Chapter 2
Glenn is totally excited when he sees Daryl. Daryl Dixon. The name is fitting because it's so sexy. Did he just think the word 'sexy?' Weird. But then Daryl opens his mouth and Glenn can't believe what comes out of it and, really? He has to live with this asshole for the entire year? Maybe he can get a roommate switch. At the very least, he should stop imagining what Daryl would look like naked. Well, at least he got him to apologize, right?
"Oh my god, he is so hot! Too bad he's such a dick!" Amy gushes as they get through the food line.
"I can't even see it anymore. I mean, yeah, I did at first, but just…his racism blinded me to his arms – I mean charms! Erghm."
Amy chortles and finds them a table where they sit.
xXx
After dinner they go back to Glenn's room. Amy sits on the bed and looks around. "Where's his stuff?"
Glenn shrugs. "He got here right before orientation. Maybe he hasn't had time to bring it in?"
Amy picks up the course catalog and flips through it, stretching out on the bed. There's a knock on the open door. A rugged looking guy with short dark hair and blue eyes leans in.
"I heard ya'll were starting up a baseball team here?"
"RICK!"
"Glenn, man. What's up?" The guys hug as Amy sits up.
"Amy, this is my best friend from high school, Rick Grimes. Rick, this is Amy, my new, uh, fruit fly."
"Amy." Rick raises his hand and dips his head down like he's tipping a hat. Amy looks up at him with wide eyes.
"Hey," she breathes.
Glenn clears his throat. "Yeah, don't bother. You're not his type."
"Glenn!" she slaps him on the chest. Rick chuckles and sits on the bed, scooting back towards the wall.
"So, what'r you kids planning for tonight? Want to find some parties?"
"Yeah, parties, okay. So, when'd you get here?"
"Just before lunch. You?"
"This morning…you know my parents. How's your roommate situation?"
"Not bad. Guy named Edwin - Ed Jenner. Pre-med. He has a girlfriend here he's hanging with. Otherwise I'd a brought him."
"Glenn has a racist for a roommate." Amy volunteers.
"What?!" Rick looks at Glenn horrified.
"Yeah, called him a chink and China-man!" She looks at Glenn and now she looks pretty horrified too. "Is that bad? Am I allowed to say that if I'm repeating what somebody else said?"
"Pfffft. Whatever. Let's just…let's just change the subject." Glenn waves his hand like he's clearing the air.
"You should tell the RA." Rick says, very concerned.
"No, I'm going to give him a chance. I got him to apologize. I think it could work out."
Amy giggles, "Work out? You just want to stare at his arms all night long. Hoping he'll hold you in them, right?"
"SHHHHH!" Glenn glances at the open door. "What if he came back right now?" Glenn hisses at her. "You would be soooo dead. No, I would be so dead." He pauses and comes to a realization. Glenn leans towards them and whisper yells, "Dude, you guys. You CANNOT tell him I'm gay. He would totally hate crime me, like, in my sleep."
"No way!" Amy is again looking horrified.
"Yes way! He gives off that vibe. We already know he's a racist. I bet he's got a shotgun loaded in the rear window of his pickup. I can totally hear the Deliverance banjo music already!"
"What does that even mean?!" Amy asks, bewildered.
"I don't know, but something bad with butt-raping redneck hillbillies. And someone gets murder-buried in the river. I don't want that to be me!" Glenn gesticulates wildly. Rick chuckles.
"So…the hillbillies are gay? That's like, the opposite of –"
"Whatever! Trust me, it's bad."
The three sit in silence a moment, thinking it over.
"Um, you think you can keep something like that from him the whole year?" Rick asks.
"Yeah, why not?"
Rick and Amy make noises of disbelief.
"Well, probably. Maybe."
"Okay, but…going back in the closet? Be prepared for the bluest balls in history, 'cause if you even think about hooking up with someone, that shit is getting out. You know?" Rick's concern is practical.
"Maybe you should change roommates." Amy says sadly. "I wouldn't want you to get hurt. Maybe you should tell Shane."
"Tell Shane what?" They look up and the highly muscled RA is standing in the doorway.
Glenn and Amy both make gasping surprised noises – Amy actually falls off the bed spluttering, and Rick and Shane laugh. Shane looks at Rick, since they're the two laughing, and cocks his head to the side. He walks in, making a beeline.
"I'm Shane Walsh, their RA." He jerks his head toward the other two but doesn't stop looking at Rick.
Rick smiles and nods, "Rick."
Glenn seems to be the only one to notice Shane's question is still unanswered. "Um…tell you that we were going to look for some parties. Thought maybe you could tell us some good ones, or um, want to come with us?" Shane finally looks at Glenn as he finishes talking, then looks back at Rick.
"Yeah, okay."
"What like, now?" Amy leaps up. She glances down at herself, "Wait, let me change!"
"Me too." Glenn starts digging in his drawer for a new shirt and Amy is running out the door when she slams into Daryl who is just walking in.
Daryl comes back from dinner duties to a room full of people. In fact, blondie barrels into him on her way out, stopping him in his tracks.
"Ooof. Sorry," she squeaks as she recovers and then maneuvers past him. Even when she's gone he stands in the doorway, unsure why so many people are there.
"Hey, Daryl," Shane greets him heartily. Daryl is slightly shocked. He didn't think anyone had seen him at the orientation, and he's sure he didn't meet Shane otherwise. His surprise must show on his face because Shane continues, "Dude, we study your files. Learn your names. It's cool." He claps his hand on Daryl's shoulder like it's reassuring. Daryl's not really cool with that and wonders what all is in his file.
"Hey, do you need help bringing your stuff in? We got a buncha guys here now, won't take no time," Shane offers, performing his RA duties.
Daryl is confused for an instant, then realizes why they're asking. Okay, his side of the room looked pretty empty - he doesn't have all the shit that Glenn has. It's just that everything he brought fits inside the drawers and closet. He looks down, "Nah. I got everythin'."
The silence is awkward for just a second. Then Shane says, "Well, we're going to see if there are any good parties around campus. You want to come with?"
Daryl looks up at Shane, then the guy sitting on Glenn's bed. He wonders if this is something he should do; get to know these people, make friends, hang out. More likely it's something he shouldn't do; a distraction, from studying, work, everything. And then he spots Glenn in the corner. Glenn…shirtless in the corner.
"Yeah, okay."
