Chapter Three:

After Eric leaves, Sookie says goodnight and walks down the hall to her room as I fixate myself between the floral printed comforter and the soft, cotton bed sheets that lay on the twin bed. As I begin to recall the moments of the last couple of days, I feel sleep pulling me into unconsciousness and I don't fight it.

I can't say I had a relaxing, dreamless sleep, because I certainly didn't. My dreams consisted of flashes of the zombies attacking my fellow classmates while I just barely escaping being taken down and turned into one. I snap to consciousness with the bright fall sun shining through the curtains at 9:30 and I climb out of bed, making my way downstairs where Sookie is just finishing up making scrambled eggs.

"Good morning," Sookie says, smiling as she hands me a cup of coffee and a plate of toast and eggs and I take a seat at the round oak table.

"Good morning, and thanks, it smells and looks lovely"

"Thanks, it's not much. I need to go to the store later." She sits down at the seat across from me at the table and begins to eat as well as I do.

"Oh, well, I can pay for the groceries and I'll clean the kitchen for you. I mean it's the least I can do."

"Uhmm, sure if you really want to…" She says, shyly.

"I do, and I will start either looking for a place and a job or make my way back to Georgia."

"You should stay here in Bon Temps! And I can talk to Sam about a job for you. I don't mind you staying with me; trust me, its good to have some company."

"Okay, thanks. And I will pay rent and everything."

She laughs "Sure, if you really think it's necessary."

"Oh, I do, I hate feeling like I mooching off of someone."

We finish eating our breakfasts and I clean the kitchen as she showers and I hop in when she is done. After I finish my shower, I pull on some jeans and long sleeved black shirt with bell sleeves, slip on some socks and my converse. I dry my hair and leave it down and apply my make up. After I finish up my routine I text Ryan to let him know the situation and that I will be driving back in a couple of days to get some stuff and make my way downstairs and Sookie and I run our errands.

We finish up the grocery shopping and return to her house for a quick lunch before Sookie has to prepare for the night shift at Merlotte's.

"I'll let you know what Sam says, plus you can swing by later to talk to him a bit yourself."

"Sounds like a good idea." I say with a smile as I put the remaining groceries away. "Should I refrain from dressing causally?"

She laughs and says "It's at a bar, Zoe, you could wear practically anything just as long as you wear something. Plus, Sam is cool, and he is a bit more challenging to read because he is a shifter."

"Oh, cool! One of my friends back home is a shifter. I've known her since high school, and we went to college together. I hope she made it to Ryan's okay."

"Are all of your friends going to your brother's place?"

"Yeah, when we were kids in high school we created a Zombie Infestation Plan, or ZIP, as a joke, but we all had that inkling feeling it would happen one day. Once everyone gets to Ryan's, we head over to my dad's friend's house, which is just down the street, which has a shit-load of weapons and dried goods. He's a prepper and a shifter as well."

"Wow…Well, I guess it's better to be prepared than unprepared."

"Damn straight. In a couple of days I'm thinking about going back to get my stuff and bring it back here if that's okay with you. "

"Yeah, that's fine, while you're gone, I might do some searching for Bill."

"Have you found any information?"

"No, not really; I was hoping Eric showed up last night to tell me he knew something." She said with a sigh.

"Maybe Eric will have some information tonight."

She gave me a weak smile, "I hope you're right."

After Sookie changes for work, she says good bye and leaves. I walk into the living room, plop down on the couch and snap on the television. I flip through the channels until I reach Comedy Central and see that Scrubs is on. After watching the episode that was on I turn off the television, go upstairs, fix myself up, and head over to Merlotte's. I can feel the minds buzzing about in the bar as I enter and approach the counter.

"What can I get for you?" the man behind the counter asks. He had red brown hair that was slightly disheveled, blue eyes, and a rugged goatee. This must be Sam.

"Sprite, please; is Sookie here?"

"Coming right up," says a familiar female voice behind me and Sookie walks around to the other side of the bar and slides me a glass full of Sprite. "Sam, this is Zoey, the new girl in town."

"Nice to meet you," I say and extend my hand.

He takes it, "Nice to meet you too. Sookie said you were looking for a job?"

"Yes sir. And I've waited tables back in my hometown."

He smiles, "I'm sure I can find you a job here."

I try not to beam, but I'm unsuccessful, "Thanks!"

"No problem and you can start tomorrow afternoon. The crowd shouldn't be that bad so you can learn the ropes and get to know everybody else that works here."

"Okie dokie, sounds good to me," I say and take a victory sip from my glass.

He laughs and shakes his head, "I'm glad you only asked for Sprite, because I would have definitely had to card you."

"Oh, I promise, I'm 21. I can show you my ID if you want

"Nah, I believe you. And I think you will fit in just fine here."

"Thanks," I laugh.

As the night wore on, the crowd in the bar grew thinner as Sookie and Arlene, another waitress with fiery red hair, served and maintained there tables; I even jumped in and brought drinks to a couple of tables while they took a mini break.

"Girl, you are a blessing in disguise." Arlene said as I walked back up to the counter.

"Thanks," I said with a smile, "That seems to be the last table."

"Yeah, it's closing time anyway." Arlene says, while untying her apron, "So, I'll see ya' tomorrow. Nice to meet you today, Zoey."

"Thanks, nice to meet you too!" I holler over my shoulder as she rounds the corner to leave through the employee door and Sookie makes her way towards me.

"Ready to go?"

"Yup," I say and hop off the stool. Sookie snaps off the light and as we pass Sam's office we both say good night and make our way to our cars and head home.