Tonight was my tenth night working and it was busy; there were people from out of town and some old folks who dropped by to see how we were doing. Sam stared at me the whole time I was working, wondering what I was thinking about him. I listened in a couple of times to his thoughts; nothing 'bout Sookie tonight, more like he was focused on me and that he had a strange feeling that something bad was going to happen tonight around the bar.

Sookie listened in on me and pestered me to stay out of people's heads, but it was hard to hold a guard up for more than a mere hour. My shift was 5pm-12am; that was a lot for a seventeen year old girl, but I had extended breaks for supper and a snack. Sam gave me that, due to me having a heart condition and that I needed the job. Sam took a liking to me that I never thought he would; in his mind he saw me as Sookie's little sister and her best friend in some cases, but he also saw me as something else.

I worked hard that night and Lafayette made me some of his famous grilled-cheese sandwiches with a side of fries. Lafayette saw me as a miniature version of Sookie, except that I was the more fun kid-like version. He laughed and joked with me all the time and sometimes slapped my ass, but I didn't care; he was gay and he was more of a feminist than anyone I knew. He was one of the best short-handed cooks Bon Temp had ever seen; and I was the most energetic person I had met.

"So what's up with you, sugar? You're lookin' a little down this evenin'." Lafayette said as he sat down with me at the small counter-table in the kitchen.

"Well, I promised Sookie I wouldn't listen in on people's thoughts, but sometimes it's just so hard to keep them out of my head. I don't know what to do about, Lafayette. Everyone thinks I'm crazy; do you think I am?" I asked as I finished my dinner.

"NO darlin'! You're one the most sane people I know; believe me I know some pretty insane people." He chuckled as he turned away from me to get something. The next thing I knew there was a cupcake with a candle on top of it. What was the occasion?

"Happy tenth day!" him, Arlene, Sookie and Sam exclaimed, popping out of nowhere.

"You guys didn't have to do this; I'm just a waitress and you know that I'm really not supposed to be here in the first place." I replied staring at the glowing candle.

"We know, but since Dawn left you been working really hard. And now we just had Terry join the crew too. So we thought that for all your hard work that you deserved this." Sam explained giving me a hug. Sookie did too, and Lafayette kissed me on the cheek as if I were too good for him; even though he was not straight.

Then suddenly everything stop, no sounds filled my head and the voices around me silenced. I walked away from them as I entered the main room of the bar. A man had just walked in and everyone in the bar was silent. This man was about 6'2, dark brown hair, dark brown eyes and glowing pale skin. My heart stopped in my chest I focused in on the newcomer. He was not human, but a vampire and he was not new to the town, but he was from the old-century of Bon Temps.

I nearly fainted there as his dark eyes peered in my direction. I felt as if something pulled me to him, and I could hear what he was thinking. It was a first; I could only hear his in a room full of people thinking all the time. It was strange, yet interesting. I backed up and bumped into Sookie, who was also in shock. She turned to Sam, who was standing behind the bar now ready to get his bat.

"Kelly, do you see what I see? I think Merlotte's just got its first vampire." She excitedly expressed. I nodded, knowing not what to say, but what to do. I looked up at Sookie, who was just in awe and surprise; Sam had his bat in his hand ready to take him out. All their thoughts were running together; I had looked away from the vampire making it not so quiet anymore.

"EVERYONE SHUT UP!" I yelled as they all backed away from me, even Sookie.

"What's wrong, Kelly?"

"When he came in I could hear only his thoughts and no one else's. It was like I could center in and have some relaxing peace. With their only being one person thinking, peace settled in. Can you hear him?" I questioned as I felt his stare again. Sookie stared at him and him alone; she concentrated, trying to focus in. The look on her face was puzzling and disturbed; almost like she wasn't happy with the response she got.

"Anything?"

"Nothing, only silence. Peaceful silence." I knew she liked that, but I enjoyed it even more.

"I'm going to go talk to him." I said as I began to walk towards his table. Sookie pulled me back; I could tell she didn't like this.

"Are you out of you mind? Why do you want to talk to him?" Sookie barked as she gripped my arm

"Sookie, have you ever written a book about vampires? Well I have and I want to meet one so I can feel better about what I'm writing about or who."

"But you're still working."

"Nope, Sam said in his head that he was going to give me the rest of the night off." I exclaimed, sticking my tongue out at her. She stomped off behind the counter and went to Sam, who was trying to explain himself to her; big mistake. She began yelling and screaming as I waltzed of to the vampire's table.

"Hello sir, what may I get for you?" I smiled as I tried to act natural.

He smiled as he politely asked, "Do you have any of that synthetic blood?"

"Oh, I'm sorry, but my boss hasn't had any shipped in yet. They suppose to be delivered tomorrow."

"Well, do you have any red wine?" he suggested as he looked me over. I started feel nervous around him now; I wasn't used to being around a vampire.

"Yes sir, I'll get that for you."

"Thank you…um… may I have you name some I may tip you?" he asked as I was about to get his order.

"Kelly; Kelly Ann Leigh to be correct." I giggled.

"Thank you, Miss Kelly." He slowly said as if my name was melting on his tongue. I floated back to the bar, where Arlene was smirking at me and Lafayette was just laughing hardy. I saw Sam and Sookie, they were in the kitchen having it out and the bad thing was that I could hear her wanting him. That was the first time I realized that Sookie Steakhouse was in love with Sam Merlotte.