Cooper drove the two of them out of the city and over a few back dirt roads as Kendall tried to shake the feeling of static from her brain. It gave her a jelly feeling in her limbs as well and a sense of dread coupled with a combination of thrill and sensuality. It faded the further they got away from the speakeasy. Cooper only looked her way once, focusing solely on the roads before them.

"Are you all right?" He finally asked softly. She mustered a nod.

"I don't know what that was. I heard the weirdest sound and then this feeling…" she motioned from her head over her body.

"Do you get migraines often?"

"It's not like a migraine. It's more than that." She sighed and looked at him. "It's hard to explain. I'm so sorry."

"Don't apologize, Love. I just want to be sure you're okay."

"I am." She took hold of his free hand. "Thank you." He enlaced their fingers and they fell silent for the rest of the car ride.

The car pulled up a dirt drive and around the back side of a house that sat back from any road they would have been on. There was no back yard, but rather a wide open space that Kendall could see housing a dock and a pond. She had to let out a laugh.

"What?" Cooper said, shifting into park.

"I take it this is your house."

"Well, it's my mate's house. I take care of it while he's deployed."

"You have a pond."

"Yes, there's a pond."

"Kind of dangerous to have a pond on your property in Louisiana. You might as well live in the Bayou." Cooper finally smiled.

"I have yet to see a rogue crocodile or alligator on this property." They looked at each other. "Do you want to come in? There's something I want to show you. It's the best feature of this place."

"Sure." Cooper got out of the car and Kendall got herself out before he could come around and help her. He met her around the back of the car and the two of them walked hand and hand into the house. The light came on and Kendall blinked before looking around. It honestly looked as though two men might have inhabited it. There wasn't really a feminine touch to the place.

"Come," he said, leading her by the hand up a staircase. She followed, watching him as they walked up the flight and then down a hall. Cooper paused to pull a string hanging from the ceiling. The panel dropped down and he grabbed hold of the wooden ladder attached to it. Unfolding it, he glanced her way before motioning to the steps. "Ladies first."

"There isn't bats or squirrels or anything up there, is there?" Cooper's lips rubbed together in a raspberry burst before his laugh.

"No. It's a spare room, but what I want to show you is up there." Kendall eyed him warily. "Would you prefer I went first? You don't trust me, still."

"I trust you." She climbed up the ladder and emerged into an immaculately clean attic bedroom. The ceiling was high, but sloped to accommodate the roof. There was a solitary window across from the bed and it had a window seat. Cooper joined her in the room and pointed toward the window seat. She sat down and he pushed open the window panel before sitting across from her. "Wow," Kendall marveled, looking up at the clear, starry sky. "If Gran's house wasn't so hot on the upper levels, I'd totally do this in her attic."

"It's brilliant, isn't it?"

"You stargaze a lot here?"

"It's good for centering."

"Do you have to center a lot?"

"Sometimes; after a particularly trying night at the bar." Kendall nodded, knowing that feeling all too well. "What do you do to recollect yourself?"

"I read. Sometimes I do yoga."

"What do you like to read?"

"Fiction, mostly. It's better to escape from reality."

"Is reality that bad?"

"Depends on the night." Cooper was quiet for a moment while they looked up at the sky. "Not tonight." He turned his head to look at her again, only to be met by her mouth on his. His hands found the sides of her face, gently holding it as he returned the kiss. Kendall rested her hands on his shoulders as she moved to her knees on the window seat and leaned into him. Being forward with a man wasn't something she was used to, but there was something so different about Cooper that she'd cast her inhibitions aside.

The man maneuvered sideways to accept some of her weight into his lap, dropping his hands to her hips as she moved onto him. The kiss deepened and Cooper was holding her firmly against him. Suddenly, he convulsed, causing Kendall to bite down on his lip accidentally. She arched back from him and put her hands over her ears. A groan of pain escaped her and Cooper moved to set her down on the window seat.

"Bloody hell."

"What was that?!"

