Trading Places

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the True Blood characters (*sigh* unfortunately) but I'm having fun playing with them! I only own my original story plots and characters.

A/N – I hadn't originally decided if I was going to put Alcide in a main part…but the temptation of his yumminess was too much… so I added him to the main description! Enjoy and don't forget to leave some feedback!

Chapter 8

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Sookie POV

Perfect… little fangers will be here all day. I'll have time to grab a steak and few beers from Joes's bar and be back here before 6 to follow 'em home.

I gave a thumbs up signal to Roanne.

"Alright Sookie…. Let's find a seat to start our paper." We found a seat near the window; keeping up the charade until we were sure that he was gone.

"Ok…he's definitely gone…what do we do now?"

"We find out where Joe's bar is….we snoop around… then we take it from there?" Roanne seemed so sure of the plan but the look of apprehension on her face gave her away.

…..

We asked the librarian at the front desk if she knew where Joe's bar was. She gave us the oddest of looks and she was clearly thinking that we didn't look like the kind of girls that would be near a place like that. I told Roanne as much but in true Roanne style she just replied… "let's just put on our big girl panties and go for it".

We followed the directions the librarian gave us and I knew why she had looked at us funny. We weren't the kind of girls that would be in a place like that. The bar across the road looked rough; there were motorbikes outside all lined up and the people going in were exactly the kind of people I'd been brought up not to be around.

"OK… no way in hell we are going to get in there underage. Let's just lay low outside and watch" said 'superspy' Roanne.

Forty five minutes later – hiding in the bushes just up from the bar… I'd had enough.

"Roanne… this is pointless. We're not finding out anything… and half the thoughts in there are all snarly or fuzzy…or about drinking, money or sex"

"OK…ten more minutes… then we go"

Finally some sense I thought… not that I didn't want to know about who was following us…but still… this was crazy. I'd listen in for ten more minutes then I was out of here… with or without Roanne. I focused back onto the smut in the bar…

So I told him, I said… no fucking was I was gonna mount that cunt of a bitch even if she was back in the pack…not after she ran with those Lake Charles Weres for over a year…ain't no way…

"Weres?"

Roanne's head snapped to the side to look at me just as two men burst out through the doors of the bar….spitting and punching at each other. Roanne stood up… yanking hard on my arm and dragging me along with her into the trees behind the bar. She didn't stop for a good few feet… not until I dug my heels in…

"What the hell's going on Roanne?"

"Weres Sookie… werewolves…. They're real too"

"Fucking for real?" Shit "So that bar is full of real life mother fucking werewolves?"

"But why go to the bar for werewolves when you got one right here lovely ladies?"

Both Roanne and I spun round to be faced with a guy. A tall, scruffy, rough and dangerous looking guy.

mmmm… gotta get me a piece of that creamy ass.

"Well… would this werewolf like to buy two lovely ladies a drink?" Roanne what the fuck are you doing?

"After you" he gestured towards the bar. I'll tap that blond curvy one first…maybe they'll be up for a threesome… seem willin' enough

I glared around at Roanne who shot me a meaningful glance… once we got to the opening in the trees for the bar, Roanne grabbed my hand again and screamed "RUN"

We only got a couple of feet before the guy grabbed both of us from behind…grabbing me around the waist and pulling on Roanne's hair.

"Hey Ray… what the fuck you doing?" A tall dark haired guy appeared from the street.

"Well well well… if it isn't the little Herveaux. Well…I'm just takin' my dates here in for a drink. What you doin' round here little pup…I bet daddy wouldn't be too happy now, would he, huh?" he sneered.

"Please mister… please…. Help us" Sookie pleaded.

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Alcide POV

Fuck. Dad's gonna kill me when he finds out.

I had already made up my mind to fight… Ray was bigger but he'd had a few too many beers so I had a chance. I moved quickly… and as soon as he let go of the girls I threw the first punch; landing my fist square on his jaw. That wasn't enough though, he was still bigger and managed to shake the punch off; kicking me in the stomach and then jerking my head back by my hair he punched my jaw in return. Shit… maybe he wasn't as drunk as I thought.

After a few more scuffles; each of us getting a few kicks and punches in; both struggling not to shift in public: Ray had me pinned down and holding me by the front of my shirt and lifted his closed fist up high "You fucking little pup" he snarled. I closed my eyes waiting for the punch… but it never came. All I heard was a thud and felt Ray falling off me.

I opened my eyes to see the thinner of the blond girls… the one with deep brown eyes, holding a bloody rock in her hands.

She'd knocked Ray out cold.

"Thanks" was all I could say.

