Chapter 3
She watched him sleep for what felt like an eternity, but was really only about a minute. He looked like he was cold and it made Bay want to hobble back up the stairs and get her warm blanket for him. It was the end of May, but some nights got a bit cold anyway, especially when one slept in a car, she imagined. What do I do? Wake him? Just leave? She didn't have too much longer to decide, as the store had to be opened soon. Without really realizing that she was doing it, she raised her hand up to the window and timidly knocked her knuckles against the safety glass. Daryl didn't stir, but that came as no surprise to her, because she had barely heard her own knock.
"Daryl." she called out and knocked once more, a bit louder this time.
The man in question woke with a start. He pushed himself up a bit, resting his weight on his forearm while he rubbed his tired eyes and squinted out the windshield, wondering if he had imagined someone calling out for him. When his vision cleared a bit he noticed someone standing in front of the passenger side backseat window. "Aww shit!" he lamented and sighed deeply. How on earth had she seen him? He had parked all the way back here, opposite direction of the way she had to take to work. He could just imagine what she was thinking. She was either pitying him for living in his truck or she was thinking that he had stuck around because he was sweet on her. Or both. Well I ain't into you, so don't fucking flatter yourself, girl. Would have done that for any other chick out there. Ain't nothing special. Then yet another line of thought opened up inside his head. Or now she thinks of me as a fucking redneck hobo loser.
Daryl's thoughts made him work himself up into a frenzy as he scrambled to get into the driver's seat. He ignored her eyes that looked to be holding so many questions, as a matter of fact he avoided looking at her completely. He just revved up the engine and got out of there like a bat out of hell. He didn't want to have any conversation about him not having an apartment and he also didn't want to look at her while she looked at him with a stupid grin on her face, because she thought that he 'had the hots of her', as Patrick had put it. That's what I get for helping. Nah, thanks. Don't need no stupid girl with a death-wish to cling on to me like a damn bur. That girl's a magnet for fucking trouble, ain't gonna go near her never again.
"Oh..." Bay had quickly taken a step backwards when he'd driven off abruptly. The whole thing made her head spin and she looked after the car in a daze. "Okay then." she sighed and walked to work. Of course he's mad. Should have let him sleep. He's gotta think I'm an idiot. He saved my life and as a thank you I wake him up at 5 am. Good job, Bay.
"Pat! Man, pull your damn tongue outta that girl and get in! Ain't got all day." Daryl had just about enough of watching Patrick trying to eat up his girlfriend Jessa, while he waited for him to get in the car, just like Jessa's friend Erin was waiting for the couple to finish things up, so the girls could be on their way to work. Patrick raised his arm and flipped Daryl off, not breaking the kiss for a second. It was doing nothing to improve Daryl's already foul mood.
Eventually Patrick and Jessa pulled apart, the girl's eyes all glazed looking while Patrick grinned smugly and wiped two fingers over his wet lips. "Later." he winked at his girlfriend and also said bye to Erin before he got in the car. "And a good morning to you, sunshine."
"Oh fuck off!"
"Woah, the hell crawled up your ass and is now rotting in hell?" Patrick was surprised about Daryl's glum disposition. Usually he was pretty laid back, except for the times Merle was around. Which brought him to his next question. "Your brother back?"
"No."
"Then what's wrong? Where were ya last night? Got a ticket or something?" Patrick tried to coax it out of Daryl, but he only got a dirty look in return. Patrick groaned, he hated when Daryl was like this. "I'm telling you, if you keep this shit up, you can go paint the damn sidewalks by yourself."
"Just..." Daryl started explaining what had transpired that morning, but then quickly changed his mind. "Forget it."
"Come on. What gives? Jessa ain't been over last night, so where you been?"
"I fucked up." Daryl accepted defeat. He knew Patrick would keep asking until he caved anyway. The guy had stamina where that shit was concerned.
"Fucked up how?"
Daryl hesitated and chewed on his bottom lip for a moment before he answered. "Drove to the store last night and gave that Bayanne girl a ride home."
