Chapter Seven: Put Those Georgia Stars to Shame
Kylie-Jane Creek
"Beer?" Daryl asked, offering me one from the sixpack. I shook my head, preferring to play things on the sober side for a few days because of a few, well, personal reasons.
"No, thanks." I told him.
He shrugged and brought his own beer to his lips. "Suit yourself."
I looked out over the lake, the moon shining a light over the water. It was pretty late, now. It was eating me alive that Daryl had been pissed at me all day. I didn't remember doing anything wrong. If I did, I at least wanted him to tell me what the hell it was. Like I said, I couldn't fix the problem if I didn't know what the issue was.
"So why were you mad?" I asked.
"What?" Daryl swiped his arm out and sent a rock skipping across the water.
"Back at the house, this morning. While I was watching TV."
He snorted. "Fucking dumb ass movieā¦"
"Daryl."
He sighed and rolled his eyes, skipping another rock. "'M pissed 'cause som'n else. Wasn't you."
I looked him over, eyes scanning his face as he looked out over the lake.
"Liar."
He turned and I saw a flame spark in his eyes. His knuckles turned white around the rock he was holding. "'S nothin'."
I sighed. "Fuck, Daryl. Tell me. Please."
"It's fine."
"Daryl." His eyes met mine.
"Kyles."
I rolled my eyes at him and he looked away, back at the reflection of the moon on the lake water.
"Fine. Might be sumthin' you did." He paused and kicked back the beer in his hand. "Jus' hope it wasn't."
"What is that supposed to mean?" He turned and looked at me, his expression hardened.
"Justin fucking Rivers." He nearly growled the name.
"What about him?" I asked nervously. I didn't want a fight.
I guess I didn't give the reaction he was expecting. He studied my face, confused for a second. "You didn't-"
"What? Didn't what?" I placed my hand on his arm. "Daryl?"
"You never..." His eyes went up to the sky and he laughed. Like, actually laughed. For once.
"What? Daryl, I- what?" Then I got it. The grin on his face read it all. "Oh." I said. He laughed again. I shook my head and smiled. "You really thought- shit, Daryl. Seriously?"
"Sort of. Merle said som'n. Jus' made sense, that's all."
"Should've known it was Merle." I sighed and brushed my fingers over his hand. "I've never even thought of anyone else. Never will."
"Good." He sent a rock across the water again.
I sighed and leaned into his shoulder, wrapping one arm around his back and the other coming around to tangle my fingers in his at his lap. Justin Rivers... He really doubted me for a while there? Honestly, after everything we've been through, he thought I'd throw it away on some nineteen year old kid? Just because of something Merle said?
"Why did it make sense?"
"What?"
"You said Merle said something, and it just made sense to you." I looked up at him. "Why would me cheating on you ever make sense?"
He exhaled slowly. "Just, you and Abby spend loads a time over there. Never knew what y'all were doin'. Jus' thought... made sense."
"Never." I said, using my hand to tilt his head down and kiss him. I pulled away, laughing all of a sudden.
"What's so funny?"
"Abby," I whispered, in case anyone was nearby. "Abby slept with Justin."
His eyes widened and he laughed along with me. "Bitch..."
I giggled. "I know!"
We went quiet for a second as I curled into his chest and we watched the stars blinking in the clear sky overhead. The moon was a thin sliver, a glowing crescent that sent choppy reflections across the black water of the lake in front of us.
"Kyle?" Daryl was looking at his watch.
"Yeah?" I looked over at him.
"Happy Anniversary."
I smiled and kissed his cheek. "Daryl, I love you."
He just nodded. "I know."
I kissed him, and he responded immediately, pulling me over on top of him. I ran my hand down his chest and pulled his shirt up so I could run my fingers along his abs.
He pulled back for a second, a question in his eyes like 'do you want to do this here?'. I gave him a sultry smile in reply. He grinned and kissed me again, harder, his calloused hands slowly roaming further down my back. They reached the hem of my shirt and he hooked his fingers under it, slowly lifting it as we made out. He lifted it enough to where he could reach up and curl his hand around the cup of my bra and I smiled mischievously against his lips.
I had my shirt almost off, Daryl's hand cupped around the curve of my breast, making out with him in the dark, when Merle appeared at the treeline.
He coughed and I sprung back off Daryl, hands flying to pull my shirt back down and screw with my hair.
Merle chuckled. "Git some, lil brother!"
I rolled my eyes and stood up, putting my hair in a low ponytail with a rubber band to keep myself from dying of embarrassment.
"Shut up, Merle." Daryl grumbled, sitting up and throwing a rock against the water. It didn't skip this time - just hit the water with a loud 'clunk'-ing noise and sunk to the bottom.
"Better be careful with him, Kylie." Merle said, "Poor kid's never been with a girl before."
I laughed. "You're lookin' at her, big shot."
"Nah," Merle chuckled, "Still don't believe ya."
Daryl rolled his eyes. Merle and I had this long standing argument where Merle thought Daryl was still a virgin because "he's too much of a pussy to get pussy" - and, obviously, I knew otherwise.
"Where's Abby?" I asked, suddenly curious. He wasn't supposed to leave her on her own. Rule #1, Abby around people is bad enough. Abby without supervision...? Let's just say the end of the world would be the least of our problems.
"Lookin' for a spot to go skinny dippin'," He chuckled, clapping his hands together with a huge grin. "'Cause I ain't no damn virgin."
Daryl shot him a glare and threw a rock at him. "Screw you, man."
