Daryl looked back at the fire, exhaling through his nose.

You don't have to like it. You just have to swallow it; it's the world we live in.

I licked my lips. A question I've been thinking about for awhile now, burning on my tongue. I haven't found the right time to ask but maybe there is no right time. I both want and don't want the answer, so I've been avoiding it for some time.

"Have you decided?"

"What?" Daryl looked at me, confused.

"Have you decided..." I repeated. "If you're gonna stay?"

Daryl stared at me with his jaw tight. Like a kid caught cheating on his homework.

"Did you really think I wouldn't notice?"

He groaned a sigh and stabbed the fire again. Distant thunder caught my ear and apparently Daryl's too as we both turned, looking off into the woods but more at the tree tops than under the canopy.

I didn't notice the temperature dropping sitting by the fire next to Daryl but now that my attention was on it, I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck creeping up.

Thousand one...Thousand two...Thousand three. I steadily counted, trying to determine whether the storm was coming or going. How I used to since I was a kid. Though back then it was rarely for an actual storm. Even if it didn't work, I still did it for some reason. To this day I'm not entirely sure why.

A chilling breeze whooshed the flames consuming the logs in front of us, pushing my hair away my neck to nip goosebumps into my skin. "It's headed this way."

Daryl grunted, looking up at the sky. I followed his gaze to waves of dark grey clouds above us. It's weird that it's the middle of the night but we can see the rolling bank of silver and grey covering the stars.

Something hit my cheek and I flinched more violently than I would've expected, accidentally hitting Daryl's elbow with mine. A zing bolted up my arm as he grunted, both of us grabbing our elbows at the same time grunting in pain.

Daryl hissed, then flinched himself and looked up. "The Hell?"

More drops began hitting me and instinctively my arms lifted to cover my head though it won't do much good.

Daryl hunched with every drop that pelted him and stood up, me right along with him.

Within seconds, it was pouring and Daryl was ripping his tent open, both of us ducking inside, and as if it was just waiting for us to get under cover a loud crack of thunder echoed through the sky and rivers ran from the sky.

Daryl grumbled, scowling outside. "That came outta nowhere"

Yeah no kidding. Is it possible it's been creeping up for a while and we were just too distracted to hear it?

I'm not sure I like that explanation any more than a flash flood.

The campfire outside hissed with every drop that hit it. Like water on a hot pan, until we could no longer hear it over the sound of the rain.

I leaned over a little bit to try to get a look outside but I can barely see the house anymore through this downpour.

I grimaced at the thought of trying to book it back to camp, and looked at Daryl.

"Don't even try." He shook his head, as if reading my mind. "Best to just wait it out."

I nodded, somewhat apologetically.

"Might as well get comfortable. It's gon be a while." Daryl sat down and pulled his boots off.

I nodded and took a seat next to him, doing the same and tossed my muddy boots into the same corner as his.

My shirt clung to my skin just like before when I was running, only this time it's really soaked.

Thank god I don't wear white anymore —and neither does Daryl— or this would get awkward fast.

I rung out my hair over the edge of the tent, as Daryl rung out the end of his shirt.

It never ceases to amaze me just how fast rain can soak you.

I blew my hair out of my face, flinging the annoying tussle over my shoulder.

I leaned away as Daryl shook his head, his hair scattering water in every direction.

I stretched my toes now that they're free from the cage of my boots.

The rain may have distracted for a moment but as soon as we settled back down, the 'elephant in the room' atmosphere from before crept back.

Only now it was a bit more awkward because we're trapped in here together. Neither of us can just leave unless we don't wanna be in here so bad that we're willing to go out in that.

I don't do well with awkward. It's never been my strong suit.

"If you really want to leave, I'm not going to try and stop you. Nobody has the right to. I know how troublesome these guys can be." I motioned in the general direction of the others. "Just… please" I looked at him, and he was staring back at me. "Take a few days and think it through before you make a final decision. You're not the only who will be affected."

Daryl looked down at his hands, picking at his fingernails, and after a long moment, he nodded.

My chin rested on my arms as I laid on my stomach, staring at the rainy sky next to Daryl who was on his back, arms behind his head; looking out the tent door upside down.

It's been two hours and it hasn't let up. What started out as a flash flood has turned into an actual rainstorm.

The ground's nothing but mud at this point, and the fire pit practically sank a half hour ago.

I let out a soft sigh, poking my tongue against the inside of my cheek. Quietly watching the rain come down, keeping the both of us trapped in the small fabric hut.

As sudden as it was, it's actually kinda nice.

The wind chill isn't bad from inside here, despite the fact we've got the door open. The water itself is kinda warm which is weird since winter is just around the corner.

The silence would've been kinda awkward if the both of us weren't so comfortable with quiet.

I never understood why people get uncomfortable with silence. I treasure it when it's quiet. It brings me peace of mind. Let's me think.

Maybe that's why. People who are afraid of their own minds don't like to be inside them.

Meanwhile, I love my mind. It's my favorite place to retreat to. Be free to wonder things like, what walker's do during a thunderstorm? Try to bite the sky? Chase lightning? Try to eat rain?

Daryl shifted, looking at me strangely. "Only you would be curious bout that."

What? Did I say that out loud?

"Yeah, ya did." he snorted, an amused smirk on his face.

I reeled, sitting up on my elbows and sank my teeth into my bottom lip. Exactly how much of that did I say out loud?

"Relax, Sunshine." Daryl half-heartedly rolled his eyes. "Yer strange thoughts are still yours 99% a the time."

Okay, I am positive I didn't say anything that time. So unless I have ventriloquist talents I wasn't aware of until this very moment, there's only one explanation for this: Eve speak.

I set my chin back down, and rolled my head from side to side on my wrists; only somewhat appeased by the fact he doesn't seem phased by anything he heard.

If I ask him what he heard, or what I said, he'll know there's something I didn't want heard. But if I already said it, then what does it matter? But if that's the case, why should I bring it back up and make things awkward and embarrassing(for me)?

Agh! My head hurts, I'm too tired for this. Fine, whatever. I'm not doing myself any favors right now. This time I'll let it go, and pretend/hope he didn't hear anything except the walkers storm thing. Because it's obvious I at least said that.

I sighed again, pressing my forehead into my wrists. It may or may not have been to hide the rising temperature in my face but that's my business.

You know most people would be happy having someone you feel so comfortable with, your thoughts just spew without you noticing. But for me? Not so much.

It's been happening more and more often, and it's still weird.