Chapter 8
"How much, do you think, will I have to make you drink in order to trick you into some juicy girl talk?" Erin grinned and waved around the wine bottle she had brought over.
"It's been a while since I've had wine, so smelling the open bottle might be all it takes." Bay joked before she tossed a handful of M&M's into her mouth. The girls were curled up on her couch and enjoyed some chocolate and sweets Bay had been able to get from work.
"Let's test that theory. Please tell me you have a corkscrew."
"I do. Hold on." Bay got up and fetched the corkscrew and two clean glasses from her kitchen. "There you go."
"Okay, let's get this bitch open." Erin worked on removing the cork while Bay shook her head with a smile.
"This is nice. Maybe we can do that more often."
"We definitely should. You really should keep hanging out with us, Bay. Patrick and Jessa didn't mean anything bad by what they did."
"I know, but still, she's different." Bay shrugged and held out her glass for Erin to fill it up with wine.
"Her parents' divorce is killing her. You know how close that family used to be. It's good that she has Patrick, he's a good guy. Yeah, a bit overly helpful at times, but you gotta give them another chance. All of them are really nice and they like you. Reconsider? For me? Pleeeeaaasseee?" Erin made an exaggerated pouty face, earning a giggle from her friend.
"Yeah alright, I'll think about it." Bay promised.
"That's what I wanted to hear. Now before you take a sip, here, smell." Erin held the open bottle in her direction and Bay sniffed it.
"Ugh, you ever notice how bad wine smells?" Bay made a face and shuddered.
"Not really, but hey, you're still sober. Now, drink girl. Drink and then let's talk Daryl." Erin smirked, when she noticed Bay's cheeks taking on some color. "Oh yeah, I just know there's something to talk about there."
"You're right, I probably need to be drunk for this." Bay sighed, then she took a couple of big gulps from her glass.
"Oh my God, Bay. Go easy on that." Erin warned with a laugh. "Come on, it's me. We used to tell each other everything. So, what's going on? You like him, don't you?"
"I do. I don't want to, but unfortunately I do. I tried to fight it, but I have butterflies, my heart races and then stops, only to race again, I get nervous... the whole freaking deal." Bay explained unhappily.
"Whoa, what's that face all about? Why don't you want to like him? He's a nice guy." Erin was surprised by how sullen Bayanne seemed to be.
"I know that he is a nice guy. That's not making it any easier. He is so sweet and I think about him all the time, but he doesn't like me, he made that abundantly clear. He wants to be friends and that's it, and that's exactly why I don't want to have a crush on him, because I'll act stupid and he won't wanna be friends anymore after a while."
Erin had heard through Sam what Daryl had told Bay about not liking her, so she knew what her friend was talking about. However, Erin didn't think that Daryl had told the truth. "Guys say a lot of stupid stuff they don't mean. Don't worry about that. Having a crush on someone can be nice. And if you hang out with us, you can enjoy having him around and talk to him and enjoy all those butterflies and heart racing-things and you can actually get to be friends. Maybe he will start liking you, too, when he spends more time with you, but you gotta put yourself out there first. Seek him out, show him a liiittle bit that you'd be interested. If you don't show up at the parking lot when you have time, when else are you gonna see him otherwise, except for when he comes in to buy something?"
"I see him plenty." Bay replied and gulped down the rest of her first glass of wine. She already felt a bit dizzy and her tongue felt a bit heavy and she knew that she couldn't have any more. "He picked me up from work the last two days,... brought me food, so I'd eat meat and he slept here Monday night." her slightly intoxicated state kept her from considering that maybe Daryl wouldn't want her to tell anyone about that.
Erin looked at Bay with wide eyes and she slowly brought her hands up to cover her mouth so she wouldn't start squealing. This was definitely news, and because it was new to her it meant that Sam hadn't known about that and that she would have some nice little piece of gossip to share with her boyfriend later. "He slept here? Where exactly did he sleep?"
"Here." Bay patted the couch.
"And where did you sleep?"
"Here." Bay slurred the word slightly as she petted the couch again. She really had lost her tolerance for alcohol. Wine had always given her a quick buzz, so it was no surprise that she already felt a bit drunk after one glass with the long absence she'd had.
"But you guys didn't... do anything? Make out? Or grope each other? Had sex?" Erin was barely able to contain herself. She so had been right. Daryl was totally into her, but probably just didn't realize it yet.
"God, no! Erin! No. I told you, he doesn't like me that way. We just slept."
"So you are still a virgin?"
"Yep. Very much so."
"Can you imagine having sex with Daryl?" Erin grinned and started giggling when Bay blushed so hard it looked like her head was about to explode.
