(Still Emma)
I slapped a mosquito off my shoulder, seeing Lori stop in the corner of my eye.
"You still worried about it?" I asked her. The rest of the group slowed, turning back to face us.
"Yeah, it was a gunshot." Her back was turned. Maybe before the world went to shit, a gunshot in the middle of the woods was nothing. Different story now.
"We all heard it." Daryl's voice was impatient. Likely annoyed with us slowing him down.
"Why one? Why just one gunshot?" Lori stared at him expectantly.
"Maybe they took down a walker." He wiped his forehead with his hand. We'd all been walking the exact same route. How he'd managed to get more dirt on his face than the rest of us was a mystery to me.
"Bullshit. They wouldn't risk the noise." I looked at him, knowing he was patronizing Lori. He glared daggers at me, clearly pissed that I had not only called him out on his lie but also that I'd spoken to him in general.
He wanted to pretend like we were strangers. Fine. He had his reasons and I understood them. Kind of. But I wasn't planning on acting like some mute around him. If he expected me to walk on eggshells in his presence, he was sorely mistaken. I glared right back at him, locking my eyes with his and raising an eyebrow. Dare you to say something to me Daryl. Go for it.
I saw Glen glancing back and forth between the two of us, a look of confusion on his face. He shifted his weight across both of his feet awkwardly and interrupted the tense silence. "So…what do we do now?"
Daryl broke our gaze and looked to Glen. "Same as we been. Beat the bush for Sophia, work our way back to the highway."
"I'm sure they'll hook up with us back at the RV." Andrea spoke quietly. She had stayed quiet since I'd flipped on her. Perhaps I'd given her some insight.
"I'm sorry for what you're going through. I know how you feel." Andrea had turned to Carol. Hm, maybe I had gotten through to her.
"I suppose you do. The thought of her, out there on her own. It's the not knowing that's killing me. I just keep hoping and praying she doesn't end up like Amy."
Carol's voice was shaky and it took a moment for her to realize what she had just said. "Oh god. That's the worst thing I ever said."
Andrea smiled. "Well, for what it's worth, we're all hoping and praying with you."
Daryl came up to the two women, a look of annoyance clouding his features. "I'll tell ya what it's worth. Not a damn thing. It's a waste a time all this hopin' and prayin'. Cuz we're gonna locate that lil' girl, and she's gonna be jus' fine. Am I the only one zen around here? Good Lord."
And with that he stalked off without another word. The rest of us took it as our cue to keep moving.
I felt the corners of my mouth turn up at Daryl describing himself as zen. Zen my ass. I looked to Lori, who I could see was also attempting to hide her amusement. Our eyes met and we shared a smile.
My legs burned – it had been a long time since I'd spent a whole day hiking through the forest. I squinted up into the sky and saw the sun much lower than the last time I'd thought to check.
"Gonna be dark soon." I paused, resting a hand on my hip. "Should probably head back."
I saw the defeated look on Carol's face and put a hand on her shoulder. "We'll pick up where we left off tomorrow and find her."
Daryl whistled to the rest of us, directing our group back to the highway. I fell into step alongside Glen, who was looking at me with confusion written all over his face.
"Spit it out Glen." I kept my voice low and slowed my pace a bit. I didn't know what he was going to say but I'd prefer not to be overheard by anyone – particularly by a certain dirty redneck.
"Well…it's just. Everyone annoys Daryl. But you seem to really bug him." Glen kept his eyes forward, avoiding eye contact.
I sighed. Count on normally oblivious Glen to notice.
"Not everyone can appreciate my tendency to be brutally honest. Or my lack of a filter. I don't think I'm very popular in general." I nodded my head in the direction of Andrea, who was complaining about the distance to the highway. Something about crows.
"He dragged you out of the CDC." Glen's eyes were accusatory.
"Yeah, well –"
I was cut off by Andrea's scream. Immediately Glen and I ran in the direction of her voice, catching up with Daryl, Lori and Carol along the way. How the hell had she gotten so far from us?
I saw her trip and fall over a branch, the walker inches behind her. His dead rotted hands were grabbing at her ankles as she tried to kick him away. I picked up my pace, leaving Glen behind me and ignoring the burning sensation in my thigh muscles. The girl was annoying, but nobody deserved a death like the one she was very close to experiencing.
"Andrea!" I yelled out, she was only feet away from me. I pushed forward. In the chaos of the moment, I didn't hear the galloping sound coming from my right. I felt the familiar calloused hand on my arm, tugging me backwards hard. My back slammed against his firm chest as the horse missed me by mere inches.
