"...the waterpump's been broken since last night; we can't use the showers. A few fences need mending, there's been a big build-up of walkers around the North-tower and Judith's running out of babyf..."
"Damn woman, will you stop yapping at me. Ask someone else to do your stupid chores!"
Daryl, holding his crossbow in front of him, walked through the corridor at a high pace, as to trying to shake Carol off, but was failing. He couldn't bear being near her any longer. It cost him too much. He couldn't take any more. For too long he'd been around her, without having anything to show for it. For too long he'd been rescueing her from walkers, from herself, her demons. For too long he'd been tormenting himself longing for her. Every occasion his heart whispered of how beautiful she looked that day, his head would trample it down with a nasty sneer. Where did he find the audacity to even think he'd have a shot with this woman. Why in the world would she be any more interested in him other than as a friend? He'd been living a lie, there was nothing there between them. She was beyond his reach.
After all those years of yearning, he had gotten tired of beating himself up over her, coming to the conclusion he would have to try to forget about her. He would never grow the balls he needed to tell her how he truely felt, that much was clear as day; he retreated, back within himself. He couldn't keep decieving himself into thinking there might be a future for them. That she might see in him, what he saw in her; a strong, admirable person. How could she. He was anything but those things. He was an awkward monster; the world created him that way, so he could cope in the apocalypse. It had kept him alive, but very isolated.
Accepting her as just another member of their group, he would still look out for her, but only if he really needed to. No more runs together, if that was in any way avoidable. She wouldn't let him though, not even for a second would she leave him alone. Because eventhough, she didn't join him on runs anymore (after he came up with some lame ass excuse), she wouldn't leave his thoughts while he was away. As hard as he tried, she went with him wherever he went. During the day he thought he saw her at every corner of every deserted street. At night he'd wake up with a start, thinking, dreaming, he'd heard her voice. He had even toyed with the idea of leaving the group altogether to have some peace, but in the end he'd settled for going on the longest runs. The downfall of this plan was what he was experiencing now. Once he got back, she hounded him until she'd gotten from him what she wanted and he still could not be at peace.
Most things she wanted or needed were innocent enough. It wasn't that he didn't want to do all those things for her. The problem was, he would do them a thousand times. At his own expense. At risk of losing himself. He'd risk his life in a heartbeat if that was what she asked of him. She seemed oblivious to his retreat. She would act the same she'd always done. Sweet, caring, beautiful Carol.
Failing miserably at his "avoiding-plan", she seemed to be everywhere. Generous as she was, she helped with various chores which spread out her activities all over the prison. If he thought he saw her in the courtyard, he'd go back inside only to find her in the kitchen or in the laundryroom, making him turn on his heels again. The only safe places he could find were the mensroom and his own cell, athough the last one was questionable.
Just like today. Desperate for some alone-time, he'd left early that morning. She'd spotted his return late that night and grabbed him by the arm quite literally, to get his attention. Breaking loose from her grip he didn't let her finish and went on his way to his cell.
"Hey...?! What is up with you? Everytime you return, you go into hiding! We need you here too..."
"Just...leave me be, ask someone else!", he bit at her, closing the privacy curtain of his cell, leaving her hanging.
"Okay. Fine.", she muttered under her breath, defeated, "I will, but I'm not done with you yet."