Thank's for reading, the next chapter will be about 10 months into the future. Many things will be explained and review or pm if you have questions.

And that was how I ended up sitting in this chair facing both my parents, both who also think I have gone off the deep end per say. Karen just looked at me, "Sawyer, hunnie. He is not right for you, not at all saying he ain't a good person, but he isn't right for you," they should be more open-minded, but here I sit getting the third degree.

I looked at my other mother who had been silent for some time; she was watching me with intense blue eyes. "All I can say Sawyer is he will drag you down, his family are born to be backwoods people. You are destined for something more," they had no faith in him, he could be more.

Tears filled my eyes as I glared as fiercely as I could, "You two, I thought you would have open minds, but you're as judgmental as the rest of town. He is a backwoods person, but you know what no one will ever love me the way he does, no yank will ever compare. He is nothing like what ya'll think; he is so smart and caring, he reads and has even taught me things. But all you see is he is from the wrong side of the mountain; well guess what so are you both. In no way will you or his pa stop us from seeing each other," my words dripping with anger before I ran from the house and into the twilight sky, even hearing them screaming for me to stop I pushed myself faster and faster. The grass and dirt pounded further into the ground as I just sobbed running in no real direction, but I knew it was getting darker and darker as I did it.

Dropping to my knees all I could see are the trees that were tightly-knit, just one strand in a massive web of life. Green leaves, yellow leaves, red leaves. It was a rainbow of vibrant, autumnal colors. The scent of earth and water drifted through the air. It was a picture of serenity, one which would endure for many long years. I moved again knowing now how to maneuver in these woods, but what I need was not to get lost in them.

I watched as the trees thinned out and the rushing waters of Blue ridge river was close, I followed the river until I could no longer, laying in the dirt staring at the stars as he and I once did. I know this much: that there is objective time, but also subjective time, the kind you wear on the inside of your wrist, next to where the pulse lies. And this personal time, which is the actual time, is measured in your relationship to memory

With my back pressed into the massive oak, I watched the mountains lay in a great line like the spine of the land. It was as if long ago they were a great beast, only to lie down one day and never get up. Perhaps the creature fell into an enchanted sleep; maybe its soul was still in there. The range was high to the west and low to the east, curling at the end like a tail.

Daryl, I could hear his yelling, over and over "SAWYER!" panic was heard in every word yelled, he for once was scared, but maybe it was all in my head. But then there he was looking like hell himself, "I am right here," low and tired.

He says nothing arms out as he picks me up holding on to me, "I love you, Daryl," maybe he didn't love me, but I wasn't going to lie to him and not say it.

His eyes are the key to when he lies, to when he cares or doesn't, he was shocked. "You love me?"

"Yes, you don't have to love me back,"

"But I do, you're my girl. You're what my mother meant when she said you would only find one love in your lifetime, the one you want to marry and never not wake up to their face. Sawyer, it's you,"

We say nothing the emotions are understandable for the other to see, "Your mothers came looking for you both were sobbin. My pa and Merle are also in the woods looking for you, its nearly four in the morning, sweet pea,"

Great, I was in more trouble than before, but he didn't care he just picked me up bridal style carrying me through the forest once again. Daryl, he never looked down he just moved through the woods as if he knew every twist and turn every log that had fallen. His scent was like the forest and a spiced musk his arms so loving and tense that my eyes closed, I could hear others callin, but they stayed closed.

A small gasp and my best friends voice echoed, "Oh god, is she okay,"

"Yeah, she just tired that's all," his voice was soothing "They ain't goin to keep us apart, this is my girl," a small glimpse into a sweeter side of him, a side he rarely showed.

I felt him set me in bed and that was it.

The warm ball of light filtered through my thin eyelids awoke me the next morning. Rays of brightness cast squares onto the glossy polished wooden floor, reflecting onto several objects in the room which decorated its otherwise simplicity. Blinking a few times, in an attempt to help my eyes adjust to the illumination directed right at my defenseless figure. I just groaned heading to the bathroom for my morning routine, I still had school, and there at least I was not under someone's thumb.

The brush went through my hair with force getting the tangle's out after it hung in a thick straight curtain down my back, in no way did I feel up to going, but here I was making sure my appearance was appropriate. Blue jeans that clung to me with Adidas paired black and white flannel, my jacket already in my locker since it was getting colder now.

A slight half knock was my warning as the door opened, Ma's eyes moved around the room. "Looking for Daryl, try his house. He sure ain't here," knowing better than to ever really sass her but all that flew out the window.

Her eyes narrowed a little as she spoke, "I am sorry, Sawyer. We don't agree with this,"

I cut her right off, "Try and stop me from seeing him; it will fail. You can either love and support me and watch us be happy. If we fail then we fail, but at least it wouldn't be your fault," she cocked her head her lips pressed into a thin line, her eyes became glossy.

