The morning sun was bright and piercing. I laid there recapping last night. I could feel my cheeks redden at the thought of my words being heard by everyone. So much for playing it cool and neutral here. I sat up and threw on my black tank top and my favorite cut offs. I timidly emerged from my tent,wanting to hide from everyone today. I stood up and tossed my hair up into a messy ponytail as I usually did.
Daryl was walking by her tent and heard some movement,just as he almost brushed off the feeling to say something and turn around she stepped out.
"Hey" A deep voice was right by me I nearly jumped out of my skin, Daryl had walked up to me. "um..hey" I felt my cheeks flush saw her blush,he actually found it cute. How was he going to manage this without fucking it up. "'bout to head out, would you like to know how to kill walkers quietly?" He lifted his crossbow. I nodded.. We walked silently to a section of the woods. "Alright, this here is the bolt." He cocked the pull back and aimed at a tree trunk before shooting an arrow into the center. "That will be your target, show me what ya got" He handed it over to me after loading it again. The crossbow was heavier than it looked. I lifted it, aimed,and squeezed the trigger shooting into the branches. "Dammit." I grumbled. "Okay just work on your aim and your ." Daryl was gonna take this chance to test these waters and see just how interested she was. This was the first time he has let someone else even touch his crossbow let alone fire it. In his own way he was sharing something special with her.
He positioned himself behind me repositioning the way I held the bow. His touch was warm even through his calloused hands, feeling his chest against my back I could feel my heart racing and my breath quickening. I was trying to focus on what he was saying,then he leaned over checking the sight, he was right by my neck. "Right about.." His breath was soft in my ear. Not thinking I pulled the trigger. The arrow hit right by his in the trunk. "There." He cracked a small smile stepping back. His smile... The whole time I've been here I've never seen it. "Can ya remember that?" I was zoned out "Huh? What? Oh..Yea,got it. I think." He loaded it again not sure if I had the strength to pull the bolt back. "Try 'gain" I lifted it up trying to recall the stance Daryl was putting me in. I aimed and secretly prayed to give me this shot so I wouldn't look stupid. I slowly pulled on the trigger. The arrow landed a little below his. "Thank you" I whispered. "Ya got it real close,nice." I smiled "How's that for a girl?" playfully tapping the back of my hand on his chest. "yea,with my help. You could use more practice... then you could actually hit a moving target." I flipped him off chuckling. He flashed a slight smile again. The tingly feeling returned in me. What is this hold he has on me?
Daryl almost got himself in trouble,he was suppressing so many into close contact like that he felt something,something different than anything he's experienced with a was actually enjoying this,not needing to be anything else but himself. He really wanted to make this time last.
"Let's see if we can find ya a smaller target" he dared. "a rabbit?" he shook his head walking forwards "Food of choice,Squirrel." Raising my eyebrow I followed.
"What happened to ya bein' on your own?" He asked scoping out the trees. I wanted to say that he was a reason I stayed but instead I replied "Your group is a warm welcome,not like what I was dealing with. Just feels right ya know?" I saw his cheeks flush red a bit "yea,but your wrong 'bout somethin'..." I raised my eyebrow and glanced at him. "It's your group too now..." I wished I could hear what he was thinking,he wasn't very easy to read.
We walked around silent for a bit, not seeing a single living creature. We decided to head back to camp. Daryl split off to talk to Rick. I strolled up to Maggie and Lori, they where hanging laundry on a line. "Let me help." Maggie Smiled and handed me a basket. Lori seemed distant in thought. "Are you okay,Lori?" She snapped out of a daze and gave a faint smile "yea...yes I'am thanks" I felt I should leave it at that. Maggie glanced at me with a smile "So, you standing up for Daryl last night," Shit here we go, my face flushed. "That was nice of you to do." she kept it short "Someone needed to stand up to Shane" Lori seemed harsh when she replied that statement. We continued our conversations on some things that were needed to get done that day. I caught a glimpse of Daryl, his eyes met mine. After a moment he continued talking with Rick, biting on his thumb nail.
Rick noticed these glances, "So whats going on with you and this new girl?" Daryl didn't want to put anything out yet. "Nothing really, just tryin' to make sure shes good for our group." Rick raised a brow. "And? Daryl shrugged "Shes great so far...for the group." He didn't want to talk about it anymore wanting to keep his interest quiet.