"That's what happens when he avoids his phone, dear girl," a woman's voice said from the opposite side of the room. Cooper turned his head, but Kendall was trying to slow her breathing as the sound dissipated.

"Fucking hell, Pamela. You could knock," Cooper snapped. Kendall finally dropped her hands and turned her head to look at Cooper and the unknown female.

"And miss this priceless look on your face?" Pamela came closer to the duo and leaned toward Kendall. "She smells amazing."

"Who is she?" Kendall asked, making a disgusted face and leaning away from the woman.

"My sister," Cooper said, helping Kendall sit back up.

"To use the term loosely. Now, come. You know you've been summoned." Pamela said, starting back down the ladder. Kendall looked toward Cooper.

"Summoned?" she was every bit of confused.

"She's very dramatic. She means my father is upset I ignored his calls, so he sent her to get me. It must be important." He sighed.

"O…kay…"

"Will you stay?" Cooper stood up. "I should only be gone for a short while. You can rest here." He reached to pull the window panel closed. "No one will bother you." Not really seeing an alternative, she nodded. He couldn't very well take her home at that point and she didn't want to bother Sookie or Jason for the drive to Shreveport this late. Cooper kissed her and then stalked across the room. "I definitely owe you a better first date."


A long dreamless slumber came to an end when Kendall rolled over in the attic's bed. She didn't remember falling asleep there, just that she had sat down to relax and wait for Cooper. If he'd returned after she'd gone to sleep, he hadn't woken her, but let her rest. The truth of such came to light when Kendall sat up and saw a folded note beside her on the night stand. There was a set of keys next to the note.

I didn't have the heart to wake you. I'm at the construction site now. Take my car home. I'll come get it when I'm finished, was all it said. Kendall yawned, dropping the note and looking around the room. This would go down in history as one of the strangest first dates she'd ever been on.

After refreshing herself in the downstairs restroom, Kendall set off for home. She looked at the time on the car's dash and silently cursed. Everyone would be at her house by the time she got there. It'd be awkward pulling up in a strange car and having to explain where it came from, especially with Rene there. She wasn't looking forward to it. Nevertheless, she took advantage of the car's stereo system and open top, enjoying the drive back to Bon Temps.

She was right to assume everyone would be there with the cookout underway. She was also right to assume that she would draw attention to herself pulling up in Cooper's corvette.

"Whoa!" Jason shouted. Sookie jogged over as Kendall pulled herself from the car.

"Did you stay with Cooper last night?" Sookie asked quietly once she was close to her sister.

"Well, I stayed in his house." Her sister was clearly confused. "It's a long story. Let me go freshen up and change. I'll tell you later when everyone isn't staring at me."

"But, is this his car?"

"Yeah." Kendall started for the house.

"Whose car is that, Ken?" Jason asked from where he sat with Rene, Hoyt, and Lafayette.

"A friend's." she said before disappearing inside. Sookie rejoined the party.

"It's that bartender's car, ain't it?" Lafayette asked.

"That's what she said," Sookie confirmed.

"Did she stay the night with him?" Jason asked. His eyes shifted from Sookie to Rene then back to Sookie.

"In his house. It didn't seem like it was with him in the typical sense, though." She shrugged. Jason got up to go turn the ribs on the grill. Rene followed him.

"I said ol' Rene gonna have to up his game. 'Specially now seein' dude's car." Lafayette let out a laugh. Sookie shook her head and waved to Sam, who pulled up in his truck. He hopped out and paused, looking toward the corvette. Sookie noticed he looked troubled, but he trekked across the lawn and smiled as he joined them.

"Hey, y'all," he said, sitting down in a lawn chair.

"Yo, Sam! Beer?" Hoyt asked. Sam declined. Kendall came out of the back door, bypassing Jason and Rene at the grill. She stopped at the cooler to retrieve a beer for herself before dropping down on a lounger.

"How y'all doin'?" she asked. Rene sat down on the end of the lounger. "Hey."

