Later that week, I had been the only barmaid left and was closing up. Sam had already gone back to his trailer. He parks that thing behind the bar. Once I reached my van, put the key in the ignition, the damn thing just wouldn't start. I got out to check but I didn't know much about fixing cars and it was pitch black. So I started to walk back to see if Sam would give me a ride home.

Then suddenly everything just went black! When I came too I felt someone kicking me in my stomach, back, and legs. I had looked up to see Denise Rattray! She spit in my eye and I knew I was going to die that night if I didn't fight back. I grabbed her leg and bit down as hard as I could. She let out a scream, however, I'm not sure if it was from me or because I had a friend on my side.

She had been thrown like a rag doll, I was too stunned to fight back as I was picked up and thrown over a sturdy shoulder. Those beefy arms laid me down on the ground after a while. I turned my head to look at my savior's face. My lid was swollen but even then I knew those eyes! It was vampire Bill.

He bit his wrist and told me to drink, I tried to turn away and say no but he wasn't having it. " You stubborn woman, I'm trying to save your life now drink my blood before the wound heals." I did as I was told, it was thick and made me feel funny, but I kept drinking it.

My body started to heal the more I drank, I felt stronger than I ever had. Once I had enough he licked his wound then helped me up. I was still sore but very much alive. I gazed into his eyes and was immensely grateful. He pulled me close, his arms felt inviting. Bill began to sniff me just as he had before but this time it was less invasive.

"Thank you!", I said into his chest. I was pulled back from his body so he could look me over.

"What are you?" I ignored the question.

"Will you walk me home? My car..."I didn't even need to finish the question.We conversed as we walked. The topic of what I was came up more than once. I decided to put the man out of his misery, he had saved my life. The least I could do was tell him my name.

"I'm Sissi Stackhouse. Normally, I wouldn't ask a stranger to walk me home. But, since you did save me. And as for what I am, well, I don't know. I just believe I have this curse or ability whatever it is!

It allows me to hear people's thoughts. My family knows and so do my friends. Just about the whole town does but it's just rumors and speculation. They treat me like I'm crazy or dumb till they need something. "

"Wow! I hadn't expected that. Im not sure what I expected, well it's nice to meet you Sissi. " This cornball stopped in the middle of the road and held out his hand for me to shake. I placed mine in it, instead of shaking it. He placed a kiss on the back of my hand and bowed.

"Well, thank you. A handshake would have sufficed. Who said chivalry was dead huh?"

"I don't quite like how the men of today behave. I would expect more from them when it comes to treating ladies, such as yourself."

"Sir, I punched you the other day. Im not sure I read as much of a lady."

"As you should, I sincerely do apologize for that. I must have been quite out of it. You're right that was no way to treat somebody."

I was stunned quiet. We continued to chat about his life here. We briefly touched on how old he was. He was indeed alive during the civil war, even fought in it. That made my hair bristle a bit. However, he explained he never believed in ownership. He was drafted into the confederate army.

Once we reached my house he realized that just a few miles through the woods on my gran's property was his home. We sat down on the porch for a moment and finished our conversation.

"Well, miss Sissi Stackhouse. May I take you on a date? That is if you're not partnered?"

"I am single. Yes, you may. You've been quite the gentleman sir but I do believe it's that time."

Just before I went into the house I remembered about gran, she wanted me to ask about them damn meetings.

" Hey, would it be too much to ask for a favor?"

"What do you have in mind?"

"My gran, she and a lot of the elders they meet at church. They have these meetings about y'all. The war. It's called the Glorious dead, she wanted to know if you would come and speak? If not it's okay, I don't go to them things anyway."

"I don't really like that name. There was nothing glorious about what we did. But since you asked so nicely, I don't see why not."

"So churches and crosses don't bother you either?"

"No, they do not. Sorry to burst that bubble too. Most things in the media are meant as subterfuge. It keeps us safe. Hunters at one point were a real problem, it made it harder to kill if we hid what harmed us."

"Humph, that's smart. Well, good night."

"Sissi?"

"Yes?"

"Do try and be careful. Goodnight." He kissed my hand and then disappeared from my sight.

One thing I knew was that my gran had seen a good portion of it. She was practically giddy once she saw me. It had been years since I had a man or a woman in my life. It was hard! It usually started just fine, but I can hear every thought they have. What they don't like about me. What they do like about me. If they were cheating! If they loved me! Everything. It left me miserable

It wasn't any better when I was a kid. I had been a stoner even as a young teen. It was the only way I could manage the issue. I had tried psychiatric help but I was always too scared to talk about it. Momma had always threatened to throw me in the hospital but Pa had none of it. They constantly fought! Up until they died in a car crash. That's what they were doing when it happened, yelling at each other.

"Ooo, was that him? He's quite pretty, isn't he? Did you ask him?"