"Mhm." he pressed his lips together to keep from grinning. "How's that fucking up? Kinda cool that ya did it. You did a good thing, why's that fucking up? She say anything?" Patrick questioned when suddenly it hit him. "Fuck! Ya didn't try to kiss and grope her, did ya?"
"You kiddin'? The hell kinda guy you take me for, man? Girl almost got raped."
"Exactly. And that conclusion was the only thing that made sense when ya said ya fucked up. If that's not it, what the hell did you do?"
"I didn't go back to my usual spot after, alright? I parked on her street, couple feet from her building and slept there. And she saw. This morning."
"That means now she knows that you're kinda in between homes right now. What she say?"
"Nothing. Got in the driver's seat and left."
"You just left her standing there?" Now Patrick was laughing, that mini-movie that was playing inside his head right now was damn hilarious. "Dude, you scared of the chick or something? Why you always leave her?"
"Ain't scared, asshole. Just don't need her thinking things that ain't true. Don't need her following me around like a lovesick little girl, just cause she thinks I stuck around to look after her." Daryl grumbled.
"Right." Patrick smirked, but looked out the side window and didn't let Daryl see it. From the look of things, one would assume it was more like the other way around, because Daryl's been checking in on her and not the other way around, and from how defensive he acted, Patrick knew that Daryl was aware of how it really looked, as well. Daryl was staying with Patrick most of the time, but if Jessa came over and they got to fucking, Daryl quickly made himself scarce and spent a night or two in his truck. Last night Jessa hadn't been over, Daryl knew that, but he'd still opted to stay around Bay's apartment. Patrick fell silent and started thinking back to all the times he had been with Daryl when they had encountered Bayanne around town or at parties, trying to remember just how much Daryl had paid attention to her and if maybe there had been a little thing on his friend's side all along. It was hard to tell, Daryl was pretty guarded when they were with more people than just their usual group of friends, but Patrick knew, that his friend's eyes have definitely trailed over to the petite brunette more often than to any other girl. But then again, Daryl had already admitted that he thought she was pretty or cute or whatever.
"You like her?" Patrick asked outright with a knowing smile.
"Shut up."
"This ain't one of 'em hero complex things, is it? Or what's it called when the guy falls in love with the girl he saved from rapists?"
"Shut the fuck up, Pat. It ain't like that."
"Then why did you stick around? Feel guilty about what happened to her?"
"No,... alright, I did at first, but not no more."
"Then why'd you stick around? Ain't your usual spot where ya know that no cops are gonna show up and chase ya off. Why risk that?"
"I... I don't know." Daryl really couldn't explain. It wasn't guilt that had made him stay, he'd just stayed. "I just stayed." he voiced his thoughts to his friend.
"Cause you like her." Patrick chuckled.
"No I don't."
"Come on. What would be so bad about you liking her? Think anyone would talk shit about you for it? Bayanne's not so bad. You been looking at her for some time now. Don't even deny it. I have eyes."
"Stop. You make me sound like some perv. And you're full of shit." Daryl shot him another dirty look. I ain't into her. I just wanted to stay there. I was fucking tired. Yeah she ain't bad, but I ain't into her. I like her alright, she seems okay, she's cute, but I ain't into her. Don't mean nothing. Why people always gotta analyze shit. Was nothing to it. Just wanted to be there. No reason. Barely know her anyway. Can't be into a girl ya don't even know. Just cause I think she's pretty don't mean I wanna tap that. Daryl was ranting internally again, clenching the steering wheel tighter and tighter, until his knuckles were taking on an unsightly shade of white.
"Alright." Patrick gave up, but on the inside he was convinced that Daryl liked her and maybe had for some time. Even if it was just a little crush, but something was definitely there.
"She's stupid anyway. Don't need no girl without any brains bothering me." Daryl muttered.
"Stupid? Never gave me the impression she was stupid. Jessa said that Bayanne helped her out in school a couple of times. What makes ya say that?"
"Maybe she was good in school, but she don't know nothing 'bout life in general." Daryl scoffed. "She had that cut right between her tits, like this..." Daryl used his index finger to trace an invisible line, about 4 or 5 inches in length, down the middle of his chest. "Was still bleedin' when I took her home. Thought she got stabbed, thought she was gon' die on me. I tell her to clean it up and ya wanna know what she did? She took a fucking bath. Could've bled out." Daryl looked over at Patrick while they were stopped at a red light and saw Patrick look at him with a comical expression. "What?"
