A/N:
*** Special thanks to GoddessD for this chapter, after reading her story Dead on the Crossroads (amazing story) I got a little inspiration to finish this chapter ***
*** Special thanks to Vilannh who gets to hear me bitch about reviews almost daily… You are an awesome friend V thanks for putting up with me LOVE YOU! ***
Disclaimer: They are still Charlaine Harris' babies and hers/AB's/HBO's worlds, but my wacky vision to some things ;)
Rated M for Adult Content
My Living Death
Jason - Chapter 10
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JPOV
I just got the news that I'm getting out. It's about damn time. For the past 5 years I've been writing to Sook only to have my letters come back. I was going out of my mind. It took everything inside me not to flip out and kill someone. My last night of prison… I laid in my cot looking up at the ceiling thinking back on my life and every good and bad thing I've done. Sookie... god how could I let her down after the promise I made to her...
Age 7
Sitting on the side of the road watching as Sheriff Dearborn go over the wreckage that used to be Dad's station wagon, with Sookie asleep cuddled close to me after crying for Gran. I can't believe that we survived the wreck.
"Jason, we gonna have to take you and your sister to the foster home ya'll will be separated to one for girls and one for boys." Sheriff said as he tried to pull Sookie from my arms.
"No!" she screamed "Jason, please! Promise me you won't leave me, like Mama, Daddy and Gran did! Promise me!" she wailed.
"I promise Sookie. I promise." I shushed her.
"I can't leave her Sheriff Dearborn, ain't there another way. You know Sookie's special. She won't be alright if I ain't with her." I begged. He stood back and sighed.
"What about your Uncle Bartlett. You suppose he'd take ya'll in?" He asked. I just shrugged holding Sookie closer.
As soon as we moved in I regretted it. The son' bitch messed with me every chance he got. Thank god Sookie was still too young. When she got older he tried, but I wouldn't let him. Sookie needed to be protected.
Age 16
After I turned 16 I got a job at a gas station. I didn't get much doing it, but I did make good tips from all the women of Bon Temps that appreciated a good looking kid. I knew how to turn the charm on. I was planning on looking for a place for me and Sookie to stay so we could get the hell out of Bartlett's house. After a few hours I came up on a motel that charged $18 a night. It was a worst shit hole than our house, but the Ritz compared to what we got now. I was so excited I rushed home to get Sookie. I rushed into her room when I heard her crying for the bastard to get off of her.
"Get off her you muther fucker!" I yelled as I grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and yanked.
"Jason!" Sookie whimpered and cuddled up in a fetal position. The sight of her and the blood staining the bed made my vision blur. I jumped on Bartlett and wailed on him. "Jason! Stop! Your gonna kill him." she screamed as she tried to pull me off of him, but I pushed her away. This asshole was going to die. I hit him so hard and so many times Sheriff Dearborn finally pulled me off of him. I got arrested of course even after we tried to tell him that Bartlett raped Sookie. They didn't even try to hear us. With all the trouble I've been in and Sookie being special they just said that I better hope Bartlett woke up so they can hear what he has to say.
Age 18
I've made a lot of enemies being a bad kid and they were all locked up with me. It was literally a pit fight everyday up in here. You fought or you got punked. So I fought. I've been in trouble and usually the one starting it. My record was a mile long mostly assault and stealing from people so I could feed Sookie. That good for nothing piece of shit lived off the government checks he got for taking care of me and Sookie. He drank and gambled away every cent that ever came to him.
My life was black and white with no shades of grey. Steal or starve… Me or Sookie… and being locked up it was either be a fighter or be a bitch. I was always a fighter.
The week before I was about to be released I sent a letter to Sook telling her that I was coming home and that she should get ready to leave Bartlett's. On my last call to the ring it was with a guy that tried to punk me every day, but I never backed down. This was the fight that would fuck my plans… After I knocked him down the second time he pulled a shift on me. All I could think about was Sookie and what would happen to her if I died today. I got the shift away from him and killed him. That took me farther away from Sookie, but at least I was still alive.
Present day….
"Stackhouse, you're a free man. You've done good these past few years boy. Don't fuck up again." The Warden said clapping me on the back.
