Disclaimer: I don't own anything except Leann!
There goes my hero
Watch him as he goes
There goes my hero
He's ordinary
I sat on the floor with one of my coloring books. I was coloring a picture of a butterfly. I reached for a yellow crayon and realized there wasn't one. "Shit." I said out loud. I know I'm not supposed to say bad words, but it's okay because my daddy isn't here. He left last night and didn't come home. I'm not worried though because it's happened before.
Just then, I heard a truck pull up outside and figured it was him. When I looked up at the person in the doorway, it was my big brother, Daryl. I jumped up and ran to give him a hug.
"Hi, Daryl!"
"Hey, kid." He patted my head then walked passed me.
"Daddy ain't here." I stated. "He left last night and—
"I know." Daryl said. "He's in jail. That's why I'm here. To take care of you til he gets out."
I smiled. That's the best news ever! Daryl is my favorite person in the whole world and I was super excited for him to stay here! "Yay!" I ran to him. "We can play games and watch movies and stay up real late and—
"Slow down, kid." Daryl snapped. "I'm only here to make sure ya get fed and don't set the house on fire."
I giggled. Daryl is funny.
"Say, what was ya doin' when I walked in?"
"Colorin'." I replied. "I made a butterfly but couldn't finish cuz I didn't have a yella crayin."
He gave me an annoyed look. "Where'd ya get that colorin' book? Ya steal it?"
"Nah, Billy let me borrow it." I smiled.
"All right." My brother raised his eyebrows. "Now, leave me alone for while."
"Okay." I grabbed my coloring supplies and went in my room. I laid on the floor and colored some more.
I must have fallen asleep without realizing it. I stood up and stretched, it felt real good. I wonder what Daryl is doing?
I walked out of my room and saw my brother sitting on the couch watching TV. I went over and sat at the opposite end of the couch. I waited for him to say something, but he didn't acknowledge my existence at all. I stared at the TV, he was watching some cowboy movie or something. It seemed pretty boring. I kept glancing over at him but he continued to ignore me.
Finally, something happened in the show so I said, "Whoa!" to try and get his attention but it didn't work. I crossed my arms and glared in the other direction. I guess I just have to be upfront with him.
I glanced over at him a few times before saying, "this movie sucks ass."
He glared at me but didn't say anything. I could tell he got annoyed, though.
"Are ya just gonna ignore me all the time?"
"…that was the plan, but it's kinda hard when yer sittin' there starin' at me." He finally replied.
"I'm not starin' at ya." I smirked. "I was just tryin' to get yer attention."
"Well, you can get attention from dad once he gets back."
"But who knows when that'll be?" I moved closer to him. "Sides," I laid across his lap, "I like you better." I giggled.
He just gave me an annoyed look.
"Say," I tilted my head to one side, "where's Merle?"
"He's, uh…workin'." Daryl replied.
I looked at him wide eyed. "I didn't know Merle had a job. What does he do?"
My brother looked like he was thinking. "…he sells things."
"Wow. What kinda things?"
"Things." He narrowed his eyes at me.
I giggled. "What about you? Do you sell shit too, Daryl?"
"No, I don't. And since when do ya talk like that?" He said roughly.
"Since daddy left." I smiled.
He sighed then there was a brief pause.
"Well then, get yer ass up and go get yer brother a damn soda."
"Ya got arms and legs." I said with a scowl.
He sent me a scary glare.
"Fine." I said getting up. "Do ya want ice?"
He gave me a stupid look. "It ain't gonna put ice in itself."
I giggled. That was actually kind of funny.
I got him a cup and put a few ice cubes in it. Then, I opened the fridge and got him a can of Cola. I happened to notice how empty the fridge was. What are we gonna eat for dinner? I thought as I poured his soda into the glass.
I walked back into the room and handed it to him.
"It's 'bout time." He snapped. He took a big slug, I just stood there and watched him. He looked me up and down. "Why ya dressed so much like a boy, girl?"
I looked down at my attire, I was wearing boy shorts with a tank top. I smiled. "You think I look like a boy?"
"Yeah, look at ya." He waved.
"Yay!" I squealed.
He cocked an eyebrow. "What do ya mean 'yay'? That weren't a compliment."
"It is to me." I smiled. "Ain't it great?"
"Nah." He answered immediately and took another gulp of his drink. "Now scram."
"I'm hungry."
"Well, what do ya want me to do about it? Go make yerself somethin'."
"But the fridge is pretty much empty."
He let out a long sigh. "Don't know what to tell ya, kid."
"We could go out." I suggested.
"Hell no." He laughed. "I ain't goin' anywhere with you."
I gave him a sad look.
"Didn't I tell ya to scram?"
I put my head down and went over and sat on the floor away from him. I pouted.
"Yer not gonna cry, now, are ya?"
"No." I rubbed at my eyes and stiffed. I sat there and made low whimpering sounds.
I heard my brother sigh. "Fine. Let's go."
I jumped up with a huge smile on my face. "Yay!" I ran over and gave Daryl a hug.
"But I get to pick where we go." He snapped. "And…change yer clothes. Ya look stupid."
"Okay, big brother, Daryl." I smiled.
"Yeah." His mouth set into a straight line. "Be ready in five minutes or I'm leavin' without ya."
I waited for him to walk away before I quickly changed my clothes. I put on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. Then headed down the stairs.
My brother parked his truck then we got out. The place we were about to go in looked abandoned.
"Ya ever been here, kid?"
"Daddy took me once. It was scary." I stared at it.
"It is."
I gave him a weird look.
"Fer you." He corrected.
"Ya come here a lot?"
"Not really. Come on." We began walking. "How old are ya now, anyway, kid?"
"Eight and a half." I smiled.