Time passed quickly after helping out with dinner once again, I set up two plates. Daryl was sitting at his tent again,working on his arrows. "Here, eat." I held the plate to him. "Naw, Thank ya"I pouted a bit. "I take offense if you don't at least try my squirrel burger, it would be worth over five dollars before all this " I laughed softly. He sighed and reached for the plate. "Fine, One bite. Damn woman you don't give up do ya?" I sat on the ground in front of him. "Persistence is key. " I took a few bites catching a glimpse of Daryl almost scarfing the burger down. I smiled to myself in between bites. "Here, try this" He thrusted out a flask. I eyed it for a moment,then slowly took it. I took a big gulp of it then scrunched up my face and shaking my head "Damn that's strong! Trying to get me drunk?!" He chuckled and took a swig. "Only if your lucky." he set his empty plate to the side. "Gonna go search for Sophia again tomorrow, wanna help?" I nodded with some food still in my mouth "Rick Comin'?" I said between chewing. "Nah." shaking his head "he needs to spend some time with Lori and Carl. "Ah ok" I was excited that he asked me to join him,maybe I was finally bringing this loner out. I finished my food,picked up our plates to help Lori clean up. I strolled off "See ya."
Daryl couldn't wait to spend more time with Angel,she filled his void he had felt for so long. He couldn't believe she was wanting to be around him. The only person he ever had was his brother. Yes he had friendships in the group but never any he really opened up to. He watched her say her good nights,she looked over at him and smiled mouthing a goodnight to him.
A bit later everyone started settling down for bed, I was exhausted. Wanting to get to sleep early, so I could get to tomorrow faster. Shane was stumbling around,drunk. "G' Night, D-Darlin' " He tried to drunkenly mock Daryl's accent. "Mm Hm" I brushed him off and settled into bed. My mind flashed with images of his rare smile and the few moments of contact from him. At some point I must have fallen to sleep,because I was woken by a shuffling noise just outside of my tent. I gripped my knife and peeked out the entrance. "Fuck Shane I could have stabbed you!" I said shushed. I could tell he was still wasted. "Go to bed Shane I don't feel like dealing with your drunk ass right now. I went to lean back into my tent when he grabbed my arm jerking me up and out. "Get your fucking hand off me." I spoke through clenched teeth. "What do you s-see in that Dixon punk?" I jerked my hand out of his grip, I didn't want to wake anyone up so I kept my voice lowered. " Nothing I will ever see in you, and it's none of your damn business what I think of him." I fought back the urge to knee him in his dick. "Tell me Shane..." I cracked a smirk "What do you think Rick would say if I brought up the tension between you and Lori?" Shane's mood switched to anger. "You bitch you wouldn't Da-" He raised his hand, I flinched waiting for the strike.
Daryl heard some commotion outside he hadn't been to sleep and was used to listening out. He heard Shane's Voice,He quickly crouched out of his tent. His blood boiled hearing what he was saying to her. He Bolted up and snatched Shane's wrist,he felt that he could break it off."What the fuck you think your doin'?"He growled.
I heard Daryl's hiss. I opened my eyes and he had Shane's wrist clutched. "Fuck you Dixon!" He ripped his hand away. "You two shits ain't worth it" he stumbled off. "Dick." Daryl glared at him before turning to me. "Thanks.I could have taken it though" I felt my face blush again, thank god it was dark. "No woman deserves to be hit" He clenched his teeth at the thought. Without thinking a raised up and pecked his cheek. He shifted and shoved his hands in the pockets of his jeans. "I'm gonna be up for a bit,if you wanna come..." Almost as a mumble. Inside I was squealing like a little girl (come on,Angel your 27 act like it) I scolded my self in my head. "Yea, alright. Not going to sleep for awhile from that bull shit anyways" he turned and stuck a cigarette in his mouth. " Come on, Shorty" I nudged him playfully "Hey, I'm not Short I'm fun sized, get it right" He shook his head.
Daryl promised himself in that moment he was going to protect her. He had someone worth fighting just wasn't sure how to show that to her,not ready to bring his barriers down.