I have had a lot of time at work to write this, so here is a new chapter!! I hope you enjoy it, and let me know what you think after please. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the reviews that I get. You guys all rock.
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Lately, something here don't feel right
This is just a half-life
Is there really no escape?
No escape from time
Of any kind
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The kiss caught Genevieve completely off guard, and she gasped. Sam ignored it, and kissed her again. There was a part of Genevieve that began to respond, the part that missed Eric and his touch. That part of her was huge right now, but she found the strength to push Sam away despite it. "Sam, I am so sorry. But I can't do this."
"I have seen that you haven't been happy since Dallas. I want to see you smile." Sam told her, and stroked her face as he stood in front of her. His eyes were kind and warm, and Genevieve cursed herself for missing the cold blue eyes that she missed so much.
"You are right about that part, Sam. It would not be very fair of me to continue this with you to try and divert that." Genevieve told him, smiling as best as she could. She slid away from him, and he brushed her hand as she did. "I will work on this Dallas thing, Sam. I'll be safe." She walked out of the office and closed the door, leaning against it for a moment. "Damn you, Eric." She muttered the words, and went to meet Nora so they could go home. She lie awake in bed that night, trying to figure out why she could not just want someone like Sam instead of a vampire that had not so much as contacted her for a month. He would treat her well and it was obvious that she would be cherished from the look in his eyes. She closed her eyes and resigned herself to yet another dream that would force her to wake up unhappy again.
The concert came up quickly, and Genevieve received a phone call from Isabel a few days prior to her leaving. "Hello, Genevieve. I heard from the sheriff that you would be visiting the city in a few days, and he is concerned for your safety. The fellowship has been trying to get to us even now, and we do not want you harmed. I have a member of the nest who also likes the band, and has offered to accompany you to the concert as well as picking you up at the hotel. He would be in your presence all evening and you could relax and not worry." Isabel paused, and Genevieve closed her eyes. "It has been a hard time for all of us, Genevieve. Godric took a strong liking to you."
"Eric asked you to do this?" Genevieve asked her, in a sad voice. "I have not spoken to him in over a month, Isabel."
"He is grieving. I can hear it in his voice. I saw the two of you together, Genevieve, and I do believe that he loves you."
"I don't feel that way at all." Genevieve told her, closing her eyes. "I appreciate what you are doing so much. Do I know this vampire?" Nora was not at home, so she could discuss it freely.
"You met him the first night briefly, but may not recall him just now. His name is Nathaniel, and he will ensure your safety completely." Isabel told her, and Genevieve didn't remember the name. "I will call you the day of and get the hotel information. Enjoy yourself, Genevieve. You have been through so much."
"True that." Genevieve agreed, and ended the call. She thought for a long moment, and began a short text. She thanked Eric for thinking of her safety, and hoped that he was holding up alright. She desperately wanted to tell him that she loved him, but chose not to. Not now, not this way. He sent her back a text telling her that it was not a problem and that he always wanted her safe. She noticed that there was no mention of love in his either. She threw the phone down on the bed and sighed, feeling the familiar tears.
The girls boarded the plane in a few days, and Genevieve wore a hopeful smile on her face. She needed to have fun and she needed to relax, and Isabel had kindly provided her with that. She gave Eric a small amount of credit, but he had not earned more. Nora was ready to have a good time, and they checked into the hotel right away. It was right across the street from the vampire hotel from Genevieve's first visit, and she gazed sadly at it for a moment. Her gaze went to the high roof, and she bit her lip. "Viv, what is it?" Nora asked, following her gaze.
"Just a memory." Genevieve replied, and walked into the new one. They got their stuff set up and ran to the salon down the street. Genevieve was looking forward to a new look to match her new nose ring that she had recently gotten, and her and Nora headed to opposite sides of the building. Genevieve had her hair dyed a deep black with the traditional red streaked widely throughout. She had it trimmed up and they straightened it smoothly for her. Isabel called her when she was done to get the hotel and let her know that Nathaniel would be picking her and Nora up in a silver Volvo in front, and Nora came around the corner then with her hair a combination of brown and blond. Her curls were straightened as well, and they hugged each other as they told each other how good they looked. They sipped champagne as they got manicures and pedicures and picked out their own set list for the band. They hurried back to the hotel, and that was when Genevieve told Nora about her local friend Nathaniel going as well, and how he had offered them a ride. Nora agreed to the idea, giving Genevieve a look.
