Story 1: Silver Lining Through Rain Clouds
~Daria & Noah~
Act 1:
On a slight breezy, gray, and gloomy midday evening a beautiful young early twenties latina woman, DARIA, walks briskly down the empty sidewalk in a red blouse under a black blazer and skirt suit combo. A frown paints her face as her shiny brunette hair bounces with each stride she takes as she holds a thick black ledger in her arms. Sheets of paper poke out of the ledger. A sizable matching purse crosses her body.
The breeze begins to pick up as the gray clouds grow thicker and darker. Daria increases her pace as her long hair wildly blows in the wind as she goes from steady-fast strides to quick panic steps in her black stylish modest heels. Her ledger shifts back and forth in her arms. The contents inside threaten to spill out with each frantic step.
“Please, please don’t rain. I’m almost there,” The young woman prays under her breath as she begins to step off the curb.
But her prayers fell on deaf ears. Rain falls with such force as if the clouds had no more room to hold them. Within seconds Daria was drenched from head to toe and being pushed back into the sidewalk by the ferocious wind. Said wind blew the sheets of papers loose from her ledger. Daria scrambles to grab them as the wind makes the paper fly all around her. As she attempts to grab one sheet above her head her heel gets snagged between a crack in the sidewalk and snaps which causes Daria to collapse to the stone ground below. Heavy rain pours down on her as if she was under a ferocious waterfall. Her once bouncy hair is now matted to her face covering her eyes like wet stage curtains. Through the tears and pain Daria half blinded, grabs at the soggy papers and stuff the ones she was able to catch into her water damaged leather ledger.
At the same time across the street from Daria a handsome young black man in his late twenties, NOAH, with a silk cap on in a black button up medium sleeve shirt over tan khakis, is sweeping the bar floor near the entrance. The heavy rain smacking against the bar doors catches his attention. He stares at the rain hitting the see through doors as if he was in a trance, but while looking he notices a blurry figure struggling in the rain.
Noah quickly props open the bar’s doors and grabs an umbrella out of the Ben next to the entrance and leaps into the downpour. He hops across the street in quick succession to Daria. In one motion he unravels the umbrella and wraps his free arm around Daria. He makes sure to shield her under the parasol.
“I gotcha,” Noah yells over the roar of the weather. He starts to guide Daria, but she yells back.
“No, my papers,” Daria screams.
Noah looks around and spots a few sheets just a foot or two away from them. He tells Daria he’ll get them. He leaves the umbrella in her hand. Daria grips the handle for dear life as the wind tries to blow it loose from her grasp.
Noah reaches for the papers, he nearly slips due to the low friction between his white sneakers and the stone sidewalk, but through it all he was able to get the papers and get them back to their owner. Noah asks if she is ready to go now. Daria thankfully shakes her head while clutching her ledger and purse tightly. Noah guides her across the street and into the entrance of Arribas, the bar Noah works.
Daria stands, slightly bending one leg, in the center of the bar between the pool table and bar counter while Noah struggles a bit to close and lock the entrance doors. He finally does and he leans his back against the doors taking deep breaths. Outside a lone plastic bucket slams into the doors and causes Noah to jump away from them. A wet Daria snickers to herself at the frightening look on Noah’s face.
Between breaths Noah sneakily looks at Daria, who’s covering her mouth with her ledger, hiding her snickering, while holding the open umbrella above her head. She’s out of place in the dive bar in her business attire. A puddle has formed under her. Noah’s heart beat has calmed down a bit, he opens his eyes and couldn’t help but wonder where she was heading in this weather dressed so importantly.
Daria flashes him a worrying look. Noah realizes he’s been staring at her for a bit too long, so he shakes his head breathing through his nose, deeply before opening his mouth.
"Star, what the heck were you doin’ out there in that storm?” Noah says in a caring tone at the dripping wet and shaking Daria.
“I needed to see you, Puma,” Daria shyly replies.
Daria stumbles a bit as she turns, sheeply, away from Noah. The opened umbrella blocks Noah’s view of her. Noah stares at the umbrella for a moment before noticing how Daria has one leg slightly bent as if she was hurt. He walks away from the entrance and up to Daria. He places a hand on her shoulder and walks around to face her. He gently takes the umbrella away and collapses it for Daria.
Noah places the umbrella on a bar stool as he guides her to a free one. Daria sits down. Noah takes a look at her bruised and slightly bleeding knee.
“Does it hurt much?” He asks with care, lacing his voice.
“Yes, you should give it the kiss to make it feel better, my Puma,” she says while slightly wiggling her knee in front of Noah’s face.