"They heard noises… they're coming out to see what's going on" the other girl sad frantically… how the hell did she hear that… I couldn't hear that with my were hearing.

"We need to get out of here" I barked at them.

"Gran's car…come on"

The three of us ran out of the lot and up the road; back towards town.

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Roanne POV

"Quick… get in" I yelled. I know this guy was a stranger but he'd saved our ass; the least we could do was get him out of here.

Sookie started the engine and took off. "Where can we go to lay low?"

"There's a creek not too far from here… it's off the road… but near to the sheriffs house. They won't look around there" the guy said. Sookie followed his directions. We parked the car in enough that it couldn't be seen from the road… then we got out and headed towards the noise of the creek. The three of us flopped down onto the grass.

"I'm Roanne" I said, offering my hand "and this is my best friend Sookie. What's your name?"

He shook both our hands "I'm Alcide, Alcide Herveaux".

"What the hell were you two girls doing at that bar?" he asked.

I looked at Sookie; unsure what to say… but I figured that if he knew that guy he knew about the weres… or he was a were himself.

"We…we were trying to find out about a guy… he was hired to follow us… and we wanted to know where he was from… we didn't know he was a were until the last minute"

"You know about the were community?" he asked.

"Yeah… we know quite a few supes" I offered… trying to use the lingo Godric had given me, as casually as possible; make it look like I was in the know.

"Why were you being followed?"

"Em… a vampire is worried about what I do" I watched to see how he would react. He scowled straight away but before I could say anything Sookie spoke "ewww…. No, we're not bloodbag whores thank you very much" she huffed. Alcide raised an eyebrow but didn't comment on how Sookie knew what he was thinking. Way to go Sookie.

I looked at my hands and realised I was covered in blood "eww" I said; blanching at the sight of my blood stained hands.

"I've blood on me too" Alcide said, looking at his white t-shirt "Come on" he said; standing up and offering his hand "We can clean up in the creek".

I took his hand reluctantly and let him lead me down to the creek. I toed off my sandals and paddled into the water to wash my hands. Alcide followed me in and took off his t-shirt to wash it out and …well…wow…not 'wow cute Austin wow' but 'wow' wow. His skin was tanned and his stomach muscles were taut and defined.

"So …you from these parts?" he asked, and I blushed; realising he'd caught me staring (more like drooling) at his stomach.

"I'm living in Bontemps but I'm originally from Donegal in Ireland"

"And you're living with vamps?" he asked with a scowl.

"Hey…. I get you weres don't like vampires but the vampire I stay with has been nothing but good to me" I replied a little acidly. Sure I'd hated the idea at the start… but besides Sookie, Godric was the only other person who seemed to really care about me… even if it was on a 'psycho your mine' type foundation.

"Look….I'm sorry" he said "I guess is hard not to see you as some fang banger"

"Fang banger… first time I've heard that one… but, not that's it's any of your business; I can't be glamoured and I don't supply blood… or anything else for that matter" I blushed; looking down at my now dried off hands.

My hands were more than cleaned but I stayed glued to the spot; watching as Alcide bent over to rinse out his t-shirt… watching the muscles in his back twitch… watching his ass….

"Hey Roanne… you done?" Damn it Sookie.

I turned round and stuck my tongue out at Sookie while she smirked knowingly at me.

….

"Your face looks crappy" I said to Alcide; as we all lay on the grass soaking in the sun.

"Gee thanks" he replied sarcastically.

"I…I didn't mean it like that" foot in mouth syndrome anybody?

"So… where do you work?" I asked; trying to change topics.

"I usually work for my dad at his construction company in the summer and on weekends… but he threw a fit when my grades for this year were sent home and told me I have to study on the weekdays to improve for next year… it's ruining my summer holidays. I don't know why he bothers… I'm gonna work construction anyway… but he insists I get good grades and do at least a year or two at community college before I work for him full time."

"Wait…you in high school? How old are you?" I stared at him disbelievingly… I thought he was at least twenty.

"I'm 16… but weres tend to mature a little quicker…I'll probably not grow in height much more"

"If you do… you'll be in a different atmosphere" I snickered, and we all burst out laughing.

"God I'm starving" I whined as my stomach rumbled.

"You guys wanna come back to my house….I can make us hotdogs?" Alcide asked…looking hopeful. I looked to Sookie and she nodded and smiled…obviously happy with what she heard.

…

So the three of us headed back to Alcide's and he cooked us some mean ass scrummy hotdogs. He lived outside Shreveport town in a large wooded area. We actually had some good fun… Alcide made hotdogs and gave us soda and popcorn. We played darts and cards. The day rushed by in companionable ease.

"Fuck" Alcide hissed, jumping to his feet "what time is it?"

