Author's Note: This fic is going to be short maybe one or two more chapters. Let me know what you think.

It's been a week since my nondate with Daryl at the diner. He and I have been texting off and on ever since. I have yet to take him up on the offer to go hang over at his place when Glenn is here. I had my tests today that I had to prepare for and ever since my talk with Maggie, her and Glenn have chilled out some with the noise. I only heard them once this week and that was late one night. Glenn has been working more and not over every night too which helps.

I do want to see Daryl again though. All week all I have done is study, study, study. My hard work seems to have paid off. One test was a breeze and the one I just got out of was challenging but I think I did okay. I get in Tink and check my phone before leaving the school parking lot.

3 New Text Messages:

1 new text message from Maggie 4:15 pm:

M: Glenn's coming over tonight and we are going to have a Fast and Furious marathon. I know you love you some Paul Walker.

I really do love me some Paul Walker but a movie marathon with them doesn't really tickle my fancy tonight. I have been cooped up at the apartment all week studying. I would much rather go out tonight for dinner or hang with friends. I will text her back in a minute.

2 new text messages from Daryl:

4pm: D: Don't worry. You're gonna crush it.

5:30pm D: How did your test go?

A huge grin spreads across my face reading Daryl's messages. He is off work today. I wonder if he wants to hang out? I decide to call him.

Daryl answers, "Hey."

"Hi, I just got out of my test."

"How did it go?" He asks.

"Fine. I think I did okay. It was harder than the last one, but I feel confident. How was your day off?"

"Pretty good. I got up early and did some huntin. I just got back a little while ago."

"Get any deer?" I inquire.

"I got a doe. I dropped it off at my brothers and I should get my meat from it this weekend." He pauses for a second before continuing, "What are up to? Got any big plans now that your tests are done?"

I hate to invite myself over. I was always told it's impolite, but he did give me a standing invitation. I bite my lip. "I don't know. I haven't figured it out yet. Maggie texted me and said her and Glenn are having a movie marathon, but I really don't want to be at the apartment. I want to go do something. It was so nice out today, I hated being stuck inside all day long." I enjoy being outside when the weather permits. Living in Georgia, it is normally so humid and hot, but today the weather has been in that rare sweet spot of just right. When I lived at home, on days like this, I would spend all day outside, riding my horse or fishing in the pond. Or if it was too late for those things, I would grab a blanket and stargaze.

"Wanna go for a ride on my motorcycle?" He offers.

"I have never ridden a motorcycle before. Sounds fun."

"When do you want me to come get you?"

"I want to go home and change, so around 6:45-7ish?

"Alright. See you then."

"Okay. Bye." I hang up and I cannot stop smiling. I start up Tink and head home. I have got to change and get ready for my night with Daryl.

I am looking in my mirror when my phone buzzes. It's Daryl saying he is on his way. I am so nervous and excited. This will be the first time he and I have intentionally hung out together just us. Every other time it has been coincidental. It's not a date, I tell myself, enough though it kinda feels like one. We are just two friends who are going to hang out. I check myself out one more time. I chose one of my favorite outfits. I have on my best skinny jeans, leather boots, a white tank with a loose open flannel. My hair is down in loose curls and my makeup is natural. I look comfortable but cute. I don't want to look like I am trying too hard. This works for a casual friend hang. I apply some light pink lipstick and I hear the engine of Daryl's bike pull up outside my window. I shake out my nerves, grab my phone, keys, and clutch and leave my room.

"You look cute. Going somewhere?" Maggie asks as she gets the popcorn for her and Glenn who is already sitting on the couch.

Not feeling like playing twenty questions or leave Daryl waiting too long. "Yup going to hang out with a friend. See you guys later. Enjoy the movie marathon." I quickly make my exit. I close the door behind me and turn to see Daryl standing by his bike. He looks like he should be on the cover a motorcycle magazine or something. He's in leather boots, dark jeans, a shirt that hugs his chest nicely, a leather jacket and a leather vest. He's smoking a cigarette and got one hand in his pocket as watching me approach. The man looks hot, plain and simple. Unable to help myself. "Hey there handsome."

His lips twitch up in a shy smile. He puts out his cigarette, "Handsome? Girl, you talkin to me or the bike?" He jokes.

"Wouldn't you like to know?" I say flirtatiously, making him smile wider.

"I see how it is. You ready to go?" I nod. He hands me a helmet and I put it on immediately. He hops on the bike and puts on his helmet. He holds out a hand and helps me onto the bike. "Put your feet, there and there," pointing to each foot peg. Once I am on the bike, he looks over his shoulder to talk to me. "You can put your arms on my shoulders, or around my waist. Just lean with me and tap me if you want me to stop. Where do you want to go?"

"Wherever. I'm just along for the ride."

He nods and fires up the bike. Suddenly, I am very nervous. As if sensing my uneasiness, Daryl turns his head and shouts, "Hold on tight," and takes off. My hands start on his shoulders, but I feel like I am going to fly off. I squeeze my legs tighter, in turn, squeezing his legs with mine. I quickly readjust, scooting closer to him and putting my arms around his waist. He puts a hand over mine and rubs the back of one of my hands trying to reassure me, then quickly puts it back on the handlebars. As we ride through the town, I begin to relax and start to take in the scenery. When we turn, I lean with him and before I know it, we are on a back road. Being on the bike is very freeing. I'm tempted to take my hands off his waist and hold them out like I am flying. Fear keeps me in my place though. It's nice to be so close to him. He yells back at me, "You having fun?"