"What. The. Fuck." I gasped, still leaning against Daryl as I saw the baseball bat connect with the walker's head. He gently pushed me off of him and I stumbled slightly, turning beet red. What was that, the third time he's saved my life?
"Lori? Lori Grimes?" A pretty brunette girl was riding the horse, sticking the bat into a saddlebag.
"Yes, I'm Lori." I turned to see Glen, Lori and Carol running full speed as they caught up to us. Andrea was still on the ground, looking dazed and confused. Probably just saw her entire life flash before her eyes.
"Rick sent me you gotta come now."
"What?"
"There's been an accident, Carl's been shot. He's still alive, but you gotta come now."
What? Carl? Shot? I felt my heart in my throat. There must be some mistake. I saw Lori's face, the shock and fear written into the creases in her forehead.
After a moment of tense silence, during which all of us were looking at her as though she had six heads, the girl spoke again. "Rick needs you, just come!"
Lori snapped out of her temporary paralysis and dropped her bag to the ground, moving swiftly towards the unknown girl and the horse. I saw her differently in that moment. She might not be perfect but she was a mother and her boy might be in danger.
"Whoa whoa whoa. We don't know this girl! Ya can't get on that horse!" Daryl tried to follow her, attempting to stop her.
"Let her go." I put my hand on his arm tentatively and he glared at me. Neither of us had the slightest understanding of what a loving parent would do for their child, but I saw the determination in Lori's eyes.
"Rick said you had others? On the highway? Backtrack two miles down the road, you'll see the mailbox. Names Greene." And she galloped away.
We were all frozen in silence. Not even 10 minutes could have passed. My hand was still on Daryl's bicep and he gruffly shoved me off of him, readjusting his crossbow. The walker I had presumed was taken care of sat up, letting out a disgusting groan.
"Shutup." The arrow went clean through its brain.
(Daryl)
What a fuckin' day. If Lori went off with some crazy chick and it turned out to be a sham, Rick would have my balls. The man left me in charge and so far, two of the women almost died and another went off into the damn sunset on horseback. And now, here I was, babysitting. Carol was refusing to leave the highway for the farm. I couldn't blame her.
"If Sophia found her way back to the highway and we were gone, that would be awful."
Andrea was annoying. Emma was worse, but it had been great to watch her tell the other blonde off back in the forest. But this time, I had to agree with her.
"Ok. We gotta plan for this. I say tomorrow mornin's soon enough to head out. Give us time to rig a big sign, leave behind some supplies. I'll hold here tonight, stay with the RV."
It was uncomfortable taking the lead. I tried to ignore everyone's eyes on me, like I was some type of leader. Like they were counting on me to make a decision for them. As everyone else volunteered to stay, I saw Emma looking at me inquisitively.
I understood. She knew my usual tendencies towards other people. What could I do though? I didn't have much of a choice. A little girl was missing, a little boy might be shot. I just wanted to do what I had to do, what I thought was right. The look on her face was questioning, but proud. Like she was about to come over here and pat me on the damn back.
Annoying. I did not need her approval. I snapped out of my reverie to something about antibiotics and T-Dog having a blood infection.
Merle's drugs. Dammit. As if I hadn't been playing savior enough all damn day. Pulling the rag off the seat of the bike, I tugged the plastic bag of prescription drugs out.
"Keep yer oily rags off my brothers motorcycle." I tossed the towel at Dale, giving him a glare for good measure. "Why did ya wait til now to say anythin'? Got my brother's stash. Crystal, x, don't need that. Got some kickass painkillers."
I found what I was looking for and tossed it at Dale. "Oxycycline. Not the generic stuff neither – that's first class shit. Merle got the clap on occasion."
I turned back to the bike to ignore the grateful smiles I was no doubt receiving. Fuckin' people, I probably shocked the shit outta all of 'em today. Some no good, dirty hillbilly takin' the time to help locate the little girl, save the black guy and share his racist brothers drugs.
"I'm gonna go back with Glen if that's alright." Emma was talking to me. I glanced around the rest of the group before answering her. Glen and T-Dogg were busy packing up Carol's Cherokee. Dale was back inside the RV, no doubt bothering Andrea. Carol was standing by the guardrail in a silent vigil, eyes scanning the trees for her daughter. Nobody was paying us any mind, so I decided to reply.
"Don't matter to me. Do what ya want. Dunno why ya'd ask my permission."
"Looks to me like you're a temporary leader of sorts." She was pushing my buttons on purpose. If anyone knew how uncomfortable I was with my current situation, it was her.
