Chapter 5

I had always wondered what it feels like waking up in the arms of a man. But right now, I guess I shall wonder no more.

I was lying across Mark's chest with his arm wrapped around me. Slowly, I peeked through my eyelashes and then shut my eyes again when I realize that he was staring at me, waiting for me to wake up.

"Good morning," he whispered before kissing me. "Did you sleep well?"

"Mmmhmm," I smiled against his lips, kissing him back. "Did you?"

"Uh-huh," he replied. "It's nice waking up with you."

I kissed him again. "Same is true with me. I can't remember the last time I slept so well." I pushed myself up into a sitting position above him and stretched my arms over my head. I sniffed. "Do I smell bacon?"

Mark grinned and nodded. "Reggie is cooking."

"What time is it?" I glanced to the clock near the lampshade and exclaimed, "Ah fuck!" I scrambled through the sheets that covers my body and jumped out of the bed in panic. "I'm gonna be late again."

Mark caught up from behind, wrapping his arms around my tummy. "Hey, calm down," he whispered against my ear, calming me down.

My eyes rolled to the back of my head upon his touch. Oh God, it feels so good. "Okay."

"Just have yourself ready, I'll go help Reggie with breakfast." Mark said, I nodded.

Mark dressed up and gave me quick kiss before going out of the bedroom to join Reggie. I took a shower and choose a nice outfit for the day. Reggie and Mark are having a nice conversation while preparing breakfast when I joined them. Well, it's actually more like Mark was doing all the cooking and talking while Reggie was just sitting, waiting, listening attentively.

"So you're George's big boss?" Reggie said.

"You told her?" I asked him.

"Saving you some explaining trouble," he smiled to me as he placed the plate of toasts on the table. "Breakfast is ready."

I picked a toast and took a small bite from it. "What have you told her?" I asked while chewing.

"All of the interesting parts," he said and then glances back and forth from me to Reggie. "Anyway, Reggie, you don't see your sister's real face, don't you?"

Reggie shook his head. "No, I don't."

"Well, you want me to fix that?"

"You can do that?" I unbelievably asked.

"Of course," he told me and then faced Reggie again. "Do you want that?"

"Sure," my little sister replied.

"But of course it's not totally free of charge. I would ask a little help from you in exchange."

"What kind of help?" I clarified first before letting Reggie gets into any kind of deal especially with a deal with Death.

"Just a little assistance, it's nothing major or permanent. She can quit anytime."

I thought of it for a second. If that were the case, then I guess its fine. I would love to have my sister see me the way I am, as George Lass not as Mildred Hagen. "If it's cool with Reggie then I'm cool with it too, as long as it won't place my sister into an inescapable situation."

"You have my words, it won't," he said to me and then returned his attention back to Reggie. "So Reggie, what do you think?"

"Bring it on," she just shrugged, unfazed. Mark snapped his fingers. Reggie flinched a little as if she was shock by a little dose of electricity. She blinked her eyes at me and then they widened, in trance. "George?"

I don't know if that was it, I gaze at Mark for confirmation. He nodded in reply.

My sister jumped towards me, wrapping her arms so tightly around me, like it was the first time she'd seen me. "George! It's really you!" Reggie sobbed against my shoulder. "I can finally see you."

I hugged my sister while I choke from my own tears, like we'd never seen each other for so long. "Reggie," I whispered. "Thank you," I said to Mark.

"So," Reggie said as she pulled away, wiping her tears. "What shall I do in return?" she asked Mark.

"I want you to become a Substitute Reaper."

"A what?" I exclaimed. "You said you just want a little assistance."

"I am. Like I said it's not full time."

"But you're turning her into a Reaper." A life of a Reaper is full of shits and opportunities that must be let go. And I don't want Reggie to have that kind of life.

"A Substitute Reaper, George," he corrected.

"What difference would that make?" I was starting to get hysterical.

"Well, first of all she's not dead and she can file for retirement anytime."

Okay, that was a relief. But still…"Mark, she's human and mortal. Don't you think it's kind of dangerous for her to do a Reaper's job?"

"Don't worry. Reggie has all the powers of a Reaper but still has the privileges that a human can ever have. She's not completely immortal but…let's just say that nothing can kill her except the old age of 90."

"But…" I trailed off when I felt Reggie grabbing my shoulder.

"Its okay, George. I can do this. And it doesn't sound that bad, I think I can handle it.

I definitely doubt it. But however, who am I to know. And who am I to know what's best for Reggie. I guess I should just trust someone who is more knowledgeable in all these things. "Are you sure?" She nodded and I just sighed in surrender. "Fine…But I'll watch after you." I glared at Mark. "And you, we're not done yet."

"You'll forgive me eventually," he smirked.

"I highly doubt that," I confidently said.

"Anyway," he pulled out the envelope containing the Reap list for the day. "Orient Reggie on her first assignment." I angrily snatched the envelope from his hand where he just smiled as if it amused him.

"Let's go Reggie."

But as we were about to leave, a strong arm hooked on my waist and pulled me back. Mark spun me and crushed his lips against mine. I made some futile and unmotivated resistance while hearing my sister giggled from the background. "Told you you'll forgive me."

I gasped against lips, trying to regain my lost breath. Fuck! That was extreme. "Let's talk later."

"He's definitely into you," Reggie commented as we drove our way to the Waffle House.

"How can you say that? We barely knew each other."

"You slept with him," she reasoned out which is more than true.

"That doesn't mean that there is something."

"But it doesn't mean nothing," Reggie still insisted.

"Fine, maybe that might be the case. But still, everything seems to be going a little too fast. Not to mention that he's Death. I don't know if you realize it but that's huge."

"Well, what's that supposed to do about you liking him? If he's Death then he's Death. Period. Would that get into the way?"

