harsh. I cared enough to want to be there to rub it in his pretty face when he screwed up. Like now for instance.
"Well I was there, baby girl, and I saw him getting carted away." Lafayette spoke up calmly, a solemn look on his face.
"And I was complaining to Arlene about Jason hanging up on me when we were making a date, and not calling me back, and that's when she told me-" Dawn was cut off as Sookie continued to look unimpressed.
"Arlene? How does she know?"
"Well, I guess Réne told her." Dawn replied as she fiddled nervously with her necklace whilst Sookie turned sharply, obviously on a man hunt now for Réne. Can't really blame Dawn for being on edge though, I'd be nervous too if I had to break the news to Sookie Stackhouse that her brother was in jail. "Besides, we figured you'd just…" Dawn trailed off awkwardly, as if thinking better about what she was about to say.
"Foot in mouth, Dawn…foot in mouth." I murmured quietly to her as she shot me a look before looking back sheepishly towards Sookie who now faced the three of us once more.
"That I'd just what, Dawn?" Sookie asked, her voice sickly sweet, but daring Dawn to finish what she had obviously started.
"Sweetie, didn't ya just know already?" Dawn finally sputtered out as I held back my laughter seeing the rage on Sookie's face now as she stared Dawn down.
"I am not psychic!" Sookie hissed at us before she turned sharply once more and strutted her way (with purpose of course) towards the dining room.
"Well, that went well." I murmured as I looked to Dawn who sighed and shook her head a bit.
"Well…my thought process was at least somewhat valid!" Dawn sighed as she slapped her hands with exasperation against her thighs, looking towards me now.
"True enough, and Sookie's response was valid as well." I smirked at the unimpressed look Dawn gave me before she headed off in the direction of the dining room as well, but v-ing off in the opposite way that Sookie had gone.
She had the right idea; avoid Sookie at all costs tonight if we wanted to live.
"Girl, we need to find you clothes that actually fit." Lafayette hummed as he came up to me and circled me, as if appraising me. Anyone else, I thought to myself ironically, any other man, and this would feel extremely awkward.
"These clothes fit just fine. I like them baggy. Besides, yes I know I've lost weight and I know I do look better. I know, really, I do, but I've still got things that need to be hidden, Lafayette." I joked lightly, poking at my smaller, but albeit still pronounced, stomach. Lafayette scoffed as he waved me off, shaking his head some.
"Honey, you get lost in those clothes." He replied as he suddenly reached for the waistband of my jeans, pulling at them so they came out a good hands width away from my hip. "Hellllooooo, down there!" He cried as he looked downward into the gaping hole he had just created and I laughed, slapping his hand away with my face flushed from embarrassment.
"Lafayette!"
"Child, I think my voice echoed back to me. You could fit another person in there, and by your choice of underwear, I'd pray to God that it isn't your grandmother I find in there next." He muttered disdainfully as I flushed bright red, actually fairly well embarrassed now.
"Lafayette, really!" I squeaked as I mentally made sure that the next night at work I'd wear a belt. "Not to sound like the working poor here, but I can't afford different clothes right now, and Victoria Secrets isn't exactly in my price range either." I huffed as I crossed my arms indignantly.
"Don't give me that bull-shit. You don't have pretty underwear because you're too scared to wear it." Lafayette replied knowingly as he gave me his look and my shoulders slumped in defeat. How the hell was he able to read me so easily? "I looked through your underwear drawer when I picked you up for work last week. You were in the bathroom." He added as if knowing what I was thinking, and my mouth fell open in shock hearing him. "And let me tell you, a woman that has ALL hipsters and granny panties along with plain jane cotton bras isn't even looking to feel sexy, she's scared to feel sexy." He did a little hip movement and dip when he said sexy the last couple times, and I covered my face with my hands, still extremely embarrassed.
"I'd say that I'm shocked you went through my underwear drawer," I sighed as my hands dropped and I placed one on my hip out of habit, "but I know better. You'd do so with glee." I muttered dryly as I reached for my abandoned trey. Tonight I was out of the floor since Tara had been apparently hired on last night at the bar.