"Oh don't you worry, Sir. I'm on the straight and narrow. I gotta go find my sister. I got her to think about now." I said as I walked through the gate. With a salute I turned on my heels stuck my thumb out to get a ride back to Bon Temps.
***...***
Two days hitching rides and walking finally brought me across the town limits of Bon Temps my personal hell for 9 years of my life. I really don't have that good to be home feeling in my gut. I got dropped off in the main square of town and started my trek back to Bartlett's house... well Sookie's house now since I got word that he'd past. When I got there the place was done up real nice, with fresh paint and a little flower and vegetable garden in the front (I flashed back to a memory of Sookie and Gran working in her little garden back at her old farmhouse).
For the past 5 years and the whole way to Bon Temps, I've been thinking that she didn't want anything to do with me since she never wrote and my letters kept getting sent back. Slowly and nervously making my way up the front steps onto the porch my heart was pounding so hard in my chest I could barely breathe. This was all due to my thinking, but it seems Sookie was doing well. Maybe not being around wasn't really a big deal and she'd be able to forgive me for breaking my promise for leaving her. I raised my hand to knock and the front door flew open. I took a step back thinking I'd see Sookie, but it wasn't her.
"Oh! Hello. Can I help you?" said the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. She was about three inches shorter than my 6'. With a reddish hint to her dark brown hair it went down to just below her shoulders and silvery blue eyes. I took in the rest of her and she looked dressed more like she would be living in Shreveport or New Orleans and not some little backwater dump like Bon Temps. She was wearing skin tight black jeans and a red off the shoulder blouse with come fuck me red heels. She was spellbinding. "Ahem… hi?" she said after clearing her throat.
"Oh, uh… sorry ma'am. I thought my sister Sookie lived here."
"Ma'am? Do I look old enough to be called ma'am?" She said with an outraged expression, but it felt to me like she was teasing.
"Err… sorry?" I apologized, but it came out more like a question. She giggled.
"I'm just playin' still gotta get used to the southern manners down here." She said now taking in my appearance. "Don't get all that back in NOLA." She said while her eyes made its way from my boots up to my face. "I'm sorry… you said you were looking for someone? It's just me here. I'm Amelia Broadway." She said and after her name she stuck her hand out for me to shake.
"Jason Stackhouse." I said taking her soft hand into mine. I was getting a little tingle from her touch. It's been a very long time since I've seen a woman like this. Being in prison it's all males or women that look like men. She cleared her throat again. "Sorry… do you know Sookie?"
"Never heard of her, but I've only lived here for six months. There's a bar and grill down the road that the local's hangout at maybe you'll find her or someone there who's heard of her?" she said. With a raised eye brow she looked down at our hands still connected.
"Yeah, thanks sorry to bother you." I said abruptly pulling my hand away. I backed away and turned to make my way to the bar.
"Jason?" she called out while I was halfway down the driveway. I turned to look at her just as I opened my mouth to speak she said "It's not a far walk, but you look like you've been doing a lot of that. I could give you a ride." She said with a beautiful smile.
"I'd appreciate that." I said returning her smile. She turned back into the house closing the front door. A couple minutes later she pulled up next to me in a black convertible Mercedes Benz. "What the hell is a girl like you living in a dump like this?" I asked opening the door then sliding in.
"Ah… long story." She said nervously looking away slamming on the gas pedal shooting gravel behind us as she sped down the drive.
"You ain't in any trouble are you? 'Cause I just got out and don't need to be hanging around with trouble." I said sternly.
"Not "trouble" just hiding out from my life…" she shrugged then slammed on the breaks just as we hit the main road "Wait a minute… "got out"… of where?" she said with that cute thing she does with her eyebrow.
"Prison." I said softly looking right into her eyes. Her mouth made an "O" and I just pictured what I'd like it to be around. 'Cut it out Stackhouse!' I scolded myself. Shit I can't help it though, she's sexy as hell and I am a man who has been without for 5 years.
