Fall Fair Aftermath

"So what is college like?" Punk asked, walking around the other stalls with AJ and Shiv later that night.

They'd had a very successful day with their stall. So much of their food and drinks were complimented and they seemed busier than even the Summer Fair which was good, of course. They all tidied things away and cleaned up so they could go and enjoy the rest of the Fair for the night. The others had dispersed whilst Shiv had tagged along with AJ.

"Didn't you go to college? You were a lawyer." Shiv said.

"I went to law school. And I was twenty-three. And I hate people." Punk explained as AJ smiled.

"It's good." Shiv nodded, "There's always so much going on. I don't think I've spent a night doing nothing so far." She admitted.

"Don't be spreading yourself too thin." AJ said, "That's probably why you've gotten sick. You need to rest. Especially with all the studying you'll be doing too."

"I'm sick because of the vodka." Shiv said.

"Ok." AJ scoffed.

"Have you met new friends?" Punk asked curiously.

"Yeah, I've met some girls who are friendly. They're on my dorm." Shiv nodded, "They all have a lot in common, though. Sometimes I feel like the odd one out."

"What do you mean?" AJ shook her head.

"I've never left this town. The only time I have is a few years back when I went to visit family in Florida." Shiv said, "They're always talking about places in the city they've been or different states they've visited. I feel like a cowboy." She rolled her eyes as Punk laughed a little, to which AJ nudged him and gave him a stern look.

"Babe, we're all from different places. I felt the exact same when I moved here from Jersey. You'll get used to it." AJ said, wrapping her arm around Shiv.

"I'm having fun, though." Shiv assured them.

"Having fun with that necklace on?" Punk pointed as Shiv touched the necklace, something she was in the habit of doing these days when she felt stressed or homesick.

"Your point?" Shiv waited.

"You guys just kissed and then that was it? Separate ways until further notice?" Punk asked.

"What are we supposed to do? He's here and I'm at college. It wouldn't work." Shiv shook her head with doubt.

"Says who?" Punk asked.

"Who made you cupid, anyway?" Shiv asked him.

"I just know a good thing when I see it." Punk defended, "And it's frustrating having to watch you two pretend you dislike each other, when everyone here knows it's not the case at all."

"How is Maple?" Shiv asked, glaring at Punk and turning her attention back to AJ.

"She's fine. Her and the kittens are thriving up at the farm. Daryl goes to visit them every week and Becca sends us pictures of them when she's there." AJ smiled.

"Becca and Patrick are actually working out?" Shiv asked.

"Yeah, seems like it." AJ said, "I think she's happy. She's always talking about him."

"They do seem to fit together in an odd kind of way." Shiv nodded.

"You guys want some hot chocolate?" Punk asked, seeing a hot chocolate stand in the distance.

"Oh, yeah. That sounds good." AJ nodded.

"Yeah. With marshmallows." Shiv said.

"Ok, go grab a seat." Punk told them, heading off over to the stand whilst AJ and Shiv found a bench to sit at in the centre of the park where others were sitting, waiting around for the singers and bands to begin.

"How have you been?" Shiv asked AJ now that she got her alone, "You know… with everything." She said.

"Honestly? I don't know." AJ said.

"Have you told him?" Shiv asked, looking over at Punk waiting in the line for hot chocolate.

"Yeah, he knows." AJ nodded.

"He seems pretty chill." Shiv pointed out.

"Yeah, after a little late-night wander in his shorts and t-shirt last night… he's a lot more chill." AJ nodded as Shiv smiled.

"You'll be a great mom." Shiv nodded, "I mean… you've practically been a mom to me and Becca these past few years." She said as AJ smiled.

"It's just a lot to process." AJ said.

"I bet." Shiv nodded, looking over behind AJ where she could see Daryl standing talking to a girl who she recognised from their high school. They were standing close, and she was laughing at whatever he was saying.

AJ noticed Shiv staring and turned around to see what got her attention.

"Ahh." AJ said, turning back to Shiv.

"What's going on with them?" Shiv asked, trying to ask in a calm manner, although she could feel her heart rate increase by the second.

"I have no idea." AJ said, "Who is she?"

"I recognise her from high school." Shiv said, "Is he dating her or something?" She asked.

"I don't know. I've not seen her around." AJ said, looking at Shiv who was continuing to stare at Daryl from afar, "Phil is right, you know. You guys could make it work if you wanted it to."

"I'd never see him." Shiv shook her head.

"He could always come visit you and you could come back here a little more often. Plus, you'll have winter break and spring break. And the whole of Summer. It wouldn't be impossible." AJ said.

"These are the biggest diabetes drink I've ever seen." Punk announced, walking back holding three hot chocolates which had whipped cream, marshmallows and a chocolate cinnamon stick sticking out of it, sitting them down on the table.