"Sweetheart," Lafayette spoke up as I moved to leave, and I was suddenly still at the very serious tone in his voice as I turned slowly to look at him with curiosity and slight concern, "you don't have to be a size eight or lower to be sexy. Hell, size twenty can be sexy; it all depends on the woman. Confidence is sexy, chére. Just you remember that." Lafayette walked up to me and gently tapped my nose with his finger, and I smiled softly as I held the trey to my stomach.
"You're the best, Lafayette." I murmured honestly as he grinned down at me.
"Mhm, I've been told that on many occasions." He winked and I giggled, rolling my eyes slightly at his obvious innuendo. "Now get that cute ass out there and work it girl, but remember, you're my sexy mama before any other man's." He added as I laughed softly, nodding.
"I'll remember." I murmured gently, before Lafayette winked at me and walked around, heading back towards the kitchen. I sighed, heading back out to the dining room and stopping as I noticed Bill sitting there at the table, glancing around to find Sookie already making her way towards him. I shook my head, frowning deeply as I walked over towards Sam and Tara at the bar, watching along with them. Everybody was tense, including myself, though I had to admit that he seemed like a nice enough guy last night. He didn't kill us after all. Still, he was a vampire, and could turn on us as easily as he could befriend us. He even said so last night.
"Can I call on you?" I caught him asking as my eyes widened slightly, but Sookie looked confused.
Seriously, sweetheart, we need to watch more timeless romance movies.
"Um, can I come visit you, at your home?" Bill elaborated as Sam, Tara and I tensed even further, but I already knew that Sookie would say yes. But she did one better than that; not only did she say yes but she mentioned her grandmother would like to meet him, and that she had a favor to ask for her grandmother and to meet her out back of the bar at the end of her shift.
She was honestly looking to find herself raped and drained by the end of tonight, wasn't she?
Finally Bill stood to leave, and by the looks of how he had been surveying everyone it was because of the attention he was bringing himself and Sookie. Good, maybe now we could get somewhere inside of that fantasy filled head of her's.
"That's it, someone has to talk some sense into her." Sam muttered lowly under his breath, before taking off towards Sookie as she walked out back. Well, I mused to myself, I don't think Sam is the right person to try talking sense into her.
"Oh my god, he's going to kill her." Dawn exclaimed as she came around from the back of the restaurant, and I lifted an eyebrow hearing her. Tara meanwhile darted out back as well, and I sighed, realizing I would be left to man the bar. Again. See, it doesn't matter who gets hired on, I'll always end up in this exact spot.
"Better him than that vampire." I answered dryly as she gave me a look to say she clearly didn't find that funny, before we both set out to taking orders once more, Dawn on the floor and me at the bar. I watched as Sookie stormed out of the back, going back to taking orders but with a lot more hostility than normal. Tara came back along with Sam a few moments later, each looking rather glum as they did and clearly avoiding Sookie.
Well, now that those two had struck out I guess it would be my turn, cause there was no way in hell come closing time that I was allowing Sookie out of my sight. Not for a moment, and I didn't care what kind of bitch shit she through at me.
Closing came far too soon in my opinion as patrons began to clear out, and we all began to close down in a rather uncomfortable silence, thanks to Sookie. Though she did seem in a slightly better mood now as she grabbed her purse from next to mine back in Sam's office and dropped her apron off, mine soon following.
"Sookie, can I please wait with you?" I sighed, hoping I was taking the right approach to this. Hell, I knew for a fact telling her that she couldn't see him was the wrong thing to do if Tara and Sam were an example, but I could at least ask to be there as she spoke with him. I saw her about to cut me off, but I quickly spoke up before she could. "Please? It'll make me feel better, okay? I promise after tonight I'll leave you two be, and let you have your…whatever this is going to be. But please, just for tonight, let me at least stand around with you till he gets there." I murmured, trying to appease the both of us, and she offered a reluctant, but accepting smile.