"Well you don't look like an ex-con." She said while stared at me through slatted eyes for a minute sizing me up again. I just smiled at her. A minute later she smiled back. "Then again I have no experience so what do I know. You look harmless enough." She shrugged and started driving all crazy again down the road. We made it to the bar so fast there wasn't really any more time to talk I was terrified one hand holding on to the dash and the other on top edge of windshield. It took me a minute to dig my nails out of the dash after she slammed us to a stop into a parking stall.
"Thanks Amelia, for the ride." I said getting out.
"No problem." She replied. With one last look at her sexy body, her hand was gripping the stick shift and again my mind went to the gutter. I shook myself and turned to go into the bar.
As I entered all action stopped and all eyes were on me. I looked around at everyone hoping I'd see Sookie, instead I saw a lot of familiar faces. Dawn a girl I used to fuck back in high school was a waitress… Mrs. Fortonberry was with her son Hoyt, a kid that was always bullied 'cause he was so tall, clumsy and a pussy. Sheriff Dearborn and a fucking cocksucker that use to think he was hot shit in high school Andy Bellflur, were sitting at a table with the Mayor and his wife. With the exception of Dawn I didn't really know these people, so I ignored all their stares and walked straight to the bar.
"Welcome to Merlotte's what can I get for you?" the bartender asked
"Nothing right now." I replied as I pulled out a picture of Sookie "Say, uh you seen this girl around?" I said handing him the picture his eye brows furrowed together it looked as though he recognized her and I added "It's an old picture… she'd be about 18 now, her name is Sookie." I finished with a hope filling my chest. He looked up at me cautiously. "You've seen her?" I demanded.
"She looks familiar, but I don't know anyone who lives here that looks like this… Sorry, man." He replied handing the picture back to me. Shit! I though disappointed.
"Jason? Jason Stackhouse?" Dawn said sauntering over to me with a sway in her hips. "Well I'll be damn been a long time stranger." She said looking me up and down biting her bottom lip. "You still a bad boy." She whispered seductively.
"Dawn, looking good." I replied checking her out too. Boy oh boy has she "grown" into a fine looking woman. Looks like I'm going to get some tonight, but Sookie first. "Hey, you seen my sister?" I asked.
"Sookie? Damn Jason I haven't seen Sookie since you got locked up. I heard she took off after your Uncle Barlett died, but I don't know where she went." She said.
"So shit! She ain't even in Bon Temps?" I asked pissed off. She shook her head with a sad look on her face.
"I'm sorry, honey. Hey I'm gonna get off in a few hours. Why don't you relax have something to eat and drink and we can catch up." She said. "Sam, whatever he's having is on me." she said to the bartender out the corner of my eye I saw him starting at me. I know he knows her. I ordered some food and a beer and just as I was about to confront this Sam about what he knows…
"Jason, mutha fucking Stackhouse!" I tall muscular black guy saunters up to me with a sway to his hips that out did Dawn's.
"Lafayette?" I said aghast "What. The. Fuck… happened to you?" I said taking in his crazy outfit a gold sequined halter top, with camouflage cargo shorts, black boots and glittery gold eye shadow with purple lip stick.
"I came out Boyfriend… this…" he paused waving his hand over himself in a game show gesture "Is the real Lafayette Reynolds." He finished. I was speechless this was my best friend growing up and we used to get into so much trouble together. I had no idea he was a queer. "What about you, sexy? Prison life change you?" he teased batting his fake eyelashes at me.
"Hell no!" I answered and he chuckled "Sorry buddy… I still love women. Hey you know what happened to Sookie?" I asked.
"Naugh, boyfriend… I haven't seen Sookie since your perv uncle died." He said shaking his head. He knew about what me and Sookie went through, he was my best friend his mama was crazy and his Aunty and Uncle were both alcoholics and abusive parents to his cousin Tara.
"Maybe Tara knows?" I pressed.
"I haven't seen Tara neither… she split town when she was sixteen. Bartlett died a year ago she left before he did. Look I'm cooking right now, but I get a break in an hour. I can tell you all about what I know, but I don't think your gonna like it."
"I need to find her Laff… anything you know might help me find her." I said. He nodded and sauntered off back into the kitchen. I turned my attention back to Sam "You know her, I know you seen her." I said to him with a threatening undertone.
