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Post by Halleigh Robinson on Jul 30, 2011 23:06:29 GMT -7
The car trip from Shreveport to Bon Temps had been hellacious, to say the least. Halleigh had stared out the window, her jaw clenched, as she avoided saying a single word to Cajun- she was too irritated and hurt by his self-centered attitude to even bother fighting with him. What would be the point? He was determined that she was going tonight, and Halleigh was determined she was doing no such thing. As far as she was concerned, they were at a stalemate.
But stalemates didn't answer the questions that Halleigh had- the first of which starting with the bruises. Both of her wrists were ringed with them, and part of her face too- as well as a cut lip. Cajun had swore that they had spent a passive evening at home, but if it was so passive, why did she look like a candidate for battered women's anonymous.
When Cajun had dropped her off at her car, Halleigh had got out and automatically climbed into her own car, watching as he drove off before she flipped down her visor and got a good look at the bruise on her face. It was more yellow than blue, a sign it had been healing for a bit- but she had only been out a few hours. Halleigh was pretty sure she'd remember if she had hurt her face bad enough to bruise- but her mind was a blank. Something wasn't right.
Regardless of what was really going on, she couldn't go home like that. Her family would freak out, to say the least, and Halleigh was left with a decision she didn't quite like- she could face her family as is, or she could turn to the one thing that she never had before.
She opened the dash pocket of her car and pulled out the red vial as she looked around the parking lot of Merlotte's. No one else was really hanging around, so she popped off the lid and let a drop settle on her finger- which she then licked off almost experimentally. It didn't taste like... anything. How weird. With all the craze that surrounded it, she had expected fireworks.
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Post by Andy Bellefleur on Jul 31, 2011 8:03:56 GMT -7
Andy often ended up in the Merlotte's parking lot lately, mainly because he had been restless. With Jason missing there wasn't anybody to be his "Stop V Coach" - which was something he really needed. Andy lacked self control, and Jason had actually been successful at helping Andy cut down on the stuff. However, Jason had been missing for a couple of days now and several voice messages left on Jason's cellphone had been unanswered.
Andy had been parked off to the side when he was on the phone in hopes that Jason would finally answer his phone. He had watched as the car pulled up in front of the bar and Halleigh stepped out. He hated Halleigh's boyfriend with a passion. Cajun. He had tried warning Halleigh before of Cajun's true nature, Cajun had a thick file at the police department when it came to domestic abuse. He didn't want that for Halleigh. Hell, he didn't want that for any woman.
As a female voice chimed in "we're sorry, this mailbox is full", Andy had grumbled underneath his breath and slipped his phone back into his pocket. "Fuck, Jason, where the hell are you?" Andy was just about ready to put out a search party for the dumb fuck. First his crazy ass sister went missing for a year and now Jason wasn't returning his call. Fucking Stackhouse's.
Back to Halleigh, who was sitting in her car when Cajun peeled out of the driveway. Andy got out of his car and walked over to her's, watching her as he approached. She didn't seem to notice him, and he swore he saw bruises on her face. Oh fuck. This only caused him to rush a little faster and abruptly approach the car on the drivers side - knocking on the window right as Halleigh licked her finger.
"Halleigh, just what the hell are you doing?"
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Post by Halleigh Robinson on Jul 31, 2011 19:10:22 GMT -7
Halleigh wouldn’t be surprised if Andy was part cat- for a guy that was such a large amount of bark, he moved lightly on his feet when he wanted to. Halleigh jumped when he tapped his fingers against the glass, spilling a few drops of V onto the upholstery of her car. She sighed, waving her hand at the door for him to back up enough to allow her to slip out- just as the last of the bruises faded from her face and wrists.
"Halleigh, just what the hell are you doing?"
“I would have thought you’d recognize the gesture.” She said wryly, twisting her wrist around as she looked at the unblemished skin. Maybe there was something to this V stuff… she felt stronger already. “Let me guess, came to ask for your next hit?” There was no anger in her tone, no real emotion at all. All Halleigh wanted was to go home, take a nap, and consider the day over for good. Surely tomorrow couldn’t be nearly as shitty? “I only have that bottle,” She nodded back towards her car, “But I can give you a discount for it not being full.”
