Chapter eight- "Hope"

Daryl had always hated field trips. Ever since elementary school the thought of being trapped somewhere away from school with all the kids that he didn't understand and the ones that didn't understand him was horrible. By the time middle school came around, Daryl discovered he could just skip the awful days all together. He would be at home listening to music right now if attending wasn't a major test grade. Trying to graduate High school really was becoming a pain in the ass.

"Welcome to the Environments of the World!" A perky, skinny red head said as the student stood outside the museum. She wore a dark blue collard shirt with the logo on the upper corner. Her frizzy, curly fire hair was pulled into a voluminous pony tail, Daryl noted as the employee lead all the kids into the museum. Daryl found himself in a very large main hall, with hallways jutting off in every directions, with different labels on the top. "For about an hour, we are going to go ahead and let you guys roam freely!" The woman excitedly announced, clasping her hands together with a pearly smile. "We have on rule here though, you always have to be with a buddy!"

The fuck?

Daryl rolled his eyes as the woman explained the importance of having a buddy unfamiliar places, ajd what could happen if you got caught in a scary situation by yourself. It was a joke to Daryl, who got lost in the woods alone for three days once. He could feel his thoughts wander as the woman's words turned to mush and his eyes glazed over.

"Hey."

He could hear himself click back to reality then, and his eyes fixated on the teenage girl that stood in front of him. Carol has her hair pulled away, a few loose strands framing her contoured face. She smiled at him, keeping her hands awkwardly behind her back. "Do you want to look around together?"

Daryl shrugged. "I guess."

"Those are Violets," Carol pointed out, her hands on her knees as she leaned down to get a look at the flowers. "I like those a lot."

"you say that about every damn flower." Carol snapped her head around, disapprovingly narrowing her eyes at Daryl. He kept his distance from the all the exhibits, making no attempt to hide his disapproval of these field trips.

"You know," Carol said, and Daryl heard the flecks of a protective mother in her voice. "Maybe if you gave it a chance, you would like them." She kept her eyes on him until he looked at her, almost a smile on his face has he shook his head.

"There just flowers." He muttered, slowly making his way next to Carol. She could feel his presence has he stood next to her without looking at him, and she subtly pursed her lips.

"But their nature," Carol said nodding to the flowers growing behind the screen. "it's beautiful."

Daryl looked at her, with one of the straightest faces, his eyebrows crinkled on his head. "Your such a damn dork."

"Hey!" Carol blurted, feeling her shoulder bump up against Daryl's, her cheeks bright pink as she couldn't get the grin off her face. Daryl bumped her back, a little harder than he had anticipated and Carol stumbled a few steps, trying her hardest to make sure she didn't fall.

"Damn," Daryl realized his strength, a smirk on his face as he stared at her with admiring eyes until she regained her balance. "Sorry."

Carol looked at him, brushing herself off as if she had gotten dirty. She tugged at the edges of her gray t-shirt. It fit her well, Daryl realized as she made sure it sat in all the right places. She dressed plain but nice, and Daryl liked her style. It was practical, not like so many shallow girls that wore high heels to school, trying to impress everyone that walked by. Maybe like Daryl, Carol preferred not to draw attention to herself.

"Look over there," Carol blinked when Daryl turned to some flowers a few cases over, she followed him, almost confused as he looked almost mesmerized. at a collection of white petals, with a bright yellow center.

"There just flowers," Carol mimicked, smiling even though Daryl didn't seemed very phased by her joke. His fingers clung to the glass that separated him from the flowers, staring at them as if they made him think of something. She looked at the flowers, expecting to see what he saw. They weren't particularly beautiful, but she tried to see what he saw them. Her eyes scanned down to the silver plate in front of the flowers, reading 'Cherokee rose' . She looked back at him, and he was almost taken back at the glisten in her eyes. "What is it?"

Daryl snapped to Carol, blinking a few times before he realized what she meant. The first thing that

came to his mind was his mother. The story about the roses that she had told him at night before he went to bed. It had always gave both of them hope.

"There is a long story to it," Daryl shrugged it off, turning away from the flowers. "But in short, It's a sign of hope."

Carol blinked at it.

A sign for Sophia.

