Manipulate

ReedusLover3

"Mind going out to get some more wood?" Lori asked me as she leaned over a pot of boiling soup.

"Sure." I nodded, happy to help her. Carol had gone into the pantry to find some seasoning that was left over for the large dinner we were having. Making sure my knife was in my boot, I quickly left the house and made my way into the forest to grab some nice branches for the fire. Finding some good branches I piled them up so I would know how much I had gotten. Going deeper in the forest I leaned down to the ground to search through some fallen logs to make sure none of them were wet. As I dug around a hand grabbed my neck and I let out a scream which was cut off by a hand. I brought my leg back and slammed the person- woman or male, where the sun didn't shine. I heard a loud grunt and the hands left me so I swung around to see Knox holding his crotch, moaning in pain.

"What the hell?!" Knox ground out.

"You're asking me that? It should be the other way around, asshole!" I snarled. "You fucking prick! Don't you ever do that again." I grabbed the wood I found and walked over to the pile, I heard his steps behind me.

"Damn, you hit hard."

"Yeah, well, you deserved it!" I leaned down once more to grab some more logs to take back to the house from my growing pile. I felt Knox's hand land a little close to my butt so I turned around and slapped him, hard.

"What the fuck, Elizabeth!?"

"Do not touch me."

"You use to like that."

"Yeah, well that was nearly a year ago. I have moved on, and met someone new."

"What? That redneck?" Knox laughed out loud.

"Yes, the redneck. What, jealous that he has better game than you?" I taunted him, my arms crossed. "I changed when that outbreak happened, I am a new woman."

"I had your heart."

"You had it once.. not now." Knox's eyes grew cold which made me shiver slightly, he could be scary when he wanted to be. He grabbed my wrist and brought me closer to him, making me struggle against him. "Let me go! Don't you fucking touch me-" Knox suddenly was thrown away from me by a very pissed off Daryl. Daryl stood protectively in front of me, glaring at Knox who was on the ground.

"Let's get this straight, boy, you fuckin' touch her again and you'll regret it." Daryl hissed. "I will cut off your dick and then your hands. Got it?" Knox nodded, looking pale. "Come on, darlin'." Daryl urged me forward after we had picked up the wood for Lori. Putting it near the fireplace and handing the woman the squirrel that Daryl caught, we walked into our room. Daryl put his crossbow by his side of the bed, then turned to me with an annoyed look. "This is gonna be just like the Shane issues, right?"

"I hate to admit it, but probably." I muttered and wrapped my arms around me for a feeling of safeness. Daryl caught this action and pulled me to him.

"He won't touch you. I won't let anything happen to you like it did with Shane." I nodded into his chest, knowing he wasn't lying to me. We stood in the middle of the room with our arms around each other. "Come on, I bet dinner is done." He led me from the room, his hand on my back which made me blush slightly. Everyone was piled in the kitchen to grab some of the soup that we made- and it smelled delicious! Daryl and I grabbed bowls and stood in the line that formed to get the food. When we reached the huge pot we took filling portions and then made our way to the fireplace where we sat and ate. The group scattered about while they ate, all chatting about how nice it was to have a new place to live in. Sasha came and sat next to me with T-Dog not far behind.

"How are you settling in?" I asked her, seeing her slightly out of place look.

"Oh, alright." Sasha muttered. "'cept he won't leave me be." Sasha complained as she pointed at T-Dog who just smirked at us. I saw Daryl tense so I looked up to see Knox taking a seat next to Maggie who moved closer to Glenn. This was going to be hard to handle if Knox was insistent on trying to find someone to have sex with. I noticed Rowina biting her lip at Rick who was talking to Lori while she ate. "You alright? You are clutching that spoon pretty hard.." Sasha broke me out of my thoughts and glanced down to see my white knuckles.

"Nothing. I'm good." I lied and I felt Daryl slide a hand under the back of my shirt which calmed me. Knox noticed this and began glaring at Daryl who glared right back. "Relax." I whispered in his ear, then Daryl did the unexpected. He turned his head and kissed me roughly, in front of everyone. He pulled away with a slight pink tinge to his cheeks, while everyone stared at us.

"Got a problem?" Daryl snapped at the group who all looked away. "You all kiss your women, I'll kiss mine." He muttered which made me smile. We finished eating in silence and Rick stood up with his glass in hand.

"I would like to thank Knox and Rowina for allowing us to stay here with them. It is a blessing since we have been on the run for awhile." Rick began. "I don't think we could of handled it anymore. So thank you." Knox nodded while Rowina licked her lips and smiled.

"No problem, Rick." Her tone was sugary sweet and I saw Lori flinch at it, making me angry. I would have to have a word with her later. Everyone dispersed after cleaning their plates to their rooms, so I caught up with Rowina. "Hey, Elizabeth. What's up?"

"We need to talk about Rick." I told her seriously.

"Oh that fine piece of man? Sure, what about him?" She was suddenly interested in what I had to say.

"He has a wife. A pregnant wife and twelve year old son."

"And?"

"It would be in your best interest to leave him alone, Rowina."