She couldn’t think of any other logical reason for his approaching her- after all, other than the time he had given her a ride home, all of their encounters had ended with them stomping their feet at each other and going off in the other direction. Why would tonight be any different? Andy was a decent guy, but he was stubborn- just as she was. They butted heads every opportunity they had… and yet Halleigh found herself looking forward to it. Too often, people would back down when it came to arguing with Halleigh… but Andy didn’t, and she respected that about him.
But today she was a little preoccupied.
“Whatever you want, take it- I’ve got someplace I need to be.”
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Post by Andy Bellefleur on Jul 31, 2011 19:33:57 GMT -7
He was surprised with her. Usually she was more.. collective, and not quite as clumsy. Something was definitely up - this wasn't the usual Halleigh at all. He had been watching close enough to see the bruises fade and it was obvious when she finally got out of the car that she hadn't thought he saw.
“I would have thought you’d recognize the gesture.”
He gave her the room she needed, not saying anything at first - only watching her. Sure, he had been hooked on V but it was the last thing on his mind right now. For as many times as they argued, he was actually concerned for Halleigh's welfare. Hell, he actually liked the stubborn woman who wasn't afraid to tell him off. He would never be good enough for her, he was sure, but at least she would let him talk to her.
“Let me guess, came to ask for your next hit?”
He couldn't help but to look past her and toward the bottle as she said he would get a discount. Addiction was a funny thing, it was something that was always with you - and even harder to fight when it was within arms reach.
"No. It isn't why I came here"
He had to shake his head to get himself back on track, turning his focus back on her. "I saw you pull up with Cajun. I am not dumb or blind Halleigh, he hit you didn't he?"
He was already pulling out his memo pad, a serious look on his face.
"If you make your statement Halleigh, I will make sure he gets punished for what he did. I'll go get him right now and throw his ass in jail and have him brought up on charges. With you, it makes an even dozen - every jury this side of Louisiana will convict him. He will go away for a lot of years Halleigh, I promise you"
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Post by Halleigh Robinson on Jul 31, 2011 20:57:06 GMT -7
"No. It isn't why I came here"
“Oh?” That was the only thing Halleigh could think to say as she blinked at him. He was being surprisingly quiet- no smartass retort, no barking at her that he could have her arrested- but wouldn’t- nothing…. Except that look he was giving her. Not quite pity, but… compassion? Why?
"I saw you pull up with Cajun. I am not dumb or blind Halleigh, he hit you didn't he?"
Halleigh stared at him, her hand automatically going to her face, which moments before had sported a rather nice bruise. “What? No, no, he didn’t…” At least, she didn’t think he had… “Andy, really, you’ve got this all wrong…”
"If you make your statement Halleigh, I will make sure he gets punished for what he did. I'll go get him right now and throw his ass in jail and have him brought up on charges. With you, it makes an even dozen - every jury this side of Louisiana will convict him. He will go away for a lot of years Halleigh, I promise you"
His concern was touching, and for a moment, Halleigh could do nothing but stare at him. All of the things that hadn’t added up between her story and Cajun’s were glaring at her now, and Halleigh felt more overwhelmed than ever. Running a hand through her hair, she leaned back against her car door a took a second. Andy would listen to her, she was fairly sure. No matter how strange her story was, how scattered her thoughts, he would hear her out. He might call her an idiot afterwards, that was true, but not until he had the whole story. It was that thought that made Halleigh raise a hand to his notepad, gently pushing it down. “What I’m going to tell you is off. The. Record.” She emphasized slowly, holding his gaze. “I mean it. I don’t want you running off to arrest anyone, okay?” Mostly because she didn’t trust her own thoughts, or their reliability. “I don’t… I don’t remember what happened to me. That’s the honest to god truth. I have no idea where those bruises came from.”
