Anya [AWN-ya] belongs to moi. Nothing else unfortunately.
That night was peaceful; the first calm night that I've had in my life for the past…month or two?
I just laid there on a crickety mattress in the corridor of a hundred-and-something year old house and stared at the ceiling, counting cracks.
That's a lovely way to fall asleep, by the by.
And that's exactly what I did. Fall asleep.
Peacefully. Safe.
Yawn. Life was good. For once.
"ANYA!"
"Urgh, too early; go away," I groaned and turned over.
"ANYA!"
The voice was getting nearer. No! I need more sleep!
"ANYA."
Oh, God. It's here.
"Anya Elise Sorenson, I swear if you don't get up, I will break into your mind and cause you to stay in the eleventh grade for five more years!"
"Psh, you wish, Sook, that you could get into my head," I muttered almost incoherently, wanting her drawling accent to go somewhere else.
Almost scarily, though, I could feel her glare. Gulp. Officially scared now. Sign me up for the secret service's protection.
I cracked open my eyes, peering through my long dark brown tangle of hair that was currently residing on my face.
There to greet my newly opened eyes was a certain Sookie Stackhouse, trained and ready to go to work, looking bright and ready for a fresh new day.
I could just see her checklist that she marked off every morning.
Short shorts? Check.
Merlotte's t-shirt? Check.
Tennis shoes? Check.
Ponytail so high it could knock a bird out of its nest? Check that.
Smirking to myself, I chuckled at the image. Seeing Sookie's look, though, caused me to think that that was the WRONG reaction.
"Anya." Short, precise, to the point. On the verge of snapping.
"Yes ma'am?" I stared up innocently at her.
She frowned down at me, her blond ponytail a swishin', "I'm going to work; get dressed."
Groaning once again, I finally got up and stood there, stretching, "Can't I come a little later? I got Jacks to drive so…I don't really need to be toted around ."
"Fine," she said, exasperated, "come whenever, but be there. You have to say hi to everybody."
And with that, Miss Sookie Stackhouse took her leave and dashed out the door, probably late because of our little conversation/argument/pestering fest.
Sorry, Sook.
Mumbling nonsense, I headed towards the bathroom to get dressed and presentable for the ultimate crowd where fashion and style can be life or death: Merlotte's.
"Hey Taraaa!"
"Who do you think you fu—Anni?
"Yup," I smirked, popping up onto a convenient bar stool, "Tis moi."
Tara turned around, looking real smooth while cleaning a beer glass, "What are you doing here, girl? I thought you were in Dallas with your family."
I smiled tightly, "Long story…change of guardians…I live here now… The end."
She raised her eyebrows, looking skeptical, "Sounds like an awfully short story to me."
"That was just the cliff notes."
"Sure you don't want to talk about it?"
"Positive like the number three, amiga. Very positive."
"Okay," she trailed off, her wide eyes looking at me a tad strangely.
"Excuse me, could I have a Blue Moon over here?"
We both glanced over at the voice, to see a scary biker man with an irritated look on his face.
"Good luck with that," I wished her, and started to walk away.
She rolled her eyes, "Mmhm."
Now where oh where could my Sammy dog be? The kitchen? I ducked inside the entrance only to find the bright and colorful Lafayette, adorned with a flashy pink bandana today.
Said man raised his head, "Hey, whatchu doin' An? Is it vacation time already? Cause I know I'm being ripped off.."
"Nah, I'm here for good…homie. Know where Sam is?" my eyes darted around the steaming, yet deliciously-smelling kitchen.
How he makes awesome food is beyond me. As for me…well, I can make pancakes. And soup.
Make a meal of that.
"He might be in his office, and girl…" he glanced up at me playfully, "you gotta work on your gansta talk."
I nodded energetically, "I'm on it, homedawg."
As I left, I could've sworn I heard a chuckle.
Watch me be gansta, watch!
I stood outside of Sam's office door, waiting patiently.
In three…two…one…
"WHAT'S UP, HOMESKILLET?" I screamed into a shocked Sam's face.
Seriously, it was almost as if every strawberry blonde hair on his head stood up straight as a rod.
Immediately, the song Halo by Beyonce came into my mind.
I can see your halo, halo, halooo!
I snickered.
After a few seconds, he finally regained his poise, "Anya? Is that you?"
"Nope," I replied, striding over to his desk, "just a little sea urchin elf that's come to annoy you and monopolize your bar and—yes, it's me Sammy."
"Oh," he sighed and scratched his neck, "I was hoping that I was hallucinating."
"Hey!" I grabbed a random folder and swatted him on the head, "That's not funny!"
Grinning, he pulled me into a giant bear hug (3rd one in two days!), "Just kidding, An, I'm glad you're back."
I pulled away from the smothering hug somehow, "Yeah, well, haven't you heard? I'm here to stay."
My eyes traced the floorboards, not wanting to meet his blue ones.
"I heard," he said simply, his eyes finally meeting my likewise dark blue ones.
I bit my lip, "Well, I guess, I better find Sookie now. Gotta let her know that I actually made my debut here and all that jazz."
As I started to make my way out, he mused, "So what was with the 'homeskillet' anyways?"
I turned my head and beamed at him, "Haven't you heard? I'm going gansta!"
Laughing, I exited the office to see something totally unexpected and off the wall.
A vampire. With Sookie serving it. Smiling at it.
A flood of memories doused my brain, and for perhaps the billionth time in my life, I was glad Sookie couldn't hear my thoughts.
Oh, boy.
