Thank you again to all of you who have read this story. It means a lot to me! Eric finally shows up in this chapter (for those wondering where the heck he was). Reviews/comments/ criticisms always welcome!
I arrived miraculously around 1:30, just like Sookie wanted originally, at Merlotte's. The car actually looked better than before I got in it tonight after running it through the car wash at the local gas station and me running the Lysol wipes all over the interior, so she shouldn't be able to see anything wrong with it (although she may wonder why it's so clean). The front end of her car was already been dented from a previous collision (not of my doing), so tonight's one with Fernando wouldn't be noticed. She really shouldn't suspect a thing, which is exactly what I wanted.
So, I took a huge breath to calm my nerves (being nervous always made it harder for me to keep Sookie out of my mind), let it out and walked into the restaurant to see Sook talking to a very handsome, dark haired man in a booth in the back of the place. The restaurant was still pretty full even though it was close to closing time, but everyone seemed to be talking in a hushed tone while staring at the two. It was really weird to see how the mood of the place had changed from the warm, loud, happy place it normally was, to a somber, sort of scary/spooky place. I could see the hairs on peoples' skin standing on edge and everyone seeming to sit abnormally still. What was up with these people?
As I slowly started to walk toward Sookie's table, I opened up my mind to the people around me and finally figured out what was up.
"I can't believe that Stackhouse girl is talking with that vamp. Always knew there was something off about her. She's probably one of those fang-bangers I read about."
"Nasty girl probably doing nasty things with that nasty vampire. I need to make sure my boy don't go near her."
"I wonder if those two are getting it on. God that would be hot. Maybe she can score me some V."
After hearing the not so good, the bad and the extremely ugly, I finally got to the table.
"Hey Sookie, are you going to introduce me to your friend?" I said to my sister, very interested to hear her answer.
"Oh, Arabella! Yes, of course, this here is Mr. Bill Compton. He's living in the old Compton residence right by our place. It was his family's estate." Sookie said, obviously leaving some things out.
"Why hello Miss Arabella, it is an honor to finally meet your acquaintance. Sookie here has told me so much about you and your travels." Bill said smoothly with an old southern accent.
I turned to Sookie and said, "That's funny, because Sookie has told me absolutely nothing about you." I was hurt that this man (well, I guess vampire) obviously knew about me, but my sister had said nothing about him to me.
"I know, I know… I haven't told you about Bill yet. It's, well, I didn't know what you would think. I'm sure you've guessed by now that Bill's a vampire, but he is much more than that, he is my boyfriend. The rest of Bon Temps thinks I'm a moron, or a slut, or both. I didn't want you to think that way about me too. I was going to tell you, but you just came back from being gone for over 2 years and then everything happened with Gran and Jason and… well there was never a real good time, you know." Sookie said earnestly.
Looking at Sookie I said, "Sookie, you're my sister and I would never think that about you. I've never met a vampire before and don't have any reason to think one way or another about 'em." And then turning to Bill I continued, "But, if my sister says that you're good enough to date her, than there must be something real special about you Mr. Compton. It's a pleasure to meet you." Then, smiling at Bill I held my hand out to shake his. He returned the smile, but just looked at my hand, strangely though as he did so, he also seemed to sniff the air and look somewhat confused. Sookie quickly explained that vampires don't like to touch people they don't know very well. Well, I guess I could understand that, I did just meet him. There are germophobes, who don't like to touch people, so who am I to judge. He looked relieved that I understood the situation and didn't immediately think he was evil. It must be hard to be the town pariah.
I continued to say before really thinking, "Well, unfortunately you're right about the rest of the town thinking those things…" I didn't know if the vampire knew about Sookie's 'gift', but if he did, I wasn't so sure I wanted him to know about mine too, that is if Sookie hadn't told him already.
"Yeah, well most of the people around these parts are small minded fools anyway. Why someone should be judged solely based on what they are without anyone even talking to them or getting to know them. It's awful, just awful." Sookie said, clearly wanting to defend the honor of her man. Bill looked at her lovingly. Boy, these two had it bad.
"Um, how long exactly have you two been acquainted?" I asked curiously and then added, "And does Jason know?"
"Yeah, Jason knows, but he just found out about it too. Of course, he's not happy about it. You know how he gets about things. As for how long we've been seeing each other, it's been about five months now. We haven't been too out in the open because let's face it, people around here are pretty judgmental."
"Wow, five months, how did you meet?" I asked not believing that Sookie was able to keep her secret boyfriend a secret for so long. She was never one to date around, or date that often for that matter so I would've thought she'd be busting at the seams to tell me. Oh well…
"Actually we met here. Bill had come into Merlotte's wanting to get to know some of the locals as he was taking ownership of his family's house. I was his waitress that first night. We talked a bit, that is until those nasty Rattrays butted in. You remember how low rent they were, right?" She asked.
"Oh yeah, just when you thought they couldn't get any lower, they'd dig deeper." I responded.
"Yeah, well as it turns out, they were drainers who sold V at local raves. They had set their sights on Bill that night and you know I just couldn't stand for that. But before I could warn Bill about their plan, they had lured him outside, covered him in silver and started to drain him right there on the ground in the parking lot. I grabbed a chain from Jason's car and scared the Rattrays away from Bill, got the silver off of him and smashed the blood they had collected so no one would have it. After that, we talked some, got to know each other and the rest is history." Sookie said, cheerily while I sat there dumbfounded.
