Fae

by C. J. Abedi

  Odin lifted his hand. He was done with the conversation.

  “So it shall be.”

  C

  The time on the clock couldn’t be right; there was just no way that it was only seven o’clock. The battery was probably not working, I thought. I bent over and stretched my back, regrettably aware that only five minutes had gone by since the last time I looked up at the old timepiece. The diner had been unusually quiet for a Friday night, as most of our regular patrons were at the downtown First Friday festival. Every month downtown Manteo celebrated the first Friday with musical bands, food, and a small reception.

  I know that to anyone living in a sophisticated metropolitan city it probably sounded like a lame reason to have a get-together, but the festival was usually a lot of fun and a great chance to hang out. On the nights I wasn’t working, I would always go. In fact, Teddy and I would generally take his younger brother since they had so many games and activities for the kids.

  Since it was fast becoming a tradition that wasn’t going anywhere any time soon, I had begged my parents to close up the restaurant on these nights. Just to give everyone a night off. Even though I knew that deep down they agreed with me, they would always say, ‘let’s just see what happens next month.’ And month after month, it was always the same. The only people to come through the diner doors were the employees.

  That night, I kept myself preoccupied by doing busy work. I spent the first half of the evening filling up every single container I could find, and when I say every container, I mean every container, from the ketchup, mustard, salt, pepper, tobasco, and even every napkin container. When there was nothing left to fill, I began dusting until my allergies started acting up, forcing me to leave the rest to the professionals. The boring job had actually kept me quite preoccupied. It was the first time in a while my mind hadn’t gone off to daydream about the certain somebody who seemed to preoccupy all of my thoughts.

  I glanced at the clock again: another hour to go. Wow. Talk about time standing still. It was really quite unbelievable. I wished I had brought a book with me or even my cell phone so I could text Teddy and see what he was up to.

  The restaurant was now spotless, and I was fast running out of things to do to keep busy. I went strolling through the kitchen and saw that the garbage cans overflowing.

  Now there’s something that I could fill up another fifteen or so minutes with, I thought anxiously. Even though the thought of throwing out all the garbage grossed me out, I decided that I could do it, and it would also give me an excuse to get some fresh air.

  “Those are awfully heavy for a scrawny kid,” Frank laughed as he watched me struggle with the big bags.

  “I’m not scrawny. I can handle anything you can handle,” I replied, challenging him. I smiled as I lifted the bag, proving my point.

  “Honey, that’s ridiculous. Look at me and look at you.” He said, pointing at his belly.

  I couldn’t stop the laughter. “My belly’s not lifting the garbage, my arms are.”

  He walked over to me to give me a hand. “Let me help you with those. You shouldn’t be taking out any of the garbage anyway.”

  “Why not?” I asked him.

  “Because you’re too good for that,” Frank said smiling affectionately at me.

  “And you’re not?” I asked him as he shrugged. “No one is too good for this.”

  “Besides, if you wanted to do it so badly, you would have taken them out sooner,” I said smiling up at him.

  “You are probably right,” he said with a laugh. “At least let me get the door. “

  Frank had a big grin on his face as he reached around me and opened the back door.

  The cold air hit me hard. It was another chilly night in Roanoke. Just from the briskness in the air, I could tell that winter was around the corner, which meant that we were close to having our first snowstorm. I’m sure that everyone else in town would have another opinion, but I loved the winter, and I loved the snow, even though it meant layers of heavy clothing and hours and hours of snow shoveling, which I always did with a weird kind of pleasure.

  I loved walking outside and breathing in the clean air. Watching the snow line the beautiful trees. And even more, I loved the fact that it meant that a new year was around the corner. Something about moving forward and moving on with my life gave me hope and basically meant that I was starting fresh.

  I smiled as I walked around the building toward the two black dumpsters. I lifted the first bag with ease and threw it up and over the short fence that surrounded the ugly metal boxes. As I went to throw the other one over, someone called out to me.

  “You need a hand?”

  I whipped around. I couldn’t see who the person was and didn’t recognize the voice. I looked through the darkness, not sure what to say.

  I couldn’t see anyone.

  I couldn’t stop the goosebumps or the shiver of fear that ran down my spine. These were the kind of moments you watched in a movie and screamed at the screen for the girl to run. And yet, I stood where I was. The stranger stepped out of the shadows and into the light, and I couldn’t stop the feeling of relief that washed over me.

  “You startled me,” I’m sure he could hear the fear in my voice. But I didn’t care.

  “I’m sorry. I saw you walking out, so I thought I’d come say hello and offer you some help.” He sounded genuinely apologetic.

  “That’s okay. Sorry, I guess you just took me by surprise.” I was shocked to find the handsome stranger here.

  “It’s Patrick, right?” I knew who he was, yet still couldn’t help feeling apprehensive,. I hoped that he didn’t notice how nervous I was, and suddenly I wished Frank would come outside looking for me.

  “Yes. That’s right. It’s Patrick,” he said stepping forward and reaching down to lift the remaining garbage bag. “Let me give you hand with that, Caroline.”