"No! Stop. Why does everything have to be about sex? I only thought about kissing him. And then I did it. I kissed him."
"WHAT?" Erin almost spit out her wine.
"On the cheek. Last night. He hated it and I got out of his car as fast as my feet were able to carry me." Bay quickly added, unknowingly disappointing her friend a little.
"Oh Lord, Bay... Did he tell you he hated it?"
"No. He just looked at me... like this..." Bay tried imitating the way Daryl had gaped at her. "Then I got out of there, before he was able to say anything. It happened so fast, I didn't even know it was happening. He was so sweet, picking me up, defending my honor and bringing me a burger... I just wanted to say thank you. And then his damn skin had to feel so soft..." Bay muttered and hugged her knees to her chest.
"Maybe he was just surprised. I don't think he hated it." Erin smiled reassuringly and watched her friend pluck at the fringe of her woolen blanket, which her grandmother had made for her a long time ago. "Oh girl, you're in deep aren't you?"
"I really don't want to be, but it just gets worse every time I see him. No sense in fighting it, but I don't want any heartache. I don't want to fall in love. Love destroys people. Just look at Jessa and her parents... look at my family's track record."
"Bayanne Moore, you did not just say that! Stop that way of thinking right now. If anything you should prove that theory wrong. Love can be a really good thing. It would be good for you, look how you've been living the past year. You want to keep living like this forever? You have to start living again, you're eighteen and not eighty, Bay. I know you have this goal you want to achieve and I admire how hard you work to make it happen, but don't forget everything around you in the process. This thing with Daryl, even if it never leads to anything but friendship, don't fight it, let yourself feel. Enjoy having him around, be happy, let things evolve however they may and see where it leads you. And even if he never returns those feelings, yes it might hurt, but at least you will be feeling something, you will live life and not just get up and go to work like a robot. If you keep doing that you will end up unhappy, like your parents, and you know what happened to them. I don't wanna be rude or cruel here, but I worry about you. I love you and I want you around and I want you to be happy. I think Daryl could make you happy, whether as a friend or as a boyfriend, it doesn't matter, just let him in and don't fight it. He beat up another guy, because he said crude things about you, he obviously cares in some way. Don't tell him I said it, but I think he might be a bit lonely, too. You two might be good for each other."
"Erin, I told you, he said-"
"That he doesn't like you like that, yes I got that. So what? A friendship can sometimes be better than a relationship. You can never have too many friends. Like I said, don't find excuses, just let something good happen to you for once. Don't be afraid, B. He would be a good friend to you, he already is if he watches out for you like that."
"True. You've always been wise beyond your years, Erin. Gotta listen to you, huh?" Bay smiled at her friend. Erin had always had such a good head on her shoulders and she had always had very good insights and opinions and therefore, gave good advice. Bay loved that about her. Basically Erin had said some stuff that Jessa had said to her as well, but Erin hadn't been as pushy or rude. With her, Bay always knew that it came from a good place.
"You better." Erin winked and took a sip from her barely touched wine.
"Were you there? When he beat up Josh Hansen?"
"No. Sam told me last night." Also told me that Daryl told Josh that you were his. Erin kept that part to herself though. She wanted to encourage Bay to get closer to Daryl, but she wouldn't meddle directly and tell her that everybody thought Daryl was falling for her. Daryl was a bit unpredictable, there was a chance that he really would be so in denial that he and Bay would never get together and she didn't want Bay to get intentionally hurt by getting her hopes up only to have Daryl smash them. That's why she had emphasized the friendship part of the whole thing. Daryl was a great friend, she was sure that at least that part would work out between them.
"His hand was bruised... must have gotten Josh really good..." Bay muttered absently.
"Yeah, they said something about a broken nose."
"Oh boy... " Bay sighed deeply. It calmed her though, that Daryl had promised her not to kick Josh's ass again, in case the boy was stupid enough to show up again. "You said not to be afraid... but I am afraid. I don't wanna act like an idiot around him, but I seem to be doing that every time. Like kissing his cheek... "
"That'll pass, Bay. It's just new right now, it'll get better."
"I'm also afraid of how he makes me feel... if that even had anything to do with him... I don't know."
"What do you mean? What happened?"
"No, forget it. It was probably nothing." Bay waved her off and grabbed another handful of M&M's.
"Nope, out with it. What did you feel?" Erin looked at Bay expectantly.
"When he and I talked about that whole thing... suddenly I felt so weird. There was this pull or something, like really low in my belly and I felt feverish for a second and then I had goosebumps... freaked me out. Never had that before. Have you ever felt something like that? I thought I might be getting sick, so not even sure that Daryl caused it." Bay was blushing again. She wasn't able to place that feeling, but deep down her subconscious knew that it was something embarrassing.
