CHAPTER ONE-DAKS (Part One)
It's 8:30 on a Thursday morning. ‘The early bird gets the worm’ she always told me. The air outside is perfect and I can see her car parked on the street, and I know she is at work. This morning reminds me of the exact moment I met her.
TWO YEARS BEFORE
I was headed home from a drunken bender and a night with some random girl I met at the bar. I pulled into the parking lot at my apartments with Kings of Leon playing on my radio. Part of my ‘get sober’ playlist. I throw my truck into park and grab my phone and cigarettes. Fuck, my head is pounding, and I need a shower. I head into the courtyard so I can go to the stairwell that leads straight to my apartment.
As soon as I walk in I can sense her. I turn the corner and I see her standing there with a cigarette hanging out of her mouth and a dog leash tied around her wrist. She's wearing what looks like Under Armour shorts and a North Face jacket and some really worn out Vans. You hear me walk in and so does the big dog connected to the end of the leash. You catch my eye immediately from your tired expression to the hair falling out of your bun. You are so beautiful. You meet my eyes and I can tell you are embarrassed that someone caught you taking your dog out in your pajamas. I decide in that moment I have to know you. I walk towards you and I notice you have pepper spray connected to your keychain.
"Good morning, " I say to you to see your reaction and hear your voice.
"Morning," you reply shortly. Your voice is like music to my drunken ears.
"Did you know that you are beautiful?" I ask because I need to know if you know how beautiful you truly are. I don't know how I expected you to answer but your response certainly surprised me.
"Are you seriously hitting on me at 8:30 in the morning when I look like this?" Wow, you are so feisty, and I love it.
"Would that be a problem?" I ask.
"Kind of," you reply in a way that makes me think it's not.
"Can I get to know you better?" I ask praying to god you let me get the chance to know why your nails are half painted and why there is leftover paint on your hands. Why your Vans are torn and why you have bags under your eyes.
"I don't even know your name," you whisper barely loud enough for me to hear you. Shit, have I forgotten all the manners my mother instilled in me?
"Shit, I'm sorry, my name is Daks. I just moved back here from Delta.” Man, why do I feel the need to tell her everything? I have this feeling that she's gonna be the one, the one who understands all my issues and will love me regardless of my past.
"Well hi, I'm Zane. Do you have a phone?" She asks like she understands that she's gonna be the one.
"Yes, here put your number in and I will text you." I say handing her my iPhone.
"Okay. Here you go. I have to go now." And you walk away from me. I'm a little afraid I'm never gonna see you again.
