First Taste: A True Blood Fanfiction

Chapter 1: Welcome Home

"Catarina, are you sure you brought everything you needed? I pray to the Lord above you did not forget your bible again," Mama nags.

"Yes, mama. I've got it right here," I take one hand off the steering wheel to pick up the thick, musty-smelling bible on my passenger seat. It was my dad's old bible, but I didn't care for it too much. Probably just gonna leave it in the back of my truck to cook in the Louisiana sun. I throw it in the back seat, hoping mama won't hear it.

"Such a good girl. I am just so proud of you," She says with a sudden shakiness in her voice.

"Oh, Jesus, mom, no more tears. I'm two hours late because of you sobbing up a storm," I say with a sigh.

"Catarina! Don't you dare say His name in vain!" She huffs, "And... you know I'm just looking out for you, honey. You're my little girl doing big things. And I am your mother, so I have every right to worry about you!"

I laugh a little as the feeling of missing home starts to kick in. I've never been away from my family before. I already miss mama's cooking, playing Clue with my brother, watching soap operas with my great auntie... But that's all in the past now. I shake it off and continue down the endless country road.

"I know, mama. Just remember that I'm gonna be okay, and if you ever need anything, I'll be back in Arkansas faster than a hot knife through butter. Okay?"

She chuckles and sighs.

"Alright, honey. Oh, one last thing, though."

She hesitates. A shudder shakes her voice as she answers. Resentment takes over her for a moment.

"Stay away from those fangers, girl. You know what kind of evil is in their soul... Well, whatever soul they have left. You understand me?"

The hatred for vampires courses through the veins of the deep south. Three years ago, they outed themselves by means of becoming one with human society. It sparked endless outrage and discrimination. I watched vamps fight for their rights on TV all the time, and personally, I feel terrible for them. Though I've never met a vampire in my entire life, I feel as if I can empathize with them.

Growing up, I had some sort of unique feeling within me. It's the only way I can describe it. Well, too strange feelings. First off... well... when I look at men, my heart flutters, and I feel something within me. But, when I look at women, I feel the same way. How they look at me with a soft smile and twist their long hair around their finger... I just knew I felt a certain way about girls. I noticed this isn't exactly "normal" where I live, which is expected of a small town in southern Arkansas. I learned that it's called bisexuality.

I felt disgusted with myself, especially since mama told me gay people are going straight to hell and will burn for an eternity. I tried to make it go away, forcing myself to only look at men and shunning myself when I felt something for a woman. But, I couldn't deny how I felt. Finding peace with myself took a damn long time, but I knew I could never find peace with my peers. Kids at school already knew something was up, so they simply resorted to calling me all sorts of slurs. Luckily, my mama never found out. She also doesn't know about my support of vampire rights. If she found out about both, I guess I would no longer be her daughter, to put it simply.

The other unique feeling is that I've always had a keen sense of self-awareness, you could say. It's almost as if I can see things coming or get a strange feeling before they do. Honestly, though, I think it just stems from mean kids at school or how I'm always being careful not to make mama mad. At the end of the day, I just chalk it up to anxiety or overthinking. 

After a slight pause, I finally answered.

"Yes, mama, I will stay away. Don't worry,"

"My sweet, precious girl. I love you dearly. Alright, well, I guess I should let you go,"