Two days into being in Bryxton and Daniel already missed home. He knew he needed to give the city more time, but the loneliness was already setting in. The moment he got off work the day prior, he had nothing to look forward to. There wasn't much for him to do except get high and keep himself occupied with his phone or TV. He had no desire to spend time with his father, and it wasn't like he had any friends. It would take him a while to adjust to having no one, and as much as the drugs numbed his pain, it couldn't numb the loneliness.
Daniel did meet three of his dad's workers, but he couldn't see any of those encounters continuing outside of work. It would be hard for him to connect with the people of Bryxton given the lifestyle he was used to. If he had to choose between masking his true self to make friends or being lonely, Daniel would choose the latter. None of the people he met were particularly interesting any way, except maybe for Analise.
From the moment Daniel was formally introduced to her, he could tell there was much more to her than what the eye met. At the party she looked to be having a great time, but when she walked into the car shop, her eyes were empty while her shoulders were slumped. Daniel could tell something was going on from her refusal to speak about herself and how she flinched or shuddered when he made sudden movements. Whatever she had going on wasn't his business, but he couldn't help the observation and wonder.
Clarence asked Daniel to not get involved with Analise, and Daniel would obey. Daniel hated to prove his father right, but the only thing he would want from Analise was sex. Friendships with women weren't something he ever saw as worthwhile. With just getting out of a relationship, he wasn't in the space for romance either. It was best if he kept Analise at arm's length for everyone's sake.
Unfortunately, there would be contact because they worked together. That was why he found himself in the passenger seat of her car early in the morning.
"There're a few junkyards we get parts from, then there's specific spots for other things like tires, tools, and all that good stuff. Clarence wants me to show you around, so you can be familiar with the area. Bryx isn't that big, though. Pretty easy to find anything," Analise explained to Daniel.
"Ight," Daniel said. "Can I smoke in ya car?"
"Uh, sure. You can connect to the radio if you want, too. My music taste isn't like yours at all."
