Chapter 13. The drunk surprise.

The level of warmth in the fast-food place they chose was comforting. Not as sweltering as the weather outside and not too stuffy either.

Three large plastic cups of orange juice, a tuna sandwich for Storm and Adana, and a cheeseburger for Leilani, and lastly fries for everyone sat before them.

After being served, Leilani took a cautious sip through her loop-shaped straw and observed her friend closely with narrowed eyes. "You ready to talk now, Dana?"

Adana would've loved to get rid of the damp mood in the atmosphere between the two of them but she bit down the comment about her name. "Just a bad case of the flu, nothing else."

Storm took his time chewing and swallowing a piece of French fry before countering her explanation. "The flu huh, but you didn't call or text Leilani," he started, "and you look like you went through something more than the flu."

Adana lowered her head, her hunger forgotten. "It was a really nasty case of the flu, I'm sure, the doctor said so."

Leilani lifted a carved brow. "But you didn't ca-"

"I know," she rushed, "it just slipped my mind to call you, I was exhausted, I didn't even check my texts and put my phone on airplane mode."

She knew she was stretching the lie a little but the thought of going back to that dreaded room kept her in check. The last thing she needed was another whipping and work. Work! She had forgotten about it if she still had it, that was.

". . . promise you'll keep in check with constant texts and calls next time you plan on pulling this stunt."

Her thoughts vanished into thin air when her best friend's hopeful voice reached her and those eyes held pure concern for her.

Putting in a not so convincing smile she said, "promise."

Storm, seeing the little reunion was over, decided to ruin the moment. "Pinky swear?" He held up his littlest finger wriggling it like a piece of moveable noodle.

This caused the girls to giggle, their serious conversation forgotten. It was Leilani who spoke. "Yeah Dana, pinky swear on it."

Adana couldn't help but give their childish act a big eye roll. Of course, Storm would seal the deal with a pinky swear. He was Storm and that was what he did.

"Yeah, pinky swear," she tangled fingers with him, gazing into his dark orbs for a second, "on your life."

They had laughing fits after that. They laughed so hard they thought their ribs would crack. This was how Adana liked it. Happy tears glistening in the corner of their eyes and wide smiles on their faces but 'all good things must come to an end', had become her life motto.

When the laughter died, Storm and Leilani split the bill and paid even if Storm could've covered the cost of ten more meals, he let it slide. Leilani looped her hands with her best friend and Storm walked beside Adana with hands stuffed pockets and they exited the restaurant.

Knowing she wouldn't have any free time, not like she was given any other choice, Adana suggested they checked out where she worked, intentionally excluding the job detail. To them, they were just checking the place out but Adana was checking if she still had the job.

They had chosen a table close to the door. "What would you like to-" Diego's eyes turned to moons after registering who was at the table. "Adana, what happened? Why aren't you back there helping out? Mamá isn't feeling so well. She misses you, won't stop nagging about her daughter, you of course. . . "

He trailed off when the two people with her looked lost. Adana gave him a closed-lip smile. This was even more awkward than she had imagined. She planned to make an excuse saying she needed to use the bathroom but take a wrong turn ending up in the kitchen without her friends knowing but Diego had ruined all that.

"You know each other?" Storm questioned, his eyes murdering the waiter before them.

"Dana, you know him? Maybe this was just a mixup."

Diego remained quiet and accessed the situation. He concluded that he wouldn't be the one to reveal Adana's job to her friend. There had to be a reason she kept it from them.

"I'll be taking your order now and I'm so sorry about my earlier outburst."

They gave him their order which was light considering they had just taken something in the previous restaurant. As soon as Diego left, Leilani turned to Adana with a piercing stare that asked all the questions running through both their minds.

She sighed getting ready to conjure up a lie. "Yes, I work here but I just started this week."

"Hmm, and why was he questioning you?"

"Let me guess," Leilani placed an index finger on her chin in pretend thought, "you didn't call them too."

"You could've lost your job you know?" Storm voice his concern, already reaching into his pocket for his credit card. "Forget it."

Leilani didn't bother fighting to split the bill this time. The grim expression on Storm's handsome face stopped her.

"You sure you don't wanna check in with your boss?"

Her plan had gone down the drain and she still didn't know if she still had her job. She shaked her head.

"I'll go check," she rose from her chair, straightening her skirt, "you guys just wait a little more."

Storm nodded and picked up the menu planning to order a little drink for them while she talked to her boss.

Mrs. Briggs eyes skimmed over the receipts and correspondence spread out messily over her oak table. She wondered why her new employee hadn't even bothered to give an excuse for her absence.

The gentle click of the door, made her raise her head. Adjusting the thin-rimmed glasses perched on her nose, she wanted to be sure her mind wasn't playing tricks on her. By the time she was convinced it was real, the girl already stood before her table with lowered eyes.

"I'm so sorry for not calling and I understand if I'm fired, " she rushed out and held her breath. Was she ready to loose this job? No, she wasn't but her mother's actions left her with no other option.

Mrs. Briggs closed the book before her and placed her elbows on the table, observing the girl and her crestfallen face.

"No."

Adana raised her head. Had she heard right? "No?"

"No," Mrs. Briggs confirmed. "You're not fired. I believe in second chances but don't ruin this opportunity."

"Thank you so much, Mrs. B, I won't mess this up, I promise."

After a few words of welcome, she exited the room with a glowing smile that told her friends exactly what had happened in that room.

They exited the café, almost bouncing with joy. The day hadn't turned out so bad after all.

Now seated in Storm's car, he turned the corner and a boy ran into the road seemingly out of nowhere.

Storm stepped on the brakes in alarm with widened eyes, matching those of the girls.

"What the fuck man?!" He was already crouched beside the boy, realizing they probably were the same age.

The boy struggled to keep his eyes open and slurred, "Hey, thanks for not killing me." He laughed but hiccupped after.

"Is he drunk?" Leilani questioned as they crouched on the half-awake boy's other side.

"Looks drunk to me," Adana answered without a second thought.

Hair gathered with a small black rubber band behind his head, he raised his head after hearing her voice. "Hey potato, now I know what seemed familiar about you," he smirked briefly convincing them that he was sober but a smirk followed by hiccuping proved otherwise.

Adana gasped. Under the pink-purplish sky, his eyes were dimmed and although his hair was held together, stray strands escaped, framing his angular face.

"What were you thinking of getting drunk and almost killing yourself, Sean?"

"None of your business girl."