Erin pressed her lips together in an effort not to laugh. In this department Bay had always been very different from Jessa and herself. Bay had never been very interested in boys and therefore she had never been very interested in sex and she had never liked talking about it. She had tried out kissing with two boys and had liked it, but she hadn't liked the boys enough to do it more often with them or go any further than that. Erin also remembered another thing Bay had never been interested in and she had a hard time believing that nothing had changed in that department since they had last talked about it.
"Bay? You still haven't done it, have you?"
"Have I still not done what?"
"You've never masturbated."
"Oh God Erin!" Bay squealed with wide eyes before she hid her beet red face behind her hands.
"Jesus, Bay. Really, how do you not do it? How do you go through your teenage years without playing with yourself at least once? Aren't you curious at all what it's like? What an orgasm is like?"
"Oh God, stop. I'm dying from embarrassment over here." Bay mumbled from behind her hands.
"Drink more wine and get over it. We are so talking about this and you wanna know why? That feeling you described? You were aroused. Daryl, or what he did, turned you on, girl."
"Oh God! Oh God!" Bay moaned embarrassed. "If you tell anyone I will hurt you!" Bay was completely mortified.
"Stop being dramatic, it's a natural reaction. You're a very, very late bloomer. Tell me, you really never even been aroused before?"
"No. I don't think so. I definitely never felt that thing from last night before."
"Amazing. Not even once? We all watched our first porn together... you really never thought about doing that with a guy?"
"No. I never spent any time thinking about it. I had enough to worry about with my parents falling apart bit by bit and when I spent time with Grams, well, we didn't exactly go around talking about sex. I never had the urge to 'explore myself'."
"Hm... Okay, I admit before Sam and I got together, I never really got hardcore aroused either. I was horny sometimes and curious and that's when I would take care of it. Bay look at me." Erin gently pulled Bay's hands away from her still red face. "I know you feel uncomfortable talking about it, but I wanna give you some advice. Just listen, yeah?" Bay nodded, so Erin continued. "Of course it is totally okay if you don't wanna do it. I guess you do have other things on your mind, but consider this. One day you will have a boyfriend and one day you will be intimate with him. How is he supposed to make you feel good, if you don't even know what you like? If you don't even know what it is supposed to feel like? Sure, he can explore and try out, but it might be nice if you'd be able to guide him a little. Sam for example, he asked me to show him what I liked. What if your future boyfriend would ask you that?"
"I don't know... I always thought it's kind of his job to figure it out..." Bay said sheepishly.
"Oh Bay no! No. No. No, no, no, no. That's not how it works. Actually, a lot of guys that are our age or Sam's age, they are not all that experienced either. I guess we all kind of learn together with each other and gotta help each other out a little. It might not hurt if you knew how to give yourself an orgasm."
"Wouldn't even know where to start..." Bay sighed deeply.
"Next time you take a bath, just let your hands roam a little, see what feels good." Erin suggested, making Bay cover her face again.
"Oh GOD... I'm not drunk enough for this. That's so embarrassing." Bay lamented. "Don't tell, Sam. If he tells Daryl I'm just gonna die."
"I'm not gonna tell Sam, what kind of friend do you think I am? Come on, Bay. Nut up, as the guys like to say. You are eighteen years old, you gotta learn to talk about it, especially to your girlfriends." Erin poked her ribs with a laugh before she scooted closer to Bay's side.
"I hope you know that I dislike you very strongly right now." Bay joked and narrowed her eyes at Erin with a little smile. Actually, she was glad that she had her friend to talk to, even if it was a bit uncomfortable.
"I know, I get it. I'd probably feel the same if the roles were reversed. But while you already 'dislike' me, why don' we try a little experiment?"
"Oh good God, what now?"
"Close your eyes. Come on, do it." Erin coaxed and gently put her hand over Bay's eyes to get her to close them. "Good. Now imagine Daryl's hand on your neck and his thumb rubbing back and forth along your jaw."
"I don't like where this is going." Bay muttered. To be honest, she was scared of feeling turned on, it was a new concept to her and it was a bit overwhelming.
"Sshh, relax sweetie. Focus on Daryl. His face is coming closer and his nose is rubbing along your own. You feel his warm breath on your lips and then a second later he kisses you." Erin described in a low and gentle voice. Bay definitely felt her heart rate pick up again and she actually felt nervous, like the kiss was really happening. Her whole body was all aflutter and she clenched and unclenched her hands, because they felt all tingly. "And now you feel his lips parting and his tongue prodding at your mouth. You let him in and then his tongue is touching yours and-"
"Stop!" Bay's eyes snapped open and she took a deep breath as she shuddered. Erin's experiment had worked, she had felt that pull,.. that arousal... again, while imagining a real kiss with Daryl. Bay rubbed away the goosebumps on her arms, which Erin noticed with great satisfaction.
