A/N: WOW GUYS! Thank you all so much for all the wonderful feedback. And all those favourites and alerts! You are all SHAMAZING!
Big hugs and Kisses oxoxoxo
………
Chapter Two
Words. That's all he needed. Intellectual words (preferably of the non creepy variety) that would help explain to this girl as to why he had climbed in through a window, which quite obviously, did not belong to him. But as he sat there staring up at her with saucers for eyes, finding the right intellectual words that he so needed to stutter out seemed near damned impossible. He couldn't tell if her beaming smile was to lead him into a false sense of security before she called the police, or if it was there because she was simply just...weird. Either way, he didn't plan on sticking around long enough to find out. Pushing himself up from his knees, Daryl quickly cleared his throat as he regained his footing, the smiling blonde wheeling herself back a little to give him some space.
"I, uh..." He finally mumbled, quickly glancing behind him to the open window before turning back to face her, his hands raised slightly "I promise you I have a very good explanation for all this. Just don't...don't call the cops, OK?"
Crossing her arms and shaking her head slightly, the young girl just laughed at his request; the look of panic in his eyes quickly fading away to confusion. It wasn't a 'You must be kidding' laugh. Surprisingly. It was more like a 'Oh, you're so funny' laugh, and it left him totally stunned. With a raised brow, Daryl let his arms fall back to his sides with a thump, a small step back causing him to hit the wall. He couldn't help but wonder if a nosedive back out the window and a potential run in with 'The Idiot' was safer than trying to slink past the girl who, in his opinion, was obviously a few cans short of a six pack.
"Oh, I'm not goin' to call the cops, silly!" She replied through her giggles, her wild golden curls bouncing as she waved him off slightly "It's not everyday I have sinfully attractive men fallin' at my feet...or wheels for that matter! So, go you! You're the first!"
"Yeah...well..." Daryl choked out, all the while shuffling to the side "I-I promise it won't happen again..."
In hopes of dashing past, Daryl gave an awkward nod before pushing himself away from the wall; a nervous smile (or grimace) shot in her direction as he eyed the door like a runner would the finish line of the New York Marathon. But just as Daryl took that first step to walk around the young girl, she quickly turned and wheeled herself in front of him, a mischievous glint in her eye causing his ass to back up against the chipped wall once again. So close, yet so far. That finish line was beginning to look more like a dot in the far distance.
"What's your name?" She asked sweetly, cutting through his thoughts.
Forcing his attention away from the door, Daryl looked down at the girl, her big eyes sparkling in wonder as her smile grew.
"...D-Daryl Dixon." He managed to stutter; haunting images of his face and name flashing up on every news channel that night, threatening to send him into a tizz "Look, I ain't a pervert or anythin'!" He finally bellowed, the girl's smile never faltering "I live across the hall, and I was just usin' the window 'cause I'm avoidin' the landlord! I leave and the place is empty, I come back and it's...well, not!"
"Aw, you're my neighbour!?" She exclaimed while excitedly clapping her hands; her total disregard for anything else that he had said leaving him a little shocked "Oh, Daryl Dixon this is brilliant! This is such wonderful news! Can you imagine how much fun we're goin' to have together!?"
"...I really can't tell if that's a trick question or not..." Daryl replied, still unconvinced that she wasn't procrastinating before calling the cops "...Can I leave now?"
Going for his escape once again, he managed to pass her; the young girl spinning her chair round to watch him leave. But before he could make it to the door, it flew open. At the sight of the brunette standing before him, Daryl could practically feel the cool metal of the handcuffs around his wrists, all thoughts of leaving the crazy house without picking up a breaking and entering charge long gone. Fuck my life, I'm goin' to jail...Stopping in her tracks, the woman's gaze drifted from Daryl to the (still) beaming girl in the chair, the confusion in her eyes warring with the potential desire to kill him. Slowly setting down the box that she had been carrying, her eyes drew back to Daryl, her fist clenching tightly at her side.
"Beth..." She murmured, her gaze never leaving his "Who's your...friend?"
"Maggie!" The girl exclaimed, coming round to her side "This is honestly the best place in the whole entire universe! I'm goin' to love livin' here!" With arms flailing she pointed to the frozen (rather frightened looking) Daryl "Now, the landlord must have been all out of complimentary muffin baskets on this occasion, but looky what I got instead!" Reaching over, Beth grabbed a hold of Daryl's jacket and pulled him closer, the sudden contact causing him to jump slightly "Meet Daryl Dixon. He's my neighbour who fell in through my window!"
