We've had better days

Better Days (The story)

They'd attacked me as soon as I got out of the car, and although I immediately dashed into the building as fast as my high-heel-clad little legs could carry me, one still made it through when I slammed that door behind me. That one just so happened to be Sian. She was right on my tail the entire time I was walking, ensuring that my escape would be nowhere in the near future. Before we'd entered the elevator, I had turned to her and given her a few death threats, including a threat to shoot her for trespassing. (For the record, I own absolutely zero handguns, but I had to try.) She was unfazed, and remained how she was.

She then proceeded to cling to me for the remainder of my work day, and then invited herself over to my office the next. I suppose she sensed my annoyance at some point, because after a while of her visiting every few days, she toned down the questioning and spent her time simply talking to me. Like we were friends. Eventually, she managed to drag me out of my office for "Shopping days" and such. We became friends, and outings during the day became a part of my schedule. And I had fun.

But not this time. Oh, not. this. time.

Currently, I was standing right inside of the city's most expensive restaurant, The Lotus. I couldn't lie to myself, it was a very grand place. White marble pillars lined with gold, shimmering and spotless white tile floors, and red carpets galore. The tablecloths had a similar palette, white with a gold stitching on the edges.

"Very... White." The voice came from behind me. I startled and turned to see... Sian.

"It's a little... much for a first date, hm?" I bit my lip, re-analyzing my surroundings. I couldn't even imagine the budget it took to create this. Double my earnings? Triple? Be honest with yourself, Thalia.

Sian cleared her throat and took her phone out of her pocket. "They said they're here." She lifted her eyes away from the screen and scanned the various guests around us.

I smiled softly. "Do you happen to know who you're looking for?"

She lifted an eyebrow, clearly caught off-guard by the question. A smile slowly creeped across her face as she shook her head. "No idea. This is a very friend-hooked-us-up-with-two-random-guys situation."

"That sounds like it would be a good book trope." I gave a quick nod of approval.

"It does, doesn't it?" She frowned, fingers flying across her phone keyboard. "They said they're waving a green baseball cap. Do you see them anywhere?"

I looked over the room as well, not catching sight of them for a few moments. I laughed, leaning over to Sian's side and pointing to them.

She grinned. "That seems like something the staff would not take to kindly."

As soon as the words left her lips, a tall brunette shot a glare at the guys from the corner of her eye. "She means business, huh?" Sian snickers.

"I suppose she does. Let's... er..." I hesitated, the anxiety flowing through me once again. I spun on my heels to face Sian, frantically running my fingers through my black curls. "Do I look alright? I have a feeling that I look more wrong than right at the moment." I took off my glasses, wiping the lenses with the edge of my dress.

Sian scoffed. "You look more than alright. You look gorgeous." She looked down at her yellow-flowered sundress and adjusted it. "Compared to you, I look ghetto."

"Don't be ridiculous. We're both wearing the same sundress, just different colors." I gestured at hers. "Yellow looks nice on you."

"Thanks. And purple looks great on you." She winked playfully at me. I looked down at my dress. It did look nice– it was one of the colors that complimented my dark-brown skin the most. "Now, I know you're dreading this, but let's just get this over with. How bad could it possibly be?" Taking me by the hand, she began to lead me over to the table. Despite her comforting words, the sinking feeling in my stomach only increased as we neared their table. At some point, I was close enough to make out a face. No. I blinked twice. Are my glasses fooling me? But they aren't. It is him.