Chapter 29: Nerves
A month passed and Sookie still refused to be anywhere near Jason. Calvin had stopped by Madison's when Sookie had been there and apologised for not telling her what would happen that night, Sookie forgave him in an instant. Madison had gone two months without seeing or hearing from Eric, though Pam continued to visit and Godric still lived with her, according to Pam Godric had been furious at Eric for hurting Madison and had thrown him across Fangtasia, Madison couldn't help smiling when Pam told her that.
Madison hadn't realised how much she'd neglected the other people in her life while she'd been with Eric, now they weren't together she had long talks with her dad and had a chance to catch up with him more often, secretly Edward was happy, he'd missed Madison.
She spent more time working at Merlotte's as well, there was a couple of new staff members to help out, Sam's half brother Tommy was the new bus boy, Sam had confided in her about his family and told her about Tommy being a shifter. There was also a new waitress in the form of Bill's progeny, Jessica, she was a slim red head and Madison found her easy to get along with, unlike Arlene who was convinced Jessica wanted to kill her,
' God do you think she'll ever get used to me?' Jessica said as Arlene once again moved past Jessica clutching the silver chain around her neck,
' Probably not' Bill said sipping his tru blood,
' Imagine how badly she'd freak out if she knew about Sam, Tommy and me?' Madison said smirking, Jessica laughed and stopped abruptly as Hoyt walked in with a young blonde girl,
' Who's she?' Madison asked Bill, he shrugged,
' Whore' Jessica muttered
' Ok remind me, what exactly is the deal with you and Hoyt?' Madison asked Jessica
' We dated and then we split, me being a vampire didn't go down to well with his mama, but I'm sure she'll love little miss prissy heartbeat over there' Madison and Bill smirked as Jessica left to seat more people,
' It's nice to see you smiling again' Bill said quietly to Madison
' Nice to smile again' he nodded
' How is Sookie?' Madison had told Bill everything that had happened in Hotshot when he'd sensed Sookie's anguish,
' She's ok, she still refuses to have anything to do with Jason though'
' She'll come round, his deceit was awful but she still cares for him' Madison nodded
' How's the stakeout going?'
' Nothing yet'
' You think we're wrong about Quinn?'
' Do you think you're wrong?'
' Not a bit'
Madison woke up early the next morning, she showered and dressed slowly before heading downstairs, Alcide was due to start work on her house today after other jobs had delayed him. She sat on the back porch with a coffee and a cigarette and thought about Sookie, was Quinn really genuine? She didn't think he was and she was certain it was only a matter of time before his family showed up and attacked Sookie for taking him away. She went back inside, her thoughts were just going round in a circle and she couldn't stand it anymore, luckily Alcide knocking at the door distracted her,
' Hey pack master' he smiled
' Morning Maddie'
' Ready for work?' she handed him a cup of coffee
' Thanks, yeah I'll start upstairs and get that done so you can start doing a room up, it shouldn't take me long to pop the old window out and replace it'
' Thanks for doing this Alcide'
' Don't sweat it I owe you big'
She sat in the bedroom and talked to Alcide while he popped the window out,
' So how are the pack?'
' They're good, I think they miss you' she laughed
' No seriously I think they'd love to have you back'
' That's a lie and you know it, they'd follow you anywhere Alcide' he smiled
' I hope so'
' How are things with your dad?'
' Strained, but I think he's coming round, we didn't talk for a while and then mom ended up in hospital and we just started talking, she said if we didn't she'd make sure she died then we'd both have to live with her death on our consciences' Madison laughed,
' I'm sorry but that's funny' he smiled ' how's Rigel and Dominic I haven't seen them for a while?'
' Rigel's ok, Dom's a bit nervous because of the new vampires in the area, he thinks it's his old nest coming back for him'
' No I'd know if it was them'
' How?'
' I'd be able to smell Dominic in their systems, there nothing to do with him'
' You can really do that? Sort of trace vampire genealogy?'
' Yeah, I could trace yours as well, I can do it for anyone'
' Well I ain't had no more sightings on my land so that's a blessing' she nodded
' Maddie look, I heard about you and Eric and what he did and I just wanna say I'm sorry'
' Don't be you didn't do anything'
' Look you can shoot me down in flames if this is too soon but I was wondering if I could take you out for dinner some time?' he mumbled the question nervously and Madison couldn't help smiling at how sweet he was,
' Alcide I…'
' I knew it I'm sorry it was way too soon just forget I said anything'
' Can I answer you?' he nodded but he kept his head down and refused to look at her,
' Alcide I'd love to, when were you thinking?' he looked at her in surprise,
' Really?'
' No I'm fucking with you, yes really' she said jokingly and he smiled
' How's Friday for you?'
' Great if you don't mind meeting me from work, I finish at 7'
' I'll pick you up then'
Madison watched Alcide all day, he didn't stop smiling for a second and she couldn't help smiling herself.
Madison had never been so happy for a week to fly by, everyone in Merlotte's knew about her date with Alcide, even Sam approved,
' Bitch why do you have to take all the hot men?' Lafayette whined as he sipped his tequila,
' You mean the hot "straight" men, hmmm I cant think why they come to me instead of you?' she smirked and he raised an eyebrow, then gradually a smile spread across his face,
' Well I'm jealous, he's gorgeous' Jessica said smiling; Lafayette left and went back to the kitchen,
' Hey Maddie'
' Yeah?'
' What do you think it's like being with a shifter?'
' I've been with one'
' What! Who?'
' Sam'
' I didn't know that'
' Yeah we almost got married and…well there was other stuff but we both agreed we weren't right for each other'
' So what is it like with a shifter?'
' Warmer than being with a vampire' Jessica laughed
' I wouldn't know' Madison smiled
' Why you asking?'
' Tommy sort of asked me out'
' Wow good for you, did you say yes?'
' Yeah I figure if Hoyt's moved on I should too and I like Tommy'
' That's great jess, remember no biting on the first date'
' Oh ha ha'
' Do my waitresses actually wait tables?' Sam said coming out of the office
' We do when there's customers' Jessica said walking away
' You heard about her and Tommy going out?' he asked quietly, though he was pretty sure Jessica could probably still hear him
' Yeah I think it's great, how's he settling in, any problems from the folks?'
' He's good, they called him a couple of times but he just hung up' Sam had told Madison all about them putting Tommy in dog fights when he shifted and betting on him, she was disgusted,
' He's better off without them, just like you'
' Yeah I know, you looking forward to your big date?'
' Yeah, is it weird that I'm nervous?'
' You nervous? Well those are two words I'd never put together' he said smirking
' Come on I'm serious, I haven't been out on a proper first date in years, we never even had a first date'
' You'll be fine, it's Alcide he's a good guy, plus he'll probably be more nervous than you'
' Yeah maybe'
' Is it the date making you nervous or what Eric will do when he finds out?'
' Eric doesn't get a say in anything I do, he has no part in my life anymore'
' Look I'm not his biggest fan you know that, but do you think there could have been more to it?'
' Sam I don't wanna talk about him'
' Ok I'm sorry, don't worry about tonight you'll be fine, I've seen how Alcide's looked at you since the day he met you, I think he's been dying to ask you out for a long time' she smiled
' Thanks Sam'
' Anytime sugar'.
