~Darryl, Bad Video AU~

~Brooklyn, New York 1986~

I tugged my jacket closer to me as a gust of cool wind brushed past me.

I walked down the every brightening streets of Brooklyn to the bus stop around the corner. My bag was cast over my shoulders and I held my books close to my chest.

I knew I was already a half hour late to work but I was helping my neighbor clean up her house. Winter break had arrived and she was preparing for her sons arrival from a private school she sent him to for the semester. She told me he would be stopping at the public school in the area to get his class lists for second semester. I was going to work as a tutor for my fellow classmates at school so I promised I would keep an eye out for him.

I vaguely remember her saying her sons name was Darryl.

I approached the bus stop for the 8am pickup and shifted my weight impatiently. Soon enough the bus pulled up beside me and the doors open.

       "Late for work Y/N/N?" Mrs. Jacobson, the bus driver, asked me. A playful smile was on her face as the skin around her eyes wrinkled. I looked to her plush red jacket that she held tightly around her small frame as the cool air entered the bus. I nodded and sighed. I watched my warm breath form in the winter air as I ascended the steps onto the bus.

       "Yes, and I'm in dire need of the public transport only you can supply," I cried out jokingly. I reached my arm out to her and she slapped my hand away, laughing.

       "Stop playin' child," She laughed and I smiled at her. I pulled my bag from over my shoulder unzipped it quickly. I pulled out my mothers old wallet and began to take the amount out for the bus fair. I outstretched my hand offered it to her but she placed her hand over mine and shook her head.

       "Don't worry about it," She spoke kindly with a soft smile. I furrowed my eyebrows and opened my mouth to protest but she interrupted me quickly.

       "You need to use that for more important things, and I won't hear anything else, got it?" She questioned me authoritatively. I gave her a shy smile as pressure built behind my eyes at her kindness.

My parents had passed away a few years prior when I was only fifteen. I had to find extra jobs to support myself and I eventually had to move from my old apartment into a new one to save money because every last dime I had went to school. All my parents ever wanted was me to finish school and make it out of our poor home in Brooklyn. No distractions. So no dating. They always made me promise that I would finish school and get out of there. And I intended to.

Luckily for me I truly loved school. Learning new things each day about the world and the way things worked really interested me. So when I was looking for a side job to keep up with my bills, tutoring fit perfectly. I took mostly times after school but today was the first day of break and the school was open to the public for people to work. So I accepted a few last minute pleas from failing students and scheduled my day to be fully booked.

       "Thank you," I spoke softly, biting my lip to hold back my tears. She gave me a wide smile and reached for the handle beside her to shut the bus doors.

       "No problem sweetheart," She spoke sweetly. "Now go take a seat." I nodded towards her and picked up my bag, slinging it around my shoulder.

I walked down the aisle and saw people leaning against windows, sleeping soundly. The bus was packed and I struggled to find a seat so I stood at the back of the bus holding on tightly to the railing above me with one hand.

The bus surged forward and I gripped the railing tightly, planting my feet steadily on the floor. I turned my head and looked out the windows as we passed through the streets of Brooklyn. Although the area I lived in was quite broken down, it still looked beautiful in glistening streets with snow covering the sidewalks.

I rode the bus for about ten minutes, listening as people began to awaken and conversations began to stir. People came and went on the bus until finally my stop arrived. I let go of the railing and make my way towards the front of the bus. I tightened the straps of my backpack as I reached the front.

       "Have a good day Mrs. Jacobson," I spoke sweetly as I began descending the steps. She gave me a grin and waved.

       "You as well sweetheart," She spoke. I waved to her with a smile and reached into my pocket to pull out my small piece of paper that held my schedule.

I unfeld it and examined my list as I began to take a few steps towards the direction of my school. Sadly missing the faint cry from Mrs. Jacobson.

       "Don't forget, I'll be back here at 8:00pm sharp!" She called out behind me. I waved to her passively as continued walking and searching through my sheet for my first appointment. I faintly heard the bus begin to drive away.