"Fuck off. I do not care what ya do." I emphasized each word, trying to make them sound convincing. More for my own sake than for hers.
"You've saved my life three times now. Seems you do." Her green eyes were trying to catch mine.
"What are ya doin'? What do ya want from me?" I let my guard go for a moment and stared into those green orbs of hers. Fuck, she was as beautiful as she had been the day she left me. She left me.
"I dunno." And she was telling the truth. She bit on her thumbnail nervously. "But I never did say thank you. For saving me."
"No need. Lost too many already, and now Carl and Sophia. Group don't need no more tragedy." And just like that my wall I had spent years building was back up and there was no way she was getting in again. I couldn't forget that she had left me. Without a second glance.
Her face crumbled at my words, understanding the intent behind them. Nothing personal, just doing what I had to do for the group. She regained her composure, her green eyes turning to ice. Emma turned on her heel and stalked off towards Glen, linking her arm with his as he escorted her into the passenger seat of the Cherokee.
I shoved away the jealousy that boiled up inside me. Bitch did that on purpose.
Emma waltzed into my bedroom – I should say our bedroom. We'd been sharing it for a couple of months now. Her dad must've been off on a marathon bender because he hadn't come looking for her once.
Needless to say I was getting very used to sleeping on the floor.
"Guess what!" She was clearly elated about something. She began digging through her small suitcase of clothes, holding up a shirt to her chest and examining herself in the mirror.
She always threw me off when she acted like a girl. It was adorable.
"What?"
"I got asked out on a date!"
I would have expected a thousand and one other things to come out of her pretty little lips. But not that. It caught me off guard and I clenched my fists tightly, trying to control the surge of jealousy that raged through my bones.
"Yeah?" It was all I could manage. I tried to sound like I wasn't gritting my teeth together.
"Yes! Can you believe it? That kid Matt. He wants to take me to a movie and the diner after!"
I could believe it. But I didn't want to. I should've known it was only a matter of time before someone else besides me realized how gorgeous she was. She stripped her t-shirt off and put the blouse on. I tried to look anywhere but at her as she undressed.
"You think a shirt's okay? Or should I do a dress? Would that be too much?" She took the blouse off and held up another shirt to her nearly naked chest. I was very, very uncomfortable, particularly in my crotch area. I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to control my arousal. She did not need to see that.
"Ya look pretty no matter what."
She smiled at me. "As my best friend, you're obligated to say that."
"Nah. S'true." She blushed, her cheeks turning pink. "Em, ya sure this guys okay? If he makes one wrong move…"
"He's a nice guy D. Quit bein' protective. I'll be gone for no more than a few hours tops. Hour and a half movie, hour at dinner. Home before 9. Or is that past my curfew?" She put her hands on her hips, challenging me.
"Ya know that's not how I mean it." I squirmed under her gaze. She still had not put a shirt on, and I really needed her to be clothed.
"The red one's nice. Wear that one." I pointed at the shirt she had discarded onto the floor. I quietly thanked the Lord for small miracles as she put it on and skipped out of the room.
The clock read 8:45.
She said home before 9. It was almost 9. Where was she? My mind was a whirlwind of unwelcome visions. The guy, Matt, holding her hand. Placing his fingers beneath her chin. Tipping her head up to his. Placing his lips over hers.
All things I wanted to do. Should have done already. Should be doing. Not him.
The jealousy was driving me insane. It was worse than the waiting. Emma was amazing. I'd have to learn how to deal with this. This certainly wouldn't be her last date. He wouldn't be the last guy to notice her smile and how it reached her eyes. How her hair dried into pretty waves down her back after a shower. The sound of her laugh. Her quiet strength. How her nose scrunched up when she was being stubborn.
I groaned and stepped onto my front porch to continue my waiting in the fresh air. Staring at the clock and watching the minutes tick down was pure torture. I slid down the wall into a sitting position, crossing my legs. She wouldn't be able to see me from the street.
I was fully aware I was being a creep. But I wanted to see what this asshole looked like.
I heard their footsteps getting closer to the house and peered through the wooden barrier of my front porch. I gave "Matt" a once over. He was her height, and scrawny.
She's gotta be kidding me. She said yes to that? He was staring at her in wonder as they slowly walked down the street together. She looked slightly uncomfortable, but also pleased at the attention he was giving her.
"I had a lot of fun tonight." He spoke up. Boy sounded like puberty was a ways off for him. I almost slapped my hand to my forehead.
She looked to the ground. I knew she was the same pink color she had been in my bedroom earlier. "Me too. Thank you Matt."
