A/N: Hey guys! I'm sorry I didn't get this up yesterday, internet problems. Anyway, I would like to thank everyone who voted in the poll, which is now closed. Feel free to pm me or leave a review with your opinion however, it is most welcome. Also, any of you who are fans of the Inheritance Cycle, please go check out my friend Zale136's story. She is an amazing writer and you will not be disappointed, and I'm not just saying that because she's my best friend :) Anyways, please read and review, those make my day!
The next three days passed in lazy bliss. Randall was guarded at all times, but he was usually asleep, still recovering from his injury but Rick was getting anxious and was planning on taking him out today. I spent most of my time with Shane and Rick patrolling the woods and working on making sure the perimeter of the farm was secure. We were pretty sure there was no way those guys could find us, but we had to take precautions. I didn't talk to Daryl at all, and that seemed to be just fine with him. Any time we crossed paths he would just duck his head and walk away. Every time he did, it was like a knife in my heart but I refused to crack.
"Addie!" Shane yelled from his position on the porch. I turned around and walked back over to him.
"Yeah?" I asked, shielding my eyes from the sun.
"We're getting ready to hit the road. You sure you don't want to come?" He asked me. I had opted to stay at the farm while they went. I didn't really want to spend hours stuck in a car with Rick and Shane arguing.
"I'm sure."
"Alright then, I'll see you when we get back," he said and gave me a hug. Things had been better the last few days, Shane had been more like himself, like the old him. He was still unsure about letting Randall go, but there hadn't been any more freak-outs.
"Okay, be careful out there," I said and gave him a quick hug.
"Always," he said and walked over to the car and slung a bag inside. Rick came walking out with Randall in tow, blindfolded and tied up. They shoved him in the trunk and hopped in the car, taking off.
Once they were gone I walked over to the stables. I'd spent a lot of time here the last few days and Hershel had told me I could take them out as long as I stayed close to the farm. When I walked in I saw Daryl sitting on a hay bale polishing a saddle.
"What are you doing here?" I asked him, slightly annoyed. This was my sanctuary from the world outside and now here he was invading it.
"What's it look like. Why you care anyway?" He asked and I sighed and crossed my arms.
"I don't care okay," I retorted and walked over to the stall that held the horse I had taken out that first day, Nightmare. I thought the name was hilariously ironic but we had bonded so I usually took her out.
I opened the stall and petted her nose and mumbled sweet encouragements in her ear. I grabbed her saddle from a tack on the wall and quickly secured it around her. She stamped her feet in anticipation for the ride. I heard Daryl snort from behind me and turned around quickly and fixed him with an icy glare.
"Something funny?" I asked harshly.
"Yeah. You two really are a match," he said and looked up at me with a smile. I turned away so that smile wouldn't melt me.
"What is that supposed to mean?" I asked, not sure whether to be offended or flattered.
"It means, you are both stubborn and free-spirited. She's chomping at the bit to get out there and run, and so are you," he said and I turned back towards him when I heard him stand. My heart started beating a little faster at the tone of his voice.
Daryl was walking towards me, the saddle lying forgotten by the hay bale. Without thinking about it, I took a couple steps towards him too. He was close enough that I could breathe in his scent, that delicious scent. I had missed him so much the last few days, there was so much I wanted to talk to him about. Maybe I could fix things and not have to break that wall. He'd respect those boundaries wouldn't he?
"Oh. Well, um, thanks, I think," I stuttered out. Now he was at the entrance of the stall and was leaning against the doorway. "Um, look, I'm sorry about freaking out the other day. It's just, there's a lot you don't know about me."
"So I've heard," he interrupted and I saw a smirk on his face but the guard in his eyes was dropping slightly.
"Well, there's some things I don't want you to know, things you can't know, but I don't want to shut you out either. You're the only person I can talk to, I've missed talking to you," I said with a blush. I knew he wasn't comfortable with this sentimental stuff, neither was I really, but I had to say it.
"Don't go getting all emotional on me. A'int nothing changed, you can still talk to me," he said and I felt a huge weight lift off of my chest. I smiled widely at him.
"You want to go for a ride?" I asked him gesturing to the horses. He looked at me skeptically. "Oh come on!" I called and walked over to the stall next door and grabbed the saddle. I walked back over to him and shoved it in his arms.
"Persistant little girl aren't ya?" He asked and I laughed.
