Thanks for the amazing support you've shown for this little story. It's been fun to write and your response has made it even better. I love you all!
As always, I do not own these characters.
The sun was barely swallowed by the horizon when the phone rang. Pleasantries were skipped and her tattered nerves soothed as he answered some of the questions which had been burning all day. The secrets divulged were fascinating and the information provided was compiled, analyzed and stacked neatly in the mounting pile of evidence against Bill Compton.
"On a scale of one to ten, how bad is this?"
"Twenty," he replied with a short laugh. "If this were a television show, everyone would be screaming at your character to run for the hills, or to at least ask the obvious questions. I'm sure you've thought it through. What do you think?"
"I think if this was a TV show, they'd probably have me running to you like a damsel in distress," she replied with a hollow laugh of her own. "I know it's bad, I'm just trying to figure out what the obvious questions are, other than why. What do you think?"
"I think I'm not going to make your night any better by telling you what I think." If his suspicions were correct, breaking up with Bill was the least of the problems she faced.
"Bring it on. I've come this far without withering and fainting away. I may not like it, but I can handle it."
Backbone. He liked that. "Bill didn't move to Bon Temps to mainstream or reclaim that ramshackle house. It was no coincidence he was there when you needed blood."
A soft sigh escaped her as she faced his suppositions. "Why would he set me up like this?"
"I'm over a thousand and you're the only telepath I've ever known," he told her, letting the statement stand for itself.
"But he didn't even know until I told him."
"You didn't know he knew until you told him," he corrected pointedly. "I believe you offered confirmation."
"He's from New Orleans and I've never been there."
"Others know of your gift. Vampires always pay attention to stories of strange or unusual people; more often than not, it's supernatural abilities which cannot be explained by humans."
"Folks around here think of Shreveport as the city; hardly anyone ever visits New Orleans. Even if they did, I doubt they'd be talking about me."
"I could be wrong," he suggested in a manner which implied he was not. She snorted her disbelief before replying.
"I'm sorry, but you were right. This doesn't make my night any easier and it's probably going to get worse from here."
"You're not in this alone." Where the words came from, or why they sprang to his lips at all would be dissected and examined later but for the moment, the ancient vampire felt good about his snap decision to throw his support behind the telepath.
"I appreciate that, Eric. I really do. Why are you doing all this for me?"
"I find myself quite fascinated by you." It was a simple description of his growing interest.
"Do you go above and beyond like this for all the women you pursue?"
"I don't pursue women and I don't usually go above and beyond for anyone."
"What makes me special?"
"You are a beautiful, intelligent woman, Sookie. You make it sound like no one has ever shown interest in you before."
"That's because they haven't," she retorted. "I went on a few dates when I was still in school, but it was too hard to block their thoughts. Since everyone around here thinks I'm crazy anyway, no one else ever really asked."
"No one?" Her disclosure stunned him. The innocence surrounding her was more than a simple aura; if not for Bill Compton, it would be fact.
"Nope. Bill has been my only boyfriend." A bitter laughed escaped her throat. "And since that's all just a big fat lie, I guess I can still say I've never been in a real relationship. How sad is that?"
"It's not sad to wait for the right person."
"Is that supposed to be you?"
"It's sure as hell not him. Break up with him and we can see if it is me. At least I'm honest about my intentions."
"You've been honest about wanting to sleep with me. Have you even been honest with yourself about the rest?"
It was part of her charm, he thought. No one else called him out quite the way she did. The fact she was right was less charming, but her astuteness was appreciated.
"We could turn this around and say the same of you," he pointed out lightly. "You answer my calls, sweet Sookie. You think you know what I want from you, yet you still talk to me in the middle of the night. Have you been honest with yourself?"
Had she? There'd been dreams and daydreams, too, but was she brave enough to wake up?
"You're interesting. And frustrating. I'm flattered, of course, but I'm puzzled and confused, too," she admitted bravely. "I'm trying to figure you out, but I think I've got a long way to go yet."
"I couldn't have put it better myself. I need to know everything there is to know about you. There is no explanation; it just is."
The line was silent as both parties gave fleeting, but meaningful thought to what being involved with the other might entail. A hazy picture emerged, blurry and indistinct, but still satisfactory to both.
"I know," she sighed. "I'll do it tonight."
"Do what?"
"I'll tell him that it's over."
She sees the light….
What do you think?