Chapter 10: Part 2

She uneasily shifts her weight from foot to foot. She had just left Jack to peruse the dance floor for a figment of her imagination. He hasn't mentioned it making her feel even worse about it. She struggles to find the words to break the deafening silence, but nothing seems to come.

“Well, tonight was fun," Jack tries.

"Yeah, it was different. Not usually my scene though."

“Oh, thank God—mine either." He smiles, his eyes having a hard time focusing on her face.

“Really?" Jack is young, it just doesn't match his fun, easy going image. Sera finds it hard to believe he doesn't have a party side. "

“Yeah." His hand does that adorable thing when he scratches the back of his head. "Places like that make me... uncomfortable."

“Oh."

“Plus, I usually have to open the shop at six in the morning it doesn't leave much time to socialize."

“I'm sorry, Jack, you have to be at work soon."

“Don't worry about it, I already made a call." "Good, good. Wouldn't want to deprive people of their coffee—might start a revolution."

“Wow, your jokes just get worse and worse as the night goes on."

“Ouch! A little harsh there." She smacks his arm playfully. "In my defense, I'm a little sleep deprived." Starving also, but she'll raid the fridge when she gets home. "

“I'm just kidding, Sera. I feel like I've known you forever. Is that weird?" His eyes get a second of clarity as they lock with hers before he hides a laugh. "I'm sorry, that was pretty—"

“No, it's okay, Jack."

“Next!" The cashier calls and Sera slowly realizes he means her. Wow, when did that happen? She and Jack make their way up to the counter. The beady eyed cashier eyes them wearily, must be a long night for him. He taps Amanda's license plate number into an ancient computer. We're talking old—before the computer mouse was invented. He hits the enter key a few times.

“That'll be five-hundred dollars, for the ticket and the tow."

“What?" Sera's mouth drops open.

“I have—" "

“No, Jack, it's fine." Sera glances over at a sleeping Amanda in the corner. There's no way her best friend can afford this on top of her school tuition payment. "I'll take care of it."

Without further thought, she pulls out her credit card from her black clutch and hands it to the cashier. She winces as he swipes it, but she never tells him to stop. When it comes to the people she cares about, she's willing to do just about anything. Besides, Sera was only going to blow it on clothes anyway.

She gets handed a receipt and directed to line up outside. Jack has the honor of waking sleeping Amanda, who almost takes a swipe at him. Then they all file outside and wait.

A long golf cart appears with the police emblem scrawled on its side. Everyone in line seems to pile in quietly. The patrolman attempts to crack jokes that just go unappreciated at this hour. The entire cart looks like a bunch of zombies. Sera's tired head lolls onto Jack's shoulder. He welcomes it, placing his arm around her. She's too exhausted to care. Those hazel eyes of hers scan the lines of lines of parked cars they pass on their way through. There's so many. The cart stops to let off the Japanese couple. They retreat to their car and Sera hides a smile when she notices the rental logo on the back bumper.

In the corner of the lot, a street lamp flickers drawing her attention. The corner goes dark, and when it flickers on again, a familiar figure takes shape. For a millisecond, Sera can make out those eyes and his offensive stance. The blond man. Her heart pounds as she sits up from Jack. The light flickers on and off and he's gone. Her heart hammers against her ribs and her head swivels from side to side. He's here.

The entire time the cart winds its way around the lot, slowly losing a passenger or two at a time, until it is just the three of them left. The cart swivels to the side as Amanda's black coupe comes into view.

The lamppost hangs over her two-door car drenching it in light, almost protectively. Amanda is the first inside diving into the back seat and nestling herself across it. Sera thanks the poor patrolman stuck with the graveyard shift before following in her footsteps.

“Are you sure you're okay to drive?" Jack is suddenly at her side again.

"Yeah, I'm fine." It's the God's honest truth. She isn't impaired at all. "

“Oh thank God," he lets out a breath, "Because I've been seeing two of you."

She stifles a giggle. "It's okay, Jack, climb in." They split going to their respective sides of the car. Opening the driver's door, she takes one last glance around before slipping inside.

The drive home was a chorus of snores and groans. Even with the serenity of the car, she couldn't stop her heart from racing. Her eyes find their way to the rearview mirror every few seconds. By the time Jack directs her to his apartment in a complex by the park, her eyes have begun their scanning again.

The complex is dark, even with the sky beginning to brighten with the coming day. The circular dead end is quiet, vacant. People tucked away in their beds like Sera should be. "

“Thanks for the ride..." Without further warning; he leans forward placing his lips to hers. This time, it was quick, fleeting, but it still left her surprised when he slipped out of the car, leaving her to stare after him. He stumbles once on the stairs before he fumbles with his keys in the door and lets himself inside. Sera shifts the car back into drive and spins back around leaving Jack's house far behind. It's been a while since she's shared a kiss with anyone else, but deep inside she knows she's supposed to feel... more. There's no butterflies, no excitement, when Jack kisses her she feels... nothing.

It only takes a few more minutes before she arrives at Amanda's brick apartment building. One peek in the back seat tells her she's going to be staying the night. "

“Morning sunshine!" she calls, shaking her best friend. "

“Mm," Amanda mumbles rolling over.

"Come on, we are home."

“I want cheese fries."

Sera has to admit that sounds pretty good about now, "How about some toast?" "

“Okay," she grumbles scooting out from the back seat. "I love you Sera... you're always there for me."

“I know, babe. Come on, let's get you up these stairs."

“Race ya!" She giggles swinging open the vestibule door and running up the three flights of stairs. "

“In these heels?" Sera calls after her, but there's no use. She makes it inside before having to peel out of her knee high boots and runs up the stairs after her friend. She finds Amanda on the third floor sitting against her front door.

"What happened?" Sera can't hide her laughter. "

“I can't find the keys." Her hands slap against the floor. "

“That's because I have them." Sera's hands dangle them for emphasis.

“Oh good. Let's go to bed."

Leaning over Amanda's slouched form, she gets the key in the door, and it swings open causing Amanda to fall inside. Both girls giggle uncontrollably.

"Come, time for bed." Sera hooks her arms under Amanda's and lifts her up with one motion. "Damn, you're super light. Have you been losing weight?"

“It must be from all my extracurricular activities."

Sera's mouth quirks to the side, "It must be."

Amanda gets her feet under control, hobbles the rest of the way down the hallway, and falls face first into her bed.

"Goodnight, Sleeping Beauty!" Sera carefully places the garbage can by the side of the bed and twists her head to the side before closing the door behind her. Stealing a blanket from the linen closet, she makes herself at home on the pullout couch that is practically labeled as hers at this point. After the long night she's had, she's really looking forward to seeing that mystery man of her dreams. Within seconds, as hoped, she's transported from this world.