Now that I thought about it. The answer is, not really. In fact, he might be the only relationship that I can get into without any hindrance. "I guess you're right. I guess the real problem is not if the relationship is okay but if I'm okay with the relationship. I mean, I've been living the last 23 years of my life without even having a boyfriend and I don't even have a single fucking shit on how to start now."

"Everything starts by trying," she said. "Give it a try."

We didn't talk much on the rest of our ride, or to be precise we didn't talk at all. I never reply nor promise anything on her advice on giving this opportunity of mine some try.

The gang was already gathered up at the Waffle House when we arrived. And as usual, they are either trying to get into or away from each other's nerves and I can see that Roxy is only a few heartbeats away from blasting Mason's balls again to oblivion.

"Hold it a little, Roxy," Kiffany cut her out before she could pull the trigger under the table. "No firing of any firearms here, it's scaring the customers."

Roxy's jaws clenched and glared on Mason who just grinned annoyingly in return. "Thanks Kiffany." But Kiffany was not on Mason's side either. Instead of pouring the hot coffee on Mason cup, she poured it directly on his pants making Mason screamed. "Ahhhhhh!"

"That's for the fuss-making."

"Okay," Mason whimpered.

Daisy bit back a laugh while Roxy just shamelessly sneered.

I shook my head. They're really are hopeless. How long had they'd been together and yet these silly things never cease in existing in every moment of their afterlives. "Morning," I greeted. I'd had their attentions temporarily until they were diverted towards my sister. Reggie just waved a shy hi to them. "Daisy, can you move to Mason?" I half-asked half-ordered. "Reggie, you can sit beside Roxy."

Daisy said a soft, "Okay." And both girls did what I asked. I really don't like the idea of having my little sister anywhere near Mason. Not that I don't trust Mason. It's probably just a sister's complex of mine that wants to get my sister away from any inconvenience. And I believe that Mason is one of that.

Roxy immediately made a face full of questions the moment that Reggie seated beside her. "What's this?" she asked, pointing Reggie.

"It's my sister, Reggie."

"I know who she is, you smartass. What I'm asking is what is she doing here?"

"Well from today on, she'll be working with us."

The expression of Roxy deepened. If at earlier, her face just portrays 100 questions. Now, it blasted sky high to 1000 or even more. "As a Reaper?"

I nodded in agreement. "As a Substitute Reaper," and corrected her a little.

"She's cute," Mason grinned lasciviously, making Reggie flinch and Roxy and I glare.

That was all the warning sign I needed. "Keep your hands to yourself, Mason," I growled threateningly on him.

"What the fuck is a Substitute Reaper?" Roxy continued.

"I think it's another term for a part-time Reaper?" Daisy hits the mark.

"There such a thing?" Roxy turned more baffled. I just nod. "Since when?"

"This morning when she was recruited."

"By whom?"

"By someone you wouldn't want to know," that was all I said and desired to say, I don't have much time anymore. Work now, questions later. "Anyway, I'll explain everything later. Right now, let's get into business first. Reggie," I demanded her attention. "This is Roxy, Daisy and Mason, guys this is my sister Reggie and she'll be working with us for a while."

"Hi Reggie," said Daisy, waving her newly polished fingers.

"Hi Cutie Pie." I glared again at Mason on the remark. I could have let that go if he wasn't just slobbering like a jackass.

"I'm Roxy," she offered her hand.

"Hi," Reggie politely shook her hand. "I'm Reggie. I guess I'm a Substitute Reaper."

After the introductions, I took the post-its notes from my bag and handed them their Reaps. "Okay, here are for you," I gave one for Mason. "For you," two for Daisy. "And for you," and lastly to Roxy.

"Reggie," I gave her three leaves of post-its. "This is for you."

"Hold it right there, little missy," Roxy intercepted. "Are you planning of giving her 3 reaps on her first day?"

"Well, I have no choice. Those post-its are given exclusively to her." I explained to her. Those schedules are marked to be given exclusively for Reggie. I don't know what Mark has in mind of giving my sister multiple numbers of souls on her first assignment.

Reggie looked confusedly on the piece of papers. "What am I going to do exactly?"

There's actually no need of much explanation for her. She'd already saw me reaping a soul before and since she'd been living with me, she also knows how the post-its work. And after meeting and gets recruited by Mark, she's more than knowledgeable enough about the scheduling of deaths. "Just reap their souls before their scheduled deaths and then guide them to their lights."

"And how am I supposed to do that?"

"Just touch them, then imagine that you're pulling out their souls. Just that and you'll do fine, the rest will just follow."

Reggie nodded and somehow understood everything little by little. Reading the post-its, she made a little expression of surprise. "Hey, I know these people."

That took me off-guard too. "Really?"

"Yeah, and the location is on our school so I'm certain that it's them. L. Lewis, C. Miller, H. Hall," she enumerated. "These are Lindsay Lewis, Cedric Miller, and Helga Hall. They are members of the Science Club. Helga is my classmate in Math and yesterday she told me that they will be doing a science experiment at the lab this afternoon. I guess things will end up wrong later."

Shit! Connections. Something that makes the job complicated. Why do I or my sister always has to fall into that kind of bullshits. "Just do what you have to do Reg. Don't do anything that will go against the grain."

"Don't worry, I won't," she said, a little offended. "I know how things around here work and I'm completely aware of the consequences too. So don't sweat yourself, I won't do anything stupid."

"She's tough, Georgie," Mason commented. "She's taking this a lot better than you on your first day."

"Yeah, whatever." Well, I was dead back then while Reggie is still alive. And she wasn't drag down into this like what happened to me. She asked this herself in order to see me again. So I guess Reggie's unfazed composure is somehow expected. "Let's go, Reggie. You'll be late for school."

END OF CHAPTER 5