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"Sh man, she's still sleepin'...Didn't feel good, brought her home early." I heard Daryl's soft voice just above my ear, letting out the small groan and staring awake did I try and move closer to his hold. But even then was the light coming from the hallway just glowing too brightly in this now darkening room.  i
"Yeah, might be that stomach bug...Don't tell ya ma, she didn't want her to worry." 

Assuming that my brother nodded, I felt almost at ease knowing that they are on better terms. But not so much in talking when I'm just dead asleep beside Daryl...Who's in boxers might I add.

"Parents aren't gonna be home, stay if you want—"
"Nah, rather not intrude to—" Daryl stopping mid-sentence was completely different than what I could have expected, especially considering it was the next step. Jarod allowing Daryl to spend the night.

"Listen, I know we didn't get off on the right foot. But I can see that you love her, I just don't know how to protect her like you did..."
"Didn't do nothin' man, just held her hair back...And why the sudden chat?" 

Hiding my smile, did I peek through my eyes. Luckily they were blocking my hair to see Daryl just relaxing, sitting up to talk to Jarod.
"Daniel did it to another girl, don't have to worry about him anymore."
"Good fuckin' riddance, see what I was tryin' to tell ya bro?...Next time ya point ya fingers me, man, it ain't gonna be pretty."

The round of laughter went silent in the instant, and the burning of both their eyes to my body as I tried to steady out my breathing was difficult to the major extent.
"Hey, you hurt her though. I'm gonna beat your ass."
"Don't plan to...Thanks though, for lettin' me stay."

Letting this slide, did I end up falling back asleep anyhow. Eventually without Daryl around my waist.

Rising to meet up with the world was my head still a little fuzzy, taking hold of the half cup of water that was still cool all things considering.

Noticing the time, did remove the covers to grab my fuzzy soft robe to cover up my sports bra. I guess I threw it off sometime during my nap, but this wasn't a damn nap. This was a nights sleep considering I didn't get any yesterday.

My hand soon started to caress my head as I continued down the steps to the kitchen, and in the instant did I look at the clock. It was five. Fucking five at night. And I honestly needed to wake up enough for the next few hours before heading back to sleep, I cannot mess my sleeping schedule any more than it already is.

Grabbing a drink from the fridge, did I hear the muffled music just blaring downstairs in the basement. And confused as I was, there were also working steps coming up, or rather crawls. Delighted to see little Mickey climbing all the way up the steps himself, running and yelling my name as he clung to my leg. "Dare is here." He said, pointing downstairs grabbing my hand to lead me to the spot he was just at. 

And although he didn't want me to pick him up like normal, was he trying his hardest to walk on two sturdy legs, all while my hands hopped him from one to the other. The giggles this little boy commenced through was loud enough for me to hear, until we landed down and the music was casting my already beating head to a new level.

It was cationic.

What was even worse, was they were playing ping pong. And not watching Mickey at all, he could have fallen down the steps and they wouldn't have noticed. The 'what ifs' of the situation were making me even more furious by the second, especially when I caught a flying ball on Daryl's side. 

He jumped in reaction.

"Look who's finally up, ya feelin' better?" I nodded, taking hold of Mickey into my arms although he didn't want to be. He pointed off to the corner where they probably stationed him, toys and the play pin all set up. They just forgot to close it. 

Going to turn off the radio, did I point one single finger into the air before I was going to scold the both of them. But once Daryl swore in fear again, I pulled up two fingers. Creating Jarod to just laugh at the fact.
"Who was watching Mickey?" Was all I could think of, and they both looked to one another, then reverted their eyes to me before guessing the play pin was in unacceptable condition.

Now it was Jarod's turn to swear. "Are you both trying to get him to swear?!" I tried raising my voice, but the spike of pain just coursing through my head made me shake it. Trying to make it unnoticeable, caught them both in fear of everything else.

On the other hand, Mickey was enjoying to watch this unfold, just resting on my chest laughing and giggling along. "He crawled up the steps by himself..." Jarod's head was quick to look on down, paddle in hand as he dropped it to the table before him. In response did Daryl look behind him, still brainstorming what could have happened I'm assuming. Or looking at my stomach that his eyes were so clear in wondering, the retaliation of it all was me covering it up, shaking my head.

