Ideas
A/N: Thank you again for all the reviews! Can't believe we're already passed 50 chapters. I've been having so much fun writing this and so glad to see so much interaction in the reviews. Makes my whole day.
"Did the sheriff call Phil?" Lyla asked, prepping cakes in the back in the kitchen of The Brewberry the next morning.
"Yeah, he called just as we were leaving my apartment." AJ said, "Daryl's mom convinced him to press charges, and Phil wanted to press charges for the property damage. The sheriff reckons he'll only get community service, but he also proposed a restraining order." AJ nodded.
"It's better than him getting away with it." Lyla said, "It's so barbaric."
"I know." AJ shook her head, "But Phil has someone coming by just now to fix the window, so he'll probably be able to open back up in the afternoon."
"That's good." Lyla nodded, "And how will Daryl be?"
"He got discharged last night and Phil told him to take today off to rest." AJ said.
"Poor kid can't catch a break." Lyla shook her head, "At least he didn't reinjure his leg."
"Shiv told me that Luke tried to stomp on it after he put him through the window." AJ shook her head, "But Finn managed to tackle him before he could."
"Evil." Lyla shook her head, "There is something seriously wrong with that guy."
"Yeah, that seems to be what everyone thinks." AJ said, "Just wish I never gave him the time of day. Feels like all of this is my fault."
"It's not. You're not responsible for him being an asshole." Lyla said fiercely, "Don't ever think that."
"I just hope he stays away." AJ sighed.
"With the police involved now, I'm sure he will." Lyla assured her, "Dumb ass Becca dropped a whole bag of flour yesterday. That's why Shiv was over at Phil's place."
"Yeah, I heard." AJ laughed a little, "Apart from that, everything went ok?"
"Everything was fine." Lyla smiled, "And how was your little getaway?" She grinned as AJ smiled, blushing slightly which made Lyla chuckle.
"Very enjoyable." AJ nodded, "Although I'm sure Phil will be hesitant to do it again after coming back to the mess he came back to."
"That was unfortunate." Lyla nodded, "But I'm sure this drama will end here."
"Hope so." AJ shook her head, "We should probably start planning for Shiv's going away party. It's next month." She said, pouring some cake mix into baking tins.
"I know." Lyla said, "What are you thinking?"
"Maybe we don't need to go overboard with cakes. Just order some pizzas from Alessio's." AJ nodded, referring to the only pizza place in town, "Get some pop and drinks in. Maybe just do some of her favourite cakes."
"Yeah, sounds good." Lyla nodded, "She did say how much she's going to miss Alessio's Pepperoni pizza." She smiled.
"It's going to be so weird only seeing her every second weekend." AJ frowned.
"I know. Will take a lot of getting used to." Lyla said, "But I think it will be good for her. She'll make new friends. Maybe get a boyfriend. She's a social butterfly. She'll be just fine."
"I don't know about boyfriend." AJ said, "She was very eager to come with me and Phil to the hospital last night. To check on Daryl. And she stayed all night with us."
"You don't think they're finished?" Lyla asked her.
"Not by a long shot." AJ scoffed.
"Good as new." Finn observed, looking at the new window that had just been installed to the shop, "We opening now?"
"Don't see why not." Punk said, "I was thinking last night." He stated, walking behind the counter with Finn.
"About?" Finn waited.
"I think we should do a quiz night or try and get a live singer. Do it every week. Maybe Saturday." Punk nodded, "People can bring their own alcohol. Turn this place into a cool spot at night." He shrugged.
"What sparked those ideas?" Finn asked curiously, starting up the coffee machine.
"Our open-mic night was great. You didn't work here yet but… it went down a treat. People in this place only have one bar to go to. Just thinking it could be a good alternative." Punk nodded, "And I don't want this place to be associated with chaos. I don't want people to be scared off."
"I don't think people will be scared off. We were really busy yesterday. Before Luke ruined everything." Finn nodded.
"I know, but I just think it's a good idea. One of Daryl's ideas actually." Punk nodded.
"Wouldn't we have to provide a menu? Like a proper menu? We ain't chefs." Finn worried.
"I could maybe speak with Alessio's. Try and do some kind of deal with them. They can provide a couple pizzas and snacks for everyone." Punk shrugged.
