2
As I bring out the food for one of the tables, the door jingles as the reaper enters the restaurant. It's right before the dinner rush when the Seniors come in.
His chestnut hair is ruffled, and his eyes meet mine as he slides into a booth.
Shit, he comes in every day.
I lay the food on the table and smile at the older gray-haired couple. "Can I get you anything else?"
"Oh, no thank you, dear." The older man grins and winks.
Well, all right then. I take a deep breath and head over to the reaper. "Hey there, what can I get you?"
"Let me take a hamburger with fries this time."
"Coming right up." I turn, but a hand grabs my arm making my power churn.
"Can I ask you one question?" His tone is quiet, his touch light.
I want to say no, but I have a feeling he won't let this go until I answer whatever is on his mind. "It depends." I turn around and face him.
"Why are you here? You seem different." He tilts his head. "Are you from that town?"
He's not going to let this go until I answer. "Yeah, I was from that town, but like you said, they’re jerks and I didn't fit their mold." That's not a lie. He doesn't need the whole truth. "So, I had to leave, and my car broke down when I got here."
"So, they did to you what they did to my parents." His hands clench tightly into fists. "That's why we all hate them. I'm sorry they did that to you, but you're better off."
With my magic churning, I’m not sure if that’s true, but I can’t risk going back. "All?"
"Yeah, all of us out here." He runs a hand over his arm. "We've been cut off from them except for when they need us for their targets or some other errand. However, if we need something, they don't help us." He shakes his head and his jaw twitches. "One day they will get what they deserve."
The last thing I want to do is have this conversation with him. "I better get moving before Jeb starts wondering what's going on."
He nods and bites his bottom lip.
Unable to get away fast enough, I hurry into the back and call out his order. Even though I'm uncomfortable around him, at least I've been able to get some insight into the reapers on the outside. They have the same opinion of the Council as I do. The only reapers fooled are the ones who live in our small town. Shit, he didn't mention what he wanted to drink so I grab his normal coffee and take it over to him. "Here you go." Not wanting to give him a chance to say anything, I make my way back to the kitchen to wash some dishes.
As soon as I get back behind the counter, the front door rings again. I turn to find Alex walking in.
His face has a smudge of grease on the side and his green eyes meet mine. He seems to be in his late twenties but talks as if he's still a teenager. He swaggers over to me and grins. He crosses his arms causing his muscles to bulge under his thin white t-shirt. "Hey, do you have a second?"
For him, I'll make time. I need my car fixed and fast. I'm so tired of being here and the longer I stay here the more antsy I get. "Sure." Just like magic, Betty walks out the back. "Hey, Betty, do you mind covering me for a minute?"
Her eyes take in the mechanic and nods. "Yeah, just don't be too long."
He holds the door and we head outside. Once we get a few feet away from the diner, I pivot around to face him. "So, is my car fixed?"
"No, it's not." His eyes cast downwards as he scratches his chin. "Your fan belt is messed up."
Is he freaking serious right now? It's one thing after another. First it was my transmission, then he couldn't get the parts in until a week later. Now it's my fan belt. Something just seems off. "Are you just trying to keep me here?"
"Awe, you're so cute when you're upset." A huge grin spreads across his face. "Are you free after your shift? Maybe I could take you out for dinner?"
This has to be a joke. No one would have the nerve to be like that, right? "Is there anything wrong with my car?"
His face drops and he scratches below his ear. "Uh... yeah. I mean it's really old."
Dear God. I don't even know what to think right now. Yeah, the car is older, but it was in fine working condition until I got six hours away from Charlie then something happened it and got me stranded here. "Is it drivable at this point?"
"Okay, here's the thing." He looks away and clears his throat.
Oh, this ought to be good. I have a feeling I'm about to get really pissed.
"It is, but it does have a lot of stuff wrong with it. But I mean, it works now." He chuckles and kicks at the ground. "So now that you're probably about to leave town soon, I'm still hoping you'll at least let me take you out for dinner just once."
"Thanks, but no." There is no way in hell I'd go anywhere with him. There is no telling how long he'd have me stuck here racking up a bill if I hadn't just put my foot down. Jackass.
"Are you serious?" His eyes widen and he huffs.
"Yeah, just do whatever you need to do with the water thingy, and I'll be there to get my car when I get off my shift." I don't want him to have my car any longer than he has
