❪ 𝐃𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐇 𝐖𝐈𝐒𝐇 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄 ❫     ﮩـﮩﮩ٨ـ🫀ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ
𝚜𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚘𝚗 𝚘𝚗𝚎    🥀    𝚎𝚙𝚒𝚜𝚘𝚍𝚎 𝚘𝚗𝚎
𝚓𝚘𝚜𝚒𝚎 𝚍𝚎𝚕𝚐𝚊𝚍𝚘      ×       𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚌 𝚗𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚑𝚖𝚊𝚗

❝ UNSPOKEN THOUGHTS ❞

‧₊˚🖇️✩ ₊˚🩸⊹ ♡ BON TEMPS SAT IN THE NORTHERNMOST CORNER OF LOUISIANA, just 20 minutes south of Shreveport. A town so small that neighbor knew neighbor, friends became family, and secrets rarely stayed secret long, which caused about as many problems as the people that couldn't hold their tongues.

And at the heart of it all sat Merlotte's, a bar and the finest dining establishment, if not the only dining establishment, in town.

It was a place everyone knew, a place passers-by just had to stop by, it was a town staple. It was a hub of community, and with community came whispers. And in a town as small as Bon Temps, the whispers could run rampant. Spreading through town faster than you could drive from one corner to the other. Especially over a plate of fries or a nice bowl of gumbo – Lafayette's gumbo was to die for, anyone in town would tell you so.

Throw in a drink or two and a plate of fries and you have the perfect hot bed for town gossip.

Even still, it was a nice place. The cooks were great at their jobs, the waitresses were some of the prettiest things this side of the mason-dixon, and the owner was a good man who loved the town and it's people – even the no-so-lovable town's folk.

Just like any other night, Merlotte's was packed, nearly bursting at the seams with music, laughter, and, well, gossip. Though most of that was left to people's innermost thoughts, some so lewd and crass they dare not speak them aloud, which didn't matter so much... unless you could hear each passing thought that crossed anyone's mind at any given moment.

Josie, one of the two waitresses at Merlotte's that could hear every unspoken thought that crossed anyone's mind, crossed the room, all eyes seemingly following her every move.

She had a certain way of walking that made it nearly impossible for just about any one to look away, whether it was to admire her or to scrunch their nose up in annoyance — or jealousy. The sway of her hips was subtle, her steps sure, and it didn't hurt that her shorts were just short enough to leave most of her perfectly tan, smooth legs bare.

Though she wasn't known to be the most modest of women, the shorts were a little too short even for her. But she didn't mind all that much, especially since drunk guys were loose with their wallets, especially when she showed a little extra leg.

It also helped that her shirt was tight. Tight enough to show the outline of the lacey bra she wore underneath. It was clear that a man had chosen the uniforms for the waitresses.

And although his choice in uniform may have been a little, okay, a lot, sexiest, Sam Merlotte was a good man. He was kind and sweet and he cared about the people of Bon Temps, especially a select few he called his friends. And Josie was lucky to have been in the handful of people Sam would do just about anything for.

"Pig." Sookie mumbled under her breath, her smile falling away the second her back was to the man that sat in the booth, his chapped lip between his teeth as he eyed the blonde up and down.

"Don't sweat it, Sook." Josie gave her a smile, getting one in return before the two parted ways, Sookie going towards the back and Josie towards a table in the middle of the restaurant. She smiled, it was fake but she had spent hours perfecting it in the mirror at home, it seemed real enough to the man that sat at the table.

His eyes moved up from the menu, taking in the sight before him as the girl took her order pad from the pocket of the apron she wore around her hips. He swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing.

"What can I get ya?" Her drawl was thick, like most of the people who were born and raised in Louisiana. She looked from the order pad, her pen at the ready, to the man before her. A trucker hat sat crooked on his head, his eyes a swampy green color, the beginnings of a bread sat upon his jaw like he hadn't cared to shave in the past several days, a rumpled flannel hung from him shoulders, covering the grease strained T-shirt he wore, his jeans were ripped at the knees, and his boots were big and dirty.

Though most would take the time to clean up before heading somewhere to eat, this was a regular occurrence. Men would show up fresh from work, dirty and in need of heaps of food.

Those pretty little legs. Bet they'd look so good wrapped around me.

