Chapter 1: Invitation

It had been a long lunch shift at Merlotte's but I would also have to say that it had been an even longer, yet quiet week without someone trying to kill, stake, burn, choke, bite, shoot or beat me. It had also been two weeks since I saw or talked to Eric, the vampire which whom I was bonded by blood to and had a sensitive and emotional past with.

I currently loathed the crummy blood bond between us because my emotions had been riding the roller coaster from hell causing my nights to be restless, empty and sometimes full of sorrow. Ever since Eric had regained his memories the night of De Castro's takeover of Louisiana having taken place in part in my living room, it seemed as if the supe world was suddenly quiet or at least leaving me the hell out of it which all I could think of was a relief with the exception of my unhinged emotions tied to Eric ranging from anger, depression, confusion, sadness to comfort, compassion, happiness and lustful desire. Half the time I didn't know which were mine and which were his. The emotional stress was wearing on me and more than once I had cried myself to sleep wallowing in loneliness and confusion.

I drove down Humming Bird road and pulled up to my house while still admiring my graveled driveway, a gift from Eric and was contemplating on what to do with myself for the rest of the evening. Today was like every other day but a little ache was tugging at my heart.

It was my birthday. I hadn't told a soul not even my roomies who were off to New Orleans participating in some kind of witches retreat and would be gone for the next two weeks and I was still on the outs with Jason and didn't expect to hear from him and even if I did, I'm not sure how I would really feel about it anyway since I was still pissed about the whole busting up my friend, Calvin's hand with a brick because of Jason's unfaithful, pregnant wife incident. Tara, my best friend was off with her new husband and Arlene, who was now all wrapped up in the Fellowship of the Sun cult was still not talking to me seeing that I was still "friends" with the vampire community more than she liked. But to hell with her, I was tired of the bullshit. I was just plain tired really and worn out. To me it was just another day but I was missing my Gran mostly. She would always do something special for me even when I begged her not to but there would be not surprises today…so I thought.

As I reached the back of the house I noticed another car parked in the driveway. It was Pam's car. All I could think to myself was, "what the hell is she doing here!" I cautiously got out of the car, went up the steps and found her sitting on the back porch swing waiting.

"Sookie, it's about time. I was starting to think that you would never get here." Pam stated and it almost sounded like a whine.

"What can I do for you Pam or should I ask since you never come here just for the fun of it, what can I do for Eric now? Amelia's not here and she's seeing Tray now as far as I know."

"Oh, now Sookie, if I had any feelings at all they'd might be hurt!"

"I doubt it."

"Hmm you are hard hearted just like he says."

"Pfft, what do you want Pam? I'm tired and worn out. It's been a long day."

"I actually came to see if you wanted to go somewhere with me for a couple of hours. It seems like everyone is getting to know the amazing Sookie except for me. I was wondering if you would be interested in a little girl "bonding" time?" she said with a shit eating grin on her face.

"Har, har Pam, that's not funny and you know it!" I scolded her.

"Seriously, I was going to spend a couple hours at a spa that is owned by a friend of mine. She is a vampire so of course she is open in the later hours of night. Would you like to join me?"

I looked at her as if she'd grown a second head and commented, "What's the catch? If you keep this up people might actually think that you do care!"

Pam gave me a hearty laugh and replied, "There's no catch, I had the night off and wanted to do something relaxing for a change, I was going to treat you but if you don't want to come then fine, I'll go by myself."

The warning sirens were sounding in my head and it wanted to say no thanks but my body was pleading to accept her offer. I was so worn out, emotionally and physically and I remembered my time in Shreveport when I went to salon and how wonderful I felt after being waited on hand and foot and since she was going to treat, my body won the battle with the sirens and I gave in to her offer.

"Fine, I'll go with you but there better be no funny business or I'll convince Eric to torment you somehow, I swear it Pam!"

"That would require you to talk to Eric first my dear and since you've been such a pill lately, I don't see that happening too soon." She said with a smug grin.

"Shut it Pam or I'll change my mind. Let me go change out of my uniform and put on something more comfortable first. Come on in, you can help yourself to a blood in the fridge if you want, I'll just be a minute." I should have got the blood for her myself, after remembering my manners but she had been here plenty of times before and I figured she wasn't really much of an official guest since we were attempting to be all buddy-buddy, maybe the sleep over and hair braiding would happen after all, who knows.

Pam made herself comfortable at the kitchen table after she warmed a bottle of true blood and I went into my bedroom to change. I desperately wanted to crawl into my clean sheets and go to bed early but my body wasn't going to pass this up, I needed a break and it was my birthday after all, it was going to be like a present to myself and I deserved it. While I changed out of my uniform and slipped on my new baby blue halter dress I got on clearance at Tara Togs that would be easy to change in and out of at the spa, my emotions took another turn and I felt excited about the upcoming adventure tonight. Hoping that they were my feelings but I was not so sure. I better make sure that nothing sneaky was going on before we left. I began to brush my hair after I let down my pony tail with great relief but I rolled a hair tie up on my wrist for later use. I slipped on my white flip flops and went to the kitchen where Pam waited.

As I entered the kitchen Pam snapped out of her moment of down time and looked me up and down.

"Well don't you look sweet?" She said, with a devious smile.

"Thanks, I'm ready to go if you are." I replied as I tried not to sound snippy.

"Oh Sookie, you're so entertaining, the next few hours will be such fun."

"Pam, you promise you're not up to something? I swear, I'm too tired of the games and I promise I'll stake you in the middle of your manicure if you're pulling a fast one on me. I'm serious!"

"Come on Sookie, we're going to be late for our appointment and I'm not trying to, how did you put it? Oh yes, "pull a fast one" on you."

"Fine, let's go, wait a sec, I'm sorry Pam that I'm being so, so…" I couldn't think of the right word so Pam interjected, "Bitchy?"

"Well I was gonna say short but bitchy will work too, it's just that your master" as I quoted with my fingers, "has me all emotionally on the fritz, I'm having a hard time trying to find some middle ground. I know it's not your fault, I'll try to be better for the rest of the night okay."

"Don't worry, I've dealt with worse, you entertain me more than annoy so that works in your favor. Let's get going." She then gave me a little wink that would make the skin on any other person crawl up one way then down the other.