"I don't consider you a great detective," Stefano said, hands tucked in his pockets.
Sebastian grunts, "Mind your own damn business."
They were standing outside in a park, watching Lily playing on the play structures with the other kids. It was the afternoon, no clouds in sight, the heat of the sun made them retreat under a tree for some shade.
"I'm simply stating the obvious, Sebastian."
Sebastian pulls out a cigarette from his pack. "I don't talk shit about your art."
Stefano wrinkles his nose and says, "You insult a piece every time I share one."
Sebastian didn't expect them to hang out again, but here they were. He didn't like mixing work, friends, and family together. Not even blatant strangers with his own kid. Lily didn't seem to mind him, she was afraid at first, but she and Stefano kept their distance, which Sebastian appreciated.
"I need a coffee to deal with you," Sebastian said, blowing out a plume of smoke.
Stefano smiled. "Will that have alcohol in it?"
Sebastian glances at him, "Why? Do you have any?"
"I don't normally hold a flask."
"Don't hold out."
"I'm not."
Sebastian rolls his eyes, "You ruin everything," he spots Joseph and Kidman walking over to them with a tray of coffee, "Joseph, you got any alcohol?"
Joseph raises a brow and frowns. "Why are you thinking about alcohol in a park filled with kids?"
Sebastian slumps his shoulders. "I need to get this taste out of my mouth."
Kidman places a hand on her hip. "Then stop smoking."
"That wasn't what I was talking about," he said, taking one of the coffee's from the tray.
"I thought Leslie was coming to the park," Stefano wondered.
"Jimenez must've disapproved of it," Joseph said.
"I thought Ruben was his official caretaker," Kidman said, taking a sip of her coffee. "Or was he bullshitting?"
"I don't see Ruben bullshitting about anything, he takes things too seriously," Sebastian says, looking off toward Lily who was climbing the ladder and running to the slide. There was a lot of kids, and he was afraid a few might pick on her. He didn't know what else to do but hold her if she started to cry.
There was something else he was peculiar about. Stefano, Joseph, and Kidman who randomly shows up whenever they please, finding his presence entertaining. He never thought he was charismatic as they were, but they seemed to orbit around him. Myra said it was a good thing to have a few friends, even if they were colleagues from work.
"Why are you three here...when did you get here?" he asked, confused.
Stefano frowned. "You said I could come along."
Sebastian rolled his eyes. "Oh yeah. You wouldn't shut up about you exhibit last week." He couldn't believe it's only been a week since then, but the days were silent and strained, and his work has only piled up since then. Stress eased down on his shoulders and kept him up during the night. Even now under the shade of the tree, everything looked too bright, the grass, the blue and red structure, the sky itself. His friends were all muted colors, Kidman wore a white blouse and blue jeans, while Joseph kept his jacket on, while Stefano changed his blue suit to a black one. He didn't look any better with his white shirt and black pants.
He pulled at his collar, he could feel sweat on his skin that was sticking to his clothes.
"There was nothing better to do," Kidman said, "so we came along as well."
Joseph nodded. "You don't seem to mind."
"No, I guess I don't," said Sebastian, dropping his cigarette that wasn't burned all the way through and placed his foot over it. He took a sip of his coffee and warmed at the bitterness on his tongue. There was something about the comfort of friends that made the afternoon a little bit more surreal, and maybe work had pushed him to his limit on so many occasions that he didn't appreciate the company until now. "Thanks for being here."
"It's not a funeral," Stefano said, looking off toward the kids on the structure, "it's a park."
Sebastian narrowed his eyes at him. "Do you want me to retract my words?"
Stefano looked at him, brow arched. "You're serious today."
"He's always serious," Kidman said. "You're just not around to see it."
"There's always the dry wit," Joseph said.
They stood in silence, drinking their coffees. It isn't until Sebastian noticed something in his peripheral vision, he turned his head to the right. "Looks like he got the approval."
Stefano, Kidman, Joseph all looked down the path to see Ruben walking with what looks like an excited Leslie. However, they were also accompanied by Jimenez.
"Ruben is a grown man," Kidman said, shaking her head.
"Leslie is too," Stefano commented, moving his cup back and forth and frowning.
"So why does Jimenez have to walk with them like they're both children?" Joseph added.
Sebastian didn't have a good answer as Ruben and Jimenez noticed the group standing under a tree. He was sure they looked more like a dark sore spot surrounded by life. Ruben said something to Leslie before Leslie headed for the swings.
"Hold my coffee," Kidman said, shoving it into Stefano's hands and walking off toward Leslie.
Stefano frowned. "What kind of coffee does she drink?" he asked, taking a sip. "Too sweet for me."
"I didn't think you'd stay long," Ruben said as he walked over to them.
Sebastian checked his watch. "I'm thinking another thirty minutes and we'll go."
"That should be enough time for Leslie as well," Jimenez said, looking between the three of them.
There was always something sketchy about the doctor, but Sebastian never questioned it. He thought the same about Stefano and Ruben and figured it was his lack of intuition. He looked off toward Kidman pushing Leslie on the swing. There was something odd about her as well. The only person he didn't feel was hiding something was Joseph. The man was too nice.
"Why are you here, Jimenez?" Sebastian asked, ignoring how blunt he was and the outrageous looks coming from both Stefano and Joseph. The only other reaction he got was from Ruben and all he did was look away and smile.
Jimenez seemed to understand the question, tipping his head slightly up, and said, "I couldn't leave my patient with Ruben...unlike last time."
"We came back," Ruben said, glaring off toward the kids on the play structure.
"Forty-five minutes late," Jimenez emphasized.
"Besides the obvious," Stefano interjected, "how's your wife?" he asked Sebastian.
Sebastian was glad for the conversation change, and he noted Ruben was as well.
"She's none of your business," he said, looking for Lily amongst the mass of children.
"I'm sure she isn't, but humor us."
Sebastian stayed quiet for a moment, taking a sip, the coffee was beginning to warm. "She's fine. Working as usual."
Stefano nudged him in the shoulder. "Come on, Sebastian, be a little more exciting."
"I'm not gossiping about my relationship with the four of you."
"Please don't," Jimenez said, "I don't need to know any of the finer details."
"I don't either," Ruben said, watching Leslie and Kidman.
"I already know most of it," Joseph muttered, taking a sip of his coffee.
Sebastian glared at him, and managed to ignore Stefano's nudging. He didn't need to discuss his relationship, Myra was good, she was less stressed out than he was, and she cared for Lily when she had the time. Their marriage was normal, and it was good.
He spotted Lily running over to Leslie and Kidman, she spoke to them before waving and headed toward them.
"Looks like we're leaving," Sebastian said, passing Stefano his cup.
Lily looked between Jimenez and Ruben before her gaze slid to Joseph and Stefano. A range of 'not knowing who these people were' to 'recognition'. Her eyes settled on Sebastian and she walked over to him and hugged him.
"Is it time to leave?" she asked, her hair stuck to her face, and she panted from running around on the play structure.
He picked her up in his arms. "Yes. Are you tired?" She nodded, placing her head against his shoulder. "See you guys later," he told the four of them.
They waved and as he walked away, he managed to wave at Kidman and Leslie. They walked out of the park toward the car where he placed her in the passenger seat, rounding the car, he slid into the driver's. Lily leaned her head against the door and closed her eyes.
"We'll be home soon," he said, starting up the car.
Notes: I'm not really sure if I should continue this. I'll wait for the response on this story. :)
Reviews are appreciated. No flames or bashing please.