With all panic leaving her, Maggie couldn't help but smirk a little at the look on Daryl's face. Wide eyed and with droplets of sweat trickling down his brow, his attention snapped between the two of them, his mouth moving in an attempt to string together the right words that would help him climb out of the hole that the young blonde had so graciously dug for him.
"I swear, it's not how it sounds..." He defended frantically, his hands raised once again as he shook his head "I'm tryin' to leave! Fuck me, am I tryin'..."
"Hey, I'm not sayin' a thing." Maggie smirked, crossing her arms over her chest as a soft chuckle escaped past her lips "Personally, if you fell in through my window, I think I might just have to keep you."
"He's just the cutest thing, ain't he!" Beth giggled before snapping her attention back round to face him, her smile never faltering "You truly are Daryl Dixon. I quite like the idea of keepin' you too."
Cute!? He couldn't help but inwardly groan at the word. Never in his life had he ever been referred to by a girl, as being cute. Puppies were 'cute'. Care Bears were 'cute'. He was probably going to have to rip the stuffing out of one of them in front of her just to show that he wasn't. Noticing the look of repulsion in his eyes, the young girl could only laugh, her gaze cutting back over to Maggie who looked to be equally amused. Only this time it wasn't just the young woman who stood in the doorway, but also an older man who's arms were filled with boxes...and he looked pissed.
"Beth..." He spoke in a dangerously calm voice, his brows knitted together in concern "What the hell is goin' on?"
"Daddy!" She cried in reply, tugging Daryl by the jacket once again "Meet Daryl Dixon! My neighbour!"
"Who fell in through her window." Maggie interjected with a smile and nod before turning to take some boxes from her Father's arms.
Feeling his stomach drop, Daryl wondered if handing the phone over to him personally so he could call the cops would be a good thing or not. Cooperation always did seem to go down well, he had learned. Feeling the man's eyes on him, Daryl shifted uncomfortably while sending up a silent prayer for the ground to open up and swallow him whole. He thought that the two girls talking to him had been bad; this guy's silence was worse. He just stared at him. His greying eyes boring into him with a look that Daryl was convinced could cause even the most hardened criminal to cower in fear.
"Y'know..." The man finally replied as he stepped further into the apartment, the anger in his eyes suddenly fading "...I don't even want to know...You, boy, look more scared than my daughters, so that's good enough for me...If you were a threat, Maggie would have killed you by now..." Heaving the box up a little, Hershel slowly began to make his way down the hallway "Magpie, help me with these boxes will you? Beth, let the boy go."
With another chuckle, Maggie began to follow her Dad down the hallway.
"It was nice meetin' you Daryl Dixon!" She called out over her shoulder before sending a small wink in the direction of her sister "Hope we didn't scare you too bad!"
Loosening her grip on his jacket, Beth gently patted it down before shooting him another brilliant smile; a soft giggle falling from her lips as she wheeled herself back slightly.
"Well, it was definitely a pleasure, Daryl Dixon." She spoke softly, a hand falling gently into her lap as she tucked a stray curl behind her ear "I hope we can do it again sometime. Remember, my window's always open."
"Uh...Yeah..." He mumbled, quickly heading for the door before anyone else could stop him "Thanks."
Laughing slightly, Beth gently closed the door behind him.
………
Nuts. Fucking nuts. That's the only fitting word Daryl could find to describe his new neighbour. The minute the doorway had been cleared for him, he ran, not even bothering in checking to see if 'The Idiot' was still on the prowl or not. Racing for his door, he had all but kicked it down before scuttling into his apartment and slamming it shut; every lock being turned and chain being hooked before he fell onto his couch with a sigh. He didn't really classify himself as a 'people person' at the best of times, but Daryl was pretty certain that Beth would terrify anyone in a social setting.
Still feeling the effects from his hangover, and now (conveniently) the bump to his skull after he ever so gracefully head butted his new neighbours floor, Daryl closed his eyes as he happily welcomed in the silence surrounding him. Fishing around inside the pocket of his duffel, he pulled out the crumpled box of cigarettes that he could practically hear call out to him before popping one in his mouth. Like the last 12, it was going to be his last. Lighting it and taking a draw, Daryl rubbed his eyes with the heels of his hands before forcing himself to sit up, the room spinning once again. With a groan he couldn't stop his head from falling into his hands as he finished off his smoke.
"What a fuckin' day..." He muttered, flicking the butt into the nearby ashtray before pulling his coat and t-shirt off.
Tossing his shirt into the corner, Daryl fell back onto the couch, burying his face into the beer stained armrest as he succumbed to the quietness.