"Dude... don't tell me you saw her tits." Daryl's head whipped back around at that and he looked at Patrick with an expression that said "really"?
"Yeah, D, I know, she almost got raped and that's bad and all, but seriously, man. Tell me. You saw her tits?" Daryl just nodded in reply, chewing nervously on his bottom lip once more. "Awesome." Patrick grinned that stupid little grin most guys had when they thought about naked boobs. "They as perky as they seem?"
"Stop." Daryl said looking at him sternly, but after a moment of silence Patrick detected the hint of a smile on Daryl's lips and he soon heard his friend utter: "Yeah... sure are."
Patrick barked out a laugh and clapped his hands once. "Awesome."
Three days passed and on Saturday Bay was more relaxed again at her main place of work. Gus and Clint hadn't been around since that awful night, her knee hurt less every day and the bruises on her face weren't too dark anymore, but unfortunately still visible. The cut was a long, angry-looking red line and seemed slow to heal, but maybe that was due to the heat and her sweating quickly. At least it didn't seem to be infected, so that was definitely positive.
Daryl hadn't been to the store since the night he had picked her up; not during her shifts anyway. She couldn't blame him for avoiding her, she thought it might be his way of giving her the message that they weren't friends and weren't gonna chat and catch up regularly from now on. Not that she had assumed that that was what was gonna happen, but... oh well,... she didn't really know herself what she had thought about what was gonna happen. He was 20, she was 18, he was cool, she was not... He'd helped her out, but that was it. She could accept that. Still, she couldn't get the picture of him sleeping in his car out of her head. She had thought he lived with his older brother or maybe alone, but not in a car. She tried to push it out of her mind, because she knew she would never get an explanation. His abrupt departure Wednesday morning had clearly been a sign to back off and not ask stupid questions. "Message received." she murmured to herself while she restocked the cigarettes behind the register.
The chimes announced new customers and she casually looked over to the door, only to receive a tiny shock to her system when her eyes locked with Daryl's baby blues for the fraction of a second. She felt her cheeks heat up and she quickly turned her back on him out of embarrassment. Why on Earth am I blushing? she questioned herself and soon realized that she was blushing because she had no idea how to act around him. She wanted the ground to swallow her whole. If she would blush when he was at the register, she would start digging her way to China right away. He would think she was crushing on him if she blushed when looking at him and how embarrassing would that be? He would laugh at her for sure. Maybe not outright, but surely he would make fun of her silly antics on the inside.
Daryl scoffed internally when Bay turned her back on him so quick he was barely able to detect the movement with bare eyes. He felt himself confirmed. Now that she knew he was a hobo nobody, he wasn't her hero no more. She didn't want nothing to do with him. Didn't even look at him no more. Just like everybody else, Daryl thought and went to get himself some prepackaged meals.
Bayanne hadn't even noticed that Patrick was with him. She had turned around too fast and had been too busy getting over her embarrassment to see the other guy. He was in a different aisle than Daryl, too, and Bayanne didn't notice Patrick looking at her, while she dared to turn back around again and watch Daryl pick out some TV dinners. She caught herself staring a bit too long, and while biting her lip on top of that, if he would have turned around, he would have caught her staring at him like a dreamy teen. Once again she blushed and brought her hands up to her cheeks. "Stop blushing." she admonished herself quietly and shook her head at herself, much to the amusement of Patrick. She really had her charms. He wasn't that surprised that Daryl might have a little thing for her. The poor girl looked flustered and he could understand why. Daryl might have a baby face, but he could be very intimidating and his gruff actions probably had her a bit at a loss and unsure of how to act.