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Post by Andy Bellefleur on Jul 31, 2011 21:28:51 GMT -7
“Andy, really, you’ve got this all wrong…”
Had he? Or was Halleigh just to proud of a woman, or to blinded by love to willingly pursue this, or worse - was she too scared? He wanted to get all of her options out there as quickly as possible so that she would hopefully change her mind and let him bring Cajun up on charges. He would make sure the asshole went to jail - and for good this time. As she got ready to speak he was ready to write everything down - until her hand found its way to his notepad.
“What I’m going to tell you is off. The. Record.”
He gave her a confusing look. Off the record? Why would she... ?
“I mean it. I don’t want you running off to arrest anyone, okay?”
He paused for a moment, taking a heavy breath before he nodded and decided to hear her out. To show that he was listening, he put his notepad and pen back in the front pocket of his brown sheriff's shirt.
“I don’t… I don’t remember what happened to me. That’s the honest to god truth. I have no idea where those bruises came from.”
"Horse shit"
It came out before he even realized it had. An automatic reaction to her saying she didn't remember anything.
"If you are scared Halleigh, don't be. I'll protect you - I am the law. I have an easier time believing that you are lying to protect him than I believe you actually don't even recall why you got those bruises. What lie are you going to tell me? That you got so drunk you don't remember the night before? That doesn't sound like you. I'm more likely to believe the asshole drugged your drink and that you've been passed out for the last twenty six hours."
Really, how foolish did Halleigh think he was?
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Post by Halleigh Robinson on Jul 31, 2011 22:52:04 GMT -7
"Horse shit"
Halleigh raised her brows. Apparently she hadn’t been far off the mark in guessing he would have no problems telling her exactly what he thought of her story. She had to admit though, in his place, she would have had a hard time believing her, too.
"If you are scared Halleigh, don't be. I'll protect you - I am the law. I have an easier time believing that you are lying to protect him than I believe you actually don't even recall why you got those bruises. What lie are you going to tell me? That you got so drunk you don't remember the night before? That doesn't sound like you. I'm more likely to believe the asshole drugged your drink and that you've been passed out for the last twenty six hours."
“I am scared,” She admitted quietly, “but not because of him. Well, all right, him, but… Andy, I really don’t remember what happened.” She met his eyes again, and her expression was nothing but honest. “I went out to dinner last night, Cajun and I got into a fight and sort of made up, and…” She searched her brain, but it was all fuzzy. “We talked on the couch… I think… and then, I woke up this morning with bruises. We fought some more- and no, he did not touch me, and here I am.”
She sounded absolutely crazy. She didn’t even have to look at him to know that. Halleigh raised her hands to her eyes, rubbing them as if she might possibly be able to rub her memory clean as well. “I’ve never just had a chunk of my memory missing before. You said it yourself- I’m just… I’m not that girl. I don’t drink. I’ve never, well, until today, done drugs. Maybe it was Cajun, hell, I don’t know. That’s the problem.
“I just don’t know. And I really, honestly, wish I did. I feel like I'm going mad, Andy. Who the fuck just forgets hours of their life for no reason at all?”
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Post by Andy Bellefleur on Aug 1, 2011 10:00:27 GMT -7
“I am scared, but not because of him. Well, all right, him, but… Andy, I really don’t remember what happened.”
He believed her.
“I went out to dinner last night, Cajun and I got into a fight and sort of made up, and… We talked on the couch… I think… and then, I woke up this morning with bruises. We fought some more- and no, he did not touch me, and here I am.”
A heavy sigh left his mouth as he found himself leaning against her car. She didn't sound crazy at all, not to him, and it wasn't like Halleigh and him hadn't argued over Cajun before. Andy would always tell her how bad the guy was and Halleigh would always stick up for him. This conversation was a little different.
"Halleigh, that sounds a lot like he drugged you. If I were you, I would play it safe and stay away from him for a couple of days. And for gods sake, don't eat or drink anything he gives you unless you actually see him prepare it. I don't trust him, but I can't do anything unless there is proof that he is a danger to you. Well, there are restraining orders, but most of the time a piece of paper doesn't keep them away and just makes them madder. You would be safer if I could lock him away for a long time."