"I'm going to make Mickey something to eat, should I order pizza or—"
"Yes!" They both said in unison, making me scoff in quick reaction to being drawn back upstairs. Not before turning back up the music, and continuing forward. But even then was I stopped by Daryl for a kiss on the cheek, still, I managed to shake my head. Trying to silently keep my screams in.

I'm not mad, just happy that he's not hurt or anything. 

Letting the guys be fun and what not, did I allow them the peace and competition sense in getting Mickey ready for his bath, that is if I can get him something to eat before the pizza gets here.

Making him a little bowl of mac and cheese, did he wolf the entire thing down without making a mess or a fuss. One of the reasons being, I think he knew that bath time was coming. Especially when I walked him all the way upstairs, having him whining for Jarod.
"Come on buddy, we can go play with them after. Alright? Just want you nice and clear so we don't have to do it tomorrow." 
My calming voice kicked in, but once he saw his bath toys was he distracted. So as I was able to get the water to a decent temperature, letting it rise up enough where he wouldn't be tempted into going under.

With the bubbles reaching high above, did it allow him to pop and push them all around while I managed to wash his hair without him squirming around too much. And by the end of it, did he not want to leave.

Having to bring out the big guns of playing with 'Jar' and 'Dare' back downstairs had him rise in the instant and allow me to pick him up within the towel, wrapping him as he shivered from the cold. Rubbing to create friction on his shoulders did I begin to dry his hair.

"Where's mommy?" He asked, hiding his mouth behind the animal-themed towel. Tapping his noise did I smile, breaking out my calm voice in the process. "Mommy is coming home as soon as she gets out of work, and tomorrow she's staying the entire day."
"Can Dare stay too?" Continuing to rub his hair until it was damp enough to start drying on its own, did I chuckle to his sudden interest in Daryl.

"I don't know bud, why don't you ask him when we go down there...Huh?"
"But wou two are warried." His pronunciation of the 'w' letter is getting in the way just when I wanted to hear him the most. Him thinking that we were married was adorable to say the least. 

"We're not married hun, we're dating...Like Maddie and Jarod." The nod in understanding didn't provide much, but with him in his night onesie. And the warm bottle of milk already set in my mind, did I think we were set to go to bed very soon.

To be honest, when I came downstairs I was surprised that the doorbell was ringing already. It's barely been twenty minutes since I called the place, and yet grabbing the money off the counter, still having Mickey in my hands did I go straight to the door. "I'm sorry I—Maddie?" Her welcoming smile turned into bringing me for a hug, kissing Mickey on the head as she made way to close the door. Not wanting the hot air to escape us. 

"Did Jarod not tell you I was coming over?"
"I just got this little guy out of the bathtub, didn't go back down there yet. Thought you were the pizza guy." Her chuckle just drove me further off the edge, until I managed to concoct something else. 
What if I ask her for advice. 

Her backpack obviously meant she's staying over, if that's the case.

"...If...If I ask you for advice, can you promise it stays between—"
"Blake of course, but might want to save it for when he goes to bed." Closing my eyes at the sheer fact that Daryl's here too and probably will be staying the night according to their conversation just a few hours ago anyway. "Jarod said you weren't feeling good, are you feeling better?"
"I guess I have to explain that tonight too." I coughed out, this was going to be a rough night. And it's barely six thirty. 

"Here, I got it. Want to break out the plates and stuff?" Following the plan as I handed her the money, did I continue back to the table. Grabbing the plastic cups and plates as we obviously didn't want to clean up.

Maddie actually praised me for the idea as well, think it's better than making a full-blown mess. And ordering two large pizzas was even better choice. Daryl and I didn't eat today, I doubt Jarod did either. So that's one full one right there, and guys push themselves anyway. 

However they managed to do it, they ran upstairs. The boys and their sense of smell had them stop their game to get their food, making me and Maddie laugh just as Micky was snacking on a little bit of pizza he can manage to eat. 

"Sorry bout leavin' ya in bed, ya needed to sleep more than I did." Kissing him on the cheek did I hand him his slices of pizza before diving in, groaning was muffled as he laughed it off.
"Yeah, rozzotos is pretty good." Jarod agreed, nodding along and trying not to make it any more awkward around us. But then again, they soon left to return back downstairs. 


