Author's Note: Exam's are finally done and I've never been so happy. I'm heading full force into second semester and am going to be working as hard as ever. I hope to be able to keep posting things in just a fast manor (chapter a week or maybe more). I love all you guys, thanks for reading my works, and feel free to leave me a review if you have the time!
Disclaimer: I don't own anything but the story itself.
Daryl looked at the ground, nit daring to even look up. He and his brother had arrived at the "campsite" a few days ago and well everyone gave Merle wide distance, they didn't bother doing that with him. That cop would walk right up and talk to him, not caring that he didn't answer, the old man would ask him to keep watch so he could have a break, the women would ask him to skin things when Merle just through the animals at them. It was so weird; he had never had people tolerate him like this, hell he could say he never had people optionally be around him before.
Then this shit happened, that Carol woman was taking the kids down to the lake so they could get cleaned up and Shane said that it wasn't exactly safe to be that far from camp and everyone's help and the chick's face just deflated. And Shane had then looked guilty (like that asshole really should), then said he'd send a guard and then it would be fine. Daryl had been to natural choice of course, cause of having a weapon that he was good with. And then he had to parade all the kids in the camp, who were groaning and complaining about having to bath. Well, the boys were anyway.
Then Carol was helping children strip off and he had to blush and look away as she stripped off her pants as well. It wasn't like she got naked or anything, but there was something about a pretty lady standing in water in her underwear and shirt that made his heart beat faster. She didn't even seem to pay attention that he was there, which was weird because most girls noticed him right away, so they could either throw themselves at him or run the opposite way. He never really questioned it, but having this chick just strip in front of him as if she didn't even know he existed hurt. Like lower than the heart and higher than the feet kind of hurt.
He swallowed roughly before checking the surrounding area once more to make sure that there was no danger in the area. He wasn't going to mess up the trust that these strangers had placed in him, it was a chance to stop being that younger no good Dixon hick. Weird that the world had to end for him to be able to stopped being judged like he was dirt.
Carol bent over and he felt his ears get warmer, he could just bet they were bright red. This woman was kind to everyone at camp and seemed to wait on her good for nothing husband hand and foot. He grinded his teeth every time he saw that Ed. He looked at his wife like she was a piece of meat that was around to keep him happy and his little daughter like she would be ready any day now. Daryl's skin crawled just thinking about it, no wonder that girl never seemed to say a word, she was probably terrified she'd piss her dad off and give him and excuse to get her alone.
Daryl turned slightly and saw that the group were getting dried off again and dressed. Apparently it was time to head back to the field; he hadn't realized that any amount of time had even passed yet. They were just lucky that no danger was around then, because he didn't pay attention at all. Once everyone was dressed, Carol led the front of the pack and he led the back. He couldn't believe that this was his life now, that he was being trusted to guard children now. Like three weeks ago, he would have been trusted to look at a child.
It had been a good day he concluded, that (of course) when Ed came up to him after dinner and tried to get up into his face. He wasn't able to though, considering that Daryl was taller than the short and mostly round man. That didn't stop him though, "You fucking stay away from my family! You disgusting hick, I saw the way you looked at them. I won't have you jerking off to the people in my life." He didn't even have the decency to say it quietly and just shouted it out in the middle of the camp. Where everyone, including Carol and Sophia could hear him. The little girl looked like she didn't know what was going on but cringed all the same when Ed raised his voice and Carol looked embarrassed that this was happening. He could only hope that she didn't believe what Ed was saying. Then, on top of all that everyone in camp was now staring at them. That Shane cop was glaring, and his brother was emerging from their tent. Which was probably the worst thing about this because Merle was probably going to mess this shit up.
Ed then pushed him back, like he was some school, lunch time bully and Daryl was the smaller kid. That didn't work, because Daryl was bigger and much stronger, which meant that Daryl didn't move at all. He ended up breathing in deeply trying to collect his thoughts, and immediately wished he hadn't because Ed smelled very strongly of alcohol. Like he hadn't showered in days and had been drinking non-stop for just as long. No wonder Ed had started this fight, he was drop dead drunk. Daryl wished he would just drop dead, and then he could just shoot him. No questions would even be asked.
Ed tried to push him again, but this time Daryl just stepped back and Ed lost his balance and end up face first into the ground. He could here Merle giggling in the background, and he could easily guess that he was high on drugs again. Shane stepped forwards before more of a "fight" broke out, and it all ended with Daryl just walking back over to his fire pit. That had been one of the most pitiful fights he had ever been in. He wasn't even really sure he could call it a fight. Shane lugged Ed back to his tent without a word though, so he counted that as a win.
And when Merle wondered back into their tent, to no doubt sleep for the next 12-16 hours, the little Sophia girl wondered her way over to his fire as well. She sat on the other side of the fire and just stared without saying anything, but smiled at him kindly. They sat in silence until Carol came over to collect her daughter for bed. He noticed that Sophia was sleeping with Lori, Shane and their boy. Probably safer for her over their anyway, Shane knew how to use a gun properly, and she was away from Ed. Carol of course, went to the same tent as Ed, and he couldn't help but wonder that if Merle wasn't there would he be brave enough to offer shelter to those two. That was a problem to worry about another day though, because as he put out the fire he noted the large clouds moving in the distance. It was going to rain hard tomorrow, for the first time since they had been in the quarry.