"What the hell? Why you so short?"
"I don't know." I shrugged. "I'mma kid."
He snorted. "I thought ya was like four."
I glared at him, which made him chuckle.
We went in and sat at the bar. The place was filled with dirty, scary looking guys. I stayed close to my brother. A few guys greeted him.
"I thought ya said you don't come here a lot?"
"I don't."
"Hey, Daryl." The bartender said.
I smirked at him.
"Okay, maybe once or twice."
"Yeah, a week." I giggled. He glared at me.
"Ya got a friend with you I see." The bartender said. "Is that yours?"
My brother let out a small laugh. "Hell no. This is my…baby sister."
I casted my eyes down for a moment. I'm not a baby
"Oh, I see." He smiled at me.
I smiled back. "My name is Leann, but most people call me Annie 'cept fer my brother who calls me Le."
The guy laughed. "I'm Larry. So, what can I get for y'all?"
I opened my mouth to say something but Daryl beat me to it. "I'm not that hungry. I'll just have a triple steak burger with some cheese fries and chili on the side."
Not that hungry? I thought. That's enough food for the both of us.
"And for the little lady?" Larry looked to me.
"I'll have the same." I smiled. I wanted to be like my big brother. I could feel his eyes on me.
"All right." Larry laughed. "I'll get right on that." He walked away.
"You ain't gonna eat all that." Daryl glared at me.
"Well, I don't care." I crossed my arms. "I wanna be like you!" I smiled.
Daryl snorted.
A man walked by and clapped my brother on the shoulder. "Hey, Daryl."
"Hey, Barnie." Daryl said. "Asshole." He said once he walked away.
Larry sat our drinks down in front of us. Then, walked away.
"Hey, Daryl? Why is that guy an asshole?"
"Cuz he just is."
"But why?" I tilted my head to one side. "Is it cuz he's wearin' a blue shirt?"
Daryl gave me the dumbest look. "Yeah, Le, that's why." He snapped.
I smiled. I was right!
We pretty much sat and ate in silence. I finished not even half of my burger, most of my fries and barely touched the chili. I was getting really full.
"Havin' some trouble?" My brother smirked.
"I don't think I can eat no more." I put my hand on my stomach.
"Told ya you wasn't gonna eat it."
I looked around. "I'll give it to that fat guy over there. He'll eat it." I hopped down off my stole.
"Hey hey hey." Daryl grabbed my arm. "Rule number one: the food you don't eat belongs to me."
"What if I wanted to take it home and eat it later?" I pouted.
"Then take it home." He snapped.
"No. You can eat it." I climbed back up on my stole.
My brother snorted. "You don't make sense, kid."
"I know." I slid my plate over to him. "Can I have a milkshake?"
"No, ya cain't have a milkshake! Ya couldn't even finish yer dinner."
I gave him a sad look.
He sighed. "Fine. But don't ask fer nothin' else."
I smiled.
It took a while for Larry to make my milkshake. In the meantime, Daryl started a game of pool with another guy. The bet was twenty dollars. I sipped on my milkshake and watched. My brother wasn't bad but the other guys were way better. He lost.
"Son of a bitch!" Daryl said. "I needed that twenty bucks."
Well if ya needed it, why'd you bet it. I rolled my eyes.
The other guy laughed. "Tell ya what, Dixon, one more game. Twenty more bucks. Winner takes all.
"Nah, I cain't."
"Oh come on, man. One more game."
My brother looked like he was thinking. "All right. One more game."
They set the balls up and the other guy started. "I choose stripes." He said.
Daryl went next. He aimed.
"No, Daryl! Not that one!" I quickly got down off my stole and went over to them.
My brother stopped immediately. "Quiet, kid! I'm tryin' to concentrate." He snapped.
"It's the wrong move. Go for the orange." I pleaded.
The other guys standing by laughed. "What's this? You got a partner or something?"
"No." My brother snapped. "Be quiet." He said to me.
"I'm just tryin' to help."
"I don't need yer help." He aimed for the same ball he was going for when I stopped him. I backed off even though I knew he would miss. He did.
"Damnit."
"Should have went for the orange one." I said and sipped my milkshake. He glared at me.
It was the other guy's turn and he got one in then missed another. He laughed. Now it was Daryl's turn.
"Go for the orange this time."
"I thought I told you to put a sock in it?" He gritted his teeth.
"Look, will ya just listen to me? If ya miss, I won't say another darn word, I promise."
He hesitated. "…fine! I'll go fer yer damn orange."
"Okay." I smiled. "But make sure ya do it from that side." I pointed to the opposite side. He gave me a look but obliged. He positioned himself then hit the orange ball with the white ball which hit into the green and they both went in. I grinned from ear to ear. My brother gave me a shocked look. The other guys' expressions made me laugh.
Daryl came over to me. "How did you do that?" He whispered.
"It's just basic geometry." I stated. "It's all about angles."
"You know geometry?" He snorted. "Yer just a little kid."
"But it worked, though, didn't it?" I put my hands on my hips.
"Yeah, sure did. Now do it again and tell me which to go for next."
"Are ya askin' me?" I smirked.
He gave me an annoyed look. "Yeah, now tell me."
I examined what was left on the table. "Blue. Right side."
He did what I said. It bounced off the side and went into the right corner hole. My brother laughed. "Look at you."
I felt proud of myself. The guy my brother was playing against looked pissed because he was so close to winning.
The game went on with Daryl listening to my advice. He ended up winning.
"Hell yeah! Good job, kid!"
I smiled at him.
"Well, how 'bout that, Rus?" He said to his opponent. "Looks like that money is mine."
"No way!" The guy yelled. I jumped back. "You hustled me!"
Uh oh!
