It Started With a Rainstorm
It started with a rainstorm. The storm was a bad one. It caused a power outage at the airport. A blown transformer, I'd later learn. All flights grounded until it could be fixed. I didn't know it at the time, I was in my apartment, looking out at the rain and thunder.
I checked my phone, and pulled up one of my social media apps. There was a surprising post. It read, "Well, I guess I'm sleeping at the airport tonight. All the hotels nearby are booked." It was from Diana, which surprised me because Diana didn't live here. I looked back at some of her earlier posts. She was in town, for work. She was supposed to fly back, but the storm ruined all her plans. I sent her a message. "Do you need a place to stay?" She immediately responded that she did. I told her that I'd be there to pick her up in about a half an hour.
Braving the thunderstorm was no small thing, but I didn't mind. Diana and I had hung out before. We weren't exactly friends, but we were hardly strangers. One of her best friends was marrying one of my best friends in only three months. We were in wedding-related group chats together. It was assumed that we were walking down the aisle together during the processional, after all, we were the tallest people in the wedding party. It took a little longer than I thought, but I got to the airport, and texted her that I was waiting. A few minutes later, she appeared from the crowd.
Diana wasn't hard to spot. For one thing, she was six-foot-two. Also her bright, beautiful auburn hair was a dead giveaway. I could see her emerge from the doors, as the few tall people parted. She looked a little tired, but smiled when I got out of my car. A quick hug, an opened trunk and stow of her carryon suitcase, and we were back on the road.
"Thanks for this." She said.
"No problem." I told her. We made some small talk. She told me about her work trip, for the last few days. Then she told me how her company was too cheap to put her up tonight, and all the cheap hotels nearby were booked, due to the cancelled flights. The storm continued as I drove. Then, she asked me how I was doing. We continued to chit-chat, until I turned into my apartment complex.
"Shit!" I swore, startling her a little. The parking deck was full on the first two levels. "It means we have to park on the rooftop lot", I told her. "I'll let you out by the door, so you don't get that wet. I'll park and bring your suitcase." I didn't wait, as soon as she got out of the car, I raced to find a parking spot. I did, halfway across the lot. As I dashed through the gale, Diana's suitcase in hand, I saw her standing in the downpour, right by the door. As I got close, I shouted, "Why aren't you inside?" She ran to meet me.
"The door won't open!" Stupid me, I forgot that the electronic lock had been busted for over a week. We ran down the parking ramp, and over to the door on the lower floor. By the time we got there, we were soaked. I apologized for forgetting about the lock, but Diana brushed it off. When we got to my apartment, I found a couple of towels. Diana laughed again as she toweled off her, long, thick hair. "This will be dry some time tomorrow." I changed clothes, into a pair of gym shorts and a t-shirt. I offered to put Diana's clothes in the dryer and asked Diana if she had a change of clothes. She told me she had only brought a couple of changes of business clothes. "Nothing comfortable." So I offered her some of my clothes.
She emerged from the bathroom and was a sight. Diana was wearing what I was, a v-neck, white tee and a pair of gym shorts. But she wore them a hell of a lot better than I did, even if they were a little too big for her. Most of her makeup was gone, but it didn't matter, her naturally bronze skin was gorgeous. So were her golden-brown eyes, even without a hint of eyeliner. She was tall, sure. Built like an amazon, even. At 6' 2", she wasn't a dainty girl She had muscular legs and toned arms. Her hair was up now, held loosely by a pair of long hair pins. "Drink?" I asked her.