AUTHOR'S NOTE – There will be no chapter updates from September 30th-October 7th as I will be on vacation in Chicago visiting family for that duration.
Chapter 7
Sanctuary had one bar in their little community much to the delight of everyone in town. Negan's favorite thing to do to wind down after scouting for other people and walkers alike was to have a Billiard Night where every Savior was welcome to drink shots and bet games on pool. Every Savior that wasn't on duty at the gates was required to attend.
Billiard Night was a wagering event as Negan would play against Saviors. Whoever was lucky enough to beat him was awarded generous amounts of rations with whatever they needed. Most contestants asked for more food however there was yet to be someone who could outplay Negan in pool. Even Sherry had to admit that he was really talented with the game. Much to her dismay.
Sherry detested going to the bar for the wild event. As it was a requirement for every Savior to go, it was also an obligation that Negan's wives be in attendance with their "special" attire. Whenever there was a Billiard Night, Sherry always felt humiliated and was unappreciative of the catcalls thrown in the direction of her and her friends. The girls typically sat in the back corner of the bar around a small table as they tried to keep to themselves. But as the night progressed, the Saviors would get louder and louder while they become more intoxicated by the alcohol. Yolanda was behind the bar and served everyone shots when Negan asked her to. She would often stay close to the girls when she had the time as she also was not fond of the attention some Saviors bestowed upon her.
More Saviors walked into the bar ready to join the party. As the girls kept to themselves, Megan smiled shyly while looking up to see who entered the bar. She quickly snuffed her happy demeanor and stared down at the table in front of her.
Sherry noticed Megan's change in attitude and turned her attention to the front entrance to see what the matter was. Then she could see Takuya glancing back in their direction with only eyes for Megan. Sherry grinned at the attraction that seemed to be happening between the two but instantly felt sad that their relationship wouldn't go anywhere with Negan in the way.
When Takuya stepped to the side, Sherry got a clear view of Dwight as her heart skipped a beat when they made eye contact for a split second. Like Megan, she took her gaze away from the entrance and looked at a nearby wall instead. Her face blushed from embarrassment as she remembered what she was wearing. She sighed in frustration while her face felt warm with shame.
Christy glanced at Dwight and then to Sherry. "He's still looking at you." She mentioned as she elbowed Sherry's bare stomach.
Sherry continued to stare at the brick wall with her ears feeling like they were going to burn off. "I know." She muttered. She could almost feel his gaze scorch a hole in the back of her head.
"Must be the makeup." Ashlyn piped up with a quick wink. Negan had also insisted that they get dolled up with their hair and makeup done. After nearly a year of an apocalypse, Sherry got used to not wearing makeup at all. Sherry was used to wearing a ridiculous amount of cosmetics for dance recitals and competitions growing up but it only felt stupid to use it in their circumstance.
As some Saviors jumbled about the room uproariously, a drunkard in his mid-twenties stumbled over in their direction trying to play it off as if he didn't even the girls standing right next to them, despite being completely evident in his intentions. He smiled dumbly as he bobbed his head as if there was lively music playing in the background. Sherry could smell that he reeked of one too many drinks as he tried to stand closer and closer to the girls. He inched over towards Amanda and placed his hand on her lower back with his fingers grazing near her panty line.
Sherry felt as if she could breathe fire and looked around for anything to use against the Savior. She spotted an empty pint glass that Christy had in her hand and gestured towards it. "Are you finished with this?" She inquired.
Christy nodded as Sherry took it by the handle. She then tapped the man on the shoulder to get his attention. "Hey!" She yelled over the noise of the other men in the room.
The man turned to face Sherry with the same plastered smile as she slammed the pint glass right on the nose. The man reeled backwards from the force as he quickly held his hand to his face while the rest of the glass shattered to the ground. He soon fell to the floor unable to keep himself up while the Saviors around him laughed. Some gazed at Sherry clearly impressed that she would react in such a way to protect her friend's virtue. The man seemed to have passed out as most of the Saviors were oblivious to the scuffle at all. Some men soon started to trip over his body unaware of his existence.