       "Richards, Colson, ah Addams...8:45am," I spoke and looked up. I saw an older man walking by me and I gently tapped his shoulder. He turned towards me and I saw him adjust his glasses in confusion.

       "I'm sorry to bother you sir," I spoke politely. "But do you know what time it is?"

He made an 'o' with his mouth before pulling back the cuff of his blazer and checking his watch.

       "8:40 ma'am," He spoke bluntly. I looked to him as my eyes widened and my face fell.

I immediately began to sprint towards the school which was still about three blocks away. I dodged through groups of people and tried not to trip on any broken parts of the sidewalk. Which proved to be difficult.

       "Watch it kid!" One man yelled as I bumped into him, my backpack slinging back into my side. I caught myself before I fell over the small hole in the sidewalk.

       "Sorry!" I called out with an apologetic wave and continued running down the street.

I quickly rounded the corner of the street and the school was in sight. I ran up the steps to the large doorway, proceeding to push it open in a huff. I looked down to my books as I jogged down the hallway, searching for my math book for the appointment.

But then I fell.

My books went flying out of my hands and my glasses flew off my face. I heard them slide across the floor as I fell to my knees in an unladylike manor.

I hissed as pain shot up my legs. I reached down to my knees and soon enough realized my glasses were missing and I began to frantically search for them. My hands began to slide across the floor, feeling for the large pair of glasses I had come to love.

Book?

No.

Notebook?

No.

Pencil?

No.

Leg?

N...wait what?

I recoiled as my hand came in contact with a person's leg. I attempted to examine the person in front of me, but without my glasses I was completely blind.

I heard a groan and could see a fuzzy hand reach up to the head of the person in front of me. They shook their head and soon I saw them look up and towards me.

       "Oh, I'm so sorry, are you ok?" A soft voice spoke in panic. I felt my heart begin to beat faster as two large hands began to wrap around my arms, helping me up from the floor.

I looked over the silhouette of the man in front of me and I saw a large woolen jacket that covered his body. I squinted and could only make out the darkness of his hair. I blushed nervously as his hands remained tightly on my arms.

       "I...I'm alright," I stuttered out awkwardly. He rubbed his hands up and down my arms soothingly, and I felt a tingle in my spine at the contact. What? I don't mess around with men a lot. So they don't mess around with me. I'm shy.

       "Thank god," He dramatically breathed out in relief and I laughed lightly at his response.

       "Here, let me help you with your things." He spoke and began to release my arms as he took a step towards my bag.

       "Wait!" I cried out and grabbed his arm to stop him. He spun around with his eyes widened nervously. I looked to him and my face burned in embarrassment as I released him.

       "What's wrong?" His concerned voice spoke. I scratched the back of my neck stood still in my place.

       "I..um dropped my glasses," I spoke shyly as I motioned my hands towards my eyes. I heard him let out a relieved chuckle as I saw him put his hand on his forehead.

       "Hold on," He spoke quietly as I saw him shift. He looked around the floor and soon enough bent down to retrieve something. I felt my heart begin to race as he began to walk towards me. He stopped a few inches away from me, close enough that I could feel heat radiating off of him.

       "Here...," he drawled out as his soft hands began to push hair behind my ear. I shivered at his touch as I felt my face flush. I closed my eyes anxiously as I felt his gloved hands move to place my glasses onto my face. He paused for a moment before removing his hands from me. I cautiously opened my eyes and a lump formed in my throat.

He stood close to me, enough that our bodies were almost flush. He held a soft look to him that contrasted his chiseled features. His dark curly hair was styled neatly with a wide smile set upon him. I looked over his attire and saw a dark grey woolen jacket paired with a grey hoodie underneath.

But what really caught my eye were his eyes. His dark brown eyes had me transfixed as I saw a joy in them paired with a seemingly haunting past. I found myself itching to ask him what pain he held inside him but I refrained.

He looked down to me and we held each other's gaze for a moment. I felt myself falling deeper and deeper into the pools of his eyes. And the funny thing is. He seemed to as well.