Her smile didn't slip, despite the disgust that rolled through her at his disturbing thoughts. Sadly, it was nothing new for the girl.

"Uh, a water." His drawl was thick, thicker than that of Josie.

"Anything else?" She shifted her weight to her right foot, her hip jutting out just a bit and his eyes were helplessly drawn to it, then down her legs.

Bet they're as smooth as they look. I could just...

"Um, uh, a burger." He answered, handing her the menu as his other hand curled into a fist on his thigh, like he was stopping himself from reaching out and touching her.

She smiled as she took the menu, "I'll be right back, sugar." She told him, though she didn't appreciate his wandering eyes and his crass thoughts, she knew the nicer she was the better tip she would get – and she needed all the money she could get if she was gonna fix up her place so could move out of Adele Stackhouse's place.

It was also how she was raised, Adele had always told her to be kind because, not only was it the right thing to do but it could turn someone's day around completely.

And she just wanted to make Adele proud, despite how hard it was proving to be with each passing day and each passing disgusting and disturbing thought that crossed the minds of the town's folk.

Her smile only faded a little as she turned and made her way to the back of the restaurant, her eyes landing on Sookie, who stood with her eyes closed in the middle of the room, but she knew she was trying to block out all the thoughts, she too had been struggling to keep them out — it was especially hard when the bar was packed, as it had been that night.

When Sookie smiled and got back to work, so did Josie. She headed for the window that separated the kitchen from the rest of the restaurant, but she didn't miss the lingering eyes that followed Sookie, across the room.

She smirked, making a quick stop at the bar, "you're starin'." She hummed and Sam rolled his eyes, meeting her eyes that resembled a glass of whiskey.

"Am not," he mumbled, a small smile playing on his lips. He knew he had been caught, and it wasn't the first time either. More often than not, his longing gaze would follow Sookie around the bar, and every time, Josie would call him out for it.

"Sure you're not," she gave him a teasing smile and he chuckled, shaking his head. "Watch those eyes, Sammy." She joked before she turned, making her way to the back, where she hung up the order and spun the ticket holder a little before she grabbed a red plastic cup and filled it up with water.

She made her way back towards the man that sat at the table alone, his eyes scanning the crowded room. Josie smiled and side stepped when she saw Arlene heading her way, making the redhead chuckle a little, and once she was in the clear she crossed the room.

"Here's that water for ya, and your food'll be right out." She told him, not missing how his eyes rested on her chest as she placed his cup in front of him. "Can I get anything else for ya?"

You in the back of my truck, bet I could make you scream.

"Not likely," she mumbled, her eyes going wide when she realized she had just responded to one of his unspoken thoughts. She quickly covered her shock with a smile, ignoring the way his brows creased in confusion. "Ketchup? Mustard? Pickles, maybe?"

"Um, y – yeah." He nodded and she turned quickly, shaking her head a little before she rushed off. It didn't happen often, but she slipped sometimes, finding it hard to bite her tongue when she could hear every passing thought. She quickly got him the condiments, and made sure to tell Lafayette to add pickles before she quickly made her way to another table in her section.

"Y'all still good?" She asked, smiling as her eyes scanned the table, getting a few nods in return. "Can I get any refills for y'all?"

The man shook his head, "just the check." He smiled, and he seemed polite enough, if only his thoughts weren't as polite.

Damn, look at those perfect tits. Just begging to be set free. That shirt is so tight, I can see everythin'.

And as if his wife could read his thoughts, disgusting pig. Won't look my way but the second that little tramp waltzes over, your all smiles.

Josie shook her head and made her way to the little computer to print out their check, shaking off other thoughts that filtered in, and she couldn't really place a single one. She was usually better at blocking them out, but she was running on only two hours of sleep and a slight hangover.

She made the rounds, checking on her tables, refilling drinks, giving people their checks, and all the while she wore that smile that was just perfect enough to not seem forced, though it was. She had cleared a table, tucking the five dollars that was left behind into her apron pocket as the phone rang.

"Evenin', Merlotte's." Sam answered, holding the landline to his ear.

Josie smiled and leaned over Sookie's shoulder, who was leaning against the bar, waiting on a couple of drinks for one of her tables, "ten bucks it's Tara."

The blonde jumped a little, looking over her shoulder to see Josie's wide smile a couple inches from her face. Her brows creased, "deal." She drawled. "But only 'cause there's no-"

"Hey, Tara." Sam greeted, cutting the blonde off and Josie grinned as she backed away from her best friend.

