The bell above the diner door jingled as Liora stumbled in, breathless. Her hair was damp from running, strands sticking to her forehead, and her shoes were barely buckled. Her apron hung loosely from her bag, not even tied around her waist. She looked like chaos wrapped in skin.
Imani was already by the counter, pacing like she had been doing it for hours. The second she saw Liora, she rushed toward her.
"Lia!" she cried, eyes wide. "Where the hell were you? You didn't come home!"
Liora froze, trying to keep her expression neutral. "I'm fine, okay? I just… had too much to drink and crashed somewhere safe."
"Crashed? With who?" Imani demanded. "You didn't answer any of my messages. I thought something happened!"
"I'm okay," Liora insisted, a little too quickly. Her fingers fumbled with the strap of her apron. "My phone died. I was just—distracted."
Imani narrowed her eyes. "Lia… where were you really?"
Panic flickered in Liora's eyes. She needed an out—anything to shift the topic.
And like the universe heard her silent prayer, the front door swung open.
Heels clacked. Perfume announced her before her voice did.
"Well, well, if it isn't my favorite greasy spoon," Chloe said, walking in like she owned the air around her.
Liora exhaled, the tension in her shoulders dropping just a bit.
"If it isn't my stepsister," Chloe's voice rang out, laced with mockery. "You look... well-used."
Liora's jaw clenched as she wiped down the counter, refusing to meet her gaze.
Chloe smirked. "Rough night, Lia? Or was it just another failed audition for 'most available girl in town'?"
"Get lost, Chloe," Imani said coldly, stepping in from behind the coffee machine.
Chloe raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise. "Oh, Imani. Still playing bodyguard? How adorable."
"I'm not playing," Imani replied, crossing her arms. "But I will throw you out if you keep running your mouth."
Chloe's gaze flicked back to Liora. "Just saying hi to my family. Is that a crime now?"
"No," Imani snapped. "But being a bitter witch in broad daylight should be."
Chloe leaned on the counter, smirking. "Relax, Imani. I'm sure she'll bounce back. Girls like her always do... on someone's lap."
Liora's stomach twisted, but before she could speak, Imani was already moving.
"You have three seconds to leave."
Chloe laughed lightly, as if amused. "Fine. I've got better places to be anyway. Try not to fall apart before noon, Lia."
She turned and sauntered out, her perfume lingering behind her like poison.
Imani turned to Liora, her tone softening. "You okay?"
Liora nodded, barely.
"Good," Imani said. "Because next time she walks in here like she owns the place, I'm flipping a table."
Imani watched Chloe leave, arms folded, expression tight. "What was that all about?"
Liora sighed, brushing her hair back, the dampness from her morning run now clinging uncomfortably to her scalp. "I'll explain everything when I get home. I really need to start work before Maria finds out I came in late."
"Lia"
"We'll catch up later, I promise," Liora said quickly, nudging Imani gently toward the door.
"Liar!" Imani huffed, dragging her feet. "Spill the tea now."
"I swear, I will! Just… not here, not now." Liora's eyes darted toward the kitchen. "I'm already pushing it."
Imani gave her a long, suspicious look. "Alright, alright. I've gotta head to work too. But next time, a little heads up wouldn't kill you."
"I will. I promise."
"Uh-huh. You better," Imani muttered with a playful glare before heading for the door. "Bye!"
"Byeee," Liora called, rushing off to the kitchen, apron fluttering behind her as she disappeared with a tray of orders in hand.
Lucian sat behind his desk, eyes fixed on nothing in particular. The morning sun filtered through the blinds, casting soft shadows across the sleek office space. But his mind was far from work.
He could still hear her voice,slurred but vulnerable. The way she rambled about her life, broken dreams, and silent battles. Her green eyes, even under dim light, had shone like gemstones ,haunted, yet breathtaking.
How can beautiful eyes hide so much pain?
"Lucy. Lucy. Lucian!"
He blinked out of his thoughts. "Huh?"
Damien stood in the doorway, arms crossed, eyebrows raised. "Dude, what were you thinking?"
"Nothing," Lucian muttered, sitting up straight.
Damien walked in with a teasing grin. "You bailed on us last night. Don't tell me you hooked up with some sexy chick."
"I don't do chicks," Lucian replied dryly.
Damien smirked. "Perhaps you're into men then?"
"What? No!" Lucian shot him a look.
"So… where did you go?"
Lucian hesitated, then exhaled. "I helped a woman. She was in trouble."
"Oh, so it was about a chick," Damien said, nonchalantly shrugging as he sank into a seat across from him.