But soon a thought invaded my mind. Tutoring. He opened his mouth to speak but I gasped and ran towards my things. I frantically began picking things up and throwing them into my bag.

Shit, shit, shit.

I felt a hand rest on my shoulder but I ignored the gesture and continued to collect my things. As I packed my bag I glanced towards him and saw his eyebrows were furrowed in confusion at my antics, shock prevalent on his face.

       "Do you know what time it is?" I spoke quickly as I continued to pack. He broke out of his shocked state and pulled back his jacket slightly to check his wrist watch.

       "U..um...9:15," He stuttered out. I immediately felt all the adrenaline rush out of me as I stopped what I was doing and sat back on my heels. I groaned in annoyance and rubbed my temple. I'm already a half an hour late.

I pushing my glasses up and rubbed my eyes before I saw the man still standing there in the corner of my eyes. I looked towards him and saw him awkwardly shifting his weight, unsure if he should help me or await my response.

       "Sorry," I apologized as I got up, embarrassed, from the floor. "I'm just really late for work." I sighed out.

He looked to me apologetically but soon curiosity struck his features.

      "You work here?" He asked me politely as his eyes looked over my body. I knew he was referring to my youthful appearance but I felt my body heat up as he scanned me. I shrugged.

      "Sort of," I spoke. "I'm a student but I also work as a tutor."

A look of realization dawned on his features as he nodded understandingly.

       "But you don't look like you're from around here," I questioned as I motioned towards his attire. Not many kids around here dressed so formally for school, especially in our area.

He looked to me with slightly widened eyes before a small blush formed on his features.

       "I am, I just got back from...private school," He spoke shyly. I felt a tug at my thoughts and soon I realized he must be my neighbor's son who she talked so highly of.

       "Darryl?" I asked him. He raised an eyebrow at me cautiously and nodded.

       "How do you know my name?" He spoke defensively with a rougher tone than earlier. He scrunched his eyebrows together and slitted his eyes, examining me. I swallowed nervously. I could practically feel the barrier he had just put up between us, but I couldn't understand why. Like he was hiding something.

What was he hiding?

       "Your mom is my neighbor, she told me about you coming back," I informed him quietly. He widened his eyes, relaxing his face as he scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.

       "Sorry," He spoke softly with an apologetic smile. I breathed out the breath I didn't know I was holding and gave him a small smile.

       "Hopefully that's all she said about me," He laughed out, jokingly. A giggle escaped my lips and he gave me a toothy grin. I decided to play with him a bit.

       "Nah," I waved him off. "She just told me about the toenail jar you keep under your bed." I bit my lip to refrain from the laughter building inside me.

       "She told you about that?" He exclaimed with a shocked face. My smiling face fell flat and I scrunched my eyebrows together. He actually has a toenail jar? I coughed awkwardly and soon he began to laugh an infectious kind of laughter.

       "I'm just messin' with you girl," He said through his laughter. I blushed furiously.

       "So, your mom said you were checking out classes, do you need help finding anything?" I asked him politely, trying to change the topic of conversation.

       "Seeing that I have time now," I sighed out in frustration. You really are an idiot Y/N, being late for the bus. Idiot.

       "I would appreciate it," He spoke politely. I looked up to his kind face and couldn't help but feel my frustration dissipate. I nodded to him and walked over to pick up my bag but I felt a hand grab it before me.

       "I'll carry it for you," he spoke softly into my ear. I shivered at our close proximity and nodded anxiously.

       "C...can I see your schedule?" I mentally cursed myself for stuttering as I turned towards him. He gave me a small smile and handed me the paper in his hand. He then reached down and picked up his leather briefcase.

I looked it over and read his first class.

AP Physics C, B13

How smart is he? Taking this death trap of a class.

       "Follow me," I waved him down the hallway as we began to walk together.

I showed him to each of his classes and we talked throughout the time. He seemed to be very articulate and intelligent and I felt myself become more and more attracted to him by the minute. His laugh, his small shy smiles. He seemed like such a kind and giving person to the people around him that I started to forget about my suspicions of him.

