-

SAM MERLOTTE WAS A name everyone in Bon Temps knew. Whether it was from his bar, Merlotte's, the lot of rental houses he owned, or just from being one of his good friends. There was something no one else knew. Until Alexandra and Sookie saw it for their own eyes. He was a shapeshifter.

"Shapeshifter." Alex deadpanned. She really couldn't wrap her head around the fact that one of her best friends could turn into the town dog whenever he felt like it. She thought they knew everything about one another, besides all the non important stuff.

Alex knew one thing, that was very fucking important.

"Most of us refer to ourselves simply as shifters." Sam shrugged, his dress shirt wrinkling from not being as fitted as it would have been if it was his own. Sookie had scoured Bill's closet in search for him some clothes, so at least he wouldn't have been naked.

"Well, how many of you are there?" Sookie gulped, wrapping a plaid blanket around her tightly. They chose to move onto the porch, for some odd reason. Alex made a guess that Sookie didn't want him in the house anymore. The older blonde was freezing, and sipping some coffee she had ran over to Sookie's house to make.

"Thousands? Tens of thousands, maybe? We don't really have a newsletter." Sam chuckled, trying to make light of the serious situation. Alex brought her fingers up to her mouth, rubbing her bottom lip slowly. It was extremely hard to process.

"Do you come from, like, a family of shifters?" Sookie asked, tilting her head over to look up at Sam. He looked down at his bare feet and shrugged.

"It's hereditary, so yeah, I suppose. But I was adopted. And the family that took me in, we just never talked about it." He responded. Alex frowned at the bitterness of her coffee. She had spiked it which wasn't the plan but the bottle was sitting right beside the coffee pot.

"Can you turn into anything? Like cats, or birds?" Alex was getting tired of Sookie asking questions. Sam had obviously wanted to keep it private from everyone, or else they would have known.

Alex rested her head against the old rocking chair and looked up at the night sky. She let her mind wonder until Sookie said something in the conversation that drawled her back in.

"Could a werewolf have killed Gran?" Alex froze, she must have missed quite a bit of information. Werewolves? She thought, Jesus H.

"I suppose it's possible." Sam spoke carefully, glancing at Alex out of the corner of his eye. She rocked slightly, going back and forth, almost trying to lull herself back to sleep.

"Oh, my God." Sookie sniffed, wiping the tears that came out of her eyes. "Bill's been dragged off by vampires and now I find out you're something I never even knew existed." She put her head in her hands, plopping down on the cement staircase. Sam sat beside her, trying to comfort her but she pushed him away.

"Don't!" She yelled, scowling at him. Alex let out a deep sigh and continued to count the stars. She drowned out their argument, that was until Sookie stomped inside the house, slamming the front door. Sam kicked at the dirt, frustrated.

"It's alright, Sam. She'll cool off eventually." Alex mumbled. She felt bad for him, it couldn't have been easy. Sookie was just under a ton of stress and she took it all out on him.

"You sure about that?" He scoffed, burying his head in his hands. Alex sat her mug down on the concrete and joined him and the stairs, intertwining their arms

"No, but you still got me. I know what it's like to live with something you don't want anyone to know about. I told you I can see things about a year after we met, that's when I trusted you enough. I let you in and I've never regretted it, I was ready. You haven't been ready, and maybe you still aren't, but it's out anyway." Alex talked softly, leaning her head on his shoulder. "Your secret is safe with me, Sammy."

"I appreciate that, Cher." He pursed his lips and gave her a light kiss on the forehead.

-

"The damn lights are wrong Sam!" Alexandra huffed, rolling her eyes at the owner of the bar. Everything was going okay, between Alex and Sam, that was until Sam, Sookie, and Alex had to go help Arlene and René decorate for their engagement party. Sookie was pouty - because of Bill and Sam. Alex didn't have a cigarette one, or anything else to ease her nerves so she was on edge. And Sam, he was just as pissed at Sookie as she was him.

"I don't need to hear it again! Arlene already came through here once complaining." He glared at the blonde who pursed her lips and stomped away. Alexandra walked up to René and grabbed his arm, pulling him away from his task of sitting out napkins and plates. She dragged him over to the booze table and crossed her arms.

"Your soon to be wife's party is busting my ass. I still have to go to the store and pick up white lanterns so it doesn't look like Christmas up in here." Alex watched as he pulled out a pack of cigarettes. He held out the pack, letting her grab one. "Hey, you really are my best friend!" She gave him a lopsided grin and grabbed the lighter from her pocket.

