Diana stretched lazily, her arms reaching overhead as she let out a long, sleepy yawn. The morning light filtered in through the small attic window, casting soft shadows across the room. She blinked her eyes open, squinting against the brightness as she sat up. Her muscles felt sore, but it was a pleasant ache, a reminder of the whirlwind of emotions that had unfolded yesterday.
Yesterday had been… intense. Emotional. But also wonderful. She couldn't help the small smile that tugged at her lips when she thought about wrestling with Daniel. The way his laughter had filled the room, the way he had reacted to her sudden playfulness with warmth, not irritation. For a moment, everything had felt perfect. The memory of his smile—the one that reached his eyes, that made her heart feel warm—stayed with her.
Even though Daniel depended on her in so many ways, it wasn't one-sided. The truth was, she depended on him too. He was her anchor, grounding her in this strange existence. If it weren't for him, she wasn't sure she'd be this calm, this… okay. Even now, only a few meters away from him, she felt a strange pang of longing. Why does it feel like a whole world apart?
She sighed, staring up at the sloped ceiling. Today's going to be a boring one, she thought, imagining herself just lazing around in the attic, doing nothing significant. The day stretched ahead of her, predictable and uneventful. Unless…
Her thoughts shifted. Carmine… she had mentioned that she could come over anytime she wanted. Maybe—just maybe—she could take her up on that offer. It would be something to do. And besides, a part of her really missed Daniel already, even though he was so close. The idea sparked in her mind, taking root.
She swung her legs out of bed, walking over to her small clothing rack. There, among her few outfits, were two new additions: a skirt and a white summer dress. She frowned, contemplating her options.
"Hmm, should I wear a t-shirt? Something chill and casual?" she muttered, pulling out the soft fabric of the tee and holding it up. "Or… a dress?" Her fingers brushed the light, flowing fabric of the summer dress. "For a more… feminine vibe?" She sighed, staring at both options.
"Aghh," she groaned, shaking her head in frustration. Why was this so hard? After all, she was just going downstairs to meet her mom and… herself? It felt bizarre.
Some time earlier…
Carmine woke up later than usual, feeling unusually refreshed. It was her day off, and the luxury of a slower morning was a rare treat. She sat up, stretching her arms with a deep yawn. For the first time in weeks, she didn't feel the usual weight pressing down on her chest.
With a lightness she wasn't used to, Carmine headed into the kitchen to make breakfast. As she reached for the oil to pour into the pan, a sudden knock on the door startled her. She set the bottle down, wiping her hands on a nearby towel. Who could that be so early? she wondered, slightly annoyed by the interruption.
When she opened the door, she froze. Standing there, dressed in a soft white summer dress, was Diana.
"Hello, Miss Carmine," Diana said with a bright smile.
For a moment, Carmine just stared, taken completely off guard. Diana? Here? She hadn't been expecting this at all. The image of last night's dinner flashed through her mind—when she had briefly suggested that Daniel might invite Diana over sometime. And now here she was, standing at her front door in the middle of the morning, looking… well, lovely.
Was this a coincidence? Carmine blinked, a slight smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. She had suggested it briefly, not thinking much of it, and now Diana was here, ready for a visit.
"Uh, hello, Diana," Carmine said, quickly recovering from her surprise. She smiled awkwardly and pulled the door open wider. "Come in."
Diana stepped inside, her shoes making a light tap on the floor. Carmine stared at her for another second, feeling a little thrown off by the sudden visit but trying to keep herself calm. She had to remind herself to be welcoming. This girl might be exactly what Daniel needs… Diana's presence could be good for him, a way to bring him out of his isolation. And though part of her still wondered about the girl's sudden presence in Daniel's life, Carmine reminded herself that any connection was better than his growing loneliness.
"Here, put these slippers on," Carmine said, gesturing toward a pair near the entrance.
Diana kicked off her shoes and slipped her feet into the soft slippers, smiling politely. "Thank you," she said quietly.
As Diana walked over to the couch and sat down, Carmine noticed for the first time how delicate she looked in her soft white summer dress. It caught her off guard—she hadn't expected Diana to look so… feminine. The dress gave her an innocent, almost fragile appearance, and for a moment, it reminded Carmine just how young they both were. Only sixteen. Still in high school, still so close to childhood. Despite everything they'd been through, there was a kind of fragility about them—like they hadn't yet been hardened by the world.
It made her ache for the days when things had been simpler. When Daniel had been carefree, smiling easily, before the complexities of growing up had started weighing him down.
Carmine still felt a bit out of her element, but she motioned toward the couch. "Please, have a seat."
Diana walked over, sitting down on the edge of the couch. Carmine joined her after a moment, still feeling slightly awkward. "So… are you here to see Daniel?" she asked, trying to sound casual, but a slight edge of curiosity slipped into her voice.