"Can we talk?" She took a drink of her beer, and then nodded.

"Yeah." He stood and pulled her up. The two of them walked away from eavesdropping ears.

"He's gonna set her right." Hoyt said.

"Yeah, well, I told her to tell him." Jason said, sitting back down in his chair.

"Do you tell your girl of the night about the one before?" Sookie asked.

"That is different. Everyone expects me to sleep around."

"Kendall doesn't sleep around. And that's a double standard." Jason shrugged.

"That's just how it is, Sook."

Rene and Kendall rounded the corner of the old shed behind the house and Rene crossed his arms. Kendall didn't meet his eyes, knowing that he was upset. She didn't have to have her shield down to feel it coming from him. She could tell by looking at him.

"So, what's the deal?" Rene asked.

"I didn't sleep with him, if that's what you mean. If it was that serious, I would have told you." She leaned against the side of the shed. "I like you both. I'm trying to figure things out."

"I don't like this back and forth shit, Kendall. You think I want to share you with someone?" Kendall stood up straight.

"Rene, to be fair, we had one date. You did ask me out for another and I agreed, but it hasn't happened yet. We never said we were going to be exclusive. And how could we after one date?"

"So you'd be cool with me seeing someone else?"

"If that's what you want."

"That's not what I want." He sighed and dropped his arms to his sides. Kendall dared to take his hand.

"Can we just continue to have fun and date and see where it goes?" Rene looked at her for a moment. "Besides, I didn't have the best date with Cooper last night anyway." He sighed and nodded.

"Yeah." Kendall smiled and led Rene back to the party.


"Ooh, your sister shouldn't smoke weed no more." Lafayette said with a laugh. Jason shook his head.

"Light weights."

"None of y'all should be…" Sam looked around, mid-sentence. The bonfire in front of him, making shadows dance on his face. Sookie looked around then, asking what he was searching for. Cooper came up the driveway, waving when he made eye contact with Sookie.

"Hey, Cooper!" She greeted with excitement. "I'm glad you stopped by."

"I sort of had to. Your sister has my car," he said with a laugh. His eyes searched for Kendall. When they found her asleep next to Rene on a blanket next to the fire, his demeanor seemed to change. Sookie took a sharp breath, finding him to look somewhat menacing.

"I'll wake her up," she finally said.

"Keys are here," Rene said. His hand slid across Kendall's butt, a sly smirk on his face as he did so. He found the keys in the back pocket of her shorts. She shifted, her eyes fluttering open.

"It's alright, Chère," he cooed. She reached back toward her backside.

"What are you doin'?"

"Kendall, Cooper is here for his car." Sookie said. Kendall pushed herself up using Rene's chest and looked up.

"Oh," she held the side of her head for a moment. "Jesus Lafayette. No more smoking."

"It's good shit." Kendall grabbed the keys from Rene and stood up. The conversation went on around the bonfire as she approached Cooper, who watched her from his eerily still stance.

"Do you want a beer or something?" she asked, holding up his key ring.

"No. I have to get back to Shreveport." He took the keys and turned toward her.

"Okay. I'll walk you to your car."

"That's all right. Stay with your friends." He kissed her cheek and stalked away. Kendall looked at Sookie, who only glanced at her. With a sigh, Kendall turned and jogged after Cooper.

"Coop." He paused by the car. "Thanks for letting me use it. And for last night." He nodded. She lightly shook her head curiously. "Are you upset with me, or…?"

"Is that your boyfriend, there?" Cooper leaned against the car, making him slightly shorter to meet her eyes easier.

"No."

"You looked very cozy."

"We had a date. Cooper, I like you. Don't be upset with me. I want to go out with you again."

"I don't think that's a good idea, Kendall."

"Why?"

"Trust me. It just isn't." He moved to get into his car.

"Cooper."

"Goodbye, gorgeous." Kendall stood still, dumbfounded by Cooper as he started up the car and backed down the driveway.