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"Here's your coffee sir." Julie handed the man his drink and turned to attend to the next costumer. Today was one of the crazy ass days when you barely have time to breathe between orders.

"Can I have strawberry tea and cream muffin?"

"Coffee and donut!"

"Blueberry muffin!"

"Apple pie and orange juice!"

"Here you go!" Julie handed Allison and Kristin the requests and the girls filled their trays. After a while, she could finally catch her breath. She sat on a stool, rested her elbow on the counter and buried her head in her hands.

"Busy day?"

Julie looked up and saw Mark smiling at her, she smiled back. "Aren't they all?" He laughed, showing her his perfect white teeth. "What can I get you?"

"Hmm… maybe the famous chocolate Frappuccino?"

Julie started laughing and Mark arched a brow, it wasn't supposed to be funny.

"Sorry. It's just that…" She shook her head and turned to get his order. She remembered Billy coming and asking for a frepucino, that was funny. By the way, what did he want from her? If he was as mean as he looked, why did he even dedicate a piece of his attention to her? Let alone ask around about her! If he was really the gang leader, then how come he didn't act against her while she was at that bar, confronting him? Well, he probably considered her to be no more than an annoying fly, besides, why would he do something to her? Gah! This all was so ridiculous! She put a purple sucker in the glass and handed it to Mark. "Here." She sat back on the stool.

"Uh! It's good." Mark complimented, half of the drink already gone. The pleased smile Julie had on her face disappeared when she noticed someone from Billy Darley's crew walking towards her. She recognized him, he had been here before.

"Hey." He smirked at her.

"Hey."

"My brother asked me to give you this." He handed her a folded paper.

"Aw, so he's your brother?" She took it but didn't bother opening it.

"Yup, my older brother."

"How brave of him, sending his baby brother to deliver messages to random girls just to see if he can get some."

Joe couldn't help but laugh. "Careful hottie, you don't know how it works."

"Why don't you show me?" She shot him a mischievous smirk.

He laughed harder this time. "Trust me, I would if he wasn't my big brother." Joe turned to walk away but shot one more look at Julie. "See ya hottie." Then walked away with an amused grin on his lips.

Julie stood there with her bottom jaw hitting the floor, their craziness must be genetic. She put the note on her back pocket and shook her head.

"Aren't you gonna open it?" Mark asked and Julie looked at him half-surprised, she had forgotten he was there.

"Hmm, not right now."

"So, you've been hanging out with his brother?" If Julie had paid attention to his voice, she'd have noticed his disappointment.

"Me?" She gave a small laugh. "No, no. I barely know him."

"I feel like I have seen that guy before. What's his name?"

"I don't know." Julie had a thoughtful expression. "But his brother's is Billy Darley, if that helps."

At the mentioning of the name, Mark's eyes grew wild. "Billy Darley? The same Billy Darley from the hospital?"

"Yeah! You know him?"

"Julie, most people do. He's a gang member."

"He's the leader, actually."

"So you know him."

"No, just got that piece of information from a friend. You knew who he was even back at the hospital?"

"Yeah. If I could, I'd have left him to bleed to death, but as a doctor, it is my job to help him."

"Is he that bad?"

"Police can never prove any of their acts but everyone knows what his crew is responsible for."

"You mean they really kill people?"

"Julie I didn't think you were that naïve."

"I'm not naïve." She stated angrily. "It's just that… God, a murderer has been asking about me."

"What?" Mark seemed confused about what was going on.

"Nothing. Crap!" She shook her head in disapproval, she had gotten herself into a big mess. She cursed the night she took the coffees to the hospital and bumped into him.

"You ok?" Mark asked a little concerned.

"Yeah." She put her strong façade back on. "It's alright."

"Maybe you should tell the police this guy is around?"

"Don't worry Mark, I can handle it."

"You give it to her?"

"Sure." Billy patted his young brother's shoulder with a smirk. "But…"

"But what Joey?"

"There was someone else. I mean, I don't know if they have something, but he's clearly into her."

"Who?"

"I don't kn…"

"I want a name."

