When Onua walked in a half hour later, she came upon the two of them huddled over Daine's computer screen, talking excitedly.
"Good morning!" she called out cheerfully. She frowned when they didn't respond and walked over to the two.
Daine yelped when Onua cleared her throat in front of them. Numair jerked out of his chair, spilling his coffee all over himself.
"Horse lords, Onua! You can't just sneak up on people like that!"
"Mithros that's hot!"
"What if I was a customer?" Onua scowled, looming over them.
"Then I would apologize with all my heart and beg for forgiveness?" Daine replied meekly, shrinking away from Onua. Darn she can get scary!
"And you Numair! Distracting her…" Onua tsked wisely. "I expected more."
"I wasn't doing anything! And that's hot…" Numair said sadly, hastily trying to dab the coffee off his shirt.
"Take that off. I have an extra in the back," Onua walked over to the backroom.
Numair got up and pulled the wet shirt off. Heh. Muscles. Mussels? Mussels. Onua returned with a t-shirt from some long gone promotion. She threw it in Numair's face and gave Daine a look. Uh-oh was I staring? Oops. Studying anatomy! That's what I was doing!
She quickly turned away and stared at her computer screen, face flushed. Uh oh… Blush alert! She busied herself with saving the open document.
"So," Onua began. She looked way too innocent. "What were you two up to?"
"Just talking about Daine's pet project…" Numair said distractedly. He was trying to adjust the shirt but it was about a size too small. Musclesss.
"Mhmm! Numair gave some great ideas for the proposal."
"Hmm. He is pretty good at what he does."
"Why thanks, Onua! See, it didn't kill you to say that now did it?"
"Ahhhhhhh help!" Onua collapsed, clutching her chest. She writhed on the floor some more before dissolving into laughter. Numair stuck his tongue out at her and sulkily pulled out his phone. Two big four year olds. That's what they are.
"Oh it's almost 11! I've got to meet someone for lunch… We should talk about this a bit more though! If you don't mind… And if you're free."
"Definitely! Your help is much appreciated."
"Great," he smiled. "So I'll come in tomorrow? After lunch?"
"Sounds good!" Yay!
"It's a date!" Onua called from the floor.
He scowled down at her. Sticking his tongue out one last time he grabbed his stuff and started heading for the door.
"Til' tomorrow then," he called waving at the door.
Daine and Onua both waved back.
"You have tomorrow off," Onua said as soon as the door shut. Oh yeah…
"Must have forgotten…" Please let it end here!
"Mhmm sure… Are you feeling alright though? Memory loss is a symptom of crushitis! That along with blushing." Onua grabbed a pastry, smirking the entire time.
"Ha ha ha…" Daine murmured.
"You guys seemed to be getting real chummy… You know he's one hell of a player right? You know maybe I should just step in now… Before it gets worse," she trailed off, getting serious.
"Oh gosh no Onua there's no problem, alright!? He was only helping me," Daine said flustered once more.
"Hm," Onua grunted.
"Seriously! And I honestly forgot about tomorrow… It's been a long week."
Onua studied her from the corner of her eye. "You look exhausted too… Why don't you take a half day today? I doubt there'll be many people in today and Sarge will probably be dropping in later on."
"Ooooh Sarge's coming? I see…" Daine smirked.
"Oh stop it! But you really do deserve a break."
Alrighty then! Be good!" Daine gathered her stuff up and waved goodbye.
Daine started across the slightly more lively street. Looks like the day's finally begun! Just then her phone buzzed. She rummaged through her bag searching for it and didn't notice the light turn green.
She felt herself being yanked backwards against what felt like a wall as a truck sped by right in front of her, horn blaring. What?
"Oh my gosh are you alright?" rumbled the wall. She turned around in its grip to face a very worried looking Numair,
"Oh Numair, thanks," she mumbled, still a little shaken. "I guess I didn't see the light and… thanks."
"Yeah no problem. I said your name a couple of times but you looked preoccupied." He had a different shirt on now. This one looked his size. Unfortunately…
"Hah yeah… Oh this is Yolane, my… friend?" He gestured to a tall, pinched faced blonde. Oh didn't even see her. What's up with that face?
"Hi, I'm Daine," she held out her hand.
"Pleasure," Yolane replied, glancing at Daine with a pained smile.
"Well we were just on our way to lunch…"
"Right! Yeah I'll see you later then! Nice meeting you Yolane."
"Yeah! Til tomorrow then!" Numair said snaking his arm around a very dissatisfied looking Yolane.
Well that was unexpected. Pretty "friend" though… He totally is a player huh. Good thing he was there though! Where even is my phone?
Daine rummaged through her bag once more, her fingers finally closing around the familiar block. Pulling it put, she checked her messages.
"Hey D. In town. Free?" She looked at the senders name. Ugh no not Perin, not now! No, just no! It was amazing how just six words could make her blood boil.
She deleted the message and added a string of monster emojis next to his contact name. It's the little things.
Miri's name came up just as Daine was putting her phone away.
"Heyyyyy! Wanna do lunch? Then MAJOR PARTYING BB!"
Well, it's not like I have any plans… Texting Miri back, Daine found a bench to settle at. No point walking with no place to go.
Miri responded a few seconds later. Deciding on a cute little outdoorsy shack on the beach, Daine walked home to get changed before heading over.