Daryl watched as Beth floated around the prison quad, laughing and talking with all the new faces that joined their little group from the Governor's compound. For the most part Daryl had managed to ignore most of them (even the women who seemed to always be underfoot) except for one punk. His eyes narrowed as he watched said punk march his way across the open expanse towards the object of his attention. He watched as the guy - what the hell was his name? Zeke? Xander? Zach!

He watched as Zack sauntered his way over to Beth, catching her attention. Daryl wanted to grumble. There wasn't anything wrong with the guy. He was friendly enough; always volunteering to help out with the perimeter, or to go out on runs. He was young, only a few years older than Beth, but it didn't stop Daryl from getting a prickly feeling down his spine whenever he saw the two of them together.

Beth arched backwards slightly as Daryl watched, letting out a big laugh that Daryl found himself wishing he could hear, and it only made the prickly feeling worse. He jumped when he heard Carol set something down next to him, his blue eyes flashing over to her. "What are you doing over here? Hiding?" She teased, eyes scanning over the people milling about in the empty space.

"Nah. Why would I be hidin'?" He asked, his eyes darting around, trying to watch Beth without it seeming like he was singling her out.

"Don't think I haven't noticed all the women flocking around you." She smiled. "You've got yourself quite a following." Daryl felt his ears start to burn and he moved to chew on the edge of his thumb. "I'm just teasing, ya." Carol offered, noticing his small movement for what it was, a tell showing he was uncomfortable.

"Nah, I ain't noticed any of them." He said honestly.

"I bet. Just remember, I saw you first." She waited a beat before Daryl let out a bark of laughter.

"Girl, you know I ain't good for nothin' even if you did lay eyes on me first." Carol shook her head and stared off into the distance.

"You don't think enough of yourself." She sighed. Her eyes landed on Beth and Zach laughing and talking. "Now there's something I didn't think I'd ever see." Daryl's eyes darted back to Beth and Zach.

"What?" He asked, genuinely confused.

"Beth, laughing and making friends." Her eyebrows waggled a little and Daryl scowled. "She seems to be making quite an impression on the boy, Zach, over there." Daryl let out a sniff of disapproval.

"He ain't nothin' but a pretty boy." Daryl rumbled. Carol's eyes darted back over to Daryl for a moment before she let out a short snicker.

"Wait a minute, are you jealous?" She asked, her voice dropping to a whisper. Daryl couldn't stop it as the red crept up his neck and cheeks. He refused to look Carol in the eye, instead focusing on a group of newcomers milling around near the small garden. He wasn't jealous. No way in hell. Carol shifted next to him awkwardly before bumping him in the shoulder gently. "I'm gonna go check out the supplies and figure out what we need for the next run, you wanna join?" When Daryl didn't answer Carol shrugged. "Alright. Well, if you want, I'll be inside." Daryl gave a half shrug before watching her turn and walk past Beth and inside the prison.

Daryl noticed that Beth's gaze darted down to him and she cast him a soft smile before waving at him. Daryl nodded once before tilting his head down to hide a small smile. Nah, he wasn't jealous. Not. At. All.