"I'm sorry, I can honestly tell you that I don't know her. I just opened this place a few months ago. Maybe she came in, but can't tell you where she is." He looked like he was being honest so I dropped it with a sigh. "You talk to the Sheriff?" he asked. I shook my head. Just as I was finishing my meal the sheriff came up to me.
"Stackhouse. Welcome back to Bon Temps." He said. I jerked my head in reply. "I heard you're looking for Sookie. She took off after your Uncle died."
"Yeah, already heard that." I said stiffly keeping my anger for this man in check.
"You wanna step outside I have a few things I'd like to say to you in private." He said. "It's about your uncle and Sookie." He said after I didn't move or reply. I looked up at him. Even though his face was always squished up it looked pained. I laughed to myself when I remembered that Sookie used to always say he looked like a Pekinese. I rose and followed him and Andy outside. "Jason, I owe you an apology… I should have believed you and Sookie. After your uncle died Sookie was evicted and disappeared. The owners of the house found a shit load of kiddie porn in his belongings and turned it over to us." I was seeing red again. "I felt awful and tried to get you out, but you've already been sent up to Joliet. I'm truly sorry son. I'll do what I can to help you search for your sister." He finished putting a comforting hand on my shoulder. Then turning to leave, Andy was eyeing me up and down.
"If you plan on staying in town you keep your ass out of trouble Stackhouse, I'll be watching you." He threatened in his gruff voice. I scoffed at him… still trying to be the big man.
"Leave the boy alone, Andy." Bud said as he kept walking towards his cruiser. Andy's expression was priceless and he walked off following.
"Damn it Bud. It's detective Bellflur, why'd you belittle my authority in front of him." I heard him mumble angrily to the Sheriff.
I just laughed and made my way back into the bar. By then Lafayette was off and sitting in a booth in the corner of the place with a bottle of Patron and two shot glasses sitting in front of him. He waved me over and I slide in across from him. He poured the shots and began on telling me about Sookie. My heart was crushed into a million pieces after hearing what Sookie went through with me gone.
"Why the fuck didn't you help her, Laff?" I asked angrily.
"What the fuck do you think I could have done?" he answered calmly "Jason, baby… I'm a black man that loves men and dresses like a woman. You think these rednecks would give a fuck about what I have to say?" he asked earnestly.
"Shit I suppose not, hell they didn't even believe me or Sookie. I'm sorry… I'm not mad at you. I'm fucking pissed off at myself. What a cluster fuck, my life has been." I said trying my damnedest to hold back the tears that were threatening.
"Don't feel sorry for yourself sugar, you need to be thinking about what you gonna do about finding Sookie." He said pouring another shot for us and downing his.
"Yeah, you're right. But shit, I'm terrified. You know Sookie's special. After everything she's been through and being the way she is. What am I going to find?" I said looking down at my hands.
"She's a tough girl. She survived your uncle and what he did to her. I saw her a week before he died, Jason. She wasn't fucked up at all… she was still Sookie, even after everything." He said holding my hand in a comforting way.
"Thanks Laff." I said putting my other hand on top of his. "Look I gotta get going to find a place to stay."
"You can stay with me boyfriend." He purred. I raised an eyebrow to him and pulled my hands away from his.
"Thanks, but seriously I don't do guys." I said and he laughed.
"Hey Jason, ready to go." Dawn thankfully interrupted and Lafayette made a hissing noise at her. "Oh, shut it." she said to him.
"I hope you got rubbers Jase, 'cause Ms. Thang's a skanky ho." He said standing with a hand on his hip.
"Excuse me? You're the skank Lafayette." She huffed.
"Bitch." He said.
"Fag." She quipped.
"Cockblocker." He retorted. I just sat there with an amused expression watching their exchange.
"Oh go… fry something!" she said to him taking my hand "Come on Jason." She finished.
"Later Laff…" I chuckled rising from the booth.
"In case you change your mind. You know where to find me, sweetness." He said as he sauntered off towards the back of the bar.
I took one last look around the place I don't know why, maybe I was still hoping Sookie would be there. My eyes landed on Amelia. She was leaning into the bar with a leg up on the brass bar at the bottom of it. She turned at looked at me over her shoulder with a cat ate the canary grin.
.