He didn't quite know when it was that he dozed off into his dreamless sleep. Probably somewhere between his third bout of nausea and second Asprin. He only knew that whoever the fuck it was that was pounding on his door with a mallet at 10 at night was in serious danger of getting their ass kicked. Knowing that 'The Idiot' was probably too busy fooling around with the bimbo on the forth floor than to chase after him again in the same day, Daryl reluctantly pulled himself off of the sofa and stormed towards the door. He had no doubt in his mind that he'd find his brother and the douche on the other side with conniving grins urging him to follow them.
"I'm comin', I'm comin'..." He grumbled as the locks and chains became undone.
With his anger boiling up within him, Daryl flung the door open ready to give the two assholes a piece of his mind. But just as he went to yell, curse and possibly scream at them, he stopped; Merle and Martinez nowhere to be seen...Only Beth. With that same bright smile from earlier, she sat staring up at him, a tin foil covered plate sitting on her lap. Oh, this is gonna be good...
"Hi..." She greeted happily with a small wave "I'm Beth Greene from across the hall. Remember?"
"Uh...hi...yeah, yeah, I remember..." Daryl stuttered, shielding his nakedness with the door "Can...can I help you with somethin'?"
Just be polite and she'll hopefully leave...
"I was just poppin' over to see how your head was doin'." She giggled, fidgeting with the fake flowers that were woven into the spokes of her chair's wheels "You gave yourself some thump earlier."
"Uh...yeah, I'm fine..." He replied with a curt nod "Thanks for askin'...I'll, uh...I'll see you around."
Going to close the door, Daryl was stopped by Beth reaching out.
"No, wait." She called out with a chuckle, forcing Daryl to open the door again "I also brought you some dinner." Holding up the plate that sat in her lap, Beth smiled "Take it as an apology for all the craziness from earlier. I can get a little carried away sometimes. This is my first time livin' myself, so I'm just kinda excited by it all."
Blushing slightly, she tucked her wild curls behind her ear as Daryl hesitantly took the plate from her outstretched hand, the strong smell of lasagne filling the air.
"Thanks..." He mumbled, shifting awkwardly "Uh...I'll get the plate back to you tomorrow at some point."
"Oh, no rush." She smiled, waving him off slightly as she pulled a small Tupperware box from the side of her chair "...Look, the truth is I came over to see that you were ok. You seemed kinda...down, when you were climbin' in through the window earlier." Setting the box on her lap, she smiled "At first I thought you were just crazy when I heard you mutterin' to yourself, but then I saw that you looked really pissed, and ignorant me never even stopped to ask if you were ok! I'm so sorry about that...Anyway, I came over because you kinda looked like you needed a hug, but then I thought A. You don't know me, 2. I probably seemed like the crazy one earlier, and D. A hug from a random stranger would just be weird, right?"
Not knowing what to say, Daryl just stood there holding his plate. Was she really expecting him to answer?
"So, after doin' a lot of thinkin'..." She carried on, causing him to relax a little "I decided that I would make you a gingerbread man in the form of John Oates, because for starters, every Daryl needs a John and c'mon, let's face it...who doesn't smile at a gingerbread man?"
With her own beaming grin, Beth held out the Tupperware box; Daryl slowly reaching out to take it as he tried to stay as hidden as possible behind the door.
"Uh, thanks again..." He replied with a soft nod.
"No problem." She smiled, clasping her hands on her lap "I've also left my phone number in the box with John. If you need anythin' at all, just give me a call. I promise I'm not as crazy as I seem...I'm actually crazier..."
With a soft giggled, Beth turned her chair to face her own door.
"Anyway, I shall leave you be to enjoy your dinner." She smiled over her shoulder "Goodnight Daryl Dixon."
Not able to reply, Daryl watched as Beth wheeled herself back into her apartment, one final smile shot in his direction as she closed the door. Opening the box, Daryl closed his own door before grabbing the gingerbread man and biting the head off of it. Crazy of not, the girl seemed to be a good baker at least. Grabbing the small piece of paper out from the box, he couldn't help but roll his eyes at the smiley face that was drawn at the side of her number, the big eyes and wide grin taunting him almost. Stuffing the number into the back pocket of his jeans, Daryl tossed the box to the side and opened up his dinner.
There was no way in hell he was ever going to call that girl. Not even if his life depended on it.
………
A/N: Well guys, I really hope you enjoyed chapter 2. It took quite a while to write, but hopefully it was worth it. Please feel the love and leave me some feedback on what you all thought. THANK YOU :-)