Darryl stood outside Dawson’s house, exhaustion etched on his face. His eyes were sunken, and his skin was pale. It was as if he hadn’t slept in weeks, and the weight of his fatigue etched deeply into his features.
Darryl was lost and if care was not taken, he would drink himself to death. Avoiding that was the reason he had been trying to reach Dawson, but Dawson had refused to answer his phone. Thankfully, things work in two ways. If Dawson didn’t come to him, he was willing to go to Dawson and there he was waiting for Dawson to help him into the house.
Dawson stepped out with the determination to give Darryl a piece of his mind before bringing him into the house. But as he approached the entrance, his resolve was met with a sight that made him have a rethink.
Dawson’s shock was undeniable as he took in Darryl’s appearance, his mind filled with questions about what could have caused such an appearance. This was not the Darryl he knew. The man before him was a shadow of his usual self.
What could have happened? Dawson wondered as his anger gave way to concern.
“Why are you looking like you saw a ghost?” Darryl said huskily.
“A ghost is more appealing to me than you are right now,” Dawson retorted.
“Why didn’t you answer your phone?” Darryl inquired, sounding exhausted.
“I’ve been busy with work.” Dawson lied. “Did you come all the way here because I didn’t answer my phone?” Dawson couldn’t help but ask.
“What do you think? I can’t just sit back and watch another person runaway from me.” Darryl said.
“Excuse me, why would I run away? It is not like I’m shagging you.” Dawson said, squeezing his nose in disgust as he imagined the sight.
“Whatever. Are you out here to invite me inside or do you wish to stare at me all through the day?” Darryl teased, causing Dawson to roll his eyes.
Even with his unappealing look, he still had the energy to make a joke. Dawson ushered Darryl into the house, his gaze lingering on the dark circles under Darryl’s eyes.
As Carolyn caught a glimpse of Darryl’s face, she became speechless. Maybe the light in the house was too dim for her to see clearly, Carolyn wondered as she rose from the couch and walked closer towards Darryl.
“What the fuck happened to you, Darryl?” Carolyn cried out.
“Can you stop cursing?” Dawson cut in.
“I’m sorry babe but what the hell happened to him?” Carolyn said as she stared at Darryl in disbelief.
“Do I look really bad?” Darryl asked as he slumped onto the couch, making himself comfortable.
“You look horrible. I’m not exaggerating at all.” Carolyn answered him.
“Fuck! I’m losing my charm.” Darryl slurred.
“Are you kidding me?” Carolyn snapped, her voice mixed with concern and a sprinkle of irritation.
“Babe, calm down. What did I say about working yourself out?” Dawson said, trying to make Carolyn calm.
“i want to talk to you about something important,” Darryl said with a serious face, adjusting himself on the couch.
“What is it about?” Carolyn and Dawson echoed in unison.
“It is a secret,” Darryl said, giving the couple a stern look.
“Are you telling us or not?” Carolyn and Dawson echoed in unison.
“I have no choice than to tell you about it.” Darryl said, causing Carolyn to roll her eyes.
This guy is playing with them, she said to herself as she decided to walk away from him.
“Tania said she knew about Vanessa’s whereabouts.” Darryl dropped the bombshell on them.
“What?” Carolyn and Dawson screamed out. They could not believe what they had just heard. It is either they heard wrong or Darryl said something else entirely.
“Tania told me to my face that she knows where Vanessa is staying.” Darryl said, rephrasing his words, making it easy for them to understand.
“That bitch!” Carolyn snapped. “I will pull out every strand of her hair.” Carolyn clenched her fist into a ball as she boiled in rage.
“Do you think she knows anything about Vanessa’s whereabouts?” Dawson asked calmly, applying logic to Darryl’s revelation.
“That’s what I don’t know.” Darryl sighed out of frustration.
For the past three days that he had spoken to Tania, he had been thinking about what she had said. He didn’t know if it was right to believe Tania, but on the other hand, a part of him couldn’t risk not believing her.
“Oh man, how would you not know?” Dawson asked, his hands combed through his hair as he thought about the whole situation.
He wasn’t even close to Vanessa, but he was also suffering from her disappearance. Can she just come back now? He thought as he stared at Darryl’s face again.
“Would you believe Phoebe if she told you anything about Carolyn?” Darryl inquired, causing Dawson to cough out repeatedly.
Both Carolyn and Dawson were not expecting that kind of question from Dawson, but since he had brought their attention to it, Carolyn was eager to hear Dawson’s answer.
Whatever answer Dawson gave them would determine if what Phoebe had told Carolyn the last time they met was true.
“Why would you ask that kind of dumb question?” Dawson countered.
“It might sound dumb, but your answer will change my perspective on things,” Darryl explained.
“What do you think, Carolyn?” Darryl asked, taking Carolyn out of her thoughts on Phoebe and Dawson’s relationship.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t get what you said.” Carolyn answered him.
“I said….” Darryl tried to explain, but Dawson stopped him before he could.
“Why would I believe Phoebe’s words? I don’t care, and I don’t think I would ever care.” Dawson fired his response.
“I hope you are not saying that because Carolyn is here. I’m sure she would understand if you really cared.” Darryl teased him.
“I wonder if you would still run that mouth of yours if I broke your jaw,” Dawson said to him.
“Enough of the ex’s drama. Let’s focus on the main reason why you came over.” Carolyn chirped in before both men created a scene.
“I had this feeling that Tania might know something about Vanessa’s whereabouts. I just can’t shake the feeling off.” Darryl said to them.
“Why do you feel that way?” Carolyn asked, her full attention on his face.
“She had met Vanessa behind me not once but twice before, and she had successfully poisoned Vanessa’s mind against me. There’s nothing Tania isn’t capable of, that’s why it would be dumb of me to underestimate her again.” Darryl explained.
“If Tania wants to act crazy, I think it is best to show her how to do it properly.” Carolyn said with a determined look on her face.
“I know that look and I don’t think I will approve of whatever you are thinking.” Dawson nodded his head in disapproval as he said to her.
“I think it is time to hire that search team you’ve been willing to hire for a while now,” Carolyn said firmly.