Trading Places

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the True Blood characters (*sigh* unfortunately). I only own my original story plots and characters.

Chapter 5

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Roanne POV

The next two weeks sped past. Godric had been in Dallas most nights for 'business'. He managed 5 nights in total to get home before 12 to spend some time together. He never really explained to me what business he was doing and would change the subject if I asked but at the very least, he was receptive to educating me about vampires and vampire customs. I now knew about the hierarchy of vampires…and I was surprised to find out that Godric was such a big cheese with his age and status. I also learned about vampire blood, what it meant to vampires and what it meant to humans…little embarrassing about the dreams…thankfully I don't have any reason to ever take blood from a vampire. Godric also explained about mates and bonding…I got a little embarrassed so he let it drop.

And on the flip side…Godric now could make, eggs on toast, beans on toast, noodles, cereals and tea. I know, I know….not a gourmet chef yet….but we're working on it.

Eric thankfully, had stayed the hell away. Godric had tried his best to tell me about Eric's good qualities….I however, didn't give a damn. He was an arrogant ass, who needed to stay the far away from me. Far far away.

School…what a nightmare. Uber bitch Kimberly was making my life hell. Her and her little cronies were constantly throwing insults towards me and Sookie. I really thought my time in America was going to be great; that staying with Godric would be hell but at least I'd be in high school, enjoying the American culture. It had turned out to be the opposite…I hated school and couldn't wait till I could leave every day. The only things that kept me sane was the few hours I spent cooking with Godric and the time I spent with Sookie. Tara would be there on and off…if her mom wasn't making her life hell. I made the mistake once of offering to come with her while she picked up clothes to stay at Sookie's place. Her mom is a scary women; a mean drunk.

But Sookie's family are great…her Gran is so sweet. Her brother Jason is as thick as a ditch but really nice all the same…once he stops perving and being a dog. Jason and his friend Hoyt are teaching me and Sookie to play poker!

…

"Roanne?" Oh god….I know that voice. It's Austin. Just turn around calmly, smile…don't hyperventilate and puke on him…..please…

"Hu…Hi" I offered with a geeky, overly nervous smile. Smooth as ever Roanne.

"So…uh…How do you like Lousianna?"

"Em…it's fine…really hot" yes….you're really hot Austin

"Listen…don't mind Kimberly…she can be a real bitch sometimes" and he walked off. I was left stuck to the spot…completely speechless.

"What did dickwad want?"

"He's not dickwad Tara….he's nice" I replied tartly to Tara who had appeared behind me.

"Who's nice?" Sookie asked, joining the conversation.

"Austin…he's not so bad" I answered…he was dreamy, that's what he was. Pity he was dating uber bitch. Oh my god….he actually talked to me… score!

I was floating on a high for the rest of the day. I passed by the uber squad on the way to my bike at home time. Sookie and Tara had left before me…something about visiting Tara's cousin. "I can't believe you're breaking up with me Austin" my ears peaked at that alright.

I couldn't help but turn around and watch as Kimberly pushed Austin away and stormed off. Now the world's just a little better off with a single Austin in it! Not too bad of a day, I thought to myself as I pushed my bike towards the front gate.

"Roanne…..hey Roanne, wait up" Austin's going to talk to me twice in one day…super luck! "Hey…I guess you heard that…well, I just wanted you to now it's because of you"

"What….what did I do?" How could this be my fault?

"No…I mean, I broke up with Kimberly because I like you"

"Oh" a one syllable classic Roanne.

"Do you like me?"

"Em….a little, yeah…." All my dreams have come true!

"Will you meet me tonight? Behind the football bleachers? I don't want people to think I cheated on her or anything….ya know….till everyone knows we broke up. We can talk….maybe go get a soda after?" he voice sounded almost pleading.

"Em…ok"

"Great. About 7.30? See you then" and he took off towards the school. Did that just happen? Did sexy amazing jock Austin just ask me out?

I practically floated home; excited beyond belief about tonight. I dumped my bike in the front yard and skipped into the house. My homework was done in record time and I set to beautify myself for tonight. Having told Sookie about Austin over the phone, she just kept saying she wished she was beside him when he asked. Weird huh?

So, onwards to beautifying regime! Shave legs…check. Pluck eyebrows…check. Have shower and wash hair…check. Now, what to wear…

Strappy dress, no – too dressy, tracksuit, nope – to casual, boob tube and skirt, too hussy, jean shorts and favourite red top, yup – perfect. It was getting nearer 7pm by the time I felt ready. I locked the front door and left on the yard light for getting back; cursing the fact that I couldn't drive yet. The bike would have to do. It would be quicker and easier than walking.