       "Alright, last class," I spoke as I showed him the last classroom he would be in second semester. His wide and curious eyes scanned the door before looking back to me. I felt my heart begin to beat faster as our eyes connected. He opened his mouth to speak but I interrupted him unknowingly.

       "Can you tell me the time again?" I asked him. He nodded and looked down towards his watch.

       "10:45," He answered and I groaned in response. I reached into my pocket and retrieved my work schedule and checked my next appointment.

       "Forty five minutes till my next appointment," I grumbled to myself. What was I gonna do for the next forty five minutes?

       "Well, If you have time, can I take you out to get coffee?" He asked and my eyes darted up to him. He seemed to understand my questioning look and his eyes widened.

       "Just to say thank you, f...for helping me, you know?" He spoke quickly, waving his hands in front of him. A blush formed on his face and he looked down towards his feet. I found my confused stare turning to a soft smile.

       "Sure, why not?" I answered sweetly as I grabbed my bag back from his arm and threw it over my shoulder. I saw a look of protest cross his features but I raised a hand to stop him.

       "Let's just get going pretty boy," I joked with a laugh.

I saw a smile form on his features as we began to leave the school and walk to the nearby coffee shop.

---------------------------------------------------

       "Here you go," Darryl spoke as he set two steaming coffee cups onto the table. I gave him a quiet thank you and immediately reached for the cup.

       "Careful, it's hot," he warned with a small smile as his hand brushed my arm. I felt goosebumps on my arm as I nodded to him as he sat down.

I sipped carefully at the hot coffee and moaned out contently as the liquid crawled down my throat. I looked up to see Darryl looking at me with an amused smile and I felt my face heat up.

       "I can leave if you need some time alone," He joked. I slapped his shoulder and rolled my eyes playfully. He laughed and I couldn't help but join in. But our laughter died off as an older couple glared at us for being so loud.

We turned back to each other with amused smiles on our faces as we attempted to refrain from laughing again.

       "So, when did you meet my mother?" Darryl finally managed to get out. I breathed a sigh and looked to him.

       "When I moved to the apartment next to yours here a few years ago," I answered him politely.

       "Why'd you move to Brooklyn of all places?" He joked. I smiled at him as I thought about the graffiti filled streets but it soon became a sad smile.

       "Always been in Brooklyn, but, my um...parents died and I had to find a less expensive place to live," I told him. His face fell and he gave me a pitiful smile.

       "I'm sorry I didn't me...," He spoke but I cut him off with a wave of my hand.

       "It's ok, I'm fine now," I smiled up at him and he gave me a small smile. He cleared his throat and drank a bit of his coffee.

       "How long have you lived here?" I asked him curiously. He looked up to me attentively.

       "My whole life," He breathed out as he shook his head playfully.

       "You must really like it here," I laughed out. A smirk grew on his face as I sipped my coffee.

       "Yep, especially when I get to meet beautiful girls like you," He smoothly spoke. My eyes widened and I choked on my coffee. I began to cough wildly and I soon felt him come up behind me and begin to pat my back lightly.

       "Wow, didn't know I'd leave you breathless," He joked with a laugh. I gave him a playful glare as I laughed at his cheekiness.

Once I stopped coughing I realized his large hand still rested on back, running up and down my spine. Although my first instinct was to stiffen nervously, I found my body relaxing into his touch.

He soon enough went back to his seat once I was alright and we resumed our earlier conversation. We talked for awhile about our lives and things we loved. We connected on music and movies and I found myself falling deeper and deeper into the depths of his eyes. His voice. Everything about him made me want more.

I found myself itching to ask a certain question but I didn't know how I would be able to ask it without sounding weird. But soon I couldn't hold it back anymore.

       "So, is it only you and your mother? Or is there anyone else, like a brother," I paused. "A girlfriend?" I quietly muttered, partly wishing he hadn't heard. But soon a grin grew on his face and he raised an eyebrow. Damn it.

       "Nope, just my mother and I, no girlfriend." He