Amanda gave Sherry a side hug. "Thank you." She whispered in Sherry's ear.
Sherry smiled and gave Amanda a squeeze. "Don't mention it." When she let go of Amanda, she looked at her right hand that held the glass and saw that it was bleeding slightly. A small sliver of glass protruded from one of her knuckles. She quickly picked it away as Christy handed her a napkin. Sherry nodded in gratitude towards Christy while pressing the napkin on her wounded hand.
Ashlyn embraced her younger sister while shaking. "Are you okay, Amanda?" She asked protectively.
Amanda had a few tears in her eyes. "Thanks to Sherry." She replied.
Christy nudged Sherry again and nodded towards the opposite side of the bar. "Looks like Dwight approved of that." She muttered under her breath for only Sherry to hear. Sherry dared to glance in his direction and saw Dwight looking amused at her spunk she exhibited. He raised his glass to her as Sherry smiled warmly back. He nodded at her and took a drink as she continued to watch him. They kept staring at each other as the noise in the bar started to fall away around them. It was almost as if Sherry was experiencing tunnel vision. She could only see Dwight. Everything else seemed inconsequential in that moment.
Suddenly Negan shouted in victory as all the girls jumped from the noise. Sherry snapped out of her daydreaming and saw that Negan had won yet another round of pool. The contender that Negan was fighting against smiled but appeared disheartened at losing an exuberant amount of rations.
"Brittany, give me the hat." Negan ordered.
Brittany, whose lingerie was always too small in the bust line, waltzed over with a top hat. Inside the hat were names of every Savior in attendance. Whoever had their name drawn was able to play against Negan for whatever they wanted from the supply building.
As Sherry watched Brittany put her arms around the back of Negan's neck in obvious admiration, she couldn't understand Brittany's method of survival in the slightest. Many times Sherry would attempt to discern Brittany and her obnoxious personality but would always end up clashing with her. Sherry understood that it stemmed from their different viewpoints of Negan. Sherry despised him and Brittany couldn't seem to get enough of him. All Sherry saw when she spoke with Negan was a man who couldn't take no for an answer.
Whenever Sherry thought about Brittany, she became more consternated at the fact that Negan couldn't let his other wives off the hook. It was indisputable that Brittany was the only that even enjoyed Negan's attention and it seemed she truly wanted to be by his side. Sherry already accepted that they wouldn't be able to leave Sanctuary but it wouldn't have been too much to ask to have a small fraction of normalcy.
When Sherry thought of what life would have been like if she wasn't Negan's wife, she looked to Dwight again. She was partially surprised to see him still staring at her. They looked at each other longingly until they heard Negan shout the next opponent.
"CARSON!" Negan yelled. "You're up!" Brittany cheered next to Negan with a high pitched squeal and then gave him a kiss on the cheek much to the disgust of Sherry and the girls. It didn't take long for Negan to take equal part in the kiss as he made out with her on the spot. Sherry could taste bile rising from her throat as she had to look away from the horrendous display.
"Christy, hand me a cigar!" Negan shouted several moments later.
Christy rolled her eyes and picked up the cigar kit that was sitting on the middle of the table at the ready. "This is my life now. Getting a cigar ready for the husband." She mumbled sardonically as she cut the tip off one of the cigars in the wooden box.
Ashlyn and Amanda turned their attention towards Yolanda who came over to their table with several drinks. "All of you look like you need it." Yolanda stated and put the drinks on the surface between all of them. Sherry could admit the one good perk about Billiard Night. The girls were encouraged to drink only to be a little looser with their personalities. Sherry didn't think it was the best idea to drink with an empty stomach but justified it by being a sort of sustenance.
Christy walked over to the pool table with the cigar and lighter. Sherry couldn't help but notice every Savior staring in the direction of Christy's backside as she made her way to Negan's other side. Unable to take any more of the misogynistic attitude that overthrew the bar she turned to Yolanda. "I could most definitely use a drink right now."
