A Secret
Chapter 2
A/N: I'm glad you guys like my new story! So I hope you enjoy chapter 2!
McBrideReedusLover.~
"Mom! Mom! Wake up!" Sophia jumped on the bed and started to shake Carol. Carol looked over at the clock and groaned.
"Sophia honey, it's only eight in the morning. Go back to sleep." Carol placed the pillow over her face and closed her eyes again.
"But mom! You said we would go shopping today! I want to get some summer clothes!" Sophia shook her again. Carol sighed. Once Sophia made up her mind, she wasn't going to give up.
"Alright." Carol moved the pillow and sat up. "Go downstairs and get yourself some cereal. I'll be down in a bit." Sophia grinned and ran out of the room. Carol sighed. So much for sleeping in. She hopped out of bed, grabbed some clothes, and walked into the washroom.
"Are you all ready to go?" Carol asked as they got in the car.
"Yes! Let's go! We've got a lot of stores to go to!" Carol shook her head with a smile. She backed out of the driveway, and headed into town. "Oh mom! Let's go to the mall since they have lots of stores inside!" Carol turned down the street which led to the mall. "And can we stop for lunch after?"
"Yes, we can stop for lunch after we're done shopping." Carol drove around the parking lot, looking for an available space. The mall was usually busy on the weekends. "Oh, any idea what you want to do for your birthday? One month away until you're finally twelve." She glanced over at Sophia, who had her thinking face on. Carol finally found a spot and parked the car. "Let's go try on some clothes." She smiled and waited until Sophia was out of the car before she pressed the little lock button on her keys. They walked into the mall. "Lead the way Soph."
Sophia smiled at her mother and started walking towards the first clothing store she saw. As soon as they walked in, something caught Carol's eye. It was a beautiful red shirt with a V-neck. It was flowy at the bottom, and had short sleeves. She picked it off the rack and held it up to her. Ed would never let her wear something like that.
"Mom, you should try that on!" Carol was startled by Sophia's voice. She turned around to find Sophia smiling. "Seriously, go, now!" She started shoving Carol towards the change rooms.
"Alright alright! I know how to walk!" Carol laughed.
"Okay, walk to the change rooms and try it on!" Sophia urged her mother to put on the shirt. Carol sighed in defeat and walked into the change room. Sophia stood and waited, looking at a kids clothing rack for something she could wear. She found a nice t-shirt with butterflies on it just as her mother walked out of the change rooms.
"Well, what do you think?" Carol asked, doing a little turn to show how it looked. She really liked it, but if her daughter didn't think it looked good, she wouldn't buy it. She was very self concious. She wasn't like that before, but after she married Ed, her confidence level dropped a lot.
"It's gorgeous mom! You should definately buy it!" Sophia clapped her hands. "When you come back out, I'm going to try this on okay." Sophia showed her mother the shirt she picked out.
"Oh, cute top." Carol smiled and walked back into the change room. A few moments later, she came back out with the top in her hand. "Hurry up Sophia, we have to move on to the next store."
"Okay mom!" Carol heard through the door of the little change room. She stood around and waited for Sophia to walk out. When she did, she was still in her normal clothes.
"Did it not fit?" Carol asked, wondering why she wasn't modeling the top.
"It did. It's good. You just said you wanted me to hurry so I didn't bother showing you." Sophia started walking towards the front of the store. "Come on mom we have to pay for our tops!" Carol followed her daughter, a small smile on her face. She couldn't wait for the perfect time to wear her new shirt.
"Finish up, then we're going home." Carol watched as her daughter ate. Sophia was always a slow eater, and was only half done when Carol had finished her food. She looked around the small food court. There were a few people sitting down, others were ordering or leaving. She glanced towards the front of the food court, and saw a familiar face standing in line.
"Okay, all done mom." Sophia stood up and waited for her mother to do the same. "Earth to mom?" She waved a hand infront of her face.
"Oh, what?" Carol looked at her daughter. "You're finished, great." She got up and grabbed the tray. She placed the scraps in the garbage and put the tray on the stack with the others. She started walking towards the familiar face. "Hello Daryl." She smiled.
Daryl looked over to see Carol standing there with a little girl. It must have been her daughter. It was amazing how much she looked like her. "Hey."
"What brings you to the mall today?" She asked, holding their shopping bags in one hand.
"Had to get a new pair of jeans, other ones had a bunch of holes in 'em." Daryl shrugged. "'Bout you?"
"Had to get some new clothes for Sophia." Carol nudged Sophia. "Soph, this is Daryl Dixon. I knew him back when we were teenagers. That was a long time ago." Carol laughed. "Daryl, this is my daughter Sophia."
"Hi..." Sophia went into shy mode, and ducked her head down. Daryl gave her a small nod. He was very awkward around children. He never really knew what to say to them.
