Going out for a run was the best way to clear my head.
Ever since I was a little girl on the farm, I had always tried to find ways to run away from my problems. Whether it was on horseback or my own two feet, running had become a coping tool in my life. Lucky enough for me, I had found the perfect running path in my area of Savannah, one that cut through the town squares and the quieter parts of town. I hadn't learned about it through experience though, a classmate of mine had told me about it when I ran into him at the gym. Treadmills were just not cutting it for an outdoor girl like me so I was grateful for his local insight.
I got back to my apartment building about an hour later, just in time for me to start making dinner. The only time I hated the fact that I lived on the third floor was after I finished running, only because the elevator was always broken or occupied. I took the stairs two at a time, but paused when I heard the familiar voices of the gruesome twosome across the hall. They were yelling again, like always, this time about Merle's bike. Normally, I would have just ignored them and retreated to my apartment, but their front door was open and I dreaded having to pass them. When I finally made it to my door, I realized my concern was warranted.
"Look Daryl!" shouted Merle as he tipped a bottle of whiskey toward his lips. I had never been the drinking type, but it appeared that he practically lived off the stuff. Every time I had the displeasure of seeing him, he was lit like a damn Christmas tree. "Where's yer boytoy, darlin'? Want us to keep ya company?"
Turning to look at them, I took a brief glance inside their apartment. It appeared to have the same layout as mine, except theirs was dirty, littered in liquor bottles, guns, and all sorts of other things I had no desire to know about. There were boot prints all over their wooden floors and what looked like a pile of vomit by the couch.
"Thank you for the offer, sir" I replied politely, remembering that just because they looked like trouble, it didn't excuse me from being a lady. "But I usually prefer my company sober and showered." I gave them both a small, sarcastic smile before turning to let myself into my apartment, but heard Merle lifting himself off the bottle covered sofa.
"I'm sorry, but did I hear ya right, girl?" he called out as he came toward me, "I coulda sworn ya said somethin' about me bein' dirty? I can show ya how dirty a Dixon can be, right baby brother?"
"Leave 'er alone, Merle" Daryl reprimanded. I turned again so I could look at the man who was standing up for me only to find him grabbing the half empty bottle from his brother's hands and tipping it back himself. He wiped his whiskey coated lips on his sleeve before speaking again. "She's not even yer type, probably wouldn't know what ta do with it if ya dangled it in front of 'er face."
This made the older Dixon brother laugh hysterically and it provided me with a moment to escape into the safety of my apartment, but not before I shot the dirtiest look possible at Daryl and slamming the door. I kicked off my running shoes and left them by the door. I was too worked up to cook dinner so I opted to lay down on my own sofa in order to study for an upcoming exam. I was only about a chapter in when I heard and felt the loud classic rock music coming from the Dixons' apartment, accompanied by girlish laughs and other sounds.
Without thinking, I sprang from my couch and threw my door open. Placing myself in front of their door, I banged on it hard with my fists hoping to be heard above all the action on the other side. I heard bottles moving and a door slamming before Daryl opened the door.
"Haven't ya had enough?" he questioned roughly, leaning on the doorjamb. A sly grin came to his lips as he sipped from another bottle. "Unless ya'd like to come party with us afterall. We can be real fun."
I couldn't hide my disgust at his insinuation. With my arms crossed over my chest, I glared at him angrily. "I didn't come here to 'party', Dixon" I hissed, "Can you and your floozies please keep it down? I'm trying to study for an exam." At that point, I honestly didn't care about being a lady, he was just trying to piss me off on purpose. And it was working. "Plus, girls like me don't party with men like you and your brother. Just keep it down, ya hear?"
I turned on my heels to huff back into my apartment before I felt a hand grip onto my upper arm. Daryl turned me harshly, making sure I faced him and locked eyes with him. "Ya don't know us, girl" he breathed as he closed the distance between us, "You don't get to pass judgments on us." Bright blue eyes were staring into mine as I took the image in. The smell of cigarettes, whiskey, motor oil, and sweat filled my nose and his roughness made my breath hitch in my chest. I had never been manhandled like that, at least on purpose. Granted, Jimmy had gotten tough with me in the past but only when he was angry at someone else and I had tried to intervene. I tried to pry his hand off, but he was much stronger than I was.
"Let me go, Dixon" I pleaded as I continued to struggle in his grasp. "You're drunk. Go back to whoever is waiting for you inside. I'm sure she doesn't like being kept waiting."
Looking up at him, I could feel the hurt in his eyes. He reminded me of a puppy that had been kicked by its owner. "At least I don't have to sleep alone tonight." he spat as he threw me backward toward my apartment, not violently but hard enough to get the point across. Daryl glanced at me as if waiting for something, then slammed his door once he didn't receive it. I heard a girl giggle behind the door and I walked back into my apartment, locking the door behind me.
It was eight-thirty after I finished studying for the night so I decided to call Jimmy, partly because I knew he'd make me feel better without having to tell him about what happened with the Dixon brothers, but mostly because I needed to. I knew that if I didn't, he'd get upset with me and that was the last thing I felt like dealing with. The familiar sounds of his voice played back immediately, which was unusual.
"Hey, you've reached Jimmy. Y'all know the drill..."
"Hey hun, it's me. Just checkin' in. Talk to ya tomorrow."
Once the line was dead, the alarm was set, and the phone was docked, I stripped down and nestled myself under the warm covers. I needed all the rest I could get before I started my job in the nursery at the church down the road. Since I only had classes on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, I had been hired to work the off days. As I settled further into my bed, I thought of the day ahead, my exam next week, and Daryl Dixon...