Daryl was shocked suddenly by the electricity he felt from her soft kiss. He couldn't explain the emotions that ran through him. A million emotions flashed before his mind, before settling on his default reaction, anger. Before he knew what was happening. He shoved her off of him, with perhaps a little more force than intended.

Carol's eye went wide from the shock, at the sheer force he had just exhibited. Carol having realized her mistake started to apologize immediately.

"Daryl I'm sorr"

However before she could continue, he had jumped off of her bed, and had slammed her bedroom door shut behind him. The wood on the door frame groaned from the force of having the door slammed. A few seconds later Carol was left alone in the dark, in more ways than one. She stared at the door he had just walked through. A million thought ran through her head as she tried to process everything.

Of course he was angry, she thought.

Daryl had been nothing but good to her. He had saved her from her unhealthy living situation, got arrested, and hell he even gave her a place to stay, and how did she repay him? By forcing herself on him! Carol groaned at that last thought. Carol knew she was a mess. She needed to get herself together. Thinking about a new love interest should be the last thing on her mind! She wasn't even legally divorced yet for crying out loud, and she had just left her house less than 72 hours ago!

Carol continued reminder herself of everything she needed to do, before focusing on love, as a way to distract herself, from what she knew she was really feeling at that moment, disappointment. Carol decided then and there, that Daryl was just a friend. She would never again entertain the thought of him being anything more than a kind, and selfless man, but more importantly then that, he was a friend. The first true friend she had in a very long time. Carol went to sleep determined to fix things with Daryl in the morning.

**On the other side of the house

In his room, Daryl leaned against his bedroom door. "Son of a Bitch" he muttered to no one in particular. The instant he had pushed her away from him, he felt like the biggest sack of shit in the world. He knew about the past abuse Carol went through with her asshole soon to be ex-husband, she didn't deserve some redneck putting his hands on her like that. He knew he hadn't meant to hurt her, but the shock of everything had been too much for him to handle. In less than 72 hours, he had been to jail, broken up a marriage, gotten a new roommate, and finally shared a kiss with said roommate. He knew he would have to find a way to apologize to her in the morning. But for now, he was exhausted with the events of the day, and sleep soon overcame him.

Daryl awoke early in the morning, and quickly got dressed for work. He attempted to slip out of his room quietly, so as to avoid Carol, but soon realized it was a fool errand. She was very much awake in the kitchen, with a fresh pot of coffee brewed and breakfast on the kitchen table. Daryl gulped, as he neared her. Carol turned around sensing his presence behind her.

"Look I'm sorry, I didn't meant to shove you, I just..." he started to say realizing how lame it sounded. "Got shit to sort out."

Carol smiled, before responding. "I get it, It was my fault, I'm just such a mess lately, I'm sorry I didn't meant to, you've just been so nice to me and I'm confused with everything that's been happening."

Daryl's heart sank at her words. Of course she didn't mean to kiss him. He thought a little hurt and disappointed. "Well I gotta go to work, so I'll be in later." Daryl said before turning on his heels, and all but ran out the door. The door closed behind him. Carol let out an exasperated breath through her nose as she regrouped her thoughts and carried on with her mission of the day. Daryl got in his truck and drove to work quickly ready to forget about Carol at least for a few hours.

"Hey Daryl" Dale said as Daryl entered into the shop.

"What did you get up to last night? You look tired son. Dale responded with a smile.

Daryl snorted as he walked past Dale and into the office, ready to start the day.

Everything had been going well a normal business day when all of a sudden he heard big thudding steps coming into his shop. Ed stormed into the garage, and Daryl knew instantly the jig was up.

"Where is the useless bitch?" Ed spat angrily. Dale was shrugging having no clue what Ed was talking about. He looked over his shoulder to Daryl with a questioning look. Daryl stepped out of the office, and nodded his head to the right. Dale instantly moved out of the way and to the right, leaving the two men to stand in front of one another.

"It ain't my problem, your wife run out on you, stop causing problems in my shop "Daryl said eyeing Ed.

"Well that ain't what the neighbors said."Ed spat angrily.

"So where you hiding the little bitch?" he growled. At this last insult Daryl snapped. He wanted to slam his fist in this man's face, but he settled on another course of action. He quickly crossed the distance between himself and Ed and grabbed the man by the collar of his shirt and yanked him close.

"You better listen, 'fore our wires get crossed asshole." Daryl said

"Me, my shop, and Carol, you stay away from all of 'em you understand?" Daryl snarled glaring daggers at Ed.

Ed smiled "Well well, getting angry redneck?"

"Nope, you ain't seen nothing yet, now back up and leave before I start gettin angry" Daryl responded. Finally releasing Ed's shirt from his fist, and pushing his backwards. Ed snickered as he turned around and headed towards the shop's exit.

"That bitch ain't worth the trouble, you know. I give her a week before she comes crawling back" Ed snarled as left the shop.