The group had consumed their fair share of alcohol that evening. Everyone except Daryl who was still not back from hunting.
Eugene who had had very little experience with alcohol consumption was tipsy after his first drink. After a few hours of drinking he was completely gone, stumbling about, explaining to people the effects of alcohol on the body and why.
Rosita eventually had enough of his rambling and sent him in Carol's direction who was sat alone on the bench watching everyone else.
He nodded and sloppily made his way over, plonking himself down next to her with a sigh.
"Good evening Carol," he slurred.
Carol who was drunk also but not quite as far gone nodded a greeting at him, "Eugene."
"Let me tell you this alcohol has certainly had the desired effect on me," he said, swaying slightly as he did.
When she didn't respond he spoke again, "you might be interested to know that alcohol directly affects brain chemistry by altering levels of neurotransmitters. The chemical messengers that transmit the signals throughout the body that control our thought processes, behavior and emotion. It affects both excitatory neurotransmitters and inhibitory neurotransmitters, thus causing the feeling and actions of being drunk."
Carol stared at him gormlessly trying to figure out what the fuck he was rambling on about.
"Do you want another drink?" she asked ignoring his science lecture.
"No thank you, I think I have certainly consumed enough alcohol," he said swaying forward again, his hand falling onto Carol's knee to steady himself.
Carol was too drunk at this point to really care, "how did you do with ladies before all this?"
She laughed as he shrugged his shoulders rolling his eyes.
Daryl appeared in the backyard, the bags under his eyes dark and heavy, exhaustion quickly taking over him. His eyes scanned across everyone until he saw Carol. His jaw locked ever so slightly as he saw Eugene very close to her, his hand resting on her knee, Carol laughing at something he said.
Shit. She must of been drunk, Eugene had never been anything but serious and incredibly boring.
"No no come on it's a serious question," Carol persisted through sniggers.
"I have never had much luck with any woman, despite my many efforts," Eugene sighed.
"Aw sweetie," Carol laughed sympathetically giving him a one armed hug, "I'm sure there's someone out there."
Eugene went rigid as she hugged him, being a rarity and all.
Daryl saw Carol hugging him and decided to go over making sure Eugene stayed off.
Eugene could feel his confidence build as he returned her hug, could it possibly be that she was making a pass at him? Some kind of hidden sexual desire underlying the hug?
"Thank you Carol, I'm very appreciative of your sympathy," Eugene said, watching her as she took the sip of her drink.
"No worries! No worries at all," she said deliriously drunk.
Eugene swallowed hard and prepared himself for what he was about to do.
"Carol," he said making sure her head was turned in his direction before closing his eyes and leaning forward to try and kiss her.
It was going well for him before he received a palm hard to the face, pushing him backwards off the bench and onto the ground.
He opened his eyes and saw Daryl towering over him, his eyes like fire.
"I don't fuckin' think so," he said.
"Oh now I'm sorry Daryl, I did not realize you would be so offended by my decision to try and 'make a move' on Carol."
"You tried to kiss me," Carol said in shock cutting Daryl off before her could say anymore. Her facial expressions were way over the top due to the amount of alcohol in her system, "I was not hinting at that!"
"I clearly misconstrued the hug as something more, I profoundly apologize," he stammered looking at Daryl still.
"Damn right you misconstrued," he snarled, "come on Carol."
Daryl took her by the wrist gently and ushered her up away from Eugene still on the floor and away from the crowd of people in their back yard.
"You didn't have to be so mean y'know," Carol stated, glancing back at Eugene who was already well over the situation.
"I knew he was gonna do that," Daryl muttered leading her inside.
Carol pulled her wrist away from his grasp, "hey no where are we going?"
"Bed," Daryl said simply yawning.
"Well that's even more forward then Eugene was don't you think?" she replied giggling as he felt the heat flush to his cheeks.
"Separate beds," Daryl made clear.
"But I'm not tired," Carol argued holding the porch door to steady herself.
"But you're very drunk," Daryl reasoned.
Carol scoffed at him, "piss off, I'm fine."
As she said this the door she leaning on swung open making her fall backwards.
Daryl swiftly jumped forward and caught her around the waist, pulling her back indoors.
"Jesus christ Carol," he muttered.
"So I'm a little drunk, no big deal, let me back out," she whined.
Daryl sighed his eyes starting to sting, "you either come to bed willingly or I carry you up."
Carol grinned darkly at him, "so dominate Daryl, such a rarity," she teased.
"Stop," he scoffed, more embarrassed then anything else.
"I can tell you now I am not going up willingly," Carol said stubbornly, going to turn around back outside.
"Oh no you don't," Daryl said quickly, scooping down and picking her up by her legs, flinging her over his back.
"Daryl!" she screeched hitting his back, "you asshole put me down!"
Daryl chuckled to himself and carried her up the stairs to her room.
"I'm serious, put me down, Daryl Dixon! Let me go now!" she demanded struggling to get out of his grasp.
He shook he head as he hid the laughter under his breath.
"Daryl!" Carol squawked.
Daryl got to her room and flung her down on the bed, smiling in amusement to himself.
"That wasn't funny," she seethed, composing herself.
Daryl grinned at her, "no course not."
"It wasn't, you don't get to choose when I've had enough, I decide."
"I know," he said his smile fading a bit, "but you'll thank me in the morning."
"Pfft doubt it," Carol scoffed.
"Night Carol," Daryl said going to leave.
"Oh that's it, you're leaving me now? I'm disappointed Daryl," she said lying back on her bed.
"What d'ya mean?" he asked.
"Well you offered to bring me up to bed, being oh so dominate about it and now you're leaving," she spoke rolling over to face him.
"You know that's not what I meant," Daryl said trying to sound stern.
"Such a bore," Carol blurted at him laughing to herself.
Daryl stayed quiet waiting for her speak again.
Once she stopped laughing she sat up on the end of the bed and looked up at Daryl stood by her door, her eyes locked with his.
"You not even curious Dixon?" she asked softly, eye fucking him as she did.
Daryl got a lump in his throat, feeling himself start to sweat, he couldn't allow it to happen, not with her drunk like this.
"I'll make you a deal," Daryl spoke, "you go to sleep now and in the morning if you still remember this, I'll answer your question, deal?"
Carol thought for a moment, yawning again, "okay okay, I will remember, don't think I'll forget."
Daryl nodded at her, "alright, night Carol."
Carol continued to eye fuck him as he left, "night Daryl."