Good Morning Sunshine, Merlotte's Says Hello(Open)

[Kaelyn Halifax]

Kaelyn had committed a crime.

She'd spent the night hidden away at they very edge of the parking lot of Merlotte's in the Impala. So, when morning came she tried her best to look like someone who'd slept comfortably in a bed and not the backseat of a car. She'd changed her top, put on some deodorant, brushed her hair, etc.

So, tainted with the shame of knowing she'd trespassed on the Merlotte's property, Kaelyn tried her best to act normally as she walked through the door. No more odd staring at the floor and no heart-stopping panic attacks. All she had to do was just march right up to the bar and drop her criminal bottom into a seat.

Too bad, even though she'd followed through with all of her carefully laid plans, that she couldn't help but stare at the counter in shame.

She always had sucked at acting.

[Brandy Berry]

((ooc: A little bit of foreshadowing in this post. Trying to get all the posts in my little time line in order ))

The full moon was one more night away and both Sam and Summer seemed to be on edge. Not only that, but Brandy was due to leave for Dallas in a couple nights and that meant more time away from Sam. Not something Sam was all that excited about. But Brandy had made a promise, just giving Damian a relative location wasn't going to cut it.

If she wanted to find his girlfriend, she would have to go to Dallas with him. Sam surely thought Brandy was too nice sometimes but what good was her magical gift if she couldn't help people with it?

It probably didn't help Sam's thoughts any that Damian was cute, and a werewolf. Brandy insisted to Sam everything would be alright, she made arrangements for separate rooms and promised him they wouldn't be any longer than 2 days.

As Brandy's thoughts wandered she heard the door open, and she turned around to see who was coming in. Merlotte's didn't get busy until supper time. Her dark caramel hues followed the girl - who looked way too skinny for her own good - and noticed the girl took a seat close to her.

Wasn't this girl around yesterday when she was talking to Damian and the others?

"You look terrible."

Brandy flushed, she didn't know why she said that - it sorta came out. Waving off her impoliteness she got up and moved closed to the girl.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean it the way it sounded. Did you want some company? It's kind of only me around right now."

[Kaelyn Halifax]

"You look terrible."

Kaelyn gave a small jump at suddenly being acknowledged. The scraping of chair legs on the ground made her look over towards the sound and she watched silently as the girl moved closer to her. She did her best to not scoot away as the seat next to her was suddenly occupied by the stranger.

I'm sorry, I didn't mean it the way it sounded. Did you want some company? It's kind of only me around right now."

"Oh," she replied simply, "I guess I must look less-than fantastic at the moment. So, no need to apologize. And," Kaelyn said with a shrug,"I guess it isn't surprising that a bar would be empty at 11 in the morning."

She hadn't replied to the question on wanting company. She didn't really know how to. It'd been so long since she had sat down and talked to someone, willingly that is, that it had become such an alien concept to her.

"I...I think I saw you in here yesterday night," she stated softly. "You must live around here..."

[Brandy Berry]

"Oh, I guess I must look less-than fantastic at the moment. So, no need to apologize. And, I guess it isn't surprising that a bar would be empty at 11 in the morning."

Brandy chuckled slightly, lately Brandy had been spending time in the morning there. Just sort of.. being lazy and staying around Sam to keep him company before the rest of the staff showed up.

"The only reason I'm here this early is to keep Sam company before the other staff get's here. If you wanted something to eat, I'm sure I could even hop back there and cook it for you"

She wasn't really sure if Sam would let her back there in the kitchen. He would probably insist he do it himself. Who knew, he was in a mood but.. she was certain he was just glad to have her around anyway.

"I...I think I saw you in here yesterday night,"

"Oh right, I remember you now. You were all by yourself, I'm really sorry I didn't introduce myself. Just, had a lot to deal with. Helping out a new friend"

"You must live around here..."

"Pretty close. You know, you kind of look the way I did because I had to sleep in my car one night. Your not sleeping in your car are you? Because if that is the case, you must understand Sam hates to hear that kind of thing. You could probably even stay with me, it isn't like I'm at my place all that much anymore"

[Kaelyn Halifax]

"The only reason I'm here this early is to keep Sam company before the other staff get's here. If you wanted something to eat, I'm sure I could even hop back there and cook it for you"

"Oh, no, no," Kaelyn sputtered out with added arm waving for good measure, "I couldn't possibly inconvenience you like that. I'm fine with waiting or even fine with just a glass of orange juice... I don't really eat much anyways."

