Nine

Gracie felt everywhere grow warm and fuzzy as she kept drowning shots. She hoped her liver could afford how much she drank. She just needed the shitty feeling to go away...

"You look like you need to vent" a smooth voice suggested and Gracie turned to face a woman who looked super attractive even though she was viewing her through drunken eyes. Something also kept screaming in her head that she knew the strange mysterious woman, but since she was almost shit-faced drunk, it seemed unlikely.

Gracie chuckled and twirled her drink, her gaze fastened on the glass as of it was suddenly a mysterious item. "Vent? I guess you could say I had a shitty day at work. Might get fired too since I got into a showdown with the boss and also left before closing hours so I guess my life sucks." She drowned the content in her glass at one go barely grimacing.

The lady had a beguiling smile. "You hold your drink well" she complimented sitting down on the stool beside her and looking her over.

"Well I don't see you holding any drinks," Gracie noticed with a frown, then yelled at the bartender. "Fix this pretty girl a drink, I'll pay" she ordered.

"This is a first. No one has ever offered me a drink before."

"You expect me to believe that?" Gracie asked as she checked her out incredulously. "I can bet a million dollars you have a long line of men offering to buy you drinks all the time".

"Oh, I do make them offer me drinks. Just not alcohol" she said and Gracie tried to read her. Fatimah gave a conspiratorial wink and Gracie laughed raising her glass.

"Well, whatever rocks your boat."

"So why are you drinking when you should be at work?" She asked suddenly and Gracie frowned grabbing tighter on the glass swirling with alcohol.

"Dawn missed work. She's my best friend. I went to go check on her I swear but I must have lost my mind for a little bit because I didn't check on her at all and now everyone thinks I'm a fucking monster!".

"Shit. I'd be upset too if I were you," she said and Gracie turned to face her. "I mean it's not your fault she decided to skip work. Why should you be the one at the end of their tantrums"

"Exactly! I mean I get that she's the most perfect hardworking person in that cafe and everyone so happens to adore her and I'm her best friend but I have my life too you know. I have a freaking life" she drowned another shot and smacked the glass on the table harshly almost shattering the glass. Gracie let go of the glass, then rubbed the worry line on her forehead.

"Why do I feel so shitty tho?" She asked as Fatimah still maintained a neutral expression that wasn't pity or judgment. Just empathy.

"Dawn cares for everyone. She's such an angel that I fucking hate her. If I was missing, Dawn would pretty much have found me by now. She might be bitchy but she cares deeply".

Fatimah stroked her hair languidly as Gracie's eyes teared up.

"It could all just be an act tho. Maybe she does all those good things to get people to like her".

"I used to think that too but she's not like that. I'm just tired of always being in the background," Gracie confessed, her shoulders sagging as if heavy weights were suddenly placed on them.

"I am always the bad guy. They think I have sex with strangers and drink myself almost to death just for fun. Hah! Like anyone has fun that way" she muttered bitterly.

"Why do you do what you do then?" Fatimah asked, then leaned closer to wipe the tear that suddenly escaped Gracie's moist eyes.

"To make the pain go away. To forget everything for just a moment and try to breathe. My mom is in the mental institution." She stated, shrugging and then chuckling bitterly. "It's so painful every time I go to see her and see that she is getting worse instead of better. I can't even get Danny back from foster care. I'm so fucking miserable."

"There there. You've been through a lot human. You're really strong you know that right. You carry so much burden and yet here you are. Still breathing".

"Well it's not like suicide would solve anything" she sighed deeply. "Dawn is the only one who knows about this so you see why I say she's so fucking perfect that I hate her for it. I could never return the favor".

"Don't beat yourself up, human." She scoffed suddenly remembering her little war with Sliver. "I have tried so hard for centuries to be the right-hand man of Alaric Massimo and yet I am always in the background while someone undeserving stands in my place" she stared deeply into the alcohol in the glass.

"Century huh?" She asked and Fatimah chuckled as she stared at her.

"You catch on a lot even when you are drunk".

"Well a friend of mine told me I needed to hold it together or I'd pick up a serial killer if I get too reckless," she said giggling. Everything was getting fuzzier.

"Well, I don't need anyone to tell me who this friend is" Fatimah muttered and then finally drank the liquor in one go, then crushed the glass to pieces. Gracie didn't notice.

Gracie glanced around the bar and got excited as her gaze collided with a guy that had been subtly staring at them. "Do you see that guy over there, he has been checking you out since you walked in. It's not like other guys aren't but he's totally into you. You should pick him up"

"You think so?" She asked with a playful smile on her lips. She looked at the man Gracie was referring to and took a deep breath. Yes, his blood was alluring.

"If you don't, I will"

Fatimah chuckled. "You and I are alike, human. I think I will enjoy talking to you"

"Well, that is if you and I decide to drink away our sorrow just like today. By the way, my name is Gracie, it's kind of weird if you keep calling me human" she said and Fatimah suddenly held her gaze, her hands going over hers.

"I'll call you under my term human. Do we understand each other"

Gracie was taken aback, but she shrugged it off. "Whatever rocks your boat vampire" she joked and Fatimah's smile grew wider.

"You do catch on pretty well. Now I'll go get my price" she announced standing up and walking towards the tall guy that Gracie had pointed out.

"You go girl" Gracie cheered. "Take him home!" She encouraged and watched as the man blushed up to his ears when Fatimah whispered into his ears. They both head outside after a while of talking.

Gracie returned to her drinks. It was too early to pick up a man, so she was going to stick with getting more drunk. There was also a nagging feeling that hinted that she knew the beautiful woman and that something was off about her.