CHAPTER 5
(MARIO'S P.O.V)
It was 9pm at the Merlotte's bar later that night, as beer mugs could be heard clanking together in celebration. Waitresses flitted by with customers' orders, as the smell of shrimp and burgers teased my nose. Bill and I decided to hang out and shoot some pool. This was literally my second time being at Merlotte's, and I was beginning to like it. "So how have you been?," I asked Bill who seemed to be rather quiet than usual. "Busy," he responded, positioning himself at the pool table. "You?," Bill asked. "Same here." I replied, turning to face him now. Even though Bill and I lived practically next door from one another, we hadn't seen each other for an entire week. "Well that is aside from Tara avoiding me." "Don't take this personal Mario," Bill explained to me. "Tara has been through alot lately, even after the Maryann situation. Believe me I know. Even Sookie needs time to really open up."
"The thing is," I downed the last of my beer. "She did open up, but lately out of nowhere, she decided to close herself off again." I sighed, not sure how to deal with the situation. "Just give her time, Mario. Tara's a wonderful girl, but has a lot of issues about herself that needs to be sorted out." I appreciated Bill's opinion given that he knew Tara longer than I did. "I'm entertaining a guest tomorrow night," Bill said to me suddenly looking grim. "Who?," I questioned genuinely surprised. "The King of Mississippi of vampires Russell Edgington." "Never heard of him. Is he a friend of yours or something.?." I asked. "One of the most ruthless vampires around." "What does he want with you?," I asked with a mixture of alarm and curiosity. Before Bill could respond a voice interrupted us. "I am honored to meet the King of R&B himself in my hometown." I turned to see a tall negro man like myself smiling enthusiastically at me.
"You must be Lafayette," I shook his hand. "Tara told me about you." "Only good things I hope." Lafayette joked. "See Bill," Lafayette turned to Bill. "Good things come to those who wait. Tara finally womanned up and choose better." "Speaking of Tara," I said, picking up her tennis racket that I took from Sookie. "Is she here tonight?I wanted to speak with her." "She's outside at the parking lot checking some inventory for Sam." Lafayette informed me, as I immediately headed that way.
(TARA'S P.O.V)
"Can you give me one good reason not to fuck it up like that," I sang a line from Teamarrr's song: Kinda love. "Don't wanna fuck it up like that," I sang aloud, as the music blasted from my headphones. I stood in the parking lot with a clipboard counting cases of beer that was going to be put inside the bar. Terry, who had accompanied me, had to go to the bathroom. I suddenly turned to face the bar, which stood behind me, to see Mario staring at me and grinning. "Jesus!," I exclaimed in fright, as my clipboard and pen went flying on account of him scaring the daylights out of me. "Don't do that Mario!," I scolded him, as he handed me my clipboard and pen. "Sorry," he said, still grinning. "I couldn't help myself. Is that Teamarrr's music you're listening to 'kinda love' to be exact?." "Yeah it is." I admitted. "Beautiful song. You know you kind of look like her too." "Flattery will get you nowhere Mario," I chuckled, as I turned back to checking the inventory. "Did I do something to upset you Tara?Mario inquired stepping next to me now. "No you didn't." I turned to him now. "Then why have you been avoiding me this entire week?." "Look Mario," I explained truthfully. "Now that I know you are Mario 'The R&B singer' I think I misjudged the friendship we have."
"How?," he leaned forward looking me directly in my eyes while his eyebrows arched up in amusement. "I think I mistook your kindness for friendship." "Tara," he said gently leaning forward again, coming down to my size. "Mario the R&B singer welcomes our friendship, as long as Tara wants it." "So…" I began slowly not believing my ears. "Friends?..." "So much so,"I said, putting her tennis racket down for a moment. "I just found out today that Bon Temp has a newly built basketball court not too far from here," he gestured in the direction of the court. "I would love it if you could accompany me to hoop one on one tomorrow at 7:00am." "Ok homie," I joked, chuckling the awkward moment gone. "Yeah…" he chuckled too. "Keep telling yourself that." I opened my mouth to say something, but nothing came out. At the sametime Terry strolled towards us. "Have a goodnight Miss Thorton," he winked and headed back to the bar leaving me stunned.