"Oh right, I remember you now. You were all by yourself, I'm really sorry I didn't introduce myself. Just, had a lot to deal with. Helping out a new friend"

The kindness of her words were a little disarming for her. The fact that someone would feel sorry for not saying hello to her made Kaelyn feel a tiny spark of happiness. Something she hadn't felt in quite a while.

"Like you said, you were busy," Kaelyn allowed herself a ghost of a smile as she spoke,"So, you shouldn't feel bad at all. I didn't really make myself seem open for chatting anyways."

"Pretty close. You know, you kind of look the way I did because I had to sleep in my car one night. Your not sleeping in your car are you? Because if that is the case, you must understand Sam hates to hear that kind of thing. You could probably even stay with me, it isn't like I'm at my place all that much anymore"

Whatever eye contact Kaelyn had managed to achieve with her new acquaintance was instantly lost as she lowered her head in shame. Even though she hated sleeping in the Impala, she was too paranoid about running out of money and, truth be told, it ended up feeling like the safest place to be. Also, her night terrors were less likely to be overheard if she kept to the car at night.

"I..." she whispered sadly,"I'm sorry that I did it. I won't stay in the parking lot again, I swear. And I don't think it would be alright for me to stay with you. You don't know me...and I wouldn't forgive myself if I became any sort of bother to you..."

[Sam Merlotte]

Sam was skulking out the back. Another day another miserable mood. The sooner the moon cycle went back to the beginning, the better. He was going through his safe, getting the money to put into the till for the start of the day, making sure there was just the right amount of change. Nothing could be more frustrating than someone buying one coffee and paying for it with a 20 dollar bill.

He could hear voices out front, one was definetly Brandy. Sam was starting to regret flipping the sign on the door to 'Open'. He really wasn't in the best frames of mind to tackle a busy day with the Bon Temps natives.

Soon Brandy'd be off to Dallas, something he was simply not happy about it. Not at all. What man would be okay with letting his new girlfriend go off on some hairbrained scheme to help a complete stranger. It had nothing to do with the fact that the stranger in question was an attractive and young Werewolf. Nope, definetly not that.

Sam was kidding himself. Of course that was part of it. He did trust Brandy, but he knew nothing of this young Were and had no idea if he was trustworthy.

Sam walked into the bar and sure enough there was Brandy chatting to a blonde girl at the bar.
"Just gimme a sec to get this till on and I'll get ya somethin'" Sam said, trying his utmost to be on his best behaviour.

[Brandy Berry]

"I couldn't possibly inconvenience you like that. I'm fine with waiting or even fine with just a glass of orange juice... I don't really eat much anyways."


"Oh geesh girl, calm down silly. Your alright here, and you aren't an inconvenience at all. Sam is around here somewhere, and the others won't be too far behind. Its really no trouble"

Sam, of course, had to come first thing - it was his bar after all. Usually Lafayette was next, and then Arlene and then Tara. Sookie had been coming less lately, she was probably busy with other things.

"Like you said, you were busy. So, you shouldn't feel bad at all. I didn't really make myself seem open for chatting anyways."


"Oh, I know I shouldn't feel bad. You just looked really sad. Your body language was all sorts of.. well, it was screaming that you were troubled. Eh, I know I sound really weird right about now but I tend to spend a lot of time watching people"

Well, it wasn't like she could come right out and say she was more intuitive than most because she was a witch, that would just be awkward!

Even more awkward was the way she reacted to her offer about staying at her place. Did she scare the girl? It was only because she knew how Sam was, he wouldn't feel right about a young woman sleeping in her car and neither would Brandy.

"I'm sorry that I did it. I won't stay in the parking lot again, I swear. And I don't think it would be alright for me to stay with you. You don't know me...and I wouldn't forgive myself if I became any sort of bother to you..."

