Yesterday

Disclaimer:I do not own The Walking Dead, or anything at all of value, please don't sue. I am poor.

Chapter 3: While the gettin's good

When Hayden woke up the car wasn't moving and both Daryl Dixon and Dylan were not in the vehicle. She did notice however that she was propped in her own seat covered by her sweater. She looked around at her surroundings and noticed they were in the woods. She got out of her car and stretched, then immediately doubled over in pain. 'Owwwww.' She sulked, before clearing her throat and standing up straight.

"Well, sleepin' beauty emerges." Merle's voice rang out behind her. "Was startin' think yew died."

"Don't sound too upset to see me living." She joked turning to face him.

"I was thinkin' o' takin' advantage o' tha' hot lil body o' yours whiles yew was sleepin'." He licked his lips provocatively.

"Well I'm flattered, but you're just not my type."

"Do I look like I care what yer type is?"

"No, but I do see a hole in that tree over there, and its giving you those come hither eyes." She grinned, "Better got get it while the gettin's good."

Merle cracked a grin, "Well it is an awful purddy tree."

"Invite me to the wedding." She couldn't tell if he was being serious about raping her or not but it seemed as long as she deflected his comments with jokes he stayed civil. He walked over to Daryl who was standing by his truck, she smiled at him before heading over to the rest of the group.

"Wheres Dylan?" She asked Morales who was attempting to start a fire.

"Down by the quarry with Lori and the other kids. They're playing."

"Okay, I'll leave him be then. You need some help with that?"

"Yeah, I have no idea how to do this with out about a gallon of lighter fluid."

She smiled at him and knelt down beside the would be fire pit. He had way to many sticks and not enough dry grass, she began amending what was wrong and explained to him what she was doing in steps. After a few minutes she had a pile of grass smoking and blew on it lightly until a small fire sprang up. Gradually she added more grass and wood until she had a medium sized fire going.

"Thanks a lot." He smiled at her then started chatting with his wife and telling her how Hayden had taught him to create a fire with nothing but twigs and grass. She sat looking at the fire for a few minutes until Jacqui came over to her asking whether or not she had a tent.

"Yeah I have a tent in my car. Do you know where I can set it up at?"

"I'm not sure," answered the older dark skinned woman, "But if you ask Shane I'm sure he can tell you where to put it."

"Do you know where he is?"

"He's in the RV talking to Dale about how we can split up the limited supplies we have."

"Okay, I can help out with that." She stood up dusting off her bottom. "Hey Shane!" She called out to the Winnebago. "I got something to show everyone. If you would all be so kind to huddle around my car I can probably make your day a little better." It took a few minutes but everyone, even Lori and the kids were huddled around her car. "Can I get a drum roll please?" She called out and Dylan began tapping on the side of her car. "Thank you." She said opening the trunk of her car.

Everyone gasped in delight, and she even heard Glenn call out "No freaking way!"

"Are you sure about this?" Shane asked putting a hand on her shoulder.

"No, I figured I'd just horde this stuff all for myself and just let you guys suffer. I was just showing y'all to gloat." She couldn't help but be sarcastic. "Of course I'm sure, geez." They set all the food she had by the Winnebago so they could Divide it equally later. "I've got something else you may want to see too, there Officer. So long as you promise not to arrest me."

"Whats that?" Shane asked walking back over to her car. Daryl was curious as well so he lingered near the trunk.

"Okay, I promise I'm not a criminal or anything... and I do or well did, I guess, have licences for each and every one of these. She propped up a hidden compartment in her trunk to reveal quite the collection of weapons. "I don't mind you taking these and divvying them up between those that know how to use them, but I'm keeping my cross bow, my hand gun, this rifle and this knife. She said pointing to the ones she wanted to stay in her possession. Daryl looked at the other knife and picked it up turning it over in his hands. "You want it?" He didn't answer just shrugged his shoulders. "Its yours." She smiled.

"Thanks, Darlin'." He took the knife and its sheath and hooked it to his pants. "Yuh got any otha' surprises in there fer us?"

"Not in the car no, but I'm full of them." She dragged her tent bag out of the car, "Now where can I set this up?" Shane started explaining where everyone was situated and told her that if she wanted she could set his tent up near his and Lori's if she wanted. Hayden didn't want to be rude. She liked everyone here good enough but didn't really want to set up beside Lori, because of the nasty looks she'd been receiving all day from the woman who didn't trust her. She looked in Daryl's general direction and she could of sworn he was staring Daggers at Shane but shook her head dismissing the thought quickly. Shane noticed her looking at Daryl, and began talking in hushed tones.