"It's 5.30…why?" I answered glancing up from my watch, wondering what the look of pure panic on Alcide's face was about.

"My dad… he'll be back any minute to collect his tea before heading back to his office to finish up paperwork. He's got the same routine almost every day. I am supposed to have food ready for him… he'll freak if he sees you guys here"

"We can leave now" Sookie offered.

"No….he'll see you guys on the way out…. there's only one driveway in and out of here. Shit. Sookie can you part your car round back of the shed over there…. out of view and you guys could hide in my garage" he said… more to himself.

Sookie ran to the car to move it and Alcide ran inside to get a lunch packed for his dad. I stood like a deer caught in headlights not knowing what to do.

"Roanne…come on…" Sookie called; and we both made our way to Alcide's garage, closing the door behind us.

"I wonder what's got him so freaked out?" I asked Sookie "You hear anything?"

"From his thoughts… his dad seems like a pretty strict guy and Alcide's really worried he will find out about the fight at Joe's bar"

We didn't have time to say anything else and the dust cloud from Alcide's dad's truck got nearer to the house. The truck skidded to a halt just outside the main house and Alcide walked out with a paper lunch bag and a look of trepidation.

"I smell females. What's going on?" "Tourists took a wrong road earlier…. I gave them directions" Alcide said, handing his father his lunch. Herveaux senior seems suspicious but shrugged and let it go.

Alcide's father took the bag and placed it in his truck; he took in a deep breath and then rounded on Alcide who had taken quite a few steps away from his father.

"What did I tell you boy? Huh? I told you to study your ass off… and what do I hear… that you were fighting a drunken Ray Clayton outside Joe's Bar… you care to explain?"

Now… Alcide was at least a foot taller than his father but his father didn't look like a pushover… he was a beefy muscular man… and he screamed 'don't mess with me'.

"What you got to say for yourself boy?" he asked again; clouting Alcide upside the head. Poor Alcide.

Alcide ducked, but not quick enough, as the blow caught him and made him stumble sideways a little. Regaining his balance he finally spoke "Dad… I'm sorry…. I…" but he wasn't even given the opportunity to explain. "Oh you'll be sorry boy…"

I watched wide-eyed as his father took off his belt and grabbed Alcide by the back of his shirt. Sookie gave a little gasp and turned away from the gap in the door where we were looking out; pushing her fingers into her ears.

I should have done the same. I should have afforded Alcide the privacy he deserved…but I didn't. I watched as his father dragged him over to a pile of split wood. I watched how he was roughly laid over the wood. I watched as Alcide's father beat him with his belt. I watched Alcide's eyes as he briefly glanced towards the garage… as if his eyes bored straight into mine… his teeth and jaw clenched, as her desperately tried not to cry. I don't know why I was so captivated… but I was. I continued to stare transfixed as his father drove away and Alcide stood; his back to us… absentmindedly rubbing his backside. The most disturbing part was my first thoughts… I could rub it better for you…

It took a minute or two for his dad's truck to be completely gone… then I tentatively opened the garage door. Sookie made to grab my arm but I shook her off… I had to go see if he was ok.

"Alcide…" he didn't turn around and I watched as he raised his hand to his eyes; wiping away tears.

"Shit…I'm so embarrassed" he said, dropping his head towards the ground. I walked in front of him then and looked up into his sad eyes. I didn't know what to say… so I didn't say anything. I wrapped my arms around his waist and hugged him tightly and to my surprise… he hugged me back.

I'm not sure how long we stood there… just holding each other. I inhaled his smell… sweat, tears and a musky smell… Alcide unique odor…

"eh hem" Trust Sookie to ruin the moment.

Alcide pulled away, biting his lip as his cheeks flushed. "We have to go Roanne. Thanks for all your help Alcide" Alcide nodded and Sookie took off towards her Gran's car.

"Thanks Alcide… I … I had a nice day today"

He didn't answer and my heart sank. I slowly turned around and started walking towards Sookie's car. "Roanne….wait…I ….em … maybe… do you wanna hang out again sometime?" My face broke into a manic smile. "Yes Alcide… I'd really like that".

…..

Sookie dropped me home after telling me a million times how much Alcide liked me. Neither of us mentioned Alcide's belt whipping.

After a quick shower I meditated for nearly two hours… easily lighting and extinguishing the candles and desperately trying to make them move a little. Finally giving up; I checked my phone for messaged. The first one made me smile [Hi Roanne. I'm working with my dad this weekend but maybe we could meet up on Monday during the day to hang out?] and the second text made me scowl [Roanne. I have finished my business errands and I will be back tonight near midnight] … Godric had some serious explaining to do.