Intermission - Diana reaches out.

Diana found the bar inside the hotel to be fairly standard, but she meant it as a compliment. It was elegant, clean, well lit and clearly meant for quiet evenings instead of big events. She couldn’t decide if the TVs on the walls were a good idea or not, though. They worked to fill in for awkward silences and didn’t really get in the way of conversations, but she wasn’t a fan of the news setting the atmosphere of a bar. She told Luke as much and he had agreed to not have TVs in his hotel’s bar.

It was a nice place but it didn’t give her any new ideas, so she decided to go check out the outdoor bar. It was on a wooden platform behind the hotel, some distance away from and overlooking the pools. It had a thatch rood and this one did seem meant for livelier events, with big sound systems at the top of the pillars, longer tables and the bar counter being round to accommodate two or three bartenders serving many customers at the same time.

Unlike the indoor bar, there was no one here. No customers and no bartenders. Maybe one was supposed to make a reservation? Or did it only open on certain days and at certain times? It WAS still relatively early.

As she slowly paced around, examining the tables, chairs and stopping to take in the view of the mountains from there, Diana eventually noticed someone standing way behind her. That girl.

Fernanda was standing behind a pillar, almost hiding. She was looking down and had her phone in her hands at about stomach level and holding it horizontally. She was shifting uncomfortably until she looked up and her eyes met Diana’s. Then she flinched.

“Oh, I’m sorry. You wanted to take a picture? I’m in the way, aren’t I?” Diana said, smoothly stepping away and leaving the frame for the girl to take her picture.

“N-No, I… Um… Thank you.” Fernanda raised her phone and quickly snapped a couple of pictures before she nodded towards Diana and turned around to leave.

“...” Aw, dammit. “Say, do you have a moment?”

“Eh?”

Diana walked over to one of the empty tables for two and rested her hand on the backrest of a chain. “You’re Fernanda, right? You’re working with Maria. I’m a friend of hers. I was hoping I could ask you a couple of questions about how she’s doing.”

Diana let out a heavy mental sigh. What was she doing? Following an impulse, mostly. Of course she didn’t really need to know anything about Maria, but starting with that would be better than asking personal questions straight out.

“I… Y-Yes, of course…” Fernanda walked over to her with hesitant steps.

Diana sat down and Fernanda soon followed, looking around with some nervousness. “It should be fine if we use this place,” she told the girl. “We’re not bothering anyone, are we? And if they ask us to leave, we will.”

Why did she assume that was what was worrying Fernanda? Maybe it was because that’s what would’ve worried Oliver if she had asked him to sit down with her. Worry over using a space they didn’t know if they were allowed to be in yet.

“R-Right…” Fernanda nodded. She had a small smile on her face as she let out a soft breath. “It’s not the end of the world…” she muttered to herself.

Diana felt like pressing her on that would make her more uncomfortable, and that was the exact opposite of what she wanted. “I’m sorry to ask this all of a sudden, but I thought it was a good chance. How’s work going for you? Is Maria treating you well?”

“Y-Yes, very. She’s been very patient with me and has been teaching me a lot.”

Diana smirked, chuckling to herself. “Are you sure? If she’s being a pain, just tell me. I’ll give her a good talking to.”

Fernanda’s eyes widened and she hastily shook her head. “No, of course not! She really is being very patient with me. I’m the one who…” Her downcast eyes focused on the table, or perhaps in an imagine in her own mind.

So it really was like both Maria and Oliver said. This girl wasn’t doing well. Diana could trust that she was being treated well at work, so it wasn’t like Fernanda would feel the need to lie. Some people were very good at hiding their feelings and pretending to be well even then they weren’t. Fernanda wasn’t one of them. Her tired eyes said a lot.

“And how is Maria doing, then? You know, we were classmates in university. That’s where we met. She was never very good at school. She would forget assignments, wouldn’t study enough and would even arrive late to class.” Diana spoke with a nostalgic smile on her face. “She opened up her own business before me, but I’ve been worried about how she’s handling it. Does she look tired? Stressed?”

“Um…” Fernanda glanced up to the thatch ceiling, thinking. “No, I don’t think so. She always looks like she’s having fun, even when the shop is full. I… I’ve been thinking that it’s pretty amazing.”

Diana’s smile grew. “Right? She’s always been good with people, so she leans on that to keep her business running well. I’m glad to hear she’s keeping that up.”

Fernanda pursed her lips hard. Her body was tense, and while she dared to ask a question, she did so while unable to look Diana in the eyes. “Has… Has she said anything about me?”

“...Yes,” Diana said. “She told me about this new girl she hired. Told me she wished she moved with more confidence.”

Fernanda flinched. She cast down her eyes again. “How does one do that?” she muttered, asking the question to herself.

“With experience,” Diana answered regardless. She then let out an over exaggerated groan while holding her forehead. “God, now I’m remembering my bartending training. I broke so many glasses, messed up so many cocktails… Haha. I had to apologize so many times to customers.”

“...” Fernanda’s shoulders relaxed and her lips curled into a small smile. In fact, did… Did she notice what she was trying to do? Was it too obvious? Probably. Diana wasn’t good with subtlety.

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