Hey. Just wanna say, I'm sorry I haven't replied to everyone who has commented or followed. Time is a big issue and I only get like an hour at night to update. I will try, when I get time, but until then please know that I read and appreciate every review, favorite or follow. They make me update faster. I hadn't meant to tonight but the great response I'm getting encouraged me to post this. Sorry it's short. Time issues again

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The summer weeks passed quickly.

Eventually Merles comments slowed and stopped, at least the ones about Paige and Daryl. The remarks on her clothes, hair and accent stayed.

"Ya could be hot, ya' know" he told her, one day when she was in the trailer. "If ya' didn't look dress like an emo leprechaun all the time"

She'd slapped him playfully and laughed it off, a method she'd learned was best with him.

Most of their time, however was spent in the woods.

"I can't do it!"

One summer Saturday afternoon found Paige and Daryl deep in the trees, him with his crossbow, her with the bow she had dug out of her attic, which she was now flinging to the ground in frustration. She sat down with a thump on the ground. Daryl stared at her for a second before bursting into laughter at the look on her face. Today she had chosen a green vest top and shorts. She had traded the laces on her Docs to luminous green ones. The tights were ever-present. Daryl guessed she had a huge stock of them in her house.

"C'mon, ya' can't stop now. You're getting good" he lied. She snorted. He sat next to her, leaning against the same tree.

"Yer parents know yer here?" he asked. She sighed.

"Mum doesn't. I told dad. I think he's glad. You might find this hard to believe because I blend in so well," She grinned and flicked her startlingly dyed red hair over her shoulder, before continuing

"But I wasn't exactly the most popular person in my last school" she admitted. She suddenly turned playful to avoid the awkwardness.

"Why? You planning on kidnapping me in the depths of the woods and holding me hostage?" she asked. He laughed.

"Naw. You hang round ma' place so much, it's like ya' already live there. Anyway you'd be a shit hostage. You talk to much." He laughed again as she slapped him. Then she stood up and stretched, her muscles sore from the strain of pulling the bowstring back all day.

"Come on" she said determinedly. "Let's do this shit."

She aimed at the bulls eye Daryl had set up on one of the trees. She pulled the bowstring back and put the arrow in. She aimed and let go. The arrow hit a bush three feet from the tree. She sighed, irritably.

"Plant your feet farther apart" Daryl instructed her. She did. This time, the arrow landed with a thunk on the target, though nowhere near the bulls eye. She turned to him, still sitting by the tree.

"Help me" she begged. He stood up, purposefully slow and she rolled her eyes. He stood next to her and hesitantly started helping her, positioning her feet more securely and showing her how to hold the bow more comfortably.

He felt awkward. He was still uncomfortable with being this close to a person and the feeling of her skin against his made him uneasy, at first. But after a while, he relaxed a little. Being with her felt more natural after the months of being friends.

After five more tries, the arrows started getting closer and closer to the centre and he moved away to let her try by herself.

"I'm glad too, y'know" she told him, not looking him in the eye.

"What?" he asked, confused. She glanced at him and away again.

"Glad I met you, I mean. Call it stupid or whatever…but you're my best friend" she admitted, her face flushed.

He didn't really know what to say. She was his best friend too. His only friend. He trusted her like he trusted no one else. But he didn't know how to say that aloud. He wasn't good with feelings. Worse than she was and she was still refusing to look him in the eyes.

"Sorry to make shit awkward" she told him. "But I'm not taking it back. It's true so deal with it, bitch." She grinned and suddenly everything was OK, natural again.

"We should go" he told her, noticing the darkening sky. She nodded.

"Just one more try?" she asked. He leaned against a tree to wait.

She placed her feet like he told her, held the bow properly and pulled the string back as far as it would go. She knew Daryl felt the same even if he would never admit it. She got that he didn't like talking about shit. Neither did she, much. But she was determined to let him know she was there for him, always. She took a deep breath and released the bowstring. They both grinned as it embedded itself solidly in the centre, a perfect bulls eye.

Kay. Some Paige, Daryl bonding. The comment from Merle is just what I think Merle might say about Paige. No insult is intended but if anyone takes it badly, please tell me. Oh and the Irish stereotype? Really not me but REALLY Merle, I think. Just a quick question? Should I lead this into the apocalypse? I mean, if I do it will be WAY in the future. Also Daryl/ Paige romance? Not sure and I don't want to make this another of THOSE stories. I love 'em, don't get me wrong, but I wanted this to be kinda original, like Paige! Opinions, please? Thanks,

JAGWALFF