The 6:30am alarm came too damn fast.
All night I was tossing and turning, trying to get my body to shut down and rest. Every time I would find myself in a comfy position in bed, my mind would wander to thoughts of my redneck neighbor and my body would twitch and move as if trying to shoo the dreams away. I finally fell asleep around two in the morning. Four hours of sleep were better than nothing. I rose from the bed and automatically jumped in the shower to wake me up. Why couldn't it have been any other day? Why did I have to stay awake the night before I started at my new job? Hell, I was going to be working with children all day and I was going to be beyond exhausted! The shower helped more than I thought, allowing me to wash me, my face, and brush my teeth all in one go while waking me up at the same time.
The mornings were the times I enjoyed the most in my new apartment. Usually when I woke up, the Dixons were still in bed, so it was impossible for them to be the aggravating thorns in my side that they usually were. There was no music, no yelling, no loud-mouthed women, it was heaven on Earth. Still wrapped in my terry cloth towel, I set the coffee maker and left it to brew while I went to get dressed. I heard the door across the hall slam shut, but I assumed it was their lady-friends letting themselves out. Merle and Daryl Dixon definitely didn't seem like the morning cuddle type.
I settled on a bright blue, cotton t-shirt, khaki cargo pants, and classic black Converse, knowing that it was professional enough for the daycare but wouldn't restrict my movements. Working with kids meant I was always on the go, and I knew that having flexible clothes was a must. Back home, I usually worked in the nursery taking care of the parish infants, but since this particular church needed Pre-K teachers, that's where they placed me.
I chose to ride my bicycle to work, seeing as how the fall was coming and I wasn't sure how much longer I'd be able to enjoy the brisk air before it turned colder. There was an old, rusted out bike rack outside the Church, but I opted to chain mine to a nearby sign, fearing that the rust and decay would chip away at the paint job on my bike. Looking down at my watch, I saw that is was 7:27, three minutes before I had to be there. At least I was technically early.
Once I was all checked in and given a name tag, the nun in charge of the daycare, Sister Judith, brought me to the three and four year old area where kids were still being dropped off by busy parents. I noticed that one of the children belonged to my Childhood Development professor and waved politely before she took off for her first class.
When all the students were accounted for, Sister Judith clapped her hands three times and the room quieted. I definitely had to remember that particular trick. The children stared and waited for instructions as the nun walked over to me.
"Children, we have a new teacher for your class!" she explained happily, making sure to gesture to me. "Can you say 'hello' to Ms. Beth?"
As I waved to the class, all the children smiled and replied together, "Hello Ms. Beth!" I squatted down and smiled at the fifteen or so students. I always felt so at ease around children, which was partially why I wanted to be a teacher. They were bright eyed and nothing by smiles as Sister Judith walked away and was replaced by the other Pre-K teacher who would be working with me.
"You must be the new teacher!" the woman exclaimed. The look in her eyes appeared to be one of relief, more than anything else. I couldn't imagine having to take care of all those toddlers by myself like she had before I came here. She wrapped her arms around me and smiled wide. "My name is Lori, and you must be Beth. So wonderful to meet ya, hun." Lori's accent was like her own, slight, but definitely there. It was nice to feel so accepted within the first few minutes of my being there.
"It's time for outside play" she informed me, "Would you mind taking them outside? I just have to turn in the attendance sheet and then I'll be right with you guys. I promise."
"Take all the time you need!" I replied jovially as I turned to the kids. "Who's ready to go outside?"
All the children ran to the door excitedly while I followed. It felt nice to be around children again, it was one of the major things I missed about home. I opened the door and the class flooded out with me close behind. We decided to start with a game of hide and seek, and since I was new, I had to search first. Of course, many of them were hiding in plain sight, but it was the thought that counted. Once I "found" a majority of them, we were running and playing when one of the girls, named Mika, told me there was a "scary man across the street". Looking up, I was shocked to find the very familiar face of Daryl Dixon staring at me. Without so much as a smile (because why did he even deserve one), I raised my hand and waved courteously before he sped of on his motorcycle.
"Who was that Ms. Beth?" came the tiny sing-song voice again. "Don't worry, hun. He's just...a friend."
The whole day passed way sooner than I had anticipated it to. The only difficult part of the day was snack time, but with Lori's help we were able to pull it off much more simply than I had thought possible. As much as I loved my new job, I had never been happier to see my apartment as I was that afternoon. The only thing that risked ruining it was running into one of the brothers or, God forbid, both. Luckily enough for me, there wasn't a Dixon in sight.
When I got to my door, I heard soft bluegrass music coming from the apartment across the hall. Ever since I had moved in, I had never once heard them play anything in there but classic rock. The familiar twangs lulled me into a state of calm as I began to hum along. That particular song reminded me of long summer nights back on the farm, laying in the bed of Jimmy's truck as we looked up at the millions of stars. I couldn't help but wonder which Dixon was listening to it, so I chose to find out.
I knocked hesitantly and waited for someone to open the door, but for the longest time no one came. I knew someone had to be inside, so I knocked again but a little harder than I had before. I was getting ready to turn away and give up when Daryl opened the door.
"Something I can help ya with, princess?" he barked, his lazy southern drawl into full effect. I could smell the alcohol seeping from his skin as I tried to find words. Apparently, I took too long to answer because he growled at me again. "Can I do somethin' for ya or are ya just gonna stand there like an idiot all day long?"
As much as the words stung, I held myself together firmly. I crossed my arms over my chest and looked up into his eyes, looking for the same hurt I had seen in them the night before. Apparently the booze had washed them clean. "Why were you starin' at me today?" I questioned, surprised by the sound of my own accent shining through. "And is that you're music, or your brother's?"
Daryl's entire body stiffened once my questions were lingering in the air. "I wasn't starin' at cha" he answered curtly. When I looked up at him again, I could have sworn there was a reddish tint to his cheeks that wasn't there before. "And the music's mine, why?" He was clearly avoiding the subject from before, but I decided to let him since it obviously made him so uncomfortable. I couldn't help but smile softly at his response. "No reason" I replied shyly, "I just like it, is all. I have the same artist on my iPod."
He looked back into the apartment and then turned back to me. "You can come in, if ya like" he offered quietly. "I dun know when Merle'll be back, but yer welcome to stay till he does."
Did Daryl Dixon just ask me in? I rubbed on hands on my arms as I contemplated my choices. "That's really sweet of ya, but I should get to studying" I responded, a blush coming to my cheeks as I dropped my gaze to my feet. "Maybe some other time?"
He looked so...defeated by my answer. "Uh, sure. Some other time then." There was hurt in his eyes again, but it was different than before. I couldn't put my finger on it.
I smiled and quickly turned, letting myself into my apartment and shutting the door behind me. There was another side to that man, and I was determined to find out what it was...