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Nothing woke me up, that much was clear. Nothing but the warmth that surrounded my body turned intoxicating to even think about. But it all felt so familiar, I knew by the bed that I wasn't in the foster home. The body on my chest was a reminder of the young children who felt scared enough to sleep with me.

The thing is, this wasn't a scared child. This was Daryl holding me close and breathing in and out so lightly, that he must still be asleep. I couldn't even manage to see his calm face this time around, for he was hiding it under his bangs more less. Just letting flop onto my t-shirt I slept in. 

Not wanting to move enough to have him wake up, did I just push away the hair that might be poking his eye. And in doing so did he begin to stir awake, his eyes slowly opening a few blinks a time before looking on up towards me. "Shh...Go back to sleep." I whispered, still scratching his head away from his eyes. They were growing very long in regard to the first time I met him, passing his eyes was it a good look on him to say the least. 

But he didn't listen when I told him to go back to sleep, instead, he continued to blink his eyes. Trying to wake himself up, if that was his goal it would have made more sense to move around. Instead he stayed planted between my breasts, his arms just laying over my stomach to fasten the hold. "I missed ya..." He mumbled, seemingly into my stomach as he moved to look on up towards me. His black eye darkened the littlest bit, but the purple was the given sign that it was healing.

At least...I hope it is.

Allowing my hand to cup his cheek was I still in question what made him come over last night. My final guess is that he had nowhere else to go, but even then did I not want to ask, not again. If he's ready then he'll tell me. "I'm right here." His growl of a response had me freeze my motion of playing with his hair, I couldn't help it. The soft dirty color was adorable to mess with, and he never had me stop in any sense.
"I didn't wanna...I didn't wanna scare ya after what happened."
"You scared me anyway. D, you were out of school for the entire week." He sighed back into my hold before he pulled, sitting up and looking around the room like he was confused on coming in here. Or why he was here. 

"I ain't good for ya." He mumbled, but the second I rose up behind him. Wanting to interlock hand so he would stop fidgeting for the moment to talk, made him remove the covers.
"Gotta take a piss."

Leaving me in the middle of my bed, with the covers just above my waist. Did I too get on up, the dance Jarod went to with Maddie was last night, followed by an after party. My guess is that he's not going to be coming home anytime soon, especially hungover or at Maddie's house I assume.

When he returned I managed to change into leggings and a lighter sweater. Not knowing what was going to happen today or anything in the works of his thinking. But one thing was for sure, he needed to eat something. Especially to get rid of that hangover, so as the man before me was scratching his head. I took his free one and dragged him downstairs, mindful that no cars are in the parking lot or texts saying that anyone is coming home.

"You want to tell me what really happened last night?" He shook his head as he plumped his body back into the seat from last night, followed by his head being propped up by his resting elbow. 

I too began to shake my head, steam just rising to the ceiling at the way this conversation came and went. And instead of pressing it any further, did I grab the given food options I had before me. In one pan did I have scrambled eggs, a little bit of chopped up onions, cheese and peppers to go with it. While in the other pan, which was going to be his surprise of bacon. 
Because what is a better bride than bacon?

His senses knew the second I began to cut the pieces in half, allowing more onto the pan and a given share. Not wanting to use the whole package did I go back to the fridge before quickly returning to the eggs, turning them onto the other side so they could cook properly.

The second the bacon was done and onto another plate, did I see him come on the bit closer. Like an animal slowly creeping up to just pounce on the pray, and before his finger could take a piece of the finished bacon. I slapped his finger away and pointed to him like he was a child. "You didn't tell me what happened yet."
"Ya fuckin' cruel." He mumbled, again rubbing his eye to his palm. Resting his entire body to the island, no longer sitting down, but not standing beside me either. "Yeah well, it happens when someone wakes you up in the middle of the night."
"'m sorry." 
Looking to my right, seeing the smallest bit of his expression did I see he wasn't lying. The apologetic look he giving off was more than I could have accounted for. "Who was in the fight?"
"Kid from school, ya wouldn't know him." His growl escaped him, but I just came to the conclusion of what must have happened. The mimic of a school event usually ends in one thing...
"I knew there was a bonfire last night." 
That's when his reaction built upon the lie I so cleverly sought out, was he really that keen on not mentioning that part. I want to know what happened, and I am going to find out either way. Making it sound like I knew was better than just claiming to figure it out.
 But instead, did I take a piece of bacon and hand it to him without giving him the displeasing look I was trying to hold in. He was reluctant in taking it because it stayed in my had for a few seconds before he snatched it out and went again, leaning in front of me almost protecting the bacon. "Where'd ya learn how to cook?"
"Take a wild guess." Was all I said, trying to get the bangs out of my hair while simultaneously flipping both foods.
"Ya don't have to keep feedin' me."
"I'm worried you're not eating." 