"Is he a vamp?"
"He is, but a very cool one." Genevieve replied, hoping that it was true. They went and did their make up and put on their jeans and shirts just before rushing outside. There was a Volvo on the curb, and Genevieve looked again at the hotel across the street. She opened the door and leaned in to see a vaguely familiar face. "Hey, Than." She gazed at the handsome young vampire, and he smiled at her. He had tousled brown hair and hazel eyes, and they gave her an understanding look. "Thanks for offering the ride! A cab would have been a mess tonight."
"Not a problem, Genevieve." He smiled at Nora as they were introduced, and then Genevieve sat beside him. "I like the new look you have there. The black and red go well together."
Genevieve shot him a look, wondering how scripted this was going to be. "Salon day. It is a nice luxury."
"The piercing suits you as well." He smiled at her and she returned it, remembering him from the tense night at Godric's when they were planning the entry into the fellowship. "So are you looking forward to tonight?"
"It's Muse. Who wouldn't be?" Nora replied, moving around in the back to the song that played. "That man is so hot, and amazing in person from what I hear."
"It's true. Best live band I have ever seen." Nathaniel pulled into the parking lot, waiting in a line with several other vehicles as Genevieve turned up the song 'Starlight.' She sang along enthusiastically, moving along with Nora. The vampire grinned as he parked slowly, and then the girls jumped out of the car. Genevieve saw the way her was searching her face, and she knew that he was aware of her pain as he met her eyes. They shared a brief glance of grief, and then joined the throng of people heading into the convention center. The three found their seats that were very close to the stage, and Genevieve hugged Nora tightly. They chatted idly for a few moments together, and Genevieve and Nathaniel pulled off the casual friends appearance very well. The opening band made their way out, and Genevieve enjoyed them having been a slight fan for awhile. They played for awhile and exited, and Nora went to go to the bathroom and get a drink. Nathaniel covered Genevieve's hand gently after she left, and she glanced at him. "How are you holding up?"
"It's been difficult." Genevieve admitted, her expression serious. "It all went so badly at the end, when we all thought that we were getting what we went in there for."
"How is the sheriff taking it?"
"I really could not say." Genevieve told him, her voice growing darker. "He has been….absent of late."
"So you two are not companions anymore?" Nathaniel asked her, and she shrugged. "That's too bad for him. You seemed to warm him up a little bit. He can be a hard one to deal with."
"You don't have to tell me that twice." Genevieve replied, glancing around for Nora. "Is she safe alone?"
"We're not really alone. She is being monitored carefully." Nathaniel replied, and Genevieve raised her eyebrows in admiration. "Here she comes." He squeezed her hand before he removed his, and she smiled at Nora. She held a beer as she sat down, and sighed.
"It is so crowded and I paid over ten dollars for this." She sipped it with a smile anyway, and they waited for Muse. Genevieve stood with everyone else when they came out, feeling a little disenchanted with the mention of Eric. She ached for him as she heard songs that reminded her of him for one reason or another, but she sang along with all of her heart as she danced. Genevieve faltered when they started 'Unintended' and she took a deep breath. It forced her to slow down for a moment, and she felt a hand on the small of her back.
"It's OK. Keep it together." Nathaniel murmured in her ear, and she nodded. She closed her eyes and sang along, taking in the words and the mood of it all. She had always kind of thought of this as a song that she would write about herself in terms of being ready for Eric, and she closed her eyes again. The next song was far more uplifting, and she threw herself into it easily. The show ended far too fast, and soon they were walking to the car sadly. Nathaniel drove them back to the hotel, stopping at a drive through for them. He stopped at the curb and Nora ran up with the bags to use the bathroom in their room, while Genevieve turned to face him slowly.
