A/N: Reviews were amazing as always. Hope you enjoy the chapter!

Sorry: My attempt at an apology for making you all wait was trying to get this up as quickly as I possibly could while still being happy with the way it turned out. So, forgiveness earned? or do I still need to whip out some more quick chapters?

Disclaimer: I do not own True blood; I just borrowed the characters for a bit of fun!

Chapter Eighteen
Anger, Friendships & Abrupt Vampires

Sookie didn't mention seeing both Arlene and Tara at Fangtasia when she arrived for her morning shift, not in the mood for an argument she knew would come about if she was the one to comment on it. If there was one thing Tara hated the most it was being accused of being a hypocrite, even if that's exactly what she was in this instance. What she couldn't help, however, was the sense of relief she felt when she noticed neither had fang marks present on their neck.

At least it was one less thing she had to worry about.

Tying her apron around her waist what she hadn't been prepared for was the look of disgust on Tara's face.

"What?"

Tara's nose wrinkled in distaste. "You aren't wearing your scarf" she pointed to her neck, "I can see your bite marks."

Instinctively moving to brush her fingers against the two quickly healing puncture wounds she shrugged. "It isn't as if you didn't know they were there."

She felt no shame at the marks which represented her intense encounter with Godric, only a pleasant flush when she recalled it. Chewing her bottom lip she couldn't help but wonder if it felt that good every time or whether it was a one off. He hadn't even physically touched her other than a small caress of her cheek, she couldn't help but imagine if he had really touched…

She snapped herself out of it before she got carried away. She couldn't afford to go down that road.

…or could she?

Nope.

Or…

No, no she couldn't.

"Sam isn't going to like it."

Sookie huffed, "well it isn't any of Sam's business."

It wasn't until Arlene made her way over, her eyes shining with disapproval that she felt her own anger rise. Just what was with her friends lately?

"You still hanging around with those vampires, Sookie" Arlene placed a hand on her hip, her face a picture of disapproval. Sookie gritted her teeth against the urge to comment. "Why don't you find yourself a nice human man to settle down with, I mean we all know that clearly vampires aren't the way to go if that Bill was anything to go by."

"You're hardly one to talk, Arlene" Sookie snapped out spitefully before she could help herself. She wasn't usually one to bitch but there was only so much she could take without snapping. She ignored Arlene's sharp intake of breath, obviously not expecting that response, to be honest neither had Sookie. "And don't be a hypocrite."

Stalking towards her only table Sookie tried to ignore the fact both Tara and Arlene were clearly whispering behind her back. She had no doubt it was about last night, the both of them arguing as to whether or not she knew about it.

It was clear when she made her way over to grab a cloth that they had decided not to say anything in the hopes that she was unaware of the damage done to their relationship.

So much for trust in a friendship.

"We just worry about you, Sookie" Arlene pursed her lips, her words tainted with a cautious undertone. "I…I know I'm hardly one to take, considering my track record, but –"

Sookie winced. "I'm sorry I said that, Arlene." Because both her and Tara may be lacking in the friendship department as of late but she genuinely felt bad for coming at Arlene so personally. It was true, but that didn't mean she had a right to throw it in her face even if they were doing the same thing to her. "There's someone out there for you."

"Doubtful, but whatever" she shrugged. "Anyway, I just wanted to ask you if everything was alright."

Confused, "why wouldn't everything be alright?"

Sookie attempted to ignore the small plaster positioned behind her neck, anger once again filling her at the fact she had clearly tried to manipulate a vampire into having sex with her. Not to mention put herself in a dangerously reckless situation that could have had a newly turned vampire making a direct attempt at her neck due to the scent of fresh blood.

She wasn't as naïve as she used to be.

She didn't like it, the fact that Arlene had kids that depended on her only making the recklessness of her actions more apparent. Chow may have told her that it was unlikely to be as effective as people believed, but that didn't change the fact that malicious intentions were behind it.

For someone who outwardly hated on vampires, Arlene had tried extremely hard to go home with one.

"You know, I heard from Sam that you broke up with that civil war vampire."

Since when did Sam gossip, she couldn't help but ask herself. She was slightly annoyed.

Moving to clear her table she sighed, slapping a smile on her face before collecting the cheque as the couple left. She wasn't surprised by the lack of tip.

"I'm fine," she tried to sound reassuring. Arlene already knew about this so why was she asking? "Bill obviously wasn't the one for me."

Arlene looked at her with sympathy. "I did try and warn you that its expected when you date-"

Sookie cut her off. "Don't give me that, Arlene! Bill was a jerk, it has nothing to do with whether he is a vampire or not."

"But-"

"No," she shook her head. "I have come across more respectful and polite vampires in the last few days than I have humans in all my life."

And that was the absolute truth.

Laughing, "I doubt that, Sookie. They lie to you, cheat, and only want you for your blood and…uh…well…"

Sookie quirked a brow. Clearly it was still common knowledge that she was a virgin. Lovely.

"Can we not talk about this right now?" she finally pleaded. It was hard enough already to hold her tongue about last night without the advice shewas on the receiving end of.

