Much to his surprise, the night at the creek was not their last encounter. The next two weeks flew by unnoticeably fast now that he had something to do and look forward to. Although this was above cliche and Daryl would sway the thought away as if it was an annoying fly, Leanne has positively changed his life in the short span she's been part of it.

Although they would only hang out at night when Leanne could sneak out, Daryl was grateful. He was used to having nothing, and now he had a friend. He liked to think of the redhead as such, at least. Whether this was mutual or she simply had no one better to be around was another thought he'd actively avoid.

Not everything was perfect, however. Daryl was growing slightly suspicious that Leanne would never inform him about her availability throughout the day, despite having indicated she's had some unsupervised time while reflecting on her activities during their midnight rendezvous. The fact this bothered him suggested Daryl was starting to care, and since he didn't feel he could afford such luxury, he was persisting in not bringing the topic up.

It was the next time they've met after the night at the creek that he learned Leanne was to stay for the remainder of the summer, granting them a month and a half of one another's company. As much as he denied it, the fact made Daryl oddly happy. He had to keep reminding himself that growing attached would result in pain down the line when she left. And the chances of their paths crossing ever again were minimal.

Plus, attachment to people was generally not something Daryl wanted to mess with, especially when they were virtually strangers. However, there was little denying that the connection he felt with the redhead was miles beyond how he felt about anyone ever.

In the past two weeks, even a difficult nut to crack such as himself has opened a great deal to her. This was likely attributed to the fact Leanne would also let him explore some rather morbid parts of her soul. Those midnight meetings (Daryl refused to call them dates) were the times the two of them, who would always stay tough, allowed themselves to be vulnerable.

Despite it all and the connection they've shared being pretty deep and rather intimate, something didn't sit right with Daryl. Even when he'd listen to some of the darkest secrets the redhead entrusted him with, it felt as if she was hiding something. Yet he hesitated to bring that up without solid evidence. He knew better than to confront her based on a hunch alone. The girl was no fool and would double her defences had he called her out carelessly.

But that night, having gotten a little higher than usual, he finally let it slip. Having mulled on the thought for longer than it was appropriate, Daryl wasn't vague about it either. The moment he heard his stoned self utter a painfully specific question, the man felt as if someone dumped a bucket of ice-cold water on him. The horror of realising what has just escaped his brain through his mouth froze his insides. With his senses amplified by a drug, the sensation felt so real it gave him actual shivers.

"That time at the bar. You waited for someone, no? But left because it was me instead."

To deepen his regret of eventually spilling the beans on what he has fully intended to keep tucked away, Leanne hesitated to answer. It wasn't uncommon for her to pause at times to think through what she was to say, but this time something felt off. It wasn't Leanne simply trying to deliver her point as clearly as she could; it was her carefully picking her words as not to let something unintended slide by.

"Why does it matter?"

It caught him off guard to be answered with another question. And the question itself was perfectly set on to deflecting something she clearly wasn't comfortable discussing: it has knocked Daryl off the rails. His mind took him back to the very day they discussed, this time identifying the emotion he felt at the time. Irritation.

The feeling he couldn't name back then was being peeved at the fact Leanne was potentially meeting another guy. Due to the scarcity of interaction they've had at that point, it was far too irrational for Daryl to put a finger on it. The sudden realisation then pushed him towards another discovery.

That day was also the first time he's seen her face. And the first time he's noticed how pretty she was; another invasive thought he's been fighting all along. The level of their friendship, despite its longevity being barely two and a half weeks, was deeper than anything he's ever experienced. That alone made him block the thought of her attractiveness out of his mind entirely. And now it was back with vengeance.

But Leanne was now waiting for an answer. Trying to diffuse the situation that was clearly uncomfortable for both, Daryl simply shrugged.

"Just curious, that's all."

Her face didn't suggest Leanne was annoyed with him. She didn't look like the question affected her at all. And nor she gave an indication of whether she believed him or not. Yet the carefree vibe that was there minutes ago has been steadily souring down. They both felt that, granted, that's why for a moment or two they've sat in n uncomfortable silence.

Finally, Daryl decided to man up and change the topic. To his own horror, dropping another question that kept him restless.

"Night of the party. Had I said I wanted you to come. Would you?"

This time, Leanne has positively frozen for a moment or two. She has not seen such a question coming, and this has triggered what he assumed to be her defence mechanism. At least, Daryl has witnessed it before. The redhead would laugh, although her entire body has clearly tensed up.

"Fuck no. There was no way on earth I'd come there, not even if the Queen of England herself had begged me."

He was now positive Leanne was certainly hiding something, and it seems he has gotten closer to it than she would have liked. Yet this was all too vague. The only viable version he'd have was that things Leanne said about Donna could have been attributed to herself. Was she actually trying to get him in trouble, just playing the long game?

The paranoid and betrayal-tampered mind of Daryl wouldn't dismiss that option. On the other hand, Leanne has laid into him a lot of deeply personal information too. If all of this was a lie, she'd be a total psychopath, not just a chronic liar. Additionally, maintaining a structured conversation was difficult when high, let alone an elaborate lie.

For the time of being, however, he let go of the case.

It wasn't until three days later when it had suddenly clicked. That night, Daryl was restless. He wasn't meeting Leanne, and while he didn't mind being separated from her from time to time, he had this feeling in his gut that he needed to see her. Instead, however, he's gotten drunk.

Merle was out all night and wasn't expected to make a return anytime soon. Alas, he did, in a state that was pretty impressive even to him. As his brother stumbled in, at the instance Daryl sobered up.

His brother had a very familiar scent to him, and it wasn't cheap booze. It took him good five minutes to finally identify why he knew the smell so well until it dawned on him.

It was Leanne's weed.