The heat had been oppressive over the last few days, with no rain or clouds in sight. Off on the west side of the yard Rick, Daryl, Glenn and Tyrese were trying to add support to the fences while you, Maggie and Beth sat under the kitchen canopy taking refugee from the blazing sun.
Maggie and Beth were arguing with each other over something stupid that had happened years ago and you had your gaze set firmly to the west. Sweat was slowly dripping down your brow with the occasional salty drop landing in your eye. You could feel the sweat pooling in your bra, as well as other places, but that could just be because of your current view.
"Hey, Y/N, I'm right, aren't I? You were there… tell her," Maggie said and threw Beth an indignant look.
"Huh?" you asked lazily, your attention still half directed at watching the guys fix the fence. Well, not all the guys. Just one guy in particular.
Maggie rolled her eyes at you and repeated the question.
"I'm sorry Maggie, I checked out a while ago," you offered her a sorry smile and grabbed a couple more snap peas from the bucket.
Maggie turned and followed your gaze to the fences, her face broke out into a wide grin when she was facing you again.
"Uh… no," she said shaking her head.
"What?" you asked half offended, half confused.
"It's pretty obvious," Beth chimed in with a tone of disgust. "You stare at him constantly. It's kinda creepy."
You dismissed Beth's comment and turned to look back at Maggie. "Has she always been like this?"
"Well, she's always disliked you if that helps," Maggie laughed and raised her eyebrows at Beth.
You had known the Greene girls from years before when your family lived on the next farm over. Having hung out with their older brother Sean, you and Maggie had become quick friends but Beth never seemed to approve of your friendship with her siblings.
When you stumbled upon the prison several weeks before, you never thought you would find someone you had known, much less people that you were close too.
"That ain't nothin' new Maggie. I know how much Bethy hates me," you reached over and playfully pinched her cheek.
"Ugh," Beth said standing up getting ready to walk away, "I have to go get Judith. And don't call me Bethy, only daddy gets to do that."
You and Maggie watched her walk away, and you turned your attention back to the guys by the fence.
"She's right ya know," Maggie say nodding in their direction, "it is pretty obvious how you stare at him and all."
"Well, I am sorry if I can still have appreciation for something so spectacular. Besides, what do you care anyway? You have a man."
"I have a husband," Maggie said flashing the ring Glenn gave her, smiling wide.
"That's the last thing I want Maggie, but I am very happy for you."
"Alright then, what do you want?" She questioned, shrugging her shoulders.
"Not that," you pointed to her rings. "I don't know how you even go about trying to love someone in a world like this. That's way too hard. I guess I just want to have some fun, scratch an itch, ya know?"
"Geez, Y/N!" Maggie exclaimed, eyes wide but smiling.
"So, what's his deal anyway?" You asked trying to ignore Maggie's reaction, your eyes once again fixed on Daryl's back.
"I dunno, he's kinda quiet and shy. I mean, back on the farm he was different. But after a winter on the road, and then with what we had to go through to get this place… he's changed."
"Yeah, ok great… I meant, like who is he sleeping with?"
Maggie gave you a wide-eyed look again, surprised at your boldness.
"No one that I know of," she said going back to cleaning snap peas. "But, I doubt you would get far with him."
"Why?"
"I dunno, you just don't seem like his type."
"I can change that," you said and felt a grin spread across your face.
"Yeah, Ok. I'll tell you what Y/N… You manage to be the one to tie Dixon down, and I'll do the gardening for a whole month by myself."
You looked at your friend and stuck out a hand to her. "Maggie, hun, you know better than to never dare me to do somethin'. I'll take that bet, happily."
xxx
Early the next morning you were woken up by the sound of bangs and clunks coming from down the cell block. Wiping your eyes of sleep, you got up and peeked out of the curtain. Daryl was pacing in and out of his cell, hands on hips mumbling to himself.
You couldn't make it out completely, but picked up a couple words, "Fuck is it?" he growled and stormed out of the cell block. His unclothed arms that emerged from the cut off shirt were bulging in rage and sweat; his normal easy swagger was now fueled by anger, which somehow made him even sexier.
Since you were already awake, and your roommate was snoring loudly, you decided to get up and out early and head out to the laundry to get some of your work done. After throwing on some clothes, you caught sight of Beth near the wash tubs and wrinkled your nose at the thought of her being the first one you spoke to that morning.
As you approached her, you realized now why Daryl was in a fit of rage. Beth had his vest about to go in the wash, and given his demeanor earlier, you figured she didn't ask when she took it.
"Hey Beth," you sang cheerily, "Um, whatcha doin'?"
"Washing Daryl's vest," she said not looking at you.
"Ya know he's flipping the fuck out lookin' for it," you said trying to look at her, but the sun was blinding you.
"He is? I didn't mean anything by it, I just… it was so dirty. I was just trying to help."
"Lemme have it, I'll bring it back and tell him I found it out here. Won't tell him it was you."
Beth finally looked at you as though she was a child being chastised for being bad. Sheepishly, she handed you the vest before it touched the water.
"You really won't tell him?" she asked, eyes begging you to keep your word.
"I promise. Now, why don't you go see if Rick's up, I'm sure he'll need you to care for Judy today."
She gave you one last untrusting glance before turning and walking away. Gently folding Daryl's vest, you hurried back to your cell and stuffed it into your gear bag. Maggie's bet was fresh in your mind from the day before, and you felt determined to make this the day that you won a month off of gardening.