"Yes, I did and he agreed. He also asked me for a date." Her thoughts rang out like bells. She was thankful someone was interested. She knew how the town talked about me.

"When do you go? We need to get you something new to wear. Something a lil slutty, what do you think?"

"Gran! What are you trying to do get me knocked up?"

"Yes. I want some grandkids before I die missy. Now come on tell me all about him. Where's your car?"

I fibbed a bit, well, more like a lot. I told her my battery had died and that he offered to walk me home. She bemoaned about my van and how I need to get a better car. That I spend all the hours working and for what?

I was saving up. I wanted to open up a nail salon. Beauty was a passion of mine and I didn't want to work in that nasty bar my whole life. Well, it's not nasty. More like the people are!

I think maybe if I moved out towards New Orleans I'd feel better. You know being in the city. Though it might make it worse. All those people! Once I was finished telling lies to my grandmother I took a shower.

My body wasn't even bruised. Nothing in sight! It's crazy what they are. Vampires! Bill was exciting and better yet I couldn't hear him! Maybe he won't be so bad? I laid down for bed. As soon as I closed my eyes I fell into a deep sleep.

Behind my eyelids, a dream began to take shape. It was one of a distant world. Everything was too bright or too dark. Like it had a strange luster to it. The terrain was full of trees and strange creatures. A fantasy land of wonder and intrigue.

The following morning was my day off. I had slept beautifully. The dream was a mere distant memory as I sat in the kitchen while gran cooked breakfast.

I heard my brother before I saw him. He pulled up in his stupid suited-up truck. He spent a pretty good chunk of change on that thing. It was too loud and too damn tall.

"Well good morning! Smells good gran." Jason bent down to kiss the top of my head. He had just burst into the kitchen from the back door. He lived at our parent's house. I still hated that home, we were joint owners. It was left to us in the will.

"Can you drive me to Merlotte's? My car broke down on me last night."

"Yeah, sure thing."

He took a seat and began chowing down. While he ate he spilled the beans. The Rattrays trailer got all fucked up. Somehow it was just theirs that got hit and all torn up by a tornado. He heard Denise bitching about her stash down near the bar.

Apparently, It got lost in the midst of things. I blinked at him and explained how I really didn't give a damn about that woman. Tara my best friend who lived down the street burst in and fixed herself a plate.

"What did Denise Rattray ever do to you Sissi? Not that I like the bitch myself."

"Tara!" Gran laughed and half snorted orange juice out her nose.

"What, have you seen the way that woman acts. Just ugly, she needs therapy and maybe Jesus."

We continued to cut up a bit. While I ate, Gran blew the water and told them I was going on a date with a vampire. Everybody got quiet. Tara was judging me, she was scared of them. The news doesn't paint them in a good light, especially since the V addiction rising since vampires have 'come out'.

Technically they've been hiding among us since their creation. Whenever that was?

"You're shitting me? Sissi! Are you a fang banger?"

"No! He's sweet, okay and I can't hear his thoughts. His name is Bill, and I'm going on the date whether y'all approve or not. "

"I think it's great baby. Like I said, I want some grandbabies. Wait? Can they have kids?"

Jason suddenly burst out with some not-so-kind words. Gran smacked him upside his head for talking like that towards me.

"I'm sorry. Sissi, they are dangerous. I don't want you going on that date."

"Well, you'll just have to cry about it, Jason. Don't speak to me that way ever again. "

I got up and left the house. I just started walking. I can't stand him sometimes. He's so quick to judge, yet he's the one that's been in and out of the town jail for drinking. He's the one that dropped out of high school! I stayed, I got my beauty school license. I stay out of trouble. I've never said a bad thing about my brother, but he's just plain stupid! He pulled up beside me.

"I'm sorry, okay? I just. I worry about you Sissi. This isn't a good town for that type of stuff. You pushed the limit when you started dating girls and now you wanna date a vampire! Sissi. I love you. You know I don't care about that stuff. It's just!"

"What? It's just what, Jason?"

"People know! They know and they talk. It's not safe."

"I'm not gonna hide. It's who I am. Momma tried that remember?"

"That's not fair, you know. She tried. "

"Could've tried harder. Gran did!"

"Let's go get your van. I won't say anything about it ok. If you like 'em, you like 'em. It is what it is." I turned toward him and hopped in. He hugged me and said he was sorry one last time.

"I'll sharpen some stake's if he hurts you. I'm not playing,"

"Shut up and drive big head. I get it, but I can't live like this anymore. It's depressing hearing gran think about me needing a man and what the town thinks about me. "

"You really can't hear him?"

"No! It's great. I think you'll like him, he's coming over tonight. "

"Alright. I'll be nice, for now!"

He helped tow my van back. I spent the rest of the day fretting about my date and what I was going to wear. Shit, maybe gran was right. I might get laid!