"That sounds horrible, what they did to you Bill. I'm sorry you had to deal with those two. But, Sookie, I'm having a hard time picturing you scaring away those two lunatics and why did you have to get silver off of him, what's silver do?" I asked because it seemed an odd detail to tell in the story.
"I am a lot stronger than you think little sis. Those Rattrays never saw it coming. Oh wait, Bill, I'm sorry, I know you didn't want me to tell people about the silver thing, but Arabella's my sister, you can trust her, she won't go telling that to others." Sookie said.
"It's alright sweetheart, I know you didn't mean any harm and I trust your sister won't tell the world. Arabella, when silver is placed on a vampire, it hurts us and makes us vulnerable. We don't really like others to know our weaknesses so if you can keep that a secret, I would be most appreciative, but it may be important for you to know, especially since Sookie is seeing me." Bill replied quietly so as no one else in the restaurant would hear him.
"I won't breathe it to another soul, I promise." I said to Bill honestly and he nodded in acceptance.
"Well, I'm glad the two of you have finally met and that this is off my chest now." Sookie said with a huge smile on her face.
"Oh, I nearly forgot, Bill, I think our Gran was trying to reach you about speaking to her book club, did she ever get in contact with you?" I asked, but also tried to open my mind up to see if I could read his thoughts… interesting, I heard absolutely nothing.
"Why yes, just a couple days before her unfortunate demise, your Gran phoned me and I had accepted her request. In fact, I'm supposed to speak to her group next week at a special dinner in her honor." Bill replied. He didn't seem entirely thrilled to have to do the talk to the ladies group, but it would make Sookie happy.
"Sookie, did Gran not know about the two of you because she was calling and asking all over town about how to contact Bill when I guess she could've just asked you?"
"It's weird. I tried to tell her more than a few times, but every time I tried, the phone would ring, or someone would stop by, or just plain ole something would come up." Sookie said shaking her head.
"That is weird." I replied.
"Shit!" Sookie said looking at Bill with worry.
"Don't worry Sookie, I'll go see what he wants." Bill said as he flew out of his seat towards the doorway faster than I've ever seen anyone move.
I had no idea what had just happened, but I turned my head to follow where Bill had went and proceeded to see one of the most handsome men I had ever seen standing in the doorway. He had the most intense blue eyes, a body to die for and was dressed in black jeans, a black wife beater and black leather jacket. Standing next to him was an equally stunning blonde woman. People looking like them don't usually just stroll into Merlotte's so of course everyone in the place was staring at them as well.
"Who are they and why do you look like you're about to lose your lunch Sook?" I asked my sister quietly as you could hear a pin drop the place was so quiet.
As she fidgeted in her seat, Sookie replied aloud, "That's Eric Northman, the vampire Sheriff of this area and his progeny Pam." but then added telepathically, " I want you to go in one of the back rooms until I come get you. And don't, for any reason ever reveal to them that you have any special talents. I'll tell you why later."
As Bill, Eric and Pam started for our table, I said to Sookie aloud, "I forgot that Sam needed me to organize some stuff in back. I'll see you in a bit." Then I got up and headed quickly to the back, not looking at the three vampires but all the while feeling like I had a set of blue eyes watching my exit.
"Hello Miss Stackhouse, where did your friend go in such a hurry?" asked Eric as he sat down across from her while clearly he was checking out her cleavage.
"That was my one of my coworkers and she had to go do something in back." Sookie replied, hoping she could keep her sister away from Eric. During the five months of dating Bill, she had the unfortunate displeasure of having Eric trying to lure her away from Bill. It was annoying and to be honest, it was really starting to get on her last nerve. He was so full of himself. He really thought that he was going to have her. Prick.
"Nice try Miss Stackhouse, but do you really think that I believe that story you just told?" Eric said, knowing that Sookie was clearly lying. Her heart was beating through her generous chest and she had sweat on her brow. Living as long as he had and having keen vampire senses, he could pick up the clues easily. She was trying to keep that girl away for a reason.
Sookie sat there silently glaring angrily at Eric as she crossed her arms over her chest, because she was pissed over the situation and because she finally realized he was mentally undressing her.
After a long sigh, Bill, accepting defeat, finally said, "She is Sookie's sister Arabella."
"Bill! How could you?" Sookie exclaimed turning towards Bill, fear on her face.
"Sookie, I don't mean to hurt you, but he knows you're lying and he'd find out sooner or later anyway. It's better to just come clean. Everyone in this bar knows who she is. It would've been no time before he found out." Bill added.
"So, does this sister of yours share any familiar traits?" Eric asked, clearly intrigued by the prospect of another telepath that he might be able to control.
"No. She does not have any special talents." Sookie said, again lying.
Eric thought to himself, fine, if she won't tell him, he'd just have to find out for himself.
He then got up and headed toward the back of Merlottes. "Pam, wait here."
"Oh goody, I get to spend quality time with Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum." Pam replied with a roll of her eyes. Sookie and Bill both looked at her with disgust in their eyes. They weren't too fond of her either. After which Sookie tried to get up to stop Eric, but Bill gently tugged her arm and said, "it's out of our control now."
Pam smirked and said, "Finally, you get it."