"Good. I have your favorite." Yolanda replied as she handed her a glass of what appeared to be red wine.
Sherry smiled at the thoughtfulness that was Yolanda and took a sip. "This is perfect." She reported with satisfaction.
Yolanda sat next to Sherry on a bar stool and smiled to her. "I vaguely remember you saying that you were Catholic before all of this happened, correct?" Yolanda inquired.
Sherry smiled. "I think I might still be Catholic." She raised her glass. "Long live the Pope." She said with bittersweet sadness and took another drink.
"I am Catholic too." Yolanda said while Sherry noticed she said it in present tense. "Wine was almost part of the religion, wasn't it? I come from a very Mexican traditional family. When I drink wine now it just brings the fond memories back." She said as she poured herself a glass from the bottle on the table.
"I'm glad someone else gets the appeal." Sherry responded. "Did your family live in Georgia?"
Yolanda looked off into the distance deep in thought. "I was born in Georgia and my parents were immigrants. When I was twenty-five, they were deported back to Mexico." She looked down to her lap with solemnity. "They didn't ever try to make it back to the States. However, my siblings and I would visit them twice a year. My brother and sisters all went to college and got great jobs. My dad was so proud of us getting the American Dream that he had always wanted for us. I'm happy that I made my family proud. When my siblings got their jobs, they moved to different parts of the country."
"Where?" Sherry asked while intrigued by Yolanda's story. Never once had Yolanda opened up about her family before. She loved getting to know where one of her favorite people came from.
"I'm not boring you yet?" Yolanda questioned. "I feel like I'm rambling too much."
Sherry shook her head. "Anything to get my mind off where I am right now and what I am wearing. Plus, I am genuinely interested in the topic. I haven't heard much about your family." She urged so Yolanda could tell her more.
"Well then," Yolanda said with her face brightening up. Whenever anyone confided to her about their previous family, they would immediately be in better spirits. People often spoke about their earlier lives in passing but it was a special treat to get someone to listen to it all to help relive the special moments. "I have three younger siblings. Juan is two years younger than me and lives in Detroit. Then there is Mariana who lives in Hawaii." Yolanda appeared to be in thought as she looked to the ceiling. "I have always wondered how her location faired with an island and walkers. She lives on Oahu where a lot of others live. I hope her family is okay and pulled through. Then my youngest sister, Sofia, moved to Utah with her husband."
"What part of Mexico did your parents live in?" Sherry asked.
"They were originally from Mexico City but moved to Cozumel after they were deported. My parents learned English very well while they were living in Atlanta and figured that working in a tourist town and owning a small souvenir shop would prove to be fruitful. They were right and ended up doing pretty well for themselves." Yolanda said proudly.
Yolanda reflected on her past life and family with deep admiration. Sherry loved hearing her speak about her love for her parents. She herself felt incredibly distant from where things were only ten months ago but to hear Yolanda speak about her past as if it was yesterday sounded poetic and beautiful to Sherry. "Cozumel and Hawaii, eh? Those places sound a lot warmer than here." Sherry added lightheartedly.
Yolanda snickered in response. "Yeah, I guess if they are living or dead, they are in paradise regardless, aren't they?" She smiled distantly as they heard shouts from the pool table while Negan appeared victorious once again. Both of his arms went around Christy and Brittany's shoulders as Sherry could see Carson looking somewhat disgruntled but grinned for the sake of being amiable and not getting a rise out of Negan.
"Yolanda! Shots all around!" Negan yelled. The men cheered for more alcohol as Yolanda ambled back to the bar to pour liquor in every shot glass she could find.
…
Carson trudged over to where Dwight and Takuya were sitting once the game was over and smiled dejectedly. "I wasn't really trying." He admitted.
"From the look of Hansen when he beat Negan in ping pong a couple months ago, I bet everyone hardly tries to win." Dwight divulged as he thought of one of their first nights in Sanctuary. It was one of the first times that Dwight realized that their group was dealing with a maniac.