"Guess we can have that talk now...assholes." She grumbled, with this freedom we managed to just sit around with Mickey, taking our sweet time eating as much as we wanted without the wondering eyes of our boyfriends judging that we ate half of the pizza in a good seven minutes. Fuck was I hungry.

"Want to go upstairs, we'll hear 'em if they come." She nodded, it was already close to eight, so it was late enough for Mickey to feel the nights end coming soon. So as I went to go get him into bed. He barely made it through half the bottle before falling asleep in the given moments, tucking him into further do I grab the monitor.

Just coming to meet her downstairs, did we almost collide going up and down. "I finished, get your ass up in your room. I want to know what's wrong."
"How do you know something's wrong?" She gave me the obvious look, was I distressed? What the hell and how the hell did she know?

Trying to make my bed back up, she just patted the small couch by the window, changing the settings of the AC so we could hear each other speak. But my first reaction was to take the extra pillow and place it within my crossed legs. 
I felt bloated beyond repair, and I was worried that it wont go away before Daryl wants to come back up and sleep. Whenever that might be that is. 
"So...What is troubling you?" She asked, such a dramatic expression to draw out in a british accent. "I don't know where to start..." Was all I mumbled through my guarding hands, what can I honestly do?
"Alright, well how are you and Daryl doing?" I get where her question is coming from, trying to separate the problems and reality, unless that's not her strategy at all. 

"Good...Great. He uh...Said the three little words a while back." Her eyes lit up at a moments notice, even with my bobbing head did she still manage to tackle me for a hug.

"Oh my god! That's great!" She screamed, and returning the hug was my only reaction to tell her to calm down. I guess it is a shocker that he loves me, explaining it to her that I caught him saying once when I was asleep. But when he said it in the letter, she squealed with joy. 

Not wanting to show her the letter did I summarize it, glossing over the fact that we had a similar upbringing. But not enough to be given the same category, she understood and didn't question it any further. "Your brother told me about the New Years rumor..."
"Christ can someone just spit it out, it's been killing me what everyone thinks happened."

"But I want to hear what actually happened...Yeah? Okay. Apparently, you let him..." My hand went straight to my mouth, laughing as I couldn't manage to look her in the eyes after that. Just taking my pillow up and plopping my head down into it.

I was embarrassed, to say the least. 
"I am happy to tell you that did not happen...On New Years." She swatted me as I almost left out the keen information she wanted, this was the girl talk I needed. Rachel is too close to the group to set boundaries on what others should and shouldn't know. Maddie promised and I respect and know she will honor it. 

"So what has you so worried?" We began to tone it down, our laughter at a bare chuckle minimal as we calmed all the way down. And I sighed, leaving my position to the envelope and handing it to her to read. The one I had tears in my eyes reading allowed to my counselor. 

"Congratulations! Are you kidding me! Jarod told me about the credits not transferring, but this?!"

"It's back in Connecticut...New Haven is a plane ride away, I just..."

"You don't know how to tell him..." She now understood my problem, putting the envelope back together as it was before shoving it under the couch we were sitting on.

"Don't think you want him seeing it just yet." I nodded, but she continued on with the joke as we 'might get tempted' making me laugh, although I wanted to frown.

"We might be steering clear of—"
"What?! Why?!" Taking a long intake of air, did I worry of how much this would make her ether laugh or feel guilty just like Daryl. "We forgot to use a uh...You know. So this morning I went to pick up the morning after pill, Maddie I never seen him so guilty."
"You never used the pill before? When did you...YOU LOST YOUR—" Rising to my knees did I try and block her mouth but her muffled screams managed to continue through as she finished the sentence, instead I grabbed my pillow and started hitting her with it. And she too took it as a challenge.

"Blake stop! I surrender!" She yelled, but still managed to hit me two more times before throwing her pillow back where it was meant to be. Letting out an airy chuckle as I allowed her the final actions, we were breathing so heavily that it just shaped how fucking out of shape we are when he came with endurance.