"Yep, now get a move on," I called back as I finished securing Nightmare's reigns.
A couple minutes later we led the horses outside and were ready to go. I put my foot in the stirrup and swung myself over, sitting tall in the saddle. He did the same and we were sitting side-by-side. His horse was a chocolate brown stallion that looked like he was ready to bolt now. I smiled at him.
"Race ya to the creek!" I called and coaxed Nightmare into a gallop.
"Hey! No fair! That's cheating!" He called and started giving chase. I was laughing like a little girl now, though, flying across the field and into the trees.
I could hear the hoof-beats of the other horse right behind us so I let go of the reigns completely, giving Nightmare control. I gripped her mane to secure myself as she turned on even more speed. I could see the creek just up ahead and when she waded across it, cold water splashed me in the face, causing me to squeal in delight. I pulled her to a stop and Daryl came up right beside me.
"Ha! I win!" I called, completely out of breath.
"You cheated," he accused but was smiling.
I hopped down off of Nightmare and Daryl followed my lead. "Where ya going?" He asked.
"I want to show you something," I replied and grabbed his hand and pulled him along behind me. I led him to a clearing I had found yesterday when I had been scouting with Shane. It was almost completely circular and covered in plush grass. There were even a few wildflowers growing in vibrant colors around the perimeter. "Isn't it great? It looks like something right out of a movie," I said joyously. There were a few tree stumps around it as well, looking like an old gathering place.
I skipped over to one of them and sat down and he did the same, minus the skipping. "So what's new?" I asked him.
"Really? What's new? Well, I don't know, have you heard about those damn dead people who won't stay dead?" He asked and I burst out laughing.
"Yeah, I think someone may have mentioned that," I replied.
"Okay, so what's new with you then?" He asked and I raised my eyebrows.
"Well, I didn't die, so that's something. And, let's see, Shane didn't totally loose his mind the other day and things seem to be better with him now," I said with a nod.
"What do ya mean he didn't totally loose his mind?" He asked mimicking my voice.
"He had a little melt down the other day, that's all. He freaked out when I confronted him about something. But it's okay, he apologized for hurting me," I said with a wave of my hand.
"Wait. He hurt you?" Daryl asked, steel in his voice.
"Oh, it was no big deal, he just grabbed my arms," I said dismissively.
"That is big deal, Addie. He can't just hurt you whenever he feels like it," his voice was cold and I felt a shiver run up my spine.
"Daryl. Really. He apologized, Shane would never hurt me on purpose. He loves me," I spoke calmly and placed a hand on his arm. "It's okay."
"If it happens again…" he trailed off.
"It won't. Now come on, I'll race you back," I called and jumped up. When I ran towards Nightmare, he grabbed me around the waist and picked me up. I was completely shocked but let out a delighted squeal.
"Oh no, you a'int cheating again," he said and sat me back down on the stump. I was laughing and playfully kicked him in the butt when he turned around. He spun around and fixed me with a playful smirk. "Oh you did not just do that," he said and I nodded still laughing.
"Yeah, I think I did," I said. Daryl was being so unlike himself, so carefree and playful, I wasn't ready to let that go.
"Well, you are gonna pay for that," he said and lifted me again. He swept me up like a baby and I stiffened instantly.
"Put me down! Put me down!" I screamed and struggled out of his arms. He looked at me, confusion written all over his face. When he sat me down I sank to my knees and started breathing heavily.
"What is it?" He asked and knelt beside me, an almost mirror image of the other day.
"I-I can't," I stuttered and gripped at my stomach because I felt like I would be sick. I felt traitourous tears roll down my face. Those walls were falling down and I was fighting with every breath to keep them up.
"Addie," he said and placed his hand on my shoulder. For some reason, that gesture broke me and the floodgates opened. I fell apart and put my head on Daryl's shoulder and cried. I felt his arms wrap around me and hug me but I couldn't stop the tears.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry," I kept muttering over and over again. After a few minutes, the tears stopped and I started wiping my eyes.
"Tell me what I can do," he whispered and I looked in those same blue eyes, but this time, I trusted them too much not to tell them.
"Are you sure you want to know?" I hiccupped out after another moment. He nodded and I sighed and let the past roll over me. Suddenly, I was seventeen again and reliving that night.
