No Explanation
"Have you ever taken a pregnancy test before?" AJ asked curiously to Lyla the next week, standing behind the counter after serving a busy breakfast time rush. It was just a day before the Fair and Becca was out meeting with Manny the mayor to talk about the set-up of their stall.
"No." Lyla turned to her with concern, "Why?"
"I'm a week late." AJ shrugged, trying not to catastrophise the situation. She knew if she thought too much about it, she'd probably have a nervous breakdown.
"Aren't you on the pill?" Lyla shook her head.
"Yeah, but I'm on that one that you're supposed to have a period in between." AJ said, "And it's not came."
"Could just be the pill acting up." Lyla shrugged, "It's time that we, as a society, should agree that men should take contraception and not women. We have enough shit to deal with." Lyla shook her head.
"It's been like… a week, though." AJ said as Lyla turned to her, noticing her friend seemed very concerned.
"Ok, well… just do a test and I'm sure it will be fine." Lyla nodded, trying not to worry her too much, trying to stay calm and reasonable.
"Or it won't be fine and I'm pregnant." AJ shook her head, rubbing her forehead stressfully.
"AJ, my periods used to be all over the place with the pill for the longest time. Don't worry, ok?" Lyla nodded to her with assurance, "Have you told Phil you're late?"
"No." AJ scoffed, "I tried sussing him out last week. Asked him about kids in the future and he was just like… uh, not really thought about it, Ape." AJ mimicked Punk's voice as Lyla smiled, "Completely useless answer."
"Do you want me to go get you a test and you can do it in here? To stop you worrying?" Lyla asked, "We're quiet just now. I could jump down to the pharmacy."
"Yeah. I think I gotta do it." AJ shook her head, "Take my purse."
"It's fine. What are friends for if not for buying each other emergency pregnancy tests?" Lyla smiled, grabbing her jacket, trying to keep the mood light as she could see her friend was clearly stressed.
"How does it taste?" Finn asked, letting Punk and Daryl try the soup he'd been working on for the Fair. A cheddar and broccoli soup.
"Tastes like a hug." Daryl nodded happily.
"That's real good." Punk nodded to Finn, impressed.
"It was kinda easy, actually. Once I found a base." Finn said modestly, "Good enough to serve at the Fair.
"Absolutely." Punk nodded.
"And we're just doing grilled cheeses? Instead of the deli sandwiches?" Daryl asked.
"Yeah, the girls agreed it's probably a better idea." Punk said, "Who doesn't love soup and a grilled cheese, right?"
"Did you try the spiced banoffee muffins AJ made?" Daryl asked him with a slight groan of happiness.
"I tried them before you did." Punk scoffed, "I'm her guinea pig."
"They're so damn good." Daryl shook his head as Punk nodded in agreement.
"Good job, kid." Punk patted Finn on the back, who he'd noticed was really getting into the cooking side of the job. He made the perfect sandwiches and was excellent at making the donuts and pastries. Punk was super proud to see that he wasn't only working hard but he was learning new skills.
"Thanks." Finn nodded happily whilst Punk and Daryl walked back out to the front of the shop.
"Isn't it today that Shiv is back?" Punk asked Daryl.
"Yeah, think so." Daryl nodded, "I guess I'll see her tomorrow at the Fair since you've put me on drinks with her again." He raised an annoyed brow at Punk.
"Hey, you guys are the quickest. That's not my fault." Punk put his hands up in defence, "Won't be so bad for you to catch up with her, will it?" He asked.
"I suppose not." Daryl said, "You think moving away can change a person?" He asked curiously.
"I think so." Punk nodded, "I've certainly changed since I moved here."
"Like how?" Daryl asked, "You were less annoying in the city then?"
"Funny." Punk scoffed, "No, I… I feel like I can slow my life down here. Everything isn't so hustle and bustle. Depends where you move to, I suppose. And who you surround yourself with." He said, "Why? You worried she'll change?"
"No." Daryl shook his head and then thought about it a little more, "Maybe. In case you haven't noticed… this town is pretty boring. It shields you from reality sometimes."
"I think Shiv seems the kind of person that stays true to herself no matter where she goes. You got nothing to worry about." Punk shook his head as Daryl just nodded. Punk had made a point of not telling Daryl that Shiv had actually been partying and kissing boys these past few months. He didn't think it was necessary details right now.
"Are there spots you miss in the city?" Daryl asked curiously.
"Not really." Punk said, "I pretty much went to the same place for coffee and lunch. And I'm not a clubber or bar kind of guy. I should have moved to a place like this a long time ago, honestly." He realised, "It fits me."
"Because you're boring?" Daryl nodded as Punk rolled his eyes.