"She's not a chick, Damien. She's… she's different." Lucian's voice dropped slightly, a softness creeping into it. "There's something about her. The way she talks, the way she looks at the world… Her eyes, they completely mess with my head."
Damien tilted his head, genuinely surprised now. "Whoa. You sound like a man in love."
"I don't know, bro." Lucian rubbed the back of his neck. "I just… I can't stop thinking about her."
Damien leaned forward, elbows on his knees. "So when are you introducing her to me?"
Lucian paused.
"Oh… so it's one-sided?"
"No!" Lucian shot back. "She's just… getting to know me. That's all."
Damien chuckled softly and stood. "Alright, lover boy. I won't tease you anymore."
He headed for the door, then glanced back. "Just checking in. Let me know when she becomes more than I thought."
Lucian gave a faint smile, then turned back to his desk, where her voice, her face, and her eyes still lingered like a song on repeat.
The diner had finally quieted down. The last customer pushed open the door, letting in a gust of evening air as the bell chimed overhead. Liora exhaled deeply and slumped over the counter for a second, the day's chaos still pulsing in her feet.
She untied her apron and made her way to the back, where Maria was closing the till.
"Hey, Maria…" Liora began cautiously. "About yesterday, thank you for covering. I swear I'll pay you back as soon as I can."
Maria didn't look up right away. When she finally did, her expression was unreadable.
She gave a small nod. "Just don't make it a habit, Liora. Now go home. You look like you could sleep for a week."
Liora offered a sheepish smile. "Thanks. I'll be faster on my feet tomorrow."
"Hurry," Maria said with a wave, already counting receipts.
As soon as Liora stepped into the apartment, the familiar scent of popcorn hit her nose. She didn't have to look far to see Imani standing in the hallway, arms crossed, waiting like a guard dog ready to pounce.
"Start talking," Imani demanded, a teasing but serious edge in her voice.
Liora blinked in surprise. "Can I at least breathe first?"
"Nope. You disappeared last night, didn't answer any of my messages, came back late, and now you're trying to dodge me this morning like a criminal. Spill, now."
Liora groaned and dropped her bag onto the couch. "Okay, okay! But you have to promise not to scream."
Imani's eyes widened, the playful teasing faltering a bit. "Oh my god. What happened? Wait, did something bad happen?"
Liora shook her head quickly. "No, no. I mean, kind of, but not in that way. I got... really drunk. Like, embarrassing drunk."
"And?" Imani prodded.
Liora hesitated, then took a deep breath. "A guy came up to me. He was a pervert. I told him to get lost, but he didn't listen. He grabbed me, started saying some vulgar things, and I couldn't get away."
Imani's expression shifted from playful to concerned. "Shit. Are you okay?"
Liora nodded quickly. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little shaken. Then, a guy came in and helped me. He had been to the diner before. I recognized him. He kept staring at me."
Imani blinked, processing that. "Wait, what? He helped you? And...?"
"I swear, nothing happened," Liora said quickly. "I was fully clothed, and he took the couch. He rented us a hotel room, and we stayed overnight. But nothing happened."
Imani looked bewildered. "So, he met you once, helped you out, then took care of you all night? Damn. He must be in love with you."
"There's no way he's in love with me," Liora laughed, though the thought made her uneasy. "He looked rich, like way out of my league. And I'm just... well, me."
Imani gave her a look that could only be described as incredulous. "Liora, have you seen yourself? You're stunning. You could easily pass for one of those Victoria's Secret models."
Liora let out a frustrated sigh. "You're just saying that because you're my best friend. I don't even know why he helped me like that. He could've just let the guy do whatever. But he didn't. And I don't get it."
Imani softened a bit, leaning forward with a small smile. "Maybe he saw something in you, Liora. You never know. But, no matter what, you deserve to be treated with respect."
Liora glanced down, running a hand through her damp hair. "I know, I just... I never asked for any of this. It's too much to think about right now."
Imani nudged her with her shoulder. "Hey, we'll figure it out. No rush. But seriously, next time, I want all the details. You owe me!"
Liora cracked a smile, her nerves easing just a little. "Okay, okay. I promise I'll fill you in. Just give me a minute to process everything, alright?"
Imani raised an eyebrow. "Alright, but don't make me wait too long. You've got a lot of explaining to do."
Liora chuckled, shaking her head. "You're impossible."
With that, they shared a brief laugh, the tension in the room easing as Imani picked up the remote to start the movie. Liora, still lost in thought, watched her best friend settle in beside her. Whatever happened with Lucian, she knew one thing for sure, she wasn't going to face it alone.