As always, thank you for your interest in this story and all of the kind words that follow through with it! Certainly wasn't expecting it, but it feels ah-mazing.

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Refugee

Chapter Twelve

"Sometimes we get second chances
And sometimes we never make it past the first
It really makes you wonder why somethings happen when they do
It really makes me wonder why it wasn't me instead of you"

-"Second Chances" by Michelle Branch

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"So," Molly began as we fastened our seat-belts, "what shall we do?" She was noticeably still frazzled. So much so, she asked me for a cigarette.

I handed one over and lit up one of my own and blew a cloud of white smoke out of the window as we sat motionless in the beaming sun. "Whatever you want."

"I don't even know." She fervently rubbed the crease of her forehead.

I took my empty hand and intertwined my fingers with hers. It must have been just what she needed because she smiled up at me. A genuine smile, not noticeably forced.

"Would you be mad if I asked if we could just go back to my place, or yours? I really don't want to be out anymore today."

"Not at all, baby girl. You maybe wanna have a couple people over later n we can have some sort a party for yer birthday?" I caressed her knuckles with the pad of my thumb.

"That sounds nice. Invite your brother and your friend too."

I groaned. "I don't know 'bout that. Merle can get a lil crazy. 'Specially when there's alcohol n women involved."

"I think we should all get a little crazy tonight. Your place or mine?"

.::.

About a half-an-hour later, I found myself unbuckling my seat-belt as Molly pulled the key out of the ignition. I offered to have the party at my place only 'cause I knew Merle was more than likely going to get a lil crazy, and I didn't want him trashin' her house.

It wasn't until I was twisting my silver key in the deadbolt that I remembered that I had left my place a total disaster. Godfuckindammit. "Just, uh, 'scuse the mess." And prolly the smell too. 'Cause I'm a messy sonofabitch.

"Oh, don't worry about it." She reassured me, sweetly.

We walked in and I flipped the living room light on, hesitantly revealing my cluttered space. My eyes immediately darted to every visible imperfection and I could feel my anxiety workin' it's way up again. She, however, didn't seem to notice in the slightest.

"Oh, this is badass!" She exclaimed as she picked up a wood burning of Pink Floyd's "The Wall" that I made a long time ago when I had plenty a spare time on my hands. I watched as she flipped it over and looked up at me with large, curious eyes. "You made this?"

I nodded and kicked off my boots, kicking them aside. "When I was 'bout fourteen."

"It's awesome. I always wanted to learn but never really got around to it. Do you have any more?"

"Got a couple in my closet. You wanna see 'em?"

"I'd love to." She smiled, setting down the one she had been holding on to.

Not a minute after I disappeared into the bedroom, I hauled a medium-sized box back out to the living room and sat it down in front of her feet from where she was sitting on the sofa. "Wow!" was the first thing she expressed as she pulled out several different sized pieces of my so-called "art". I couldn't help but be in slight disbelief. I had had a couple a girlfriends and none of 'em ever really seemed to care about none of my hobbies.

"Oh, man. I really love this one."

I plopped down on the couch next to her and craned my neck to look before she held it in my line of vision. She was looking at one of my particular favorites: a red snake coming out of the eye of a skull. "Keep it."

"No. I couldn't. This is yours."

"Ain't no more. I want you to have it. My birthday gift to you."

Her face lit up like a kid at a carnival and I couldn't help but smile too. "Daryl, thank you. I really love it. I'll keep it forever." She held it firmly to her chest and smiled up at me before placing a light kiss on my cheek. I felt myself blush and my body felt like it was 200 degrees when our eyes settled on each other in a quiet moment. Quickly, I cleared my throat.

I hated that I was like this. I hate that I can't just grow a pair and tell the girl how I really feel. How bad I wanna kiss her. How much I'd like see'in her every mornin' when I wake up and bein' able to touch her anytime I wanted. Bein' able to call her mine.

However, that's just the way I fuckin' am. Much as I'm startin' to care for the girl, I can't help but wonder if she's feelin' anything too. I had to face the fact that she's a dancer and is probably experienced in using men to get what she wants before leavin' 'em high n dry. She didn't necessarily seem like that kinda girl, but I been wrong before. I ain't in no fuckin' hurry to make that mistake again.

"I, uh, I'ma go call Merle n Jimmy."

"I guess I should call the girls, see what they're up to tonight." She looked a little disappointed, and hesitantly pulled her own phone out of her pocket and began dialing a number.

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Outside, I lit up a cigarette and began dialing Merle's number. After two rings, he picked up and let out a rough sigh.

"Boy, you betta be in some kinda life er death situation ta be callin' me so damn early."

I glanced down at the time on my phone. Shit. Ain't but 9:15. "Sorry, I, er, been up for a couple hours. Some crazy shit happened on the beach this mornin'." I inhaled a strong puff of nicotine.

"The hell was you doin' at the beach so damn early?"

"Went there with Molly last night. Must'a fell asleep."

"Thank God. My baby brother finally got his dick wet."

"Goddammit, Merle, no. But that ain't important right now. Some crazy motherfucker was tearin' some unlucky bastard apart on the way to her car."

"What'chu mean 'tearin' apart'?" He asked. The sleepiness in his voice was replaced with curiousity.

"He was eatin' him, man."

"What the fuck? You sure he was eatin' him?"

"Mhm. He was covered in blood n the body on the ground next to 'im had they're guts spilled out all over the sand. Motherfucker even tried to bite me."

"Did he?"

"Nah. We got outta there fast as we could and called the cops. Just got back from the police station."

"Damn, baby brother. Glad ya alright. But I'ma kick yer ass if ya ever call me this early on a Sund'y mornin' again."

"Well maybe it'll make you happy ta know I'm callin' to invite you over tonight. It's Molly's birthday and we was gonna have some kinda party for 'er since she woke up ta somethin' so fucked up this mornin'."

"How the fuck's that s'posed to make me happy? Ain't my birthday."

"She's invitin' a couple a her friends from the strip club over, dumbass. That's how."

"Oh, damn. Well expect ta see my ugly mug later on then. I need ta bring anythin'?"

"Nah, I'ma buy a couple a things. Maybe that bottle a moonshine you've had on the counter for the last three months."

" about Twister? We've had some crazy fuckin' times with that game."

"Do I gotta remind you that you gott'a girl? Ya don't need ta get too crazy."

"I'm a big boy, Darylina. You ain't gott'a remind me ah shit. Be there at 6. With Twister, asshole."