Patrick got to thinking and a plan started to form inside his head. Most of the guys now had, more or less, steady girlfriends. It would be cool for Daryl to have someone nice in his life, too, and Bayanne seemed like she would fit the bill. She might be good for him, get him out of his shell a little, if she succeeded in busting through all those walls he liked to put up around himself. Even if they didn't end up a couple, it never hurt to make a new friend. In school Bay had been friends with his own girlfriend Jessa and with Sam's girlfriend Erin, so she really would fit right in. Patrick may know more about Bayanne than Daryl did at this point, because Jessa's been speaking fondly of Bay and had told him stories about what they had been up to during high school. She had also talked about wanting to get back in touch with her old girlfriend for a while and if Bay started hanging out with them, it wouldn't just be a nice thing for the girls, but it would also be an opportunity for Daryl and her to get to know each other better and see if there might be any potential for more.
While Bayanne finished up restocking the packs of cigarettes, Patrick walked over to Daryl, who was now looking for a bag of chips to get. He just couldn't decide which flavor he wanted. "You done yet? Ain't stallin' paying for those, are ya?"
"Shut up!" Daryl scowled and bumped his elbow into Patrick's ribs. He quickly looked over his shoulder for a second, but was relieved that Bayanne still had her back to them and probably hadn't heard Patrick. "Can I use your microwave for these?" he asked holding up one of the TV dinners.
"Sure. Since when do you ask?" Patrick was having the time of his life with Bay and Daryl in the store. It was fun seeing them both squirm, and Daryl was definitely stalling. Funny that he hadn't put up a fight in coming here in the first place if he was so uncomfortable being around Bayanne. Probably couldn't stay away for too long after all. The thought made Patrick chuckle, making Daryl look at him questioningly.
"What now?" Daryl asked, his eyes flicking over Patrick's shoulder to look at Bayanne for a second, which of course didn't go unnoticed by his best friend. Patrick realized in that moment, that Daryl had done that pretty often in the past when they had been in here. Yeah, my boy's definitely got a thing going on here. Sly dog. Never noticed before how often he does that.
"Nothing. You ready to pay now, or what?"
"Yeah, fine." Daryl grabbed a random bag of potato chips, but didn't make a move to step up to the register.
"Alright, let's ring 'er up." Patrick smiled highly entertained, and led the way. "Hey Bayanne."
"Hi Patrick." She smiled, a little surprised to see him, because she hadn't noticed him come in. Then her gaze shifted over to Daryl, who was standing slightly behind Patrick. Daryl had been looking at the floor like it was the most interesting thing in the world, but after she had greeted Patrick, his eyes had flicked up, locking with hers, which made her quickly avert her gaze. "H-hi..." she stuttered with a voice that was not nearly as firm as she would have liked. Lord, sweet Lord, take me now please. Oh God, why is this so weird? If she would have had a shovel handy at that moment, she really would have started digging a hole for herself to make her way to the other end of the world. She was acting like an idiot.
"Hey." his voice was cool as ever, but he was chewing his bottom lip again, showing Patrick that he was nervous and not entirely comfortable either.
"Damn..." Patrick slowly reached out and gently touched Bayanne's chin, turning her head to the side a bit to get a full visual. "I'd hate to see the other guy." Patrick's eyes scanned over her face and chest, taking in her fading bruises and the red, angry-looking cut that peeked out of her top and went up til it met the silver cross on her necklace. He was surprised that Daryl hadn't killed the guys who did this. If someone would have done that to Jessa, he didn't know if he would have had mercy on them. But that was why Daryl was the smarter one, it's how he managed to keep himself out of too much trouble. He was wild and unpredictable and sometimes acted before he thought things through, but still he seemed to have a good voice of reason that managed to get through to him in his angry hazes. What Patrick didn't know was, that in that exact moment, one of those angry hazes was starting to build inside Daryl, who was staring at Patrick's fingers touching Bay's face with a frown. The sight didn't sit well with him and he felt something unknown well up inside of him. He couldn't explain what it was, but he assumed he was worried that Patrick was making Bay feel uncomfortable. Girl got touched enough by those creeps. Why the fuck you gotta go touch up on her now, too?
"You give him hell?" Patrick smiled, trying to make light of the situation a bit and making Bayanne feel good by letting her think that he thought she could take on a guy, even though he knew exactly what had happened.