"Because I like the peace and quiet. Nothing crazy is going on here. It's great…" Punk said.
Just as he was about to serve a customer who had just walked in, an eruption of screams broke out from people sitting at the tables as someone outside threw a large rub of red paint over the shop windows.
"Jesus Christ." Daryl jumped, also getting a fright as the paint splatted all over the front of the shop.
"What the fuck?" Punk shook his head angrily, rushing out from the counter and sprinting out of the shop, watching someone with their hood up get into a car and speed off down the street.
"Was that them?" Daryl asked, coming out of the shop where he noticed the car speeding down the road and out of sight.
"Yeah, some stupid fuck with their hood up." Punk shook his head, turning around and looking at the shop windows which had red paint dripping all the way down it. A complete mess.
"Maybe someone pulling a prank?" Daryl wondered.
"Are you kidding?" Punk turned to him, "What kind of empty-headed dumb fuck thinks this is funny?" He asked angrily as Daryl realised; he should probably stay silent.
"Phil?" AJ called, coming out of her shop across the street, looking on at his shop in shock as she walked over, "What the hell happened?" She shook her head.
"Some idiot just threw paint all over the windows and then drove off." Punk said.
"Did you see what they looked like?" AJ asked, watching the paint dripping down the windows, not being able to help notice it looked like blood dripping, "Is it some Halloween prank or something?" She wondered.
"I didn't see their face." Punk shook his head, "I'm calling that stupid old sheriff." He said angrily, storming back into the shop whilst Daryl and AJ stood outside looking at the paint.
"You ever seen anything like that here?" AJ asked Daryl curiously, and worriedly.
"Not in my eighteen years of living here." Daryl shook his head, turning to her with a nervous look on his face.
"Did he call the sheriff?" Lyla asked after AJ had returned back to The Brewberry.
"Yeah, he's over there right now." AJ nodded.
"Does he have CCTV cameras outside his shop?" Lyla asked whilst preparing a coffee at the machine. Since Punk's shop had closed for the day due to the incident, they'd gotten busier.
"No, only inside." AJ said, tying her apron back around her waist and helping Lyla with some coffees, "It's a bit strange." She shook her head, not understanding why anyone would do such a thing.
"He doesn't have much luck with those windows, does he?" Lyla scoffed as AJ thought to herself whilst pouring some milk into the frother.
"What if it was Luke?" AJ asked, "He's surprisingly kept himself away from us these past few months. Maybe he felt like stirring things back up." AJ said.
"He's already going to court for what he did to Daryl. Why would he do something like this?" Lyla asked, "It's probably just a stupid kid."
"The sheriff probably won't be any use. Nobody saw the person's face." AJ said, "Don't think there's much he can do."
"Phil will be able to describe the car to him. Maybe a witness will have seen the car speeding off somewhere. You never know." Lyla said.
"Just seems like a pretty pointless thing for someone random to do." AJ shook her head.
"Yeah, it does." Lyla agreed, "You think it could be someone he knows?"
"Like who?" AJ asked.
"In case you haven't noticed… he was a pretty shady lawyer." Lyla said quietly, "I'm sure he's pissed a lot of people off in his past."
"Nobody but his friends and ex know he lives here." AJ shook her head.
"Oh, it could be the ex. Maybe she's jealous." Lyla shrugged.
"He hasn't spoken to her in like… five months. Why would it be her?" AJ shook her head.
"I'm just trying to go through the possibilities." Lyla said, "Because you're right, the odds of this person being a stranger is very little."
"It can't be anyone other than Luke." AJ concluded, "It's gotta be him."
"Look who I found!" Becca yelled, walking into the coffee shop with Shiv beside her as AJ and Lyla turned around.
"Oh, Shiv." Lyla smiled happily, quickly serving the waiting customer their coffee whilst AJ took the payment for it, allowing Lyla to go hug Shiv first.
"Why is there red paint all over Phil's place?" Shiv laughed nervously, hugging Lyla tightly.
"No idea." Lyla admitted, guiding Shiv over to the counter.
"There's my smart little fairy." AJ smiled, her mood instantly boosting as she hugged Shiv tightly.
"I missed you guys." Shiv said, squeezing AJ tight.
"We've missed you." AJ said, "How is college life going?"
"It's going pretty good." Shiv nodded, "I have the rushkinoff cough, though." She said, holding her throat.
"The what?" AJ shook her head.
"It's some weird low brand vodka that they sell at a bar near campus. Gives you the flu, basically." Shiv explained.
"Sounds wonderful." Lyla chuckled.
"You better not be going all wild on us. This friendship only works if we're all losers together." AJ nodded as Shiv smiled.
"I'm still very much a loser, don't worry." Shiv smiled, "How have things been here? Busy?" She asked, whilst Becca took over the next customer who came.
