The Bar

0.2

Maybe an hour or so had passed since the mother and the stranger had talked over the phone. Nala had intentionally took initiative to listen to the adult and sat patiently while waiting for her mother but her boredom grew, she slowly became eager for entertainment and or attention.

"So what's your name anyways?" The young girl suddenly appeared, snapping the stranger from her concentration.

"I'm busy, go away." They scowl, not taking her eyes off the screen making Nala frown.

"You're kinda rude for a fireman." She crossed her arms and they sucked their teeth.

"Whatever." The woman muttered, typing away at her computer.

Nala kicks the surprisingly clean ground at the statement then lets out a sigh of boredom. Taking a gaze around the scenery, the now golden lit fire station from the sun set, her eyes scanned the area until they land onto a dark blue-grayish bucket hat siting on a fireman's jacket causing the young girl's face to beam with excitement. With the adult's attention focused on the technology in front of them, the youth wanders over to the pieces of clothing and grabbed the hat. Her eyes scanned the fireman's jacket and see a patch with a name on it.

'Hansen...' Nala read. Putting the hat on, she glides across the cold floor and towards the set of lockers that were situated on the right side of the building. She looks to the stranger to see them not paying her a single mind and makes her way into the room. The room was much darker than the rest of the station but her eyes had adjusted quickly to the lighting of the room. Now that she knew whom she assumed was the stranger's last name, she scanned the lockers until her eyes landed on Hansen's locker. 'Dinah Hansen,' Nala reads then runs out of the room and over to the stranger, a bright smile plastered on her face.

"Hey stranger! Your name is Dinah right? May I keep your hat please?" She asked with a smirk.

"Yeah yeah sur—Wait what?! How do you know my name?" The firefighter furrowed her eyebrows.

"I used my context clues, and thanks!" Nala twirls.

"Stupid brat, no you can't keep my hat." Dinah sighs, pulling out a cigarette.

"But you said I can!" Nala frowns.

"I didn't hear you the first time." Dinah rolled her eyes.

"No takesey backsies!" Nala argues and Dinah grits her teeth.

"You can't say that after I already said no!" She argues back.

"Uh hello?" A young woman's voice interrupts the two bickering.

Nala ears perked instantly at the sound while Dinah eyes are drawn to the woman but the sunlight seemed to be blocking the woman's appearance, only casting her figure making the firefighter wishing the sun had set already.

"Mommy!" Nala squeals, running over to the woman happily and she kneels down to her daughter with open arms.

"Oh Nala, are you well?" She asks in worry.

"Yes mommy, look at my new hat!" Nala smiles brightly and her mom's gave her a soft one.

"She's quite the troublemaker." Dinah blows out a smoke of air and the mother looks up at the fireman.

"Hm? Oh, so it seems. I feel like I've seen you before, have we met?" She stands, her eyes slowly scanning Dinah's features.

Nearly 7 years ago...

It was a dark quiet night, seemingly had rained the previous night and the weather is a nice cool breeze. Heels clicked against the damped pavement towards the antique looking bar. The sound of the bell rings on the door as it swings open and the heels now clicked onto the bar's wooden floor. A sigh escapes the woman's lips as she takes her hat off.

"Well, if it isn't one of my regulars." The bartender's voice introduced the woman and a smile replaced her lips.

Eyes landed on the dark toned woman as her smile brightened the slightly dimmed scenery.

"Lauren, how's it going?" She asks as she goes to sit down at her usual spot.

"It's good, manager isn't too hard. How about you, Normani?" Lauren wondered, cleaning a glass.

"Same old, same old. How is Mila?" Normani rested her head on her hand.

"We are swell. Speaking of...When are you going to get into a relationship?" Lauren smirked and Normani shakes her head with a small laugh.

"Not right now.." She shakes her head.

They continued their light hearted conversation until the golden bell rings once more signaling that a new customer had arrived. Lauren looks up to see two new faces before passing the alcoholic concoction towards Normani. The one with brunette curls pat the one with blonde curls on her back and waltz over to the counter of the marble bar.

"Excuse me, where are your toilets?" The brunette curls asked the bartender and Lauren ushered to the area.

She gives Lauren a thumbs up as a 'thank you' then made her way to the room. The one with the blonde curls sits down a seat away from Normani and runs a stressful hand through her locks.

"On the rocks please." They requested and slid a ten dollar bill to the bartender.

Lauren swiftly makes the drink, passing the beverage to the blonde but is called by her manager. She nods to Normani who flashes her a smile before making her way to the back of the bar. Normani gazes at the blonde and bit her bottom lip at the woman. 'She's fairly attractive,' Normani thought.

"Not from around here?" She questioned and sipped her drink, catching the blonde's attention and wanting to spark a conversation...or maybe something more.

"Just passing through." She responded, twirling her drink between her fingers.

"Hmm, Normani." Normani smiled while sipping her drink once more.

"Dinah." Dinah reciprocated the smile, downing her drink then stood up.

"Put it on my tab." Normani tells Lauren once the bartender had returned to her station, getting up as well and following the blonde into the midnight.