Carson glanced at Dwight's knuckles and grimaced as Dwight took another sip of his drink. "You should get those looked at. That looks really bad." He suggested.
Dwight took a look at the already stained bandages and shrugged. "They look worse than they feel." He assured. "Although Takuya got a nasty cut on his forehead from our car accident. Right, Tak?" He asked to transition a conversation that included Takuya as well. When Takuya didn't answer, Dwight looked to see him staring across the room at Megan.
Dwight put his hand in front of Takuya's face and waved. "Hey! You're making yourself look too obvious. Stop staring." He warned.
Takuya smirked and eyed Dwight knowingly. "I'll stop staring if you stop staring." He countered.
Dwight didn't say anything in reply but knew he was guilty for stealing a couple of glances at Sherry. There was hardly a time where Dwight and Sherry were able to be in the same room. Whenever she was around, he couldn't help but peek in her direction. Every so often, Sherry would look at him but her face would immediately blush from his attention. He knew she felt uncomfortable wearing the things Negan made all of his wives slip on. Out of respect for Sherry, Dwight did his very best to not glance at her from the neck down.
He felt annoyed for her as he already heard more than once some Saviors say what terrible things they would do to Negan's wives if they had the chance. It physically took his everything he had to not react violently upon hearing the way the Saviors spoke. Otherwise he would have to beat up everyone in the bar. Alcohol and aggression seemed to fuel the Saviors perverted words where it was difficult for them to see the limitations that they world still held. Sanctuary and its people inherited the attitude of claiming things that didn't belong to them. The line was blurred on how the Saviors treated those around them. Negan's wives were especially treated with more disrespect than anyone else in their community.
Brittany picked up the top hat and gave it to Negan as he shook his head. "No, no, no! This time I want to select the next contestant!" He yelled while the room fell silent. Negan focused on everyone within the bar as he turned around in a small circle to see who he deemed a worthwhile opponent. The Saviors watched him with trepidation as they all hoped that they wouldn't be chosen.
Finally, Negan's gaze fell on Dwight as he pointed to him sternly. "You and me, buddy." He said as the men slowly started to cheer for the next match to begin. Negan nodded to Brittany and Christy on his sides as he glanced towards his other wives. "Go sit down, ladies. Daddy has a fucking game to win." He said.
"Yes you do, babe!" Brittany exclaimed as she patted Negan on the hindquarters. He slapped her butt in return while she skipped to the other girls while Dwight saw the look of revulsion on Sherry's face. He found Brittany's disposition to be somewhat distasteful himself. He stood up as he watched Christy sitting next to Sherry while they both exchanged a look of empathy.
Dwight walked up to the pool table and grabbed a cue stick and chalk cube that were sitting idly by. Negan watched Dwight as he took a puff of his cigar. "What's your wager?" He asked.
"Three months' worth of rations if I win." Dwight said evenly. The room fell silent for the second time that night when they heard Dwight's request. Suddenly Negan snorted and slowly started to laugh. Everyone else chimed in with their own drunken howls.
"Okay, okay." Negan said as he tried to get himself to stop laughing. "I have never seen you play Billiards before. Would that be a very wise course of action for me?"
Dwight shrugged. "You were the one who wanted to play in the first place. If you want to back down, all you have to do is say so." Dwight gibed.
The crowed muttered their disapproval at Dwight's snark remark. Dwight eyed Sherry for a split second and saw she was grinning subtly. Negan gave Dwight a dirty look as he didn't like the idea of backing down from a game only for the fear of losing and then took another drag from his cigar. "I will take your bet." Negan said as he tried to play it off that he was not the least bit worried. "It'll be fun beating your ass to the ground, Orlich."
Dwight chalked his pool cue never taking his eyes off Negan as he set up the table. "You can still back out." Dwight taunted.
Negan smiled menacingly. "I wouldn't dream of it." He replied and then took a coin out of his pocket. "Winner breaks. Heads or tails. Call it in the air." He then threw the coin on the air. "Tails."
