Unknown (Diego Hargreeves x Reader)

3

Y/N stared at her outfit in the mirror for the tenth time as she threw all of her things into a bag. Her water bottle, her keys, her purse, pain killers for her impending headache, and a few bars of chocolate to keep her going throughout the night. Closing her eyes and just breathing for the final time before she left, she had to muster up all the courage she could to not call her boss and cancel.

The haze of streetlamps and the glow of the shops neon lights illuminated the streets as Y/N made her way to the fundraiser. The clouds of the day had moved on to let the stars shine in the misty night. Cars sped past and busloads of intoxicated people stumbled through the streets whilst Y/N walked to The Book Score.

As soon as Y/N walked through the door, she was swarmed by her co-workers, all asking her what they were doing and where they were in the line up.

"Y/N I was wondering if I could-"
"Why do you always come to me for help Sarah? Instead of asking Xavier, you know... our boss." Y/N pointed out bitterly.
"Well, Carlos and I want to know when we're going to be performing our show stopping number" Sarah boasted.
"I repeat. I am not your boss. I don't know what the line up is because I didn't make it."
"Oh. Well... Let me know if you find out"
"Will do." Y/N smiled through gritted teeth.

Across the room, Y/N noticed a familiar face. Long, ebony hair, wearing a long-sleeved turtle neck, with a red bodycon mini dress and the classic red converse. There was only one person that Y/N knew that could look that good.

"Hannah! You made it!"
"Of course I did." she laughed.
"Thank god that you're here." Y/N sighed of relief as she engulfed her friend in an embrace.
"I think you'd do perfectly fine on your own" Hannah said, grinning at Y/N.
"You and I both know that's a lie."
"Mmm, maybe. You'd definitely have a lot more disputes with your co-workers."
"Now that is true." Y/n chuckled, "Although, to be honest, I could probably call Sarah a sket and she'd think it was a compliment."
"You wouldn't" Hannah laughed.
"I would. Don't even try and test me." Y/N retorted.

The pair snickered and smirked to each other, just imagining how that situation would pan out. Sarah and Carlos stared at the two of them, as if they were cackling witches in a quiet marketplace. Just as the tension between the two pairs was about to burst, Xavier swooped in to save the day.

"Alright everyone, we've got half an hour until people start turning up, so we need to set up. Sarah, Carlos and Alex, you're helping me set up the equipment. Y/N and Hannah, you can help set up the food and drink."
"Yes sir" Y/N mocked as she dragged Hannah with her.

The tables ended up covered in decadent food, the best that a book store that was struggling to pay the rent on the building could buy. They had just about managed to buy party trays from a catering business, as they had done for the years they had been doing these events. Cakes, cookies, assorted sweets, all laid out neatly in rows on one table. On the other, an assortment of savoury snacks; pizza, mini tacos, trays of nachos. The store invested everything it could into these nights, hoping that they'd reap double of what they sow.

"How many songs are you singing tonight?"
"Three."
"Only three?" Hannah asked.
"Yes, only three. You know what happens when I sing consecutively too many times."
"Consecutively? Bringing out the big words to prove a point are we?" Hannah mocked.
"Yes." Y/N gave the blunt answer.

Before Hannah could make fun of Y/N anymore, people began arriving. Y/N made her way towards the small stage setup that the store had and sat with her fellow colleagues as Hannah took her place at the piano.

"Ok everyone, listen up because I'm only going to tell you once. Y/N you are up first because we need to start off with a bang, then it's Sarah and Carlos with their duet, then it will be me with my Broadway-worthy performance of Santa Fe, then it's..." Xavier rambled on.