You Keep Me Going

Chapter 4: Poolside

This is a pretty short chapter, but the next few ones will be loooong. It's just me and Daryl talking and...wait, what did I do?! Read to find out!

Kthxbai -zooms far away-

The lobby only had one heat lamp lighting it. I looked around to make sure no one was around, especially those who were on watch, because I'm pretty sure a group like this wouldn't have just one person wandering around at night. I made my way to the indoor pool. I opened the door carefully and let it close slowly by itself. I didn't really have a good look at the area before. I think I was running from people when I came in here earlier. I looked over to the door I broke. It was boarded up with wooden planks. I'm glad I didn't attract any more walkers. I'm sure the fence around the outdoor pool wouldn't hold them back. I knew they had the intelligence to climb. I walked to the edge of the pool and placed my hand inside the water, and I slowly moved it back and forth. It felt cool, and the water looked pretty clean. I couldn't remember the last time I bathed in hot water. I prefer cold showers, but hot water is what really cleans you up. I removed my shoes and socks, and I rolled up my pant legs to my knees. I sat on the edge of the pool and dipped my legs into the water. I sat there for a long while. No one came by, and I was alone. I laid back and moved my feet around in the water. I closed my eyes, but I would open them every now and then so I wouldn't fall asleep. I wasn't sure if it was true, but I didn't want to wet myself from having a limb in cold water. Even so, I wasn't tired, but still, I didn't want it to happen.

Another large amount of time passed, and I closed my eyes and took slow breaths. I thought I heard footsteps, but I ignored them. They were probably Glenn's or some other patrolmen. I didn't care if I got caught. I heard voices. Again, I ignored them. It was quiet for a bit. I heard the door open.

"What the hell are you doing here?" I heard a harsh voice. I opened my eyes and turned my head to look at the entrance to find Daryl standing there with his arms crossed, the door slowly closing behind him. He was wearing a sleeveless under shirt. He looked really different without his jacket on. He was pretty skinny. I sighed and looked at the high, arched ceiling.

"I couldn't sleep," I answered quietly. I looked him. "What are you doing here? You gonna scold me?"

"No. I was awake, but something in the back of my head told me you wandered off somewhere." He sat down beside me. "I was right when I checked your room."

"How come you were awake?" Daryl eyed me.

"I just was." I sputtered my lip.

"That's a good explanation," I said sarcastically. "Were you talking to someone just now?"

"Yeah, Glenn. He was asking me what I was doing," Daryl answered. He leaned forward and swished his hand in the water. I sat up and supported myself with my arms behind me.

"Go dip your legs in. It feels great," I suggested. He looked at me, then back at the water.

"I don't think I will." I grunted and shook his shoulder.

"C'mon, take a load off, Daryl. It really does feel nice. It's like being at a spa." I was practically begging him to do it.

"I said no, Rebecca," he said as he splashed some pool water on my face. I spat out some that got in my mouth.

"Please, Daryl?" He looked at me with a stern face. I made a sad, puppy face and whimpered. A very unhappy Daryl shook his head and started removing his foot ware. He was mumbling something under his breath, but I couldn't make out the words. They were probably insults. Daryl rolled up his pant legs and placed his feet in the water on that little stepping edge of the pool that barely had the water covering the top. He looked at me. I was giving him a funny look.

"The hell you lookin' at me like that for?" he asked sternly.

"I said put your legs in, not just your feet," I smirked. I was serious. The waterline was just below my knees. Daryl's dead looking feet was barely in the water. I swished my legs around. "Dunk your whole calf in the water." He groaned and lowered his legs in the pool.

"Not much of a difference," the man said. I shook my head.

"Man, you're such a downer," I said. We were sitting at the edge of the pool for a few minutes in silence. Then, a conversation starter came to mind. "I wonder what being at a spa is like?" Daryl shrugged his shoulders.

"How the hell should I know?" he answered in a harsh tone. I laid back down and stretched my legs.

"God, I'm just throwing out a conversation," I grunted. "But seriously. I'm just wondering. A time where you do nothing and let your troubles melt in treatments." I released my legs and let the water splashed. Daryl laid down and rested his hands on his stomach.

"How can you melt your troubles in a mud bath?" He turned to look at me, expecting an answer. "What's up with that?"

"I don't know. Maybe because it's a natural treatment, people like it. I just heard it reduces the risk of wrinkles or something." I crossed my arms behind my head. "All I know is that I just love mud."

"You're a strange kid," Daryl said. "How come?"

I shrugged. "I always liked to play with it when I was small. I like the feel of it, and I like the squishing sound when you step in it." Daryl just chuckled.

"Next time it rains, remind me to take you to a mud puddle or something."

"I'd like that," I said. Daryl let out a sigh.

"You know what?" he said as he readjusted his back, "this does feel nice." I smiled. I quickly turned my head away, and a loud, squeaky yawn emitted from my mouth. It was silent for a minute until I heard Daryl laugh a bit.

"Was that a yawn or someone stepping on a kitten's tail?" he asked. I bit my lips, and I knew I was blushing a bit.

"I'm just tired now, that's all." Daryl got up and stood over me.

"You should go to bed," he said with concern and helped me up. As soon as I stood up, the Sandman threw a crap load of his sleeping powder into my eye sockets. I almost fell to the side, but Daryl caught me. "Shit, you must be really tired now."

I nodded my head a bit. "Yep…" We shook our legs as dry as they could get, and we started walking back to our rooms. Both of us decided to just leave our shoes and junk near the pool. I'm sure they wouldn't go anywhere. We both stopped at my door. I could hear Ella snoring.

"G'night, kid," Daryl said.

"Night," I said. Without thinking, I hugged Daryl. He flinched and almost cursed at the sudden action. I didn't even know I was hugging him until a few seconds later. I thought he would push me away, because I knew he wasn't a hugging-type person. But he didn't. He wrapped his bare arms around my shoulders and hugged me back. I just closed my eyes. "Thanks for getting me back there," I said quietly. "I was getting lonely." I was glad that someone came by, especially Daryl. If no one came, I probably would have fell asleep right there at the pool.

"You're welcome." I stood on my toes, because Daryl was about eight freaking inches taller than me, and kissed what I could of his cheek. He brought his head back and looked at me. He smirked and ruffled my hair. "G'night," he said and walked into his room. I walked into mine, closed the door, and just stood there. I was thinking what I just did.

…

"What the fuck did I just do?" I asked myself. Why did I hug him? Why did I give him a kiss on the cheek? I took off my glasses and threw myself on the couch. I kept thinking, trying to find an answer in the tiny rock inside my head I call a brain. When I couldn't, a little smile curled up. I rolled up on my side, and fell asleep in an instant.

To be continued…