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Amelia POV
"Shit! I'm late." I hollered at myself. Rushing around making sure I had everything for my trip back to NOLA. Okay, keys, purse… I was interrupted by the phone ringing.
"Hello?" I answered breathlessly after running around.
"Amelia, are you still coming down here?" Octavia my mentor asked.
I met Octavia when I was sixteen. When I hit puberty a lot more than my body started to change. I started to see people lit up with different colors and when I touched people I could tell what kind of person they were, whether they were good or bad. It freaked me out for years. By some miracle or maybe the Gods led me too her, I wandered past her shop and there was a force pulling me in. When she took notice of me she knew I was different and welcomed me with open arms. She asked if I knew what I was. When I told her no, she explained to me that I was a witch. I about bolted out the door until she started tell me about my "powers". So from that day on she became my mentor and taught me to perfect my gifts and different spells and rituals.
"Yeah, just getting myself together so I can." I replied.
"Alright don't forget the herbs I asked for." She reminded. Shit. I knew I forgot something.
"No problem. I'll see you this weekend." I said then hung up. I rushed to the front door flinging it open to get the herbs from the garden and was stopped in my tracks.
"Oh!" I said shocked to find a strange/kinda dirty man standing at my door he looked momentarily shocked himself. I immediately called out to his aura to show at the same time calming my heart rate. It was a rust color with golden flickers. Hmmm that's odd I said to myself. I've never seen an aura like his before. Usually it's a solid color… the rust color was odd enough but to see the golden flickers… "Hello. Can I help you?" I asked. He stood there taking me in. His face was gorgeous. I couldn't look away from it. He still didn't answer I cleared my throat "Hi?" I said hesitantly. His eyes finally made it to mine. They were a rich chocolate brown. There was sadness behind them and my heart thumped for this stranger.
"Oh, uh… sorry ma'am. I thought my sister Sookie lived here." He thought his sister lived here? Okay, that must mean he's not from here. As vain as I am I was kinda miffed that he called me ma'am and said as much.
"Ma'am? Do I look old enough to be called ma'am?" I said outraged, but he was so damn hot it came out more like flirting.
"Err… sorry?" he said abashed. I couldn't help but to giggle.
"I'm just playin' still gotta get used to the southern manners down here." I said checking him out. His boots were crusted with mud; his jeans were all dusty with dirt, when I got to his slightly dirty grey tank top I paused… because it showed off his well defined chest and arms… I had to make sure I wasn't drooling. He was extremely well built I totally forgot about the dirty clothes. "Don't get all that back in NOLA." I said as I continued my inventory of this sex on a stick of a man. I wondered which God blessed me with such a gift. Then I remember why he was here. "I'm sorry… you said you were looking for your sister? It's just me here. I'm Amelia Broadway." I finished with introducing myself offering my hand.
"Jason Stackhouse." He said taking my hand. His hand was ruff and callused probably from creating that gorgeous chest of his. I got a flutter in my stomach from what I got from his touch. He was a good man, strong and loyal, he made bad choices, but paid for his mistakes, he didn't have an easy life. He loved his sister with such intensity and was extremely desperate. I was intrigued and wanted to jump him right here on the porch. I was so distracted by this guy I didn't even realized that neither of us said a thing… I cleared my throat again. "Sorry… do you know Sookie?" he stammered. His aura got my attention back as soon as he mentioned his sister, it went from rust to a deep blue and the gold flickers remained.
"Never heard of her, but I've only lived here for six months." I explained and thought of Merlotte's "There's a bar and grill down the road that the local's hangout at maybe you'll find her there or someone there who's knows?" I finished tying to pull my hand back, but he didn't release it. I looked at him with a questioning brow, then down to our hands.
"Yeah, thanks sorry to bother you." he said releasing my hand, then backing away. I watched him walk away and I felt a tug in my gut. For some strange reason I didn't want him to leave. But I wasn't going to ask him to stay, so I thought of the next best thing.
"Jason?" I called out. When he turned back I said "It's not a far walk, but you look like you've been doing a lot of that. I could give you a ride." I offered.
