Hey guys! So I probably should've done this in the first chapter but I'm really new at this haha! Anyways thank you so much for checking out my first fan fiction! Feel free to leave a review! Thanks again and as always happy reading!
Chapter 3: Confessions
Daryl had finished up the squirrel for the day and planned on going back out hunting for some bigger game. Merle was still in the woods doing whatever the hell he usually did. He kind of wished he had someone to talk to. He could always go to Brooke for that. Sure he could talk to his mother but Brooke knew how to keep secrets and he could talk about things to her that he couldn't tell his mother. He remembered back to the first time he told Brooke about home.
It was closing time for the café once again and he really felt like he owed Brooke. His brother had just harassed her. Time to wash some dishes. He walked in and Brooke was the only one left.
"Hey Dixon!" she called. "What's up?"
"Brooke I'm really sorry about what happened today." Daryl said picking up some plates.
"Daryl it's okay! He didn't do anything to me, just a little pinch. Just be glad I know how to defend myself." She replied. She got a closer look at his face and arms. All had bruises and cuts once again. "Let me clean you up." She sighed. She got the first aid kit and they sat down on the ground behind the counter. "Daryl what happened? Don't just tell me nothing 'cause I know it's not nothing."
"You have to promise not to freak out." He said.
"I promise."
"My dad." He answered. They were quiet for a moment. Brooke just stared at him in disbelief.
"Oh God Daryl." She sighed. "I'm so sorry! I didn't know!" Brooke paused and thought for a moment. "Is that why your mom wears make up on her arms?" Daryl nodded. Brooke put on some bandages. "Does he hurt Merle too?"
"Yeah. Merle hits me too." He felt her hand go on his back and he winced. Without warning she lifted his shirt and saw fresh cuts on his back and chest. Daryl never wanted Brooke to see that because he knew she would take it hard. They had only known each other for a couple of months but they had become fast friends. She gasped and held back her tears. She went to work on the wounds.
"Daryl I'm so sorry!" she said again.
"It ain't your fault they drink." He said as she disinfected the wounds. She really didn't want him to get an infection.
"How long?"
"Since I can remember." He replied softly. She wasn't done but he pulled down his shirt. "There's no point Brooke. It'll just happen again." He could see her eyes filling with tears but she held them back and he was doing the same to her surprise. They fell into each other's arms.
"I'm so sorry." Was all she could say. He petted her head and shushed her. He didn't know what he was supposed to do though. He had never had someone cry for him.
"I'm alright Brooke. It's not like he's tryin to kill me." He said but he knew it was a lie. He had always wondered if his father wanted him dead.
"But he's hurting you Daryl!" she sobbed. "I just don't understand why! You're such a good person! I don't understand why anyone would want to hurt you!"
"Brooke I don't even understand why!" he finally broke and stood up. "I try the best I can to please them both but it never works! They're both too drunk to realize I'm doin' the best I can! I'm just not wanted! I always want to do somethin when he's hurtin Mom but I can't because I know I'll get hurt and she'll get beat even worse! Brooke, he makes me drink! He hits me whenever he can. Sometimes I just want to give up!" Brooke followed his every step and even sat on the ground with him in a tiny little corner.
"Daryl, please don't ever give up." She sniffed. "You may feel unwanted but know that I want you here." He looked up at her and she was smiling. That smile always got him. "My life would've been so boring if you weren't here." She gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "Please don't give up. Promise me that Daryl Dixon."
"I promise." That one little kiss on the cheek gave him hope. He found some place where he was finally wanted.
Daryl snapped out of it once again with the little girl, Sophia standing in front of him looking at his crossbow. She held her doll tightly in her arms. She looked over and saw Daryl looking.
"Is this yours?" she asked.
"Yeah that's mine." He answered.
"How does it work?" she asked. He demonstrated how and was sure to tell the girl to never pick it up.
"Sophia!" Carol called. Sophia quickly thanked Daryl and ran towards her mother. He could see a red mark across Carol's face and bruises on Sophia's arms. He sighed knowing what it felt like.