"Heads." Dwight muttered as Negan caught the coin. They both leaned over to glance at the results and saw heads came out on top. "I guess I'll go first." Dwight said and picked up the white cue ball and placed it where he deemed optimal on the opposite side of where the triangle was. Some Saviors lined all the balls into the triangle while the room quieted down again.
When all the balls were in their proper place, Negan took the triangle away as Dwight could have heard a pin drop in the silence. For some reason, the Saviors were interested in watching which of their bosses would win the game. Dwight bent down with his cue stick to take aim. He took a short breath as the stick tapped the cue ball as it began to roll towards the other balls on the table. The triangle broke away as the other balls scattered across the pool table. Dwight watched as he was able to sink two balls: one stripe and one solid.
"I'll take stripes." Dwight said. As he walked around the table where the cue ball ended up.
"Solids." Negan muttered under his breath as he surveyed Dwight's next move. Dwight took aim again and shot the cue ball towards the fourteenth ball. It hit the wall and barreled towards the opposite direction and into the middle pocket. One drunk man started to clap but then thought better of it when Negan gave him a glare and immediately stopped.
Dwight walked around the table again as he set his sights on the eleventh ball. He prepared himself once more and hit the cue ball which in turn tapped the eleventh ball the way Dwight hoped would happen. However, it was a hair away from sinking into the pocket. Dwight heard the crowd sigh in unison as the tension built up in the room.
Negan nodded clearly impressed. "You are pretty good at Billiards. You used to play?" Negan questioned as he walked around the table to be in an optimal position for the cue ball.
"It's just all about elastic collision and the kinetic energy before and after impact." Dwight explained while Negan looked confused about his short physics ramble. "Never mind." Dwight said and nodded for Negan to hurry up with his turn.
Negan bent over and stared down the cue stick towards the ball. He hit it as it sunk the fifth ball and almost sunk the eighth ball behind it. Everyone in the room gasped as the game had almost finished in that moment. Fortunately for Negan, the eighth ball stayed on the table. He was able to go again but Dwight could see the infuriation boil in Negan's eyes as Dwight could actually win over him. Dwight wouldn't been surprised if there would be a beating afterwards if he reigned triumphant. He didn't really care if it came down to a brawl. There was a lot of things that he didn't care about in his life and getting in a fight with Negan was one of them.
Negan leaned over once more and hit the cue ball as it headed straight towards the seventh ball. It made impact with the desired ball but didn't sink in the pocket.
Dwight tried to hide his smirk as he felt confident in his odds so far. He took aim at the twelfth ball as he struck the cue ball. It was a straight shot and the twelfth ball sunk into the pocket easily. Dwight then took aim at the eleventh ball again and it sunk effortlessly.
Negan glared at Dwight. "You in a hurry or something?" He grilled.
Dwight glowered back. "I just have a lot riding on this wager." He replied.
Negan dropped what was left of his cigar as it fell to the floor and stomped lightly on it. "I'm not too worried. When it's my turn, I can show you how well I can multitask." He said lightly as if any felt before was nonexistent.
Dwight stared at the table and saw zero optimal possibilities that presented itself. He hit the cue ball slightly so it rolled a couple inches only knowing any other move would prove to be futile. "Okay, show me your multitasking skills." Dwight said. The more he scored points, the cockier he felt.
Negan never took his eyes off Dwight as he grinned deviously. "Sherry, honey! Get over here!" Negan yelled. Dwight could physically feel his heart sink as he immediately know what Negan was doing. This was exactly how every argument would go between them. Suddenly it was breaching beyond immature words as Sherry stood still in the corner of the bar looking slightly angry at what Negan was playing at.
"Come on, Sherry! Get your ass over here!" Negan barked louder.
Sherry slowly made her way to the pool table as the catcalls around the bar exploded. Perhaps it was the lack of extra noise in the room but it seemed to Dwight that the vile words thrown in her direction were a lot more repugnant than usual. It only made Dwight's anger increase. Dwight understood that Negan was only bringing Sherry into the mix to throw off his concentration. He knew he had to maintain focus even though it was going to come with much difficulty.