"It happened again, didn't it?"
"Yeah." Bay admitted with reddened cheeks. "Is it weird that it scares me?"
"I don't think it's weird. It's very new to you, feeling like that. Are you really scared? Or is it more like you feel overwhelmed or nervous?"
"I'm not sure, maybe a bit of everything? I never fantasized, … I didn't know it could cause intense things like just now. It's a bit freaky, but I'm sure I'll get used to it. Probably bound to happen more often if I keep hanging with Daryl, right?" Bay looked at Erin for confirmation, before she rested her head against the other girl's shoulder.
"It might, yeah. Don't be scared of it, Bay. Everything's going to be fine." Erin put her arm around Bay and rested her head on top of Bay's. "You're so cute."
"Stop." Bay giggled. "I feel like I'm some kind of weirdo, because I only start feeling those sexual things now."
"Some people just need more time. Like you said, things at home weren't good, you were always worried about something. Just take some time to think about it when you have a minute to yourself. Can't hurt. And whenever something is on your mind, you can talk to me, alright?"
"I love you. I'm so happy you're here."
"Same here. Love ya too, B."
By the time Sam picked her up, Erin had convinced Bay to come with them and hang out for an hour or two. Bay was extremely nervous about it, not because of the guys or Jessa, but because of Daryl. After kissing his cheek and downright fleeing from the truck, she didn't know what to expect or how to act around him.
"Hey Bayanne. Nice to see you. How are ya?" Sam greeted her with a smile before he placed a quick kiss on Erin's lips once the girls had climbed into his car.
"I'm good, thanks. How about you?"
"Couldn't be better." Sam replied smilingly, then he turned around to face the road again. Bay looked out the window while they drove, trying to keep her cool, but at the thought of seeing Daryl again she felt very jittery and the damn butterflies in her stomach made her dizzy. When they pulled up to the parking lot and she saw his truck she felt like blacking out. Don't make a fool of yourself, please God, make sure that I don't make a fool of myself.
"Just act like nothing happened." Erin whispered to her when they got out of the car.
Easier said than done. Bay took a deep breath and tried to keep her face relaxed and not let her eye dart nervously towards Daryl as they joined the group.
Daryl shot up straight when he noticed Bay accompanying Erin and Sam. All of a sudden his palms were sweaty and he rubbed them on his jeans-covered thighs. She's here... what do I do? Just like Bay he was nervous and had no idea how to act after that little kiss she had placed on his cheek. He hadn't been able to stop thinking about it, the moment kept creeping back into his mind over and over again, exciting him, but also scaring the living daylights out of him, due to that funny feeling in his belly getting stronger when he remembered how her lips had touched his skin. It had been innocent enough, it sure hadn't meant anything to her, but to him, it meant something. He wasn't sure what, but something that made him secretly crave more of that innocent physical contact, just like that time he'd had the urge to hold her hand.
"Bay!" Patrick called out to her and Daryl quickly averted his eyes when she looked in their direction. Pat straightened and walked over to Bay and gently guided her away from the group a few feet. "Listen, I just wanted to apologize for last time. I didn't mean anything bad by it." he apologized sincerely, but he had to fight a smirk, because he noticed Daryl watching them like a hawk with narrowed eyes.
"I accept your apology. I get it, you thought you would be doing something nice for your friend, but please don't do it again."
"I won't. Learned my lesson. How you feelin' with everything? The cut healing now?" He asked and looked down at her chest, but the cut was covered up by her sweater.
"Yes, it's doing fine. Thank you for asking."
"No thanks needed. So we good?"
"Yes. All good." Bay smiled and followed him back to the group. She was still jittery, she was able to feel Daryl's eyes on her and it didn't help with her nervousness. She quickly went back to stand next to Sam, who had Erin wrapped in his strong embrace. Bay hated being the fifth wheel and she didn't want to impose on the couple's couple-time, but she didn't know where else to stand and she sure as hell didn't dare to walk up to Daryl and stand next to him.
"What you two talk about?" Daryl scowled at Pat when he was back.
"Just apologized for the other day, like I said I would. No reason to break my nose." Pat grinned, earning an elbow to the ribs from Daryl.
"Funny." he murmured humorlessly. He was a bit puzzled by Bay ignoring him completely. Shekissed me, but now she can't even stand ta look at me? The fuck's up with that? She mad bout Jackass Hansen after all? Maybe she don't even know I'm here... Why the fuck do I even care if she looks at me or not? Fuck. Don't need all this boy-girl shit in ma life.