"Pleasure doin' business with ya," Josie smirked before she turned, dodging Arlene once again. "Oh, sorry." She mumbled, getting a chuckle and an eye roll from the older woman.

"Yeah, she's right here." Sam made his way over to Sookie, passing her phone.

"I'm so sorry, Sam." The blonde rushed out. "She knows not to call me at work."

"Sookie, it's okay." He smiled and Josie rolled her eyes as she filled up a fresh cup with water. "You don't abuse the privilege like Arlene does."

"Hey," Arlene snapped, carrying a tray of food past them. "I heard that."

"Well, I wish you would hear that." Sam sassed, getting an eye roll from the red head.

"Please, Sam. I have kids," She drawled, not stopping on her way to one of her tables.

"Yeah, Sam. She has kids." Josie added, a smirk on her lips as she shot the man a teasing look. "Besides, I never get calls, she can have my privilege."

"You're an angel," Arlene grinned, looking over at the brunette, who blew her a kiss before she smiled and put the cup down before she made her way towards a couple that had just been seated.

"Evenin'," She smiled, her order pad at the ready. "What can I get for y'all?" She asked, but even as she listened and jotted down what they wanted, she couldn't help but overhear the crass thoughts of a man that had just walked in.

Mmm, I'll tell ya what you could get me. Those perfect lips around...

She shifted on her feet, her sneakers sliding against the floor as she ignored his learning gaze. Still she smiled at the two in front of her. "I'll be right back with those drinks, y'all sit tight." She told them as she walked away. Once she was near the bar, she shook her shoulders, as if shaking off the feel of the awful lingering eyes she still felt on her.

Dawn grinned, meeting her and Sookie at the bar, "Mack and Denise Rattray are just about to sit down in your section," She bumped Sookie's hip a little, nodding her head in the couple's direction and both she and Josie turned to see a woman fixing her boobs before the man smacked her ass.

Josie's nose scrunched up, "they give me the creeps." She mumbled. "I could feel him lookin' me up 'n down. Makes me wanna crawl outta my skin."

"'Cause that's what I need to hear," Sookie mumbled, glaring at Josie, who offered a sympathetic smile.

"Don't let 'em get to you, chere." Sam offered a kind smile, hoping to reassure the blonde. "They're not worth it."

"Got that right," Josie hummed as she leaned forward, resting her elbows on the bar as Sookie took a breath before she turned and made her way towards the couple.

"Two Tecates, Sam." Dawn told him, a flirtatious smile on her lips, though that was just Dawn and she meant nothing by it.

"No, I was here first," Josie shook her head, playfully narrowing her eyes at Dawn, who just chuckled. "I need a burden on the rocks and a sex on the beach."

"Don't we all," Dawn mumbled, making Josie laugh. It was a beautiful sound that had people around her stopping to stare as Sam and Dawn chuckled along, the owner of the bar shaking his head a little.

"Comin' right up," Sam told the two and Josie grinned, patting the bar lightly before she made her way back towards the window to hang her order up on the ticket holder.

"Mm, baby cakes," Lafayette greeted, his smile wide as his eyes scanned her. "Got a hot date later?"

"If you call a bubble bath, some wine, and my hand a hot date, then absolutely." She grinned, sending him a wink as she backed away from the window and he laughed as she turned, stopping at the bar to grab the drinks Sam had made for her. "Thanks, Sammy."

He nodded in response and she made her way towards her table, smiling as she placed their drinks down, "y'all's food'll be right out." She told them, before making her way to her other tables. She refilled a few drinks before heading back to the window to see if her food for another table was ready, she smiled as Sookie fell into step with her, both stopping at the window.

"Onion rings," Sookie huffed. "And if you drop a few of 'em on the floor, that's fine with me."

"Got it," Lafayette nodded, not missing a beat as he cooked.

"Rattrays?" Josie asked, her eyebrow raised and Sookie nodded with a small sigh. "I say drop 'em all."

Sookie chuckled as Josie bumped her hip and Layfette laughed, looking over at the two, "oh, Sookie." He mused. "Chicka-chicka-bow-wow." He shimmed his shoulders a little Josie doing the same at Sookie's side, who just looked confused as she looked between the two. "You lookin' like a porn star with that tan." He mused as he made his way towards them. "And pink lipstick. You got a date?"