"You stayed in the parking lot? You know what kind of creatures are around here at night? - you could of been hurt! And now, you must understand that I insist you stay at my place. I'm going to be gone for a couple days anyway to Dallas - be nice to have a house sitter."

Brandy glanced toward Sam who had entered from the back room, a till in his arms. She felt inclined to ask him if he needed any help but it wasn't like he would get her to help anyway.

"You can stay with me. Till you get on your feet. I don't mind at all, at least it will be a roof over your head and a clean shower in the morning. I could probably get you a part time job where I work, if you think you can sell the latest fall collection to a bunch of giggling females"

"Just gimme a sec to get this till on and I'll get ya somethin'"

Oh Right. Sam was right there, she should be asking if he had an extra key. He was probably going to scold her for inviting a person she didn't even know to her house. She hoped, as she looked at him, that he wouldn't make a scene.

"Hey hun, do you have an extra key for the duplex?"

[Sam Merlotte]

Sam would have coughed an unsubtle interuption if he thought it would work. Neither women seemed to notice he was there at first. Which was probably not a good thing, for Brandy. His eyebrows raised in surprise at her offering to stay at the duplex. What the hell was she doing?

Sam put the till on and turned to the girl. His senses tuning into her and then it dawned on him. Shifter? Definetly a shifter. "Uh, excuse us one second please." he put his hand up as he turned to Brandy as she asked him if there was a duplicate key for her duplex.

"Can I talk to you a sec please?" He wasn't about to make a scene in front of a customer, certainly not a newcomer to Bon Temps.

[Kaelyn Halifax]

"Oh, I know I shouldn't feel bad. You just looked really sad. Your body language was all sorts of.. well, it was screaming that you were troubled. Eh, I know I sound really weird right about now but I tend to spend a lot of time watching people"

Kaelyn knew that her body language was anything but stellar in terms of exuding anything along the lines of 'I am normal. I am perfectly peachy. No need to notice me!' She had become increasingly aware, the more and more she came in contact with other people, that she just couldn't function like she used to. Problem was, she had no idea if she'd ever be "normal" again...

"I..." Kaelyn started, but she didn't know really how to finish, so she clammed up.

"You stayed in the parking lot? You know what kind of creatures are around here at night? - you could of been hurt! And now, you must understand that I insist you stay at my place. I'm going to be gone for a couple days anyway to Dallas - be nice to have a house sitter."

"...creatures?" That broke Kaelyn out of her temporary silence. "I...didn't notice anything, but...are you sure? I could try and make it up to you. I don't know how, but I could try. I'll clean it everyday if that would be okay..."

She couldn't be how lucky she was to be having someone so nice offer her a place to stay...and then she noticed Sam. Whatever Brandy said next fell on deaf ears. Her eyes went wide as saucers as she recalled his face and, more than that, his aura as a shifter. Shivers started to course their way through her body and she clutched the seat of her chair as she tried to steady herself.

"N-No...b-by all means," she stuttered out as her eyes became glued down to her lap. Her mind reeling all the time, 'Don't notice me. Don't notice me. If you notice me, I remember all those horrible things...'

[Brandy Berry]

"I...didn't notice anything, but...are you sure? I could try and make it up to you. I don't know how, but I could try. I'll clean it everyday if that would be okay..."

"Oh.. you clean? Can you cook too? Cause I really hate to cook and that would be just awesome!"

Brandy was already ready to go into a ramble. She never told Sam she hated to cook, but she did it anyway even if it wasn't a passion of her's. And the thought of cleaning, she would do that too... but to have someone else clean for you - hell, who wouldn't pass that up?

"Uh, excuse us one second please."

Oh. Oh that was Sam's voice, and he was beckoning her. Brandy looked over at him, and that look he gave her - -

"Can I talk to you a sec please?"

"No"

Brandy blurted it out, but Sam kept giving her that 'look'. Finally, she took a breath and mumbled something underneath her breath as she got off her bar stool and walked around the bar.

"N-No...b-by all means,"

"We will be two secs. Promise"

Two secs. Right. That was all it would take, she thought, as she went straight for his office and took her place against the edge of his desk.

Dirty memories.

[Sam Merlotte]

"No" Sam almost exploded at the point. He shot her a dark look which softened when she made her way out of the front and into his office. She perched herself on his desk. Sam consciously having to remove thoughts of an earlier nights encounter atop the very same desk.

