I woke to banging on the side of the van. "Fae?"

"Damned it," I curse as I sit up, blankets falling around me. I swung the doors open to the back, slipping out with a stretch and loud yawn.

"Damned it!" Jason cried out, turning around fast.

I didn't care. I casually glanced to Jason and the blushing Hoyt. I was in a bra and underwear. I'd slipped the heels and dress off before passing out in the van.

"You know that radio was a piece of shit?" I ask as I stop stretching to put a hand on my hip.

"Where are your clothes, Fae?"

"Hm?" I glance down, not bothered. "Good, God. Prudes."

I mutter while pulling out one of my spare blouses from a drawer. I put it on, buttoning it up. It hung down, covering me to my thighs. Jason relaxed as he looked back at me. Poor Hoyt was still blushing and trying to not look me in the eye.

"What are yall doing here?" I ask, glancing around the yard. It had to be toward noon. Sook's car was gone. Jason's truck sat to the side of my van.

"Sook asked me to come check on ya. Said you were mad at her."

My eyes roll as I let out a huff, striding for the porch. "Damn right I am."

"You know it's past noon?"

"I guessed as much, Jas. Come on in. I'll get some bacon cooking. You too, Hoyt."

"Why you two fighting?" Hoyt asks as they sit at the table.

I stood at the stove, easily cooking a simple breakfast. My hair was a slight mass of curls and waves.

"You've seen how Sook treats me," I state, placing a plate of bacon on the table. I put the Miracle Whip out, next to the bread.

"Yeah, she's used to me," Jason laughs as we all start on making sandwiches of the bacon. It was something we used to have as kids.

I sit back, chewing the sandwich with a content smile at the men. "It's nice being back. The gang all back together."

"Not sure it's the same," Jason teases.

I laugh, slugging his shoulder. "Just cause I can't pass as a boy, don't mean a thing. I'll still show you up."

"Means a lot," Jason says with his own smirk.

I roll my eyes. Hoyt speaks ups finally. "Sookie said something about your work."

"Yeah," I start, letting the word draw out as I looked at the table. "I ended up getting promoted. I've got to move closer to Shreveport. They've got a place."

"They got you a place?" Jason asks.

"Congrats," Hoyt says with a clap on my shoulder.

I give him a high five with a big smile. "I'm excited. I can get rid of the van and maybe get a small loan for a car of my own."

"Bout time."

I shot Jason a dirty look. "Hey, I sold all my stuff worth anything just to get down here."

"I told you I'd buy the ticket."

I roll my eyes at him, taking a big bite of the sandwich. Sook wouldn't be happy that I finished the bacon off.

"So, I take it, Sook thought yall would be the best to talk to me."

"She's working, busy," Hoyt says between bites.

"Yeah. I'll give her a call."

"You can use the truck," Jason offers, demolishing his second sandwich.

In all fairness, I think Jason and I were demolishing these at the same pace. I sat back glancing over the table.

"Yeah. Just drop me by the bar."

"Now?" Hoyt asks as he glances over my shirt.

I flash a flirting smile at him. "You think it looks bad?" I stand with a wink at Hoyt. "I'll be back. Just save one sandwich for Sookie."

I was as quick as I could be. I came down in low slung jeans and a fitted t-shirt for a band. It was a warm day, possibly not the best as the shirt was dark. It didn't matter to me, it was the first thing I found. Jason and Hoyt were out at the truck. I hopped into the back, resting my back to the window, arm on the side of the truck. I'd done it a lot, riding in the back.

"Too much wind?" Hoyt calls through the window.

"Nope," I call back, flashing a smile. "Best blow dryer I'll ever have."

My hair was a whipping mass, but it was drying quick in the hot sun and wind. We pulled up at the bar, Jason keeping the truck running. He held out the sandwich they'd saved.

"Should I get you after work?"

"Nah. I'll get Sam to take me or something."

"Alright."

I jumped down, stepping toward the door as Jason drove off. I didn't care that my hair was wind swept as I beamed at Sam behind the bar.

"Sam, how are ya?"

"Better now," he says with a smile.

I dropped to the bar before him. Only a few locals from the usual lunch crowd were left. Sookie's head popped around the corner at my voice. She looked a little hopeful, but still her smiley self. I held up the paper towel wrapped sandwich toward her.

"Can I steal Sook for a few?" I ask, eyes on Sam as Sook came over to stand by me.