"Well, it was-" Carol was interrupted by her cell phone going off. "Excuse me." She turned around and looked at the text. It was a message from Lori that was sent to a lot of other people. She looked at the first few names. Shane, Andrea, Herself, Maggie Greene, Glenn Rhea, Daryl Dixon, Carol stopped reading right there. Lori knew Daryl Dixon? How on earth? She looked back at him. He too was looking down at his phone. "You know Lori Grimes?"
Daryl looked up at her. "Not really. I know Rick, seen him a few times cause of Merle. Had to bail him out lots. Me and him hang out every so often." Daryl shrugged. "Why?"
"Well, I was reading who she sent this message to, and you were listed. I was just a little surprised thats all." Carol continued to read the text. There was something about a Grimes Barbecue Bash. Some sort of party. It was a new tradition they were going to start. In the message, it said kids were allowed. So Sophia would be able to go with her and spend some time with Carl. The other people on the list she knew. Shane and Andrea were also her friends. Maggie and Glenn were more Lori's friends, but she had met them before. They were younger than them, but they were still nice. "So I guess you're invited to this Grimes Barbecue party?"
"Apparently. Don't know if I'll go though. Wouldn't know anyone anyway." Daryl ran a hand through his hair.
"You'd know me." Carol gave him a small smile. "Well, me and Sophia will be going. That way you can spend some time with Carl, right sweetheart?"
"I guess so..." Carol laughed. Sophia was still acting very shy around the strange man infront of her.
"Well, we'll see you there maybe." Carol waved goodbye to him and started walking away. "Here Soph, take some of the bags." She handed a few of the lighter ones to Sophia. Carol reached into her pockets for the keys, and unlocked the car door. She popped the trunk and placed the bags inside. "Well, that was a good day wasn't it?"
"Who was that man mommy?" Sophia asked as they started to drive out of the parking lot.
"He was an old friend." Carol smiled.
"Was he your boyfriend or something?"
"What? No he wasn't my boyfriend!" Carol was completely taken by surprise at her daughters question. Her and Daryl Dixon? Sure, he was cute and all, but she never thought about him like that. Right?
"Oh, I was only asking because you were staring at him with a giant smile on your face." Sophia shrugged. Carol could feel the heat rise to her face. Had she been staring at him? She didn't realize.
"Well, no. We've never been together ever." Carol kept her eyes on the road.
"Are you going to anytime soon?"
"Sophia, why are you asking such rediculous questions?" Carol turned to her daughter.
"I'm just wondering." Sophia shrugged. "You just looked really happy to see him. You're never like that with dad. I just thought that's what people did when they liked someone."
"I like Daryl as a friend. That's it." Carol set the story straight. "He is just a friend, and that is all he will ever be. Okay?"
"Okay." Sophia was silent for a bit. "Do we have to go to that party?"
"Well, yes. We wouldn't want Daryl to be by himself would we?" Carol regretted her reason for going. "Lori invited us too." She quickly added. God, what if she did like him? She hadn't seen him in so many years. Sure, she had a small crush on him back then, but she had gotten over that hadn't she?
Sophia looked at her mother. There she was, talking about Daryl. "Are you sure you don't like him mommy?"
"Yes, I'm sure." Actually, she wasn't so sure. But it was wrong to like him. She was married, and he was probably with somebody. Every woman would want to be with him. His husky voice, his gorgeous blue eyes, his overall appearance. Oh god, what was wrong with her? "But we're going to that party, and that's final."
Sophia let out a frustrated sigh. She didn't really want to go to that party. She could spend it with her mom, but then she'd have to be with that Daryl guy. She didn't even know him, and it seemed like he didn't like kids. She didn't want to hang out with Carl the whole time either. Sure, he was a friend, but she hung out with him enough at school. She had every class with him.
"If you don't want to go, you can stay home and I'll get a babysitter." Carol glanced over at Sophia. She could tell by the disgusted look on her face, that she didn't want a babysitter. "Then you're going."
"What if they don't have anything I like." Sophia whined.
"They'll have hotdogs and burgers. You like both of those things Sophia. Why don't you want to go?" Carol questioned her daughter.
"Well, I don't want to be with Carl the whole time. And you're going to be with that Daryl guy. I don't think he likes me." Sophia mumbled.
"Daryl likes you just fine. He's just shy like you. Just give him a chance." Give him a chance? It sounded like she was dating him. This needed to stop.
"Fine." Sophia sighed, and looked out the window.
"Alright." Carol pulled into the driveway. She popped the trunk again, and took out the bags. She opened the front door, and gave Sophia her bags to put in her room. Sophia ran off upstairs. Carol walked up the stairs into her bedroom. She took out the top and smiled to herself. Tonight she'd be able to wear it. She'd be able to wear something nice for a change, something with color instead of a plain old t-shirt. She'd be able to mingle with everyone instead of staying at Ed's side while he drank and cursed at her for making him go to this party. She'd be able to do a lot of things now, with Ed gone. She just hoped the six months lasted a long time. She wanted to enjoy the days she had by herself. She wanted to enjoy her freedom.