A couple of minutes later Jessa showed up. She didn't acknowledge Bay, but that was fine by her. She didn't feel much like talking to her either. Jessa instead acknowledged her boyfriend Patrick very much, much to Daryl's disgust. When they started making out heavily without a care in the world, Daryl made a face and walked off towards his truck. He went to the passenger side and opened the door to get a new pack of cigarettes out of the glove compartment. There was a slight breeze and he suddenly caught whiff of a scent that was becoming familiar, even before he heard her light footsteps approaching. Ah look at that,... she does know I'm here. Just don't wanna be seen with me. Figures, he thought bitterly.
"Hi..." Bay smiled. When she had noticed him walk off, she had finally gathered the courage to go up to him. Act like nothing happened, right? Under normal circumstances she wouldn't have ignored him, so she had followed Erin's advice to 'nut up'.
"Hey." he responded not overly enthusiastic.
Good job on ruining your friendship on Day 1, Bay. "H-how... umm,... how are you?" she suddenly felt intimidated and insecure again, like they had taken five steps backward.
"Hm." he grunted with a shrug. "You?" he asked and finally looked at her for a short second.
"Good. I'm good. I had fun with Erin... Although the wine we had is giving me a bit of a headache." Bay laughed a little, but when he didn't crack a smile she quickly shut up.
"Shouldn't drink then." he said sharply and Bay's heart sank. He definitely seemed in no mood to talk to her. She couldn't blame him. She had overstepped some boundaries by kissing him like that, even if it had only been his cheek. You don't invade someone's personal space like that. Erin had told her to act like nothing happened, but that wasn't working. She felt like she should apologize and he seemed like he was expecting her to say she was sorry for that little faux-pas.
"Daryl, I know you're mad at me and I get it. I'm sorry for what I did last night. Shouldn't have attacked you like that. Me of all people should know better."
Daryl's head whipped up and he looked at her in surprise. She thinks I'm mad about her kissin' on me? Naw girl, try again. Daryl bit his bottom lip while he looked at her for a moment, then he shook his head slightly. "Ain't mad about that."
"Oh..." Bay was at a loss for a moment before she remembered that she had straight up ignored him out of her own insecurities, but then again, he hadn't looked at her either. Still, she made a second attempt at an apology. "I'm sorry for not saying 'hi' sooner..."
"Why didn't ya?" he looked at her curiously. "Don't wanna be seen talkin' ta me?"
"Why wouldn't I wanna be seen talking to you? No, that's not it. Honestly... I was scared... of facing you after what I did... I know I crossed a line and I'm sorry." she admitted with a blush and her honesty made Daryl's mood lighten again. It also felt good knowing that she had been just as nervous about the two of them meeting again, as he had been. Of course he wasn't quite as ready to admit his own nervousness.
"Already told ya,... ain't mad 'bout it." Shit, she's cute when she's all red in the face. "Just don't appreciate ma friends treatin' me like air, ya know?" he couldn't help the little smile that formed on his lips. "Trust me, if I had been mad, the whole neighborhood woulda known last night."
"Oh.. good. Good to know." Bay was relieved that he was smiling at her again and that he seemed to have forgiven her for ignoring him and she made a mental note to never do it again, no matter how insecure she was.
"You and Erin had fun, yeah?" Daryl asked after a short awkward pause.
"Yes. It was nice. Felt good, just like back in the day." Bay smiled, but blushed once again when she remembered their sex talk.
Daryl narrowed his eyes at her in amusement and studied her for a moment. "What ya blushin' for?"
"Uuummm... nothing. Probably the wine." Bay said quickly, even more embarrassed now.
"Yeah... right." Daryl smirked. He knew she was lying, but that was alright. He was just teasing her, he knew she would never fess up about why she was getting red in the face. Since most of the other guys had steady girlfriends who hung out with them, Daryl had heard a thing or two about girl talk and that girls talked about sex stuff just as much as the guys did. He was sure that something along those lines had happened today. He thought it was pretty endearing that she blushed because of it. Endearing... What's that damn girl doin' ta me?
"How was your day?" Bay quickly changed to topic and tried to push thoughts about kissing Daryl and arousal and masturbation out of her mind. She felt like Daryl was able to read her thoughts judging by that smirk on his face and that would not be good at all.
"Okay... worked and then I came here."
"Cool..." Bay nodded. Why is this so awkward again? Wasn't like that last night or the night before...
