Mermaid Hotel (W.I.P)

I: Dianne

"KILLJOY!"

                    Dianne was lost within the pages when a shriek pierced the quiet bookshop. The paperback nearly slipped from her fingers. She knitted her eyebrows- she had a hunch of what might have caused the racket.

Oh, they're at it again.

Letting out a sigh, Dianne reluctantly abandoned her book on the polished counter.

       Just as I'm getting to the juicy part!

           Shaking her head, she started to make her way towards the source.

              Her white kitten heels clacked against the parquet as she navigated through the labyrinth of bookcases strewn in her path. Upon turning a corner of an aged oak cabinet, Dianne overheard them- two voices clashing with each other, drowning out the rain outside.

The blonde pursed her lips.

Another storm brews.

        Heavy tension hung in the air like dark clouds as her two co-workers engaged in yet another thunderous argument. Justin pinched the bridge of his nose, exasperated with the younger woman before him.

"It's final. No means no, Tara."

She glared at him. "Justin, you're such a square! You KNEW he's coming today!"

Curiosity took a hold of Dianne. "Um, who's  "he" ?"

   The squabble between the two halted.

"Dianne!"

      Justin approached her. "Please tell -" He shot a glare towards the latter, who returned a reproachful look of her own. "-Tara that her work schedule can't be shifted?"

"But," She pleaded.  "The hunk will turn up!"

Rolling his eyes, Justin briefed Dianne.

"There's this guy who comes by once a month. Tara's been bugging for his attention when she should be work-"

Tara raised her voice, cutting him off."WELL if you had seen him, Di, work's gonna be the last thing on your mind too!"

With starlit eyes, she gushed about the mystery man.

"He's so fine... Like an actor straight out of a movie screen. Yet-" The younger woman frowned. "He doesn't say much..."

Dianne gave her thought." He could be a celebrity. Maybe that's why he kept to himself."

Intrigue crept into Tara's expression.

"YES. Hey, wouldn't that be neat if it were to be true!"

Dianne chuckled at her co-worker's growing excitement.

"Well, anything's possible, Tara."

     But Justin scoffed at the idea. "A celebrity? In this town? Yeeah right, when pigs fly!"

        The brass bell hanging at the front of the shop suddenly rang, interrupting their conversation. Justin thought fast.

"Dianne, can you serve the customer today? There are books in the back that needed to be catalogued and arranged."

Tara squeaked, but she was dragged away by her firm co-worker, still protesting.

"Come along, there's work to do."