Chapter 2: Strange Nicknames

Ghost POV

I sit patiently in a booth with my arms crossed, I look around, the shop is not too crowded. I focus on the table, closing my eyes. I wish I had my mask. I look out the window, people enjoying their day, walking side by side. To be able to walk down the street freely, without having to worry about prying eyes. Do I deserve to be this envious of other people?

I continue to watch the people walk by, across the street, I see a man looking to the window of a shop. He shields his eyes from the sun, looking around, maybe looking for someone. I watch him as he turns in my direction, I furrow my brow. "MacTavish?".

Soap POV

Why are there so many fucking coffee shops around here?! I look around trying to see if I could spot him through one of the various windows, the sun is beaming down on me, this is honestly hopeless. I turn to the street, my face quickly turns shocked, "ANOTHER FUCKING COFFEE SHOP?!" I quickly cover my mouth.

Shit, I look around, people are looking at me strange, walking around me. I stand up straight, "Really excited for some coffee at... 4:46pm" I say out smiling. I look back to the shop, I quickly cross the street. I walk along the window, looking in, What am I even looking for? Do I look for the mask or the man? I let out a annoyed groan, I look through the next window.

I look down at the man sitting down, our eyes meet, Golden blond hair, dark eyes. "Found you" I whisper to myself, "What?" a woman says behind me. I turn, she shows a confused face, "What was that?" I ask. She furrows her brow, "You found... me?" she asks pointing to herself. My eyes widen, I put my hand up defensively, "Nonononono not you, I saw my friend through the window" I point to the window.

I look over and notice the man is looking the other way, on his phone, Oh this mother fucker. I knock on the glass, he ignores me, I turn back to the woman. "I know it doesn't look like it but I swear I know him" I say apologetically, a man walks out of the shop angrily. God fucking damnit.

Ghost POV

Outside the window I try to ignore the yelling, I look at the window, one of the workers is yelling at John, he has his arms up defensively.  I turn away again, I notice people looking at me and the conflict that's happening outside of the window I'm next to. I look down at the table, sinking my head down. Please stop looking...

Soap POV

"EITHER GO IN AND BUY SOMETHING OR GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!" The man yells, I walk into the coffee shop. "FINE, I'll fucking buy something, get off my back" I say angrily, I scan the shop, people are looking at me nervously. I sigh, God damn pedistriants, I look over and I see the man sitting in a booth.

I make my way over sitting across from him, "Hey did you see me outside? I knocked on the window" I say. I start to take off my jacket, he looks up at me, "Really? I didn't notice" He says sarcastically. I scoff, "Anyway, sorry I don't know this area well, and that is no excuse for there to be 3 different coffee shops in the same strip" I say.

The man leans back, crossing his arms, "Either way, my interview?" I question. The man looks me up and down, "Tell me about yourself" he asks, "I kinda explained my past in my file, not much to say really" I answer. "Then let's just talk, what's better than a coffee with your future employer?" The man says, he waves his hand in the air, getting the waiter's attention.

The waiter comes, over holding a notepad, "hello welcome to-" The waiter looks over to me. She points at me with her pen, "My boss told me that if you don't buy anything, I have to kick you out" The waiter says. I look to the register, the man who yelled at me outside is looking in my direction with an angry look on his face. This fucking guy, I turn back to the waiter, "I'll take uh, slice of strawberry cake" I say.

The waiter scribbles into her notepad, she turns to the man, "Coffee, black" he says, his tone low. She scribbles our orders down, "Ok, I'll be back with your orders" She walks away. I turn back to the man, "Ok.. Well as you can see, I'm a people person" I joke. I don't do much, what do I even have to share? "Well you've met my daughter Maddison, she's kind of my world right now ever since I got divorced".

I say embarrassed, I watch him as he raises an eyebrow, "Divorce huh? What'd you do, cheat on her?" The man asks. I a moment goes by, "She... We weren't compatible" I say. "Makes sense, wouldn't want to stay with someone you don't love" He says, I shrug, "Well the court apparently though that I didn't love her so much that she got the house and custody of our daughter" I say.

