A/N: Thank you all so much for reading! I am so happy to know you enjoy it! I'm sorry for the delay. It's been a bit hectic here including the entire month of January being filled with catching covid and my grandmother passing away. I appreciate your patience. I hope you like this chapter. Please let me know what you think!

Chapter 6: Addicted to Love

She did.

She dreamt of people calling her name, of bodies pressed against her and teeth scraping against her neck. She dreamt of being kissed at a concert, pushed up against the wall, her legs wrapped around a waist and being able to feel the bass of the music through it.

Her alarm went off, breaking the dream and forcing her back to reality. She lay there for a moment, trying to remember just who it was she had been dreaming about. No one specifically came to mind, but she was left wanting now that she was awake. She felt oddly empty and alone.

She sat back, feet propped up on the counter while she tried to ignore the heat that was settling in the store. She had opened the store a bit later than usual since she moved slowly after that dream. It was hard to get out of bed knowing she only had a thrift shop waiting for her and not someone to kiss the sense out of her. At least, not like her dream. Which she was remembering less and less as the day went on.

Her hair was pulled up in another high pony with a giant curl pinned up in the front again. It was an easy hairstyle, especially since her braids came loose from the motorcycle rides and how she slept. It also kept her hair off of her neck.

There was a clang of something moving on the other side of the store. She ignored it. The ghost was real in her opinion, even if Sampson didn't believe in it. It wasn't too much of a stretch to think that something they had in this place could be haunted.

"Just don't break anything," she called out. It took her the entire first week she had worked here to actually get the place in some sort of order.

"Who are you talking to?"

She glanced up to see Clark walking in. He looked around, trying to see who else was in the store.

"The ghost," she said. "Miss me?"

"Like the plague," he retorted back, just as fast.

She grinned at the kid. She liked him more and more the longer she knew him. Something about him reminded her of herself. Maybe it was the steadfast determination that he could take care of himself.

"I thought you'd be closed."

"I got in late," she said. "Figured I'd stay open later to make up for it. What brings you to my humble abode."

"Nothin'. My parents were just bagging on me. Needed space."

"Well, you're always welcome here while I'm around. In fact, I'll put you to work." She ignored the face he made at that and dropped her feet on the ground to grab some change. It was only a couple dollars but she handed it over. "Go grab me a coke and some chips. Just not salt and vinegar."

He took the money. "Anything else."

"Whatever you want," she waved him off. "Just bring me my stuff."

He left without a word. She put her feet back up and leaned back in her chair. She could probably close without any problem or cash loss, but she had nothing better to do. Might as well stay open.

There was a clang that came from the back. She froze. That wasn't in the shop. Motherfucker. It was probably the thieves who kept breaking into the donation box. She got up and grabbed the only bat in the tiny sports section they had. There were mainly golf clubs, though why anyone thought they would play golf in this place made no sense to her. She unlatched the back door before kicking it open in order to startle them.

"What the fuck are you doing?" She snarled, raising the bat. The person was bent in front of the open box which still hadn't fully been fixed. They looked up at her.

"Darcy!"

There was no fear like she had intended. Paul's face practically lit up as he saw her. "What are you doing here?" His gaze dropped and traced up her bare legs to her shorts and then higher till he reached her face.

"Me?" She pointed the bat at him. "Are you the one who's been breaking into this thing?"

"What? No," he closed the door to it quickly and stood up. "I saw it open."

"Liar. That latch was shut tight. If I find out you've been breaking into my donation box-"

"Yours?" He grinned. "This your store?"

"No." She lowered the bat and placed her free hand on her hip. "But I work here. Now, why the hell are you breaking into my donation box?"

He motioned to his legs. "I need new pants." His acid-washed jeans had a tear up the side, opening over his thigh.

"And what? You can't afford to buy them?" She raised her eyebrows, giving him an unimpressed look. "If you can buy pizza and concert tickets, you can buy your own pants."

"Babe, if I knew you were here, I'd have walked right in."

She rolled her eyes and turned and walked back inside. Paul followed.

"So this where you've been hiding?" He wandered around as she went back behind her counter. She kept the bat at her side. Just in case.

"It's called having a job." She leaned on the counter, watching as he pulled different things from the racks, considered them and threw them back. Aside from the rip in his jeans, they also had some rust-brown stains on them. The black shirt he wore seemed fairly intact in comparison. He pulled an old tuxedo jacket from one of the racks and tried it on.

"Aren't you here for pants?"

"What?" he stepped more into her view and turned. "Don't like what you see?" He threw her a wink.

"I just don't want you to waste my time. I'm already open late."

Paul headed towards her and hopped up on her counter. He turned to face her. "You just waitin' for me? Or are you planning more vandalism?" His eyes seemed to shine. "Want help? I'll fuck him up for you."

"Gee and they say romance is dead," she said dryly.

Paul burst out laughing. "It is!" he choked out before nearly falling off of the counter in his hysterics.

"Am I interrupting?" Clark stood in the doorway, looking hesitant. His hands were full with the spoils of his search.

Darcy shoved Paul off of her counter. "No, come on, give me my stuff. No chips?"

Clark entered slowly, keeping an eye on Paul as he handed over her drink and a bag of popcorn. "They were out. You alright?"

She gave him a smile. "I'm fine, don't worry. Paul is just being obnoxious."

"She's so mean ," Paul said with a grin that looked a bit cruel. "Stole my heart and won't give it back."

She rolled her eyes and threw a piece of popcorn at him. He tried to catch it with his mouth. "Ignore him," she said. "Thanks for getting this for me." She caught Clark's eye. "You don't have to stay. It's cool." She was well aware of the presence any of them had and she'd rather Clark be gone before the others found Paul. They were never far behind.

