Amour

I'm frozen before this embodiment of female middle-aged beauty as she looks expectantly at me. My words have escaped me, my subby is cowering behind her couch and for the first time in history she is as dumbfounded as I am.

"And you are?" She prompts

Oh no, I forgot my name. What was it??

"Sam! Don't answer the- Oh hi, mom" Louis comes barreling down the stairs and on seeing that I've already done what he was in the process of telling me not to do, he plasters a huge grin on his face and comes to my rescue.

"Hi, darling. I was just asking this lovely girl who she is" she raises her eyebrow at me - gosh, does that run in their family? - and I flush helplessly.

What am I so intimidated by her? Maybe it's because I feel like she'll stab me with her stare alone.

"Mom, this is Sam. Sam this my mom, Hannah" he keeps his eyes on her the whole time.

His jaw is tense and his mouth set in a grim line. Is he unhappy to see her?

"Hello, Sam. Is that your full name?" She regards me humorously. What is it with this family?

"No, it's Samantha" I regain my equilibrium and turn on the charm smiling warmly at her. She doesn't reciprocate.

"Well, can I come in now?"

"Oh yeah, sorry" I move out of the way and accidentally bump into Louis. He stiffens and waits for me to move away before giving his attention to his mom. Did I do something wrong? And he says mortals are complicated.

Hannah goes straight into the living room and tosses her coat and hat on the couch then turning to us. Feeling uncomfortable under her gaze I hurry into the kitchen to continue looking for food even though my appetite has run for the hills.

Louis and Hannah talk in low whispers, obviously so that I cannot hear. I hate when people - or vampires for that matter - do that. Ugh, this man has no food in here but the last time I was here the shelves were full. Not wanting to interrupt their conversation I remain in the kitchen until they're finished.

My phone! I need my phone, but it's at home. Glancing at the clock I see that it's 14:00 which means I need to pick up Jase in twenty minutes. Trying to remain as silent as possible I make my way upstairs to the bedroom. Hunting through the closet I pull on a pair of slacks but I need shoes!

"Sam?" Louis coming upstairs

"Coming" I call back

"What are you doing?" He enters the room and laughs at me

"I need to pick up Jase from school now"

"I'll take you, come on"

We run down the stairs and on our way out the door Louis calls out to his mom.

"Mom, I'll be right back. Stay here" its more like a warning from his tone.

***

"I'm so sorry, I didn't know she was coming" Louis apologizes for the tenth time outside Jase's school.

"It's fine. I just thought you didn't have family so I was surprised", that came out wrong

"I know but you asked if I has siblings, not if I had parents. Of course I have parents." We're whispering as if someone may overhear us, yeah right.

"There's Jason" I open the door and wait for Jase to see me. The fact that I have no shoes on and are wearing socks only is minor in this situation but Louis still laughs when I get back in after buckling Jase in.

***

"Okay, is everyone clear on what the assignment is about? I'm waiting for the sigh of relief because this is the final assessment for the rest of your lives as med students, people. Alright fine, class dismissed!" Mr. C waves his hand and everyone rises to leave

"Can you believe our residencies start next month?" Zack is overjoyed to have less than half a year left to our studies now

"Yeah, totally dope" I laugh at my lame choice of wording

"Anyone need a ride home today?" Ella offers on our way to the parking lot

"No, I got a stop to make so I'll see you guys tomorrow" hugging both of them I depart heading for work, my shift starts in ten minutes

I plug in my headphones as I pass X Gym deliberating on whether I should go in or not, I decide on not because maybe Louis isn't there. He's mom is in town.

***

"Wash your hands and come into the kitchen to eat something, Jase" I call after the tiny retreating figure as he runs upstairs

"Okay!"

Rolling my eyes I head to the living room and open the glass door to find R&J but they aren't there. I hear barking in the front yard, following the sound I open the front door again and find Hannah with her hand frozen mid-air about to knock on the door.

"Um....hi" I turn on my rusty charm and smile in greeting

"Hello Samantha. I was wondering if I could talk to you alone for a little while" she at least makes an attempt to smile this time

"Yeah, sure. Come in"

I open the door wider and step away. She enters cautiously then smiles genuinely as she took in her surroundings.

"You have a beautiful home, Samantha"

"Thank you. Please do call me Sam"

"I'd rather not. Louis told me you're a last year med student. Where are you studying?"

My subby is back wearing her Popeye muscles warning me not to say anything, if Louis didn't he must have had a reason not to.

"One of the local colleges", I say simply, "We can talk in here"

I lead her into the living room and she seats herself gracefully on the single-seater. I perch myself on the arm rest of the couch opposite her.

