"MERRY BIRTHDAY-DAY!" I heard someone yell in my ear, awaking me from the blissful sleep I close to never got anymore. A moan escaped my lips as I blindly swatted the air beside me, hoping I'd hit a face. Instead, the face's owner grabbed my wrist and pulled me off the air mattress. My eyes opened carefully to focus on the uncharacteristically joyous face that stared into mine.
"What the hell is Birthday-Day?" I muttered to Daryl Dixon, who still stared at me with his hands behind his back.
"Where it's everyone's birthday 'cuz we don't know the date," he mocked, "it's 'mandatory'."
"'S that?" I pointed to his crossed arms, first rubbing my eyes of the last bit of drowsiness.
"Well, uh, me and Andrea kinda collaborated to get something for you."
"And, everyone's getting something?"
"Yeah," he shrugged, pulling out a tiny, crinkly wrapped box. I wrinkled my eyebrows and took it out of his hands as Andrea peeked into the tent. She excitedly crawled in and sat next to me. Daryl followed her steps and sat on the other side of the air mattress.
"I feel like an asshole," I laughed, tugging at the corner of the gold foiled wrapping, "I didn't even know it was 'Birthday-Day'."
"Well, I heard you had some way to keep track of time," Andrea said, glancing at Daryl and widening her smile as I further ripped the paper. "Maybe we can go back to old ways now, huh?"
"You'll make it up to us. We have to go to town anyway," Daryl commented, hinting at me as he nudged my shoulder with his.
"Depends how awesome this one is," I jokingly murmured, tearing the last bit of paper to reveal a black box in the center. I felt like a kid again, giddy on Christmas Eve as i scoped all the presents under the tree. It seemed this one present added up to more glee than I felt from all my childhood presents combined. It no longer mattered what was being held in the box.
I squealed and opened the lid, widening my eyes as I watched the aquamarine gem glisten under the high noon sun. It was a ring; nothing fancy or bright or even big. It was the perfect size to not get in the way while I killed or fought or ran for my life. Andrea took the box and wrapping as I picked the ring up, sliding it on my middle finger and admiring it.
"So," Andrea asked, staring at me for signs of any disgust or disappoint. Instead, I kept my smile and looked at her.
"I love it," I squeaked, following a series of very girly giggles and hugs. Daryl coughed, stopping us from freaking out.
"Just because we don't know you too well doesn't mean you don't deserve anything," Andrea commented lovingly, and even though I didn't know her either, I hugged her like she was family.
"But, you didn't know I was coming," I said, almost panicky, "how did you know to get me something?"
"We just came back from a quick run in town," she shrugged.
"I see you like it," Dale called from the edge of the sleeping bad, his smile increasing as mine did.
"Did you pick it out?" I asked Dale, slightly leaning against Daryl. It wasn't exactly supposed to be a romantic move, but it ended up being so. He placed his hand on my thigh, sending lightening through his fingertips directly to my heart.
"No, I did not," he sighed, shifting his weight to a regular standing position, "I told 'em it was about today. But here comes Merle. I want to die an old man, you know."
We all chuckled, agreeing with Dale's subtle hint towards Merle's violent behavior. I oddly got along with the Dixon brothers, in contrast of everyone else's hatred attitude toward him. I could have considered Merle to be one of my best friends. Dale walked away just as Merle came up and, uninvited, crawled next to us.
"Oh, we're gettin' cozy in here, huh?" Merle commented, taking notice that Daryl's hand was on my thigh and Andrea was practically sitting on me.
"Well good motherfucking morning to you, too," I muttered, thinking about moving away from Daryl but it was way too comfortable. I probably could fall asleep again if Merle didn't start yapping his lips about Andrea.
"So sugartits," Merle called, raising his eyebrows and eyeing Andrea creepily. I laughed and watch the drama unfold. "You gotta present for me?"
"Fuck off, Merle," she retorted, spikes shooting out of her tone compared to Merle's sensual one.
"Off? Maybe replace that with me and we have a deal."
"You know where you can shove your 1980's pickup lines? Up your motherfu-"
"Yo, guys," I snickered, Merle and Andrea reminding me of an old married couple that argues every five seconds, "can you take it somewhere else?"