"You still looked shocked," I spoke, letting head lean back, just having it fall onto my partially made bed. One she plopped down right beside me, making the soon deep breaths to calm her heart down. "I am, have to admit, I'm still shocked at how different I heard about you too when I actually met you...And even now it's still different."
"Guess I can't meet anyone's expectations, can I?" The moment she pulled out a sarcastic hum, did I threaten my aim with the pillow again. Making her flinch at the thought of attack. 
"How do you plan on telling him?"
"...I don't even know how to start it...Especially with the summer classes? I'm screwed." With my heartbeat officially normal, I sit up and look down to her as she was leaning against there elbow being propped up. "There's always breaks in between, come home once in awhile. Give him a chance to figure out what he wants to do."
"He's not graduating..." She mouth shaped the silent 'ah', only nodding to the obvious standards he has. "Jarod was steaming mad when he found out Daryl got a higher grade...But then you come out of nowhere with a fucking A."
"105. I had extra practice because I was teaching him." She was now taking every opportunity with the damn pillow to whack me with it. 
"Wait...is that why you left school early today? Didn't see your bike."
"Yeah, he took me home right after fifth period. Don't think I could have handled another two classes."

Leaving out the disgusting aspect that I threw up was something I did not want to relive in telling over again. So instead we just started up another question, I asked her what she's doing when she graduates. 

I'm happy to hear that both her and Jarod are staying local, my mom needs that support for Micky. "I don't want to leave."
"No...I get it, you've had your own plan for a while. Jarod told me about it." Nodding was I in the dark of what he did and didn't tell her. On the plus side, I knew she wouldn't say a word of this to him, but it seems everything that I say to him, spills out to her.

I don't care, honestly. It's a good thing I don't have to catch her up on so much. But there is one aspect or two even. That I don't even want to mention.

At one point or another, she managed to find her way into my closet. And if I would have known she would scold me for not wearing any of these clothes, I would have locked the door and thrown away the key. Outfit after outfit did she try to plan for me, and yet I could see her style. 

One match in particular, shorts a tank top and a long flannel I took into consideration. And her only response in that was to pair it all together on one hanger.

"Daryl's brother said that they've collided in the past...Is that true?"
 "Yeah, back in sophomore year or the summer going in. Some of Jarod's football friends tried hooking up with...Shit what's her name? Long brown hair, sick humor."
"Rachel." I chuckled, still putting my clothes into the correct order, she made styling a task rather than deciding the morning of. 
"One of them tried hooking up with Rachel and this whole thing went down...God was it a shitty few months."

"Months?!"

"Guys hold grudges, I mean, so do girls but—" She gave me a side wink that was interrupted by our own laughter. But that came up onto a new topic, something I tried my best into forgetting. 

"You know Shawn right?" My question was now weak into the air as she nodded, only looking up to meet my eyes for a second.

What did she know...?

"Daryl and I...We were at a lake house party and in the middle of the night, Shawn wakes me up to talk."
"What are you doing sleeping at a party?!" Letting my hand motion across my body as she connected the pieces together, was there another laughing moment as she hit me with a t-shirt before stoking it back onto the shelf. 


"He told me he loved me, and I know he was drunk but—"
"Does Daryl know about this?" Shaking my head, did that make her intake a long breath that almost hissed back on out towards me. What was I suppose to tell Daryl? That he tried to kiss me and pronounced his undying love for me?

"So he woke you up, after your little night with Daryl...To talk on how much he loves you?"
"He also tried to kiss me—" Her mouth gawked, in the instant did the clothes in her hands fall down to the floor. And although she was quick to regain her well being, it wasn't enough for her to come back up and fix her expression. 
"I don't want to see that fight."
"I don't want to see any fight, there has to be a way to tell him without..." She shook her head, this was the guidance I truly needed. 

This was going to bad either way, and since he was sleeping over assumingly. We both tried to prepare me what to say, and it was a complete mess. Whatever she suggested, I had to tweak due to the fact Daryl isn't the calmest person in the world. Especially when it came to shit like this, but in all honestly. He's been in deep waters for a long time so he shouldn't be mad at me, I just feel like it's my fault otherwise.

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Date Posted: 3-30-18 // Time: 5:01
Word-Count: 3714
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I'm sorry I keep forgetting to post on my days, I promise I'll do better <3