"And why should I do that?"

"Did you not hear me? He has been married to Lori for more than twelve years. They have a son, and another child on the way. Leave him and Lori alone."

"Is that a threat?"

"A warning."

"I thought we were cool, Elizabeth. Guess not."

"We were until you started looking at Rick like he was meat." I told her honestly.

"Fine, how about I go after your man then. Daryl, is it? He is pretty sexy.." Rowina trailed off and anger boiled in my veins.

"You're fucking with the wrong person."

"Well, well, look who grew a backbone."

"I grew one once I started realizing that I really fucking hated people walking all over me. Like you."

"Listen here, I am letting you stay here. In one second I could throw you out to the zombies and no one would help you."

"That's where you're wrong. These people are my family, Rowina, not some strangers. If one goes down, we all go down. Not to mention I survived just fine on my own when I made the trip here by myself."

"We'll see about that." Rowina pushed past me. "Watch your back Parrish." I really fucking hated her right now. I stomped back to my room and slammed the door shut, making Daryl glance up worried.

"What happened?"

"Oh, just making sure something was cleared up." I said, irritated. "I'm not sure I like this place anymore."

"I don't like it either." Daryl admitted so I looked up to see him with his crossbow around his shoulder. "I am going hunting for a couple days, no where near here. I want you to go with me." I saw him smirk so I grinned widely and ran towards him and launched myself into his arms. He caught me with ease. "Didn't think you'd be this happy."

"A couple days away from them? Of course I am!" I giggled as he kissed me, and then set me down on my feet. "Let me grab some spare clothes and my stuff." I slipped some clothes in my bag, then found my extra arrows and my two hunting knifes. Daryl and I exited the room and nearly ran into Knox who was about to knock on our door.

"What?" Daryl asked, obviously annoyed.

"Can I talk to you?" Knox asked me.

"No." I simply answer, then shoved past him with Daryl on my heels. Rick and Lori were in the living room so I popped my head into the room. "Daryl and I are goin' hunting for a couple of days." Rick nodded at this.

"Be careful. I am only allowing this because Daryl is with you." Rick told me. "See you later." Rick nodded at Daryl who had his hand on my back.

"Be safe, Elizabeth." Lori gave me a small smile and then winked at me. Daryl led me from the house to his motorcycle, but Knox grabbed my arm.

"Elizabeth-" Before he could say anything Daryl tore him from me.

"Did you not understand what I told you before dinner?" Daryl asked Knox, his voice hard. "I remember me telling you not to fucking touch her!"

"Fuck off man!" Knox shouted and Daryl went to punch him.

"Stop, he's not worth it. He's just like Shane, Daryl." I told him and I visibly saw Daryl back down.

"You're a lucky prick." Daryl shoved Knox away and got onto his motorcycle. "Come one, Beth." Daryl urged me so I gave Knox one final look and slid on behind him. We drove off as the sun set and I never looked back to see the look of betrayal on Knox's face.

3rd Person POV, New House:

The house was silent that night after Daryl and Elizabeth left, no one was really talkative. Rick saw Lori and Carl to bed, and then went to talk to Glenn and Hershel about supply runs. As he walked down the hallway to their rooms, he was stopped by Rowina. She was pretty, Rick thought, but he would never betray his wife. He loved Lori. Rowina was a tall woman with brunette hair that was always in a pony tail, and had bright colored eyes.

"Hey, Rick." Rowina grinned, her eyes lighting up.

"Hey, Rowina." He gave a small smile and went to continue to Glenn's room.

"Wait!" She called out to him so Rick turned around. "You know how to hunt? I have been meaning to learn, Knox and I have been living off canned foods."

"No, I don't, but others do. Like Elizabeth, and Daryl. They are mighty good shots." Rick saw Rowina make a disgusted face at Elizabeth's name.

"Where's Daryl?"

"Left with Elizabeth to hunt. They'll be gone a couple of days, it takes awhile to track good game." Rick said immediately, he knew Rowina was trouble. She was already after himself, and would possibly go after Daryl. "And besides, Daryl won't take you hunting."

"Why's that?" She got defensive.

"He isn't social, he only takes Elizabeth out with him."

"Why is she so special!?"

"I thought you were friends with her?"

"Fuck no. She's a bitch." Rowina snarled which made Rick laugh. "What's so funny?!"

"She's a bitch to you because she knows that you're gonna try and ruin this group."

"W-what? That's not true!"

"Keep telling yourself that."

"I can kick you out! You won't have a place to stay!" Rowina threatened.

"Won't make a difference, we can handle ourselves. Find a new place." Rick stated simply. "I can see why Elizabeth doesn't have much of a liking to you now. You try and manipulate people, make them do what you want. You want to control this group and that isn't happening, Rowina. She already knew a step ahead what you are trying to do. Do us all a favor, give up trying to seduce me and Daryl, it'd make life a lot easier. You wouldn't have to suffer a broken heart either." Rick gave her a tight smile before going to Glenn's room to grab him and Hershel. Rick was already waiting for retaliation from her, or her brother Knox. He would be ready for it.