"Make it quick."

She took the sandwich, opening it to take a bite. "I'm sorry, about yesterday," she says after a few more bites.

I just lift a brow at her. "Not that big of a deal, Sook. You just gotta stop acting like I'm a kid."

"You staying long?"

I shrug. "Not sure. Jason dropped me off. When you off work?"

"Nine," she says with a wince.

"Well, I thought I'd tell ya. Work promoted me. I've gotta move though."

"Move? You just moved in with me."

She looked a bit put out. I wince a little, shrugging a bit. "They need me closer to the office. What can I say?"

"When? I'll help you."

"Well… I've gotta be there by Friday."

"What?!" she cries out, eyes wide. "How are you to get a place so quick?"

"They got me a place. Nothing fancy, I think. I just pay them back for the deposit and pay for rent at the end of the month."

Sam frowns, looking at me. "Something sounds odd about that, Fae. You just started there. Less than a year, and they're moving you up the ranks."
I light up at Sam. "It's cause I'm so awesome. Glad somebody saw it."

"You're just taking it?" Sookie asks.

I shrug. "Why not? Bill's back. I'll be but a call away. Not to mention," I turn to lean on the bar looking at Sam. "I've gotta come back to keep an eye on Sam's ass."

Sam shakes his head. I sit up a bit to actually look at his ass then. "I mean look at it in those jeans. If nobody else in this town will appreciate that, I will have to make a point of it."

Sookie laughs, shaking her head at me. "Then let me help you move it all in."

"Fine. Fine. I can do that."

I look toward Sam, giving puppy dog eyes. "Any way I can get a ride some time?"

"Yeah, hold on. Terry!"

"Sir?" Terry says as he steps out of the kitchen quickly.

"Watch the bar. I've got to take Fae home."

"Sir, yes, sir."

He salutes Sam before taking station at the bar. Sookie shot me a look before rushing off to wait her tables. Sam followed me to the back. I slipped into his vehicle with a smile.

"You didn't get a promotion," Sam states as he backs up to turn around.

I sigh. "No. I didn't. But it was a better option."

"This to do with back home?"

I glance at him. I'd told him more than Sookie or Jason. He kinda knew I was hiding out. "Yeah. A little."

"You smell like that vamp."

I laugh, leaning against the door as I look at him. "Yeah, his demand. Something about not trusting that I wont run or something."

"You took his blood?" Sam snaps as we drive down the road. He shot me a pissed look. "I said I would help you."

"Sam, don't start that. I'm not fucking him. Nor do I plan to. I like my men with a pulse." I fluff my hair as I look out at the road before us. "Don't tell Sook. It's sort of a way for me to blend, less chances."

"You're turning out to be as much trouble as she is."

I frown at him. "Not fully. I'm getting friends in high places. I could always tell him to fuck off, Sam. I'm not blinded by some 'love'. He's older than the one after me, it's just a play."

"Vampires don't like being played, Faelyn."
"I know. I didn't hide anything from him. I told him straight up."

Sam curses, slapping the wheel as he comes to the end of Sook's drive. The car shifted into park as he let out a breath.

"You'll keep me updated?"

I lean over, kissing his cheek. "I'll message you every day. Come on by the place when you want."

"You're sure he'll help you?"
I step out, smirking evilly at him. "Of course. He likes Sook. I interest him. He won't let somebody take me without some plan."

"What if he starts liking you, as he does Sook?" He looked me dead in the eye, serious as the day he was born. "What then?"

"Nothing. I won't be blinded by it."

"That's not saying you won't fall for him, Fae."

I shrug. "Can't help who you fall for, Sam. It's what got cha in this mess."

He frowns at me. I lean in the window of his car, looking at him with a pout. "I'd have taken you, if you didn't keep comparing me to Sook. You've only got her on your mind. Sam, she won't come around. You will have to move on. I'm not waiting."

I turned, walking for the door. "Fae!"

I glance back. He leaned across the car. "You mean that?"

"What part?" I held a hand over my eyes to help block the sun a little.

"About me."

"Sam, I'm not one to wait around. It's why I've never had a long relationship," I call back to him. "When I say I won't be blinded, I mean it."

"I'll hold you to it," he says with a grin, turning around.

I watch him drive off, glancing over the yard. It needed cut. I did a few things in the house, then headed out to the lawn.