“I’ve never just had a chunk of my memory missing before. You said it yourself- I’m just… I’m not that girl. I don’t drink. I’ve never, well, until today, done drugs. Maybe it was Cajun, hell, I don’t know. That’s the problem.
“I just don’t know. And I really, honestly, wish I did. I feel like I'm going mad, Andy. Who the fuck just forgets hours of their life for no reason at all?”
"You are not going mad, Halleigh. You are seeing the truth. People don't forget hours of their lives - especially not people like you who have their heads on straight. If you need a place to hide away for a couple of days, you can stay... you can stay at mine."
He almost didn't believe the words that came out of his mouth, but yeah, he had said them.
"I'll keep an eye on Cajun and do a little detective work. I can trace his credit cards and find out if he has bought any.. questionable narcotics or chemicals in the last couple of days. Meanwhile, you really should just stay away from him."
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Post by Halleigh Robinson on Aug 1, 2011 11:04:02 GMT -7
At least he wasn’t calling her a liar again. Surely she got points for that? As he leaned against her car as well, Halleigh glanced over at him. He had been telling her forever that Cajun was a bad guy and that she needed to get away from him, the sooner the better- and Halleigh had never seen it. But after the mysterious events of the last twenty-four hours and their fight this morning, Halleigh was starting to wonder if maybe Andy hadn’t had the right of it all along.
"Halleigh, that sounds a lot like he drugged you.”
Normally Halleigh would scoff and insist that Cajun would never do that, and she opened her motuh to do so out of instinct- before shutting it again. She wasn’t so sure anymore that he wouldn’t. He had proven lately that she didn’t know him nearly as well as she had thought… and not in a good way.
”If I were you, I would play it safe and stay away from him for a couple of days.”
“Easier said than done.” She mumbled. She had little doubt that Cajun wouldn’t be on her doorstep tonight, and Livy, stupid, sweet Livy, would let him in.
And for gods sake, don't eat or drink anything he gives you unless you actually see him prepare it. I don't trust him, but I can't do anything unless there is proof that he is a danger to you. Well, there are restraining orders, but most of the time a piece of paper doesn't keep them away and just makes them madder. You would be safer if I could lock him away for a long time."
“I would be safer if he were dead.” Halleigh said bluntly, kicking at a rock by her foot. She could never go through with it- she wasn’t a killer any more than she was a drug addict or a drunk.
"You are not going mad, Halleigh. You are seeing the truth. People don't forget hours of their lives - especially not people like you who have their heads on straight. If you need a place to hide away for a couple of days, you can stay... you can stay at mine."
Halleigh blinked, staring at him for a long moment. “You’d… do that for me? Why?”
"I'll keep an eye on Cajun and do a little detective work. I can trace his credit cards and find out if he has bought any.. questionable narcotics or chemicals in the last couple of days. Meanwhile, you really should just stay away from him."
Halleigh stepped away from the car, moving to give him a quick- but sincere hug- that left the scent of magnolias in her wake. “Thank you.”
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Post by Andy Bellefleur on Aug 1, 2011 11:22:45 GMT -7
“Easier said than done.”
All Andy could do in response was sigh heavily, this had been up to Halleigh and Andy just hoped she would be strong enough in the end to make it through this.
“I would be safer if he were dead.”
"Don't let anybody hear you say that. If something happened to him, you would become a suspect and they would say you threatened his life. "
It was different when she was telling him, but if she told anybody else that - she would only be incriminating herself. Even if it was just her roommate, you could never be too sure who you could and couldn't trust. Andy had been there for Jason, and he would be there for Halleigh as well, but he didn't want a reason to have to be if it could be avoided.
“You’d… do that for me? Why?”
"Because I... well, I care about you. Let's not make a big deal out of it alright?"
He was getting nervous and turning redder, but even more red when she hugged him. He sort of just stared at her frozen when her arms wrapped around him. “Thank you.”