René chuckled and looked off, scratching his neck. Alex side eyed him slightly and let out a small chuckle. "Dude, what is wrong with you?" She turned her head slightly to blow the smoke out, but quickly regained her look.

"Oh, nothin'." His accent was sharp and quick, catching Alex off guard. She furrowed her eyebrows, he seemed to notice her confusion so he explained. "I'm just, so grateful to you. You gave me everything, Alex. Without you I wouldn't have nothin', Cher." René pulled her in for a hug, and she patted his back.

A dribble of blood came down from her nose and she patted it, pulling away from René. He quickly grabbed a tissue from his pocket and handed it to her, giving her a worried glance. "You okay, you?"

Alexandra pressed the tissue to her nose and gave him a nod. "Yeah, allergies I guess. Thanks, René." She lied, nodding her head. He gave her a small smile and patted her shoulder slightly, going back to his party duties.

-

Alex grinned, her heels spinning on the flat wooden dance floor below her. She felt the thump of the sweet Louisiana music all the way up to her hips. Hoyt had made a pretty good dance partner, even if Maxine did tell him dancing like he was, was going to land him a special spot in hell.

As soon as the song ended they broke away, going over to the drink table. "I'm fryin' like a fritter in a pan! Give me a break and we can go again!" Alex ripped open the top of a bottled beer and swigged it down like it was water.

"Give me like 5 breaks, and I think I'll be ready." Hoyt chuckled, wiping beaded sweat from his forehead. Alex laughed, still trying to catch her breath. Hoyt glanced over to see Jason and Amy walking over, and he walked away, leaving Alex all by herself.

Arlene's engagement party was turning out to be one hell of a fun time. She didn't expect to have a good time, seeing as though Eric hadn't even sent her a text all day, including when she was taking a cap nap in Sam's office. It was a good thing, honestly, Alex didn't need herself getting even more attached than she already was.

She walked over to the table full of Louisiana delicacy, a full shrimp and crab boil. She had already ate, but after dancing two songs in a row, she figured she earned another plate. She had picked through and got most of what she wanted when there was a tap on her shoulder, Jason was standing there with a beer in his hand.

"I'm sorry, Al. I shouldn't have said what I did 'cause I know better. Amy made me realize that family is important and that I shouldn't bring you down. I want you to come home here in a few days, I got a surprise. You might not like it, but it's gonna be good in the long run." His sideways smile had always made her break down and forgive him in the past. Alex chewed on her bottom lip and sat her small plate down, turning to fully face him.

"Jason, if you can't realize that family is important on your own then I don't think I'm gonna come home. I can figure out what your surprise is just by touchin' your hand, I don't want to know. I accept your apology but, you need to grow up a little without the help of your girlfriend." Alex spoke softly, making his eyebrows furrow. "I'm gonna move in with Sookie, she doesn't need to be alone right now. I'll probably move my stuff tomorrow mornin'. And Hoyt's gonna help, so you can spend some time with Amy. She seems great."

Hoyt didn't know he was helping her move, but Alex knew he wouldn't mind.

Jason's mouth opened like he was getting ready to say something, but Alex held a hand up. "I'm not mad, or angry. I'm just upset. I'll get over it and I'm not movin' out because of you, it's just, I need some new scenery. If history repeats itself I'll be back in no time." She gave him a small smile and glanced up at his face to see what he was thinking. He frowned slightly but nodded, wrapping his arms around her.

"I understand, Al." He kissed her forehead and kept his arm wrapped around her shoulder as he scoped out the party. "This is one hell of an engagement party, don't you think?"

"Yeah, sure is." She smiled up at her brother and he patted her shoulder and went over to talk with René and about who were loading up their plates. Alex roamed around, stealing a drink or two from the liquor table while balancing her full plate of food in her other hand. She jumped when Sam placed a hand on her back.

Alex turned to see Sam cradling Sookie with his other arm. He held onto her, rubbing her back slightly. Sookie sniffled and clung onto him tightly.

"I'm getting you two out of here right now, Alexandra drive your sister home as fast as you can. Get in and lock all the doors and windows, I'll be there as fast as I can." His tone was serious and Alex was drunk but she sobered up as much as she could. She nodded at Sam, dropping the plate onto the picnic table. She grabbed Sookie, gripping her hand tightly and walking her to Alex's car.

"What happened?" Alex opened up the passenger door for her sister, shutting it lightly. Sookie was still shook up, dried tears stained her face and glowed in the lights of Arlene's party. Sookie shook her head and sniffled, signaling to Alex that she didn't want to talk.