"This is amazing." I yell back at him. We ride for another 10 minutes or so before he turns the bike back towards town.

We stop at a stop light and he turns to me, "You hungry?" I nod.

He pulls into a Dairy Queen and my legs feel like jelly when I get off the bike. We order some food and ice cream and go sit out on the patio area. "Well what did you think?"

"It was a lot of fun. Scary but fun." I say honestly.

"Now what? You want to ride some more? Head home? Hang out?" He prompts taking a lick of his ice cream.

The motorcycle is fun, but we have not had much opportunity to talk. We have only been gone an hour. "Well, we could go hang at your place for a while?"

I am not ready for our night to be over yet. I hope he feels the same way. I hold my breath until he answers, "Alright." We talk, laugh, and finish our ice cream. Then we head to his place. As I get off the bike, my legs fail me. Thankfully Daryl is helping me and quickly rights me. "You good?" His arms are holding mine and I nod not looking at him embarrassed that stumbled. He is still holding me and my eyes meet his. Suddenly, I am very aware of how close we are standing and it becomes harder to breathe. He stares at me a second, then he lets me go and goes to fish out his keys out his pocket.

I sigh internally. Whatever that moment was it is over now and I refuse to over analyze it. He was helping me off the bike that's it. I follow him into the apartment and set my keys and wallet on the kitchen counter. "Can I get you anything?" He asks shrugging off his jacket.

"Nope I'm good." I put my hands in my back pockets. "So, what do you want to do?"

He studies me for a second, "Movie sound good?"

"Sure, as long as you got popcorn." I tease.

He nods and directs me to the movies. "Ladies choice," he says smoothly. He opens a cabinet and starts popping the popcorn.

The movie selection is limited. Mostly horror and action. "Okay, I am going to give you three choices and you pick from those." I say.

"That ain't exactly ladies' choice." He argues sitting on the couch.

"Maggie and I do this all the time." He shrugs and I look back at the movies. "Okay Jurassic Park, Gone in Sixty Seconds, or Nightmare on Elm Street."

He pops some popcorn in his mouth. "Nightmare on Elm Street." I hate scary movies but if this ends anything like last time, all snuggled up to Daryl with him whispering in my ear, I don't think I will mind so much. Unfortunately, I haven't seen this in years and don't remember anything, which means I will be watching it through my eyes or through Daryl's narration. I put in the movie and sit next to him. There's some space between us starting out but as the movie wears on, I find myself closer and closer to him. Every now and then our hands touch when we both try and get popcorn out the bowl on his lap. One particularly scary scene I just can't take it and finally cover my eyes. I have been pretty brave up until now. I can hear him softly chuckle and I bump into him, silently telling him it's not funny. I don't even have to ask, he just starts whispering what is happening. "You can uncover your eyes now." I peak out from behind one of my hands and see it's safe for the moment. I'm leaning completely into him now and his arm is around my shoulder. When did that happen? I guess I will just enjoy it.

"I'm never going to sleep again." I declare when the movie ends.

"It ain't real." He smiles at me.

"I know." I whine a little. "If I can't sleep, I blame you."

"You're the one who suggested it."

I can't even argue with him about that. "Do you have to work tomorrow?" I ask.

"Nah. I'm off until Monday."

"Must be nice. I have to work at the clinic tomorrow."

"Guess I need to get you home then." He sounds a little sad.

"I guess you do." I'm sad to have to go too. "Can we take the bike?"

He grins from ear to ear. "Hell yeah."

When I get home Maggie and Glenn are asleep on the couch and I go to bed. I toss and turn still freaked from the movie. I know it's not real but I can't sleep. I try to think of Daryl instead. I had such a good time with him. I really like him. He seems to like me. But he hasn't made any real move. We are just friends, I remind myself for the thousandth time. My mind flashes to him steadying me off the bike and snuggling on the couch. When we touch, for me, even for the briefest seconds, my skin is on fire. But if it's not for him, clearly there's no chemistry. Don't dissect the entire night! You had fun. He is your friend. I am never going to get any sleep at this rate. I roll over and look at the clock. 2 am. Ugh, this is all Daryl's fault. I pick up my phone and decide to text him.

B: I can't sleep. 😠 It's all your fault.

Seconds later, he is calling me. "Hello?"

"Why can't you sleep?" He asks. I can tell by his voice he's tired. I hope I didn't wake him. "You still scared from the movie?"

"Maybe." I say playfully. "Did I wake you?"

"Nah I'm just laying here playing on my phone."

"Okay good." I sigh.

"Maggie and Glenn still doing their movie marathon?" He asks.

"Nah, they were asleep on the couch when I got home."

He snorts a laugh. It's quiet for a moment. "Your accent is thicker when you're sleepy."

"Really?" I never noticed that before.

"Yeah. It's adorable." I can feel myself blush. Then a yawn rips though me. Daryl must have heard it because he asks, "You gonna be able to go to sleep anytime soon?"

"Yeah I think so." I am tired now. "Thanks for calling me. It was just what I needed."

"Anytime." His voice is sincere. "Good night Beth."

"Night Daryl." We hang up and I yawn again. It doesn't take a few minutes and I am asleep.