"I'd appreciate that." he said with a shy smile. I went back into the house to get my things and lock up then made my way out the back door to my car. After pulling up he got in asking "What the hell is a girl like you living in a dump like this?"
"Ah… long story." I said thinking about my overbearing father. I wasn't going to tell him about that drama so I just sped off.
"You ain't in any trouble are you? 'Cause I just got out and don't need to be hanging around with trouble." He said a little curtly.
"Not "trouble" just hiding out from my life…" I shrugged then slammed on the breaks when I realized what he had said. "Wait a minute… "got out"… of where?" I asked worried... prison… the nut house?
"Prison." He whispered with a penetrating look that was begging me not to judge. What I've learned about this guy made a lot of sense to me now. I didn't know what to say to I just mouthed "O" he got an intense look in his eyes. I looked at this aura, it was a burning red… he was lusting after me. No surprise if he just got out so I let it go. I wasn't exactly innocent… I was right there with him.
"Well you don't look like an ex-con." I said while looking at him through slatted eyes thinking whether to jump him or kick him out of my car. When he smiled I though... jump him… "Then again I have no experience so what do I know. You look harmless enough." I finished deciding to trust my instincts about this guy and give him a ride. He was quiet on the ride. I thought it was funny that he seemed terrified of my driving.
"Thanks Amelia, for the ride." He said getting out after pulling into the lot.
"No problem." I replied. He looked like he wanted to say something more so I waited. He finally turned and went into the bar. I shrugged and drove off. Now I was even later.
During the drive I couldn't stop thinking about Jason. I didn't even know him, but at the same time I sorta did. I wanted to know him more. I was drawn to him. When I got halfway to NOLA I remembered… I forgot the damn belladonna for Octavia.
"Fuck Broadway!" I screeched. Hoping there were no cops nearby I made a U-turn across the median. When the coast was clear I told my car to call my Dad.
"Amelia you are not here yet." He said with an irritated tone.
"Sorry Dad, I can't make it tonight. I forgot something important for Octavia. She really needs it the shop is out." I said.
"Really? I wish you would stop hanging around that strange woman and get serious about your life. Candice was really looking forward to meeting you." he said in a clipped tone.
"Well what's the rush Dad? She's just another gold digging bimbo you'll get tired of soon enough. I really don't see the point of meeting this one." I said tartly.
"Amelia Carmichael! That is enough. I expect you to be here tomorrow morning." he snapped, then hanging up. Whatever.
My mind wandered back to Jason and I didn't even realize I past the drive to my house until I stopped the car right in front of Merlotte's.
"What am I doing? He's probably long gone by now." I said to myself. "Well doesn't hurt to check." I sighed getting out.
When I walked into the place I went straight to the bar. Sam acknowledged me with a nod, so I waited for him to finish his order with the waitress. I took a look around and found Jason sitting in a corner booth in what looked like a heated conversation with the cook. I was so glad he was still here.
"Hey Amelia, what brings ya' out here?" Sam asked taking my attention from Jason.
"I need a shot of Jack." I replied. He smiled.
"Amelia, you're not old enough." He chided in a low voice.
"So? No one around here knows that…" I argued then leaned further into the bar "I won't tell if you don't tell." I said in a sing song tone. He shook his head relenting. Still smiling he turned to get the bottle and a shot glass. My eyes went back to Jason. My stomach started to flutter again, I was nervous and I needed to take the edge off from the stupid argument with my Dad. Turning back I took the shot and nodded for him to pour another.
"Tough day?" he asked as he poured. I shrugged taking the shot slamming the shot glass a bit too hard onto the bar. "Guess that answers my question." He chuckled pouring another shot.
"Thanks Sam." I said with a grimace. He smiled with a nod then walked off giving his attention to another customer. That's why I liked him so much… he's quiet, friendly, but keeps to himself for the most part. He never tries to get into anyone's business.
I turned my head to look over my shoulder to where Jason was sitting and he was looking right at me. I smiled a wicked grin at him when our eyes met.
Still looking at me he said to Dawn I think is her name "Hang on a minute." and walked over to me. "Hey Amelia." He said to me the gold flickers in his Aura got brighter.
"Hey yourself." I replied. Dawn's aura flashed a bright green and I looked at her face. She was jealous. "I think your girlfriend is kinda pissed, you better go on back to her." I whispered to him.