He was savoring the bacon, I saw it by the way he chewed. Taking small bites and letting himself enjoy it. Even the burgers I brought him last week didn't get devoured like I thought they would. "Ya free today?" The question rang through his mind, and although I wasn't working today on either job. The anger was still within me and my soul, so my immediate reaction is to be sarcastic. "I have a lot of homework to do...Hey! You're not being straight with me. I'm not stupid."
"Someone's feisty." My glare at his sudden arousal at my risen voice shocked not only me, but himself as well. Seeing as how he was leaning slowly in for the smallest kiss he could possibly have done.

"You can tell me anything...Probably seen and heard worse." I mumbled the last bit, but he reluctantly sighed once again. He was going to tell me, the puppy dog look he had one he just wanted me to push him further, so he'd crack. "Took somethin' I shouldn't have...Blake it was only a little bit and-"
"'and everyone was doing it so I needed to?' Ever hear the bridge saying because I'm about to yank it out." 

He was gritting his teeth, and I don't blame him. I didn't need this influence around me, maybe he was right. That he wasn't good for me, but I was good for him. "Please...Tell me it wasn't-"
"No. It wasn't." 

Letting the breath out was a relief, he knew what I was going to ask. But even then did I not even want to know, enough to get him fucked up to fight someone. My first instant was coke, because it makes people aggressive and deranged. Praying that I never see him like, I won't ever forgive myself or him in that sense. "What was it?"
"...Shrooms..."

Closing my eyes did I realize that I was, in fact, right about the bonfire, everyone would do it there and it was going to happen eventually. I just feel bad for whoever he fought. "Please...Gotta say somethin'."
"Do I?" My glare was now directed at him, not realizing how much time has passed that everything was done being cooked. And I was just filling up his plate, along with the toast and coffee that I ended up brewing anyway.

Even if he claims it's 'shit' he still drinks it without anything more to add, him nodding as hard as he began to push me further on edge. He came to me which I'm glad, but even then could my family been home to see a stranger knocking on my window. 
No doubt Michael would flip shit. "I'm not going to try and control you, if I have to bail you out...You better be ready for me to beat your ass." Letting my sentence break apart due to me wanting to take a bite of food. Allowed me to scare him with my fork pointing right on in his direction.
"Yes ma'am." Shaking my head did I continue to eat, and even now did I probably scare him enough in the sense that I would to something drastic. I felt betrayed and all he could do was say sorry. 

Which wasn't helping in the least bit.

"We good?" My eyes connected with his faster than I would have liked, but that is what the mind does when you hear a noise. It jerks forward the motion, so I nodded. "We're good for now." 

Him continuing to rub his only good eye, did I go towards the medicine cabinet and grab the Advil he needed to wake the hell up without a headache being in the way. He swallowed it with the coffee, but even then did it take the decent twenty minutes to kick in. And there he returned, for a grumpy moment that is. 
"Whatcha want for ya birthday?" The question shot me back, almost making me spit up the last remaining bit of my coffee. But I swallowed the rest of it down before gasping for air. His chuckle might have rang through the air, but he was being a hundred percent serious. "You don't have to get me anything you've-"
"'done enough' ya keep sayin' that...Comeon, I'm askin'." There wasn't really anything I needed, but the idea I had was enough to let him in on what I wanted to do anyway. "Still was thinking about getting a tattoo." The entire room filled with Daryl's laughter as he called it the weeks prior to the conversation, claiming I had the look of wanting ink. 

"Can take a trip up to Atlanta, stay there for a couple of days...But be back in time for school starts." My scowl had him add the last bit of it, I didn't want to miss school. Especially with the new semester just around the corner, the horridness of it all wasn't worth the overall stress it was causing me and my sleep schedule. "Gotta bring the I.D though,"
"Why would I-"
"Ah ah ah, that's a surprise Blake. Can't tell ya 'till then."

Squinting my eyes towards him the entire way he made from his seat to the sink, did I begin to twist my head back and forth. Condoning this behavior of letting him get off the hook. But I can make this just as nerve racking for him. "When's your birthday?" "Don't like where this is goin'." Tilting my head just the smallest bit as I stared deep into his eyes, even when they were blocked by the singularity of his bangs. "...March..."
"I already have something in mind..."

My response was dead set on the money as I found my way around the island from my position to come up right to him, trying to level with his tall frame wasn't doing the trick. But when I reached before his ear, did I finish the sentence with a whisper. "Wanna share ya plans?" He sucked in air before responding, and instead of any words did I allow my hand to brush up against the center of his waist. My pointer finger beginning to twirl around and around in sheer entertainment to myself. 

"Care to give a little preview?" My smile widened at his careful choice of words, so I did the same. And however cruel this was, it was the killer of it all. "Maybe next time...You'll think about this, before taking the mushrooms." Was the last thing I said before kissing on the cheek, laughing my way back towards the dishes did I hear his husky chuckle make a comeback.

Probably a good couple of minutes before he regained himself to talk again, however, he managed while I finished up the dishes. And just as I was to turn back to look at him, he was already behind me. Strapping his arms against me, thanking me for both the meal and allowing him to stay over.

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Date Posted: 02-02-18  // Time: 5:12
Word-Count: 2305
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