Glenn has been over every night for the last week and a half which is fine as long as he and Maggie aren't having sex. I don't care what they do together behind closed doors, I just don't want to hear it. I have discovered, it doesn't matter where I am at in the apartment, if they are doing it, I can hear it because the place is so tiny. I have taken to keeping headphones on me at all times so that way I can drown them out. And even then, that doesn't always work. Sometimes I just leave and go to Starbucks or the diner two blocks away just to get some peace and quiet. It is not like every time they are here, they are having sex. Even though it feels that way sometimes. They both are just naturally loud people. As an introvert, I enjoy my me time which typically consists of me taking a bath or reading a book. You know more quiet activities. I am happy Maggie has found someone. I just wish they would go to his place every now and then. The trouble is it's not Glenn's place they would be going to, it would be Daryl's. I haven't spoken to him since he fixed Tink. I try to think about him too much. But that is impossible since his roommate is always here which only adds to my growing frustration.

I need to talk to Maggie about all this. Speak of the Devil, there's her picture lighting up my phone with a call.

"Hey"

"Hey sis. How's your day going?" She asks.

"It's going okay. Found out I have two big tests coming up next Thursday that I am going to have to cram for." I only have class on Tuesday and Thursdays which is nice. But it is a pain when I have multiple tests on the same day. I only have one year left until I get my vet degree and I cannot wait. "How was your day?

"It was good. Glenn is coming over tonight after he gets off work by the way."

Great, I think sarcastically. "Okay. I'll be going to the diner tonight for dinner."

"Again?" She asks sounding a little hurt.

"Yeah. I need to finish this homework and that way you two can have some alone time."

"Well okay." I can tell she's a little bothered by my decision. "Do you not like Glenn or something?"

Thank the Lord she is pretty because sometimes she is a little dense. "No Mags. I love Glenn, it's not that." I reassure her. "I just want to do my homework without hearing you two have sex all the time."

She busts out laughing. "I am sorry, are we that loud?"

"Honestly yes you are. You two have no shame." I laugh with her.

"We will try to be quieter. I promise." She giggles. "How about this, if I am thinking I am going to get lucky, I will text you the eggplant emoji." That makes me laugh harder. "That way you have fair warning and if you want to go for a while, you can."

"Sounds good to me. But I am still going to the diner tonight."

"Deal." She says. "We would go to his place, but since he is staying with Daryl, and he is always there, we are just more comfortable going to our place."

"I get it. I will see you when you get home okay?"

"Okay Bye I love you."

"Love you too." I hang up and feel a little better about life for the moment.

When Glenn texts Maggie that he is off work, I gather my stuff and walk to the diner that is two blocks away from our apartment. The diner itself is nothing all that special. It's a small establishment and looks as though it hasn't been updated since the fifties, but it has the most amazing chocolate shakes. I walk in and look around trying to find an open booth. My eyes fall on Daryl sitting in a booth looking at the menu. His hands are clean but his arms are streaked with grease which leads me to believe he is fresh off from work. All the open tables and booths are near Daryl so no matter what I will have to pass him or be in his line of sight. I decide to say hello then go sit down and leave him to his meal. The closer I get to him the more nervous I feel.

He looks up right as I get to him. He clearly was expecting the waitress rather than me. "Beth."

I smile. "Hey Daryl."

"What are you doing here?" He asks curiously.

"This place has my favorite shakes and I needed to get out of the house for a little while, so I decide to come here for dinner." Two couples come in and take the booth I was planning to sit at. Great. Now I am going to have to sit either right behind Daryl or right in front of him. "What are you doing here?" Dumb question, I think to myself.

He grins at me. "Man's gotta eat." I nod internally kicking myself. So much for playing it cool. "Well if you're gonna eat alone, you want to eat alone together?"

His offer surprises me. "Sure, woman's gotta eat too." I reply as I lower myself down into the booth across from him. The waitress comes and takes our order. I opt for the chocolate shake and a burger with fries and then Daryl orders the same thing. "How have you been?" I ask.

"Good. Busy with work. What about you?" He looks at me.

It's like I can feel him studying me as I speak. "Good, school's keeping me busy. I actually was going to do homework while I ate but I'm thankful for the distraction." Gesturing to him. "I have been at it since class let out today." It's Thursday which are my busiest days.

"Glad to be of assistance." Our drinks come and I take sip of my shake. "How's Glenn? I feel like I have barely seen him this week. I know he's been over at y'alls place a lot lately."

"Yes. He has. He's actually the reason I am here." Daryl looks confused. "He's been over so much, I just needed to get out of the house for some peace and quiet."

He nods for a moment, then a grin comes across his face. "You can hear them screwing can't ya?"

I almost spit out my shake. I was not expecting him to say that. I can feel myself blushing a little and I begin to laugh. "Yes. Our apartment is so small and they are so loud." He silently laughs along with me. "How did you know?"

"Just put the pieces together." He takes a drink. "And last time they were over, I could hear them going at it."

"Honestly, it's been hard to concentrate on my school work. When they aren't doing that, they are just loud in general. No matter what they are doing. They made dinner the other night and knocked over every pot and pan we owned."

"Send to my place." He offers.

"I tried. They don't want to take advantage of your hospitality."

He considers this. "Well if you need a place to go and get some peace and quiet, you can always come to my place. You can study or do homework or just hang out."

I smile at him. "Thanks, I may just take you up on that."

When I get home, Maggie and Glenn are cuddled on the couch. Daryl and I talked for a couple of hours at the diner. He's not only ease on the eyes but easy to talk to. He just listens mostly, but when he does talk, he is funny and sweet. "Hey you're home late." Maggie says.

"Yeah, I was at the diner. I ran into Daryl and we had dinner together." I know she is going to make a big deal about this. I look over to Glenn, "He says hi by the way."

"Y'all had dinner together?" Maggie looks at Glenn, "This is the second date they have been on in two weeks."

"It was not a date!" I sigh loudly. "He was at the diner when I got there. I said hi and he offered for me to join him." Glenn looks genuinely shocked and Maggie looks like she is watching her favorite chick flick. "And before you ask I paid for my own meal." Which is a lie. He paid, I tipped, but she doesn't have to know that.

"He asked you to join him?" Glenn repeats.

"Yes why is that so shocking? It's not like he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him." I say sarcastically.

"He might as well have." Glenn retorts. "Look you don't know him like I do. That's a big deal for him. He must really like you."

I roll my eyes. "He doesn't like me. He was just being…"

"Friendly. We know that's what you think." Maggie chimes in. "Beth wake up he clearly likes you."

"Yeah. Seriously, I have been friends with the man for 10 years and I have never heard anyone refer to him as friendly before. Ever." Glenn says.

I stare at Glenn in disbelief. "You are so dramatic." He shrugs and I continue "Maybe he does, maybe he doesn't. Right now, we are just friends and I am okay with that. So enough from the peanut gallery." That shuts them up for the moment.

As I am walking away, I hear Glenn ask Maggie, "What would their couple name be? Deth?"

"Ew. No. Bethyl." I roll my eyes and I go to my room.

D: Make it home okay?

B: Yes.

B: Also your roommate is annoying.

D: I could have told you that.

D: Want to come over?

B: No, I need my beauty sleep. I have to get up early for work. Thanks though.

D: Don't need no sleep for that. You're already beautiful.

B: Aww aren't you the charmer. 😉

D: Get some rest.

D: Good night.

B: Good night.