"Brandy, what are you thinking?" Sam closed the door and started gesticulating wildly. He ran his fingers through his hair as he tried to calm himself down. "You can't let a stranger live with you just like that. I understand you have a good heart and you want to help everyone you meet. But this is foolish."

He slumped against the door, his body was tense. He hated leaving the bar unattended but he had to talk to her about this.

[Brandy Berry]

"Brandy, what are you thinking?"

Thinking? She was thinking she could help somebody the way he had helped her - that was what she was thinking! She didn't like the tone of his voice, so she scoffed and crossed her arms. Her attention was focused outside, not at him - so she didn't see him run his hand through his hair.

"You can't let a stranger live with you just like that. I understand you have a good heart and you want to help everyone you meet. But this is foolish."

Brandy sighed, letting her position relax as she looked at him. So he wasn't scolding her, he was just.. worried about her.

"I just wanted to help her Sam. I mean.. look at her out there. She is harmless. And it wouldn't be right to leave her like that. She really has no where to go, and I wanted to help her.. the way you helped me."

Brandy pushed herself away from the desk and walked over to him, placing her hand on his shoulder with a casual tilt of her head.

"I don't sense any evil in her.. and if anything happens I can just cast a spell. Or call you. I can't, in good conscience, just abandon her. You may think I am too nice, but.. you did the same for me and you didn't know me from a hole in the wall."

[Kaelyn Halifax]

Despite the closed door, the bar was quiet and it wasn't hard at all, especially for her, to hear his raised voice. She'd gotten that kind woman in trouble for even suggesting that she be able to stay in her home. Whatever was his problem about the whole situation, she was sure that it was all justified.

Shaky hands reached up to the edge of the bar and Kaelyn pushed her chair back and slipped out of her seat. She hadn't even been in the town for 24 hours and something had gone wrong. Kaelyn knew it would be best to be on the road. She thought maybe, just maybe, she could stop running long enough to get her head straight, but it was clear now that this wasn't the place.

Besides, there were too many of her own kind here. Whenever Sam walked into the room it was like a heavy stone had been placed upon her chest crushing her heart. It was hard enough to keep her head above water, but if that weight was constantly on her...she'd drown in her guilt and sink too low. She hadn't given up in that hell hole and she really did not want to find out what her lowest would be like.

Without a second thought she turned on her heels and started towards the front door.

[Sam Merlotte]

Sam lowered his head at her words. She was right about everything. But the words stung a little. Male pride is a hard thing to let go off. The guilt started to seep into his consciousness. His dark mood was clouding everything, even his usual charitable nature. He couldn't wait till this was all over. Though the worst was yet to come. It was always difficult to get someone to cover him every full moon. So sucking it up was gonna be a chore.

He looked up a little startled as he felt Brandy's hand on his shoulder. He gazed up at her, the shame in his eyes.
"I'm sorry. You're right, I was out of line." he paused for a moment to collect himself. "If you still want to help her out, I can give you my set of keys. But on one condition." he looked deep into her eyes. "Get a new set cut, then give me mine back oh and any sign of trouble you call me okay?"

[Brandy Berry]

"I'm sorry. You're right, I was out of line."

She was silent, all she did was wrap her slender arms around him and pulled him close in a tight hug.

"If you still want to help her out, I can give you my set of keys. But on one condition."

On the mention of one condition she backed away, letting him look her deep in her eyes.

"Get a new set cut, then give me mine back oh and any sign of trouble you call me okay?"

Brandy nodded, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek before she maneuvered her way around him and out the door. She had a feeling they probably made the girl really uncomfortable and given her personality - she would probably be heading toward the door right about now.

"Hey! Wait!"

Brandy of course, was right, and she had put her hand on the girl's shoulder before she had a chance to completely disappear.

"Please don't leave. Sam is just being a protective boyfriend, he was just looking out for me. Your more than welcome at my house and I really could use a helping hand around there. So please, won't you come sit back down and let Sam get you something yummy?"

Brandy's kind eyes were pleading with the girl, she didn't want to have to drag her back to the table.. but if she had to - she just might!