𝙲𝚕𝚒𝚌𝚑𝚎̀ 𝚃𝚒𝚝𝚕𝚎 | Call of Duty | John Price

Chapter 5

It's been a few days since Daisy spoke to her boyfriend Alex on the phone. Present night and he comes over to Daisy's house a drunken mess, his words slurring as he stumbles around the living room.

"Alex, are you seriously drunk?" Daisy's voice is sharp, her eyes flashing with anger as she confronts him. His attempt at a charming smile falls flat, revealing the sadness and frustration that's been festering between them. "You know better than to come to my house like this." She crosses her arms over her chest, her posture a clear barricade.

Alex stumbles closer, reaching for her. "Come on, Daisy, don't be like that. I just wanted to talk to you, to make things right between us." His hand misses her arm by a few inches, grasping at air. The smell of alcohol is potent, and she can see the desperation in his eyes. "We've been through so much, can't we just move past this?"

"You need to leave. Call a friend to come pick you up, but you can't stay here."

Alex's eyes cloud over with confusion and hurt. "What? You're kicking me out?" His voice rises, echoing through the quiet house.

Daisy nods firmly. "Yes, I am. You can't keep doing this to yourself, and you can't keep doing this to us. We're not okay, and you need to face that before we can fix anything." She steps aside, pointing to the door.

Alex's hand balls into a fist, but he doesn't hit anything. Instead, he turns to leave, stumbling out into the night. The door slams shut behind him, leaving Daisy alone with her thoughts.

The young woman struggles to maintain her composure, and before long, she's a broken down mess leaning against her front door. It doesn't take long before she stumbles out of her house and across the street to Melody's house. She's tired of feeling like she's carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders.

Climbing the tree outside Mel's window is a familiar routine, but tonight, she's more reckless than usual. Her heart pounds in her chest as she ascends, the bark biting into her palms. She's lost in her thoughts, so much so that she doesn't notice she's climbed to the wrong window.

It's John's window she's peeking into this time, and the sight that greets her is not what she expects. He's there, shirtless, his broad shoulders and chiseled abs glistening with a fine sheen of sweat. He's in the middle of changing, and the sight of him is like a sucker punch to the gut. Her heart skips a beat, and she almost loses her grip on the branch. Panic sets in, and she fumbles to retreat, but she's not fast enough.

The branch snaps, and she's plummeting towards the ground, her eyes wide with terror. "CHRIST ON A STICK!!" Daisy cries out as she catches herself on a branch, her nails clawing at the bark as she struggles to pull herself up. Her heart races as she dangles precariously from the tree, her feet kicking at the air.

Above her, the window to John's room opens, and strong arms reach out, grasping her firmly under her arms. He pulls her into the room, his face a mask of concern. "What the hell are you doing out there? Are you okay?" he asks, his voice tight with worry.

Daisy's face is flushed, her eyes wide with embarrassment. "I—I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to... I thought it was Mel's room," she stammers, trying to catch her breath. "I've never made that mistake before, I—"

John looks at her for a moment before letting out a short, tense laugh. "Well, that's one way to make an entrance." He helps her to her feet, his gaze lingering on her shaky form. She's visibly upset, and the last thing he wants is for her to fall again. "It's okay, you're safe now," he says, his voice softer.

Daisy takes a deep breath, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. The argument with Alex is still fresh in her mind, and the sight of John's bare chest is the last thing she needs to push her over the edge. "I'm sorry, I—" She suddenly breaks down and begins sobbing.

John's expression shifts to one of pure concern. He wraps his arms around her, pulling her into a tight embrace. She clings to him like a lifeline, her tears leaving a trail on his skin. He doesn't say anything, just holds her as she cries, allowing her the release she's been holding in. His heart breaks for her, knowing she's going through so much. "Shh shh~ You're okay, sweetheart, just relax. I've got you."

Her sobs slowly subside, and she pulls away, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bother you. I just..." she trails off, looking at him with a mix of gratitude and embarrassment.

"You're not bothering me, Daisy. You can come to me anytime, you know that." His words hang in the air, and she nods, unable to meet his gaze.

Without hesitation, he scoops her up in his arms before laying her down on his bed. He grabs a blanket from the end of the bed and covers her up, tucking it around her tightly.

She sniffles, trying to compose herself. "Thank you, John. I just... I don't know what I'm doing anymore. Everything's falling apart with Alex, and I—I just can't take it anymore."

He sits down beside her, stroking her hair gently. "You don't have to figure it out all at once, Daisy. Take your time. Sometimes things get worse before they get better, but you're strong, and you'll get through this."

Daisy looks up at him, her eyes red and puffy. "How do you know that?" she whispers.

He sighs, looking away for a moment. "I've seen a lot in my life, Daisy. More than I care to admit. And what I've learned is that people are resilient. You'll find your way."

"I'm like chocolate, Captain. I'm rich, creamy, and smooth in the beginning. But after a while... Well, you know what happens when chocolate goes bad."

John laughs despite the gravity of the situation. "You're nothing like bad chocolate, Daisy. You're more like... a fine wine. You get better with age, and you're worth savoring." His words warm her, and she can't help but smile through her tears.

"You always know what to say to make me feel better." He smiles back, his eyes holding hers for a moment before they both look away, the tension thickening. "I should go now," she says, sitting up and swinging her legs over the side of the bed. But her voice is small, and she makes no move to stand.

John carefully pushes her back down on the bed before wrapping her up in the blanket like a burrito. "No. You're not going anywhere. Not when you're upset like this." The room falls silent for a few moments, the only sound the distant hum of the city outside.

Daisy's eyes start to feel heavy, and she fights to keep them open. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have come here like this," she mumbles, her voice thick with exhaustion.

"Don't apologize. You're always welcome here," John replies, his voice gentle. "Why don't you get some sleep? We can talk more in the morning." He places a second blanket over her as she nods, her eyes closing almost immediately. She's out like a light, her breaths deep and even. "Goodnight, sweetheart." John kisses her forehead before heading downstairs to sleep on the couch.