Chapter 4
Wildfire

Violet's POV
After the attack, which I had fought desperately in to protect Mom and Sophia, I sat on the ground not too far from the woods. Rick and Shane were out in the woods doing who knows what, but I honestly didn't give a damn. I was just glad that my family only lost Ed, the group returned safely from Atlanta with the guns, and there was still people left despite all the walkers who swarmed the camp last night.

I hadn't spoken to anybody at all since I returned from the quarry yesterday. I didn't want to, to be honest. I was still trying to get over the fact that Shane had actually kissed me.

Sure, he was a generally attractive man. He had been a good leader so far to the group. He cared and he meant well and he did what he could to help all of us survive.

But I saw him as a good leader, a good friend, a. . . an older brother if I had to put a label on it.

"Hey," Daryl grunted, nudging my shoulder with his hand, and squatting down next to me. "I been hearin' that you ain't talked to anybody since yesterday. Yer mom is real worried about ya, so is Sophia."

I glanced up at him for a second but couldn't find it in me to say anything.

"Don' ignore me," he grunted looking at me through his eyelashes.

"I. . ." I sighed heavily.

"What?" he urged on, his voice lowering and softening up.

"I. . ." I bit on my bottom lip. "I'm sorry. . ."

"What are ya sorry for, darlin'?" he whispered.

"Making y'all worry," I mumble weakly.

"It's okay," he sits down and wraps an arm around my shoulders. "Jus' tell me why ya ain't talked to nobody."

I sighed and tucked a curl behind my ear, "Shane."

"What did he do?" he tensed up angrily.

"He-" I shook my head. "He helped me out at the quarry. I snapped on Ed, punched him when he threw a shirt at Andrea, and he blew up."

"Is that what these are?" he gently moved back my hair from my neck and face that I had moved to hide the wounds from yesterday.

I nod, "Yeah. Shane beat him pretty good. On the way back to camp, he. . . He was talking to me and I had thanked him for saving me from getting beaten worse by Ed."

"What did he do, Violet?" he asked lowly.

"Shane- I don't know what was going through his head," I inhale deeply. "But he grabbed my hair and trapped me against his chest. I froze, I was so afraid, I couldn't move even though I wanted to so badly, I was screaming at myself to move to do something to fight him to make him stop-"

I broke off my breathless rant. I leaned over, my hair falling around me like a curtain, and couldn't help the tears that started flowing. I felt Daryl pull me into a hug and rest his cheek on my head.

"He forced me to kiss him," I whimper out into his shirt. "He- He. . . Oh my God, Daryl, he pressed his boner against me and I shoved him away and ran like a coward."

Daryl froze. His breathing was deep and harsh underneath my ear. I gripped both hands in the fabric, pulling me closer to him, and softly crying.

"It's alright," he muttered. "It's gonna be alright. I'll protect you, Violet."

I pull back when I hear footsteps near us. Rick, Dale and Shane all stepped out of the treeline. Their eyes were pinned to me and Daryl, whom didn't pull away like I expected him to.

Daryl pulled me tighter against him, almost into his lap even, and sent a gloating smirk at Shane. I watched from around Daryl's shoulder as Shane glared at him before storming off. I saw Rick and Dale share a glance, then walk away towards the group who were gathering.

"They're never gonna let you live this down," I commented quietly.

"I know," he scoffed.

I giggled softly and buried my face into the curve of his neck. He smelt of earth, sweat, gunpowder, and like. . . well. . . Daryl. The man didn't say anything.

"You smell really nice," I mutter.

He scoffs again, choking on laughter. I laugh as well.

"I'm serious," I giggle. "You smell really, really nice. I know it sounds creepy."

"You sure you didn't get bit?" he teased narrowing his eyes.

"I didn't get bit," I laugh airily, leaning back my head so my neck was more exposed to him. "Ask me that again, and I'm gonna bite you."

"Maybe I like that," he muttered probably hoping I didn't hear it.

I look at him and arch my eyebrows. He started chuckling which caused me to burst out in a fit of giggles. Seeing how his lips just barely lifted into a smile, it gave me an idea that had me giggling again under my breath.

Using my forefingers, I pushed up the corners of his mouth. His eyebrows drew together making his blue eyes light up against the shadows casting across his face. Me, along with a couple other group members who were being nosy, watching the show between Daryl and I, doubled over in pure laughter.

I accidentally snorted, a silence shrouding over everyone like a breeze, and then everyone including Daryl cracked up.

"You snorted!" chortled Glenn, falling to his knee.