CHAPTER 2: Reality Bites

"Dammit dammit dammit!" Nattie cried as she kicked the vending machine. She hauled off for one more kick before turning and stalking down the hall.

"What's with you this morning?"

Nattie looked at her best friend and partner at the Starfish Diner. At 24, Deb Parker was the absolute picture of a young single woman in the 21st Century. Her long blonde hair fell in textured layers to her shoulders, while her clothes were superbly clean and well fitting. Nattie looked down at the cargo khakis and the tee designed like the British flag and pushed at the stubborn curl that always fell in her face.

Yikes.

"Hello? Earth to Nattie!"

"What? Oh." She started back to her desk. "Nothing. The machine took my money--AGAIN--and didn't give me my stupid chips. That's all." She sighed as she sat down. "That's all…." she said again, this time with more of a whine.

"Uh-huh. Riiiiiight." Deb paused, giving Nattie a once-over. Then she grinned.

"All that sexual frustration is taking its toll, Nat. I keep telling you, find a guy you think is hot, do him, and you'll feel a lot more relaxed."

Nattie shook her head at her friend, an incredulous look on her face. "You have no brain."

The sound of a throat clearing had them looking to the door at Gloria James, the perky new waitress and long time friend.

"Um, ladies. There is a, uh, gentleman here to see you." She mouthed the words 'oh my god' and rolled her eyes.

Curious, Deb peeked out the blinds that separated the offices.

"Damn. I wonder if he has a license for that mouth. Sweet Mary, Nattie, you gotta see this guy."

Amused, Nattie walked to the window. Deb thought that every male was a gift from the Almighty sent specifically for her to admire.

Making her way past the two oglers, she peered through the blinds and her blood froze. She could not see his face; his back was turned to her. But it was him. Somehow…Jesus, somehow it was him. But how? He was a dream. He wasn't real.

------

He was standing behind the counter with his elbows propped, staring out into the mix of diner customers.

Stupid mortal sheep, he thought to himself. What the hell? Why did he have to be stuck here just because he was a mean son of a bitch when he was alive? They couldn't put him doing something else. Nooo. He had to be here. In Mortal Land.

Woo.

He smiled sweetly at the little blonde girl who was eating ice cream and waving with her tiny sticky fingers and tried not to roll his eyes.

God, this sucked.

What was taking that dumb waitress so long to---ah, there it is.

He saw the blinds part, felt the wave of lust from the blonde woman looking out. He put on his best casual look. Jeez, her thoughts almost made HIM blush. He turned back to the crowd.

Nice person. Definite sinner.

…And there she was. He felt her gaze and hated the fact that his blood stirred. What was wrong with him?

----------

"Nattie? Hello?" Deb waved a hand in front of her friend's face. "You in there?"

"Yeah. It's just…" She looked at Deb. "Nothing. It's nothing."

"See? People that foxy shouldn't possibly be allowed to wreak such havoc on the populous." Grabbing Nattie's arm she led her out of the office. "Let's go see what he wants."

--------

Ok. Here they come. Time to strategize. This was not her dreamscape. This was the real world. Alright, think. Time to be all smiles. Be nice, polite, and patient… He inwardly sighed.

He was going to apply for a transfer as soon as this job was over.

"Excuse me. You wanted to see us?" Deb tapped the young man on the shoulder and nearly drooled when he turned that silver-blue gaze to her.

"Hi. Yes, I am looking for the owner of this place. Ms.--" He stopped to look at a piece of paper. "Natalia Bennett. Is that you?"

"Nope. But it's her." Deb practically threw Nattie forward.

She did not want to look at him. It was too weird. What was going on? He was a figment of her suppressed sexual feelings. So why in the HELL was he standing in her diner, staring at her with those...amazingly...bright...eyes? No! She couldn't focus on that...she had to think.

"Are you alright?"

Nattie jumped like a rabbit. "Yeah. Yes. I'm sorry. Natalia Bennett." She extended a hand and shook his.

"Ferriman. Jack Ferriman. Jack to most people."

"So, how can I help you?" Nattie took a deep cleansing breath and brought her eyes to his.

"Well--ah, thank you." He took the coke that Deb offered, and raised his eyebrows when she didn't go anywhere. "Thank you very much?"

"Uh, Deb? Don't you have some work to do? Like, in the office?" Gloria said pointedly.

"Uh, yeah. Yeah." Giving Nattie a wink and grin, she sauntered off to the office.

"I'm sorry. You were saying?"

"Um, oh. I was wondering...do you want dinner? I mean, me? I mean..." He drew a breath. "I mean, would you like to have dinner...with me?"

"I don't know you. You came to my diner just so you could ask me out?"

"No. No, I uh, I came to your diner to eat. And talk to you about ... business. The asking you out thing was just kind of inspired." He cleared his throat and looked sheepish. Oh, for fuck's sake lady. Take the bait.

"Well, actually, I don't date." She bit her lip. She did not date because she had never wanted to date. However, there was a time for everything. "…Usually. But, it's not every day that a complete stranger asks me to dinner," she said with a small laugh. She grinned a disarmingly sweet grin. "Pick me up at 8."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------