After I was discharged from the hospital, Shane demanded that I move in with him and Rick and two of their friends from the police academy. Grandmother fought it at first but relented eventually so it was settled. Shane watched me like a hawk and let me know from the start that he wouldn't tolerate my recent behavior. A part of me still resented him, but a larger part of me respected him so I listened. It took time, but soon my grades started going up and I started making friends again. Shane even convinced me to join the track team at school.
It was perfect since I loved to run so much. Every night after dinner I would go for a run, and that night was no exception. I came back to the house and Shane, Rick, Brad, and Greg were all playing poker at the table. Brad had went to high school with Shane and Rick so I knew him pretty well, but Greg was a stranger. Rick knew him and had convinced Shane to let him stay. He was okay, but he did give me the creeps sometimes. I came in and they all greeted me like normal.
"Hey guys! I'm just going to go get a shower and I'll come down and you can deal me in!" I called and ran upstairs. Shane had moved into the living room so I could have my own room so I walked in and grabbed some clothes before heading to the bathroom across the hall. I turned on the water and undressed and got ready to climb in when I heard a noise outside the door. The knob turned and opened and I yelped before jumping in the shower and hiding behind the curtain.
"Greg! What the hell!" I yelled as he walked through the door.
"Oh, sorry. I thought you were in the other bathroom," he said nervously. My heart was pounding radically.
"Well leave," I screetched and he gave me a twisted smile.
"Why? Don't pretend that you aren't interested in me. I see the way you look at me," he said and I felt the adrenaline start pouring in my veins.
"Get out, now!" I demanded but he kept coming closer. He jumped at me, then, grabbing me and covering my mouth so I couldn't scream. My brain shut down after that, going to survival mode, but I couldn't stop him. All I remember is the searing pain and his meanacing smile as he picked me up and sprawled me out on the floor. Then I remember him kissing me and telling me how wonderful I was and leaving the bathroom.
I don't know if he though I would be too afraid to tell or what, but he just left me there. Sometime during the brief struggle, the shower curtain had fallen down and I grabbed it to pull over my naked body. I don't know how long I laid there before I heard a knock at the door.
"Addie? Addie, are you okay?" Shane called but I couldn't answer him. "Adeline, open this door right now! I mean it!" He yelled and started turning the knob. It opened and he walked in. "Adeline! What happened?" He yelled and ran over to me, kneeling beside me. Rick walked in behind him and I saw his eyes widen in shock.
"Rick!" Shane yelled only to turn and see him standing right there. "Go get that scumbag! NOW!" He roared as he lifted me into his arms. I placed my head against his chest and cried. "It's okay darling, you're going to be okay."
He carried me to my room and laid me on the bed, telling me he'd be right back. I don't know what happened in that kitchen, only that Greg spent the next two weeks in the hospital.
I relayed all of this to Daryl with tear filled eyes. After it passed, Shane and I never spoke of it again, an unspoken agreement. Out of sight, out of mind. I dared a glance up at Daryl and I saw his jaw clenched and fists balled.
"Daryl," I whispered and placed my hand on his shoulder.
"Why didn't you tell me?" He asked quietly.
"It's not exactly something I like to talk about. You're the only person I've ever told, actually," I said with a sniffle.
"So, you up for that race back now?" He asked with a weak smile. I returned it, amazed by how easy it was to talk about this with him.
"Sure," I said and he helped me up from my seat before we walked over to the horses. I hopped onto the mare's back and felt the normal serenity wash over me. Daryl mounted as well and we looked at each other. With a nod, we communicated the start of the race and took off. The horses loved the competition and tore at the ground. I was in the lead when we broke through the trees and the farm came into view. I kept that lead and made it to the stabled a second before Daryl.
"Looks like I win again!" I called as I dismounted and led the horse back into her stall. Daryl followed my lead and fixed me with a smirk. We were back in familiar territory now, but I could see that look in his eyes that said he knew.
"Well, blame the horse, he's a little slow," he said and I rolled my eyes.
"Sore loser," I teased as I brushed out Nightmare's coat.
"You still suck at shooting a crossbow," he mumbled and I laughed.
"Yeah, I do. Come on, let's go get something to eat," I said and started walking towards the house.
"Hey! I'll be there later, I need to go see if I can catch some squirrels or something for supper," he called and I nodded, parting ways with him. I walked inside to yet another crap storm that seemed to be plaguing my life lately.
