Chapter One

Daryl looked over at her silently, inhaling deeply from his cigarette. "Thought you liked girls," he mumbled to her.

She arched a brow and smiled at him. "Can't a person like both?" she whispered.

Daryl stared at her uncertainly, trying to decide if she was playing some kind of game with him. He wasn't comfortable around people he didn't know, and especially not women he didn't know. Although he'd definitely noticed her right away-she would be difficult to not notice. Strikingly beautiful, intelligent, tough. He had seen that she could more than hold her own in battle. What he couldn't figure out was why she had sought him out. There were plenty of better looking, smarter men here now. She could definitely have her pick. She was way out of his league-even in a world gone to shit he knew a woman like this was still out of his reach.

And even if he was in her league, he had been sure she would never be interested in him. He had seen her with her girlfriend when he and his group had first met up with the group from Hilltop. From what he had heard, they had been together almost from the beginning of that group's settlement of Hilltop. At least a couple of years. And the girlfriend, Jane, had been killed in their first battle with Negan and his group. Three months ago now. He would have thought Diana would still be grieving. Yet here she was seeking him out, letting him know without any doubt she was interested in him. Daryl shook his head, a confused look on his face.

Diana watched him closely-he was a difficult person to read if you didn't pay close attention. But she had paid very close attention, and had learnt his tells. She knew if she wanted any type of relationship –and God she hated that word, but what other word fit?-with Daryl, she would have to be patient and always be honest. She had seen what happened when someone lied to him.

"I loved Jane, yes. But I had been with men before I was with Jane. And one other woman. I'm not confused, not experimenting, it's not a phase. I've just always believed that it shouldn't matter what color skin someone has, what religion they practice, what background they come from, or what gender they are-if you have a strong attraction to someone you should follow your feelings. I've always believed the world would be a happier place if everyone left themselves open to all the possibilities out there in the world for friendship and love." Diana shrugged a shoulder and fell silent.

Daryl smoked the last of his cigarette and stamped it out on the ground. "Still don't get why yer seekin' me out. Plenty of men here better than me. I ain't nothin' special, just some redneck asshole gettin' by now the world has gone ta shit."

Diana noted how studiously he was avoiding looking directly at her, looking anywhere and everywhere but right at her. "How long you been telling yourself that? Even now, after the old world is dead and gone? You have a group that obviously cares about you, respects you. Hell some of them think you hung the moon. So how can you even say you're nothing special? How can you still believe that of yourself?"

Daryl shrugged a shoulder and lit another cigarette, his hands itching for something to do other than grab Diana by the shoulders and shake her. "Just how it is. You don't know me. Don't know nothing 'bout me. Don't go makin' up some idea of who I am in yer head and then get disappointed when you find out I been telling ya the truth the whole time." He shot her a quick look, only to sigh when he saw the stubborn set of her mouth. He had realized in the short time that he had known her that she was the single most stubborn person he had ever met-she would have given Merle a run for his money in that department. Her own brother, Paul-or Jesus-had told he and Rick that once Diana had her mind made up about something, not hell or high water could stop her or change her mind.

Daryl threw his half smoked cigarette down and stamped it out impatiently. Diana noted that-a sure sign of unease if Daryl Dixon was wasting any part of a cigarette. He stood and stepped up a step toward the porch. "I ain't interested. Just accept it and let it be," he mumbled, turning away from her to head up to the porch and into the house.

"Liar," Diana whispered, angry tears threatening to spill down her cheeks.

Daryl paused and thought of saying something back to her, but he held his tongue. Truth was, he was lying. He was interested. Very. He just didn't want to make a fool of himself and have her hate him when she finally realized he really was nothing she would want to be around. He sighed and started moving toward the back door again. After he went in the house and shut the door behind him, he let out the breath he belatedly realized he'd been holding. Sighing again, he headed up the stairs to the attic where he kept his belongings and sometimes, rarely, slept. He wasn't in the mood for conversation tonight. He wanted to be alone. To think.