Back at camp Glen, Andrea, Merle, T-dog, and a few others were getting ready for a supply run to Atlanta.
"You guna come wit' us," Merle asked with a creepy look on his face.
"No, I think I'll pass this time," I said moving backwards to create some space between us.
He just gave me the okay look and walked to the car they were taking. I said bye to Glen and wished everyone good luck on their journey. Now that half our camp was gone everything was really silent, I think people were scared they wouldn't come back. The rest of the day went by fast; there was a lot of work to be done and only half the man power. I was sowing clothes with Carol and I could see she had a mark on her arm, I knew it wasn't my place to say anything but I couldn't keep my big mouth shut. She was a nice lady; I really liked her she shouldn't be treated like that by anyone and if she wasn't going to say something I would.
"You don't have to be treated like that you know, and don't lie and say you don't know what I'm talking about, okay, I know what a mark like that means," I said pulling a thread through the needle.
"He's really not all that bad, he wasn't always like this," she said putting down the pants she was repairing.
"But he is now, Carol to be honest your husband is an asshole. I know you know that. You don't have to be scared of him. Hey I'll even be your back up if you need it. I'm not much but I'll always be here if you need me okay. I don't want you to forget that," I told her looking her in the eye.
"Thank you, you're a sweet girl, but this isn't your problem," she answered me looking at the pants again.
"Yes it is, I consider you my friend now, we've been bonding over sowing woman. We have a connection," I smiled "I don't want to see you hurt is all," I added.
She just smiled. She didn't need to say it but I know she really appreciated what I said even if she didn't want my help. I excused myself to use the bathroom, after my business I looked in the mirror to see the wide-eyed girl that was scared of everything was almost gone. This was the first time I've really gotten to look at myself in a long time. My dirty blonde hair was a mess but I was managing it as well as I could, I had just taken to putting it up most of the time now. I could still see the long grown out highlights, and the black I put underneath, my hair was down to the middle of my waist at its longest point, when I pulled it out of its pony tail, maybe Lori would cut my hair for me one day. My big green eyes were alert always looking out for something, for danger mostly. I guess I had lost a few pounds since this all started because my face had lost some of its roundness, and my cheek bones had become a little more prominent but I still looked healthy. I still had my curves, which I was always proud of, now, I never had big boobs, but I worked with what I had but I did always take pride in my ass; I had that Italian ass. Now that I had examined everything I decided I'd spent enough time in the bathroom, I washed my hands and went back to sowing with Carol. After we had finished our pile of clothes we walked outside to start our next task. The next two days went like that, everyone doing what they needed to. Nighttime was always nice, at least I liked it because we sat around the fire and talked or ate; it reminded me of a family almost. I love when Dale would tell stories; he was like the wise elder of our group.
"So, you're into him right," Amy asked one night as we were sitting by the low fire.
"What? Who?" I asked know exactly who she was talking about.
"Oh come on Tiff, I see you sneaking glances at Daryl," she smiled as she said it.
I didn't know what to say to her, I just sat there staring at her like an asshole. "Do I really make it that obvious," I asked finally admitting to her, and myself, that there was defiantly and attraction there.
"No, don't worry you don't. I think it's nice though," she said looking in Daryl's direction.
"And why is that," I asked very interested in the answer.
"Because, it's nice to know that even though the world has gone to hell people can still find each other, I guess," she said.
"Well look at you being all philosophical," I teased her "but yeah I think you're right," I said feeling better about everything that was going on. Amy and I started talking about if we though the people in Atlanta were okay; she was really worried about Andrea. Just as I was about to tell her she was fine, Daryl walked up looking incredibly uncomfortable.
"Can I talk to ya," he said to me biting his thumb nail. Amy made some excuse to leave and Daryl sat down in her spot.
"What's up," I asked my voice squeaking at the end.
"You still wanna go huntin'," he asked softly.
"Daryl Dixon are you asking me to go hunting with you," I asked putting an infection on those two words I tried to hide my excitement and surprise with sarcasm.
"You don' need ta be a bitch 'bout it," he said getting up to leave.
"I'm sorry," I said grabbing his arm to stop him from going; his arm tensed but he sat back down. "I would love to go hunting with you again," I said to him with a smile.
"Don' do nothin' dumb neither, like gittin' attacked by a walker again," he said getting up to go back to his tent.
