A/N: Weeell, I had planned to do something really special since this is our thirieth chapter (can you believe it!) but I couldn't really make anything work. So, here's the deal. This is a short filler chapter that is the result of a lazy Sunday day but I promise to have another long chapter up by Friday. Plus, we are almost at sixty reviews, so here it is: when we reach seventy-five reviews/chapter 35 (whichever happens first) there will be a super special update that week! Also, I just wanted to see how many of you would be interested in a side fic about Addie and Shane when they were younger. Leave your thoughts in a review! Please enjoy!
I stared after Daryl with my mouth hanging open for a solid minute before my brain started functioning again. I was in shock, my imagination was playing tricks on me and I had completely misunderstood what he said, right? No way was that what he really said, no way did Daryl Dixon have feelings, especially for me.
"Adeline!" Andrea called from near the RV and I started walking towards her, head still spinning a little.
"Yeah?" I asked, surprised by how calm my voice sounded.
"I hate to ask this, but could you do me a favor? There was an incident with Beth. I left her alone and she cut her wrists. She's okay but Maggie is furious with me. Would you talk to her for me?" She asked and I sighed.
"Why would she listen to me? I don't even know her," I said, a little annoyed by the whole situation.
"Please. She won't even let me in the house," I sighed again but nodded nonetheless. She smiled and thanked me before walking off.
"Addie!" Shane's voice rang out in the air and I looked back at him.
"What?" I called back, growing annoyed by his bipolar emotions.
"I saw you with Dixon," he snapped, continuing to march towards me.
"What?" I asked again, brain sill reeling. Too much had happened the last few days and the lack of rest was starting to catch up to me.
"I saw you with, with him. Now what is going on? And I want the truth," he hissed, now directly in front of me.
"Shane, please…"
"Now, Adeline!" He growled, cutting me off and making me jump at the anger in his voice.
"Why? Why do you care?" I snapped back, refusing to cower.
"Because Adeline, I have the right to know," he wasn't yelling any more but the coolness in his voice sent a shiver down my spine.
"Fine, you really want to know?" I asked, crossing my arms defiantly. He mocked my stance and arched his brows waiting for me to continue. "Nothing happened. Is that what you want? You said you saw us, so you saw that there was nothing to see. We were just talking," I hissed and saw his jaw clench.
"And this?" He asked, grabbing the shirt I was wearing around the collar. "Is this nothing too?"
"This", I said, prying his fingers off of me, "is the result of having a nice day. If you must know, we went swimming earlier and he gave me his shirt so I wouldn't be cold," my voice was just as harsh as his and we were locked in a staring contest for a moment.
"So you know what everyone is thinking? First his jacket, now his shirt? You are sure trying to make people thing there is something going on. They're starting to talk, Addie," he said.
"Since when do you care what people think? Especially these people," I scoffed.
"That's not the point, Addie. The point is that you are better than that. You're better than that ignorant redneck who is just using you," his voice was rising again and I took a deep breath to stop myself from exploding.
"That 'ignorant redneck' has saved my life on more than one occasion and has never, not once, asked for anything in return. You need to grow up Shane. I told you, more than once, that there is nothing going on; bur if there was, it is none of your business. Now you're my brother, and I love you, but I'm a grown woman and can make my own decisions. Plus, who are you to talk to me about relationships?" I retorted cool. I instantly regretted my words but I was too indignant to apologize.
I could see the anger all over his face and I hated that I was the reason for it. I stood in the ground, however, and he eventually turned and left. Once he was gone, I let out a shaky breath and ran my fingers through my hair. My head was spinning. I'd thought Shane had worked through this, that he had started returning to normal, but now? Now I could barely see my brother inside this imposter. He had grown cold and hostile.
I made a decision then. I decided to go talk with Rick I needed to find out what had happened on their trip. I walked inside the Greene house and found Rick sitting on the couch with Lori. She gave me a cold glare and I knew she has told Rick about our argument.
"Can I talk to you for a minute?" I asked quickly before I lost my nerve. Another glance at Lori and I added, "Alone".
He nodded and stood up, leading me back onto the porch.
"What happened out there? What happened with you and Shane?" I asked him as we faced each other. I was facing the sun so I had to squint at him. "The truth. I won't be mad, I just need to know," I added, seeing the look of uncertainty on his face.
He took a deep breath and began. "Everything was going fine. We had dropped Randall and were walking away when he said he'd gone to school with Maggie. Shane flipped and tried to shoot him. I knocked him out of the way and we started arguing. Eventually, we started fighting. I don't remember all the details but we broke apart and I told him this was my decision. I turned around and he threw a wrench at me but it went through the window instead," Rick was pacing and rubbing his chin at this point, reliving the experience. I was rooted to my spot, listening.
"So turns out walkers were in the building and they started pouring out. I hid under a dead one and Shane holed up in a school bus. I got Randall and the car and we picked Shane up and hauled tail back here," he finished and stopped his pacing. I nodded at him, telling him I understood.
"Now", he said, "about what happened with Lori," he looked at me expectantly and I sighed.
"I'm tired of her Rick. I'm not going to lie to you, I just don't like her. Never have," I said with a shrug.
"Well, that's none of my concern, but I will ask that you respect her. She's going through a lot too," he said but didn't sound completely convinced.
"No promises," I said and walked away. I bounded down the steps and back to my tent.
The sun had started to sink and I was exhausted so I crawled onto my pallet and tried to sleep. It didn't come easily, my mind playing out hundreds of scenarios of what tomorrow would bring, but eventually, it came.