"Hey Daryl, glad to see you made it." Rick smiled as Daryl walked into the backyard. "Just go grab a plate and some food. We're just waiting on Carol and Andrea."
"Thanks." Daryl walked past Rick towards the table. He grabbed a plate and looked at the assortment of food. He decided on a hotdog, since he had a burger for lunch.
"Carol! Sophia! Glad you could come to the first ever Grimes Barbecue!" Daryl turned around as he heard Lori shouting.
"No problem! We're glad to be here." Carol smiled. "Sophia, why don't you grab a plate for yourself?" Carol gave Sophia a little push while she started talking to Lori. Sophia rolled her eyes and walked over to where Daryl was standing. She looked up at him before grabbing a plate.
"Do you like my mom?" She asked.
"Uh... I guess?" Daryl found that question very strange. What did she mean by like exactly?
"Okay." Sophia said and then walked off. Daryl stood there and scratched his head. She was a strange one alright. He looked up to see Carol walking over.
"Was she talking to you?" Carol asked as he glanced at Sophia who was sitting on the ground eating some chips.
"Little bit." Daryl said. "She just asked a question is all. Nothin' like a full on conversation."
"Oh?" Carol grabbed a plate. "What did she ask you?" She grabbed a burger and put some ketchup on it.
"If I liked you." Daryl shrugged. Carol almost dropped her plate. That sneaky little girl. She didn't believe her, so she asked Daryl. "Didn't know how she meant that... But I said yeah."
Carol tried not to turn red. "I guess I can't even talk to an old friend without her jumping to conclusions..." She laughed nervously.
Daryl faught the urge to smirk at her comment. "Well, she is just a kid."
"Yeah. She doesn't understand that women can be friends with men without it being something else." She laughed again. 'Carol shut up, you're not making it any better for yourself.' She scolded herself. She hated that. When she was nervous she just started rambling.
Daryl glanced down at her arm. She was wearing the short sleeved shirt, so he could see most of the skin. It was covered in bruises. "What happened to your arm?" He asked, looking back up at her.
"Oh..." Carol had completely forgotten about the bruises. She couldn't tell him that her husband was an abusive asshole. "I uh... I fell."
Daryl did not believe her for a second, but it was clear she didn't want to tell him, so he let it go. No one got that many bruises from falling. To him, they looked like they were there from someone else. He knew it all too well from his childhood. "Must've been a pretty bad fall."
"Yeah, it was." Carol looked off into the distance.
"Does your arm hurt at all?" Daryl asked.
"No, I forget they were even there." Carol shrugged and took a bite of her burger. She had completely forgotten about that too. She looked over at Sophia, who obviously had been watching them. She smiled slightly. "I'm going to go sit by Sophia. You're welcome to join if you want to." Carol walked over to Sophia and sat down on the grass with her. Daryl walked over a little while later, and sat down beside them. They all ate in silence, not really knowing what to say to one another. Carol was actually quite relieved. She didn't want Sophia asking any more questions.
"The party was great Lori. Thank you for inviting us." Carol thanked her friend as they got ready to leave.
"I'm glad you decided to show up." Lori smiled, and then moved closer to Lori. "I also saw you talking to Daryl for a while. Is there something I should know about? I can keep a secret." Lori smirked and nudged Carol.
"Nothing is going on between us! I just ran into him yesterday after court. And today at the mall. And then here. It's nothing. We're not even really friends." Carol felt her face heating up.
"Mhm, that's not what you used to think in highschool." Carol gasped. Lori knew about that? "Thats right. I know that secret." She winked. "Look, I think it's totally alright for you like him. Ed is a violent bastard who is in jail. What he doesn't know doesn't hurt him. Daryl is a good looking guy, you should hook up with him."
"I'm not going to do that Lori. It's not right. I'm a married woman. Regardless of the man, I was raised to stay faithful. And I will." Carol stood up for what she believed in.
"All I'm saying is if you want to snatch him up for a while, go for it. I won't tell a soul."
"I'll think about that." Carol rolled her eyes. "Come on Sophia, time to go." Carol waved for Sophia to follow. "See you later Lori."
"You think about it." Lori smirked. Carol just shook her head. Everyone was going mad, including her. Hopefully it would stop. She didn't need this. It was against her beliefs to have feelings for someone who wasn't her husband, even though she despised Ed. She sighed. It didn't help that she got his cell phone number either. She didn't know why she asked him for it, but he didn't find it weird or anything. Atleast he didn't act like it. It's not like she'd be texting him or calling him non stop. There was no harm in it. She had Rick's number, didn't mean she liked him or anything like that. She was just overreacting. Everything was harmless. They were just friends, and thats all they would ever be. Just friends.
A/N: Hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please R&R lovelies!
McBrideReedusLover.~