The build up to Christmas was the worst. I had to put more hours in at Merlotte's and it was killing me, it was always it's busiest during December and January, all the local alcoholics, who are always too drunk to ever actually keep a partner, are all in getting drunk to 'forget' how lonely they are.
The extra hours were killing me, and are messing with my sleeping patterns. Between working until closing and going to see my vampire of a boyfriend Bill Compton every night, I barely get two hours sleep. And now I can't keep my shields up, everyone's thoughts are swamping my head all day long, so I'm messing up orders and getting awfully distracted.
Because this is me… Sookie Stackhouse… Local Telepath barmaid. Oh and half Fae, or to everyone who doesn't know about my quirk, Crazy Sookie.
December 1st, the first nightfall of December was when he walked in for the first time. He had never been in Merlotte's before, and I sure as hell know he is not a local. But there's something about him, the way his skin glows slightly, I know instantly that he is a vampire. No-one else seems to notice, he is as plain as day, (ha ha) surely I am not the only one who can see this? He is utterly gorgeous, his blonde hair was long, reaching his shoulders, his eyes were a striking blue, and stood out against his pale complexion. He has a slight amount of stubble coming through, and looks as though he hasn't slept for days, which is literally impossible, they die for the day… Well not die, because they are already dead, but they are comatose, minus the breathing. The reason I know this you ask? My beloved Bill told me all about it. The mysterious stranger was walking straight towards me. All of our customers stopped chatting, eating and drinking just to gawk aimlessly at this handsome unknown man, and collectively taking a deep shakey breath, or maybe that was just me?
My face automatically transformed into my forced smile, reserved only for difficult people.
"Hello, do you know where I can find a Miss Sookie Stackhouse?" He asked me, staring intently into my eyes.
"Um, yeah, that is me?" My voice rose at the end betraying my calm façade, and turning it into a question. Damn my fragile human state, I thought. I moved my weight onto my other leg and moved my hair over to my right shoulder.
She's beauti-… Smells amaz-… I looked around wondering where this thought came from, I know it wasn't this man standing in front of me because he's a vampire and I cannot read their thoughts. I looked around trying to place the thoughts but found no-one. Weird.
"Can I talk to you in private please?" He was polite enough, and doesn't seem like the type to kill me… But he is a vampire so who knows?
"Sure, we can go to the office in the back, give me a second I'll let my boss know." I smiled easily and walked over to my boss Sam Merlotte.
"Hey Sam, is it okay if I use your office? That man over there said he needs to talk to me."
"Over where? Oh wait I see, is that Eric Northman?"
"I don't actually know, he just said he needs to speak to me."
"Well sure Sook, just be careful."
"Will do Sam don't worry." I hugged him quickly and started walking back to Blonde God man over there.
God he must be lucky. I hear their thoughts again, but still can't pinpoint it to anyone.
Then it hit me! It's his thoughts! It matches the way he speaks, and the way he is looking at me… But I can't hear vampire's thoughts? What's going on? They're not full sentences and it's extremely hard for me to hear. So maybe I can read their thoughts but only tiny little glimpses and nothing extreme. This is so weird! I was about to say something but then I thought, if I do, I'll be next on their hit list, they would hate to know someone knew what was running through their minds. So I kept my mouth shut.
"Follow me." I smiled as I walked past him, I didn't hear him but I knew he was following me because I felt the blank void inside my head that meant vampire. I felt the gaze of our patrons staring a hole into my back, and then the thoughts hit me.
Why her…?
What has she done to deserve that…?
I thought she was dating vampire Bill, I'm sure he'd be interested to know she's holding other men's company in private… Whore, slut.
They just kept coming, my shields just wouldn't go up, I had to get away from the snarly thoughts. I focused on the vampires head and silence fell.