Diamond
Someone opened the front door before she could knock. Tahoma greeted her with a kind smile. She'd met him six or seven times at this point, but she couldn't quite contain her shock as she took him in. Today, he sported a crisp, white button up and washed out blue jeans. The two sections of hair framing his face were braided back. The rest flowed freely. "Hello, Diamond."
She wondered what Renata felt when she looked at Tahoma. Well, you can ask her when you see her. "Hey, where is she?" He made room so she could enter. She gave the interior an appreciative look before refocusing.
"She just showered. I'm pretty sure she's eating in the kitchen with Rocio. Let me show you."
They passed different dark hallways and gold encrusted doorways on glossy, wooden floors. The place was ridiculous. But she didn't doubt if she lived forever she'd spare no expense on her home too.
His stride was steady and calm. She felt like she was speed walking next to him. "How is she?"
"I haven't spoken to her yet. But Rocio texted and said she was fine. I suspect her body's probably stiff and that's about the extent of her discomfort." His voice was deep and smooth. But it did nothing for herâshe needed to get to Renata.
Diamond shuddered. "God, I hope so."
Tahoma came to a halt and twisted toward her. Diamond had to back up to face him. His voice was gentle but the message was unyielding. "Diamond, take a breath. I can only imagine how painful these two months have been for you, but Renata needs you to be calm. She's probably still getting her bearings."
Diamond nodded but didn't hold his gaze. She felt like a child being chastised by an adult. Well, she was a baby in comparison to him. Still, the sting of the reprimand marred her skin as much as he was right.
"Better?" Tahoma inquired.
A big breath left her body. She nodded again. And while her nerves still buzzed, she did feel better. "Let's go."
**********
She called out to Renata as she spoke with her cousin.
And when she turned around to reveal her beautiful face, Diamond was overcome with relief and happiness.
She meant to simply hug her, but that did not happen.
Once Renata was a breath away, Diamond connected their lips and held her tight. Realizing what she had doneâwith an audienceâand recognizing that Renata's body seized, she pulled back with wide eyes.
"Oh," was all Renata said. Her face was flushed, tinting her brown cheeks slightly pink. Diamond imagined she came off about the same.
Diamond stepped back and smiled, but the air turned uncomfortable between them. Maybe if she pretended she didn't just kiss Renata, they could all erase those last couple of seconds from their memories. "I'm so glad you're awake. What took you so long?"
Renata appeared unsure of how to proceed. She thankfully went along with Diamond's brilliant plan. "I don't know. I didn't mean to freak you out. I'm sorry."
"Don't be sorry, but maybe try not to do that again?" Diamond responded, placing a hand on her arm. "Anyway." She looked at Rocio and Tahoma. Both had shifting emotions displayed across their features. "Are you ready to leave?"
All three of them collectively responded with an alarmed 'what?!'.
Diamond didn't care. She felt like she was the only sane one in this situation. "You weren't even here long before something bad happenedâand you went into a coma for two fucking months. You're clearly not safe here, Ren. You're coming back with me."
Renata's features softened as did her voice. "I still haven't gotten what I came for. I need answers. I need allies."
"Fuck answers!" Diamond was losing her cool. Everyone sensed it and so did she. It wouldn't stop her. "You need to come home. I'll watch out for you. Being here is asking for trouble. You should have never come here in the first place. You should have never run away from me."
They both looked at each other with wide eyes.
Uh oh.
"Come, Rocio," Tahoma grabbed Rocio and led her out of the kitchen.
Diamond was back to her erratic breathing. Renata's chest moved visibly as well. "I did not leave you because I wanted to," Renata spoke when it was clear that Diamond had stunned herself into silence. "Diamond, you know how much you mean to me."
Diamond's lips trembled. She couldn't ignore the hurt inside of her anymore. "You still left me. For a year. For two months. What difference does it make? You've been running away from me since we broke up."
Yeah, we're going there. Renata shook her head. "That's not true. Don't say that." What a Renata response.
Diamond hated that she had no control over her emotions. She needed to get it all out, because she was threatening to burst. "I can't keep doing this. I can't take it anymore." Maybe it was too late because the truth was pouring out. "I'm losing my mind worrying over you, whether you still want me, still love me. I don't feel safe like I used to. I want to feel safe again."
Renata looked like she wasn't breathing. Maybe she wasn't? Nothing surprised her anymore.
"Say something, Ren. You can't avoid me anymore." Diamond wasn't even mad. She could never really be mad at her best friend. Her legs were weakening from all the stumbling in the darkness. It couldn't go on.
"You're my best friend in the whole world, Diamond. I love you so much it hurts. I'd do anything for you. And when we kissed for the first time, I was excited, but I was scared of losing you. Because that's what falling in love with you meant, that it could all go wrong, and I could lose you. And I did. And then we somehow found each other again and picked up where we left off. But things got complicated again. They're complicated again."
"Just fucking say it. Say you don't love me." Diamond crossed her arms, trying to shield herself from the oncoming pain of rejection.
Renata's pained look said it all. "I doâ"
"But you're not in love with me."
The silence stretched while they both were being ripped apart from the inside out.
Renata searched Diamond's face. "Are you in love with me? Or just with how safe I made you feel?"
A gasp left Diamond's mouth. She'd hoped Renata hadn't heard that part. But how could such a revelation be ignored?
"I guess we're both deceiving ourselves," Renata whispered.
"Then why are we so miserable?" Diamond cried and walked into Renata's welcoming embrace. They clung to each other with the fiercest of grips. "Why can't we make it work? This should make sense. This should be easy."
"I know. I know."
They eventually got onto the cold, tile floor and sat shoulder to shoulder against the counter. There was still so much to be said, but Diamond didn't have the heart to say any more, and it was clear that Renata didn't either.
"I need time. I need to be okay again." Diamond couldn't look at Renata as she spoke. "I can't be in this world with you. I need you to be okay with me not chasing you around anymore. I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry too." The words were said with a hoarse voice. "We both need some time...but I can't lose you, Diamond. I still want you in my life. Is that okay?"
Diamond scoffed and wiped her sensitive nose. "Of course it's okay, silly. You can't get rid of me that easy."
"Promise?" Renata leaned her head to the side.
Diamond met her halfway so their heads rested against each other. "I promise."
**********
Diamond frowned as she walked right back out the threshold, except Rocio followed close behind. The car was waiting across the way. "Did you need something?"
"Just checking on you, Blue."
Diamond stopped to look at Rocio. She wasn't Renata's twin by any means. But the similarities were still there. She thought it would hurt to look at her. It didn't. "Unless your kitchen is soundproof, you probably heard that I'm not alright. Why are you out here anyway? You should be checking on your sister."
Rocio crossed her arms. "I will. I wanted to make sure you're alright before you left."
"Why?" Diamond persisted.
Rocio had a perplexed kind of expression on her face. "Because you took care of her when I didn't, when I should of. I owe you. I'm grateful."
"You owe me nothing. Taking care of someone you love is not a favor. I'm not her keeper." She tried turning away.
"I'm still grateful," Rocio called after her. "If you ever need anything, you have my number."
It was true. Ever since Renata chose to become Sleeping Beauty, Diamond harassed Rocio for constant updates over the phone. "I'll be fine."
"I believe you."
"I gotta go." Diamond wanted to interrogate Rocio's intentions further but knew it would spiral into something she just couldn't handle right now.
"Okay." Rocio relented. "I'll see you around, Blue."