Sherry stood next to Negan as he quickly wrapped on arm around her shoulder. "Sweetie," he addressed Sherry in a kind voice. "You ever play Billiard's before?"
Sherry shook her head no in response.
Negan smiled to her warmly. "How would you like to learn right now?" He invited as he looked upon her dotingly.
Sherry glared back at him with contempt. "Please don't." She urged slowly and with warning.
Negan feigned hurt as he put a hand to his heart. "Aw, sweetie. How am I supposed to show Dwight the multitasking skills that I promised?" He turned to face Dwight while keeping a firm grip on Sherry's shoulder so she couldn't slip away. "You see, Dwight. I can teach my wife to play pool and still kick your motherfucking ass."
Negan glanced to Sherry again. "Come on, let's show him." As he said that, he grabbed the back of her neck and shoved her to the pool table to force her to bend down. Sherry took a sharp breath as her lips formed a tight line. Dwight's heart was beating out of his chest as he watched her helplessly on the other side of the surface. Negan got behind her leaving zero space between him and Sherry's backside as he bent down directly above her. Sherry breathed heavily in fear as she stared down at the green felt while too embarrassed to look anywhere else.
Negan grabbed one of Sherry's hands and forced her to hold on to the cue stick as he took aim to the cue ball. "Alright, honey. All we have to do is pull this stick back…and…thrust." He said as the stick hit the cue ball and his torso moved back then forward in the same fashion. Some of the men laughed at his not-so-subtle innuendo as the cue ball hit the sixth ball and sunk into the pocket. The men cheered uproariously for Negan as he took his weight off Sherry and bowed towards the Saviors. They all started to chant his name while Sherry stood up straight and quickly wiped a tear away. She looked at Dwight as he stared back at her with a look of sorrow and apology. She then narrowed her eyes and nodded as if giving approval for Dwight to hustle Negan. He was unsure if that was really what she meant until she mouthed, "Give him hell."
Dwight smiled to some degree but still felt uneasy at the scene in front of him. He watched Negan brush his fingers on Sherry's bare middle before he held her hand. "I'm a pretty good teacher, huh?" Negan said in a hushed tone but loud enough for Dwight to hear.
Sherry nodded quickly and avoided looking him directly in the eye and instead focused on the pool table. Unsatisfied with the lack of attention that Sherry was giving him, Negan brought his hand up to her chin so she had no choice but to at least stare in his general direction. Sherry relented and gave Negan a look that would have floored anyone else while Dwight could feel his own eye twitch. Negan rose to the bait and gave a glare with his lips pursed together as they stared each other down for several moments.
Dwight kept his eye on Negan while grinding his teeth. The man had a bad affect at pushing Sherry to her limits. The more he tried to advance, the more Sherry resented him. Surprisingly, Negan was the first to break eye contact and quickly guided Sherry by the arm to Dwight's side of the table. He once again put Sherry into the same position that she was in for the last turn and got behind her. She was jammed in between the table and Negan's torso as he took a minute to admire the view in front of him before he bent down and kissed her shoulder. Dwight could feel his heart constrict at the sight and reminded himself that Negan was only showing such strong affection towards Sherry to get a rise out of him.
"Take some notes, men. Kissing a girl during a round is good luck." Negan proclaimed in a philosophical manner while Dwight couldn't only roll his eyes in disdain. Negan interlaced his fingers with Sherry's as they both held the cue stick. He took aim at the second ball and fired. The ball missed the pocket as all the men went silent again. Everyone saw the cue ball stop in perfect alignment with the fifteenth ball and the pocket. Dwight nearly skipped over to his new spot with confidence and hit the ball which in turn hit number fifteen as it fell into the pocket.
Dwight could almost see smoke flare out of Negan's nostrils. Suddenly, the air around the room seemed less playful again as Dwight watched how closely the loose cannon was standing next to Sherry. Should he pretend to lose the game? What would happen to either of them if he won? While thinking of the unknown variables, he tried to avoid looking at Sherry to indicate how obviously worried he was. Negan didn't need that clarity to use it against him. Dwight looked down at the table and saw that there weren't any more great chances to sink the tenth or the thirteenth ball. Nervousness was starting to take over as he hit the cue ball but watched as it accidentally scratched and fell into the corner pocket.