  Caroline. The way he said my name made my skin crawl. As he stood across from me and stared into my eyes, I had the distinct feeling that he was trying to dissect me. I shrugged off the strange sensation and reminded myself that my imagination had to be getting the better of me. But even as I placed a careful smile on my face, I couldn’t help the way I felt.

  I think what bothered me most was the fact that he was someone I met in a fleeting moment, and there he was days later standing before me.

  “I can’t believe you remember my name,” I said, noticing that he was now positioned in a way that blocked my entrance to the door to re-enter the restaurant.

  “You’re a hard girl to forget,” he said with a smile as he slowly reached over and grabbed the trash bag out of my hand and with one swift motion threw it up and into the large dumpster.

  That was another thing I noticed as I looked at the bulging muscles in his arms. He seemed strong. Really strong.

  Almost scary strong.

  “You look great. And as usual, you smell really nice,” he continued as he rubbed his hands together and stared straight at me. He must have noticed my apprehension because he took a few steps back, putting some space between us.

  I was relieved he finally noticed that I was uncomfortable but felt guilty as I watched him cower a bit. I knew that I was making him feel unwelcome, but I honestly didn’t like the way he stood so close.

  “It’s just the smell of food,” I replied as I swept my hand through a wisp of hair.

  “How’ve you been?” he continued.

  “I’m great. Just busy with school stuff. You know, the usual. What are you doing out here? It’s a long way from Plymouth.”

  He looked down as if embarrassed.

  “I’m sorry, I really didn’t mean to catch you off guard. I know how this must look to you,” he said as he stared at me. “I know this might sound crazy, but I came out here to see you.”

  I didn’t think I heard him correctly. I almost blurted that out loud but thankfully caught myself before it was too late. I watched how hi
s deep blue eyes flickered in the light, making him seem even more mysterious.

  “Me? How did you know where I lived or even worked?” Ugh, Caroline, can you try to be a bit more cool about it, I thought.

  “I…uh…asked around at school, and there were a couple of people who knew who you were,” he said shyly. “They mentioned that your parents have a place that you occasionally work at. So, I thought I’d start here.”

  “Someone from Plymouth knows me?” I said with surprise. Plymouth was seventy-three miles away. The kids at Manteo barely knew me. Or at least, that’s what I thought.

  “Yeah, actually the Spencers,” he told me as his gaze swept over my face trying to ascertain if I knew who he was talking about. “Maryanne Spencer is in one of my classes, and her dad apparently knows your father.”

  I was puzzled and still unsure. It wasn’t like I thought he was lying, but it was still kind of strange. Yes, I knew Maryanne Spencer; we actually attended the same church when I was younger, but what were the odds that he would talk about me and find someone who knew me?

  More than anything I was just surprised that Patrick asked around about me. I had never known anyone to spend so much energy and time trying to figure out my whereabouts. No one had ever done that. Ever.

  It was shocking.

  Well, it was actually very flattering. But still…

  “Actually, I know the Spencers very well,” I replied with a smile. “And I can’t believe that you would be so…”

  Interested in finding me. I couldn’t finish my words because I was about to insult myself.

  “So what?” he asked curiously.

  “Well. I mean,” I began fidgeting, “you met me for five minutes.” There. That said it all. He had to understand what I was saying from that.

  He smiled at me and stepped closer. I knew that most girls would find him charming and would be dying to get home and tweet about it or post it on Facebook, but I wasn’t like most girls.

  Clearly.

  I don’t know what it was about him. He was good looking, charming, and seemed smart, but there was something in his mannerisms that just didn’t feel right. He was a young guy in high school, but he was lacking all of those characteristics. He seemed almost artificial. Like he was trying to be something he wasn’t. I knew that my thoughts were crazy and completely unfair and unfounded, but I couldn’t shake what I felt.

  And then there was the way that I kept meeting him. Both times now I felt like I was almost being stalked or watched then pounced on.

  And in the dark.

  That was the part that scared me the most.

  Don’t let your imagination get the best of you Caroline, I thought. I took in a deep breath and began silently cursing myself. I was so cautious. To the point of even being afraid of my shadow. But that was my problem. I always second-guessed people’s intentions. His were probably harmless.

  Totally innocent.

  But here I was condemning him. If anyone showed any interest in me, I automatically thought they were weird or a future serial killer. I never just accepted the fact that maybe they just liked me. Maybe he liked me so much, that he just had to know who I was, so he searched and searched until he found me.

  “I’d love to explain it all to you but inside, if you don’t mind. It’s really cold out here, and I’m actually pretty hungry,” Patrick replied with a big charming smile. “Are you guys still open?”

  “Of course!” I said, suddenly embarrassed by the direction my thoughts had led me in. What was wrong with me? “I’m so sorry. I’ll get Frank to make you whatever you like, on the house of course!”

  We walked into the restaurant from the back door and through the kitchen, and he continued to follow me closely from behind.

  “You need help, kid? I knew I should have come out there with you,” Frank called out, not realizing that we had company.

  “I actually found someone to help me.”

  Frank moved around the corner to see who I was talking about. He eyed Patrick suspiciously.

  “Frank, this is Patrick. He goes to Plymouth High School,” I said, introducing the two.

