The Guily Ones

Ride Along

The landscape blurred past me in a rush as I pondered how I ended up – against all reason –sitting in the passenger seat of the Corvette. Next to me was the infamous yet devilishly handsome Eric Northman, who had sabotaged my car battery to coerce me into this joyride.

The silence in the car was deafening, the only sound being the gentle hum of the engine as we tore down the country road en route to Bon Temps. I had anticipated a grueling interrogation, but for someone who forcibly insisted on driving me home, Eric was surprisingly quiet.

One might have thought the silence was a welcome reprieve, but in reality, the entire situation felt increasingly ominous to me. I discreetly stole glances at my companion, only to be caught every time. His ensuing smug grin, coupled with his silence, slowly drove me to madness! I couldn't read him. As someone who had bounced from foster family to foster family, I had honed the ability to quickly and efficiently assess people and situations. This skill had become my sixth sense, so sitting opposite someone as inscrutable as Eric left me feeling on edge.

I huffed and shifted restlessly in my seat as I felt Eric's gaze once again drift over me, that smug serial killer grin still plastered on his face. My hackles rose, and a heavy silence enveloped us once more, so thick that even I could hear my heart pounding too fast and too loudly.

I'd endured police interrogations with a more pleasant atmosphere, damn it. Anxiously, my fingers drummed on my crossed arms.

Another five minutes passed, during which I began nervously chewing on my lip (a nervous habit of mine that I still needed to kick). When I felt Eric sizing me up again, I finally gave in. I abruptly turned my head to face him and glared. "Ooookay, so you absolutely insisted on driving me home..." I threw my hands up in frustration, then let them fall back onto my bare thighs, exposed by my dress. "And here I am! What's with the silent treatment?"

Eric's grin widened. He seemed to possess only three facial expressions: bored, amused, and maybe hungry. Although, he looked good with all of them.

Pull yourself together.

"Twenty minutes!"

"Huh?"

"It took twenty minutes to break your silence!"

"You were timing me?"

"I wanted to know what kind of person you are, Ashley!"

"Ash!" I automatically corrected him, earning a nod before he grunted my name, sending shivers down my spine. "Ash."

The fact that he used (and knew) my first name so casually made me nervous. Restlessly, I shifted in my leather seat once again. I didn't know what to make of this whole situation. Sure, I had wanted to get closer to Eric. To kill him.

Just that?

Just that!

I shook my head. Letting him drive me home felt too much like a date or a favor. It was... confusing. Again, I bit my lip.

"Well, your heart seems to be racing again, Ash! Care to tell me what's causing this appetizing sound?"

"Hasn't anyone ever told you it's rude to comment on your companion's heartbeat?" I shot back, but still, in a fluid motion, I covered my exposed neck with my open blonde curls, not wanting to further "whet his appetite."

Eric's lips twitched downward ever so slightly. Instead, his eyes began to glare menacingly as he looked at me now. "The gesture only stirred up the air in the car and your scent further spread!"

I swallowed. He inhaled deeply with closed eyes.

"I'll keep it in mind for next time!"

As he opened his eyes again, they gleamed amusedly. "I knew I could win you over. You're already making plans for next time."