Even though it was Negan's turn again, Dwight could still see him seething from the ball he was able to sink before. Scratch aside, Dwight was still in the lead and closer to winning. In one instant, Negan quickly grabbed Sherry by the back of her neck and practically tossed her to the table next to the pocket where the cue ball sat. Sherry tried to use her arms to push herself away from the table while Negan proved to be too strong for her to fight against. Dwight took two steps towards the scene in an attempt to save her from the humiliation and downright abuse. Negan looked dangerously towards Dwight with warning in his eyes as he slowly shook his head. Negan picked the cue ball out of the pocket as he continued to hold Sherry's neck down to the table.
"No one is having fun anymore, Negan." Dwight tried to say sensibly as if trying to talk someone out of jumping off a building. "Let her go."
"Alright, Dwight," Negan began clearly having nothing of what Dwight was saying. "I was going easy on you before." He then slammed the cue ball less than an inch away from Sherry's face that laid on the pool table. Sherry jumped and clinched her eyes shut from the impulsive, reckless movement as Negan took his place behind her once more. "No more Mister Fuckin' Nice Guy." He growled and reached for Sherry's hand to take their place on the cue stick. She fidgeted with his touch but he slammed his palm down on the table while the sound echoed throughout the room. Sherry shut her eyes and relented to Negan's touch as Dwight could feel his face drain and run cold. He was terrified for her yet could only stand cowardly in front of the horrific scene.
With both of Sherry's hands in place on the cue stick, Negan took aim and fired toward the seventh ball. The seventh ball landed in the pocket and took the second ball with it that hung by the side. The Saviors cheered again as Negan smiled like an idiot once more, pleased by his play. Dwight only wished he could punch him in the face. "That means two more for me and two more for you." Negan observed. "Let's see who comes out on top." He grabbed Sherry by her bare waist and held her close. Dwight found it unsettling to watch how easily Negan could go from violent and caring within seconds. He hugged her tenderly and whispered in her ear while Sherry arched her back to lean as far away from him as she could.
When he finished whispering in Sherry's ear, he looked to his audience. "I'm letting my protégé take a rest. Everyone give a round of applause for her participation under my tutelage. My beautiful fuckin' angel." He shouted with pride. Sherry appeared to be in slight shock at what had just transpired as she slowly ambled back to where Negan's other wives sat. Dwight couldn't help but notice the look of hurt mixed with humiliation on her face. He had hoped that he wasn't the reason that happened. Maybe if he let Negan win, Sherry wouldn't have been involved in the public demonstration of Negan's control. He watched the girls bring Sherry into a group hug as Negan took another turn and missed sinking the third ball. Dwight saw Megan and Amanda crying on Sherry's behalf from the previous moment.
Dwight turned his attention back to the game and smiled as he looked at the one possibility he could do. No matter how much the night escalated, he had a chance to do something good with his life. And he was going to take that leap of faith that he wouldn't be punished for it later. He looked to Negan with a smirk. "Do you know what the vector equation and linear momentum is for ball collision, Negan?" Dwight questioned.
Negan looked to him condescendingly. "English, Dwight. That fucking shit doesn't matter in this world anymore." He stated.
Dwight glanced at him with a straight face and then stared at the table. "Physics is still a thing. Even in an apocalypse. That being said, there are certain equations you can make to optimize your outcome in pool. Certain formulas that you can mentally visualize." Dwight bent down and took aim at the eighth ball. Some of the men snickered as if Dwight had lost his mind. He fired as the cue ball hit the eighth ball with enough force that it hit the thirteenth ball behind it. The thirteenth ball hit the wall and angled towards the pocket. It started to lose momentum but finally sunk right before it ceased movement completely.