"Not a bad idea." Finn nodded, "You got an alcohol licence?"
"No, hence the bring your own bottle." Punk said, "We can charge for entry. Nothing too steep but enough to make sure we're still gaining something."
"Sounds good, man." Finn said just as Daryl walked through the door to the coffee shop.
"I told you to take today off." Punk scorned.
"Well, I was bored." Daryl said, "Nice new window." He nodded.
"The guy just got finished up installing it." Punk said, "You should be at home resting."
"No, I'm too agitated." Daryl said.
"Phil has been cooking up some ideas." Finn told Daryl, "Coffee?" He asked.
"Yeah, please." Daryl nodded to Finn gratefully, "What ideas?" He turned to Punk.
"Saturday nights. Quiz night or a live singer." Punk said, "Get some pizzas from Alessio's. People can bring their own alcohol. We can do coffees or pop."
"We did talk about this before doing the open-mic night." Daryl nodded, "I think it's a good idea."
"I just think it's a damn shame people only have one place to go on a Saturday night here." Punk said.
"Why didn't you open up a bar then?" Finn laughed a little.
"Because I don't drink, and I know more about coffee." Punk said, "But I can do one night a week if it means people have an alternative hang out spot." He shrugged.
"We should start making flyers." Daryl nodded enthusiastically, "I was also thinking last night about some stuff."
"Hit me." Punk nodded.
"Tables and chairs outside." Daryl said, "It's getting really hot out now. I know the Brewberry set up some benches outside when it's hot. And since you and April are dating, she won't think you're stealing her ideas. So, we can do it too." Daryl nodded.
"I love your hard-working little brain." Punk smiled.
"You're totally stealing my ideas." AJ gasped, plating dinner for her and Punk later that night in her apartment.
"What? No, I'm not." Punk said defensively.
"I'm kidding." AJ smiled to him, "Although if this was three months ago, I would have taken this as a personal shot."
"I know." Punk rolled his eyes, "But you didn't invent tables outside of coffee shops."
"How do you know that? Maybe I did." AJ said as Punk just shook his head with a smile, "I thought Daryl was supposed to be taking the day off?"
"He was." Punk nodded, "He said he was agitated so he just came in."
"And he came in with lots of ideas?" AJ smiled, "Did you think when you moved here your right-hand man would be an eighteen-year-old kid?" She chuckled a little, taking their dinner over to her small kitchen table by the apartment window which looked out onto the street.
"No, but I'm not mad about it." Punk said, taking a seat at the table with her, "When I spoke with his mom last night, she was just so grateful to me for giving him the job. It's really turned his life around. And he cares about the coffee shop. I figured whoever I hired would just treat it like any other job but the kid cares so much. Finn does too."
"You've got a great little gang." AJ smiled.
"Yeah." Punk nodded in agreement, "This looks good."
"I figured we should eat something that isn't processed for once." AJ nodded, looking down at the chicken and broccoli pasta she'd made.
"I'll eat anything put in front of me." Punk shrugged, already digging in.
"I know." AJ scoffed, "So which will it be… quiz night or live singer?" She asked.
Of course, he had run down all of his ideas with her, which she loved. She loved coming home with him after a long day at work and getting to discuss anything and everything together. Their ideas, their worries and their high points of the day.
"I'm thinking start off with a quiz night." Punk nodded, "I don't actually know if there's a live singer I could find in this town." He scoffed.
"You could always look online. Singers who are starting out will take any job." AJ shrugged.
"Yeah." Punk nodded, "And we were thinking maybe get a deal going with Alessio's. They could deliver some pizzas and snacks."
"Oh, we were just talking about doing the same for Shiv's going away party." AJ nodded.
"When is that again?" Punk asked.
"The end of next month." AJ said.
"Am I supposed to get her a gift?" He asked, "Am I even invited?"
"Of course you are." AJ laughed, "And you can get her a gift if you want to."
"Won't be as good as Taylor Swift tickets but I'll pick something up for her." Punk nodded.
"I can't wait to give her them." AJ smiled excitedly, "How's the pasta?" She asked.
"Good." Punk nodded.
"Is there any food you don't like?" She laughed. She'd never known him to turn down any food she'd made for him.
"I don't like cake frosting." Punk told her.