Josie rolled her eyes, "why you think everyone's got a date when they just wanna look good?" She asked, her head tilted to the side a little.

"No, no date." Sookie told him. "When I wear makeup, I get bigger tips."

Josie nodded, adjusting her shorts in her hips, "same reason I wear these teeny tiny shorts, they love a little leg."

Layette laughed, making his way back towards the stove, "yes, girl, that's it. These damn rednecks are suckers for packaging."

"Don't I know it," Josie hummed. "How's my burger coming?"

"It's coming, baby cakes. Hold ya horses," he pointed his spatula at her and she raised her hands a little as if in surrender.

"And I get even bigger tips when I act like I don't have a brain in my head." Sookie added, "But if I don't, they're all scared of me."

Josie sent her a sympathetic smile, nudging her with her elbow a little. That was something they both understood, because they were the only two in town that could hear others' thoughts. It was the main reason they were such good friends.

"They ain't scared of you, honey child." Lafayette shook his head as Arlene walked over, hanging her order on the ticket holder. "They scared of what's between your legs."

"Lafayette," Sookie scolded. "That's nasty talk. I won't listen to that."

Arlene chuckled, "Do you even know what's between a woman's legs, Lafayette?"

"I know every man, whether gay, straight, or George ma-fuckin' Bush is terrified of the pussy."

"Lafayette!" Sookie scolded, but Josie just laughed, that bright sound that could make the clouds roll back.

"Oh, what are we talkin' about?" Dawn asked, stopping at the window.

"Pussy," Lafayette and Josie answered, both a little sing-song. Dawn's brows pinched meeting Josie's eyes, who sent her a wink and blew her a kiss. Dawn chuckled, shaking her head a little.

"Hey, listen," Arlene cut off the giggles of the two brunettes. "-not everybody is gay, okay? Not everybody wants to have sex with you."

"Oh, you would be surprised, Arlene." He smirked, placing a tray in front of Josie. "People you know." The red head scoffed, but she was clearly amused. "That's all I'm saying."

"Well, I don't wanna have sex with you," Dawn told him.

"Uh-huh, me neither." Arlene shook her head.

"Shit. Y'all bitches just don't know what you're missin'." He thrusted against the table in the middle of the kitchen, making Josie laugh as she picked up a fry and bit it in half as Dawn moaned along with each shake of the table. "I got six gears on these hips."

"No, baby. You don't know what you're missin'." Dawn shook her head as she turned and strutted away. "You can watch it walk away. Make you wanna slap it?" And Josie did just that, quickly reaching out to smack her ass and Sookie looked completely terrified as she looked around.

"Everybody been there." Lafayette called out after her. "Ain't that right–" He looked over at Big John, who said nothing as an amused smile rested on his lips. "John's been there."

Josie giggled, finishing off the fry as Arlene backed away, shaking her chest, which was rather large. Then Sookie rushed away, her cheeks pink, shaking her head as she went. Josie just giggled to herself, looking over at the other cook in the kitchen, "Big John, you ever get tired of us?"

He smiled, shaking his head, "y'all make work interestin'." He told her and she hummed, taking her order and dropping it off at the correct table.

‧₊˚🖇️✩ ₊˚🩸⊹ ♡ A LITTLE WHILE LATER, Josie had fallen into a nice routine, humming along to the song on the radio. She didn't really know the words but it had been played a few times over the past couple of days. She cleared a few tables, refilled a few drinks and chatted up an older man that had nothing but nice things to say – and think – about her and how she carried herself while doing her job.

She had just cleared off a table, tucking the ten dollar bill into her apron with a smile as the door opened, but it was different. She wasn't hit with new thoughts, so she turned, watching as a man crossed the bar towards the booths, passing her as he went.

He was pale, his eyes a steely blue, his hair dark and more than a little messy, and his clothes were a little rumpled. He wasn't bad looking, but Josie knew she had seen better looking, even in the small town of Bon Temps. Despite all that, and his brooding expression, she was intrigued, but only because she couldn't hear a single thought in his head.

It was just quiet.

His steely eyes scanned over her, a small crease in his brows as if he were confused, but it soon faded and his eyes zeroed in on Sookie, who stood near the bar. And Josie knew she was intrigued by the man, so she quickly rushed towards the blonde just as she turned towards the bar.