"Yeah, and prepping for the Fair tomorrow." AJ nodded, "Full steam ahead."
"So everything is actually the same as it always is?" Shiv smiled as AJ nodded, "It's good to be back."
"It's good to have you back." AJ smiled happily.
"I've not missed any other exciting drama? Other than Phil having damage with his windows again?" Shiv asked whilst Becca chuckled a little.
"It's not funny, Becca." AJ scolded.
"AJ thinks she's pregnant." Lyla nodded.
"Lyla." AJ scolded even harder, "Are you kidding?"
"Do you?" Becca turned to her with surprise as AJ sighed, glaring at Lyla.
"I'm… a week late." AJ shrugged.
"You're on the pill. You're stressing over nothing." Lyla waved her hand.
"Yeah, my period is all whack with the pill. It's really bad, actually." Becca nodded.
"I got you one from the pharmacy, though. To ease that worrying little brain." Lyla said, pulling the box out from the inside of her coat.
"Give me that." AJ snatched the box from her.
"Are you going to do it now?" Shiv asked.
"I'll do it later." AJ shook her head.
"Oh, just do it now." Becca said, "Can we come?"
"What? No." AJ said, making her way towards their staff toilet, pausing for a second before turning back to the girls, "Maybe one of you could come. Just to make sure I do it right." She nodded.
Five minutes later, AJ was sat on the toilet with Lyla, Becca and Shiv watching her pee. Unprofessionally, they'd told their customers they would be back in ten minutes.
"I just… pee on it?" AJ shook her head, "I'm getting pee on my hand." She whined unhappily as they all looked at her with disgust.
"When I was younger, I used to think you put it under your armpit." Becca admitted as they all looked at her.
"It's not a thermometer." Lyla scoffed.
"I was young." Becca shrugged, "Made more sense than peeing on it."
"Ok, there." AJ said, sitting the test beside the taps on the sink as she aggressively rubbed her hands with soap and washed them.
"I've started the timer." Lyla said, putting the timer on her phone for the right amount of time.
"What if it's positive?" Shiv asked, "I mean… contraception isn't always effective, right?"
"This is not the moral support I need." AJ said to her, "Think negative thoughts." She told them all.
"Isn't Phil too old for kids?" Becca asked as AJ rolled her eyes, massaging her temples, wishing she'd done this alone now.
"Men can have kids until they're old and shrivelled." Lyla told her, "It's only us that have a ticking reproductive clock."
"Phil isn't old." Shiv shook her head at Becca.
"He ain't young." Becca said, "Speaking of Phil… have you spoken to Daryl since you left for college?" She asked, "AJ told us about the necklace." She pointed to the necklace which Shiv was wearing and hadn't taken off since Daryl had put it around her neck.
"How did you know?" Shiv turned to AJ.
"Daryl showed it to me and Phil." AJ said as Shiv rolled her eyes.
"I haven't spoken to him since I left, no." Shiv said, "There's nothing to say, really."
"Bullshit." Becca concluded, "You've had that necklace on every time you've come back here. Is there something going on with you two?"
"What? No. I'm barely here." Shiv shook her head, "How could there be something going on?"
"You did kiss him at the going away party." AJ added.
"What?" Lyla turned to Shiv.
"Yeah, what?" Becca turned to Shiv with folded arms, "See, my senses never fail me. I know something is going on."
"How did you know that?" Shiv asked AJ again.
"Daryl told Phil. Who told me." AJ explained as Shiv rolled her eyes and leaned back against the wall.
"I didn't kiss him. He kissed me." Shiv corrected.
"Same thing." Becca nodded, "Did you like it?"
"It's not like I'd never kissed him before." Shiv said, "It was a good kiss. But it wouldn't work with us. I'm never here anymore. It'd be a disaster." She shook her head. It was something she'd thought about way too much since she left for college. If a long-distance relationship would work or not.
"Won't know unless you try." Lyla added, listening to her phone beep suddenly as she looked at the timer which had run out.
"Oh, God." AJ groaned.
"Drum roll." Becca said.
"I can't look." AJ shook her head, pacing a little by the hand dryer, staying clear distance from the pregnancy test.
"I'll look." Lyla scoffed, picking the test up and looking at it, pausing with disbelief.
"What?" AJ waited. She knew her friends were joking around and teasing because not only did they want to ease her mind, but they didn't really believe she would be pregnant when on birth control.
"What does it say?" Becca asked, walking over to Lyla and looking on at the pregnancy test.
"Pregnant." Lyla gulped, looking over at AJ, "Here." She said, extending the test over to AJ who took it from her, staring at the two lines on the test as the girls looked at her, not knowing what to say.