"No. Somebody else did. Got them good, I think. Thank God he was around." Bay smiled at Patrick, keeping herself from looking at Daryl in order to keep herself from blushing and acting even more like a fool. She was surprised that Daryl hadn't told Patrick about him saving her. She thought they were best friends. Then again, obviously Daryl didn't want to be associated with her, and that was why he hadn't said anything.
"Yeah, you were in luck. By the time this shop closes down everybody's smart enough to stay inside around these parts... Real lucky that a good samaritan was around... Thank God for coincidences, ain't that right, D?" Patrick asked him with a completely straight face and stressed the word 'coincidence', while Daryl narrowed his eyes at him in a warning scowl.
"I'm very grateful, that's for sure." Bay assured him and rang up his soda, bread and peanut butter.
"Oh, by the way, Jessa says hi." Patrick acted like he had just remembered, even though this part of the conversation had been planned. The boys watched as Bayanne's face lit up noticeably.
"Jessa?! You seen her? How is she doing? I haven't seen her in ages."
"She's good. Real good. She's my girlfriend now, ya know? She wanted to come by and see you here, but she's busy with work and school."
"Oh she's with you? That's nice. You guys make a cute couple. Tell her not to worry, we'll see each other eventually." Bay's demeanor had perked up noticeably at the mention of her former best friend and her smile was contagious, making Patrick smile even bigger. Daryl on the other hand remained cool as a cucumber and kept studying the floor, now that Patrick had removed his hand from Bay's skin, only looking up every couple of seconds.
"I have an idea!" Patrick grinned. "Whatcha doin' tonight?"
"Uhm, nothing much. Watch TV, I guess." Bayanne shrugged while she exchanged money with Patrick.
Daryl realized what Patrick was doing and it took all he had not to gape at his friend. He didn't let it show, but he felt a bit panicky on the inside. The fuck is he doin'?
"So you're free. Cool. Me and the guys and our girlfriends, we hang out in the parking lot at Wal-Mart later today. You know, just hanging out, having a drink or two... You should come. Can catch up with Jessa and Erin, they'll both be there."
"Oh ummm..." Bay was tempted, but still hesitant to say yes right away, because she was a bit jittery about going out after dark.
"Don't worry, we're gentlemen. As soon as ya wanna go home, we'll take ya. Ain't gonna let you walk around at night alone." Patrick winked, trying his best to convince her to come. She thought he must have read her mind, but of course he had guessed that this was what she was worried about due to those freaks doing this shit to her. "Come on, the girls miss ya. It's gonna be fun, right Daryl?" Patrick looked over at Daryl and almost burst out laughing at his, by now, murderous expression.
"Yeah, right." Daryl pressed out. Bayanne wasn't stupid, it was blatantly obvious that Daryl didn't want her to come and did not agree with Patrick's invitation. It made her want to say no, but the prospect of seeing her friends again was very tempting.
"Come on, Bayanne. Want me to get my girl on the phone and talk you into it?" he threatened jokingly, making Bay laugh and raise her hands in defeat.
"Alright, alright. You win. You sure it's okay? I don't want to annoy anyone by showing up there." Bay gathered all her courage and looked at Daryl, indirectly asking him if he was okay with it. Daryl looked at her and gave her an almost imperceptible nod. He didn't mind her hanging out with their group, not at all, he just hated the game Patrick seemed to be playing. How many times did he have to say it? Just cause he liked the way she looked didn't mean he wanted her to be his girlfriend. He had no need for those and Patrick should know that by now.
"Bayanne, I know we don't know each other that much, but we kinda been runnin' in the same circle for years and I don't think I ever met anyone who didn't like ya. Just stop by, have some fun and if ya don't like it, I'll never bother you again. Deal?"
"Okay." Bayanne finally agreed with a bit of a shy giggle. It was nice to feel included again. She hadn't abandoned her friends on purpose. She was just working so much and the other girls were splitting their time between school and work, they had just drifted apart a bit. If her mother hadn't shot Bay's whole college fund up into her veins, Bay would be right there with her girlfriends instead of having to drown out chauvinistic remarks at work four times a week at that damn carpet mill.