"What is it you need to talk to me about?"

"Samantha, you're a beautiful and intelligent girl and I'm sure you have your life mapped out."- she pauses and I realize that I did have that but then I met Louis and I just......changed -"You know about us, Louis told you what we are and you chose to ignore all that, haven't you? To be honest, you two are perfect together and from what I've heard I'd say that Louis deserves someone like you because he's been through so much."

I sense a but coming.

"But these aren't what you'd call normal circumstances and a relationship like this is dangerous for the both of you. My son is all I have left and I will never allow harm to come to him because of a girl no matter how nice she seemed" her tone evolves into one of disgust as she spits the last few words at me.

I'm caught off-guard, my subby is staring wide-eyed through its glass windows I call my eyes. What do I say to that?

"Well thanks for stopping by, Mrs. Tomlinson" I stand and she rises with me

"Samantha, I didn't mean to offend you-"

"You didn't but I have a lot of homework so I'd like to get going"

Jase comes running down the stairs with his hands wet and a big smile. No matter how pissed I am, this little guy will make me laugh.

"I washed 'em" he proclaims not taking notice of Hannah

"Good boy, go on into the kitchen and I'll get you a sandwich in a second"

"Is he yours?" Hannah asks while I walk her to the door. At this moment, I felt no need to justify myself to her and just ignore her question.

"Bye" I smile sweetly

"Bye, Samantha"

I close the door resisting the urge to slam and kick the door. Going back into the kitchen I find Jase sitting patiently in his chair waiting for his sandwich.

***

"Sam, there's this Romeo and Juliet play that's happening this Friday and it's one night only. Ella doesn't want to come so will you go with me?" Zack asks as we close up the store.

"Sure"

It's Wednesday afternoon and I haven't seen Louis ever since Monday, I bet his mother dearest got to him. I roll my eyes at the thought. That woman really got under my skin, I mean I get she loves her son and doesn't want to see him hurt but........what's my argument? That I love him? That won't hold up in any court not even Cupid"s Court.

Just shoosh, she's just being overprotective. You can relate to that, can't you? Everything will be fine, my subby tries to soothe my nerves as I step out into the street about to walk home at 18:00. I need to see Louis, talk to him and then maybe I won't be so paranoid.

I pass several bars and diners on my way home, the narrow streets of London scare the crap outta me. Back in South Africa the streets took a portion of the continent itself, an entire class could walk side by side.

"Samantha? How unexpected to see you here" its an unwelcome familiar voice coming from the street.

"Hey, Mrs. Tomlinson" I say dryly

"Oh, call me Hannah. Come on in for a drink with me, I think we got off to a rocky start yesterday and I may have offended you. Come on, please"

No

"Come on, I'm not taking no for an answer" she grabs my arm and pulls me into a half deserted pub. I cringe at her touch, but I resist the urge to slap her clammy palm.

"What would you like? On me" she asks

"Nothing. I'm not much of a drinker"

"Oh shoosh. Two mocktails" she informs the bartender

I heard of a mocktail, it has fake alcohol but I've never actually tried one.

***

*HANNAH POV*

Maybe I could get her to like me now, her dislike for me is obvious in her expression. Frankly, I don't care I'm just here to prove a point. Louis doesn't believe this could get them in hot water, sometimes he can be such an idiot. What he fails to realize is that Samantha is human, VAMPO doesn't allow liaisons with them in any form.
If they come to know about this, I don't know what they'll do to them and I can't let her do that to him. He needs to see how susceptible she is, how much of a liability she really is but he won't listen so she'll just have to show him.

I wait impatiently for our drinks to come and I'm grateful when she doesn't touch it yet. Aren't these situations supposed to be awkward? On TV the kids would always excuse themselves to go to the bathroom at this moment but she doesn't move. One point goes to her, this girl has a bladder of steel.
I fear I may have to knock her out the old-fashioned way but she excuses herself finally to make a call.
When I'm sure she's far enough I smile down at the drink placed on the bar next to me. Gulping mine I pick up hers and producing a simple silver vial from my purse. I allow three drops to fall into the shallow glass then place the vial back into my purse and the glass on the bar, looking around to make sure no one took heed of my actions.

She re-enters a few moments later but doesn't sit down.

"I'm sorry but I have to go. Thank you" she smiles - clearly fake but she's good - and turns to leave. No!

"Oh no you don't. Come on, I paid for these drinks so don't waste it" I hide the begging.

She relents and aggravatedly drowns the liquid from the glass before wiping her mouth with the back of her hand and smiling again. After she departs I feel a sense of accomplishment knowing my time here won't be wasted.

Notes