Intermission - Diana Black (Part 1).

Maria saw Oliver off before she closed the shop for the day, just like always. It was a Tuesday, so normally she would go back home, check the list of things she needed to order more of, like coffee beans and the like, and go to bed to start a new day with all the needed energy. However, she had received a call during work, and a very welcome one at that.

Her best friend had called. Sure, it was to ask for a favor, but Diana never asked for favors, much less asked to borrow money, and considering what she was going through, Maria was very happy to oblige. Her friend sounded stressed, and Maria wouldn’t blame her for it, so she asked her if she wanted to hang out.

With how busy Diana was lately, she half expected her to say no, but she accepted. And so, Maria got in her car and drove to her friend’s house. It was a little too far, at the outskirts of town. Maria couldn’t help but think about the daily commute it meant. It took her about an hour and a half to get there with traffic at peak hours.

Her friend’s house was on the small side. It had a single floor, a slanted roof and a white facade. Looking at it from the front, the garage attached to it seemed bigger than the house itself, but the house was longer towards the back. The grass at the front was getting taller and untidy, making Maria purse her lips.

She parked in front of the garage, and soon the front door opened. A dog came running out. It was a big, scary-looking german shepherd coming straight at her at top speeds.

“Red, sit!”

The dog stopped in his tracks, sat down and let out a single, playfully bark at Maria while panting with his tongue out. Maria grinned and kneeled in front of the dog.

“Oooh, good boy, you! How’s the little guy doing?” she asked him in baby talk, rubbing the fluffy mane around his neck. Red raised his head and let himself be petted.

“Sorry about that. He’s excited to see you again.” Out of the house came Maria’s best friend, looking… more tired than she expected. A small smile and bags under her eyes.

Diana Black had been Maria’s friend since university, where they both studied business administration. As such, they were the same age. Diana was a gorgeous woman of silky black hair in a bob cut, a killer hourglass figure and long legs. She was still in her work clothes, with black dress pants and a white shirt, the buttons of which tried valiantly to hold her chest in. Her cute face and piercing dark eyes made for an incredible contrast. Usually. Right now, Diana looked exhausted, and her normally firm gaze was unfocused.

Maria stood up and went to hug her. “I know it hasn’t been that long, but it feels like ages.”

Diana hugged her back and chuckled tiredly. The hug was uncharacteristically strong for her. “Yes. It’s been a full month, huh? Come in.”

“Are we drinking?” Maria asked, following her friend into the house.

“If you’re up for it.”

“Ugh, I shouldn’t. Oliver doesn’t have a shift tomorrow, so I’ll be on my own.”

Maria saw Diana’s shoulders flinching and didn’t understand why. “Didn’t you want to hire another part-timer?”

“Yeah, but the shop mostly fills up when he’s on shift. I doubt I’d get lucky enough to get another customer magnet like him.”

“...Is that so?”

“Anyway, I’ll still drink! So long as you let me crash on your couch, that is.”

Diana sighed. “You can sleep in my bed, I’ll… use my dad’s.”

“...” Maria pursed her lips and didn’t say anything.

Entering the house, Maria noticed it was also uncharacteristically unkempt. Boxes over by the dining room, clothes hanging from the chairs, and the place hadn’t been swept in at least a week. It wasn’t that it bothered Maria. No, it just worried her.

She sat down on the couch in the small living room, facing the TV on the wall. Meanwhile, Diana opened a cabinet and brought out two bottles of liquor.

“A rusty nail, right?” Diana offered.

“You know it!” Maria answered cheerfully. Admittedly, some of it was ****. It was in hopes that her own attitude could cheer Diana up a bit.

Her dog had been following Diana around, but he stopped the moment she went into the kitchen. Instead, he turned around and went to kneel in front of Maria, who immediately started petting him again.

“She still won’t let you get on the couch, huh?” Maria said, chuckling.

Diana was strict. Red had his own, old recliner chair he could sit on and nowhere else other than the floor. It seemed Diana also managed to teach him not to go into the kitchen.

Her friend came back with two old-fashioned glasses filled with ice, the mix of the two golden-colored liquors and an orange slice on top. She set both on the wooden coffee table before glancing back at Red.

“To your spot, now.”

The dog obediently turned around and hopped on the old, peeled recliner chair, setting his chin down.

“He’s well trained,” Maria said. “I remember when he was trying to bite everyone’s legs.”

Diana sighed, sat down next to Maria and allowed herself a small smile. “It was mostly my dad who trained him. I’m… glad I brought him Red. He really cheered him up.”

“So… How’re you doing?”

Diana drank, not with a small sip but a strong gulp. The woman could REALLY drink and hold her liquor. “Better, believe it or not. Everything’s done, for the most part. Everything that can be. My brother is still pissed that I got the house, but he’s the one who spent the last three years traveling around Europe instead of looking after dad.”

“And emotionally?”

“Again, better. I’ve come to terms with it, and it’s a relief to know he’s not… you know, suffering anymore. The house feels a lot emptier, though. All the work I’ve been doing has helped keep me busy, at least. I think it’s helped.”

Diana drank again. This time, Maria joined her with her own sip.

Diana’s dad was one of those stubborn old men who kept smoking despite being told it was killing them. The reason Diana got him Red was so he could hopefully relax a bit more. Apparently, it was helping, but the thing about so many years of smoking is that the damage is already done. The man passed away two months ago from lung cancer.

“Maybe I should quit drinking, too,” Diana said, moving her glass to make the ice cubes inside click.

“If you feel you have to,” Maria offered. “For what it's worth, I think you’re a responsible drinker. I’ve never even seen you outright drunk. Besides, you’re finally close to owning your own bar, right?”

“I told you, it’s not my own. I just got hired to manage one. I’ll take it, though. I’ll need the experience.”

“Just… don’t overwork yourself, okay? You need to take better care of yourself.”

Again, Diana sighed. “I welcome the work. I still have my shifts at the old hotel while working with Mr. Allen to set everything up for the opening of the new one. I’ve had to cover shifts everywhere, from cleaning to… reception.!” And yet another, heavy sigh.

Diana drank again, already downhing half her glass. She set it down and rubbed her face in frustration.

“You need to take a break, Diana,” Maria said.

“I try, but….” Diana’s cheeks turned red, and Maria knew her friend well enough to know half a glass was not nearly enough to get to her. “I want to, okay? In fact, there was this time when I…” She stopped and rubbed her eyes. “Hey, Maria, there was something I… wanted to ask you.”

“Of course. Shoot.”

“Your part-timer…”

Huh? “Oliver? What about him?”

“Is his last name… Brooks?”

What? Why would Diana know…? And that sudden change in demeanor…

Oooooh. Could it be? Maria hoped so, because this could be just the thing her friend needed.

Patreon.