"Oh, my God!" A wide smile tugged at Sookie's lips, "I think Merlotte's just got its first vampire."

"I think you're right," Sam nodded, though he didn't match Sookie's enthusiasm at all.

"And we're excited?" Josie asked curiously, her brows creased. She didn't have anything against them and she was all for them having the same rights as everyone else, but to have one sitting in the bar that she worked at was different then seeing them on tv.

"Yeah," Sookie grinned, seemingly missing just how unexcited her friends were. "Can you believe it? Right here, in Bon Temps? I've been waitin' for this to happen ever since they came outta the coffin two years ago." She bounced on her toes, her smile wide as she turned, her order pad and pen at the ready before she rushed towards the vampire as he sat alone in a booth.

"Ya know," Josie mused, her head tilted to the side a little as she watched Sookie smile at the vampire. "- I expected them to look, I don't know, hotter?" She mumbled as she looked over at Sam and Tara, who both furrowed their brows at the girl. "Just me? Okay." She hummed and went back to work, but she kept a close eye on Sookie as she made googly eyes at the vampire.

Once she had refilled a few drinks she made her way back towards the bar, lifting herself up onto one of the stools next to Tara as she and Sookie watched as the Rattrays joined the vampire in his booth.

"What a bitch," Sookie grumbled, eyes narrowed as she watched Denise stretch out in the booth, her arm around the vampire's shoulders. "You really think she's gonna let him bite her?"

"You sound jealous, Sook," Josie mumbled, wiggling her fingers when Sam stopped in front of her with a raised eyebrow. "Can you get me a water, please?" She asked, batting her eyelashes at the man, who sighed but he did as asked.

"You know how many people are having sex with vampires these days?" Tara asked, though it clear just the thought made her stomach turn. "And sometimes those people disappear."

"Well, I wouldn't miss her," Josie hummed, sipping on her water.

"No." Sookie shook her head. "He's not like that."

"Y'all best buds now?" Josie asked, looking over at Sookie with a raised eyebrow.

"You don't know how many people he sucked the blood out of over the last however many centuries he's been alive." Tara added, still watching the vampire.

"But he's so not scary," Sookie shrugged.

"Sweet Jesus in Heaven, Sookie, he's a vampire."

"Yeah, but the synthetic blood has everything–"

That was when Sam butted in, "are you willing to pass up all your favorite foods and spend the rest of your life drinkin' Slim-Fast?"

"And you'd lose that beautiful tan," Josie added. "I mean, I'm all for them havin' rights and whatever, but you shouldn't get wrapped up in it, Sookie. And he ain't even that good lookin'."

Sookie held Josie's gaze for a moment, knowing she only meant well. And she knew, first hand, that Josie wasn't nearly as judgmental of the vampires as most people were, she was merely concerned for her friend. So she simply gave a smile and went back to waiting tables.

Sam shook his head, his eyes on Josie, and when she met his gaze, her brows creased, "what?"

"That really all you're concerned with? How good he looks?"

"Well, no. But it would'a been so much better if the first vampire we got here was actually hot."

"Then what? You'd go for him?"

"No, but you know me, I do like to flirt." She grinned and he chuckled, shaking his head a little.

"Get back to work, and stop sneaking fries."

She just grinned as she pushed herself off the stool and easily fell back into work, not letting another thought about the vampire cross her mind for the rest of the night.

And after her shift, she did just as she told Lafayette she would, she took a nice long bubble bath with a bottle of wine.

ﮩـﮩﮩ٨ـ🫀ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ            nova speaks

chapter one is finally here! i'm not gonna lie, i'm so nervous about this book because i've never written smut before and this book will have some smut. but even though i'm nervous, i'm so excited because i truly love this show and the characters and josie is my little baby.

also, there just aren't enough true blood fics out there and i wanted to correct that problem!

updates will be slow, i'll try to post a chapter a week, but i don't wanna make any promises with my updating schedule just yet. so please don't beg for updates!

please let me know what you think so far!!!

also, big shout-out to Cass1eB333 for being my beta-reader! i really appreciate it, like i can't express to you how grateful i am!!

also, the cute gif below was made by the amazing and lovely amxliewrites ! thank you so much, bby 🫶🏻

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