Joe simply nodded and left. Last night the crew had made a bet, whether Billy would sleep with her or not. Because of her attitude, most dared to bet against it. He'd prove them all wrong.

"Julie!" Kristin called half an hour before closing time.

"Yeah?"

"My sister just called, she's feeling sick. Do you mind taking the coffee to the hospital tonight? I gotta go check on her."

"No, it's alright."

"Thanks! I'll cover you next time!"

"You better."

After a laugh, Kristin raced through the doors.

"What you know about Billy Darley?" Julie asked Ally, who sat on a stool in front of the counter.

Ally frowned. "I've heard that name before, but have never really seen the guy."

"Actually, you have." Ally shot her a puzzled look. "Bald head, leather jacket, facial hair…"

Her eyes grew. "You mean the 'remember me' guy?"

Julie chuckled at how she referred to him. "That's the one."

"You serious?! Wow. God Julie, you owe him something?"

"No! Actually, he owes me something, or at least he thinks so."

"Drop it Ju, that guy's bad news."

"So it seems. Oh, time to close, I gotta take the coffee."

"Yeah, I better get going. Jimmy is passing by tonight."

"Passing by, eh?"

"You know what I mean!"

Julie laughed.

"Freaking piece of shit!" Julie yelled as she kicked her car. It wouldn't start for nothing, she even tried to hotwire it but still nothing. She'd have to walk the whole way. Sighing, she took the boxes she had already placed inside the car and started walking.

It was Mark's day off, so he wasn't there and no one else seemed pleased or even cared about her presence. She simply dropped the coffee by and walked out, on her way back home.

Half an hour ago, she had read Billy's note. He wanted to see her tonight, at the Four Roses, 7 pm. It was already 7:15 pm and she surely didn't plan on going. Julie's constantly deep breathes didn't help her understand what he wanted from her, why couldn't he just leave her alone? She thought she had made clear that she wasn't into this gang thing, that she didn't want to have anything to do with him or whatever it is that he does.

Out of the blue, an arm went around Julie's neck and spun her around. A shinny silver knife glowed right in front of her eyes and she had no weapon with her. Lost in her thoughts, she hadn't see it coming. Damn her car.

"Ok, I have ten bucks in my pocket. It's all I have and I'll hand it to you." She stated calmly, her hands raised. The attacker's head was covered with some black fabric, except for his nose, mouth and eyes.

"Ten bucks? You could get a lot more than that if you offered that body of yours."

She smirked sarcastically. "Yeah you know, that ain't an option for me." She backed away but her back met the brick wall.

The guy smiled. "And they say there's no such thing as free lunch." He licked the knife and shot her another dark smile. "Shall we?"

"Stay away!" She got into a sort of judo attack position, making the guy laugh.

"Cute."

"I'm warning you dude, I'm a black belt."

"So is the Easter Bunny." He came closer, forcing Julie to prove her words. She blocked his armed hand with one arm and punched him with the other. Within a second they got caught up in a fist fight. She surely was a skillful and well trained girl, but he still had his knife.

"Let her go." A hard voice ordered calmly, then the cocking of a gun.. The attacker grabbed hold of Julie and held the knife against her neck, she was breathing hard. Her attacker turned them to face the third person and two pair of eyes widened as they saw Billy Darley aiming at the guy's head. "I won't tell you again."

"Darley." Her attacker sounded astonished and satisfied at the same time.

"Rawson." Billy replied completely emotionless.

"This ain't of your business. Get back to the hole out of which you crawled."

Billy readjusted his aim. "Last chance Rawson, let her go or I'll blow your fucking brains out." He meant every word.

Rawson glanced at the girl he had in his arms, then back at Billy, who kept his glare on both of them. Rawson forced the knife against her neck, slightly cutting her skin, making her bleed.. Julie couldn't hold back a painful groan and before the guy could do anything else, she elbowed his stomach with all the strength she had in her body. The guy backed away and she ran from him, directly to Billy. His gun still pointed at the guy, he looked down at the young woman beside him. She breathed hard, holding her bleeding throat, looking back at the bastard he wished to have killed so long ago. . As much as he wanted to, he wouldn't do it in front of her.

