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Chapter 2.

Daryl didn't want any breakfast either, thank goodness. The thought of food made her stomach churn even after two cups of coffee in the kitchen with him. They sat at the table not even trying to pretend that they weren't uncomfortable. Daryl didn't know what to say. Neither did Hallie. So they said pretty much nothing for a long time.

Hallie rose and offered to refill his cup. She sat the carafe down with a clink and sat back down. "Lookit. I gotta be honest. You need to tell me everything you can remember because I can't remember shit." Daryl marveled. There she goes again, cussing. He fought back a smile, trying to remind himself that this was just a hook-up and he really had no business liking her.

"Can't 'member a lot neither." he said slowly. "Your friend came over an' told me ya' liked me but was 'fraid ta' talk ta' me. I bought ya' a drink. You came over ta' thank me. They all came over an' sat down. We all started doin' shots an' playin' pool. That's where it starts gettin' fuzzy." Daryl tried not to show his embarrassment. Hallie may have been more forthcoming with her own lack of history with one-night-stands but Daryl was not about to admit it his own inexperience.

"Do you remember much of...uhm..." her voice trailed off and she looked away, around, up at the ceiling, her face flushing again.

"Yup." he said, knowing full well what she meant. He let her hang. He sure DID remember it. That was the one part he could remember clearly. The way she felt under him. On top of him. Next to him. Her smooth skin, the way she smelled of sugar and cinnamon and leather and wood smoke. The silky softness of her hair as he ran his hands through it, over and over as they kissed. How hot her skin felt against him. How she moved against him. How she gripped the rails of the massive wooden headboard and arched her back. How she moaned his name as they both edged closer to...

"Daryl." her voice broke his thoughts "Yup?" she frowned.

"Yup." he said, nodding his head. He looked at her and caught her gaze for several seconds, fighting back the smile. A little bit won, the corner of his mouth curling just the slightest. Hallie got the message.

"Oh God." she said quietly, standing and going to the sink to pour out the rest of her coffee. "So." she said, turning around slowly, her face going from bright red to pale. "Now what?"

"Now I leave." he said flatly, standing. He brought the mug to the sink and held it out. "Thanks." he said, looking down at her. He leaned down and kissed her cheek. "You were amazin'." he whispered and turned to leave.

He turned back around and stopped at the door. "Ya' got 'nothin' ta' be 'mbarassed 'bout."

Hallie watched, her mouth open, as he exited the kitchen and walked through the living room, closing the front door behind him. She stood on her tiptoes to watch through the kitchen window as he walked down to the his pickup, his boots now in his hand. She still wasn't sure how they managed to make it home in one piece. She was ashamed of that fact probably more than anything else. How stupid and reckless. She watched as the truck backed up down the drive and disappeared.

Well, she thought to herself, I hope you're proud. First time you've been laid in a year and you can't even remember it. She turned towards the bathroom to take a long, hot shower. "Fucking Jose Cuervo." she said out loud.

XXXXX

Hallie laid in bed, her head still throbbing. She'd managed to choke down half a can of Spaghetti-o's, her own personal favorite form of comfort food, and some Mountain Dew. She had tried watching some television but there was nothing on of any interest and frankly the noise and the lights made her headache worse. She closed her eyes to try to nap but when she did, snippets of the night before ran through her mind.

She picked up the phone and dialed Kelly, her friend. If anybody had the scoop, it would be her. This was probably all her idea to start with.

"Kels? What the fuck did I do last night?" she said, without saying hello.

"You had a great time, that's what the fuck you did!" Kelly said loudly. "How was Daryl? Is he still there? Did you guys do it? Tell me everything you did. Give me all the details" she said breathlessly.

"Shut it!" Hallie said, annoyed. "You aren't getting any details because I can't fucking remember any details. I called YOU so you could tell ME!"

The woman on the other end began laughing. "Oh, Girl, let me tell you..."

Hallie listened without saying much. Some of the bits and pieces she was able to remember began falling into place slowly. Much, however, was still a blur, especially after they left Pete's. Basically what Daryl had told her was accurate. Her friends had gotten them together and they all were drinking and then Hallie and Daryl left together.

"Did I do anything really embarrassing while we were at Pete's?" she asked in a quiet voice.

"Not anything the rest of us weren't doing. But you were pretty friendly with Daryl. It was cute. You guys couldn't keep your hands off of each other." Kelly giggled. "But no, you two did not have sex on the pool table, if that's what you're worried about."

"Thank god." Hallie whispered. "Anything else?"

"Yeah." Kelly said. "You dance good when you're drunk."

"FUCK! What do you mean I dance GOOD?" Hallie almost was screaming. "What did I do? Kelly, fuck, what did I DOOOO?" her voice thin and high now as she panicked.

"Relax, we were all dancing. You were just having a good time. We were all having a good time. Nobody thought a thing about it. It was just...nice to see you cut loose. I think Daryl liked it a lot too."

"What? I danced with him?"

"Not exactly. More like you danced...FOR him."

"Oh shit." Hallie croaked. "Was it bad?"

"No, I'd say he probably thought it was pretty good."

"What did I do, exactly?" she whispered.

"Relax. You were just dancing. You were NOT rubbing all over him or humping his leg. You kept your clothes on. I think it was a Zepplin song."

A brief memory flashed through Hallie's mind. "Kashmir." she said quietly. "That song makes me nuts even without tequila." she admitted. "Oh, fuck. What did I do, really, will I be able to show my face at Pete's ever again?"

"Will you fucking chill?" Kelly laughed. "You are soooo paranoid somebody's gonna' think something bad about you. Jesus! You had a good time. You danced. You played pool. You got drunk. You met a guy and you hooked up. Happens every night of the week and Hallie, newsflash, people live through it. Sometimes they even do it again! Repeatedly!"

"So I wasn't out of control?"

"No!"

"I didn't embarrass myself in public?"

"NO!" Kelly shouted. "Really, I have done much worse with much less alchohol. I've done worse with NO alcohol, come to think of it! In fact, you've seen me do it. Will you get over yourself, you big prude?"

"Ok. Thanks, I think. I'm just so-""Yah, EMBARRASSED, I know" Kelly teased.

"Ok. See you tomorrow. Hey Kel?"

"Yah.""Thanks. I think Daryl was nice. At least he was when he left this morning.""Aaannnnddd?"

"Judging by how I, ahem, feel this morning, I think we had a really good time."

"That's ma' girl!" Kelly laughed and hung up the receiver.