"Are ya ready?" Sam asked.
"I didn't get dressed up for nothin' said Tara curtly. Sam shook his head with a smile and they set off for their first offical date. Sam wanted it to be special, but it was really just a bite to eat in a resturant and then a romantic stroll. Tara wasn't Sookie, she was different and he liked that. He decided to see her as an invidividual, rather than just Sookie's best friend like he had in the past. In the beginning when it was just casual, he thought he could handle the "no strings" thing, and it made him feel like one of the guys, but after watching her sleep next to him one night, he looked at her and realised this moment was perfect and he didn't want to replace her with Sookie, or anyone else.
Tara was a tough cookie, she had to be and he respected that, but he didn't want to just be seen as a hook up anymore, and at first she acted like she didn't care, but when she thought he'd moved on, she started to soften towards him. As the weeks went by her feelings grew and he sensed it, before making her jealous flirting with cute customers, she became unbearable and he finally put her out of her misery by deciding to make a move. It turned out to be one of the best choices he ever made. After their meal, they walked back with leftovers and Sam tried to link arms with her but Tara said that she didn't want to stink of onion rings. They walked down the street, Tara saying how she should be a better cook than she was because she felt like her mama's personal cook.
"Ya know ya mom should really try to learn" Sam told her.
"Are ya kidding me? If I let her loose the only thing that would be baked and crispy is our house" Tara said. Sam smiled, but his eyes widened in shock as a little stray dog ran up to him ready to go after their leftovers. Sam tried to shake the dog away but it was no use. Sam began to feel his stomach turn inside out as he felt the urge to change, but he couldn't. No-one was around but he had to make it go away for Tara's sake. The only problem was that Tara liked the dog and started patting it's fur.
"Don't do that Tara, ya don't know where it's been" Sam tried to make it seem dirty but Tara didn't listen, which cost her.
"It looks fine to me" Tara thought that the stray liked being touched as it stood still, but Sam could tell that it was starting to get frustrated and as Tara ruffled it's ears, it's head swerved and it bit her, acknowledging Sam with a grunt as it ran off. Sam knew that animals didn't have the ability to know what he was, but this dog was definately screwing with him. He dropped the paper bag and put his arm around Tara before getting the paper napkins in the bag to help wipe off the blood. The wound was small and Tara was startled but refused to cry as Sam gently told her that she was fine. Everything was going to be fine. He made a bad joke about good diners having crappy napkins and when she smiled back at him, he looked across the road so that she couldn't see his eyes light up, but what he saw across the street ruined it. He saw the same dog whining and growling at them, and the urge to attack it became too strong and before he knew it he was running towards the dog ready to take it on.
"Sam, I'm fine leave it be" Tara urged him, but Sam had had enough.
"Stay here" Sam almost growled at her.
"Sam!" She saw him run over to dog, chasing him down the pavement then on the grass into the woodland and ran after him with the paper bag in her bloodied hand, being the only spectator to watch her boyfriend do battle in a dog-fight.