…

I pedalled at a leisurely rate to the school. The front gates were closed but the ones to the sports fields were open. Some kids were out practicing football. I left my bike at the side of the bleachers and tried to straighten myself up, hoping the hot Louisiana heat didn't make me all sweaty and clammy looking. Although Austin shouldn't be able to see much anyways…the sun was just beginning to set; the pink skies growing darker.

"Roanne?" I jumped a little and my heart started to beat faster. "Hi Austin".

"I've wanted to kiss you all week"

"Really?" I squeaked. Yes squeaked. I leaned forward a little. Best not keep him waiting then.

"Wait….I want it to be special. Here, let's play a game." Austin produced a silk scarf and tied it around my eyes. I should have been screaming – agh psycho, run now but I went for, ooh kinky, I can do this.

"Can I ask you something Ronne" he whispered, touching my cheek softly. "Do you like vanilla?" "What?" "Do you like vanilla?" "Em….yes" "Hmmm?" "Yes, I like vanilla"

"Do you like to do it vanilla?"

"What?"

"Do you?"

"Do I like to do what vanilla?" I was confused now. Where's my kiss?

"Oh my fucking god. I can't keep it in any longer….that's enough. It'll have to do" I knew that voice. That was Kimberly. What was she doing here? That's when all the laughing started. I pulled at the scarf; revealing my audience. There was Kimberly in Austin's arms, all her uber bitch squad and their boyfriends. And they were all laughing. At me. The reality stung hard.

"OMG, how are you so fucking lame Whitford? I can't believe you actually thought Austin liked you"

I could feel my heart thumping as my chest tightened. The tears stung my eyes as they fell. I was so humiliated. I turned then, as if in slow motion and started to run. All logic escaped me as I ran for the gates; completely forgetting my bike as the cruel sounds of laughter taunted me.

I don't know how long it took me to get home. I ran in the dark; my eyes clouded by tears, hoping I was going the right way. My sneakers pounded on the dusty road and my shins kept snagging on the thorns and bristles. Finally…I could make out the porch light and completely forgetting logic I made a beeline straight for it, rather than following the road. Mistake. I tripped and fell over, my knees digging into the ground. I tried to break the fall with my hands but my face still went pummelling towards the ground; my chin hitting first followed by an awkward turn on y cheek, biting my lip as I went. I could feel the blood flowing down my shins from my knees and the blood trickling both down my cheek and in my mouth where I bit my tongue. I walked slower then; taking painful steps towards the porch with tears flowing freely down my face.

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Godric POV

"I think that went well" said Isabelle as we walked into my Dallas office. "Remind me again why I haven't staked Stan yet?" I replied, collapsing onto my swivel chair. I wanted nothing more than to be here. They were making good headway with the synthetic blood and the interview with the possible distributors was supposed to only take an hour or two. Then I had to deal with Stan for threatening to suck one of the humans drivers dry; presenting a slight delay. I wanted nothing more than to go home to Roanne.

I knew how important the synthetic blood was for our existence but it was still two, three, maybe even four years away from becoming a reality. Right now I wanted Roanne to teach me how to cook human food. I could put up with the smell just to see her smile when I did it right.

"Things are going well with your human Godric?"

"Yes thank you Isabelle. Things couldn't be going any better"

…

I bade farewell to Isabelle, threw another filthy stare at Stan and took off home. Home. That's what Bontemps was becoming for me, a home. I wonder what we'll be cooking tonight. Roanne should still be up; it's only 12.30 after all. As the house neared, a sudden uncomfortable feeling came over me; one I couldn't quite describe. I immediately checked the bond with Eric…lust, satisfaction – Eric was either, feeding or having sex, so all good there. The feeling wouldn't go away. In fact, it increased in intensity the nearer I got to home, to Roanne. Roanne. My speed became desperate then, was she alright, was she safe?

I stopped completely still when I landed in the front garden. Blood. Why did I smell blood. As I sped through the house towards the sound of her heart, my acute senses observed too many signs out of place; blood on the gravel at the steps, bloody fingerprints on the porch handrail, more on the stairs banister, a small dripping trail of blood along the stairs. Calm down Godric, not enough blood loss to be life threatening. I pushed through the door; not meaning to break it off its hinges.

"AGHHH" she screamed. Fangs in Godric, fangs in damn you. The smell of her sweet blood. Someone have mercy on me. It took a very conscious, very difficult effort to make my fangs retract.