“No, I have something even better, ” Noah smiles then gets up. Before Daria could respond he rushes off behind a door that reads, “Employees Only.”
///
Act 2:
Noah reappears with some items in his hands: a couple of towels, and a first aid kit. Noah kneels down and opens the kit that reveals multiple Band-Aids, gauzes, and small rubbing alcohol wipes. He removes Daria’s ruined heels and rests the foot of her injured leg on his bent knee. Daria winces. Noah picks up a wipe and the hand towel to clean her wound.
As Noah holds Daria’s nude limb he notices how flawless, milky, her leg looks and feels in the palm of his hand. He unknowingly rubs her calf with his thumb softly taking in the smoothness of her skin.
“Puma,” Daria says breathly, “stop rubbing my leg softly,” she breathes out nervously.
Noah looks up at Daria and sees her cheeks flash pink, then he quickly realizes what he was doing and brings the alcohol wipe close to her wound.
“Okay Star, this will sting a bit,” Noah says as he opens the little pouch.
Daria nods in understanding. She prepares herself for the sting as Noah slowly dabs her wound. She flinches and uses Noah’s shoulders to keep herself upright. A slight shiver runs down Noah’s back from Daria’s touch. With each dab she releases low moans.
“All done,” Noah says as he tosses the used wipe into a plastic bag, then he picks up a large bandaid and places it onto the now clean wound. Noah looks up at Daria and gives her a smile.
“How does it feel now?” Noah softly smooths out the bandaid.
“It feels the better,” Daria bends and unbends her leg, “thank you, Puma,” she returns his smile with one of her own while holding her arms out signaling Noah to give her a hug.
Noah stands up and gives his soaking wet friend a hug. She wraps her damp, blazer, arms around Noah’s drenched, cotton mix, shirt. Their wet and cold clothes make squishy noises as they hug. You would think the couple was more than friends from how their embrace looks like an intimate, warm, embrace shared between lovers.
After a long second Noah and Daria pull away, but their bodies are still interlocked, his arms still wrapped around her waist and her hands holding the back of his neck. They stand face to face. Noah stares into Daria’s hazel eyes as she stares back into his chestnut eyes.
Noah moves his gaze from his friend’s eyes to take in the sight of her milky face, that’s being framed by her wet brunette hair that sticks to her skin. Noah thinks even through her running make-up she looks flawless. He can’t help but to think Daria looks good in any light as the lowlights of the bar bounces off her porcelain skin.
Daria can help but to feel a bit weak in the knees, and it’s not from her little injury, scanning the handsome amber skin facial features of her friend. She gets lost in those strong and caring eyes that are complemented by his warm smile that makes her skip a beat.
In a breath Noah unlaces his arms from around Daria’s waist and moves them to her face. While there he uses his hands to move the wet strains of hair behind Daria’s ears. Daria smiles at him while he rests his hands on her jawline. He admires the sight of Daria. A chill runs down the side of Daria’s face to her spine and her cheeks flush pink as Noah uses his thumbs to wipe away the runny mascara that made her look like she was crying.
“Sorry, I couldn’t see your beau...” Noah trails off realizing that he was crossing a line in their friendship with this kind of action and words.
With his hands still on her face. Daria raises a hand to place it gently on one of Noah’s hands. A chilling spark runs down Noah’s arm and causes his heart to skip. She inches her wet body closer to Noah’s wet body. Just mere inches away from each other’s lips. Noah pulls away, “I’ll be right back.” He exits Daria’s hold and turns away.
He leaves the soaking wet Daria standing with her hand touching her face where his hand was just a second ago.
“Aye, where are you going?” Daria says in a sweet tone.
“I’ll be right back, stay right there,” Noah yells behind him as he disappears behind a door that says, “Employees Only.”
Daria sighs and retakes her seat at the bar counter. She checks out Noah’s handy work on her wound one more time as she flexes her knee a little while before getting bored. She starts to look around, but not at anything particularly. Her attention just jumps around from picture to picture that circles the walls of the Arribas that preserve random, fun, and hilarious moments of its patreon.
The Arribas is usually packed like shown in the photos, but today it’s bare as the Mojave Desert most likely due to the weather. There’s no other employees of the establishment besides Noah here, so Daria takes her chance to spin around and bends over the counter. She grabs two glasses, scopes ice into both glasses, then she grabs one of the on tap nozzles. She fills both glasses up and takes a sip from one of the glasses.
She spins back around with her glass in hand and continues to look at the images on the walls, when her eyes land on a framed picture above a red leather booth near the bar. She smiles at the framed photo. The photo is a snapshot of a horrific expression on an opaque skin young dark hair woman in business clothes who has spilled a full tray of beer onto an ebony male employee.