Daryl was thinking the same thing and he didn't like things being weird between them again. The past two days they had been able to talk to each other like normal people do, she had even shouted at him a little, telling him to make up his mind about what he wanted. Hell, he'd even slept on her couch right next to her and even after that it hadn't been weird. Maybe they should be alone? Maybe the presence of his and her friends had them both a little insecure? Only one way to find out.
"Need a ride home?" he offered and Bay jumped at the chance to get out of there.
"Yes, please!"
"Alright. Hop in." he stepped aside and let her get in before he shut the door for her. Less than a minute later they were on the road and both felt calmer already.
"I'm really sorry I was so weird earlier." Bay had the urge to apologize again, but Daryl waved her off.
"Don't worry about it. Got painkillers at home?"
"Yeah. Why?" Bay questioned with a puzzled frown.
"For the headache."
"Oh, right... yeah."
"Josh show up today?"
"No. I'm sure you put the fear of God in him." Bay giggled quietly.
"Good. Working at the carpet mill again tomorrow?"
"Yes. Tomorrow and Friday." she sighed deeply. With each shift she was looking even less forward to going there. Daryl nodded his acknowledgment and made a mental note to always pick her up four times a week until she had another job. No way he would ever let her wander around in the dark, no matter how close the damn factory was.
"So..." Bay cleared her throat. "Jessa and Patrick looked to be getting pretty busy back there."
Daryl started chewing his lip, knowing where she was going with this. Jessa was definitely staying over that night, leaving Daryl to sleep in his backseat again... or at Bay's... but he found that he was unable to muster up the courage to ask. "Yeah... gon' screw each others brains out..."
Bay nodded and fell silent for the remainder of the drive, but as soon as they stopped in front of her building she smiled. "Grab your pillow, I only have one." Then she got out of the truck without another word and without looking at him, not giving him a chance to argue. Daryl was glad she wasn't looking, because he was grinning like a fool while he eagerly grabbed his pillow from the backseat, before he removed the key from the ignition and got out to follow her inside after locking his car.
On their way up he remembered something and he sent a quick prayer to whatever was out there. Don't let me get any fucking morning wood.
"You know the drill. Make yourself at home." Bay smiled before she bend over to untie her Converse Sneakers, giving Daryl an eyeful of her firm ass.
"Right..." he mumbled absently and tossed the pillow on the sofa-bed without taking his eyes off of Bay's behind. He only averted his gaze when she straightened to toe off the sneakers, and smiled innocently when she looked at him over her shoulder.
"Want some water?"
"Sure." he shrugged. Bay got out a bottle of water and two glasses and poured them some. She got out her last pack of Japanese Style Stir-Fry Noodles, she had gotten for free, and popped the tray in the microwave.
"I'll be right back." She smiled and went into the bathroom, where she changed into her tank-top she liked to sleep in, and some shorts. Exactly four minutes later she came back out, just in time for the microwave to beep and announce that their food was ready. Daryl swallowed hard, he'd repressed the memory of her sleeping in that tiny outfit and without wearing a bra. Sometimes he felt like a perv, but he couldn't help it, the image of her naked breasts came back to his mind every single chance it got. The 'joys' of being young and male: constant state of being horny, having all kinds of sexual fantasies in their heads throughout the day and getting erections at inconvenient times. Thank God his dick was behaving for now.
"It's supposed to be with shrimp, but I can't guarantee that there's actual shrimp in there." Bay said after grabbing two forks, as she walked over to the sofa with their noodles. She was light enough to stand up on the sofa-bed without it even creaking, and she took two steps towards the back until she was in front of the right armrest. She carefully sat down and put her own pillow between her back and the armrest, after she had put the small tray with the noodles down. Daryl handed her their glasses, then he knelt on the sofa and scooted up to the left armrest to mirror her position. He spread his legs and bent his knees, while she sat cross-legged, with their food and drinks between them. He picked up his fork and dug into the noodles, making a face when he had them in his mouth.
"That is some godawful shit." he chuckled, but he kept eating anyway.
"I know, it's not that good, but it was for free." she laughed. "Funny... it's supposed to be with shrimp, but it tastes exactly like the cheddar cheese flavored ones. No real shrimp I'm guessing."
"Probably not real cheese neither in that other one." Daryl scoffed lightly before he gulped down some water. His theory had proven right. Now that they were alone, they were right back to where they had left off on Tuesday morning. This was comfortable and nice and he felt much more at ease and apparently so did she.
"There's gotta be a reason why you can get a shitload of that stuff for free, right?" Bay laughed, making Daryl smile and shake his head.
"Yeah, apparently."
"Erin said you and Patrick found good work? With a carpenter?" Bay tried to keep up the conversation, it would help mask her nervousness, because that was still very much present, especially when she thought about sharing close quarters with him for the night.
