No matter how hot was the day, the air of the night would always feel chilly. Daryl has never known the reason, but that was the only fact he was fully certain of at the moment. With both hands buried in the pockets of a thick hoodie, he toyed with an idea of lighting a cigarette. That would be his third one in a span of past fifteen minutes.

With each step on a narrow forest path that led to a small creek, his urge to carry on chain smoking grew along the anxiety. It's been long since Daryl's trained himself not to have expectations, especially when other people were involved. Putting faith in others would always result in disappointment. The man struggled with an explanation to himself as for why has he decided to take a gamble this time.

For all he knew, the troublesome redhead had more reasons to stand him up than she did to show up. This could also be a trap, and instead of Leanne he'd be greeted by cops. The girl was a minor, after all. It's not like Daryl had any inappropriate intentions in regards her, but the fact they were meeting in a middle of a night would sure suggest otherwise. The true reason for this meeting wasn't innocent either. Smoking weed with a minor...The hell was he doing?

The closer he's gotten to the destination, the more persuasive the thought of turning back was becoming. He had to wrestle it away using nothing but naive belief that maybe, just maybe, this once he wouldn't wind up let down. This was an odd situation, for sure. Daryl has barely known the redhead, yet had more trust in her than he had in people he grew up with. And there was no logical reasoning behind it, just a gut feeling.

As an intense fight continued raging in his mind, Daryl's feet, alas through being forced, eventually brought him to his destination. The instant he arrived, the sinking feeling he's sworn to never experience again took over his insides. Had it not been absolutely paralysing, he would have laughed out at his own foolishness.

Of course, she wasn't there.

Daryl had to stop himself from leaving right away, desperately trying to convince his disappointment-scarred brain to give Leanne benefit of a doubt. She wasn't from here and has never been to the creek. Plus, it was night time. The chance of a city girl having hard time navigating through the dark woods was rather high.

He has finally given in to an urge of having another smoke. Pulling a cigarette out of a cardboard container in his pocket, Daryl flicked a match. As a tiny flame sparked up, he brought it closer to his face and took a long drag, starting the burn of tobacco. If Leanne wasn't here by the time he finished the cigarette, he will head home and forget about her for good. With so many betrayals in his life, this was nothing. Or so he told himself, trying to dismiss a tiny sting the thought of being played caused.

He was uncertain whether the size of his drags increased or if he was puffing quicker, but it felt like the cigarette was burning down quicker than per usual. Deep down, Daryl wanted for her to show up. There was something about Leanne he couldn't explain, something that didn't sit right with him, from the very moment he's laid his eyes on her. But, apparently, there was no chance of him figuring out what was that exactly.

He's thrown the butt of a cigarette on the ground and crushed what remained of a fire with his foot. The girl wasn't going to show up, and he was an idiot to get himself tricked. At least, out of all the scenarios played out in his mind, this was by far the most fortunate one. Daryl got up. It wasn't frustration about having wasted his time, it was overall bitterness Leanne held him to such little regard.

As he took few steps in a direction he's come from, he heard rustling not too far off. By the sound of it, it was certainly a human - someone who was pacing back and forth a lot. Almost as if they were...Lost?

"Leanne?"

He called out. The person has stopped. For a second, they stood still, but then started walking again - this time in the right direction. The disappointment Daryl felt up to this point has vanished at once, instantly being replace by a palpitating heart rate. Was it really her? No way. With his entire entity, the man wished not to be let down, for at least one.

"Damn, I've overestimated myself!"

A familiar voice announced as a female figure emerged from the bushes. Daryl noticed she wasn't really dressed up according to the weather nor the location. Distressed denim shorts exposed Leanne's legs now being both, pimpled with goosebumps and severely scratched up. The injuries were fresh, most likely acquired through her journey to the meeting point.

The resentment he felt seconds ago was now fully replaced with appreciation. Seeing the redhead covered in dirt, insect bites and scratches has indicated she's made an effort to get there. And, with no doubt, she had one million reasons to call it quits along the way. This hinted to Daryl she was a stubborn one, a trait he respected.

"Just in time, I was about to leave."

He fessed up. Leanne didn't look offended by that at all, and casually walked to one of a few logs scattered around to take a seat. Without much ceremony, she's taken a pack of papers and a grinder out of her pocket, getting right into preparing a joint.

"Yeah, don't blame you. I really thought it was going to be piece of candy as I've walked through the woods at night before. But the forest is thicker here, so I've got quite disoriented. If you didn't call out, I'd probably be wandering around till dawn."

His newly found admiration to Leanne was growing by second. The way she's spoken about being lost in the woods she's unfamiliar with was casual, and not even people from here wanted to be lost in here. Any other girl he's known would panic and cry her eyes out had she's been in Leanne's recent situation. But there she was, calm, rolling a joint as if this was nothing.

Daryl hesitated for a second, but finally walked to her and took a seat on the log too. Same as the day before, upon actually seeing Leanne, he was at the loss of what to say. If this was to happen again, he remarked, he'd need to prepare in advance. A part of him wanted to voice himself being impressed. On the other hand, though, complimenting people, especially on something like this, wasn't really him.

"Shit happens. Good timing, that's all it is."

He heard himself saying, to which Leanne replied with a half-smile before handing him a now rolled up joint.

"There. Let's see if this takes any of your tension away."