"That is what true happiness looks like." AJ smiled excitedly whilst Punk sat down beside her.

"Where did Lyla go?" Shiv asked curiously whilst taking a bite of the whipped cream.

"She's over at the pizza stall, shooting her shot." AJ pointed over to where Lyla was standing talking to one of the managers from Alessio's, the pizza place in town.

"Is Daryl dating someone?" AJ asked, later that night, sitting on a blanket in the middle of the park, lying in between Punk's legs as they watched the singers on stage with many other people. The park was completely full of twinkly lights and people enjoying hot cider or hot chocolate, settling down for the night after a fun day to enjoy the music.

After having their hot chocolate, Shiv had told AJ and Punk she was going to head home since she still wasn't feeling good.

"No. I don't think so. Why?" Punk asked.

"Me and Shiv saw him talking to a girl earlier. They looked kinda close." AJ said.

"He hasn't said anything to me about dating a girl." Punk shrugged, "I assume Shiv looked jealous."

"A little, yeah." AJ nodded, "She's so sure that a relationship won't work because she's at college. And I can see her point of view. I don't know how I'd be if we had to spend time apart for so long." She admitted.

"We'd make it work if we really had to." Punk said, "It would be pretty horrible not seeing your face every day, though."

"Yeah, and yours. You have such a great face." AJ nodded as Punk chuckled.

"Today went well, don't you think?" He said.

"Yeah, it did." AJ agreed, "Finn looked really happy about his soup."

"Yeah, he's really getting into the baking and cooking side of things. He's going home and practising out new stuff and bringing it in for me and Daryl to try." Punk said.

"Oh, that's really sweet." She frowned, "And can I just say? You make the best grilled cheeses I've ever tasted."

"Really?" Punk said.

"Yeah. Unreal." AJ nodded, "This kid is lucky. They're going to have the best sandwiches for lunch when they go to school." She said as Punk chuckled.

"I take my sandwiches very seriously." Punk nodded, "I'm surprised that none of the girls said anything to me. You know… about the baby. They all just… acted like they didn't know."

"Because they're good friends. They obviously know that we didn't plan this. They're annoying sometimes, don't get me wrong, but they know not to cross certain lines." AJ said.

"I'm going to start looking at houses or bigger apartments after the Halloween party." He said, "I don't want to leave it too late and stress you out when you're super pregnant."

"You mean when I'm really fat?" She turned her head and looked up at him.

"No. I mean when you're really pregnant." Punk said.

"You don't have to look on your own. It's not your responsibility for you to find us a house. It's not 1940." She scoffed.

"I know but I just don't want you to feel any pressure or stress." He said.

"That's sweet, but I'd rather be involved." She assured him, patting his hand sweetly, "I need to schedule a doctor's appointment for a scan, too."

"It's a busy time for us." Punk noted as AJ nodded.

"It's only going to get busier." AJ figured as Punk nodded.

"Hey, you two." Daryl ran over to Punk and AJ, "Do you know where Shiv is? I thought I saw her hanging around with you." He said, crouching down so he wasn't towering over them since they were sitting on the grass.

"She went home." AJ said, "Why?"

"I thought she might want to go see Maple and the kittens." Daryl said.

"She wasn't feeling too good. I think she wanted to get an early night." AJ explained to him.

"Are you dating someone and didn't tell me?" Punk asked the eighteen-year-old.

"What?" Daryl shook his head, "No, I'm not dating anyone." He insisted.

"Who were you talking to earlier then?" AJ asked, "Seemed cosy."

"When?" Daryl questioned.

"You were over by the hot dog stand. She had dark blonde hair. Kept laughing at everything you said." AJ said.

"Oh, Christina?" Daryl realised as AJ and Punk looked at him for further explanation, "I'm not dating her. I just… know her from high school. She obviously found me funny." He smiled cockily as Punk pushed him as he lost his balance and fell over.

"I'm just saying… it looked pretty intimate." AJ shrugged.

"It was a conversation." Daryl scoffed, standing back up and patting his knees from the grass, "And so what if I was dating her? Why would that be a crime?" He asked them both.

"Because you like someone else." Punk said, "Seems stupid to date someone when you'd rather be with someone else. A big waste of time, if you ask me."

"It's not going to happen, alright?" Daryl said angrily, knowing exactly what Punk was insinuating, "So just drop it." He said as Punk just looked up at him.

"Ok." Punk shrugged, "Forgive me for wanting you to be happy."

"Just focus on your own love life, yeah?" Daryl shook his head, about to walk away when he saw Becca and Lyla running over.

"Hey, what's up?" AJ asked with concern, standing up as she noticed her two friends looked shaken and upset. Punk also stood up, giving them his full attention.

"It's Shiv. She was attacked on her way home." Becca said.