All Hell Breaks Loose
Chapter 35: The Man in Me.
Sookie had a large variety of clothes and she was able to bring most of them over to Jason's while her house was repaired. She usually had the right kind of outfit planned for dates or just for going out with friends. She did not know what to wear on a fake date.
"Maybe the jumper dress," Sookie said to herself as she pushed clothes along the rack in the closet. She found the light blue dress with yellow flowers printed on it. She wasn't sure about the shirt that shared a hanger with it. White wasn't good for dates after Labor day, or at least that was what she was told when growing up. She thought of a yellow shirt to go with it, not bright neon yellow or mustard yellow but more of a pale butter yellow color. That would be perfect.
"Are they going to pick you up or are you going to meet them there?" Jason asked from the doorway. Even though they returned home late the night before he insisted on going to work that day and had only recently returned home.
"Arlene said they are going to pick me up," Sookie said as she laid her outfit on her bed. She had already perfect shoes picked out even though it didn't matter since she was going to replace them with the bowling shoes. She had chosen a pair of sable brown flats since they were not too dressy and not too casual and a pair of sheer beige socks that were almost like stockings but only went up to her calves.
"When was the last time you went bowling?" Jason asked as he unbuttoned his shirt.
"Been a few years," Sookie said and remembered how for her victory wasn't how many pins she knocked over but how many times her ball did not fall into the gutter.
"Maybe they will put on bumpers like they do for little kids."
"You are a laugh riot," Sookie said and decided a simple light blue headband would be the perfect accessory for her hair. She heard the sound of a belt being undone. "I know this is your house but could you please not undress near me?"
"Sorry. I'll go finish in the bathroom. I could use a shower anyway. I smell like a pig's butt in August."
"Thanks for sharing." She knew her brother would be using the bathroom that was adjacent to his bedroom leaving the other for herself. After she had finished dressing she brushed her and slipped on the band. She put in hoop earrings made out titanium. After she had started to date Bill she gave away all her silver jewelry to charity. Bill and Eric replaced it for her with titanium, platinum and white gold that was close to silver without actually being silver. The last touch was a sweep of light blue shadow, a little mascara and lip-gloss.
"You look nice," Jason commented to her once he stepped out of his bedroom, wearing nothing but a white undershirt and black and gray plaid pajama pants.
"Thank you," Sookie said and glanced at the clock on the wall. It was 6:15 and Arlene said they would pick her up around 6:30.
"Good evening," Jessica greeted them as she stepped out from the door to the basement. She was dressed in her Merlotte's uniform. She walked to the kitchen and pulled out a couple bottles of Tru Blood and put them in the microwave.
"Ready for work?" Jason asked
"Leave in a few," Jessica said and pulled out the bottles. "Go easy on Steve. He feels a little off."
"Off?" Jason repeated.
"He did say he drank too much werewolf blood last night," Sookie said, knowing that couldn't be it since she never heard of vampires having problems from overeating before.
"It's not that," Steve said as he walked in. He was still wearing an old Dallas Cowboys shirt and a pair of pajama shorts. His hair hadn't been brushed. "I don't know how to explain it. I feel like something, a part of me is distant."
"Maybe you miss Pam," Jessica suggested as she handed Steve the second bottle. "I miss Bill. I think this is why I'm drinking this without gagging because he wants me too and I don't know if he is safe or hurt or God knows what they are doing to him." She hadn't noticed the tears of blood falling out of the corners of her eyes. "I shouldn't be doing this before work." She wiped them away.
"I think we all miss him," Sookie said and placed an arm around her. "You believe he is still alive, or undead?"
"Yes," Jessica said and smiled. "Yes I do."
"We are going to find him and rescue him. I just know we are." She looked up at Steve. "And you should call Pam. Maybe just listening to the sound of her voice will help."
"I'm going to do that," Steve said and took a long swig from his bottle.
"And I have to pretend to be somewhat interested in Patrick so I can scan his mind," Sookie said with forced enthusiasm.
"They also have an arcade with ski ball," Sookie said as soon as they stepped inside J. J.'s Bowl-O-Rama. The last time she was there the place only had a few arcade machines.
"Had that for a couple of years," Terry said. He was dressed in a yellow and black shirt and plaid shorts. "I think we know who is going to be the winning team tonight."
"Sorry Sookie," Arlene said with a smile.
"Don't be so sure," Patrick said and winked at Sookie. "I'm not only a good bowler, but I am also a great teacher."
"I'm going to need all the lessons I can get," Sookie confessed. "Besides this is just for fun and to get to know each other."
"Exactly," Arlene said and gave her a husband a light pat on the shoulder. "Can you book us a table, Terry?"
"Tonight I am not Terry," Terry said as he pulled out a pair of sunglasses from his pocket. "Tonight I am The Dude." He slipped them on and walked to the counter.