  “Nice to meet you sir,” Patrick said politely as he extended his arm.

  “Plymouth? That’s a long way to come for a meal.” I was glad to know that Frank was just as suspicious as I had been. It made me feel less paranoid.

  “I know,” he replied smoothly as he smiled at me. “I actually came out here to see Caroline.”

  There I went blushing again.

  “Really?” Frank asked still giving him a look over. “Well then, you’ve got to be hungry.”

  “Starving.”

  “Have a seat, and I’ll fix you something.”

  “Thanks, I really appreciate it, especially since it looks like you guys are closing up.” Patrick looked around at the empty restaurant. It was practically a ghost town.

  “We’re not closing for another hour. We’re just real slow tonight,” I told him feeling even more guilty about the way I treated him. We walked to the front of the restaurant, and Patrick took a seat on the stool by the bar. He was rubbing his hands together, trying to ward off the cold air we had just left outside.

  “Something to drink?”

  “Water is fine.”

  I grabbed him a bottle of water from the bar and began pouring it into a glass.

  “Your dinner should be out really soon. Frank is quick. And good. Which is equally important,” I told him.

  Patrick smiled at me in appreciation as I faced him on the other side of the long wooden bar. I placed both of my hands under my chin and watched as he took a long sip of the water. I couldn’t stop myself from wondering how he described me to Maryann, considering that I only seemed to remember giving him my first name on the night that we met.

  “Look I don’t want you to think that I’m some weirdo. I just thought you were really nice and different from the other girls at my school, and I thought we had a great talk after the game, so I know it’s a bit presumptuous, but I really wanted to see you in person,” Patrick said as he placed the glass on the bar.

  Presumptuous.

  That was another thing. The way he spoke. I could count the number of guys I had met who had a strong vocabulary. And one of them was my dad, and the other was Devilyn. Then I realized it, they were so similar. In so many ways.

  Their good looks.

  Their mannerisms.

  And now their intelligence.

  “I don’t know what to say.” It was the best I could come up with especially since my mind seemed to wander whenever he started to talk to me.

  “There’s something else.”

  Here it was. This was when he’d pull out a gun or knife and…

  “I told Maryann I met you, and she had so many nice things to say about you, which confirmed everything I felt that night,” he said as he smiled up at me. His teeth were so bright and flawless against his tanned skin. “Since I left the game, I just thought I’d chance it and come out here and see you.”

  I took a good look at him. His blond hair and blue eyes framed his chiseled face perfectly. He was probably one of the most attractive guys I had ever met. Besides Devilyn of course.

  But guys that looked like them were hard to come across. Especially on a small island like Roanoke. He had superstar good looks and a boyish charm to go with his picture perfect features. Where had these boys been hiding?

  “That’s really sweet. Thank you,” I said, sincerely meaning it, even though the conversation still made me self-conscious, so I thought I’d change the topic.

  “So how’s your brother?”

  “Um, my brother?” he replied, slightly confused.

  “Yeah, your brother,” I said, laughing at the look on his face. It was almost like he didn’t know what I was talking about.

  The light went on.

  “Oh yeah, he’s doing great. I remember now; the last time we met I brought him
up.”

  “Yeah, you did.”

  “Sorry. I forgot that I told you about him,” he said as he looked down in embarrassment.

  “No worries. Is he still playing football?”

  “Yeah, still playing.” He nodded his head. “He’s determined.”

  “That’s a good thing,” I told him encouragingly. “Passion brings success.”

  “That’s a wise thing to say for someone your age,” Patrick said as he took another sip of water.

  I raised my brow curiously and couldn’t help teasing him.

  “Someone my age? And how old are you? Let me guess, an ancient senior?” I watched as Patrick’s face turned bright red and laughed away the embarrassment.

  “Sorry. It’s just that the girls in my school do not sound as grown-up as you do.”

  “Well, thanks for the compliment.”

  “Anyway, I guess my brother is a lot like me. Once he focuses on something, he can’t take his mind off it.” I looked away from him when he said those words.

  For some reason, I was uncomfortable again.

  “So how’s your star quarterback? I’ve been meaning to try and get in touch with him.” Patrick watched me as I nervously started wiping the counter.

  “I guess he’s fine.”

  “You guess?”

  Frank rang the bell and placed the plate on the counter. I turned to grab the burger and fries and placed the food in front of him.

  “I just don’t see Devilyn that much.”

  “You’re not friends?” he said with a surprised voice as he took a big bite out of his burger.

  “We’re definitely friends, but I don’t see him outside of school.”

  He nodded his head in understanding and stared at me intently, which made me feel like he was trying to catch me in some sort of lie.

  “Well, I shouldn’t say that. We are working on a school project together, but other than that, just school,” I continued cautiously, hoping that I wasn’t rambling.

  Something about Patrick made me feel like I shouldn’t reveal every detail of my life. Despite the fact that he was incredibly handsome and seemingly kind, there was just something in the pit of my stomach that made me feel like I needed to be more guarded than I normally was, if that was even possible. I suddenly wanted him to be finished with his burger and gone from the restaurant.