"Okay? Great. The girls are gonna be real excited." Patrick stepped aside to let Daryl put his items on the counter to have Bay ring them up. His eyes were involuntarily drawn to the cut which still looked as bad as the night it happened.
"Ya should put something on that. Ain't healing well." he blushed and he cursed himself for doing it. She would only be even more convinced that he liked her if he did that, but it couldn't be helped. For whatever reason he felt mildly embarrassed to be talking to her with Patrick watching and listening. "Neosporin or shit like that. 'n put some band aids on it or something. Keeps it clean better."
"Yeah, you should listen to him. He knows that stuff. He grew up hunting and cutting himself all the time." Patrick said and eyed the wound as well. "I reckon it's gonna leave a scar, though."
"Might, yeah. But shouldn't be too bad." Daryl muttered. He was an expert on scars after all.
"Still sucks for a girl, D. They worry 'bout this shit."
"Least she's alive." Daryl retorted quickly, feeling more at ease now, since Patrick's involvement had eased the tension a bit.
"That's true. Whoever the guy was who helped her,... he's a good one." Patrick said seriously, making Daryl avert his eyes and blush slightly once again.
"He is." Bay agreed, before she quickly told Daryl what he'd have to pay. "That'll be $11.95."
Daryl put a twenty dollar bill on the counter. For whatever reason he was avoiding accidentally touching her by putting the money directly into her hand. Something was telling him not to have his fingers touch hers. He had no idea why or what was wrong with him. There was some kind of shit going on inside of him and he had no idea what. It was unnerving. Had to do with this weird week. He was tired, he probably just needed a good night's sleep on Patrick's sofa.
"We'll see ya tonight, Bayanne." Patrick winked when their transaction was completed. "And you better keep your word and show up or we're gonna come and drag your ass down there."
"I don't think it will have to come to that. I tend to keep my promises." Bay smiled and waved slightly when the boys left the store.
"I know what you're doing! Ain't gonna work!" Daryl snarled as they sat back in his truck.
"Why? You think Jessa ain't gonna be excited when she sees Bayanne?" Patrick asked, knowing full well that it was not what Daryl had meant, but he just loved riling him up a little.
"You're tryin' ta hook us up! Just back the fuck off, it ain't like that with her." Daryl shouted angrily and was about to launch into another tirade, but Patrick's next words had him shut up quickly.
"Yeah, I know."
"You know?" Daryl was suddenly confused.
"You made it very clear that you don't like her, D. Why should I force her on you, if you don't like her."
"Exactly." Daryl muttered, relieved that he had gotten through to his friend.
"Just doin' something nice for the girls." Patrick said and took a swig from his soda bottle. "Besides, she's not into you either, so it would just be a waste of time for me to try and hook y'all up." Patrick quickly looked out the window after he had said it so he wouldn't laugh, because Daryl had looked pretty stunned there for a second at that last part.
Daryl's anger immediately dissipated, leaving him feeling somehow empty and pensive. The hell? Why wasn't he happy? This was what he wanted, wasn't it? He didn't want her following him around like a lovesick puppy, so why wasn't he feeling happier? Tired. Just gotta sleep, man. That's all it is. Weird week.
"Right." he finally said after a moment of silence. "Waste of time..." another moment of silence, then he brushed his hand through his shaggy hair, before he sighed. "Man, I'm gonna get shitfaced drunk tonight."
No you won't, Patrick thought with a little smile.
Thank you for reading!
Thank you for all the follows and favorites and gosh, all those wonderful reviews. You make me speed write!
What do we think? Is Bay going through with her promise to show up or is she going to bail at the last minute?
Dearest Snowbird: Do not worry about a thing, you are not the only one who cries easily. I cry about 5 times a day, because of songs, commercials, my son, tv shows, etc. lol. I'm glad that you liked the part about the sidewalk painting. I think it's a nice way of showing just how much those kids are struggling to stay afloat. They do what they can. If they will always stay within the legal area remains to be seen. We know Bay is sometimes giving herself the five-finger-discount, lol, even though she is definitely not proud of it. I'm glad you enjoy it so far. I love readig from you and I hope you are doing well:)