Sensing the tension, Lafayette broke the silence "Ya alright there, hun?" as he popped his head out of the kitchen. Sookie couldn't help but both smile and relax at his usual perky and flamboyant tone. It was just what she needed to cheer herself up.

Huffing, Arlene headed back over to Tara's direction.

"Baby mamma bothin' ya, girl?"

Sookie sighed. Leaning against the bar she stared at Lafayette hoping for some advice. He may be related to Tara, but she doubted he would be impressed with her hypocrisy either. She may hate gossiping, especially behind peoples backs, but she was at a loss at what to do with the situation she had found herself in.

Should she simply ignore it?

Mention something?

Confront Tara herself and hope for the best?

She was at a loss at whether to stay quiet or speak out, after all while it may not be any of her business the fact these were vampires within Eric's area had her feeling strangely emotional over the whole thing. She had spoken to a few of them in Fangtasia and they had been nothing other than polite, she didn't want to see them get hurt because while people thought otherwise witnessing Eric break down in pain told her that vampires felt just as much, if not more so than humans.

"I saw them at Fangtasia last night," she blurted out, knowing Lafayette had nothing against vampires.

"Who?" His eyes widened when he saw her eyes flicker towards the other two waitresses on staff. "Ya shittin' me? After all that crap Tara sprouted on 'bout she goes and fucks a vamp?"

"I don't think she…uh…left with one."

At least not what she had seen. She had stayed just a little until closing and by the time she had finished her drink both Tara and Arlene had disappeared. She would have been worried if Chow hadn't been keeping an eye on them, informing her that they had simply given up and left a few hours after arriving.

She had only felt partly relieved that they had left alone.

Lafayette wasn't impressed. "I'm gunna give tat girl a piece of ma mind, getting' up in both of our grills 'nd then doin' that!"

"I don't want to make things awkward, Lafayette" she pleaded. "Not only are they my friends, I do have to work with them as well."

"Not even after all the crap she gave ya wit that Bill?" he quirked a brow.

"Honestly no," she chewed her bottom lip. "But seeing them there, talking about me in the bathroom, it kind of hurt" she had to admit. "I mean, why would they express so much hate towards vampires and then go out and try and get intimate with one?"

Rolling his eyes at her less than crass language Lafayette leaned against the counter in thought, pursing his lips in a dramatic manner that she couldn't help but smile at. If she was ever upset she knew a quick talking to with Lafayette would perk her right up, he just had that kind of personality about him.

"Fine," he broke the silence. "I'll keep my sweet ass out of it, but if she continues to comment-" he waved his spatula threateningly. Sookie giggled, but nodded in relief.

She would be keeping a close eye on both Tara and Arlene that was for sure!

The rest of her shift went smoothly, it practically uneventful other than Tara almost slapping an overly touchy customer who had started on the booze a bit early. It wasn't until they was packing up to leave, searching for her purse and bag in Sam's office that she heard her name being called by a flustered Lafayette.

She frowned; did he sound panicked?

Quickly hurrying back into the restaurant her eyes widened when she took in the scene in front of her. "Eric!" she yelped in surprise, making her way over. "What are you doing!" she panicked, taking note of his hand around Lafayette's throat.

"He is coming with me!" was all Eric stated, already beginning to drag him towards the parking lot.

Hurrying after him, Sookie didn't hesitate to reach for his arm, "you can't be serious, Eric. He hasn't done anything!"

Eric raised a brow. "Really?" he purred, "read him."

Almost instantly she was hit with thoughts of Lafayette and a vampire she didn't recognise, blood filled vials and some more…rather intimate images she would rather not have seen. It made her pause, enough to let go of Eric's arm and stare at Lafayette in both shock and anger.

"Lafayette?"

"I'm sorry!" he was sweating, fear flashing through his eyes. "He gave it to me! I didn't take it, he let me have it!"

Eric growled low in his throat, "rules are rules and you have broken them!"

"It's not illegal if they give it to you!"

Eric snarled, "are you trying to tell me that I'm doing my job wrong?" he forced Lafayette in the boot of his car while Sookie stared in shock at both what she was witnessing and what she had gleaned from Lafayette's mind.

What the hell had he been thinking?

"Sookie! Sookie! Please-" a loud thump snapped her out of it, Eric making his way towards the driver of his corvette without a care in the world that he had just kidnapped one of her friends and forced him into the boot of his car.

She was slipping in the passenger side before she knew what she was doing, refusing to budge when Eric shot her a seething look that should have had her running. Clearly she didn't have the right self-preservation as she stayed put, stubbornly crossing her arms over her chest with a very un-ladylike scowl at her lips.

"Get out."

"No."

Growling, Sookie was surprised when he didn't force the issue. Instead, he simply turned on the ignition and pulled out of the parking lot at a speed that startled her enough to grip onto her seat, knuckles white under the pressure before she hurriedly moved to click the seatbelt into place.

She hoped to god that Lafayette was going to be alright, even if she didn't approve of what he had been getting up to as of late.

All she could think was; what on earth had he been thinking?

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