The next morning we set off into the woods again, for a long day of hunting. This hunt was much more successful than the last we caught a bunch of squirrels and I managed to kill a bird, but the big find was a deer right near the camp. Daryl took aim and it hit, I shot another arrow and that one hit too, the deer couldn't have much left in it. Daryl shot one more time and the deer went down.
"Oh my god you did it," I said sounding surprised. Of course you did it you're a badass.
He just let out a grunt, a satisfied grunt, and smiled walking towards the deer. There were a bunch of voices near the kill many of them yelling, Daryl busted through the shrubs first. "That's my deer," I heard him yell along with some other things, than I heard some commotion going on. That can't be good. I came out the plants to see Daryl throwing a dead squirrel at someone and pulling out his knife ready to attack the new guy standing next to Shane. All of the men got really tense and went into attack mode, I couldn't let that happen. I ran over to Daryl as fast as I could and slammed into the side him with all of the force I could muster in that sort distance, knocking him off balance enough to get in between him and everyone else. I don't know what happened, but I don't want anyone getting hurt cause Daryl is freaking out and he's a bit emotional sometimes.
"Fucking stop dude!" I yelled at him. The other guys backing up I heard Shane say something to the new guy.
"Git out of my way," Daryl said with snarl and a mean look in his eye. Normally, that would have made me move but not this time.
"No!" I yelled back at him. He lunged forward trying to get me move but I planted my feet and stood my ground. The impact of him slamming into my sent me to the floor, but I held onto him so he came down with me. He landed on top of me knocking the wind out of me, but I still didn't let go.
"Get out of here!" I yelled as loud as I could to the people standing around watching. "Move!"
I rolled out from underneath him and managed to get on top of him, his knife was still in his hand so I went to grab for it. He jerked it away faster than I could get a grip on the handle and my hand slipped across the blade cutting my index and pinky finger.
"Fuck!" I yelled pulling my hand back. He took this chance to push me off and sit up, still obviously fuming he didn't get to do what he wanted to do.
"DARYL! What happened calm down Daryl look at me," I shouted my voice strained grabbing his face with my good hand. My arm and side were scratched up from the fall not to mention the giant bruise I'm going to have from him falling on me.
"My brother, they left 'em," he said with a tear in his eye. I forgot about all of the physical pain I was in from my wrestling match with him because that could never compare to the pain he was feeling right now. I dropped my hand from his face in utter surprise; I was speechless.
"Daryl, I'm so.. sorry.. I can't imagine what that feels like," I said looking right at him.
"No, ya can't," he said getting up. "we're goin' back for 'em," he stopped and turned around. "How's your hand," he said pointing to my bloody fingers.
"It's fine, don't worry about it," I said clenching my fingers together to try and stop the bleeding.
"Here," he handed me the bandana he had with him, "Wrap it 'round til ya git it clean," he said as I took the bandana. He walked out of the woods without another word and I followed still shocked at the events that just unfolded.
That night went by in a rush, I found out the new guy was actually Lori's lost husband and Shane's best friend. Funny, I thought to myself I could have sworn she was with Shane. It was nice to see that miracles could still happen, even now. Everyone was happy to see their loved ones and friends, except Daryl his loved one was out there chained to a roof with walkers after him. I didn't blame him for staying away from the group. I went to bed thinking about poor Merle trapped, yeah he was an asshole but he didn't deserve that.
The morning came quick and everyone was set to go, Lori was obviously agitated at Rick for leaving again so soon. Daryl was pacing by the truck they were taking urging everyone to hurry up, I walked up to him. Before he could say anything to me I hugged him, wrapping my arms around him tight; I wanted him to know he had someone here who wanted him to come back safe.
"Be careful please," I said looking up at him. What he did next surprised me he put him arms around me and hugged me back, I smiled.
"whatda you care if I git back safe," he said gently.
"Shut up Daryl," I answered him, my voice muffled. I let go and backed up looking at the ground, what I wouldn't give to kiss this guy right now. I might never see him again, at that thought I sprang towards him grabbing his shirt and pulling him down to where I could reach him and kissed him. This obviously took him by surprise because his body tensed as I wrapped my arms around him, but he relaxed and he deepened the kiss spinning me around to my back was against the side of the truck.
"Uhm," a voice said. He pulled away from me, letting me go running his hand though his hair "Sorry to interrupt but we're ready," the voice belonged to Rick.
"I'll see ya," Daryl said to me as he hopped in the back of the truck.
"Bye," was all I could manage to get out before they left.
