4

~Thea

The diner has been a special place to me since I was a little girl. Having milkshakes after school with June was a ritual, and I always told the ladies at the counter I would work here when I was older. Fast forward ten years, I am living the dream.

Except the dream is hardly what I thought it would be. Sometimes, it's more of a nightmare.

"Four hours late..." My boss, Janet Dupree muses, arms folded over her chest. "Four hours I had to spend doing you work."

I sat meekly behind her desk, head hung low. I'm no stranger to embarrassment, but the looks the other two waitresses gave me as I walked in was enough to have me hold up a white flag.

Janet's office is a tiny room tucked into the back of the diner. We always refer to it as The Cave, because sometimes our boss hibernates in it. In the unlikely event you did something foolish, or against one of her rules, we would have to sit beneath the posters of half naked fireman.

Torture, if it is accompanied by Janet's lecture.

"This is an official warning. Don't let it happen again."

I stand, brushing my uniform down. When I was younger, I thought the dusty pale blue dress with a white apron tied around my waist was cute. No, it's painful and the high school boys make it their job to look under the high hem of the skirt whenever possible.

I wander outside the room and into the kitchen, after muttering a half hearted apology to my boss. The other waitresses mull around, one at a table, and another wiping the main counter. We have one cook working during the day, but we don't usually talk due to his constant pessimistic mood.

"Girl, what happened?" The waitress at the counter-and my good friend-Kera questions, ceasing her wiping.

Big busted, almost too friendly and always showing off her whitened teeth, Kera has been working here for as long as I have. Her eyes are something I've always been jealous of. The clearest crystal blue like nothing I've seen before. She's from the Wisdom Pack, so naturally very smart, and beautiful.

"I was late," I say blandly, grabbing my name pin off my designated shelf, putting my coat in it's place. Kera rolls her eyes, throwing her wiping towel over her shoulder as she strolls over.

"I have eyes sass," she grins, leaning an elbow against the bench Cook was working at. We just call him Cook because he refuses to tell us his real name. "Want to tell me why?"

I brush past her, and out into the main dining area. I stop behind the counter, looking at table that may need assistance. Only one table is occupied, and Britney, the other waitress seems to have it covered.

"Someone moved into the estate in Phantom Forest," I tell her, releasing a sigh of irritation. Kera, who had come up behind me, eyes widened.

I've never seen the estate, but I have heard about it. Dad told me never to wander into the forest, and after I disputed my belief in Phantom Wolves, he told it was private property.

"Who?" Kera questioned, twisting her body around so she can look me in the eye. She knows how her eyes always evoke the most honest answers out of me. Almost like Casper's...

"A man," I say carefully. Her mouth falls open in surprise. Kera hasn't found her mate, or a man willing to hold down her fiery personality. She's all over the place, taking interest in any man who even looks at her, for a day, before something fresh becomes the new objective.

I turn, trying to keep a calm expression, but inside, I'm beating myself up. Luca is going to beyond mad at me for abandoning him, and instead of wallowing in the guilt like I should be, I am talking about another guy.

"Is he hot?" Kera asks, pushing my shoulder gently so I would face her. Why not be honest?

"Very. Tall, hot, sexy, and his eyes are to die fo-"

Suddenly, the sound of someone clearing their throat from behind me has me twisting around. And I meet the eyes I was just about to compliment.

All over again, I am struck with the handsome features that belong to the stranger, Casper. He is dressed differently...Casual. A simple black shirt and dark trousers that he has his hands shoved into the pockets. He stares at me through silky black hair that brushes over his brow, an amused smile dancing across his face.

Did he hear that? A feeling of utter dread washes over me, as I come to terms with the embarrassment that is showing itself through the colour of my cheeks.

"Thea," he murmurs, my name rolling off his tongue enticingly, entwining with his accent to have my hands quivering by my sides. I had completely lost my breath, but Kera on the other hand...

"I must say, we aren't used to having strangers around our parts. Especially handsome ones," Kera says, her voice dripping with sultry confidence. She pushes up next to me, leaning over the counter coyly, blatantly showing her cleavage to Casper.

His eyes remain on mine, like chips of ice, the violet making his gaze so much more intense. He hardly even acknowledges Kera. Any other man would have been enticed by the beautiful woman showing herself to him.

"I'm checking out the town. A lady in a second hand shop directed me down here. She told me a beautiful girl worked here," he said smoothly, no hesitation in his words.

I glance at Kera, who had realised that her breasts weren't going to work, and stood up up squarely. I knew it was probably Ms Slater and Ms Morris who had directed him down here. It was either for Britney or Kera, since I am the only one in a relationship.