That’s when the employee only door opens and Noah steps out holding a stack of clothes and towels in his hands. Noah catches the smile on Daria’s face.
“What you smiling for, Star?” he says as he smiles her way.
“Do you remember that day?” Daria points at the picture she’s been smiling at.
Noah rounds the corner to see what she was pointing at and his eyes lit up as he shakes his head.
“How can I? It was the day that girl ruined my favorite work pants,” Noah gives Daria a wink with a pleasant grin.
“Aye I thought we were squared, Puma,” Daria gives Noah her best puppy eyes with pouty lips.
“Yeah, we are, but I lost a great pair of khakis,” Noah places the stacked items next to Daria.
“I can buy you another pair,” Daria searches through the clothes on the counter.
“Yeah, with all the money you saved from not buying drinks.” Noah points at the free drink in Daria’s hand.
“Aye, Uncle Tony promised I can have free drinks for life.” Daria smiles while sliding the other drink to Noah.
“Yeah, I know and you know I don’t like to drink,” Noah waves the glass in his hand causing the liquor to swirl.
“C’mon you’re not gonna let a lady drink alone now are you, Puma?” Daria places a hand over Noah’s and rubs it softly.
“Oh alright, you know I can’t say no to you.” Noah smiles before taking a swig from his glass.
“I know, you’re my close friend,” she giggles. “I think Noah likes Daria,” she gives Noah a smile.
Noah stands there not knowing what he should say actually. Before he could respond in any way Daria finishes her glass, then climbs over the bar again, reaching for a different nozzle and pouring herself another round.
“By the way Puma, where are all your workers?” Daria says while retaking her seat.
“I had to send them home early due to the storm. Now why didn’t you head home before? Know what never mind,” Noah points to the clothes on the counter. “We can finish talking after you change out of those wet clothes. You’re ruining the pleather.” Noah laughs a bit at his use of the word meant for fake leather.
“Hmmm, Okay,” Daria slides off the bar stool.
Noah picks up a set of clothes and a towel. He hands them to Daria, she takes them: a pair of light blue jeans and a red shirt in a plastic wrap with her name printed on the back. She turns the wrapped shirt over to see the bar’s name imprinted on the front in a yellow font.
“Aye, is this my own staff shirt?” Daria shrieks with glee beaming from her eyes.
“Yep, Tony got it made for you after the last big event you helped with. I got mine too,” Noah holds up his wrapped shirt that’s identical to Daria’s besides his color is black. “Now Star, please change out of those wet clothes before you catch a cold.”
“Okay, Puma,” Daria stares into Noah’s eyes and starts to sway her hips a bit from side to side in a seductive way as if she was belly dancing. She begins to unbutton her blazer as she notices Noah’s cheeks begin to flash a bright red.
“W-what are you doin’?” Noah inverts his gaze to the bar.
“You said, ‘I should do the change’, Puma,” Daria says in an overly sweet tone.
“I meant in the restroom, not here. You can use the employee ladies room,” Noah points to the employee only door.
“Okay, I’ll be right back,” Daria picks up her clothes and purse. As she walks towards the door before she enters she turns her head back and gives Noah a seductive wink.
Noah just stares and wonders, why does she act this way every time we’re alone?
“Oh yeah,” Noah raises his voice, “I left a hairdryer in there for you.” Daria throws up the peace sign before vanishing behind the door. Noah waits a bit before following Daria.
///
Act 3:
A few moments later back in the bar area Noah, who has taken his dread-cap off to dawn his jet black and red tipped loc’s, is dressed in his new and dry attire of his uniform shirt and black cargo pants he stored in his work locker for emergencies. He mops the floor while music plays from his Bluetooth speaker. The music gets cut.
“Sorry for the interruption, but here at Channel Seven News we have an update for the public. Please stay off the streets during this severe weather storm. If you’re out and are in a secure building do not attempt to make it home stay wherever you are for your safety. We’ll be back with more information in just a few. This is Channel Seven,” The news anchor finishes.
Music resumes to fill the air from the speaker, “Guess we’re going to be here a bit longer,” Noah says out loud to himself as he turns to stare at the employee only door for a bit before finishing his task.
Heavy rain slaps against the bar’s windows, wind roughly tosses trash against them, thunderclaps shake the frame of the entrance doors, and windows.
“Aaah,” Daria shrieks as she finally walks out from the employee section. “When will this storm end, Puma?” She asks as she makes her way to the bar counter.
“Not sure, I’m waiting for another update from the news,” Noah says, not picking up his head to see her because he’s too focused on drying the bar counter and stool Daria sat on earlier.
