Here's the next chapter! See!? I told you it wasn't dead. I had some issues with the site for a little while otherwise this would've been up about a week ago :( Anyway, thank you to all who reviewed, followed or favorited this story! It means so much! And here's the next chapter!

Chapter 25

He didn't make it home until close to 12:15. How in the world had time passed that quickly? As he reached the door to his house he prepared for the hell he was going to get. He was surprised when Daryl opened the door with a wide smirk on his face, "Someone didn't take my advice now did they?" Rick glared at him, "I'd prefer you to stay out of this Dixon." Daryl laughed, "Whatever." He disappeared and Rick guessed he had gone upstairs. He walked slowly into the kitchen where his dad was sitting. Rick sat down, "Dad I'm really sorry. I lost track of time and…" Rick's dad just shook his head, "I was going to come looking for you soon. You were almost an hour and a half late. What were you doing?" Rick sighed, "We were swimming and setting off fireworks." His dad nodded, "One simple rule Rick. That's all I asked of you." Rick didn't say anything so his dad continued, "You're not allowed to go to any more big events like that for the rest of the month ok?" Rick's jaw dropped. He knew Glenn would be having parties almost every weekend and probably some during the week. He would be missing so much. "Are you serious?" he asked angrily. His dad nodded, "We'll try again during July and see if you can follow the rules then." Rick stood up and shoved his chair back.

He stormed up the steps. "That's extreme. One late night and I get grounded for a month. It's the stupidest thing I've ever heard," he muttered to himself. He almost ran into Daryl who rolled his eyes, "Wow someone got it bad don't they?" Rick glared at him, "Shut it Dixon." Rick continued his rant as he walked the halls with Daryl just watching him from the doorway of his room. "It's not even fair. I'm going to miss so much. Glenn is going to have so many fun events to do and I'm going to miss them. Maybe there's a way that I can get to some of them. I can't stay here the whole month," he said angrily pacing the hallway.

He continued for a few more minutes before he must've gotten on Daryl's nerves. The other boy stepped forward and shoved Rick, "What the hell Grimes? So what if you can't go out to hang out with your friends once a week? You're making a big deal out of some little thing!" The annoyance and anger was present in Daryl's voice as he continued, "Ya know what? If I had been that late home from something I wouldn't be able to move the next morning. So ya should be grateful for what ya got!" Daryl yelled the last part and Rick stepped back. Daryl froze after the last line and Rick realized Daryl had probably not meant to say so much. What did Daryl mean by not being able to move? He glanced up at Daryl. He was standing there in front of him but something was off about him. He looked dangerous and angry at the same time. But the anger didn't seem to be aimed at Rick. More at himself. Daryl shoved him away and ran down the steps. Rick took a step, "Wait! Daryl!" But he was gone. The door slamming shut behind him.

His dad came to the stairs, "Rick what happened?" Rick just stood there, "I don't know. We got into a fight and Daryl said some things and then he ran out." His dad nodded, "It's late. I don't want him to get hurt. Maybe we should look for him." Rick shook his head, "No he needs space right now. Otherwise he would've stayed here." His dad sat down on the couch in the living room, "Well then I'll wait up for him. Not like I haven't been up all night anyway." Rick went into his room and fell asleep instantly

It was sometime during the morning that the doorbell rang. Very early. Probably around three. Rick slowly got up and walked to the hall where he heard voices at the door and then the door shut. The kitchen light turned on and he could hear his dad speaking very quietly. He leaned over the railing so he could hear better and heard his dad say, "….you're going to get into a lot of trouble if you do stuff like that. Vandalizing property? Come on Daryl you're better than that." Rick peered over into the kitchen to see what was going on. Daryl was sitting hunched over in a chair while his dad stood a few feet away talking. His dad continued, "I can't get you out of trouble all the time. This was a one time thing. If someone catches you doing that again, there's going to be worse consequences than right now." Rick swore he saw Daryl shift back a tiny bit in the chair. His dad spoke again, "It was embarrassing to have to answer the door for our own neighbor this early in the morning because you were out there throwing rocks at the house."

His dad gestured angrily to the house next door as he continued but Rick didn't listen. He was more interested in the fact that Daryl had visibly jumped in his chair and half-raised his one arm as if to block an attack when his dad had waved his hand towards the house. Rick continued to watch Daryl while his dad talked. His dad didn't use a lot of hand gestures but when he did, even if it was a small movement, Daryl would noticeably flinch in some way. One time Daryl's eyes squeezed shut and his hands clenched into fists. Every muscle in his body stiffened.

His dad finished, "You understand?" Daryl nodded shakily but didn't move. His dad walked slowly over and Rick saw Daryl shrink back a little bit, his shoulders coming up to his ears. Rick watched as his dad slowly put his hand on Daryl's shoulder to try and get him to get up and go upstairs. As soon as they made contact Daryl jumped violently again. His dad looked at Daryl but let go of his shoulder. Daryl got up and walked quickly towards the stairs. Rick had to move. He went for his room as fast as he could but he knew that Daryl had seen him disappear. He shut his door quietly and went to lie down. What was wrong with Daryl? He was crazy jumpy. It had to be something from before. Rick shook his head. Daryl couldn't really believe that could he? Not here. They were different. Daryl didn't really believe that Rick's dad would hit him would he?

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