"Oh lord," Arlene groaned and placed her hand over her face. "He's been on a Coen Brothers kick."
"So," Sookie said. "Patrick, did you and Terry bowl together a lot?"
"Whenever we got off," Patrick said and smiled. "Not much of a bowler are you it seems."
"Nope," Sookie said and smiled. "Arlene can vouch for me on that subject."
Don't worry I'll see to that. "Don't worry I'll see to that."
"We got lane seven," Terry said as he held up his pair of ugly shoes. "Just got to tell them your shoe size."
After they picked up their shoes and found their names Terry had set up the names including writing in Dude for himself.
I'm a little hungry, Patrick thought. "I'm a little hungry."
"We should get some food before we start," Arlene said. "They got burgers and hot dogs and pizza and nachos."
Do they have fried chicken? "Do they have fried chicken?"
"Man, Patrick," Terry said and shook his head. "You and fried chicken."
"I love fried chicken," Patrick said with a smile. "Nothing wrong with that."
"You eat it all the time," Terry said. "You need some variety in your life."
"We will see if they have it," Sookie said to him. "But if they don't what would you like?"
"Couple of hot dogs then," Patrick said. "And a beer."
"Two beers," Terry said and held up his fingers. "And some tacos. I know they got tacos."
"Come on, Sookie," Arlene said and grabbed her arm. "We won't be long."
There wasn't much of a line at the concession area and Sookie was able to read the menu with ease. They only had fried chicken as patties for sandwiches. She decided to order that for Patrick and a large slice of pizza for herself.
"Sookie?" Tara walked away from the stand with two soft drinks. "When was the last time you went bowling?"
"A long time ago," Sookie said and remembered that Tara didn't really bowl either. "Are you here with Lafayette?"
"Nope," Tara shook her head. "Hoyt invited me to go bowling and I took up on his offer."
"How has he been?" Sookie asked. She didn't see much of Hoyt at Merlotte's in the past few days.
"Dealing," Tara answered. "And not acting like most guys around here. He's been lying in bed listening to country music, eating ice cream, watching life time movies."
"He told you all that?"
"Hell no I was there with him. Plan on meeting tomorrow for the tree?"
"Hadn't rained in a few days. I do plan on giving it some water."
"Sookie," Arlene called over from the counter. "I need your help."
"Bye Tara," Sookie said and went over to help Arlene with the trays. "Tara has been spending a lot of time with Hoyt."
"I think it's sweet," Arlene said and brought her tray to an empty table before she pulled a small baggie from her purse. "Give me Patrick's beer."
"What is that?" Sookie asked and pointed at the baggie.
"Holly made this. I put it in Patrick's beer and he drinks it. Some of the same concoction is in this little glass bottle charm Holly is wearing right now. Whatever color it glows will tell us what kind of spell Patrick is under."
"Here." Sookie handed Arlene the glass and watched as her friend put in the powder. "Are we certain he's under a spell."
"He isn't possessed," Arlene said as she tossed the empty bag away and handed back the beer to Sookie. "Why else wouldhe have two voices in his head?"
"I'm not sure. Maybe he has two personalities. He was in Iraq with Terry."
"That's true," Arlene said after she paused. "If this doesn't work maybe you can go to a mental hospital and listen to a patient with multiple personalities." She closed her eyes. "What am I saying? Sookie I'm sorry I'm putting you through all of this."
"I don't mind," Sookie said as she and Arlene walked back to the guys.
Patrick did like his sandwich and complimented Sookie on the good choice. The game wasn't too bad. After a few gutterballs, Patrick gave her a few tips on how to roll the ball and even suggested using a ball that was slightly lighter than the one she was used to. Sookie did improve. She usually only had one spare a game if she was lucky but with Patrick's help she achieved five and even a strike.
"Oh my God," Sookie gasped and pointed at her perfect roll. "Did you see that?"
"That was great," Patrick said and clapped.
"I owe it all to you," Sookie said and gave him a hug. She hoped they could find out what was wrong with him.
"What did I miss?" Arlene asked as she ran over to them. She excused herself to call the babysitter and check on her kids and missed the roll.
"Sookie here just rolled her first strike," Patrick said.
"That's great," Arlene said.
"Pretty good but you still are behind," Terry said. "You are up, dear."
Arlene rolled and caused a split and the second ball went into the gutter.
"What's wrong?" Terry asked.
"I gotta pee," Arlene answered while catching Sookie's eye. "I'll be right back."
"I also have to go," Sookie said as she ran off after Arlene. As soon as they were in the ladies room Sookie caught her breath. "You called Holly?"
"Yes and she said it turned black."
"What does that mean?"
"She said that all she knows is that it's bad."
Replies:
Anonymous. Thank you. I wanted to pace it and make it more real.