"Huh?" he said with a confused look on his face. I jerked my head in Dawn's direction. "She ain't my girlfriend." He replied waving her off.
"Jason… What the fuck." she huffed placing a hand on her hip. I stifled a giggle. "I thought we were leaving." she said when he didn't turn his attention away from me.
"You can go." He said to her still looking at me. I looked back at her and gave her an innocent smile as she narrowed her eyes at me. "You wanna get a table?" he asked me. Dawn said something under her breath and stomped off.
"Sure." I replied. We went back to the booth he was sitting at earlier. "So tell me about yourself Jason." I asked after we sat.
"Can I get ya'll something?" a waitress with off the shelf flaming red hair interrupted before he could answer.
"Jack… the bottle and two shot glasses." I replied.
"Not much to tell. I grew up here, but…" he paused turning to look out the window. His aura went dark blue again.
"…But you got locked up?" I stated. I could tell he didn't really want to talk about his past, but I had to know why. After the waitress dropped off the bottle and glasses I poured the shots. "How long were you in and what for?" He looked at me for a long time. When it didn't look like he was going to answer I said "I know you're worried you'll scare me off. You won't. I won't judge you Jason. I can see that you are a good guy."
"Oh yeah… how can you tell?" he said with a sly grin.
"Just can. I'm an excellent judge of character." I shrugged then down the shot. If I told him how he'd probably be the one running away.
"Assault and Manslaughter." he said flatly. I reached out for this hand. I saw no remorse, but there was disgust and he felt his actions justly. I still felt he was a good man despite his past.
"So… you did what you had to do, sorta a him or me type deal?" I said after pulling my hand back.
"You could say that. What about you Amelia… why are you hiding?" he asked. Crap. Well he shared with me so it's only fair.
"Maybe hiding wasn't really a good word to use. Avoiding might be a better one." I replied.
"Why Bon Temps?" he asked.
"Honestly I don't know. I got into another argument with my dad over him trying to dictate my life, jumped into my car, and left NOLA. I stopped in here for a bite to eat on my way to where ever. Got to talking to Sam he had a place available so I kinda just stayed." I said.
"You like him?" he asked. Looking at his aura I could see a little green tinge to it.
"Sam?" I said with a smile. "No. He's just the only person I spoke to since coming to Bon Temps." I looked over at Sam and watched as he waited at the bar patrons. "He's a great guy, but he acts more like an older brother to me than interested man." I shrugged "I was actually lucky to stop here he didn't make me sign a lease and doesn't mind that I paid him in cash."
"I thought you said you weren't hiding." He teased.
"I'm not… I just don't want my Dad to know I'm not in NOLA." I said innocently and he laughed. We talked a bit more about trivial things he told me a little bit about his Sister and how he was trying to find her.
"Getting late you two." Sam called out from behind the bar. I looked around place seeing it was empty.
"Sorry Sam, didn't realize the time." I said while the waitress dropped the bill with a huff. Jason reached for it… so sweet I thought. I knew he didn't have any money so I snatched it from him and paid it. "Good night Sam." I said as Jason and I walked out. "You need a ride somewhere?" I asked.
"I ain't got a place so I guess you can drop me off at the nearest Motel." He replied.
"The only motel in town is a dump." I said.
"A lot more pleasant than what I'm use to believe me." He said.
"Um… you know I… ah… have an empty bedroom. It's furnished. You can have it if you want." I said nervously. I stared at me in shock.
"I can't believe you are actually asking a virtual stranger… fresh out of prison… into your house." He replied.
"Jason, I trust you not to hurt me." I said with confidence in my gifts.
"Why? How do you know?" he pressed.
"You tell me… do you plan on hurting me?" I quipped.
"Of course not." He replied.
"Well then let's go." I said taking his hand pulling him to my car.
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A/N: So in this story, my version of Amelia is 19 of course she's a witch… but a bit more than the books… Check out my profile for how I see her in this story, Laffy/Sam/Dawn all other well known characters featured in TB… That's how I see them as well the actors that play them are far too ingrained in my brain and can't be changed, LOL.
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