"I once said that to my father, well as you know he died hating me for loving Karen. Now I see you saying nearly the same words that are putting me in my father's shoes. I can't be him, so you can date him, and I pray it works for you," like that I rushed her my arms so tight around her, her acceptance was something I had needed.

"I love you, mama,"

I hated Karen and mom not talking, but here it is they sit close while Mom drives me to school but no words are being said between them. Not until I am ready to get out of the car, Karen sighed. "I don't agree with mom on this one, but I won't be goin against her. I hope Daryl is not his father or older brother because in the end, it will be you who gets hurt. I knew his mama, and she was a damn fine woman and Will well he loved her and she him so much she left college and lived in the mountains with him in a nice cabin. He burned it down while he was drunk his smoke making his home go up and her life went out. He saved his sons but failed to save her, and that changed him, I see it, the way he is with those boys,"

I snapped, "You know do you, guess you didn't care enough to get him help after he killed his wife. Daryl ain't his family," the door slamming was the last they heard. I can't tell anyone, but she was an adult she should be pounding his door down with the police.

But when I walked into the school by damn all eyes are on me, jocks, delinquents, rich, and red necks all alike are looking at me. Mabel was fuming as she made a beeline for me as I neared my locker. I could feel my heartbeat… every single pound in my chest. But I couldn't stand there. I had to but I couldn't. This great pounding, this enormous pressure; every beat. All eyes are on me, the whispering growing louder and louder even as the nasal voice of Mabel echoed in my head. "I can't believe you, Sawyer. I mean him are you pulling an Addy on me?"

My eyes hardened, "Enough, you have no say in my love life. If you think you do, then you're mistaken go bitch and moan to Sue Anne or somebody who cares. You want to drop the rich mean girl shit and be friends then fine. Other than that stay out of my way and leave Addy the hell alone," like that she turned on her heel walking away and for once I didn't care because I was having a panic attack with all these people looking at me like I was a freak.

Addy smiled," Girl, it is all over school about Dixon and you. Some were saying some rather nasty shit but some impressed he could land you and than some questioning your sanity to be dating him," we walked to the third-period class while my mood dashed as Daryl never arrived.

His friends watched me though, but at lunch there he was sittin with his brother the moment he saw me he was up. I take a seat with Addy at a lone table since there was no way we were sittin with Mabel, he sits with us his tray on the table as a few of his "friends" also came to have a seat.

"I am sorry," was all he said to me.

"Why?"

"Not shown up had some important things to do this morning, had to," he stops talking only to take my hand. "It wasn't important. How're you?"

He was hiddin something. "What were you doin this morning?" I questioned, but his face changed into a hard grimace.

"It isn't important now can you drop it,"

I hated this; this wasn't the first time. "Sure," I smiled but in no way was I dropping anything.

Addy was coming over for another sleepover, "Look, Sawyer, I know you but just want to say. Maybe you don't want to know what he's doin, you love him right?" she knew, she knew and didn't want me to know or afraid I would be hurt.

"I do love him, you know this," we wait for Daryl to show up after detention since he asked to walk me home.

She finished, "Than drop it for now. He ain't cheating that much I will tell you but for now, drop it, or you will not like what you find. And you two love each other like old people" oh, that was nice.

A long sigh as I finally answer her, "For now," that was the best they're getting, but in the end, he and I would not have any secrets. I thought Merle was the only inspirational figure Daryl had during his youth and thus inherited his backward views on society. However, due to his older brother's service in juvenile detentions, Merle frequently became absent from Daryl's life, and thus he was reluctantly forced to fend for himself, upon where he developed a hard-boiled survivalist mindset. I invaded their personal circle one more reason for Merle to hate me, but he was leaving soon to enlist and I was all for that.

But for now he walks us home, and everything is fine.

But around nine a knock on my front door nearly sends Addy and I running, one its very late. Two know one knocks on our door this late so I grab the rifle and load it before answering, thanks to my boyfriend I could at the very least hit the target.

I half wanted to pull the trigger even when it was only Merle at my front door, "What you want?" snapping at him while lowering the gun before handing it off to Addy who vanished from sight.

His voice was more soft but old still, "I am leaving tonight; he doesn't know. I can't say goodbye to him might act like I don't care bout Daryl, but I do. He is my little brother, so you take care of him, okay. Cause he loves you, loved you enough to go against our pa to still be with you. Maybe you can change him but maybe not, just be careful of our pa," that was it he gave me no room to talk as he tried to walk away.

But I grabbed his uniform, "Merle, I can't change him but I can love him, and as long as we're together he will be okay," this seemed good enough to him as he gave me a half smile before getting into a sleek car with two others.

"He's gone, Addy,"