"What? That's the best part." She shook her head, "How did I not know this?"
"I won't touch the stuff. I'd take a knife and scrape it off. Eat the sponge." He nodded.
"You're a freak." She said as he nodded, "That's the only thing you don't like? Cake frosting?"
"And melon." He said, "Especially watermelon. It's just mushy water. I don't understand it."
"It's sweet and delicious." AJ shook her head, "For your birthday I'm going to make watermelon slices topped with cake frosting for you." She nodded as he chuckled.
"That's just mean." Punk nodded as she grinned, "Do you want me to make anything for Shiv's party?"
"No, I think we'll be fine. I'm just going to make some of her favourite cakes and treats. The guava cookies, scones, chocolate chip muffins…" AJ nodded.
"You think Daryl will go?" Punk asked her curiously.
His past relationship with Sophie had never felt this comfortable. Although they got on very well and could talk to each other for the most part, it just never felt like this. In fact, he'd never been in a relationship where he was so excited to get home and talk about his day. There was just a comfort he found in AJ.
"I don't see why he wouldn't." AJ said, "I hope he does. I think it would mean a lot to Shiv."
"Yeah, I think he'll go." Punk nodded, "It's just kinda sad that they've squashed things just in time for Shiv to leave. It's annoying, actually." He shook his head as AJ smiled.
"You want them to get together?" AJ smiled.
"Like… so bad." Punk shook his head as AJ chuckled, "I think I'm their number one fan. It's just gotta happen, right?"
"I think they have something special." AJ agreed, "And I think if it's meant to be, it'll be."
"Ok, Doris Day." Punk scoffed as she kicked his leg lightly under the table.
"Do you really think Luke will stay away?" She asked him, still feeling anxious about the whole thing.
"I think he'd be dumb not to." Punk said.
"He seems dumb, though." AJ pointed out, "I mean… what is his problem? I thought when he was laughing at me with his friends… I thought that meant he didn't care that I'd just left things hanging. I also thought he'd taken the hint after he saw me crying after he kissed me."
"He seems a bit mixed up." Punk nodded, "Dude looks like he just loves trouble. Reminds me of my brother, actually." He shook his head.
"That's the way your brother behaved?" AJ asked.
"Pretty much." Punk nodded, "He just loved attention. Loved starting shit and acting like the hard man. Pathetic, really."
"Yeah, it is." AJ agreed.
"Don't worry about Luke. Please." He nodded to her, "He had his few minutes of chaos. The cops know and they'll be keeping an eye on him."
"No, they won't." AJ shook her head, "This town has one sheriff and about three cops. All who are probably over the age of fifty." She rolled her eyes, "Just waiting things out until retirement. I doubt they care. Especially when it comes to me."
"What do you mean?" He shook his head.
"Just… I've never really had great experiences with cops." She said.
"Experiences?" He asked.
"When I was younger, my aunt had this ex-boyfriend who started stalking her." AJ nodded, "They never took it seriously. They were pretty openly racist to her, actually. Got frustrated with her because she couldn't' speak very well English." She said, "Her ex broke into our apartment and I… stabbed him in the hand."
"Jesus." Punk said.
"Yeah." AJ nodded, "I just feel like if it was a white woman, they would have taken it more seriously."
"Did he get arrested?" Punk asked.
"Eventually." AJ nodded, "They searched his house and found pictures of my aunt all over it. Was super weird." She shook her head, "And then after I was raped, I dealt with a lot of shitty cops. Some were helpful but… most just treated me like an inconvenience. Asking me so many times if I had been drinking. Or if I was a prostitute." She shook her head.
"They asked if you were a prostitute?" Punk asked, infuriated.
"Yeah." AJ nodded, "It's just the world we live in, I guess."
"It's not right." Punk shook his head, "I'm sorry you have to deal with shit like that. It's just… not fair."
"It's not." AJ agreed, "So, forgive me if I'm not all that comforted by the fact the cops know about him."
"If anyone ever says any disrespectful shit to you, tell me. I'll hold your purse while you beat their ass." He nodded as she chuckled, smiling over to him.
"Ok. Deal." AJ nodded, "I know you won't let anything happen to me." She said quietly. She could feel it in her bones. In her heart. She had his protection. She didn't have to question that for a single second.
"I won't." Punk agreed.