She smelled nice.
"Uh, right, well you're welcome"
Awkward silence.
"I um, could I have that last bottle?"
He wanted to change the subject, to do anything to cut through the awkward silence. Halleigh had just hugged him, and with him not being exactly Mr.Popular it had affected him more than he would of liked.
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Post by Halleigh Robinson on Aug 1, 2011 12:42:59 GMT -7
"Don't let anybody hear you say that. If something happened to him, you would become a suspect and they would say you threatened his life. "
“If anything did happen to him, I’d be the only one stupid enough to do it.” Halleigh pointed out wryly. Most people were afraid of Cajun- or at least weary. Apparently Halleigh’s mental override for skeezoids didn’t function properly. Who would she have to talk to to get that fixed, she wondered. “You don’t have to worry about it. Nothing’ll happen to him.” Snakes always had a way of persisting and sliding out of situations without harm- Cajun was no different, after all.
"Because I... well, I care about you. Let's not make a big deal out of it alright?"
He had found the one thing she didn’t have a witty retort to, it seemed, and Halleigh stared at him. He was blushing, which made her gape even more. “I had… no idea.” She had been so wrapped up in Cajun that she hadn’t been thinking of anyone else- or had any idea they were thinking about her. Why would they be? She was hardly anything to write home about. The thought that Andy… well, she blushed, to say the least. She had figured she was nothing but an irritation to him. “If it’s really not too much trouble…” She didn’t want him to think she was taking advantage of him, now that she knew he didn’t exactly hate her, but Cajun would never think to look for her with him.
"Uh, right, well you're welcome"
She nodded, folding her arms again. She wasn’t a big physical affection person- she had no idea where that had come from.
"I um, could I have that last bottle?"
Startled, she laughed, though it wasn’t a particularly funny question. “Yes,” She said thoughtfully, opening her car door and pulling it out. She didn’t hand it over, however. “I’ll give you this one for free, on the condition that you promise me something. After this one- kick the habit, Andy. You’re too good for this.”
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Post by Andy Bellefleur on Aug 1, 2011 13:34:08 GMT -7
“If anything did happen to him, I’d be the only one stupid enough to do it.”
Andy knew exactly what she meant by that. Cajun was good looking, charming, and charismatic. Those were all traits that Andy felt he lacked himself and he would be lying if he said he wasn't a bit jealous of him. However, jealously had nothing to do with the fact that he didn't want Cajun with Halleigh - Cajun was going to hurt her again because he was convinced that Cajun had done that already.
“I had… no idea.” Hadn't she? Surely it wasn't normal for two people to butt heads so much... “If it’s really not too much trouble…”
"Oh, so you will stay at my place?"
Part of him didn't think that she would, but he was more than happy to have her. "I mostly have frozen pizza and microwaveable dinners so I will have to pick up something better. Do you cook?" Oh god, if she cooked - he would be in heaven.
"And I kind of live on the same property as my mother, but in a different house. But you will be safe there - it would be the last place Cajun would ever expect to look for you"
Wasn't that the truth? Not in a million years would Cajun think Halleigh was even friends with Andy, never mind staying at his house.
“Yes, I’ll give you this one for free, on the condition that you promise me something. After this one- kick the habit, Andy. You’re too good for this.”
He took in a deep breath but managed a nod as he held out his hand.
"Jason was helping me, but he has been gone and it has been really hard to do it alone. But I promise I'll try."
He actually smiled when he looked at her.
"Thank you, Halleigh."
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Post by Halleigh Robinson on Aug 1, 2011 14:32:42 GMT -7
"Oh, so you will stay at my place?"
“If you’re still offering.”
"I mostly have frozen pizza and microwaveable dinners so I will have to pick up something better. Do you cook?"
“Yes.” Halleigh smiled at the question. With just her and Livy, she hadn’t cooked in a while- but it wasn’t something that one just forgot, especially after being the main chef for a family of five for so many years. “I can make just about anything you want, just give me enough notice.” It was a fair enough trade for his hospitality- and Halleigh liked having someone to care for, contrary to popular belief about her smartass attitude.