Diana smiled, nodding. "Yes. I thought it might be nice to spend some time together today."
Carmine blinked. She hadn't expected such a direct response. She thought for a second, trying not to let her thoughts wander too far. Does this mean she's… interested in him? But before Carmine could follow that thought, Diana spoke again.
"Would it be alright if I went up to his room to see him?" Diana asked, her voice polite, though there was a hint of eagerness beneath it.
Carmine blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the boldness of the request. Into his room? She hesitated, feeling a brief flutter of unease. No one had been up in Daniel's room before, not even Aiden. But then again, Diana's innocent gaze softened her concerns. There was nothing to worry about, right?
Trust her, Carmine reminded herself, forcing a smile. "Of course," she said gently. "I'll call him down for you."
She stood up, moving to the base of the stairs. "Daniel, there's someone here to see you!" she called up, her voice carrying a bit farther than usual, the words tinged with nervous energy.
After a few moments, Daniel appeared at the top of the stairs. His eyes widened in surprise when he saw Diana, standing in the living room, dressed in her summery outfit. He paused, clearly not expecting her to be there.
"Uh, hey," he said, his voice uncertain as he came down the stairs.
Diana gave him an innocent smile. "Hello."
Carmine stood back, watching them interact. Well, they definitely know each other better than I thought. A tiny flicker of suspicion crept back into her mind, but she pushed it aside. Let them be, she reminded herself.
"If you want, you can head up to your room," Diana suggested, her voice soft but clear.
Daniel blinked. "Uh, sure," he said, still looking a little unsure, but after a brief pause, he motioned for her to follow. "We can hang out upstairs."
Carmine watched as they headed up the stairs, her heart still racing slightly. A girl in his room… She wasn't sure how she felt about it, but for now, she chose to trust the moment.
Carmine busied herself in the kitchen, deciding to make some tea to distract her racing thoughts. Her hands moved mechanically, pulling down the teapot and filling it with water, setting it on the stove. The faint sound of Daniel and Diana's laughter drifted down the stairs, light and carefree.
As she waited for the water to boil, her thoughts kept circling. This is the first time a girl has ever been in Daniel's room. Ever. The realization unsettled her. She'd never had to deal with this before. In fact, she'd never seen him close with anyone outside of Aiden, let alone a girl.
Her eyes narrowed slightly as she poured the water into the teapot, setting the tea bags to steep. Who exactly is this girl? Diana was sweet, no doubt. But Carmine still couldn't shake the lingering feeling of suspicion. Why had she appeared in Daniel's life so suddenly? There was something about her she still didn't quite understand, something that made her feel just a little uneasy.
But then again, Daniel had seemed… different since Diana had shown up. Happier. More relaxed. She had to admit, the sight of him laughing with someone—laughing with her—was something she hadn't seen in a long time. Was that because of Diana? Carmine sighed, lifting the teapot carefully and setting it on a tray with two cups. She didn't want to be suspicious. Not when Diana might be the key to Daniel's happiness. But… she couldn't help it. She was his mother, after all. And Diana was still a mystery.
Maybe I just need to give her a chance. Carmine took a deep breath, steeling herself. She picked up the tray and started up the stairs, her heart beating a little faster.
At the top of the stairs, she paused. The sound of Daniel and Diana's laughter floated through the crack in his door, bright and unguarded. It was… strange. Surprising. They sounded so happy, so carefree—something she hadn't heard from Daniel in years.
Carmine hesitated, then knocked gently before pushing the door open. Inside, Daniel and Diana were sitting close together, watching something on his computer, both of them grinning.
"I made you some tea," Carmine said, her voice soft, feeling a little out of place as she set the tray on Daniel's desk.
"Thanks, Mom," Daniel said, barely looking up from the screen, still smiling.
Carmine lingered for a moment, watching them. The warmth of their laughter filled the room, and for the first time in a long time, she saw Daniel the way he used to be—before all the sadness, before the distance had grown between them. His laughter reminded her of when he was small, when he would smile no matter the situation. The sound of it brought tears to her eyes.
She quickly turned and left the room, closing the door softly behind her.
As Carmine walked down the stairs, something in her chest loosened, all her earlier worries dissipating like smoke. He's happy, she thought, her heart swelling with a mixture of relief and joy. He's really happy. She hadn't seen him like this in so long—laughing, carefree, as though the weight of the world had been lifted off his shoulders.
Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes, and she let them fall, unashamed. For the first time in years, Daniel had someone—someone who made him smile, who made him feel less alone. And in that moment, Carmine made a quiet decision.
She needed Diana to become Daniel's friend. Or maybe even something more.