Alex gripped the steering wheel so tightly her knuckles were turning a shade of white. Alex's attention span was very different when she was under the influence, meaning they had hit almost every pothole and ran off the road once. They both let out a deep breath when Alex pulled into the driveway.

"Sook, you gotta tell me what happened." Alex dug around in her purse, her hand snatching the 9mm pistol that was in her bag, on safety of course. Sookie's eyes went wide when she saw the gun.

"You're really gonna use that gun while you're piss poor drunk?" Sookie mumbled, frowning at her older sister. Alexandra rolled her eyes and snatched her keys, going over to open Sookie's door.

"Tell me, Sookie." Alex exasperated pushing open the door by leaning her body on it, almost falling in the process. "Whoops." She chuckled, picking herself up using the door knob.

"Alex, do you really think now is a good time to be like this? You barley got us home alive, and now you can't even stand up straight. I was almost killed and you're partyin' like a teenager." Sookie shut the front door firmly, making Alex turn to her younger sister and furrow her eyebrows.

"Dude, you know why I drink. Maybe tonight I had a few more, but in my defense I didn't know the killer was there. I was celebrating, Sookie. You haven't even told me what happened." Alexandra sat her purse down on the kitchen table, "Are you sure it was the killer anyway? I mean, there are plenty of assholes in this town, maybe someone was playing a prank on you?"

"Just like the prank someone pulled on you after Gran's funeral?" Sookie snapped back, making Alex frown. Before Alex could reply Sookie was already stomping upstairs.

Alexandra sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Son of a bitch."

-

Sam came down to the house around fifteen minutes after Sookie and Alex's argument. He came into see Alexandra sitting on the couch, a bottle of bourbon in front of her, along with a pile of tissues. In front  of her was the TV from the kitchen, and on it played some sappy romantic movie. Sam turned his nose up and raised his eyebrows as he walked in slowly.

"Hey," He drawled out, seeing her tear soaked face. "What's the matter?" Alex glanced up, seeing her friend slowly take a seat beside her.

"I don't know. Sookie is upset with me, I'm drunk, and I haven't heard from Eric at all. Hoyt's asleep and the girl in the movie just died while the guy was on his way to see her. Now I'm a sad drunk." Alex crossed her arms, pouting while Sam furrowed his brows.

"Eric? Like blonde freaky vampire Eric? The one who came into my bar and threatened my customers?" Sam backed away from her slightly, his voice raised an octave and Alexandra wiped her face clean.

"He didn't threaten anybody except for Roy. That's just because he killed 3 vampires that were in his area. Eric is the vampire Sheriff around here." Sam scoffed and shook his head as he jumped from his spot beside Alex.

"Jesus Christ, it's bad enough Sookie's fuckin' a bloodsucker, now you are too? I thought you were smarter than that!" He ran a hand over his face and punched the air.

"Sam what's wrong with you? I mean I understand why you don't like Bill, 'cause of Sookie. But it's just wrong to not like anybody cause of what they are. Eric's got a good heart." Alex stood up with him, crossing her arms at the man before her.

"He doesn't have a fuckin' heart! I've lost a lot of people in my life, I won't lose one of my best friends to a damn vampire." Sam spat, "I'm goin' to check on Sookie." He turned on his heel before Alexandra could say anything else.

She ran a hand through her hair, tugging slightly at the ends. She plopped right back down onto the couch, but grabbed her phone instead of the TV remote. Her finger hovered above the call button, right on Eric's name, it was two in the morning according to the tiny screen she was looking at.

Alexandra chewed on her bottom lip, deciding against calling him. She threw her phone onto the coffee table and propped her legs up, grabbing the remote to change the TV.

"Movie night it is."

-

authors note
hey guys! please vote and comment, leave your love, criticism, anything below!

guys if you read these (which i hope you do) i would so appreciate it if you could share this book. i love this story and i would love for more people to read it and give their feedback or any comments! so please help me out!

BRO, honestly this chapter has taken me so long because i didn't know what to write. i just got off work 20 minutes ago and sat down to finish this! this is basically just a filler chapter, because the next two chapters (which i have already wrote) are the really good ones hehe.

anyway guys i am super duper sorry for the wait, i feel so bad but i am gonna upload again sometime in the next week or so!!

ALSO thank you guys so much for all of the views and comments and votes! LIKE ARE YOU KIDDING ME? 20K views? Over 1k votes, it's insane!!! i truly appreciate it guys, from the bottom of my heart ❤️

thank you for all of the votes and comments we have gotten so far!

love mack