"Oh, a little privacy," Andrea wiggled her eyebrows up and down and smacked Merle's arm, watching him from her peripherals.
"You little shit," he laughed and stood up with Andrea in tow. She wiggled her eyebrows one last time and joined her usual position next to Amy.
"I'm glad you liked it," Daryl whispered in my ear once everyone was out of earshot. I glanced toward the Carol's tent one last time and caught her suspicious glares. She walked away before I could react further.
"I'm guessing it was Andrea's choosing?"
"Not all the way," he said blankly, tracing the lace that outlined the bottom of my grey spaghetti strap shirt, "she picked a few out and I chose my favorite."
"Well, it's beautiful," I whispered, leaning my head back to rest on his left shoulder. Both of his hands slowly trailed down my body until he reached the hem of my shirt. I shivered severely, the tropical heat quickly catching up to me, warming my body again. His fingertips felt like fire as he lifted the corner of the thin fabric and slid his hand across my stomach.
"Are those... abs I feel?" he chuckled and massaged my stomach further.
"Indeed you do; upper body strength is one of my star attributes," I boasted proudly, turning right and snuggling into his bicep.
"Guys?" Carol unsurely called out, posing in her usual crossed arms/furrowed eyebrow look. Those eyebrows either told curiosity or worry, this was definitely curious, but not the good kind. There was one thing I didn't enjoy out of Carol, and it was her ability to stick her nose in other people's business and seem innocent about it. She was a sweet girl, yeah. But she thought her kind nature was an excuse to be apart of everyone's life.
"Merry, uh, Birthday," I said sweetly, and didn't even fake it. I really did like her, most of the time.
"Thanks," she smiled and crouched down to our height, "The same to you both."
Daryl let go of me and slightly inched away, making me look at him in heavy suspicion. I quickly dismissed it.
"Does Sophia know about today?" I asked, genuinely wanting to strike a conversation. I looked up at her bright eyed as she helped me out of the tent. I wiped off the excess dirt from my jeans from yesterday's 'roll in the dirt' and in turn helped Daryl out. He gladly took my hand and didn't let go until Carol started talking again.
"So since we are still celebrating," she started, grinning as she glanced down at the ring on my finger, "I was just wondering if you two can run a few errands to town and in the woods?"
"Why can't Shane do it?" Daryl asked, looking towards the sky to find any signs of rain. Fortunately, no rain clouds were found. It was a sunny, summer like day.
"Well, you have hunting skills and Ayden has taste in fashion."
"Thank you," I pleasantly accepted her complement, nodding my head.
"So you're telling me I'm in charge of dinner and Ayden's in charge of gifts?"
"Yes," she agreed excitedly and pulled a piece of paper out of her back pocket. She quickly unfolded the paper and handed it to me. It listed what everyone wanted.
"'S the apocalypse and here we are, celebratin'" Daryl muttered, not exactly angered but not enthused either.
"Oh come on, Daryl," I joked, hitting his side with my ass, "At least try to hide your content."
"Jesus, I'll try," he mocked sarcastically and gently hit me back. Wrapping his arm around my neck, he peeked over my shoulder to read the list. Everyone's name was on the list except Daryl, Carol, and me.
"Where's your name?" I asked Carol, flipping the paper over but finding no more writing.
"I'd rather be surprised," she shrugged and unexpectedly grabbed me in a hug, "be careful."
She walked away to join where everyone else gathered and left us two without any other explanation.
"I didn't give her an answer," I commented, holding the list up and looking at Daryl for an answer.
"Guess we kinda don't have a choice," he said and picked up his crossbow that sat on his tent, nearby the one I shared with Andrea and Amy. We were tent neighbors, which made it easy to talk to each other at night without waking everybody else up.
"This is a long list," I commented, quickly scanning the names down the list.
"Read it while we walk," Daryl said, obviously in a hurry.
"Well, can I get my gear on first?" I scoffed and crawled into my tent, sliding my socks and combat boots on. He huffed impatiently as I tied my laces.
"You done yet?"