"And I kind of live on the same property as my mother, but in a different house. But you will be safe there - it would be the last place Cajun would ever expect to look for you"
She shrugged. “I live with a woman that makes rocks look intelligent- anything would be better than that.” Besides, she had seen Belle Reve- she had a feeling she would never run into anyone else on the plantation grounds unless they deliberately came looking for her- and she didn’t exactly plan on making herself a tourist attraction, so to speak. She didn’t want anyone to know where she was- and she didn’t want to run the risk of getting Andy into an awkward spot with his family, after he was helping her.
"Jason was helping me, but he has been gone and it has been really hard to do it alone. But I promise I'll try."
“You don’t have to do it alone.” Halleigh said quietly, returning his smile. “I’m here.” She placed the bottle in his hand, the glass still warm from her palm. “I’ll help you with this- as long as you try.”
"Thank you, Halleigh."
“No, thank you. For everything. You’ve been a good friend to me, Andy.”
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Post by Andy Bellefleur on Aug 1, 2011 15:23:30 GMT -7
“Yes.”
He felt as giddy as a school boy, already planning meals out in his head. Roast beef, meat loaf, dumplings... damn, he was getting ahead of himself. “I can make just about anything you want, just give me enough notice.” He was grinning like a Cheshire cat, nothing excited him more than looking forward to a home cooked meal after a long day of work. Quickly he was going into his wallet, momentarily distracted.
“I live with a woman that makes rocks look intelligent- anything would be better than that.”
He didn't even hear what she had said as he handed her his credit card. One thing Andy was good at was his finances, after all - when was he ever able to spend his own money anyway? He never had the time.
"I'll eat anything homemade, but I really love roast beef and mashed potatoes and corn and turkey and meatloaf and hell, I'll even eat liver and onions"
He stopped suddenly, coughing nervously - he was perhaps just a bit too excited.
“You don’t have to do it alone."
He gave her an odd look at first, not quite sure what she was talking about.
“I’m here.”
That was when she placed the bottle in his hands and he knew exactly what she was talking about. He looked up at her with a soft and almost vulnerable expression on his face.
“I’ll help you with this- as long as you try.”
"You have my word."
Andy never went back on his word.
“No, thank you. For everything. You’ve been a good friend to me, Andy.”
He smiled, a moment of silence between them before he cleared his throat.
"Well, lets go to your place and pick up a few things you will need to stay a few nights. Then you can follow me back to my place and we will get you settled in one of the spare guestrooms"
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Post by Halleigh Robinson on Aug 1, 2011 19:55:48 GMT -7
Halleigh took the credit card uncomprehendingly, then looked back at him. It took her a moment to realize what he was handing it to her for- and what she was supposed to go do with it. “All right.” She said more to herself, tucking it into the back pocket of her jeans. Her own credit cards were maxed out thanks to her sister and school, so it wasn’t going to be hard to tell his apart from hers. Other than the whole matter of it saying “Andrew Bellefleur” on it instead of Halleigh Robinson… would people think they secretly eloped? Okay, now she was letting her mind run off.
"I'll eat anything homemade, but I really love roast beef and mashed potatoes and corn and turkey and meatloaf and hell, I'll even eat liver and onions"
“I can manage that.” She smirked, amused. If that was really what he wanted in terms of payment for her crashing at his place for a little while, well, she would become Betty freaking Crocker and a Stepford Wife all in one. He’d have something for every meal- and snacks, too. She liked baking more than she liked anything else. “Just leave it to me.”
The look on his face as he absorbed her words made Halleigh all the more determined that she would help him- and they would succeed.
"You have my word."
“I have faith in you, Andy. If Jason Stackhouse can beat it, you definitely can.”
A bit mean of her, perhaps, but she fully believed it. Andy was three times the man that Jason was.
"Well, lets go to your place and pick up a few things you will need to stay a few nights. Then you can follow me back to my place and we will get you settled in one of the spare guestrooms"
“All right.”
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