Daria walks past Noah as he finishes cleaning, she drags her fingers across his imprinted name of his new black uniform shirt. Chills radiate from his back to his chest. Daria climbs on to the stool next to him and bends over the counter to pour them another round which catches Noah’s attention, finally.
He leans away from the counter and catches the site of his friend’s rear in faded fitted blue jeans. He finds himself speechless at the sight of her round and plump thighs covered in denim. He remembers that those were the same blue jeans he once told Daria foolishly that she looked great in them and that he likes them. I can’t believe she chose to leave those pants in my locker, Noah thinks.
Daria can feel Noah’s eyes watching her, studying her like he’s trying to engrave the sight of her in his memories for some sort of test. She climbs down off the stool with their drinks in both hands. Noah quickly pulls his gaze away from his friend’s lower half and checks out how she looks in her red Arribas shirt that wraps around her fit torso.
Daria loves the feeling of Noah’s eyes scanning her from head to toe and back again. She wonders if he minds her checking out how his uniform shirt hugs his arms. He looks so strong in that shirt, Daria thinks as she bites her lower lip.
Noah’s gaze finally finds its way up to Daria’s ruby colored lips as she takes a sip from her glass. She leaves pink lip prints on the edge of the glass. Noah slightly licks his lips, which causes Daria to hand him his glass.
“Here, Puma, you look parched,” she gives him a wink.
Noah takes a sip as Daria gets close to him, so close he can feel her body’s energy. “Mmmm Puma, this shirt suits you the very much,” Daria says as she caresses Noah’s tone bicep through his shirt. Noah stiffens up a bit at her touch.
Daria hip bumps Noah’s side, “What’d you think of the fit, Puma?” She takes a step back, places glass on the counter and strikes a couple poses. Hands on her hips, then arms across her chest in a wide stand poking her hip out a bit, really emphasizing the shape of her legs in those blue jeans.
A Gobsmacked Noah just stares trying to come up with anything to say, but the simplest beauty of his friend makes all words seem too pedestrian. As he scans her over he lands on her face and gets stuck and his thoughts run wild.
Breathtaking...
Yes, she just knocks the air outta me
Feel like I went twelve rounds with Tyson Fury
She leaves my brain scribbled for words to her beauty
I swear these emotions go deeper than her body.
Daria gives him a wicked smile. I know you love how my legs are popping in these jeans you like.
Noah downs the rest of his drink in a swift gulp before responding, “Y-you look amaz... um, great. You look great, Star.” Daria smiles at Noah’s response as she walks back to him.
As she is inches away from him a flash of lightning catches the couple’s attention. Just a second later the loudest and violently thunderclap shakes the building. It scares the couple, Daria a bit more than Noah that she squeals and all but leaps into his arms. The force of the thunder causes the power to go out and cast the couple in darkness. Even the lights outside the bar are out as well.
Noah’s music stops playing and leaves the two friends with the sounds of heavy rain hitting the glass windows harshly and thunder rumbling like a hungry beast lies in the sky.
"Puma!" Daria says panicky as she clings to her friend’s body.
“Don’t worry Star, the thunder just knocked the power out, that’s all. We’re safe here.” Noah holds Daria close to him.
Daria’s head rests in the space between Noah’s neck and shoulder. Noah rubs Daria’s back softly.
“C’mon let’s settle into the booth while we ride this storm out, okay?” Noah says and Daria nods in agreement still with her hands clenching his shirt.
Noah guides his friends once again this time to the red booth where their friendship began. Daria carefully slides into the booth all the way to the wall. Noah stands at the entrance.
“I’ll be right back,” Noah slowly makes his way to the bar counter and says to himself, “Ah got it.” He grabs his phone off the counter. He opens it and the light illuminates his face. He checks the battery, which is at eighty-four percent. We should be good until the storm passes, I hope.
Noah shakes his phone and the flashlight turns on. Daria watches as the light moves around the bar counter. Noah grabs her purse and hands it to Daria as he slides in next to her.
Another loud thunderclap goes off. Daria squirrels, “NOAH!” Daria clings to Noah, who wraps her in his arms. He holds her tightly until the thunder dies down a bit. In Noah’s mind the thunder has nothing on his heart that is ramming against his chest. His neck begins to heat up and goosebumps run up and down his arms. He can feel Daria’s breaths on his chest which causes his blood to travel south.
Daria feels Noah’s body heat engulfs her entire being. She feels safe in his arms. She has one hand pressing against his chest and it slides down his torso. Her breathing gets shallow as she begins to feel hot. “Puma?” Daria whispers as she slowly lifts up her head and meets Noah’s eyes. Their eyes finally adjust to the darkness and they stare into each other.