"Alright, only because you're the first one to not tell me to stay away from him. I can tell you don't like the idea though." She murmured as I sighed heavily.
"Sookie, I'm trying, really, I am. But you can't just switch around people's feelings towards something that they've had for years over a single night with a single vampire. I'm terrified of them, alright? I can admit that, but I am trying." I told her sincerely as I looked over to her. "And because of my own fear of them, I'm worried about you. Is there really something so wrong with that? Tara and Sam are just worried as well." I added knowingly as she had some sense to look a little guilty now that her temper had cooled.
"You didn't hear the things that Sam was saying to me, Alex." She murmured softly as I smiled a bit.
"I know I didn't, but I also know that he cares a great deal for you, and what he said he said out of concern for your well being, not to try and control you or tell you what to do per say." I murmured as I reached out, gently squeezing her shoulder.
"You're right. I just hope that tomorrow is a better day." Sookie sighed heavily as she opened the door to the office and I followed her out.
"Well, can't really get any worse, now, can it?" I asked lightly as she laughed softly, shaking her head and wrapping an arm around my shoulders.
"No, no it can't." She murmured in agreement as I wrapped an arm around her waist and we walked on out through the back door into the cooler night air. We heard the door closing around the corner, and turned to see Sam as he locked up and walked over to us, looking like a kicked puppy.
"Sookie…" He murmured as he trailed off and glanced towards me, and I offered him a small smile, "Alexandria…" He added awkwardly as he stood there, fiddling with his keys.
"Sam…" Sookie trailed off just as awkwardly, and I knew that she was definitely taking what I said into consideration now as she looked rather guilty standing there. The both of them did.
"Listen, did you want me to wait with you-"
"Go home, Sam." Sookie cut him off kindly as she nodded towards me. "Alex already volunteered to stick around until Bill came by." Looking a little miffed, Sam took the towel that had been resting on his shoulder, twisting it lightly in his hands.
"Night." He ended gruffly before walking right on by and over to his trailer. I sighed softly and shook my head at Sookie, but she gave me a look as if to tell me not to say a word as we walked together to her car. I frowned as we both heard rustling in the forest, and Sookie looked about, before heading out into the clearing further.
"Sookie, I don't think-"
"It could be Bill." Sookie interrupted and I huffed a bit in annoyance. She sure made a bad habit of that. I shook my head, frowning a bit more as I watched her from her car, before my eyes widened seeing two shadows suddenly rushing from the brush.
"Sook!" I shouted, but my warning came to late as Mack threw her down to the ground, Denise coming up as well and they both began to kick at her. Hard. I paled, rushing forward without thinking as I came to Denise first and grabbed her by the hair (yeah, I know, bitch move and I'm not proud of it, but what else was I going to do), yanking back hard enough to send her to the ground, and also pull out a patch of her hair.
"YOU FUCKING BITCH!" She screamed out at me, as she gripped onto her scalp in pain.
"Sookie get up!" I shouted at her, knowing that she didn't stand a chance if she stayed on the ground. Mack rushed me next, and I reacted with reflexes I didn't even know I had, smashing the heel of my hand directly up into his nose. I heard something crack, and blood came flowing from his nose as he bent over in agony. I grabbed Sookie under the arms and heaved her up, her body so limp she was pretty much dead weight as I did. She moaned in pain, clearly disoriented, before I grunted as I was hit from behind, and we both went sprawling to the ground. The next blow left me paralyzed as a leather boot made direct contact with my stomach, and I hunched over automatically into a fetal position. I could hear Mack still kicking at Sookie as she lay next to me, and was able to get my wits about me enough to raise my arms and block Denise's next kick to my face. I grabbed at her ankle quickly before she could bring her foot back and yanked on her, sending her sprawling on the ground, the wind knocked out of her.
"Where is your fucking chain now?" Mack snarled as he kicked Sookie so hard she nearly rolled directly over me, and I could almost smell the blood in the air now. He was going to beat her to death if I didn't do something. I winced, Denise still writhing on the ground in pain, her back arching as if her spine had landed directly on a rock, and I took the opportunity to get up, glaring at Mack.
