She Didn't See It Coming

Chapter 10

Just so that she could calm down from being told that who she thought was her father wasn't truly her father. The horrifying thought returned and Serena's face started to turn green. She threw up again but this time it was in the alley where she had left her bike.

It was a surprise that it remained there because when she actually looked around she noticed that there were three homeless men sitting in front of their box shelter looking over at her."Thank you for leaving my bike alone." She waved to one of the men who was staring in her direction.

It was when she got on her bike that she felt as if the gaze from that man got heavier. Almost as if he were behind her. How is that even possible? She asked herself as she turned around to see the old man in ragged grey clothes that only seemed to be draped over his frighteningly thin build.

"You can see me?" He asked looking at Serena with his marble like hazel eyes. "I was hoping that maybe someone would be able to see and hear me." He said hinting that someone had seen him before but couldn't hear him.

Serena sighed,"Yes I can see you." She replied then continued."What is your name?"

"My name is Riley Nottap. I used to be a bartender before I killed myself." He looked at Serena with hope in his eyes. "Maybe you can help me." He added and somehow managed to cling himself to Serena by grabbing onto her ankle like a toddler clings to their mothers.

"You sure know how to attract them don't you?" Serena hears Grimmy who was standing right next to her.

Serena looked at Grimmy slightly confused by what was going on. She also noticed that it looked as if he was trying to contain his laughter as he looked at her with the spirit literally wrapped around her left leg."What is that supposed to mean?" She asked looking at the man and then looking back at Grimmy.

"Well, little girl, you have a lot to learn." Grimmy started with an annoyed sigh. "You are supposed to take care of the spirits who have unfinished business"  He looked at the spirit and smirked ripping him off of Serena. "This guy and many others like him are beyond your help. They want to stay." He explained.

"Are you trying to tell me that this guy is in Purgatory?" Serena asked glad to see that the man's grip didn't leave mark on her leg.

"Yes, actually. I guess you're not as dumb as you look." Grimmy chuckled his owl eyes stared at Serena then smiled.

"I'll just take that as a compliment," Serena replied as she prepared to ride her bike out of the alley."I'll just see you when I see you." She smirked finally riding her bike down the road to the closest restaurant she could find.

The restaurant she found was called: The Rascal's Bite. Serena smiled looking up at the neon pink sign and started to remember how excited she was to go there with her father when he was still alive.  "Here goes nothing." She said as she locked her bike up to the baby blue bike rack just outside the restaurant.

Serena made her way into the restaurant and smiled when she noticed startling blue eyes staring at her. The guy behind the counter was tall with dark brown hair and a five o'clock shadow threatening to grow into a fluffy beard. Something about him and his goofy smile made her belly flop. 

"Are you going  to sit down at a table anytime soon?" He asked and tried to contain his laughter after realizing what he had said. 

Serena's eyes narrowed at him, "You know what wise ass? I'll sit down whenever the hell I want. Thank you very much." She smirked as she replied.

"Okay, then I guess you'll need this at some point right?" He asked as he stepped out from behind the counter where he could stand in front of her dangling the menu above her head.

Serena looked at him then at what he held in his hand, "You're such a flirt. Give me that!"

"You're going to have to try a little harder." He chuckled as he watched her struggle.

"You think you're so funny!" She jumped up in attempt to get.

He lifted the menu a little higher, "So close yet so far."

Tired of his taunting she decides that she could get it by tackling him. He won't even know what's coming. She thought before physically preparing herself.  She looks at him and smirks knowing he thought he was a winning.

Just when Serena thought her idea would work someone at the counter spilled there strawberry milkshake. She took a step forward and slips falling forward into the waiter or host. They both hit the floor. 

He opened his eyes and chuckled, "Oh I see this how you get your boyfriends." 

She attempted to get up and fell again but when she looked at him she grumbled."You are the biggest wise ass I've ever met!" She screamed at him taking the menu from his hand.

He got up and chuckled, "You know, you're kinda cute when you're angry." He winked as he moved to go find a mop to clean up the mess.

Serena just shook her head, "What a strange guy." She muttered as she sat down in a booth not realizing he was her waiter.

After a good fifteen minutes, the man that flirted with her came by, "What can I get for you?" He asked looking at her.

"I would like an iced tea please," Serena replied to him.

"Okay, I'll be right back." He said then went behind the counter to get the iced tea she wanted. 

When the guy returned Serena noticed his green name tag that read Tom. "Well, it's very nice to meet an entertaining flirt like you. I bet you do that with all the girls." Serena said.

Tom shook his head and put the tea down in front of Serena, "To be honest you are the only girl that has pulled this side of me out. I'm not used to meeting such a unique girl." He sat down. "I'm off the clock but I want to talk with you for a few minutes about something I noticed."

"What is that?"

"I noticed that you seemed to be very wound up about something. May I ask what happened before you got here?" He looked at her. "You can trust me."

Serena sat there and explained about what she had discovered about her family and how she was alienated from her father's side of the family.

"I'm sorry to say this but you and your family need to figure something out." He said with a sigh."As far as the gift you have you're just going to have to learn how to deal with it."

"Thank you for hearing me out." Serena looked Tom in the eyes. "My name is Serena."

"Its a pleasure to meet you." He said taking her hand and kissing it gently before watching her get up and leave.