Better Off

Sexist cats and diet coke

A/N: The picture above is Diego Barrueco.

In the last chapter...

He took her hand and shook it, introducing himself with a charming smile.

"Hola, Sierra. Soy Diego Barrueco."

Five simple words and she was already on his hook.

"Can I help you with that?" he points at the bags Sierra is carrying. "Oh, no, I got it. I managed five flights of stairs so this should be fine." She smiled. "Thanks, though."

"Alright, come in then." He opens the door more widely and steps aside. When Sierra comes into the flat, she looks around the room. "I'd give you a tour, but it's not that big of an apartment," he jokes.

"This is the living room slash dining room slash kitchen." Sierra chuckles at his comment and takes in her surroundings.

The floor is wooden, but most of it's covered by a red carpet. There's a leather sofa and a tv with a glass coffee table inbetween, which is covered in fashion magazines, a fruit bowl and two 5kg weights.

Sierra turns her head and discovers the 'kitchen', which consists of three counters with a sink, two hotplates and a washing machine. Some of the kitchen shelves above the counters are see-through and give away the plates, glasses and cups inside.

"Is there... no fridge? Or did I miss it?" Sierra asks, puzzled. Diego laughs and indicates to follow him. They wander over to a closed, white door with a sticker attached to it that reads: "Don't be ashamed of who you are. That's your parents' job".

Diego opens the door to what seems to be his room and steps inside. "Watch out, this room is one step lower" he notes and then walks around his bed.

Sierra's curious gaze catches a huge wardrobe and a mirror with a variety of shoes underneath. On the wall opposite of the bed, there are portraits of - Diego. Sierra lifts her eyebrows and blinks a few times.

"You must really love falling asleep to your own eyes watching you," she notes in a rather sassy tone. Diego just laughs. "Those are from my very first photo shooting." He holds out a diet coke. "You want one?"

"Wait, you're a model? And the fridge is in your room ?" She shakes her head in response to his offer. "Yes, and you also have one in your room" he states with a pokerface.

Sierra immediately rushes over to the other room, next to his.

Diego's cat Luna, a grey british shorthair, sits on her bed with her eyes pinned at Sierra in a curious manner. She stands frozen for a while, then she sets her bags down and approaches the bed with one hand held out to the cat.

Luna's nostrils widen a bit and then she starts purring like crazy, clutching her small head against Sierra's hand, demanding to be petted.

While stroking the cat's back, Sierra almost jumps at the sound of an offended voice behind her.

"She always bites me when I do that," Diego says, leaning in the doorway. "Guess you're not doing it the right way then," she responds mockingly.

"It was my mom's cat, she kind of only likes women... how sexist." He kneels down aside of the bed. "Isn't that right, Luna?" He reaches out to pet her and she doesn't even hesitate to scratch his hand.

They both laugh and Sierra sits down on the bed. "What do you mean, it was your mom's cat?" she asks, expecting the worst. "My dad and her had a divorce when I was 12," he states with the same pokerface as he did before. "He won the custody fight, I still don't know how. Probably because of his money."

"I'm sorry," Sierra says genuinely. "I should probably empty my bags now..." she adds, suddenly feeling uncomfortable. "Yes, of course, I'll go to the living room - dining room - whatever," he laughs and gets up.

"Luna, do you mind giving this lady some room?" he asks on his way out, but she just yawns and stays put. "It's fine, she can stay."

He nods and closes the door behind him. Sierra takes a deep breath and looks around. The room is empty aside from a wardrobe, a desk and the bed. The walls are white and there is one big window next to the bed, an oriel window.

"Jackpot," Sierra thinks while looking at the window. In her mind, she already sees herself sitting there in a cozy blanket, reading a book and sipping tea.

But more importantly, she has to work hard to give this room her characteristics and to make her mother proud. As of tomorrow, she has to apply for a job and hope for the best.