"Yeah, something steady for once. For a couple of weeks at last. Gon' be nice not havin' ta worry for a while." he explained around a mouthful of noodles.
"How is the job? Do you like what you're doing there?"
"Ain't bad. I like bein' outside and right now we're painting this one house outside. I don't mind the work... Like working with my hands. I think I'm good with that kind of stuff."
"If you like it, do you think you wanna try and find steady work in that field? A real job?"
"Dunno." Daryl shrugged. "Kinda used ta bein' my own boss for the most part, you know? Would be weird having to go there at the same time each day, be off at the same time each day... do the same work... "
"That's kind of how the whole job thing works, Daryl." Bay giggled and scrunched up her nose, which had Daryl wanting to kiss it. And so another couple of chips of concrete went missing from his walls. That tiny hammer was working overtime these days, all because of 'that damn Bayanne girl'. She was worming her way in, slowly but steadily and Daryl was just starting to realize, that there was no fighting it. He had fought with all he had, but it had been a lost cause from the very beginning. After all, he had gone to that store every single fucking day for almost a year, without really realizing why. He'd secretly looked at her, studied her when she had been busy with the register, hell he'd done it since the first time they'd been introduced and she had sent him a dazzling smile. He had scowled at her, because he had been scared and weirded out by that happy feeling her smile had evoked. Ever since then he had pushed those feelings down and he had kept them locked up tight, but it hadn't stopped him from seeking her out every chance he got, to catch a glimpse of her, maybe exchange a word or two. Mostly it had only been 'hello' and 'bye', but that had been enough. Not anymore, though. He found himself needing a bit more time with her every day. It was like a little craving. He was in a weird state right now. He wanted to be here, in her apartment or in his truck, and spend time with her and talk to her, maybe do more than just talk at some point, but then again, he was scared to death and he wanted to throw it all away and run as fast as he could and as far away as possible and go back to his life pre-saving Bay from rapists. God knew his life had been easier before. No being confused as fuck about a girl, no thoughts of wanting to hold her hand or wanting to kiss her and wrap her up in his arms. No lack of oxygen from the memory of how she had looked at him that one night and how the air had been charged with something he wasn't able to name, making all the little hairs on his arms stand at attention. No jealousy, no funny stomach things, no nothing. Just living and surviving.
Daryl was aware of what might be happening to him, but he wasn't ready to succumb to it just yet, if at all. The sexual fantasies he'd had about her, those didn't scare him. That was normal to him. The innocent stuff was, what scared him. The urge to link hands, have her close, kiss her... the way he had felt after that cheek kiss, that scared him. He felt that he was lacking the tools to deal with those kind of emotions and that they would overwhelm him and control him and eventually destroy him if he would give up on his denial. That's what scared him so much and that's why he still wasn't able to just fully admit and acknowledge what Bay was causing inside of him. He just didn't know if he would ever be able to. And what for if she didn't return the feelings? She wanted a friend and in the end, it might be all he would be able to give anyway. Why she gotta be so damn sweet 'n cute? Even as he was thinking about this inner turmoil which he was going through, the urge to kiss her welled up inside of him again, and he let his mind go there for a moment. He remembered what it had felt like to have her bare arms pressed against his, how the warmth of her skin had warmed him up and somehow calmed him. What would it be like to let his hands slide over that skin while he kissed her? He wanted to find out, but then again, he didn't. That shock that had run through him when she had taken his hand in hers...it had made him breathless and wide-eyed, staring at her in the staircase, almost about to kiss her, like some pretty-boy-hero from a trashy romance novel. Scary... it was all fucking scary... And damn fucking exciting at the same time.
That he had to think about it all so much, frustrated him. Ain't getting me nowhere. It's like a damn rocking chair. Movin', but not going nowhere. Shit man, just dunno what to do.
"You are doing it again." Bay's voice cut through his thoughts. "You zoned out again."
"Sorry. Tired..." he mumbled an apology before he drank the rest of his water.
"That's okay. I'm tired, too. Wanna lay down?"
"Sounds good."
"I'll bring this to the kitchen real quick." she smiled and gathered their used forks and glasses, as well as the empty tray the noddles had been in. While she did that, Daryl went to the bathroom to take a piss. He didn't have a toothbrush, so he washed his hands and squirted some toothpaste on his index fingers and rubbed it over his teeth a little. It would have to do. Usually he wouldn't have bothered, but he didn't want Bay to have to sleep with any shrimp-noodles-breath getting exhaled close to her face.
"You uumm... you can take your jeans off... if you want. No sense in being uncomfortable." Bay murmured shyly, when Daryl came back to the couch. She was scared that he would think that she wanted him to do it, but she was just offering so he would be able to sleep better.
