Carol had never been on a motorcycle before and the euphoria she felt was like nothing else she had ever known.
They were flying.
It also didn't hurt that she had her arms around him and he was so close she could smell him. He smelled delicious, like a candy bar. He had just eaten a Hershey Bar, she was positive. She was also positive that she didn't want to get to the diner any time soon. Because then they would have breakfast and then he would take her home. She didn't want to go home, and she didn't want this day to end. She felt the wind in her hair and she felt free. Breaking down today was the luckiest thing to happen to her in a long time.
Daryl was winging this whole damn thing right now. He hadn't expected to run into her today and now he was losing his shit with her wrapped around him so tight. Between her arms around him, her hands dangerously close to his belt buckle, and her thighs having him in a death grip he was a hot mess. She had never been on a bike before, that was obvious and now he was paying the price. She was holding on for dear life and he had to get rid of this hard on before they got to Tyreese's. He mentally had a conversation with the traitor in his jeans right now. Down boy, not now, not now.
That didn't work. Now what was he going to do?
He started to think about Merle in his underwear in an effort to get his dick to behave. That worked wonders. Good to know.
Next time she would be more used to it, he thought.
Next time? What?
What made him even think she would want to ride with him again anyway. She just needed a ride and he had pretty much told her they were going to eat. Who would even want to eat pancakes with Daryl Dixon, son of Bob Dixon, the town drunk, brother to Merle? He would let her off the hook if she wanted, give her an out, and still fix her car, he want that much of a dick.
They pulled in and he stopped the bike. While they both still sat there he leaned back and said to her.
"We don't have to go if you don't want to." He leaned to her. "I did Shanghai you a little."
"Forget that, you have me all excited for Tyreese's pancakes now."
He nodded and got off the bike and helped her off. "Alright then."
He gave her a chance, now she was going to be seen out with his dirt bag self. Probably that big mouth Amy Harrison would be working. So therefore, her sister Andrea, Carol's friend and the rest of the school would know about this within the hour.
They walked into the diner, Tyreese's wife Karen was at the register and she grabbed two menus. She walked over to them with a big smile on her face. That woman always had a smile for everyone that came in their diner. Even him and he was so grateful for that, most people avoided him, because of who he was. He had never had a drink or gotten in trouble, yet he was judged, he accepted it. That's just the way it was.
"Hey Daryl, Carol how are you today?"
"Fine Miss. Karen." Daryl said, and Carol thought to herself, He is so polite to everyone. "You?"
"Good, I'm glad." She said leading them to a booth and placing the menus on the table. "And I'm fine as always."
She turned to them.
"Amy will be right over." She said as she was leaving and Daryl winced, Carol noticed as they sat down.
"What's the matter?"
He looked around and then at her across the table, leaning closer to whisper to her.
"Amy Harrison is our waitress, she had the biggest mouth in school, Lori Richards is going to know about this in about five minutes."
"Ha and then Andrea is gonna be blowing up my phone." She laughed.
"I'm sorry Carol, I wasn't thinking."
"What?" She looked at him not understanding at all why he would be sorry.
"I don't want you to get shit from your friends for being with me here."
She just put her hand up and said."Pffft. I want these pancakes, and I'm glad to be here with you."
He sat back in shock a little. She was way out of his league, he knew that. What did she mean she was glad to be with him? He didn't have much time to think on that because Amy was in front of them with her note pad. She smiled down at them.
"Hey Daryl, Carol, Oh it rhymes. " She laughed to herself. "Daryl, Carol."
Daryl slink down in his seat, this sucked. He should have taken her somewhere that no one knew them.
"Hey Amy." Carol said.
"Amy."
"What can I get you?"
Daryl nodded at Carol to order first.
"Blueberry pancakes and a cup of hot tea."
Amy nodded writing on her pad. "That comes with Bacon or sausage and do you want grits too?"
"Bacon and yes I want the grits." She smiled.
Daryl was dumbfounded, she just ordered exactly what he wanted. Tyreese made about twelve kinds of pancakes, what were the odds.
"Daryl."
Amy's voice pulled him out of his own head and it was a good thing, sometimes it was a bad neighborhood to be in and he realized he was staring at Carol. Again.
"Um, I'll have the same but with coffee, black."
"Ok, coming right up."
She smiled and walked back to the counter. Daryl watched he put in their order and then sit down at the counter.
"Three, two. One." Daryl said.
"What."
"Look." He nodded his head over to Amy.
She turned around and saw Amy with her cellphone in her hand texting god knew who. Daryl had been right, he sure understood human nature, she thought to herself.
Carol giggled and then her own cell phone went off in her coat pocket. Then she out right laughed a huge merry laugh that made his heart speed up in his chest. She thought it was funny. She wasn't mad and he was so relieved.
She took out her phone. Unlocked it and looked at the screen then she smiled.
"It's Andrea." She laughed. "You were right."
"Aren't you going to text her back."
"Nope, let her stew and I don't want to be rude to you."
He was not used to kindness or people caring about his feelings. It was a little uncomfortable. So he looked for a way to change the subject.
"Who's that guy on your screen?" He was a little jealous just then, did she have a boyfriend after all? Just his damn luck.
"Oh it's that actor from that Zombie show that's on Sunday nights, don't judge me." She laughed.
As if he ever would. He just nodded. He didn't watch that show, but maybe he would start now.
He still couldn't believe she ordered his exact breakfast. That was so weird.
"Hey whatever." He smiled ducking his head down a little.
"You ordered the same breakfast as me." She said.
"No, you ordered the same breakfast as me." He brought his head up and looked at her through a few strands of hair that fell over his right eye. This was kind of fun, he thought.
Amy returned with their drinks and set them on the table. Carol's phone chimed again. She looked up at Amy.
"Food will be up in a minute."
"Ok, thanks Amy." Carol said, looking out the window, Tara Chambler and Glenn Rhee just pulled in. Glenn was driving his Jetta, with Tara riding shot gun. "Thanks for everything Amy." She held up her phone, smiling.
Amy gave her a tight smile and walked away.
"Oh we got company." She said and he looked over saw them and let out a small groan.
"Oh those two." He rolled his eyes a little. "I know they're your friends."
"Amy's reach was vast and wide, must have been a group text. I'm really sorry Daryl."
"T's ok, they just looking out for you. Can't blame them really."
"Now why do you say that?"
"Carol, you know..."
"Stop." She put her hand up. "I know you watch me getting in my car, I saw you one night in my rear view mirror. Thought it was a coincidence, but then I saw you again."
He went white, she would think he was a creeper for sure now, he tried to keep himself together. Now it was going to happen, her friends were here and she was just going to leave him with two orders of pancakes.
"You can't talk down about yourself around me, I was going to ask you about it on Friday but I had to take my Dad over to Grady. You would have been there Friday right?"
He didn't answer her, he didn't understand why she wasn't mad. So finally he nodded.
"You were looking out for me, right?"
He nodded again. She looked at him, her eyes soft.
"That's the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me." She said. "You're my hero."
He couldn't believe she just said that.
Just then Tara and Glenn came barreling over in their usual loud way. They also just sat right down, without waiting to be invited. Tara next to Carol and Glenn next to Daryl.
"Hey, what's up?" Glenn said waving to Amy for more menus.
"Sup Daryl." Tara said smiling.
Daryl nodded, but in his head he was wishing he didn't live in such a small town.