Chapter 2: Cold

"Daryl!" Beth ran up to him and hugged him as tight as she could. "You're crushin' every bone in my body, Greene." Beth laughed, "Sorry."

Beth stopped hugging Daryl for a moment, "I missed you so much oh my god I love you so much!" she said in one breath, hugging him tightly once again, but Daryl pushed her away a bit. "What?" he asked. Did he just hear what he thought he'd heard? "I mean… um... " Beth had totally messed up now, and she knew it. A blush rose to her face. "I'm gonna go set up the tents." Daryl said as he turned around and walked away. "I can help…" Beth said, "No. Go talk to Maggie." he called back, starting to set up the next tent.

"Okay…"


Daryl was incredibly shocked by what Beth said earlier. What did she mean? Did she mean as friends? Because it sure didn't seem that way. Oh well, she had probably just been really excited and messed up. Who knows?

Daryl stared at the lake in front of him. Suddenly he wasn't so against the idea of them together. He would give anything just to kiss her once. He loved her.

"Hey pookie."

Daryl quickly erased the thought of Beth from his head and spun around. It was Carol. "What do ya want?" he asked, his peace interrupted. "Food." she pointed back towards the camp. "Fine." he walked pass Carol and back towards the camp. This was going to be one awkward meal.


Beth picked the meat off of the squirrel. She was never a big fan of killing small animals, but eating was obviously a priority.

She watched Daryl as he sat down and started eating his own piece of squirrel. She was really hoping things wouldn't be awkward after what she said. She was wrong. "Daryl." Beth said, breaking the silence. He didn't look up from his food or speak. "Daryl." she said louder. He looked up. "What?" he looked her straight in the eyes. The tension was building up and was about to explode.

Moments passed. Beth was speechless. She was too nervous to say anything. The last thing she wanted to do was get in a fight with Daryl. "I'm goin huntin." he said as he grabbed his crossbow. Soon he was far off into the woods, nowhere to be seen.


Everyone was about to turn in for the night when Beth decided to go get Daryl. She knew he was upset, but he couldn't stay mad forever.

As she walked, a cold breeze swept through the forest. Her best guess for the cause was that winter was coming. Although nobody really kept track, considering it was basically the end of the world.

It would've been helpful if Daryl had been more specific. Thankfully he had taught her how to track, otherwise she probably would've ended up going in a circle. Soon the tracks stopped.

"Daryl!" Beth called out. She was getting really cold and if she didn't find him soon she was going to have to go back to the camp without him. "Please come out…" she said. She didn't know if he was listening but it made her feel a bit better.

Beth waited a few more minutes before speaking again. "Daryl I'm really sorry…" tears welled in her eyes. Maybe she was really in love with him. Eventually tears started running down her face. "Please I'm really sorry…" still no response. Right before she was about to let it all out she heard something behind her and spun around. "Beth what are you doing out here?" Daryl asked her.

"I was looking for you, you jerk!" she yelled. How could he just leave and ask her what she was doing out here?! She tried to calm down before she spoke again so she didn't start screaming at him. After all, Daryl had gotten her so worried for nothing. "Fine as long as you stop cryin'." he said, turning around and walking back to camp. Beth started mumbling, "I wasn't crying…".


Beth and Daryl eventually made their way back to camp. "Night." he said, about to walk into his tent, but she didn't take her eyes off him. She really wanted to go into his tent with him and snuggle up close to his chest, it was really cold that night and she just really felt the urge to. "Goodnight…" she said as she walked into the tent next to his. She would've slept in another, but it was the only one left.

Beth zipped the tent back up and got under her blanket immediately. She swore she felt herself slowly turning into a human icicle. Her blanket wasn't very warm but she didn't care because she had more important things to think about, like Daryl.


Daryl woke up an hour later. What had woken him up? He didn't think anyone was awake right now.

He suddenly heard soft whimpers from the tent next to his. He sighed. Daryl wanted to go over there and see what was wrong but then he remembered earlier. How could he even talk to Beth now without hurting her?

Daryl tried to ignore her and go back to sleep, but he couldn't get Beth out of his head. He really wanted her to be okay.

The whimpers slowly turned into small cries. Now Daryl just felt bad for the poor thing. "Screw it." he whispered to himself as he grabbed his blanket. He unzipped his tent as quietly as possible. He zipped it back up before walking over to Beth's tent. To be honest, Daryl was feeling so nervous that his hand was shaking. He didn't know why, but he just was. He ignored the feeling and slowly unzipped her tent and he heard Beth gasp at the cold air. "Sorry." Daryl said, walking in.

He sat down next to her, and she looked up at him. There was no doubt she was freezing. Her whole body was shivering and she could barely stop her teeth from chattering. "Why are you in here?" Beth asked, "I thought you were mad…" she trailed off. Daryl sighed once again, "I'm sorry." he said, "You're obviously freezin' your ass off." he took his blanket and wrapped it around her.

"Daryl, you don't have to give me your blanket you're gonna get cold…" Beth attempted to pull it off and give it back to him, but he gently grabbed hold of her wrists to hold her back. She just stared at him, a small frown spread across her face. "Keep it, you need it more than I do." Daryl said, letting go of her wrists. He wasn't lying, either. Beth's skin was so damn cold that you could freeze the sun with it.

"Goodnight." Daryl said, starting to crawl out of the tent. "W-wait…" Beth said, stopping him. "Hm?" he grunted, "Will you stay with me…?" she whispered, looking away from his eyes. She knew it was a lot to ask of him but she just really didn't want to be alone tonight. "Okay." Daryl finally answered, zipping the tent back up. Beth smiled and hugged him. "I'm sorry." she said, lying back down.

Daryl didn't know what she meant when she asked him to stay with her. Did she want him to hold her? Did she want him to sit in the corner? Shit, he was confused. Eventually he just decided to lay down a couple feet away from her, but it didn't feel right. He knew she was still cold, those blankets weren't very warm. He knew she needed more than that. Without thinking, Daryl laid down next to Beth so her head was resting against his chest, their bodies connecting.

Daryl put one arm behind her head and with the other he put on her back and he pulled her closer. Beth let out a sigh of happiness and snuggled up closer to him, as if it was possible. Soon she drifted off to sleep and Daryl was soon to follow her.