I reached over my mattress and grabbed the knife holster I usually kept on even while sleeping. I strapped it over my thigh and pulled the knife out, checking that it was still good to go. It was as good in condition as when I first found it.
"Yes, I'm finally done," I mocked and climbed out of the tent, once again swiping the dirt off my knees. Daryl took a step back and looked me up and down, especially lingering at my lower half.
"Skinny jeans, thigh holster, and combat boots," he tsked, shooing me along.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"It means I've never seen any hotter combination."
A blush invaded my cheekbones, bringing out the strong Italian-Indian light olive toned skin I wielded proudly. My skin was almost as dark as Shane's. Plus, the sun had a factor in the darkness of my skin. If it was any colder out I probably could blend in with Daryl's skin when it gets breaded with sand. Mmm... I bet sand breaded Daryl would be a nice meal for Walkers.
Eew. I can't believe I just thought of that.
"Carl wants a BB gun," I read off the list that Carol must have concocted up, since the handwriting was beyond neat.
"This is bullshit. Watch your step," Daryl muttered, jumping over an overgrown tree root. I removed the list from my face a few seconds to follow his lead.
"Sophia wants a black and purple pillow pet. How cute," I admired, watching Daryl angrily stomp over the road that crossed in between the forest, spotting a Walker and precisely shooting an arrow though its skull.
"Don't see why we have to do this."
"Because we are the best," I attempted to lift his spirits. He hacked at loose branches with his knife. "Lori wants a necklace. Doesn't even say what kind."
I followed Daryl into the second half of the forest, him and I both looking around intently for Walkers.
"Risking our lives for toys and a necklace. Fantastic."
I rolled my eyes at his grumpiness. "I, for one, am exceptionally honored to be the one to go instead of Glenn. Ed wants a knife."
"Yeah, that's exactly what the dude needs," Daryl started, "something that can kill."
"Ed can kill someone without a knife, and I don't mean that to be a complement. Andrea wants a new tank top. Dammit, I don't know her size."
"I know why Carol wanted us to go," Daryl confidently said, still quite a bit of angry in his voice.
"Why?" I asked, and then continued down the list. "Amy wants some boots. Oh, good. We wear the same size. "
"'Cuz I'm the expert hunter and you're the 'going to town' girl."
"What does it matter then, between me and Glenn? Jacqui wants a jacket. Oh, I did notice she didn't have one. It does get pretty cold out at night."
I spotted a Walker from not too far and quickly snuck up on it, taking my knife out of its holster and jabbing it up through the back of the skull. Sucker didn't even see me coming.
"Good one," Daryl commented, my maneuver seeming to brighten his day up a speck, "Because you're a girl. You naturally have taste. Glenn would prolly pick out random stuff 'nd leave everyone unhappy."
"That's true. I've always wondered if Glenn was better than me at this stuff. Morales and his family would like Monopoly. Aww, family game night."
"I'm biased, don't ask me. I've never been to town with 'em."
"Well, neither have I. T-Dog wants an old school Ice Cube CD. Now, how did I know that was going to be under his name?"
Luckily, this side of the forest was shorter and less dangerous than the side closest to the camp. What I never understood is why they picked the dangerous side. True, there was more wildlife on that side.
"Hungry?" Daryl asked, positioning his crossbow directly in the crosshairs of a squirrel. I swear. What is up with Daryl and squirrels?
"I have food in the backpack. Plus, we're going to town. There'll be food there," I explained before Daryl sent an arrow through the squirrel, pinning it to the tree. "Or, you can save it for camp. That's an option, I guess."
"I thought you were going to read off the list every time you spoke," Daryl commented, taking notice that I purposefully was doing that.
"I thought you were going to make a snarky comment every time you opened your mouth. Dale wants more ammo for his sniper rifle. Cool, gotta stop by there anyway."
"Touché," Daryl said, impressively looking back to me.
"Yep, that's me. Ayden's top skills: Agility and smartassing."
"I'll remember to bring that up at your funeral," he snickered and flinched when I hit him over the head with the list.
"You're not going to outlive me. Glenn wants a new pair of kicks, either Adidas or Nikes. Don't know his size either, what is up with Carol not putting sizes?"
