sunshine | l.r.h

two

chapter two:

where were you in the morning?

The sun streams through the blinds, making the pain in Delilah's head intensify. Groaning, she rolls over before slowly trying to wake herself. When she opens her eyes, she's greeted by an empty bed. She sits up, trying to adjust to the light as the previous night comes back in echos. Luke's clothes are gone. A slight twist pulls at Delilah's chest. She grabs her phone, seeing a couple of missed texts from Natalia. Clicking her contact, she lets the line ring.

"Way to abandon me last night," she teases as she answers.

"Well, good morning to you too," Delilah groans, rubbing her eyes.

"Hungover?" She laughs. 

"Hungover and alone," she huffs, pushing the warm covers off her body. Delilah lays the phone on the bed, putting the call on speaker.

"What do you mean alone?" She questions warily. Delilah slips on her discarded clothes from last night.

"I mean, I left with someone and woke up alone," she shrugs, bringing her phone into the bathroom. She thanks her sober self for going with light makeup as she rinses the remains off with water. 

"Damn, he left?"

"Yep, before I woke up," Delilah tsks, drying her face. She tosses her hair into a low bun, not bothering to clean it up.

"Kind of a dick move," she mumbles. The line goes quiet and Delilah can already sense her next question. "Was he good?"

"From what I can remember, yeah," Delilah laughs, a knot forming in her stomach as the memories slowly come back. 

"Well, at least you had fun," she shrugs. "What do you say we meet for some breakfast and chat about your night."

"It's gonna be a bit, I need to shower and change." 

"Just let me know when," she understands. The two hang up as Delilah collects her things. She drops the room key off at the desk and walks out of the hotel. She glances around at the expensive-looking interior knowing damn well she couldn't afford it.

When she gets home, she heads straight for the bathroom. The hot water runs down her skin as she washes whatever's left from last night away. Deciding on something casual, she changes into a pair of jeans and a plain white shirt. Slipping on a pair of converse, she sends Natalia a text.

Delilah
Where are we meeting?

Talia <3
Uh, what about Daniel's Diner?

Delilah
Sounds perfect. I'll meet you there.

Within the hour, the two are sitting across from each other with breakfast in front of them.

"So he didn't leave anything?" She questions in disbelief.

"Nope," Delilah answers shortly, taking a sip of her coffee. "I should have expected him to honestly. I mean, it was a hookup."

"From what I saw, I thought you two hit it off," she sighs at her failed matchmaking. 

"I thought so too but oh well." Wanting a change of subject, Delilah leans forward, grinning at her friend. "I want to know about your night. I saw that guy you were talking to."

"Surprisingly, I didn't hook up with him," she laughs. Delilah's lips part in playful shock.

"Did we switch souls last night?" Delilah jokes, earning a laugh. She takes a sip of the orange juice in front of her.

"I don't know," she shrugs. "I did get his number though."

"At least one of us was successful," Delilah huffs, taking a bite of her pancakes.

"Don't act like you weren't successful last night, I see that mark on your neck," she teases. Delilah's cheeks burn as she adjusts her cardigan. Natalia laughs at her friend's sudden bashfulness. "Are you going into the studio today?"

"Yeah, once my headache stops," she answers. Worry flashes in Natalia's dark eyes.

"You know you don't need to overwork yourself," she whispers. A sigh escapes Delilah's lips, knowing this conversation all too well.

"I'm not, Tal," Delilah assures, running her hands down her face.

"Lilah, I had to force you out of your house last night," she reminds the girl. "I just don't want you to get sick or something."

Delilah's hand squeezes hers reassuringly. "I promise I'll take more breaks."

"You better," she shakes her head. "I need you."

"I know." When they finish, they leave a tip before going their separate ways. Delilah takes the long walk to the art studio, trying to let her headache subside. When she arrives, it's still present. Delilah tries her best to push it away, knowing orders need to get done. 

The center of the room is covered with a large tarp where an easel rests. Several finished or scrapped paintings lay scattered against the wall. Locking the door, Delilah drops her bag and takes off the cardigan. Grabbing one of the unfinished canvases, she begins setting up. Tying her hair back, she gets her paints ready and begins. 

With each stroke, Delilah can feel the world around her start fading away. This is what Delilah loves about painting. No matter what's going on, she can always find a way to get lost in it. It's like a dance she knows far too well. No matter how long she's gone, she can always fall right back into the rhythm. 

A knock on the door pulls Delilah back to the real world. Setting down the brush, she walks over to open it. Nina stands on the other side. "There you are."

"What time is it?" Delilah groans, having no idea how long she was checked out. 

"Almost 9 pm." Her tone is slightly worried. As if Natalia's concern wasn't enough. "You should head home."

Looking back, Delilah sees both orders for today are complete. Somewhere in her haze, she had started a new painting. Rubbing her tired eyes, she nods before grabbing her things. "Okay, yeah, I'll head out."

"You know I only want what's best for you, right?" She hums as the door shuts. They lock it before continuing down the hallway.

"Yeah, sorry, I just lose myself, I guess," she laughs. They grow closer to the exit and Delilah can feel her exhaustion setting in.

"You know, you're one of the first artists I hired here," she reveals.

"Really?" Delilah questions. She nods with a proud grin. Delilah's been working here since she lived in New York. The thought of her being one of the first never crossed her mind.

"I saw your portfolio and fell in love. You have a real talent, Lilah." 

"Thank you," she blushes. She laughs lightly before patting the young girl's shoulder. Her dark eyes hold warmth and kindness. 

"You deserve the credit," she states, "but you also deserve breaks."

"Ah, I see where this is going," she hums knowingly, leaning against the door of the studio. A smile spreads across her lips. Her brown skin glows in the soft studio light. 

"I want you to take at least three days off a week. You shouldn't be in here every day if you're going to work like you did today."

"But the orders-" Nina raises her hand, silencing Delilah.

"The orders you finished today weren't due for another month, Lilah. You don't need to push yourself to the point of breaking to finish."

"You sound like Talia," Delilah grins.

"Talia's right," she shrugs. "We only want what's best for you." 

"Thank you," she smiles, appreciating the care. Delilah doesn't have many people she can fall back on. Those she can, she holds a little closer, scared of letting them go.