"Thanks, again. I know you barely know me and that was a cool thing."
"I didn't know you. Now I do and you're welcome here anytime, and Isabel told me to tell you that." Nathaniel told her, and smiled. "So why did you call me Than right away?"
"I have always preferred that for that name, and it seemed to show familiarity with each other." Genevieve replied, and sighed. "I don't know if I ever want to come back here again. It has been so tragic thus far."
"You were quite brave last time to go in there and risk yourself. Godric was impressed. It's a shame that the sheriff does not see that." Nathaniel's eyes were warm as stroked her cheek gently. "It really is his loss not to be with you."
"Really?" Genevieve asked, and he leaned in and grazed her lips with his. "Why does everyone suddenly like doing that?"
"You're beautiful and a good person. That is probably why." He kissed her again and she felt the attraction that vampires apparently caused. She returned the kiss and he held her face tighter.
"Isn't it a bold move to kiss another vampire's mate, be it an old relationship or not? Particularly a sheriff's?" Genevieve murmured, and he pulled away slightly.
"A very bold move. But he chose to walk away from you, so he really has no right to be concerned." Nathaniel moved to kiss her again, and she turned her face. "But you still care for him deeply I assume. I could see the emotions at the concert that you were dealing with. I was hoping that it was the whole experience that you had here, not just Eric."
"I love him, Nathaniel. Sad but true." Genevieve told him, and kissed his cheek. "Thanks, again."
"Have a good night, Genevieve." Nathaniel told her, and smiled wistfully. She left the car, cursing Eric again for invading her life when he was so far removed from it. She went up to her room and joined Nora in eating, having to heat up her burger. The girls went to sleep after, with Nora murmuring about cute vampires and band members. Genevieve had a dream involving Eric, one that woke her up in a sweat a few hours later. She cursed him again, and rolled back over to return to sleep.
The girls woke up in the morning and grabbed some breakfast, discussing the concert with a deep longing to relive the experience. "That guy was really cute. Did you guys hook up or something when you were here?" Nora asked Genevieve, and took a bite of her waffle.
Genevieve paused as she held her fork, and smiled slightly. "No, we sure didn't. We just hung out a bit and talked music and stuff like that. I thought he was cute and all, but we were busy."
"What was going on?" Nora asked her, her blue eyes pleading with Genevieve. "You have not been the same since you returned, Viv. You looked sad last night at parts of it, and you were seeing the band you have loved for years. I just….I want to know what happened to you."
"I lost a friend, Nora. That is what happened. It still hurts a lot, and I am trying to get over it." Genevieve replied vaguely, and closed her eyes. 'I'll be fine. I have been through worse."
"If I didn't know better, I would say you were a bit heartbroken. Was it just a friend?" Nora asked carefully, and Genevieve felt the tears in her eyes.
"I lost a lot." Genevieve replied, not wanting to talk about it. "Someday, Nora. I promise. I can't speak of it now." Nora covered her hand with her own, and Genevieve looked at her. They returned to their room to get ready to go home, and Genevieve smiled at her friend across the room. Nora was so good to her, and she glanced up.
"What, Viv?" Nora asked, her beautiful face smiling.
"You're my best friend. Nora. This was really great, despite my not loving every second of it. It really was. I do love you and someday I'll be able to tell you everything. Life just got a little crazy for awhile." Genevieve told her, and Nora nodded. "I love your hair too. You look great." It was curly again, and it made the dark layer under the blond even more prominent. They caught a cab to the airport and flew home, arriving back at their apartment courtesy of Sookie picking them up at the airport. Genevieve unpacked her clothes and got laundry ready as she told Sookie about Dallas and the show. Sookie smiled as she mentioned Nathaniel, and looked to make sure that Nora was in her own room.
"Eric called Isabel immediately." Sookie told her softly, and Genevieve stared at her. "He was so unhappy with your returning there, Viv. I could see it in his face. He is not the same Eric that he used to be. I think he misses you."
"Any reason he has not made an effort to contact me?" Genevieve asked, feeling her sadness creep into her face.