"Look, I don't think its really a good idea if you get close to the Dixon's." He glanced at Daryl who was now staring him down, knowing he was talking bad about him.

"What? Why not? Daryl's actually real nice and Merle's just a prick. They're not bad people."

"Listen, I'm just saying that they're backwater rednecks and you seem pretty naive so I'm just gonna give it to you straight. They-"

"Woah, there buddy." Hayden cut him off, "I am anything but naive, I know exactly what you're trying to get at too, and I think that's just plain wrong what you're implying."

"I've dealt with they're type before." Shane warned. "It never turns out pretty."

Hayden couldn't help but roll her eyes at the older man. "Well I think that you're a few crayons short of a box, and if we're all supposed to be trying to survive out here together I think we should try and get along not ostracize any members of the community." She continued her little rant using bigger and more complicated words finding it funny how Shane's face slowly turned from concerned, to angered, to just down right confused before he walked off defeated.

"Where'd yew learn all a them ten dollar words?" Daryl questioned with his crossbow slung over his shoulder.

"University." She shrugged, "You going hunting?"

"Perimeter sweep, making sure there's still no Walkers 'round."

"Want company?"

"Nope." He started to walk away, "Don't want yew gettin' hurt any worse then yar."

"I can take care of myself you know!" She called after him a little ticked off.

"I believe you Darlin', but I can't do mah job right if'in I'm worryin bout you." she could feel the smirk in his words as she shot glares to his back.

"Dick!" She heard his laugh as he sauntered to the treeline, then he pointed his crossbow forward and there was silence.

They had been out in the woods for seven days, Hayden became close with Dale, Glenn, Andrea, T-Dog and Carol. She got along well with Jim, Amy, and Jacqui. Even though she and Dylan were becoming close to these people. They all still treated Merle and Daryl like lepers. She didn't understand it. Daryl hunted and brought fresh meat for everyone and nobody said thanks. It blew her mind. The only ones who thanked him were her and Dylan. She hadn't got to talk to him much because he was always off hunting and she was pretty sure that when she was able to talk to him that someone else would purposefully keep her occupied to stay away from him.

It sort of made sense with Merle who constantly had a racist or sexist comment to share but he was still a person. Daryl just got shafted because he wouldn't leave his brother, it didn't help that she thought he was a tad anti social. You never heard the "N" word come from Daryl's mouth or any other racial slur that she could think of. It was more or less just an act that she could tell, and everyone else at camp just assumed he was as racist as his brother. He had a temper sure, but so did Shane, and so did she. It was human.

Hayden sat at the fire eating the squirrel Daryl had got and smiled with a toothy grin. Everyone else was preoccupied so she would be able to sneak over and speak to Daryl. She moved to get up when Lori of all people asked her what she was doing.

"I'm going to thank Daryl for lunch. Society may be collapsing around us but it doesn't mean we need to forget our manners." She stalked off with a piece of the squirrel still in her hand. "Hey!" She greeted both Daryl and Merle happily, who were both sitting on their trucks tailgate.

"Wut yew want yah foxy lil bitch? Finally change yer mind 'bout fuckin' me?" Merle asked blowing her a kiss. Before she could open her mouth to reply Daryl elbowed him in the ribs and mumbled something along the lines of 'Shut the fuck up.'

"I would never try to get between you and that sexy little spruce. I'm no home wrecker." She laughed. "I just came over to thank Daryl for lunch." Hayden waved the piece of meat around before eating the last bite.

"S'no problem." He shrugged not looking up from his folded hands. Hayden wasn't sure if he wanted her there or not. He could be very hard to read.

"Okay. I just wanted you to know that someone appreciates what you do. Talk to-"

"I got's tah take a shit." Merle interrupted Hayden mid-sentence as he hoped off the truck bed. "Keep mah seat warm for me would ya lil bitch?" Daryl shot Merle a dirty look.

"You know Merle I think that you should've been a poet. You have got such a way with words. Warms the heart!" she called after him as he flipped her the bird. She looked at Daryl then the tailgate and decided to hoist herself up. If he didn't want her there he would have to say so.