The Guily Ones // 2 // Eric NorthmanxOC

Preparations

"Are you guys serious?"

As I glanced down at myself, I couldn't help but roll my eyes. I looked ridiculous. Even worse – like I was going to a debutante ball or a 1950s cocktail party. Like I was a living marshmallow!

Unimpressed, Sookie raised an eyebrow at my swearing.

"Ash, language! What's been going on with you lately?" she scolded me.

I resisted the urge to snappily reply with "Yes, ma'am!" Instead, I looked at her over the large mirror in the small boutique, as apologetically as I could in the situation.

But it was difficult not to curse and smile at the same time while looking at my outfit out of the corner of my eye. Sookie had dressed me in a white dress adorned with lace and ruffles, making me look even more absurd. If she added a headband to my hairstyle and got me white pumps, I'd either be perfectly dressed for a vintage Coca-Cola advertisement or the next horror film by Stephen King.

"Sook, don't you think this is a bit much?" I tried to gently coax her to change her mind once again. It was hard to convince her to change my outfit without hurting her feelings. To my horror, she was actually heading to a stand with headbands while Sam settled into a chair, evidently struggling to suppress laughter. I shot him a dirty look.

"We're just going to the next bar. I don't understand why you feel the need to dress me up..."

With a glance, she signaled me to be quiet. So I tried a different approach.

"Come on, Sook, that's not fair. Sam doesn't have to change, there's such a double standard..."

They both replied simultaneously.

"Hey, leave me out of this!"

"Since when is life fair?" She looked at me sadly with big eyes. "At least, that's what my Gran always used to say. The one who just got murdered... Which is why you wanted to cheer me up today..." She was really playing dirty. What was I supposed to say to that? Sorry, Sook, I'm still going to leave you alone in the store even though you seem to be smiling again for the first time in a while.

Stupid guilt. Stupid Southern politeness. Stupid nice people. Generally, stupid friends. I preferred it when I couldn't stand my fellow human beings! But they somehow weaseled their way into my heart and now I found myself ... caring! I sighed and let her continue. She actually had the audacity to tie a damn white headband around my head. As she stepped aside, Sam had to hide his laughter behind a cough and almost choked in the process.

"Perfect."

I gritted my teeth, so my smile looked more like a grimace. Sook stepped back and examined her Barbie (aka ME!) with satisfaction. Then, finally, she burst into laughter too and took the headband off me.

"Okay, I admit, that doesn't quite suit your style. You look like you've been caught by a mother from a children's beauty pageant. With a devoted look."

That damn, cunning... It had all been intentional! She just wanted to tease me a little. Sam had meanwhile risen from his seat and was still chuckling, looking at his watch.

"We have to go! The precinct is back from their lunch break..."

Sookie nodded at Sam over my shoulder and adjusted my outfit here and there. She pulled fabric here and there and removed jewelry and accessories.

"I'm ready now. You go ahead and get the car. Ash, arms up!"

I did as I was told, and Sam nodded too. After our delayed breakfast at the cake café, we had decided to split up and search for this "Drew Marshall" both at the registry office and at the police station.