Closing Time at Merlotte's
"You know I may be skinny. But I ain't evil – and once evil always evil!"
"Arlene – c-can I talk to you?" Jessica asked quietly just before they were about to close Merlotte's. She'd been bussing a table and finally spotted the older redhead alone – she took a chance.
"Don't you even come near me!" Arlene snapped, folding her apron and placing it on the counter, "I mean it – vampire."
"Please," Jessica pleaded, "I just wanted to say sorry for the way I acted last night."
"Fine – apology accepted, but doesn't mean I feel comfortable around you."
The vampire girl recoiled from the remark, hurt showing in her eyes. She sighed and stepped back from the counter she'd been walking toward. Arlene watched her as she took off her apron, throwing it on the nearest table. She was expecting her to lash out as usual, but the girl didn't. She was genuinely hurt – wasn't she?
"Jessica."
"Yes?" she choked in reply, her back to Arlene. Was she crying?
"Don't cry," she sighed, hesitantly walking up behind her. She placed a hand on her shoulder and almost screamed when Jessica turned around, blood streaming down her face.
"Shit," Jessica cussed, wiping furiously at her cheeks, leaving an orange smear.
"I-It's alright," Arlene tried, but wasn't entirely sure herself.
"No it isn't," the girl sighed, "You're always going to be scared of me – even I'm scared of me sometimes. I hate this stupid life!"
The older woman winced slightly, trying to understand. She was just a girl after all, a vampire girl maybe, but she was still young. She'd heard about Bill Compton and what he did to her.
"Don't say that," she started, Jessica looking taken aback by her comforting tone, "I-I know when Bill Compton turned you he never meant for that."
"Yeah? Well what do you know!" Jessica snapped, "All you do is go on about how you hate vampires, and how evil we are – how evil I am."
"I know quite a lot thank you very much. I know that you're still just a girl who has barely lived her life. I know – trust me I know. I've had to raise two kids by myself practically and work in this place. I've tried to settle, tried to be happy, I just can't – look at my life Jessica!"
She took in Arlene's expression and instantly felt guilty again. As much as she hated to admit it, Arlene was right.
"I'm sorry," she spoke gently as the older woman tried to hide her pain, "I know it's hard for you too."
She enveloped her in a hug, trying to be gentle. She was, and it – this – felt normal. Like friends or maybe more than that. Jessica just knew it was nice that Arlene had stopped shaking and wasn't so afraid.
She pulled back and smiled, looking gently at her. Only just now did she realise just how good she smelt, how good she looked. She could hear her heartbeat, she could hear it race. She panicked thinking her fangs were showing, hands clapping over her mouth automatically.
"Oh god I'm so sorry!"
"What for?" Arlene questioned quietly, tugging Jessica's hand away. She smiled at the girl's reaction, her sigh of relief clear when she realised her fangs hadn't popped out.
"I-I thought—"
She was cut off as Arlene kissed her. Arlene herself didn't know why, and neither did Jessica – she hadn't glamoured her. Neither pulled away, neither flinched or froze. Jessica had gasped, but that was only when Arlene deepened the kiss, pushing her back against the table.
Her eyes had slipped shut. Arlene bit her bottom lip teasingly as she eventually pulled away, only for need of air.
"You know I may be skinny. But I am attracted to you."
Jessica swore if she was still human she'd be beet red by now. She glanced up shyly, but clearly feeling the same. Her fangs now showing – Arlene didn't run. Instead she kissed her with more gusto than before. Maybe she had changed her mind about vampires, or just about Jessica herself.