Sometimes the past isn't as buried as you'd like.
"Can I get some fish bites, light on the fry, please?"
"Of course, anything else, Serina?" She paused, taking a glance at the window and staring at the beach. Her eyes lit at the sight of the ocean, and a certain yearning for water began to tug at her chest. Yet, she looked away and took a glance up at the waiter with a smile, "Nope, nothing else, thanks, Royl, as always."
The blonde waiter winked, "Anything, for one of my favorite customers", he nudged her, "And, friends, hehe. Anyway, I'll get that right out for you." "Take your time." She stated, as he skipped to the kitchen, a friendly smile propped on his face while passing the other customers. He was always so charming despite everything that was going on. Everything that happened, but I guess a little happiness is needed in a town like this, especially when they've been through so much.
She squeezed her deep mahogany hand in the other, tilting her head down. Until a paper was tossed in front of her, catching her eye like a pearl to an oyster farmer. It was the daily paper, usually written by the town's shut-in, but after his disappearance, it was taken over by a local friend of hers.
"Sorry for tossing the paper onto your table, Reina. I've just been so stressed lately, I mean, have you read what they're saying about the disappearing people?"
"The connections to the ocean right and the fishermen?"
"Yeah, and not to mention, people have been saying a shark has invaded the waters again, haven't seen a damn shark in years, not to mention a damn Great White."
"Lee, I'm sure you and the force will figure it out. It's terrible that people have been going missing again. Guess, the warnings haven't been keeping people in."
The man's face puffed up, and he folded his arms. "No kidding, we're thinking of mandating a curfew to keep people safe. Whatever is going on is a bad rep for this town and starts unnecessary rumors we don't need." He glanced at the seat across from Serina, "D-do you mind if I sit?"
She shook her head, "Not at all, officer, take a seat." She gestured for him to sit, and he did, but not before adjusting his collar first. "You know you can just call me by my name, Reina."
"Sammie Lee? But it's so informal, I mean, come on, you've got to admit the officer title is kind of nice. Don't you think?" Serina gushed as Sammie sighed, "You might think so, but since I became an officer, it's been nothing but stress, complaints, and paperwork. Since Lillian's disappearance, praying for his soul, there has been a heck of more disappearances by the sea, and it's been hell trying to find the missing people."
Serina's smile quickly changed after hearing that name, her nails scratching the bottom of the table as she clicked her tongue.
"Some people think the disappearances are related to his, which I can definitely see why people think that but at the same time. Lillian's disappearance was over six years ago and not to mention he was showing immense signs of a deep depression which we should have paid more attention to and-"
"You think it was purposeful right? That he wanted to disappear, that his emotions just led to him to never wanting to come back? So, basically he's a closed case right?"
Sammie got quiet and his silence basically gave Serina the answer she wanted to hear, even though she wanted him to say it.
"Sorry, it took a while Serina, a fresh batch of fish just came in and-", Royl's eyes went to his cousin and then back to Serina, "Oh, didn't realize you had company." He put the basket of fried fish down and clapped his hands together, "Sam, did you want any coffee today or…"
Sammie shook his head, "Thanks, but I'm fine, I think I filled Serina up with enough bad news for today. I'll probably just head to the station and check in for a coffee tomorrow. "
Sammie rose out of his chair, but Serina grabbed his hand before he could leave, squeezing it before letting go. "Be careful out there, officer."
"Just, Sammie Lee, please, Reina."
She just smiled and put her hands together, "Til next time?"
"Always."
Sammie turned to his cousin and gave him a stern pat on the shoulder, "Later, cousin, take care."
He left before Royl could even get a word out, leaving on a sour note, and letting the door shut behind him.
Now it was just Serina and Royl, the focus on what he left, which was rather emptiness, and she swallowed hard at it. Poking at the fish bites and giving a dry wave over to Royl, "You okay over there?"
"Am I okay? Are you okay? I mean you came in for a bite and then my cousin makes it awkward and leaves, let me guess he mentioned Lillian?"
"Yeah, but I wasn't on the best terms with him, and I also feel like Lee's right, we weren't there for him like we should have been. If we were maybe he wouldn't have left, and maybe he could have been right here, grabbing a bite with me. Just like old times."
Serina put her hands to her face and glanced back at the ocean. A vision of her old friend floating into view as the waves crashed into each other, the salt on their tongues as they ran through the sand. The heat of the sunlight and the mystery of the ocean itself beaming on their skulls as a melodic voice beamed through their ears.
Sending a chill down their spine as the water hummed a sweet tune, making the sea more appealing than ever and the bottom of it a paradise.
"Serina? Serina? Hey, are you okay?!"
She blinked back and reached for some of her fish nuggets, quickly downing some before giving Royl a dry thumbs up, "All good, just a little day dreaming, thanks for checking on me."
She swallowed hard, hitting at her chest and coughing up some of the crumbs in her throat, so she wouldn't choke.
"Shoot, water, I'll get some water!"
"No, no, I-am", she took a deep breath in and exhaled, "Okay. Yeah, much better, Royl! I'm fine I really don't need a glass of water."
The bell at the entrance sounded and Serina turned her attention to it, cocking her head at who entered, "Now, what the heck made you leave the house?"