Shane slowly took my hands as I sucked in a shakey breath. "Hey you alright?" "Yeah I'll live I just don't understand what's going on with Daryl. I mean he's always been protective of me but this is above and beyond." Shane watched me closely for a second before coming around to my side of the island and pulling me to him quickly. Before my brain had time to register what was happening he crashed his lips into mine and I responded enthusiastically. We stayed locked together for a several minutes before we came up for air. He pulled away with that ruthless grin, "Figured if I'm gonna get into a fight might as well make it for something good." I laughed loudly as I felt my face blush red. "Daryl's not gonna fight you I won't let him." Shane glanced at me, "So what'd he say about me anyway, didn't mean to eavesdrop but I couldn't really help it." He chuckled as he took a seat at the bar next to me. "It's nothing he just calls you deputy dog but I told him to stop. He's still going to say it but now he'll do it just to piss me off." He was running his hand slowly along my neck before quietly saying. "You've gotta head home now don't you?" "Trust me I really don't want to but since I still need a place to live I better go." Shane hung his head as he pouted a little. "Hey I didn't say I was skipping town did I? You know where I am most days and you know where I live. So we're going to see each other soon." I leaned in kissing him quickly as he immediatley wrapped his arms around me. I knew I was opening a whole kettle of fish messing around with Shane when I shared a bedroom, truck and workplace with Daryl but I was getting tired of him treating me like I was his property. I owed him more than I could ever repay but he wasn't my warden and I wasn't about to sit around and let him treat me like a prisoner. We got back into Shane's jeep heading back to our trailer. I'd been so brave on the phone but the closer we got to the house the more I started panicking. I knew what Daryl said was true that I wouldn't have a pot to piss in without them but that didn't give him a claim over me. I was eternally grateful for all they'd done for me but I was also working my butt off to make a life for myself on my own. I worked hard at my GED classes while working a full time job. I was fidgeting in my seat as we pulled up along side our trailer.
Our bedroom light was still on so I knew Daryl was awake and waiting on me. Shane leaned in giving me a quick kiss as he promised me we'd talk the next day. I walked into the house slowly wishing we didn't have to talk about this. I was getting a headache and just wanted to crawl into bed so I could catch a couple hours before work. Merle was passed out on the couch in the living room like usual so I tossed blanket over him as I made my way toward our room. Being a coward I snuck into the bathroom quickly checking over my appearance so Daryl wouldn't suspect anything. After cleaning up and brushing my teeth I couldn't hold off any longer. I casually walked into our bedroom like nothing was wrong to see Daryl sitting on the bed cleaning his crossbow carefully. Trying to avoid the situation further I pulled out my work clothes for the next day before heading to the bathroom to change into my pajamas. When I came back the second time Daryl had put his bow away and was staring daggers at me. I could never stand it when he was mad at me, just one look from him could make me feel two inches tall. I sat down on the bed looking at him as I fidgeted with my hands, "So shoot what'd you wanna say?" He sighed heavily as he ran his hand through his short hair, "Where you been all night?" "I told you I got scared and needed to get away. I wandered around town for a bit and then I hung out with a friend." I could feel his gaze burning into the side of my head. "You mean deputy dog right?" I turned to face him, "And if I was hanging out with Shane? So what I can't have friends now?" Daryl pointed at me accusingly. "He wants to be a hell of allot more than friends and you know it." "I dont know what you're talking about. Shane is a nice guy and I like talking with him, what's so wrong about that?" "It's wrong because he's just trying to get into your pants. Bet he ain't gonna be so nice once he gets what he wants." He seethed. I sighed as I stared at my feet again. "It's been two years D, seems like allot of work for a booty call. I didn't mean to make you mad I just needed to get away for a-while." Daryl reached forward slowly as he touched the bruises on my upper arm. "Aww hell Jenna I didn't mean to hurt you. That cop just gets my fur up. I ain't mad at you I just panicked when I left ya sleeping only to come home to an empty house." I looked at him finally starting to calm my racing heart. "I know I should have left a note or something I just wasn't thinking. So are we good or what?" Daryl was still slowly running his hand over my bruises. "Yeah I guess we're good. I still don't like having him around you." I let out a sad laugh. "I know you don't but he's a nice guys and I like hanging out with him. I'll just try to make sure you two steer clear of each other. No more stand offs like this afternoon." Daryl chuckled lightly, "I ain't promising nothing." I breathed a sigh of relief knowing that we were going to be alright. We'd only had a few fights over the years but thankfully we'd always been able to work things out sooner or later.
Life fell into an uncomfortable routine for us for quite awhile after that. Daryl was still pissed off all the time when I hung out with Shane but he stopped bitching at me after a bit. My eighteenth birthday came quickly and I was about to explode I was so excited to see my Casey. The system was turning his loose on our birthday and Daryl had offered to take me to Columbus to get him. Shane had offered too but I was already wary about how Casey would react to Daryl much less Shane. We'd been casually seeing each other for just short of a year when I turned eighteen. Him and Daryl still hated each other but it was a quieter hatred now. I split my nights between sleeping at home and spending the night at Shane's house, which was the source of another huge fight between Daryl and I.