"He didn't say. He seems really distracted." Sookie said, and Genevieve nodded. "Hang in there, Viv. He can't stay away too much longer."
Genevieve went to work the next day for the dinner rush, and noticed that Sam focused a little too much on tending the bar. He only glanced at her for a moment, and complimented her on her hair before looking down again. Genevieve worked the tables through the small rush, and then made sure everything was set up for the next day. She walked over to the bar where Sam was, and went behind it to get something. She glanced at him as he stood next to her, and grinned. "Sam, stop acting like a nervous high school guy. It was not a big deal. I promise."
"You're not mad?" Sam asked her, looking sideways at her.
"I was caught off guard." Genevieve admitted, and laughed. "I actually wish I could go for you. You're a great guy, and actually a bit of a looker if you must know. But I am complicated, and I can't right now."
Sam smiled and wrapped a friendly arm around her and kissed her hair. "You're a beautiful girl, Genevieve. You'll make a fine catch for someone one day, and it is a real shame that the guy you're hurting for does not see that." She glanced at him sharply, and he gave her a knowing look. "I know pining when I see it."
"Thanks, Sam." Genevieve told him, leaning into him. She finished up her work, and then started to collect the trash from the dinner rush. She carried a couple of bags to the dumpster behind the restaurant and tossed them in, crashing unceremoniously into a person as she turned around. She screamed for a second until she looked up to see Eric standing there. So many emotions hit her at once as she looked into his gorgeous face, and she took several moments of gazing at him to see the rage behind his eyes as he penetrated her with his deep blue eyes. "Eric, what are you doing here?"
"I was in the area." His eyes were still on her, in that creepy unblinking fashion that made her shudder. "Moving right along with your life, aren't you?"
Genevieve searched her brain, and then her own anger kicked in after she got over the relief of seeing his face again. "That was nothing, Eric. I have friends. Besides, what if it was something? Where the fuck have you been for the last several weeks?"
Eric 's face remained stone, but his eyes reacted to her words. "Genevieve, I had a lot of things to take care of. You know what happened."
"I think about it every day. I had to keep myself from crying in Dallas when I saw the hotel. I am aware of that. But who are you to come here demanding like you are when you have not made an effort to so much as call me?" Genevieve heard her voice rising, and she stepped backwards. The dumpster was there, and she glared at him. "Can I get by?"
"I want to see you. I want to talk." Eric told her, reaching out a hand to take a tendril of her hair as he looked at the colors. "It's been long enough, Genevieve."
"Why? So I can fall in love all over again and then get my heart ripped out again?" Genevieve asked him, and he looked at her with curiously sad eyes.
"You don't love me?" His voice was soft, and she pulled her head away from his hand.
"I don't think that I should love you." Genevieve replied, pushing against him to get by. "I need to work, Eric."
He slid his hands around her, and she looked up at him. "Come and see me later. I want to talk to you."
He leaned down and she wanted so badly to move away from him as he kissed her, but she found the electricity to be too much to pull away from. She felt his hands slide up and through her hair, and he deepened the kiss as she moaned softly. "Come to the club later. We'll go to my place and talk." His voice was a whisper against her lips, and then he claimed them again.
"Am I being summoned?' Genevieve asked him, and he pulled away and searched her face. There was a weak hint of sarcasm in her voice as she broke the kiss to say it, and he glared at her for a moment.
"When are you off?" Eric asked her, casting a glare towards the main building.
"In a couple of hours." Genevieve replied, and he stared at her. "I'll think about it, Eric. I am not sure."
"I would like it very much." Eric told her, and she shook her head. "I thought you would be ready for this, Genevieve." She heard disappointment in his voice, and she stared at him as he dropped his hands from her hair and stroked her arms.
"I am scared, Eric." Genevieve replied, as she pulled away from his embrace. She had craved it for so long, and his lips called to her as she looked at him. She stared at them for a moment, and stood on her toes to kiss him herself. He let her control it, and she pulled away with tears in her eyes. "I'll think about it." She dropped her head as she walked away, and fought the voice in her head screaming at her to turn around. She loved him as much as she ever had, but fear filled her heart as well. She felt the tears in her eyes and closed them as she heard him call her name.