"Get lost. If I fucking see you, or any of your guys get near her again, you better start prayin' cuz I'll come for you." Again, he meant every word.

The other guy smirked. "Will look forward to that Darley." He put his knife away and took off into the opposite direction. Billy kept aiming for a while, fighting against his desire to fire. "Fuck." He hid it on his back, in the waistband of his jeans, then directed his eyes to the girl, half surprised she still stood by his side. "You alright?"

She nodded. "Thanks." She looked into his eyes. "Not that I needed it."

"Damn…" He took a tissue from his back pocket, and was about to carefully push it against her bleeding neck when she grabbed his hand, ripped the tissue out off his hand and place it on her neck herself. He smirked at her fucking attitude. "Come on, the hospital is near."

"Not necessary, I can take car of it at home."

"No, you can't." He grabbed her arm and made her walk beside him. Without a further word, they walked the three blocks back to the hospital.

The cut wasn't deep, it just bled a lot as most head wounds do, but a nice doctor gave her a good bandage and sent her home. Julie walked through the hallway and was surprised to find Billy waiting for her at the entrance. A smirk crossed her lips as she walked towards him, he had his eyes on her all the way.

"So?" He asked in his deep voice as she stopped in front of him.

"It wasn't deep, it's gonna be fine." He nodded. "I guess you finally had a chance to do your payback, huh?" She started to make her way out and he followed her.

"I didn't mean it to happen in such a situation." She shrugged. "Where's your car?"

She sighed. "Gave up on me."

"Maybe I can take a look." She frowned. "My father owns a body shop, I grew up working on cars, among other stuff."

"Hmm, nah it's alright. I'll take it somewhere."

"You can't take a fucking favor, can you?"

She laughed. "You're the one to talk!"

He sighed, she had a point. "Can I at least walk you home?"

She looked at the dark streets, considering the past incident. "Yeah."

He nodded and both walked in a comfortable silence.

"So, thanks again for your unnecessary help." She made sure to say, making Billy laugh. "Bye." Julie opened the door and got indoors. Billy still stood there.

"Aren't you gonna invite me in?"

She shot him an odd look, "No," then chuckled. "Goodnight." And closed the door in his face.

Billy remained there for a little while longer after she closed the door on him. He never believed in luck, but today, it might had given him a little hand with this girl. Right place, right time.

Another working day. Julie stood in front of the coffee machine, thinking about last night's events. Where did he come from so suddenly? What was he doing around there? Would he now, stop looking for her? Maybe he wasn't as bad as people made him sound like?

"I think it's full." A deep voice said behind her. She turned to find her savior, as she refused to call him, smirking at her.

She sighed while turning the machine off. "Costumers like it that way." She answered cockily. "More ware for their buck." She walked past him.

"I got a buck."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

"You should use it to get some fashion sense." She mocked of his long leather jacket. Every time they met, he had his leather coat on.

Billy simply observed her.

"Here you go." She placed the coffee on the little table, in front of the costumer.

"Thank you." The woman said and Julie smiled before turning her head to Billy, a smirk playing on her lips. The two young adults eyed each other for a while, until Julie walked back to the counter. She got near him and whispered in his ear. "You know that leather thing you got going?" He nodded. "Looks like a cow threw up."

He smirked, amused. "I tell you what: you show me how to dress the way you like and I'll teach you how to defend yourself."

"I know how to defend myself." She stated.

"I saw that." He sarcastically grinned.

"It was just a bit too dark and I got distracted."

"If I hadn't been there, you'd be covered by your own blood."

She shrugged. "Red looks good on me." Billy frowned deeply, seemingly not amused. "I know how to defend myself." She fiercely stressed her former statement.

"Prove it." He dared.

You've tried to open your mouth but only shit would come out

I always wondered where you got it from

You haven't heard a damn word I've said

You never believed in anything I did

I don't care what you're doing, do what you want to,

Look where it got you

You can't help yourself

I know you'll never change

You say you don't need anyone

And wouldn't have it any other way

Just try to open your eyes and try my life on for size

Any Other Way - Theory of a Deadman