"You wanna bet? You'd probably be dead if it wasn't for Merle and me."
"Oh yeah," I said sarcastically, "two years alone is definitely not enough time to figure out how to survive. Lastly, Shane wants a burger from Burger King. What the hell?"
"Oh, god. Doesn't that sound good right about now," Daryl murmured, glancing at the squirrel with disappointment.
"Squirrels don't taste that bad," I lied. "At least it's better than fatty food that might taste delicious but somehow it leaves you feeling empty and sad inside."
"Sounds like an ex," he snickered.
"Oh, yeah? And what exactly do you know about that?"
"Hey," Daryl stopped in his tracks and turned to face me, "I had chicks lining up for me back in the day."
I covered my mouth before a bellowing laugh could escape, but before my hand reached my mouth, it came flowing out like Niagara Falls.
"Sorry," I apologized in between gasps of breath.
"Don't forget who you're with now, thank you very much. You're practically dissing yourself."
"What do you mean?" I asked one we started walking again and my giggles ceased.
"Well, we're kinda together, right?" Daryl asked cautiously. I paused and thought of this for a minute. I mean, if he said we were, then I'd be all for it.
But my mind seemed to venture off to Shane and the first night at camp. In the forest... the kiss. Did that mean anything?
"Uh, that's a no, I guess," Daryl nervously laughed and put the dead squirrel around his belt.
"Oh, sorry. I was just thinking," I said, pausing for a shorter time this time. "It's your call."
He stopped and looked back at me with optimistic eyes. I hadn't seen him that happy since, well, that morning. But before that... I don't think ever.
"Ya really mean that?" he asked quietly as if he didn't have any words.
"Daryl," I sighed, not exactly ready to spill my emotions but willing to, "I like you."
"Well, I think you're the only one," he muttered, picking up a stick and toying with it mindlessly.
"No," I replied, hitting a tree with my knife, "I like, like you."
He paused and dropped the stick, looking at me like I held the secrets of the world. Well, I guess that would be the cure, then. Wish I did.
"What?" he asked, cocking his head and taking a step closer. I furrowed my eyebrows and put my knife back in its place.
"Since you grabbed my ankle, saved my life," I began, taking a deep breath and coming closer, "I-I, oh god, I don't know."
Before I could explain myself further, or at least attempt to, he slung his crossbow across his shoulder and closed the gap between us, grabbing my waist and jamming his lips against mine. I instinctively tried to jerk back, but luckily his hard grip on my waist kept me in place. Daryl moved away from my lips slowly, only stopping when he reached my eyes.
"Do you wanna know why I saved you from falling off the roof?"
"I've wanted to know since you came back," I whispered, putting my forehead on the crook of his neck and closing my eyes. In response, he rested the side of his head on mine.
"I knew you were different when I first saw you," he laughed, stroking my hair, "I couldn't have your blood on my hands."
I sighed and snuggled in further as he rocked me slowly.
"But why would you care about someone that you just met?"
"It's one of those things you can't explain, I guess," Daryl reminiscently whispered, stopping the movement of his hand against my grimy hair. I quickly widened my eyes when he slowly let go of me and hastily pushed me in back of him.
"What, what?" I excitedly asked, thinking that if it was a Walker he wouldn't push me in back of him like that.
"Sniper," he whispered, slightly turning so I could see Georgia's city skyline, not three miles away from where we stood.
"Sniper? How is that possible?" I said, mostly to myself.
"Building with about five floors, closer than that one with the plate glass windows. Top floor, six windows to the right," he said seriously, moving completely out of the way so I could see.
I scoped out the building that Daryl was referring to; it was an old building, probably not the best to inhabit. After three years of surviving in a post apocalyptic world, you learn to assume that if there are any other survivors, they KNOW how to survive. In this far in the game, there's no blind luck you're surviving.
There. I spotted the military grade grey sniper rifle sticking out of the building's window, pointed towards the forest.
"If the guy saw us, you'd think he'd shoot?" I asked Daryl, looking up at his creased face.
"I don't have a doubt he would."