Slush. Slush was the worse. It was a reminder of the cold but a tease of the warmth. And it was just incredibly messy. Kelly would have rather shoveled snow. She volunteered to help keep the paths of Hilltop clean because it gave her something to do. She needed to pull her weight around here because everyone raved about Connie. Connie and Daryl had come back late last night with two big deer. Everyone had food for at least a week now. Connie was a hero. Kelly was slightly jealous. Kelly finished the path near the armory and saw her sister walking towards her.
We need to talk, Connie signed before pulling her sister to the side. I did something.
Who did you kill? Kelly looked around her. Connie cocked her head.
You think I killed someone? Kelly shrugged, Well I didn't. at least not yet.
What did you do? It better be good for all this hysteria.
I kissed Daryl. Well he kissed me, but I guess I kissed him back, Connie looked around her nervously as if all of Hilltop suddenly learned ASL. Kelly stared at her sister in disbelief. She would have guessed Connie would have killed a dozen more people before she kissed someone.
I need to finished shoveling. They want to start planting seeds in a couple of weeks, Kelly tried to walk away but Connie grabbed her arm, What?
Did I fuck up?, Connie signed biting her lower lip. Kelly sighed running her hands across her face. She shook her head.
No. I just don't want to see you get hurt again. I love you too much. She said to her big sister. Connie smiled.
I won't get hurt. It's not like we're getting married. It was just a kiss.
That's how it starts. Kelly said as Connie flung her arm across her shoulders.
Connie sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the fire Kelly had built for her. Her stomach growled even though she already had her small portion of deer for dinner. She missed her 3am pizza binges and the after work/school doughnuts with Kelly. She sighed thinking about the moment a couple nights ago. Her lips tingled at the mere thought of it. Her finger tips touched her lip and her pulse quickened.
She glanced around the room half expecting God himself to be standing there chastising her for thinking dirty thoughts. It had been a long time since she had these thoughts and it awoke something deep down inside of her that she had long forgotten.
She thought briefly of the man she had met in Chicago nine years ago before everything went to shit. She was there working on a story about the CEO of one of the big Pharma groups. He was cute in the My wife is in Boston but we're not talking kind of way. He even knew some ASL so that helped. He kissed her with such vigor it was almost over with just when it started. Connie sighed. Daryl kissed a lot better than that man. She wondered if he was better at other things too. Connie shook her head. She was being ridiculous.
Connie stood up and walked over to the wash basin. She splashed some water on her face. She walked over to the window and peered out. The sun had set and the members of the hilltop community had gone into their respective homes. It was so strange to think of this place as home but dare she say it was? Her group had been shifted from one community to the next the past few months, but now that everything seemed to have settled down, She gathered the Hilltop would be her final resting home….unless it fell like all the rest. Her eyes glanced over towards the barn where she knew Daryl was. She bit her lip debating what her next move should be.
Connie stood outside the barn debating with herself if she should knock or not. She swayed on her heels thinking. This was stupid. She was about to leave when the barn door opened and nearly made her faint with fright.
"Are you coming in or what?" He asked, "You've been out here for five minutes." She arched her eyebrow and he pointed to the loft window. She nodded slowly with a shrug of her shoulders. He stepped aside and she stepped in. Daryl glanced around before he shut the door.
"Did you get enough to eat?" He asked. Connie nodded dancing on her feet. Daryl just stared. She sighed taking out her note book. He tapped it to make her stop writing, "We don't need to talk about the other night." She smiled at him with an arched eyebrow, "Because I knew that's what you were going to write about. Come here." He pointed to the loft.
Why, Connie signed.
"Fine. Don't." Daryl shrugged climbing the ladder up to the loft. Connie glanced around her, nervous slightly, but followed behind him. He pointed to a hale bale, "Sit." She sat down watching him rummage through one of his bags. He pulled out a small green and yellow bag and handed it to her. Her eyes widened. A bag of sour cream and onion chips. She looked at him with wide eyes.
Where?, Connie shook her index finger signing to him surprised.
"I have my ways. Eat them or not. I don't care. They're probably stale as hell anyway." He shrugged plopping down across from her. Connie didn't even hesitate. She didn't care that they were ten years old. She wanted them. Connie ripped open the bag and smelled them. She groaned. Daryl smiled.
Thank you, she signed. Daryl nodded. Connie took out one of the chips and stuffed it into her mouth. There was no graceful way to do this. She closed her eyes tightly. Yes, they were extremely stale but they were also wonderful. She had missed these gas station treats. Connie opened her eyes to see Daryl staring at her. She offered the bag to him, but he just shook his head.
Connie put the bag down with a roll of her eye. She looked at him, locking eyes. She felt her pulse quicken. Ten years ago, she wouldn't even have glanced at a man like him. What did that say about her? But now, she found him more than attractive. What was it honestly? The way he was with Judith? The way, even though he had differences with some people, he still tried to provide for them? Was it his kindness with Dog? Or was it the way he looked at her? The way he talked to her like she wasn't deaf? The way he was patient with her hand-written novels? He didn't' treat her differently. Daryl thought for a moment of what he wanted to say. He knew a few signs after all the time he had spent with Connie. He put both his hands out palm up.
What? He signed. Connie smiled, impressed that he remembered. She shook her head as she stood up.
Nothing, She signed. Connie took a step towards him. She briefly had a thought of her mother yelling at her with her high school boyfriend. She had caught them making out on the front porch once. She had made it known to the entire neighborhood what Connie had been caught doing. But now her mother wasn't here to yell at her.
Her heart felt like it was going to pound out of her chest as she leaned down and put her lips upon his. She sighed happily and she drank in his scent. She felt a groan deep in his chest as he grabbed her by her hips and pulled her against him. She was going to pass out. She was sure of that. The kiss was deep and intense. Daryl broke the kiss for a moment and looked into her eyes, searching for something.
Connie nodded and that was all he needed. Ten years of pent up frustration. Daryl pulled her jacket off. He felt like he was going to pass out as she pulled at his shirt. He suddenly wished they weren't in a loft full of hay. Hay was not comfortable once your clothes were gone. He had plenty of experience being naked in hay when he was younger. Connie was struggling with his belt, but he stopped her. He wanted to look at her. She was gorgeous sitting on top of him, topless. He struggled to regain some sense.
Hot, he signed to her. She looked at him confused, chest heaving. You hot. Connie's cheeks reddened slightly. He kissed one, then kissed her neck. He grabbed her around her waist. He was going to do this right and flipped her over onto her back.
Connie was so turned on that she didn't even notice the hay poking into her back. She just wanted him. She didn't want this moment to end, this heart racing moment. She wanted it to last forever as Daryl, the man she never envisioned she'd end up with, had sex with her.