Chapter 3. What's with This?

I couldn’t catch a wink of sleep no matter how much I tried. I left an anonymous tip at the police station to let them know something wasn’t right at the restaurant despite better judgment. I knew how things worked they would come after me because I was the only witness. Those men were dangerous and from the looks of it, Tim was involved.

He could have gambling debts or he borrowed money for other things. The list was endless. I found Tim in the kitchen heating oil and dropping pans the next day. He shot me daggers from his workstation. I backed off. He didn’t want to talk but I needed answers later.

The usual breakfast rush came and went. The tips were good I could even afford two cans of paint for my little rotting house. A guy named Owen told me I could use it rent-free for a month when I moved here but I hadn’t heard from him in days. I should have been more concerned about his disappearance but he wasn't answering any of my calls.

My co-workers Mindy and Trina went out back to smoke while I cleaned the tables. That was when my two favourite siblings walked in. I smiled and blushed a little when I saw Noah. He looked particularly handsome today in his leather jacket and white shirt. It was casual but I found the simplicity of it hot. 

“Isn’t it the Belle of Elvira Falls,” Noah said.

I tucked a strand behind my ear. “Stop.”

“Yeah, Noah you’re not romantic,” Selma scowled.

“And you’re bitter and jealous.”

I smiled. “I missed this.”

Selma and her brother settled into the booth I was cleaning. They could be spotted as siblings from a mile away. They shared the same nose structure, sharp pointed noses identical brown hair and the same shade of bright blue eyes. They were really close which was one of the things I loved about them.

“You haven’t been in for a minute, Noah,”

“Yeah… a lot’s been going on in town lately. Still, I should have made time for my favourite girl.”

Selma gagged. “He tells all the girls that.”

Noah bumped Selma’s shoulder.

Noah was three years older than me. He was charming, slightly corny but he felt safe and I wanted that. Not to mention he was handsome! Clean shaved and lean. Unlike the dangerous jagged and ragged man who walked into the restaurant last night. That man was a flame. A demon of the night. he was a red flag and I needed to stay away from him and hoped he did the same.

“What? I don’t want you to lie to her and speaking of lies Noah and I have been talking and—”

“Stop,” Noah snapped.

“Lies?” My heart slammed forward, "What are you talking about?"

I moved to this town leaving my past behind me. No one knows who I was or what I did. I made sure no one would find out.

“Forget it Paris, Selma’s talking nonsense,” Noah growled.

“Nonsense? Paris, isn’t going anywhere, right?”

“Uh, not in the near future, why?”

“Great! Keeping secrets from her would be pointless especially when we want Paris to stay so much.”

“Why are you guys talking in riddles? What secrets are you talking about?”

Selma cast her brother a side-eye. He directed his clear annoyance at her.

“Nothing and we’re disturbing your shift.” Noah stood grabbing his sister’s arm.

“Come to the party next week on Friday. Town’s square eight o’clock. I’ll pick you up!”

“Selma! You can’t do that!” Noah blasted.

I rubbed my chest at the rejection.

“I won’t show up if you don’t want me to Noah. No big deal.”

He sighed heavily and rubbed his head.

“It’s not that, Paris. It isn’t a good party and…”

“Noah has no excuse. Are you coming? We love parties!”

I still got the feeling Noah didn’t want me there so I smiled at them.

“I’ll think about it.”

“Great! Noah and I have dinner at our grandparents later. See you later!”

***

Selma had been acting strange and the encounter with her brother was weirder. She wants to be honest about something but he won't let her spill the beans. I shouldn’t want them to reveal their baggage when mine’s been buried and I hope will never resurface. If people found out what happened they would talk and gossip travels far that's why I have to keep the past buried. To protect myself and those I love. I don't know what more than man is capable of but I can rule out hurting those I've come to love. 

Every town has its secrets and every newcomer has their past.

My shift was over I was about to leave when I ran into Tim smoking in the alley. I should have kept my head down and walked away but we’d avoided talking all day.

“Tim,” I said.

“What do you want kid? I’m on my break.”

I laughed in shock. “You’re not serious. What was that?” I hissed.

“None of your business. Count yourself lucky you made it out without a scratch.”

“What are you messed up in?” I demanded before I thought about it.

Did I want to know?

He puffed out his cheeks and rolled his eyes. “You don’t need to know.”

“Fine. I do need to know if it’s going to happen again. I work here and Tess—”

“Tess doesn’t have to know a thing and if she finds out I’ll know it was you. Then you and I will have a problem, got it?” His tone lowered and his features became hard and aggressive more than usual for Tim. He was messed up in some dangerous stuff and I wanted no part of it.

Keep moving, Paris, we moved to get away from the danger and threats. I lifted my chin in response.

“As long as it doesn’t happen again you and I are good.”

Tim didn't reply. I left him to his spoke break. I clutched my bag to my chest and walked home.