"Leave her the fuck alone you hillbilly reject!" I shouted out, though feeling proud as I saw the blood still leaking from his nose.
"And what are you going to do about it, you ugly bitch?!" Mack shouted as he came at me, and I acted without thinking once again. My leg came up quickly, missing Sookie by inches as I landed a hard kick.
Directly between his legs.
Yeah, once again, I knew it was a cheap shot, but hey, if it works it works after all. I watched once again in satisfaction as he fell to the ground in a heap, clutching at his crotch as he did, swearing and cussing loudly. Where the fuck was Sam? How could he not hear any of this? Better yet, where the hell was Bill? I thought he cared about Sookie since he showed such keen interest in her.
I grunted as I was grabbed from behind by Denise once more, and she spun me around, her backhanded slap meeting my face directly beside my eye and the shock of it sent me sprawling to the ground once more. I groaned as I was kicked once more by her, before hearing Mack getting at Sookie again, and Denise reached around, muttering something about a 'dumbass ponytail', grabbing at Sookie's hair. Mack, meanwhile, stood straight, screaming out like the mad man he was before Denise, like the sick bitch she is, sauntered over to him and they pressed together over us sharing a kiss.
"I love you." Mack proclaimed and Denise giggled happily as she breathed heavily from exertion.
"I love you too, baby." My god…they were high! No wonder they were both rebounding so easily from my own blows; they were fucking high as kites and probably didn't feel a fucking thing! Meanwhile Sookie sounded like she was literally dying and my own body throbbed in pain as well, from my stomach to my face. I could feel blood dripping from my temple where Denise had hit me, one of her rings must've cut into the skin.
I gasped when Mack instead this time landed another kick to my stomach, chuckling gleefully as he did. His laughter was cut short, though, when I could hear the sound of a dog growling from behind them, and to my surprise I saw that old stray.
"Well fuuccckkk you, Fido." Mack told the dog, turning towards it as he pulled out his pistol. My eyes widened seeing it glinting in the lamplight, but I was so out of breath and suddenly so tired now the adrenaline was starting to wear off that I couldn't do anything. I felt helpless in that moment. Sookie somehow found the power to move, grabbing onto Mack's ankle, but I watched as suddenly the man was launched into the air into a nearby tree. Dear lord, had Sookie done that? He was alive, but obviously injured.
"The fuck-" I heard a sickening crunch as Mack grew quiet, and I looked up as I slowly rose myself up onto my elbows to see that his neck was broken, his head hanging oddly to the side and blood pouring from between his lips.
Denise didn't seem too concerned as she looked around wildly, tensed now. "Show your fucking face, freak!" She demanded into the open space as I could near the sound of rustling. Was it Bill doing this? I gasped as Denise was suddenly launched into the sky as well, sitting up as best I could, and watching as she fell through the canopy of trees to fall limply on the ground, dead. I swallowed thickly, turning towards Sookie now as I gasped seeing the damage.
"Oh god, oh god, Sookie, we have to get you to a hospital!" I exclaimed as I gently cupped her bloodied face to get her to try and focus on me. She had blood all over her, but that wasn't really what scared me the most, it was not knowing how badly she was bleeding from the inside. What if her ribs were broken? What if she's punctured a lung?
Sookie simply groaned in response, her eyes closing and I truly began to panic, afraid to move her. "No, no, Sookie, keep your eyes open and on me. Stay awake! I need you to stay awake!" I exclaimed, afraid to shake her as she obviously began to go in and out of consciousness, before darkness finally consumed her. "No, no, no, no! Sookie!" I gasped out, wincing as I moved to sit on my knees, prepared to try and carry her to my own car to get her to emerge. Just as I was about to shift her, though, I heard footsteps approaching us.
And my suspicions were confirmed as I saw both the last person and the first person I wanted to see in this moment.
Vampire Bill…and he looked absolutely furious.
Wow, that was a lot longer of a chapter than I thought it was going to be! Well, hope you like Alexandria and I would love to hear some constructive feedback :)