Daria moves in closer to Noah’s body while she clenches his shirt. Noah moves his face closer to Daria’s. They’re getting even closer just mere inches away from meeting in the middle just when another flash of lighting pulls Noah’s attention away.
Noah shakes his head casting out the impure thoughts toward his friend. “I’m sorry, I didn’t ask before. What had you all upset earlier, Daria?” He is trying to distract Daria from the storm.
Daria just stares at him before responding. “Oh. Yes,” Daria says in a tiny voice as she exits Noah’s hold. “A client my boss had me working for didn’t choose my designs. I worked so hard on them too and they said they liked the work, but once it came to the deadline they turned them down.”
The thought of her work being turned down causes the rejected emotions to break loose. Tears begin to flow down her slender cheeks.
“I feel like an idiot. No, I am. I did all this work and for what?” She angrily pulls out several pieces of artwork from her black ledger and throws them on the table. Tears kept running down her pretty face more fiercely. “See, look at all that work I did.” Noah turns on his flashlight app. “I really thought I did something amazing, but no. It’s all bad. All trash.” Daria subs a bit.
Noah continues to look at the pictures and spreads them across the table to get a good look at each piece. Wow, she’s so talented and these are so fantastic.
Noah looks away from the art to his friends and he just stares as Daria breaks down in front of him. He doesn’t like to see his friends, or anyone hurt. Especially like this, so without knowing what to say, or do at this moment he speaks. “I know how you feel,” Noah places a caring hand on Daria’s shoulder.
She shakes his hand off, “No, you don’t. You don’t know me, Noah,” She says in an angry tone. “You have no idea how I feel, or who I am.” Silence is all that’s left between the two friends as they stare at each other.
A flash of bright lightning reveals the tense expressions of the two friends as a second passes before a distant thunderclap goes off some miles away from the couple’s location. Noah finally opens his mouth.
“I know you,” he says in a serious, but caring tone. Daria just stares at Noah as he continues to speak.
“Yeah dear, I know who you are
You’re a warrior
A warrior with a scar
You’re an adapter
Yeah, I know who you are dear
You shine like a star
You should have nothing to fear
You have come too far
To waste a drop or a cry
Know those tears, no tears
Can snuff the flames in your eyes
Those eyes, they send spears
I wish on a pair of stars
You’ll go the distance
Twice, cause you’re a double star
Just have some patience.”
Daria stares speechless at Noah, who holds her with his gentle gaze. Noah wipes her tears away with his thumbs, once again.
“Please, don’t waste anymore tears on that donkey, okay Star.” Noah says as he wraps his arms around Daria giving her a warm and caring hug.
“Oh Puma, I won’t,” Daria responds while staring into Noah’s eyes. Noah studies Daria’s beautiful face.
“Puma, those were sweet and beautiful words. Did you write them?” She asks knowing the answer lies within her heart.
Noah takes a deep breath before answering, “I-I wrote them, Star.” He says as he turns away from her feeling a bit embarrassed that he shared his thoughts with her.
Daria knew that he wrote the poem, but hearing him confirm the fact makes her heart flutter. “Oh my Puma, I think you’re in love with me.”
Still feeling embarrassed Noah finally says the words that’ve been threatening to leap from his lips all day. “I do... I do love you, my Star.”
“Really,” Daria places her hand on Noah’s heart. “I love you too, my Puma.”
Noah moves his hand up to Daria’s face and holds her chin with his thumb and index. He softly rubs her chin with his thumb. He moves in closer to Daria, who’s staring into his eyes through the darkness.
Noah pulls her in closer to his body and gives her a quick peck on her soft lips. “Ahhhh,” Daria feels his kiss. “Puma, your body is so warm.” She leans in closer and gives Noah a kiss back.
They’re so close Noah can feel Daria’s breasts compress against his chest. The couple feel their hearts racing in sync. Noah gives Daria another kiss, a longer one this time and as he does he moves his hand from her chin and to her back. Daria stays with the kiss and gets even closer to Noah placing her hands on his shoulders.
The two share passionate kisses that drown out their surroundings. The rain, lightning, and even the thunder fade away. The bar, the walls, and the booth also disappear into blackness and in their place are stars that surround them as multi-colors of sparks fly while the once friends continue to kiss. They only come up for air when a ray of sunshine beams through the glass doors and windows of the bar grabbing their attention. They pull away from each other with smiley faces.
Once friends that tugged the line between flirty actions and words are now a full fledged couple that can and will face any troubles together as one. This has been a snapshot of the couple Daria and Noah. They would agree the other is ‘Someone to Remember.’