Genevieve turned around to see him standing in the empty parking lot, under the light. He was in his leather jacket and black pants that she loved on him, and she could see a hint of the tight shirt underneath it. She stopped breathing for a moment, and looked at his face. It was all that she had seen while he was in front of her. "Please come. I love you." His words carried across the distance, and she bit her lip. She nodded and continued walking inside, and Sam glanced up.
I was getting worried about you. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, Sam. I ran into someone out there." Genevieve told him, and tried to smile. She walked around in a daze for the next couple of hours, torn over what she should do. Sam watched her with concern, and she walked up to the bar for a drink after her shift was over, and he raised an eyebrow. "I do drink sometimes, Sam."
"You seem to have a demon behind it tonight is all." He slid her traditional midori sour to her, and she stirred it absently. "If this is over the guy, you don't seem to be running." The bar was empty for the moment, due to the storm that was about to hit them. He touched her face softly, and she glanced up.
"I suggest you take your hands off of her." There was a commanding voice from the door, and Sam and Genevieve both looked up. Eric was there, his eyes glaring at Sam as he stepped inside and Genevieve jumped up.
"Eric, you need to calm down. What are you doing here? I was supposed to have the option of coming to you, remember?" Genevieve walked up to him, and he looked at her with a steel gaze. She was aware of the other waitresses coming forward to see what was happening, and she walked towards him.
"Your mouth is sharper than ever, Genevieve." Eric told her, his disapproval obvious. "I was going to offer you a ride, that's all. I wanted to ensure my seeing you tonight."
"Why don't you leave and let the girl finish her drink." Sam suggested, and Eric focused his gaze on him. "She does not need this. She has been through enough."
"Come outside." Genevieve said, pulling Eric by the hand out of the front door. She wanted him and Eric away from each other, and regretted doing that when the wind whipped her hair around. "It's awful out here." She felt him pull her across the parking lot and was suddenly sitting in his car, and he was getting in next to her. "You need to calm down. You can't kill my boss due to some misplaced jealousy. I was making my final decision over coming to see you, but it seems that you never really left at all."
"I could not stand the idea of you not showing up. I have been even more tempted to see you since the your return trip to Dallas came up, and it grew to be to much to bear. I called Isabel as soon as Sookie mentioned it to me."
"I heard. I appreciated the effort, but I would have liked it on a more personal level." Genevieve told him, and he gave her a dark look.
"I might have to have a word with Nathaniel if I ever get back there. I can smell another vampire on you, and I can imagine him moving in on you. Unless you care to tell me that it was not him, and someone else." Eric said, his voice growing cold.
"Another no big deal moment. He had to sit and watch me get emotional when I should have been having the time of my life, Eric. I haven't had the time of my life for quite some time now, especially since you got out of the car that night without saying anything." Genevieve stroked the hair back that was hiding his face as he leaned his head down. "I didn't know if you cared about me or not."
"I told you as best I could on the plane. Losing Godric was a powerful thing to me, much like your own loss of your parents. Had I spoken that night in the car, I would have begged you to stay with me. I would have never let you leave my side. It wasn't fair, Genevieve." Eric explained, and she gazed at him. "I already felt bad enough for the morning after he…..I was out of my mind with grief and I was afraid that I hurt you."
"Somehow I don't think that you have ever worried about that concerning sex before." Genevieve said dryly, and he looked at her sharply. "It was all part of it. It was part of the time that I spent falling in love with you." She dropped her eyes to the stick shift for a moment, and bit her lip. Her mind was taking a turn down a dangerous path of jealousy, and she hated it.
"What is it? You want to ask something."
"I never came to the club, though I wanted to nearly every night. I was so scared that I would find you the same way with some woman, working through your grief. That was the downfall to that morning. I saw your way to deal with it. I was just the one that happened to be there. I could not handle knowing that deep down." Genevieve said. "It would have completely killed the good memory of my time with you."