"Roanne. Are you hurt? What happened?" She looked as if she was trying to speak, but all that came out was some sort of blubbering nonsense. Perhaps I should call a doctor.

I moved closer to assess the damage. Oh Gods, the blood. My fangs snicked down, I couldn't help it. I saw the fear in her eyes and I hated it.

"Roanne, I'm sorry…it's just the blood. I won't hurt you. I could never hurt you… I can't help how my body react… please, I would never hurt you" I begged. I was unprepared for Roanne, as she launched herself towards me; her hands fisting into my sweater, her head buried into my chest. It felt so right…this was where she belonged. She cried and cried… and I let her, afraid of moving. As the sobs began to ease I spoke to her

"Roanne, I'm going to bring you down stairs. There's a human aid first kit in the press under the kitchen sink. I will try to make things better." She just nodded into my chest, so I gently scooped her up and walked slowly downstairs with her.

Flipping on the kitchen light switch, I gently placed her on the kitchen counter. The box of human bandaged was under the press; I opened it up and looked at it bewildered. Where do I begin? I read the little packages and guessed that the sterile wipes were a good way to go. There didn't seem to be any major damage; more scrapes and bumps. Opening up the little packet, I gently wiped the cut on her cheek. "Ffffff" She winced back in pain, biting her lip and causing it to bleed again. I took another little pack and dabbed it on her lip. Moving to her legs, I could see dried lines where blood had flowed from her knees.

"There are stones stuck in the skin in your knees. I must remove then so the skin can heal." Nodding, she pulled up her shorts a little higher. I used the tweezers from the kit to pull out two little stones on her left knee, and the blood started to trickle downwards again. My body stiffened at the smell of fresh flowing blood.

"If you hand some… that wouldn't start a bond right?" her little voice asked. was she offering? "No, it would not start a bond but I can control myself" I said, trying to convince myself more than Roanne. She moved then, leaning to open the draw beside her and took out a tablespoon. Reaching down she put the little spoon under the flow of blood and moved it upwards towards her knee. When it filled, she held it steady and moved it towards my mouth. Was she really going to spoon feed me her blood? Surely I should refuse, she's frightened, she's hurt. But as these thoughts ran through my head, I had already opened my mouth and she had already slid the spoon into my mouth. My whole body shuddered; it what I imagine human's feel when the take opiates or large amounts of alcohol. My knees almost buckled underneath me as the sweet blood, Roanne's sweet blood flowed down my throat.

I opened my eyes to stare into Roanne's. Her cheeks were flushed with blood. "Do the other knee" she whispered. You're going to bring me the true death woman. Obeying without second thought, I moved to the other knee with the tweezers; although my hand was a little less steady. I waited anxiously for her to work her magic spoon. This time my body's reaction was even more intense; like a jolt of electricity zipping through every fibre. She set the spoon in the sink then, looking flustered. I didn't want her to regret her action so I set about fixing her up. I will admit though, I wanted to poke and prod her knees all evening so she could spoon feed me her blood.

"May I return the favour Roanne? I can spread a little blood on your cuts to heal them…I won't put blood near your mouth. I promised I wouldn't start a bond unless you agree" say go ahead and pour your blood down my through. SAY IT.

"Just the knee and cheek then" she said, barely above a whisper. I sliced into my finger with my fangs and smeared my blood on her cheek, then her knees; fighting the temptation to ram my finger into her mouth. I reached to the cupboard and, using a cloth I found there, I ran it under the tap…then washed the traces of blood from her face. I did the same for her legs; pulling off her bloody shoes and socks. "There… everything's better". I obviously missed some human emotive indicator that said I shouldn't have said those words, because her lip started to quiver and her tears began to spill again. I pulled her close again, wanting desperately to comfort her, to protect her. What had happened to her? Did she fall? Did someone hurt her?

However, I sensed now wasn't the time to ask these questions. I carried her to my study and sat down on the sofa. She clung to me like a small child, and I found I didn't dislike being so close to her. I sat there for an hour after she finally sobbed herself to sleep… only then did I make a move to carry her up to her bed…I'd have to have that bedroom door fixed tomorrow.

Her blood was still on my jumper. Finding a zip lock bag in the pantry, I placed the bloody jumper, the spoon from the sink and her blood soaked socked in the bag… I'd need a little sniff fix later to bide my time…now that I had tasted the real thing. Maybe I was creepy? When I had cleared the kitchen, I decided I would rest soon…the sun was almost up. I stopped at the stairs banister as the smell of blood hit me again. Would it be creepy if I licked the blood away? It's only creepy if someone else sees… right?