Thanks to everyone who's reviewed so far. You all really boost myself esteem. Everytime I get a review, I get in a really good mood. So, really, I'm extremely happy with each review. I apologize for never replying, but I usually check them on my phone and that makes it difficult.
Does this darkness have a name?
"A kiss is a lovely trick designed by nature to stop speech when words become superfluous." Ingrid Bergman
Daryl hung his string of squirrels on a branch, taking a seat at the picnic table in front of the house. Taking out his knife, he got to work, seperating meat from skin and fat. It was a quick process since he had been skinning creatures since he was young. There hadn't been much else to eat when he had lived with his father and brother. Glenn approached as he was working, sitting on the opposite side of the table. "Need help?" the korean asked nervously.
Daryl shrugged. "I know you didn't come over here just 'cause you wanted to help."
Glenn nodded. "You're... Right."
"Then out with it."
"Did you.. did you ask Andrea yet?"
" 'Bout Maggie?"
"Yeah."
"Listen," Daryl said, locking eyes with the younger man across the table. "It wasn't Maggie's fault Andrea got taken 'r hurt. Tell her she's fine. She oughta just talk to Andrea 'bout it."
"But-"
"Just tell the woman she's gotta do it. 'Cause I won't."
Glenn sighed. "Fine... I hope I don't get killed for this."
Daryl rolled his eyes as Glenn stood and walked away. He'd have told him to man up, but he was having his own issues with facing woman lately. After a long, silent walk back to camp, she had gone inside and stayed there. He refrained from going in after her. He'd embarressed himself. Let emotions take control of him to the point where they dominated his actions. He let his thoughts run wild as he continued skinning the squirrels.
Andrea, on the other hand, was inside. She had gone in as soon as they got back and occupied one of the two bathrooms. She wanted a shower. Wash herself and think things through. She stripped down and, looking in the mirror, noticed how small she had gotten. It'd only been a few days, she tried to reason with herself; it wasn't like everyone was getting enough food before that anyway. Her ribs showed more than they should. There were slight indents where there was a space between two.
Perhaps she did need to eat.
Daryl. He'd gotten so angry at her for this. So angry when she said she could take care of herself. Imagine if he saw her ribs showing through beneath her pale skin. He'd go into a rage, she was sure. Based on what had happened earlier, it was almost definite. What Andrea really wanted to know was why he cared so much. Was there something in her past that explained it? At the moment, she had no idea. She had no idea about anything anymore though. Hell, she didn't remember her middle name, her favorite food, or even where she went to school. She took a deep breath and turned away from the mirror. It was better not to dwell on her transparent past. The more she tried to force the memories, the less likely they'd show.
Andrea stepped into the shower, turning on the water and not caring that it was cold. Either way, she would get clean. She let the liquid soak her hair and drip down her face and down her body. It felt amazing to wash away some of the day's stress. It cleared her mind and allowed her to think on the earlier happenings. Such as the kiss. She wondered if he actually had some sort of feeling for her, or if it was only his frustration showing through. Either way, their lips made contact, if only for a few seconds. A brief kiss that had stirred up questions in her that hadn't been there before, or, if they had, they hadn't been as dominent in her mind.
Andrea quickly washed and stepped out of the shower, drying herself off with a towel. She pulled her close back on and left the bathroom, only momentarily entering her own room to recieve her book. She headed to the back porch and greatfully found it empty. She sat down in a chair with a wooden frame and a floral cushion. Propping the book up on her knees, she began to read. She wasn't far in the thick book, even though she wanted to be. She was only just past the spot where Rumo beheaded the chief demonacle.
The screen door swung open, allowing Daryl through. He carried a plate of food in his hand. With the other, he roughly grabbed the side table from the opposite side of the porch and pushed it infront of her, then pulling the chair up. The ex-lawyer watched as he set the plate down infront of her. "Eat." The statement was short, simple, and very to the point.
"I'm not hungry, Daryl."
"Like hell you ain't. You're skinnier than a birch tree," he answered. "You ain't starvin' yourself while 'm around. I won't let ya."
She closed the book, keeping a hand between the pages. Blue-green met dark blue as she looked up into his eyes. "Why do you care?" She bit her lip. "I mean, you must. You kissed me in the woods today."
He shrugged, wishing he could avoid that subject. "You... You ain't stupid. I know ya got a brain. Can't ya tell your wastin' away?" She moved a hand to her torso, feeling the ribs through her shirt. They weren't prominent, but much more than they should be for a woman that had enough food available. He looked away from her and shook his head. "I know ya' can take care of yourself, but you don't need t' be fadin' like this."
She squeezed her eyes shut, taking a deep breath and releasing it with a sigh. He was right. Defeated, she reached for the fork that lay discarded besides the plate. He sat back, staring ahead, out over the porch railing and into the woods. If he looked at her, he might do it again. Pull her in and kiss her, passionately this time. As attractive as she was, he wasn't going to do that. That would complicate things even more; past the earlier kiss and this starvation crap she was putting herself through.
Andrea placed Rumo on the table, opening it to the page she was currently on. If she was going to eat, she may as well read too. She glanced up at his face, finding his eyes closed and body posture tense. She returned her eyes to the book, immediatley riveted by the scene that the words painted in her head. It was a battle, Rumo verses the remaining blood-thirsty cyclops called demonacles. Rumo, being a dog-like creature of high intelligance, was on all fours, racing through the dark tunnels, breaking necks of the beasts he found. His mentor, a sharkgrub named Smyke, was with the other captives, waiting for his student to emerge from the dark with news of freedom.
"You, uh, like the book?" Daryl asked, still avoiding her eyes when she glanced over at him.
"Yeah. It's great." She smiled softly and whispered, "Thanks, Daryl..." She took another bite of her food, though it was only her fifth. She didn't feel hungry at all, still. But he was right. She didn't need to waste away like she was. "... For everything."
Anyway, I hope you'll review. I'll do my best to update soon. I think I'll even start the next one with a memory.
If anyone has a song or two you think might fit this story, or this couple, please tell me!