I look up and notice him giving me a concerned look, "It's not as bad as it sounds actually! I get to see her on weekends and I also get to pick her up from school on.. Friday" I stop myself. Ok this does sound sad, I look back up, "But I love my daughter and I'm willing to do anything for her" I say showing a small smile.

"Joh-" The man gets cut off by the waiter whose come back with our orders, I let out a sigh of relief, "Oh my god thank yoooo-" I look up and notice it's the the man who yelled at me outside. He's smiling but I can clearly see a vein popping out of his forehead, he sets down my slice of cake, I clear my throat. "Thank you sir, could I also get a fork?" I ask, the man's eyes shoot daggers down on me, "Ah, you know what, I don't even need one! Thank you for this" I say.

He leaves the table, I quickly look back to the table, "I actually know that guy, we do this a lot" I say. No you don't, Shut up, "So tell me about yourself, Mystery man, perhaps something I could call you by?" I ask. He leans back in his seat, "Simon Riley, I also go by Ghost" He says, I scoff at him.

He raises his eyebrow, "Something funny?" he asks, "I find it funny how you thought my nickname was strange" I say. "My nickname isn't something you wash your ass with" He says, I roll my eyes, "Ok ok, we're getting off topic, tell me about yourself" I ask, grabbing his spoon to eat my cake. "I'm Ghost, I like to drink, and go to work so I can pay my bills"  he says nonchalantly, I raise my eyebrow, "So what do I address you by? Ghost? Simon? Mr.Riley? Mystery man?" I ask.

"You call me anything, as long as when we're working you call me by my title" He says, drinking his coffee. The waiter comes back with the check and places it on the table, I grab it looking at it, "THERE IS NO FUCKING WAY THAT THESE TWO ITEMS COST THIS MUCH!" I yell out. I hear Simon sigh, he puts his card on the table, the waiter takes it, I turn to him "You didn't even see how much it was" I say.

"I picked this place, I know it's expensive" He says, I finish the cake, the waiter comes back giving him his card with a receipt. "My boss said that since you're done, you have to get out" the waiter says, I look over, the man who yelled at me and angrily wiping down a counter. I stand from the booth, "Fine I'm leaving" Simon also stands.

We walk out the shop, "Like I said I uh.. Know that guy, real jokester" I say, "Where did you park?" Simon asks. "Somewhere in... That direction" I say not confidently, I start walking, "Well if it's not there then we'll know" I say.  We walk together in silence for a few moments, I look over at Simon whose looking straight ahead.

His eyes are almost distracting to look at, "You like to stare" Simon says. I look down, "Well if we're going to be working together, I'll assume you'll be wearing that mask I saw?" I say. He nods, "So I'll have to look at your face so I can remember it for the days I don't see it" I say. I hear him scoff, "I don't know why anyone would want to remember" Simon says, he runs his hand along a scar he has on his cheek.

I shrug, "I mean you could always die with everyone not knowing what you look like" I say, my comment causes Simon to make a sad face. "Ok well, I'll know!" I say trying to lighten the mood, "You'll know... Well I might have to kill you then" he says. I hit his arm, letting out a laugh, "Nice joke... That was a joke right?" I ask, looking up to him.

He stays quiet, "I'll just assume you're joking for now" I say. We arrive to my car, I unlock it, "I've never had an interview like this, I expect that I've got the job?" I say. "Well I have to be in my office to hire you on officially, but yes" Simon says, I give him a smile, "Oh yeah I forgot, I think this belongs to you" Simon says handing me the receipt.

On the back is a phone number, I look up at him, "For information on your new job" Simon says. I put it into my pocket, "Ok, well... See you at work?" I ask, he nods walking away. I hop in my car, I look down at the receipt, I run my thumb across the written numbers. I start to feel my chest tighten, and the air feels almost suffocating, I lean my head back closing my eyes.

Calm down, take a moment, and just breath, "One friend... Won't hurt".

{I was meant to finish this yesterday, but I got distracted and started watching the bear on Hulu, I'm almost done with season 1 and I like it so far. Either way, hope you enjoyed!}