Dwight fixed his eyes where the cue ball sat and noticed in was conveniently aligned with the tenth ball and the pocket. With ease, he sunk the tenth ball while the cue ball nearly scratched behind it. The Saviors all held their breaths but leaned in closer or stood taller to see what would happen on the table but the cue ball slowed to a stop before it sunk into the pocket.
This time Negan didn't look angry but was awestruck. Everyone in the bar knew in that moment that Dwight was going to win his three month supply of food. Negan took his turn but with less focus as reality sank in that his chances of winning were slim. He hit the cue ball with no destination in mind as the cue ball wasn't in any optimal places for a worthwhile game but tried to put the ball in a spot that would make Dwight's impending turn more difficult.
Dwight looked at the table and saw his next turn was near impossible. However, his dad teaching him billiard's almost every night after homework was over when he was a child didn't go to waste as he walked around the table and stood next to Negan. "Excuse me." He muttered as Negan stepped aside with mild amusement as he snorted in reply. Dwight leaned down and hit the cue ball as it shot off one wall and started careening towards the eighth ball. The impact seemed louder with the room being completely quiet as the eighth ball raced into the pocket. It dropped in while the Saviors didn't know whether to clap or start beating Dwight to a bloody pulp. Dwight followed the crowds eyes as they all looked to Negan for validation. Dwight waited in silence until Negan reacted either way. He didn't feel the least bit sorry for beating him. He actually took great pleasure in besting Negan at his own game.
Negan slowly handed his cue stick to a Savior behind him but kept his eyes on Dwight. Slowly he put his hands together and started clapping. A smile crept on his face as he looked around in nodded in approval. The audience began to cheer awkwardly until it grew to a thunderous roar. "Wow!" Negan exclaimed in shock. "That was the best fucking game that I have ever seen!" He bellowed while he continued to nod his head. "Remind me to never play with you again! Give the man his three months' worth of food, goddammit! He sure has fucking earned it! Shots all around!"
The crowd cheered in a drunken stupor while Dwight casually walked over to Takuya and Carson as if the whole ordeal hardly phased him. However, he felt as if he had just gone up against Goliath.
"You schooled his ass! Literally!" Carson approved.
Dwight nodded with a shrug. "If you know physics, don't be ashamed." He said as humbly as he could and gazed at the corner of the bar where Sherry stared back at him.
"What are you going to do with all that food?" Dwight heard Takuya inquire.
Dwight smiled at Sherry reassuringly as if to communicate to her that everything was going to be alright. She grinned back and raised her wine glass to him with praise. "I have a pretty good idea of what I will do with it." Dwight answered while still looking at the woman he loved.
…
The next morning, Sherry woke up to the window partially opened. She sank deeper into her covers to prevent the draft from attacking her exposed skin. But then she wondered why the window was even open. She popped out of her bed and headed straight towards the window when she saw a paper taped to it. Sherry snatched the paper off the window and read the handwritten note.
Look under your bed.
P.S. You're a heavy sleeper when you are actually able to sleep.
I'm guessing the wine helped?
Sherry still in a half asleep daze walked to her bed and knelt down with curiosity. When she removed the bed skirt, she gasped loudly at the sight and covered her mouth. "Christy!" She whispered after several seconds passed.
Christy grunted with protest as she turned away from Sherry with her eyes still closed. "Sher, I drank too much last night and I don't even have coffee to help me out. Let me sleep in." She complained.
"Christy! Look under my bed!" Sherry whispered again with excitement.
Christy turned to face Sherry as she opened her eyes slightly. When she was able to focus, her eyes widened at the sight underneath Sherry's bed skirt. There, under the bed, was three months' worth of canned goods with a can opener on the side.
Christy beheld the food in astonishment. "How?" She asked.
"By window delivery." Sherry replied and handed the note to Christy. When Christy read it, she gave it back to Sherry who carefully tucked it under her mattress where all of her other letters were hidden.
Dwight, I could kiss you right about now, she thought as she looked to the food like it was Christmas morning. "Guess we need to let the other girls know that breakfast is ready." She said cheerfully.