Bubba's Blues
Chapter Two
Merlotte's was busy. There was a crowd of truckers in from out of state, driving for the circus which was setting up over in Shreveport. Mostly middle aged men they were rowdy, but friendly, and they tipped well. Bill leaned back against the bar casually. To be honest I'm not sure he could do anything casually, but he tried. The T shirt was a new one, it said "This ones instead of you" under a bottle of O Neg.
I grinned at him, was this Bill's idea of mainstreaming? I'd have to tell him not everyone would be amused. He smiled back at me and my heart fluttered just a little. It really wasn't fair how he could do that to me.
My pulse was up a little, the T shirt Bill wore was very tight. After I had checked everyone in my area had a full glass I nipped out to the restroom. Pam nearly scared me out of my skin.
"Why do you do that?" she asked.
"What?" I asked, getting my wits back.
"That jump thing every time you see me. Is that why everyone thinks you're weird?"
For a moment I almost forgot who she was, but it wouldn't do to slap the face of a vampire like Pam. Instead I put on my fixed smile, brushed my hair away from my face.
"Eric might have left you some tact," I managed.
"Why?" Pam asked. I thought she was joking, but her face was serious.
"Are you having Bubba over tonight?" she asked.
"Hope so, Bill's arranging it," I told her.
"Can I come? You know who he is don't you?" she shocked me. Was Pam a fan?
"Of course," I told her, "but don't tell anyone else. He's a bit shy, and a bit funny about, well you know."
Pam nodded enthusiastically. "I can't wait!"
Closed in the sanctuary of the rest room I got a chance to get myself together. There was a text on my cell phone from Bill "Midnight, you owe me". Bubba would be at my house at midnight, I couldn't wait. Bubba and Pam, the vampire fan girl.
Unconsciously I was humming Jailhouse Rock when I went back out to the bar, unaware of how uneasy a few of the truckers were getting. Behind the bar Sam was watching, smiling. I opened my mind to him but he was just amused. Sure they all thought I was crazy anyway.
Everybody in the whole cell block
I saw their faces, put my shields up quickly. Maybe I didn't want to know about everybody on the cell block after all. I could feel Sam shaking his head and laughing behind me. Didn't need any special talents for that.
Arlene was in good form tonight. We met a few times between the tables, but I never got the chance to ask her what was making her so cheerful. Once or twice I caught her eye and she blessed me with a knowing wink. Knowing what, I wondered.
Bill grabbed me as I carried an empty tray back to the bar. His strong hands were on my waist as he drew me close, resting his nose against mine. For a moment I thought he was making some kind of point, but there hadn't really been anyone annoying me. Just this once he was in good form, and wanted to dance. Sam nodded when I looked the question at him, then I let my prince charming whisk me around the bar. He was singing too.
What was with all these people singing? Everyone was at it, like they all read my mind. I laughed at that idea, then hoped they really weren't when Bill pressed his pelvis to mine. That thought would have to go out with an M rating.
Maybe I didn't love you, quite as often as I could have
Bill was singing in my ear. He had quite a good voice too. I felt my face flush.
Little things I should have said and done
"Stop it Bill," I whispered, "have you any idea what that's doing to me?"
"Yes," he answered, pleased with himself.
Before the night was over the whole bar was singing together.
On a cold and gray Chicago morning, a poor little baby child is born in the Ghetto
I laughed all the way home that night. Bill was waiting for me, with my guest. Bubba looked a little different.
"Are those blue suede?" I asked. He smiled back nervously.
"You asked if I would come a calling, ma'am," he told me. I noticed he'd tried to hide a cat behind a plant pot.
"I did, my boyfriend Bill," best get that out of the way now, "said you might like to call again."
"Sure ma'am. You got any O Neg?" he drawled.
Oh that voice. For a moment I wondered if I could get rid of Bill. Just a moment mind, I do love Bill. But still, that voice.
Behind me Bill was laughing again. He'd seen Pam arrive, looking flustered. I was starting to wonder if everyone was going mad, Pam was flustered. We moved into grandma's house, out of the view of prying eyes. No point having another sighting on the six o'clock news.
Must ask Bill about Jim Morrison some time, I thought as I fetched bottles of synthetic blood for all my guests. I was humming again, Bubba seemed to bring that out of people. After a while we were all seated together, Bill had found a guitar that had belonged to Jason. He was strumming gently, singing to himself.
Oh I wish I was in the land of cotton, Old things they are not forgotten, Look away, Look away, Look away Dixieland
Bubba joined him, it was a beautiful moment. My Bill could sing, and he could play. Later on they played Guitar Man while Pam and I danced. For a while Bubba let his guard down, he was able to be his old self, not the new parody. And me, I spent the night in fan girl heaven with Pam, dancing and singing as Bill sang a duet with Bubba.
I almost cried when dawn approached and the vampires had to leave.
"I owe you," I mouthed at Bill as they left.
"I'll collect," he laughed.
The following night I was off. Bill would be here soon, and the thought made me excited. Come collect your debt my love.
Then I'll charge up a new one.
When the door knocked I all but danced down the hall. Darkly handsome Bill was waiting, flowers in hand. Arlene must have said something to him, she knew I longed for flowers from Bill. I gushed and enthused as I found a vase. Every now and then he would do something, like this, that made me think our lives might just be normal. Of course every now and then he would kill someone and I would realize that in his world that was normal.
I was wearing a silk dressing gown that Bill had picked for me. It wasn't sheer, but you wouldn't need vampire eyes to know there was nothing underneath. Bill pursued me around the house as I fussed over the flowers, then fetched him a blood. I was wearing a scent he had picked too, hell I'd gone to town to make him happy tonight.
"What are you up too, Sookie?" he asked, as we danced to an old record.
"I am all innocence," I told him.
"Not for long," he growled on my neck, running his hands down the outside of the silk.
Now I've said before I'm not as experienced as the likes of Arlene or Pam, but I guess there's a fairly universal agreement about the feel of a man's hands pressing against your silk garments. I wriggled a bit so it would fall open, to show him.
When he sat on the bed I sat on his lap, feeling his enthusiasm press against me as I moved on him. Bill knew what the silk did for me, so he was careful to keep every touch through the material. He rubbed it against my nipples, and for a moment I forgot myself. Finally he moved his hand down my belly, still wrapped in the silk. As he pressed it against my own silky folds I thought I'd explode.
Calmly Bill played with my folds, his silk wrapped fingers dipping in and out, trailing my own moistness over my thighs. His fangs were out, and my position on his lap was at risk as someone seemed to have erected something between us. I smiled as I gazed dreamily into his eyes.
"Take me Bill," I told him.
He did.
"What are you up to Sookie?" he asked me later as we lay together on the bed. My skin was glowing, and my nerves felt like someone had run electric through me.
"I want another favor, Bill," I confessed.
Behind me he was laughing again.
"Go on," he invited.
"It was kind of Pam's idea," I told him, as if that would help.
"What was?" he laughed again.
Here goes, I thought.
"Can you ask Eric to come over next time Bubba is here?" I rushed the words out. Bill went tense.
"Why?" suddenly his voice was cold. I hurried on.
"Pam says he plays a mean double bass, and my brother can drum," I blurted out.
Bill pushed himself up to look me in the face, I turned to him, chewing my lip.
"Are you wanting a band here, with Bubba?" he burst out laughing. I could see he was relieved to know why I wanted Eric here.
"What's so funny?" I asked.
"Sookie should I be getting jealous of Bubba?" he laughed.
Well, I thought, if he's in this good form.
"Bill, there's one other thing," I started.
"Go on, before my sides hurt so much I can't answer."
"Where is Jim Morrison?"