"And miss the party?"

Speak of the devil and he appears. She looked over at David. "How do you guys keep finding me?"

"Maybe we can't stay away," he suggested. He walked in like he owned the place. Marko was biting at his thumbnail as he followed. Dwayne glanced around quickly before his eyes settled on her.

"I would be so lucky," she drawled. "Go Clark, I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"

The kid glanced between them before he nodded and took off. She definitely didn't blame him one bit.

She glared at the men as some of them glanced his way as he left. "Leave him alone."

"Who is he?" Marko asked.

"My minion. So I expect he returns to me every day, got it?" She didn't need them scaring the kid off. He got enough of that with those Surf Nazi assholes.

"He did bring her food," Paul said with a shrug.

The others moved closer to stand in front of her and she offered the bag of popcorn to Dwayne. He did share a cigarette last time...and she should not have thought about that. The memory of his breath against her skin reminded her of the dream she had had. She ignored the way her face heated and how their eyes darkened in response. Dwayne grinned at her as he took a handful. She pulled it back before the others could take some.

"Not going to share?" David asked.

"No. Why are you here?"

Marko leaned on the counter and grinned at her. "Just want to see you."

"Do you have-" she cut off her thought. It wouldn't have made sense to ask if they had tracking chips implanted on each other. Not now at least.

"Have what?" Dwayne asked.

"Bloodhound in your veins? Considering the way you all keep finding each other."

They laughed harder than she expected at that. She was not that funny. David reached behind his ear, pulling down a cigarette. She hopped up slightly, pressing her stomach into the counter as she pulled it from his hand. He let her take it and she tucked it on the shelf under the counter. "The clothes are clean. I don't want them to smell before I can sell them."

The boys seemed to take that as permission to browse the shop.

"Come on, babe, get yourself a better view." Marko stepped around the counter and made a show of slowly reaching for her.

"Don't-" she tried to stop him from trying to lift her. He didn't listen. Instead, his hands grabbed her waist and he lifted her with more ease than she expected from him. He placed her on top of the counter, his hands trailed down her bare legs, goosebumps prickling in their wake and she jolted away, trying not to laugh.

He grinned widely before he moved away. Another hand reached for her, helping her lift her legs as he turned her to face the shop. David stood at her legs, hand on her thigh. The leather of his glove felt cool on her skin despite him wearing it.

"You better not steal anything!" she called out as Marko joined Paul in his search.

"They won't," David said. He seemed content to stay next to her and touch her. She lifted the hand from her thigh and dropped it. He just grinned and proceeded to wrap his arm around her waist, pulling her closer to the edge of the counter.

She glanced at him, curious as to why he was still touching her. "Why are you here, David?"

"Why do you think, Darcy?" He turned to look at her. His eyes scanned her face, pausing on her lips before they met hers. His thumb started stroking the bit of skin that showed between her shorts and the shirt she had tied up at her waist.

Her mouth went dry. "You're stalking me."

"Is that what you think?"

"Obviously, since I said it," she snarked back. "I met you once and now you're everywhere."

"We're right where we want to be."

"Hey, Darcy girl!" Paul called out. "What do you think?" He strutted forward to show off his outfit. She burst out laughing. Apparently, while she was distracted by David and his touch, Paul decided to find the most most vintage dress he could in the place and cram himself in it. It was definitely a challenge considering she tended to swipe the best stuff that came in.

"You really pull that off," she said.

He looked like he didn't know whether or not to be offended by it but Marko laughed hysterically. Paul decided to grab him in a headlock.

"Hey!" She yelled, getting ready to jump off the counter. "Hey! Not in the store!"

"Boys," David cut through, holding her in place. "Outside."

They glanced at her before they left, each of them shoving each other until they got outside. Dwayne stepped up on her other side and she found herself surrounded again. They smelt like the ocean, leather…and something metallic. It was oddly appealing. Dwayne's hand touched her thigh and she tried to ignore the cool weight of it.

"Come with us tonight," David said, leaning slightly closer.

"Come, Darcy," Dwayne added, his voice a bit softer. She swallowed tightly. God, to take those words in a completely different context.

"No," she shook her head. "Not tonight." Dwayne's hand went a bit higher and David grabbed her chin so she would look at him.

"Darcy," the world faded around her and it almost sounded as though his voice was echoing. "Come with us." She heard Dwayne say her name behind her.

She tried to focus, instead of getting distracted by them. She turned away from them, facing forwards. She bit the inside of her cheek, still sore from the other day.

There was a growl next to her before suddenly lips were on hers. The kiss was demanding and she reached up, digging her fingers into thick hair as she parted her lips. She felt his tongue touch the side of her cheek that was bleeding and the grip on her thigh tightened. Dwayne pulled back suddenly, letting go and moving away from her.

She blinked, slightly dazed before David moved in between her legs and pulled her closer to him. His hand went to the back of her neck, holding her in place before he kissed her. He nipped at her lips before deepening the kiss. She clung to the front of his jacket. For all the near-constant desire to hit him, he knew what he was doing. He pulled back slowly before kissing her again, this time harder. It felt more desperate as if he expected her to disappear from his grasp.

The kiss broke. His lips moved across her cheek and jaw before reaching her neck. He paused, burying his nose then pulling back. His eyes met hers. "Still don't know?" he teased, almost maliciously.

She shook her head.

He leaned forward and nipped at her ear before he stepped back. "You can't run from us, Darcy." He grabbed Dwayne and they both seemed to pull each other out of the store.

She sat on the counter, trying to come back to herself. What the fuck just happened?

[tbc]