Lilacs Forever

Chapter 4: First Friend

It would take a while to remember everyone's names and faces. But in the empty desk next to hers was occupied by someone she's never seen before. She was a middle aged lady with reddish brown hair and red lipstick. Her nails were also red. Delilah was afraid she might repeat the incident with Clarice but if the lady would be sitting next to her everyday she should at least get used to her company.

Delilah attempted a greeting but the lady already beat her to it.

"Hi! You must be the new secretary" the lady held out her hand to shake Delilah's. "My name's Anita."

"I'm Delilah, nice to meet you."

"When did you start work?"

"On Monday, only two days ago."

"Sorry I wasn't able to meet you on your first day, I took a sick day for my kids."

"Oh that's fine! How old are your kids?"

"They're eight, two twin daughters. It can be a bit tricky juggling them with work. Their father hasn't done anything."

"I-um, what do you mean by that?"

"I'm a single mom, sorry you have to have an earful from me, everyone says I talk too much..." Anita gave her a sheepish smile.

"It's okay," Delilah assured her, "I'd like to get to know you more"

"Oh what a relief," Anita gave a sigh, "but if I do talk too much tell me and I'll shut up, okay?"

"Hello ladies," Mr. West entered the office. "It's nice to see you're warming up to your coworkers."

Even when Mr. West turned to his office Delilah found Anita's eyes fixed onto him.

"As you were saying, Anita?"

Silence.

"Um-Anita are you okay?"

Anita snapped out of it. She gave a long sigh, "I mean, who wouldn't look at a guy like that."

"Do you... like him?" Delilah asked, bewildered. She hadn't been in the dating scene ever so the idea of liking someone's boss was very new to her.

"Alexander's a handsome man and he knows it." She made goo goo eyes at his door.

"H-handsome?"

"You're so cute, Delilah, your mom told you not to talk to boys when you were younger?"

Her face went red with embarrassment, "I-uh-I mean, well... I haven't really talked to a boy that way..." Her mother had, indeed, never let her date let alone talk to a boy in a flirtatious manner. Her mother most likely wanted to maintain Delilah's innocence. She wouldn't let anybody touch her baby girl. But even if she were allowed, she wouldn't just go for any guy that would talk to her, she had to find the right one. "I never thought..."

"Well, you're not a kid anymore so I'll help you find a man!"

"I- I don't think I'm ready for that yet!"

Anita only grew more amused.

"You're gonna find a man, a hot and sexy one.."

"Anita"

"And make cute babies with him..."

"Anita!" Delilah found herself laughing as Anita continued teasing her.

"Will you shut up?" A shrill growl made the room a lot colder. The annoyance in the person's voice was as sharp as knives.

"Sorry Clarice!" Anita apologized. Clarice went back to work, which gave them a cue to do the same. "She's a little prickly at times but I promise you she's not as mean as she seems. Talk to you later!" Anita whispered.

—-

Delilah had finished her notes for that morning's meeting and was faxing customer reports, only to find that the fax machine didn't work. She stood there awkwardly, hoping that nobody was watching her. But as she looked around she saw that nobody was there. That's right, everybody's now going to lunch break. The only person she could see was Clarice hunched over her desk, typing. As Delilah approached Clarice's desk Clarice let out an audible, frustrated sigh.

"Um, excuse me, Clarice..." Delilah tried not to stutter and tried to sound more confident than she actually was. "the fax machine is broken and-"

"You expect me to fix it for you?" Clarice snapped rudely. Delilah shrunk back, defeated. "N-nevermind I'm sorry" she mumbled. If only there were someone else, she thought to herself. She looked around again. Her heart churned as she found empty seat after empty seat. She was about to give up until she found somebody fixed onto his computer. It was Dan, she sighed in relief.

"Um, excuse me Dan,"

Dan looked up from his screen and his eyes met hers. He gave a slow and intense stare and smiled. "Hello there, what do you need?"

"Well, the fax machine is broken and I need some help fixing it."

"Anything for a pretty, young lady"

Delilah blushed with embarrassment, she really wasn't used to being complimented by a man. Dan got up from his seat and walked down the rows of cubicles. Delilah followed after, in the corner of her eye she saw Clarice get up to go on her lunch break. "You know, Delilah," Dan started. "You're my first friend here."

"Really? How long have you been here?"

"4 years."

"Oh you must have some friends, or at least someone you always talk to..."

"Nope," Dan said confidently, "you're the first one".

Hearing that made Delilah's heart ache. How could such a nice guy have no friends? She felt that she had something in common with him, but even she had friends.

"Well, I'm glad to be your friend."

—-

Delilah went to a nearby eatery for take out. The smell of the empanadas made her salivate, she hadn't had any since she moved. Her stomach grumbled, she couldn't wait to go home.

She turned the key to her apartment. Unlike a few days before, her room was clean and organized. She sat down on the little table and opened her food. She took a bite and savored it. The eatery was family run, with their own family recipes. Although she was far away, the taste reminded her of home. Her eyes stung with tears. She was a sensitive girl and although she didn't like people watching her cry, she didn't mind when she was alone. She let the tears roll down her cheeks.

After eating, she decided to take a shower and changed into pajamas. She scrolled through her phone, looking at videos of puppies playing. That made her feel a lot better. Puppy videos always cheered her up when she was feeling down.

She wished she had a dog.