"Yeah umm..." Daryl cleared his throat and chewed on his lip. "Ain't a bad idea..." It's a bad idea, but I'm doin' it anyway. Hate sleepin' in pants.
When his hands went to his belt, Bay quickly averted her gaze and turned on the TV, but out of the corner of her eye she spied some white and blue plaid boxers, before he climbed into bed. "Is it okay if we leave the TV on? I don't do so good with sleeping in the dark." she admitted and hoped he wouldn't laugh at her for it. Daryl, who was fluffing his pillow just gave her his tiny smile.
"Don't mind. Sometimes I like it better like that, too." he said and put Bay at ease.
"Great. Thanks." She grabbed the remotes and put them on the floor on her side of the sofa-bed, then she slid underneath the blanket. Her bare legs touched and slid along his as she got comfortable, causing both of their breaths to hitch as electric shock ran through their bodies, making every nerve ending flutter and tingle with excitement.
"Sorry." she was almost squeaking, but Daryl wasn't upset. Not at all.
"Don't worry. Bound to happen. Close quarters... Gonna happen more often, I reckon."
"You're right." she nodded and watched him squirming a little until he was comfortably on his back, one arm up by his head, the other hand resting on his flat belly. They were silent for a while and Bay took in the view of Daryl relaxing in her bed. She felt slightly guilty for eying him like she was, but she still thought that it was a view she would like getting used to. Her eyes soon were glued to his lips and those little moles close to his upper lip and his nose. She had never really called anything 'sexy', but she guessed if looking at them brought up fantasies of him kissing her, and caused a mini-version of that aroused feeling inside of her, then that probably meant that she thought of them as sexy. He was very, very good-looking and he was even more gorgeous when he smiled, although she was coming to prefer that little tiny smile, where he just tugged up the corners of his mouth.
"I was thinking." Daryl spoke up after a while. "Do you know how to shoot?"
"Shoot? Like a gun?"
"Yeah,... can ya?"
"No, but I always wanted to learn." she loved action movies and she had always been fascinated by guns and had wanted to learn how to shoot, but the opportunity had never been there to make that dream come true.
"I'll teach ya. Gonna take ya out of town to one of 'em fields, set up some targets and then you're gonna learn." he said and turned his head to look at her. Startling a little on the inside about how close they were. It wasn't an unpleasant shock, though. He loved looking at her eyes up-close.
"That sounds good. Thank you." she smiled genuinely happy. Then they laid there in silence, but looking at each other. Their eyes locked and the air between them changed, just like that one time in the car. They both felt it, but neither of them knew that the other one was feeling it, too. Daryl moved his legs a little, 'accidentally' rubbing against hers again for a second. Bay's heart hammered in her chest and she had a hard time breathing. She felt yet another new sensation, but this time it was like something was blooming inside of her, paired with a need to be closer to him. She wished she would be able to snuggle her head into his chest, but how would that look? She felt the need to be held in his arms, but she knew it would never happen. It filled her with sadness, but she pushed it away. She was lucky, she shouldn't be sad. Her crush was sleeping right next to her, in her bed. How many girls could say that? Daryl shifted again, but this time so did Bay, and she timidly let her smooth leg brush against his.
Daryl swallowed hard and fought the urge to take her hand, once more. "We should sleep..." he whispered hoarsely with his gaze still locked with hers.
"Yeah. Gotta be up early." Bay agreed, but neither of them made any move to turn around or close their eyes. The only thing that moved was Bay's arm and seemingly of its own volition. Some hair had fallen into his eyes a couple of minutes ago. Daryl didn't seem to mind, but Bay wanted to admire the full glory of his eyes for another moment before it was time to sleep. She carefully brushed the hair out of his eyes and up towards his temple, while she kept looking him in the eyes. When she moved her arm back down, she let her fingertips skim his forearm in a short, but gentle caress. "Good night, Daryl." she smiled, her belly all fluttery from touching him, before she turned her back on him.
"Night..." Daryl mumbled, elated at her touch, but a little disappointed that she hadn't given him another kiss. Maybe next time.
Thank you for reading!
I proof-read, but the two days/nights have been rough, so sorry for any tipos or mistakes.
Snowbird: I'm so glad the scenes came across the way I intended them, too. That kiss at the end was supposed to be innocent and sweet, I'm glad I was able to achieve that. I had goosebumps writing that, lol, so I understand getting teary eyed. Thank you so much for the support. Much love to you and I hope you are well.
Guest: I agree, Daryl took an important step. He can no longer deny what's happening completely. I hope you enjoyed this chapter and Bay's interactions with Erin and Daryl:) Thank you so much for reading and reviewing. Take care:)