"Her name is Caroline," Carol said to Daryl as they stood in front of a one story house painted blue. A faded wood swing hung on the porch near the front door, rusty chains connecting it from the ceiling. "She was at the park that day. The only thing she could tell the police was that she was playing with Sophia, but then she saw walk over to a man." Daryl had his arms crossed his chest as he scanned the home, a frown on his face. "She couldn't really describe him. It never really went anywhere."

A moment passed, like Daryl took a moment to register the information. Daryl took a few steps toward the house before Carol grabbed him by the elbow. "I don't think this is a good idea. She's a twelve year old girl."

"She was that person who saw Sophia." Daryl shrugged it off. "She has to know what the hell was going on."

"Okay, but let me do that talking," Carol agreed as she quickly stepped in front of Daryl. "I don't think your that good with people."

After a few knocks a woman finally answered. Dark blonde hair hung loose in a braid around her neck, diamond earring catching attention to her face. "Carol?" It was a question, the woman cocked her head, her eyes wide and her voice uneasy as she saw the teenager at her front door.

"Hey." Carol gave a small wave with one hand, her eyes avoiding Caroline's mother's eyes. "How are you doing?"

"We're fine," She quickly answered, scanning Carol and the Daryl nonchalantly. "We're just fine. What can I help you with?"

"Your little snot brain needs to tell us what the hell happened."

"Excuse me?"

Carol snapped her head to Daryl, the anger evident in her eyes as she silently pleaded for him not to speak. By the time she looked back the mother had her shaved arms across her chest, her face straight and unamused.

"I apologize for him," Carol said, trying to laugh it off. "Basically, we need to talk to Caroline."

"No." The answer was given fast, added with a disapproving head shake. "What for?"

"My sister is gone." Carol pleaded, the sadness in her voice evident as she looked Caroline's Mother directly in the eyes. "Maybe your daughter can remember something she didn't before. Please just a few minutes."

"Shouldn't the police be handling this?" She answered, her voice still stern but somewhat caring, now keeping a steady hand on the white painted front door. "Besides, my daughter doesn't remember anything."

"Look lady-"

"Daryl." Carol didn't even turn around that time, but he chose to shut his mouth anyway, the madness evident on his face.

"My daughter lost her friend." The mother said, the front door creaking as she swung almost closed. "Don't put her through anymore stress."

Carol tried to speak again, but the door was shut and she could hear it lock and she didn't even look at Daryl as she stomped off the porch.

"That bitch was so selfish."

Carol didn't look up from her cup of coffee as Daryl ranted, his foul mouth obvious to her. She was uneasy, shaky and he wouldn't even have a drink. He constantly scanned his eyes around the coffee shop, often wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "I mean, who the fuck does she think she is? This is a kid we're talking about."

Carol slouched in her seat, her nose taking in the aroma of a large cup of coffee with vanilla, her eyes half closed and her face sunken as she let Daryl complain.

"Maybe this was a stupid idea." Carol finally blurted out. Her head meeting with Daryl before her eyes could. "I mean, how did we honestly think we could find her when the police couldn't?"

Daryl blinked at her, almost as if he didn't understand what she said. Her eyes widened when she saw the disappointment in his face, swallowing hard. "Seriously?"

"I'm just saying," Carol pleaded. "There's not even anywhere to look."

"That's your sister!" Daryl's voice rose, his elbows hard into the table as she looked her hard in the eyes. "She's out there somewhere alone."

"Or maybe she's gone." Carol interrupted, not even noticing as tears started rolling slowly down her cheeks. "Maybe she's in a better place."

"Or maybe she's out there wishing you would find her." Daryl said, anger evident in his voice and his body and his face and Carol felt a little scared. "While your sitting here having a cup of coffee." Carol's mouth dropped open, her body suddenly still for a moment as registered what Daryl had said. The tears were faster now, and she rubbed her nose with the back of her hand before talking.

"Now your starting to sound a lot like my mom." Carol placed her hands on the cold polished table, pushing her chair out. She stood, not taking her eyes off Daryl as he didn't look the least bit apologetic. "I thought you were one person that could understand me."

Daryl watched her as she left the coffee shop, leaving him sitting there with her half drunken coffee.

"Dumb bitch."

A/N: I felt like this chapter was a little too dialouge heavy. But some great stuff if coming up so keep reading!