"How it went?" Louise asked, with a little hope as her friend entered her apartment.
"Bad." Was the unspecific, dry response from Victoria. She left the bag beside the door and walked towards the couch, where her friend was having breakfast.
"Oh…" She didn't know what else to answer.
"Anyway… Not a surprise." She was completely playing the overcome actress she's been playing her whole life.
Louise lowered her head to try to catch her gaze. "You wanna talk about that?"
"No. But thank you."
A deep sigh escaped from the mouth of the red haired. "Okay. You're gonna eat?"
"Yes, please, I need it." And before she could get up to get her food, her friend was doing the same thing, but stopped her before she could walk.
"No no, stay. I'll bring it."
"Lou, I love you, but you don't have to treat me like that. I feel guilty."
"You're my guest, Vic, end that guilt."
"Okay…As you say."
A few seconds later, she appeared walking out of the kitchen with the glass of tea.
"Yours" she handed her.
"Thank you."
"So…" the girl forced the talk with her two eyebrows lifted.
"So, what? I'm not telling you anything, Louise. Really, I don't want to talk about it."
"Fine. I'll respect it."
"No, you won't" Victoria answered laughing. "Tomorrow, you'll ask me again, until I'm in the mood for talking about it."
"Exactlyyyyyyyyyyyy" she answered with a playful voice, taking a sip of her coffee. "You know what?... I can't allow you to stay here until your crazy heart heals for itself."
"What are you going to do, then?"
"Tonight we're gonna get out of this place, and go to drink something."
"Oh, drink. The greatest medicine of all." she laughed, remembering how many different kinds of effects alcohol have had over her during her whole life.
"Oh c'mon, I'm not getting you drunk or drugging you or something… I just want you to relax, and see something different out of this four walls."
"Okay."
The sudden answer surprised her. "Really? You stubborn said yes at my first attempt? Wow… your heart must be really revolutionized."
"Shut up and eat." she answered with a smile.
"How's the whiskey?" Louise asked to her friend, who hold the glass in her hand, circling it around the wood bar.
"Wonderful. I needed it."
"You see… and you didn't want to come."
"Okay, now… You're fooling around about MY heart issues, but what about you?"
"What do you mean?"
"Oh, darling…" she eyed her with her eyebrows lifted. "I'm older than you, and I know something's going through that young heart."
"Well… there's something, but… nothing very serious."
"Hhmm" she emitted a suspicious sound. "I knew it."
After a while of drinking, talking and trying (unsuccessfully) to lie about their love issues, the night seemed to take another color when the opportune person appeared, walking from Louise's back side.
"Look who I find here!" the male voice coming behind her called their attention.
And when Victoria looked at him, she could actually feel how her pupils dilated and her heart increased her rhythm.
"Dom" she smiled hugely, returned the kiss and the hug he gave her with her arms around his back. "How are you?"
"I'm good. How are you?"
"Fine… this is Louise, a friend"
"Hi" he smiled at the girl, and got closer to kiss her cheek. She returned the same kind smile.
The fact that Victoria didn't explain her relationship with him woke suspicions in her. Plus, she saw something in the way they hugged. Like two people who keep a deep fond for each other inside their hearts and haven't seen in a long time. Which, indeed, was the reality.
"So, what are you both doing here?" he asked curiously. Victoria was, from a long time ago, a kind of person that doesn't go to a bar if it's not a serious situation.
"We are… distracting, you know" Louise answered, with a friendly tone. A few seconds, and she already liked him.
"Oh, I see."
"I thought you left." Victoria evacuated her deep doubt existing in her soul since everything happened.
"Yes, I… I did. I was in Europe for a little, but… there's nothing like home."
"Right." she replied.
Louise could notice the way they looked at each other. She saw that they had a lot to talk about, there was an anxious ambient created there.
"I'm going to the bathroom" she said, giving a smile to them, which they reflected.
"So…" he temporarily occupied the girl's seat. "Distracting, ah?"
A truly felt sigh came out from her mouth. "Yes"
"And that sigh?"
"Nothing important"
"I think it is… I still can look into your eyes, Vee. And by the way, you look beautiful"
She smiled tenderly, with her head low. "Thank you" she almost whispered.
"Well, I won't get into what I see it's hurting you. But… I'd like to see you one of these days. I miss you"
His eyes looked so… wonderful. The still powerful eyes.
"I miss you too."
A short silence was fully dedicated to dig their gazes into each other.
"I'll let you both… but I hope to see you again soon."
"You will, don't worry. Where are you living?"
"In the same place before the disaster came, dear."
She laughed. Bittersweet memories.
"Okay. I'll find you."
"And If I want to find you? I guess you're not living in that creepy cave anymore"
"Ah, well, not completely… I'm turning between the cave and Louise's apartment."
"Good, then…" he stood up, and pressed his mouth against her forehead. "We'll meet soon, darling."
"Yes" she smiled, looking up at him, until he turned around and left.