"I had many chances to do that, Genevieve. I won't lie. When I returned to work, I sat every night and watched the crowd for your face. I had other women approach me, other offers." Eric told her, and she felt tears in her eyes. "I tried to tell myself that it would stop the pain for that moment, and that I could try and drive it further from my mind I could have always used the blood, since I was trying to survive on that abysmal True Blood to just make it through a night." She turned away from him and stared out of the window, seeing Sam out front looking towards the car. "Then I would see you in my mind, and nearly feel the way you felt when I was making love to you. I knew that I was not craving a body to take my grief out on, but that I wanted you. It was a hard thing to accept. I have lived very differently for years, and love was never something that I expected." Eric paused, and she turned to look at his face. His eyes were cautious as he gazed at her, and she thought that she saw a touch of fear in them. "I had to take time to get used to that, as well as what I lost there in Dallas. I had to think through the grief that I felt when I nearly lost you. Genevieve, I am dealing with something foreign to me. It was very difficult to stay away."
"I just could not deal with the fact that you didn't want to see me. I wanted to help you so much, and yet I didn't want to see you grieve. I guess that is a lot of why I didn't come to you. I was not moving on in any way, Eric. I assure you of that. I was too busy being miserable."
"You changed yourself along the way." He traced her nose and then stroked her hair. "I really like your hair, though I miss the red. The nose will have to grow on me."
"Will you be around for that?" Genevieve asked him, and she leaned forward.
"I'd like to try." Eric told her, and she smiled as she kissed him. "Come to my house with me. I will have you home by morning, or you could just stay if you don't have to be here. You could quit you know." He suggested this in a very sincere tone, as he pulled slightly away to speak. "I'll pay you to look pretty at Fangtasia and keep me company."
"Eric, I like my job." Genevieve told him, and he gave her a skeptical look. "Don't you worry yourself over anything. I am going to get my stuff inside while you wait here. I'll be out in a jiffy."
"I can walk with you." He kissed her again, and she laughed.
"I am already embarrassed to walk back in on my own." Genevieve said, and opened the door. She walked across the parking lot and into the bar, and Sam was staring at her.
"You're not going with him, are you? That is the guy?"
"Sam, yes. If you must know, it is. I am getting my stuff now." She walked into his office and grabbed her purse, and turned to see him in the doorway. "He has been dealing with a lot. He is calm now and I am leaving."
"I am familiar with that one, and he is not the kind of vampire that Bill is. Genevieve, I don't want you going anywhere with him." Sam told her, grabbing her arms.
"You need to let me go. He is on edge, Sam. He can probably hear all of this." Genevieve said, and Sam dropped his hands with an angry look. "I am safe. I promise." She pushed past him, and was relieved to see the room empty. She hurried out the door and saw him standing by the car with his arms crossed. She walked up to him, but his gaze remained fixed on the building in a hard stare. "Eric, he is trying to protect me. Let's just go." He finally opened the door for her, and she got in. He got into his side and started the car, casting a glare at Merlotte's as he drove away. She watched him for a long moment, seeing a part of him that scared her. "You need to let that go now, Eric." He stared forward and she tilted her head. "Is he right? Should I not be with you?"
Eric gave her a penetrating look, and she shrank back a little. "Do you fear me?"
"I don't on a personal level, but you can't be reacting the way that you did back there. I appreciate the place it comes from, but just stop being so intimidating to the people that care about me." Genevieve warned him, and he reached across the car to stroke her leg. "I know that you have your role as sheriff with vampires, but it needs to stop there. I am separate." She glanced forward to see that he was heading towards Shreveport. "If I am going to your house, should I get anything from my place? These are the only clothes that I have."
"Are you coming to my house?" Eric asked her, his voice hard.
"You're driving to Shreveport, so I have to assume to." Genevieve leaned her head back, and closed her eyes. "Does this ever get easier with us?"
Eric turned the car around, and glanced at her. "I hope so." He drove right to her apartment, and turned just as she started to open her mouth to tell him where it was. He parked his car next to Nora's, and she looked at the Civic with a frown.
"I will ask you later how you knew where I lived, but for now let it be said that this could be awkward."