"Well look no further," Kera purrs, and I think she winks when Casper finally drags his gaze to hers.

"We also have great food," I add, taking a step back. I bend down, grabbing a plastic menu we keep under the counter to hand to him. He takes it, a simple thank you his only return.

Backing up, Casper walks off to find a table. Britney walks up to us the moment he had gone, finally finished chatting up the customers at her table, using words of seduction to lure them into tipping her generously.

"Yum...Who's that?" she asks, ripping a piece of paper with words on it off her pad.

Britney is a sweet girl. She is trying to buy her way out of this Pack, like me, and sometimes she can get a little competitive over tips. Her hair is a lighter version of what we typically see on girls hair. When she ties it up, like today, the gold in her hair can be seen.

"Yeah, who is that Thea?" Kera asks. Both girls looks at me expectantly.

Grabbing Britney's note with her customers orders from her hand, I slide it over to Cook. "I don't know. Casper...I think his name is."

They almost jump at the hint of his name. By the way their eyes gleam, and they almost salivate at the mention of his name, I decide to not tell them that he is the reason I was so late to work.

Suddenly, the sound of a bell tingling at the top of the door signals a new customer. Except it's not a customer. It's Luca.

He strolls in, a look of determination written all over his face. Dressed in his dark law enforcer uniform, he looks dangerously official, and all the more intimidating. That is someone you don't want to stand up for know reason.

He catches my gaze, dark eyes wild with emotion, like a thunderous storm.

"Where have you been?" he questioned viciously, voice so loud it caught everyone in the rooms attention. I wanted to cower. I wanted nothing more than to hide away from everyone's speculative gazes, cover our relationship up from prying eyes.

"I was late to work," I tell him meekly, as he strides closer till he reaches the counter.

He narrows his eyes at me, as if he believes I was doing something illegal.

"I was looking all over for you...I checked Junes, your house, the entire town," he tells me. And this is what I am used to. Not just his anger, but how he forces the blame on me, victimising himself.

I glance around, seeing everyone's eyes on me. But it is Casper's that I get caught on.

He stares at me, an unknown emotion flickering in his eyes. Then, he switches his attention to Luca, and I see anger. Pure, thick anger that he didn't bother to hold back. To which he answered his anger by standing abruptly.

And I knew, the next few moments would be hell

"I think you should stop," Casper says, his voice lower, more calculated than Luca.

Luca was driven by a different kind of anger. His was right there, in your face, He couldn't hold his back when it was right there in front of him. Casper seemed to understand his own feelings in a way, not showing a single hint of weakness.

"I didn't know this was any of your business," Luca drawled, eyes alight with fiery hot passion.

I can't help but stand there, stunned at the fact that Casper is sticking up for me. He strides closer, hands still casually shoved in his pant pockets, as he stands before Luca. It's like an open invitation, as he loosely stands, an offering to try anything with him. I would hate to know what the consequence would be for Luca.

"Well, officer..." Casper bends down a little, looking at the name tag pinned to Lucas button up shirt. "Luca. I don't think it's very professional to be raising your voice to a lady, in public."

This doesn't go down well with Luca. His job is his life. "Back off buddy. Don't give me a reason to arrest you."

Casper smiles. A gentle, taunting smile not made for amusement. It was calm, exact. He knew what he was doing, and how far he was pushing Luca.

"It would be my pleasure to accompany you down to the station. I'm sure your dad would be happy to hear how you can't even bring your girlfriend to climax with your name on her lips," Casper said casually, not taking his eyes of Luca's once, even to look at me.

Again, I was shocked. Everyone in the diner was listening in, and I'm sure the waitresses behind me are taking great pleasure in hearing the information. But redness stained my cheeks.

Luca's face was as red as mine. "Harassing an officer is an offence."

Casper stepped back, and I almost let out a sigh of relief. It made me think he was giving up, letting Luca continue on without an issue. Instead, he began circling him. Smooth, elegant strides around my boyfriend, like a beast preying on a small animal.

"Try your luck and handcuff me," Casper said menacingly.

Casper isn't a small man. Muscular frame, tall, he was a threat to Luca and the smaller man knew it. Handling Casper would be a nightmare. I shake my head at the thought.

Suddenly, a whiny voice of strange reason stepped in. "Stop."

Casper freezes. As does Luca.

"I'm going to have to ask both of you to leave my diner right now." It was Janet, my boss.

And both men instantly knew they couldn't contest the woman who owned the shop. And as obediently as I have ever seen Luca be, he turned around, and stalked straight out the building, pride a little damaged.

Casper apologised to Janet, handed his menu back to me, and left swiftly.

I was left completely confused. What just happened?