He reached for her hand and held it. I leaned forward, trying to get a closer look. I was beyond creep at this point.
"Would it be alright if I kissed you?" He asked shyly. I saw her eyes snap up to him. My hands were balled into fists at my side. No. It would not be alright if you kissed her.
"Um…I guess that would be okay." Her voice was small and nervous, but she smiled at him. He leaned in closer.
I couldn't take it. Without thinking I stood up and walked off the porch in their direction.
"Time to get inside! C'mon Em." I yelled out and clapped my hands. What in the fuck was I doing? Her head whipped around in my direction just as he was about to reach her lips and I saw the ultimate death glare on her face.
"Sorry buddy. Movin' a bit too quick, dontcha think?" I directed my words to Matt. I was out of control. He looked confused – and scared. I was much bigger than him, and I imagine seeing some crazy redneck come out of the darkness was relatively unsettling.
"I-I…" He was rendered speechless.
"Nice to meet ya. I'm Daryl. Have a good night." I dismissed him quickly and walked back into the house, expecting Emma to follow. And she did. Her footsteps were not quiet. I could feel the anger radiating off of her in waves.
"What. The. Fuck." She spit out her words as I got into the living room. She was actually shaking. "Daryl, what the HELL was that?!"
"C'mon Em. Ya can do better'n him." I stared her down. Might as well keep my insanity going. I was too far gone at this point.
"Says who?! D you just ruined my chance at my first real kiss what the FUCK is your FUCKING PROBLEM?!" Her voice got louder and she rushed at me. Her little fists collided with my arms, my stomach, my chest.
"YOU EMBARASSED THE SHIT OUT OF ME!"
I grabbed her wrists and wrestled with her, pushing her against the wall.
"Ya think ya first real kiss should be with some lil' lanky asshole like that kid?" My face was inches from hers. She was beet red, nostrils flaring, eyes alight with anger. She wrenched her wrists from my grasp and pushed me off of her. I stepped right back up against her, pinning her to the wall with my body and placing my hands on either side of her head.
"What's it to you?!" Her voice was still raised, but less confident now. Less angry. She was nervous, but she kept her stance and ignored the proximity of our bodies. "Huh Mr. All-Knowing? Who should my first real kiss be with, huh? You've got some fuckin' nerve Daryl Dixon, trying to tell me who I should and shouldn't be-"
My lips crashed onto hers, cutting off her tirade. It was somewhat clumsy, given she didn't see it coming and I hadn't exactly been prepared for myself to do it either. I kept my lips on hers for a moment, savoring the softness of them. I pulled away slowly, taking in her look of pure shock.
"W-W-What." She stuttered and held her index finger to her lips, tracing where mine had just been. "What was that?"
"Ya first real kiss should be wit' me." I could feel the heat in my face and knew I must've been crimson. She was still frozen there, hand on her lips, green eyes opened wide and staring into mine. I kept going, unable to stop myself.
"I dunno when I started feelin' this way for ya but when ya left tonight I couldn't stand the thought of ya wit' someone else. Yer supposed to be wit' me. Please say somethin'."
She held up a finger to me, indicating she needed a minute. Finally, she burst into laughter.
I was not expecting that.
"You're jealous?!" She said through her giggles. I pursed my lips together. This was not the reaction I wanted. I had been hoping for more of a "Take me now Daryl Dixon" if we're being honest.
"Oh my god. You're jealous."
"If ya don't feel the same way that's fine but don't fuckin' laugh at me." I was getting angry. It took a lot for me to be honest about shit like this. I'd never had real feelings for a girl before.
She shook her head. "You're an idiot."
I opened my mouth to respond but she cut me off, grabbing the back of my neck and pulling me into her. Our lips met again, and I felt her hands tangle into my hair this time as she pushed herself against me. I wrapped my arms around her waist and pushed my tongue into her mouth. She accepted it with her own. My mind was blank. She was everywhere. I could smell her, feel her, taste her. She pulled away suddenly and held my face with her hands. The smile on her face was contagious.
"I feel the same way D. I do."
That was the reaction I wanted.
Yay for kisses! What do you guys think so far? Do you think Daryl's being too mean in the present? I just want to stay true to his character and part of the reason he's so hard (in my story) is not only because of Merle and his father, but also because Emma left. So let me know your thoughts :)
Also, if anyone has suggestions for what I could use for flashbacks, that'd be great. I want to keep putting them in as they relate to the present, because they're my favorite to write. But I'm currently a bit blocked after this last one, so any suggestions would serve as some much needed inspiration!
