22 years old

I never really appreciated how much I missed the country until I had left the city well and good behind me. Sounds of traffic and construction were replaced by the calming noises of the crickets chirping in the grass and the soft babble of the creek that ran through the backyard. I had also forgotten how dark the night could really be when there wasn't a constant stream of headlights and street lamps lining every road.

I gave myself a moment to take it all in, the smells, the sounds, the feels, because I knew it would be the last time I'd be able to for a while. Everything was happening so fast, it was almost hard to believe it was happening at all. Two months ago I'd been drowning in college finals, crawling towards graduation. Then, everything seemed to speed up. I graduated, I got offered and accepted a job teaching in Atlanta, and now I was at my parents' house packing the few belongings I still kept there to take with me to my new life. All that could really make a girl's head spin.

My thoughts were suddenly scattered as a cardboard box slammed down into the back of my pickup truck. I jumped nearly a foot into the air. "Jesus, Gabe! You almost gave me a heart attack!" I gasped.

My little brother laughed. "How did you not hear me coming? I almost dropped the thing like five times. What the heck is in there? Dead bodies?"

I rolled my eyes. "Yes, Gabe. I store my dead bodies in a cardboard box in a closet at mom and dad's house. Is that the last one?"

He nodded. "Yep! I'd tell you to go say good-bye to mom one last time, but I'm worried if she cries anymore she'll dehydrate."

I let out a chuckle. "Yeah, I think the last ten good-byes were enough. She acts like I'm moving to Mars. Where my new job is really isn't much farther than where I was living at school."

Gabe shrugged. "She doesn't care. I think she's just sad that you're all grown up now."

"Well, I don't feel all grown up." I sighed, running a hand through my hair. I pushed the tailgate up, locking it in place. "If you ever get tired of it here, you can come visit. I know 8th grade can be tough."

"Yeah, that sounds cool."

"Good. Alright, I know you don't want to, but give me a hug before I go." I said, spreading my arms.

"Wait! I almost forgot, I wanted to give you something." Gabe said suddenly. Before I could ask, he had already turned and sprinted into the house. A few seconds later, he came back out, this time with something grasped in his hands. "Here." He said breathlessly, holding it out to me.

My heart swelled a little as I realized what it was. "Gabe, that's your lucky baseball bat. I can't take that." I said softly. I remembered the day my dad had given it to him, as a surprise when he was eight years old. He had been so excited to have his own bat to show off at baseball practice. Ever since then, he claimed he couldn't win a game without it.

"I don't need it anymore. I'm good enough without it. But it might bring you luck." He said, pressing it into my hands. "Or, you know, maybe some robber will sneak into your apartment one night and you can whack him with it."

I laughed, although at the same time I was fighting back tears. I would wait until Gabe had gone back inside before letting the dam loose. Brother or not, no fourteen year old boy wanted to be stuck with the task of comforting a sobbing girl. "Thanks, kiddo. This means a lot." I held the bat in one hand and wrapped my free arm around him, pulling him close. He hugged me back briefly before pulling away and giving me a grin.

"Have fun on Mars!"

I ruffled his hair as I made my way to the cab of the truck. I slid the bat across the passenger seat before I hopped in myself. "I'll send you an alien." I joked. "Love you, little brother." I started the engine and slowly began to back out of the driveway.

"Love you too, Charlie!" He hollered after me.

I smiled, blinking back a few tears as I pulled onto the main road. It felt like leaving for college all over again, only more permanent. I hadn't gone more than a few feet before a familiar gravel driveway came into view. I instinctively slowed down a little. The tiny white house at the top of the drive was dark and still, but a truck sat in the driveway. I bit my lip for a second, wondering if it was Daryl. If it was, it was probably better to just drive on. Instead, I turned into the driveway.

I put the truck in park and turned off the engine. I sat quietly in the cab for a second, wondering if this was a good idea. What did I have to lose, though? For all I knew, that was Mr. Dixon's truck. I climbed out, the gravel crunching under my feet as I made my way up the drive.

I felt a mix of relief and disappointment as I got closer to the truck and realized it wasn't Daryl's, or at least wasn't the one I last remembered him having. It was the wrong color and the bed of the truck was a little too big. I sighed inwardly. What the hell was I thinking anyways? That Daryl might still be living here? That he'd see me wandering around his driveway and forget about the last time we had spoken? That everything would be the way it was five years ago? I was an idiot and as that started to sink in, I began to regret stopping here. I was about to turn around when a familiar voice stopped me in my tracks.

"Well, shit. Wouldya look at what the cat dragged in!"

A smile automatically began to tug at my lips. "Merle."

"Hey there, city girl. What's your ass doin' so far from home?" He had suddenly appeared next to the truck, beer bottle in hand.

Before I could stop myself, I had closed the space between us and thrown my arms around his middle. He froze for a second but I was surprised when one arm squeezed my shoulders. I kept the hug brief, though and quickly stepped back. He looked the same as I remembered. Same dirty, old redneck.

"Aren't you a sight for sore eyes." I smiled.

He shrugged. "Now I know I ain't that pretty to look at. Didn't think I'd ever see ya again, girlie."

"Not sticking around. Just came to grab the last of my stuff before heading back to Atlanta. I got a job out there now."

Merle took a swig of his beer before wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "And you just decided to stop and see ole' Merle before ya disappear forever?" He smirked. "Or ya hopin' to run into my baby brother?"

I shifted uncomfortable, but didn't say anything. Merle had asked a question he already knew the answer to. He knew it and let out a laugh.

"He's been long gone from these parts. Took off, not sure where he went. After that nasty lil' spat you two lovebirds had, I didn't think you'd come lookin' for him."

I ignored the emphasis he put on 'lovebirds'. "He's gone? Moved away gone?"

Merle shrugged again, draining his beer bottle and tossing it over his shoulder. "He'll come back. Usually always does. Want me to give little Daryl a message?" He grinned slyly. "Some sweet nothins'?"

I shook my head, although I was glad it was dark and he couldn't see how uncomfortably red I was. "No, I don't think I have anything nice to say to him. Not anymore." I replied. I could feel Merle's gaze on me, but refused to meet his eyes.

"My baby brother likes to run away from his problems. He's good at that, like all Dixons. Don't git all hurt about it." Merle said.

I sighed. "Yeah, I think I know that." I watched as he pulled another bottle from the bed of the pickup truck, popping the top off.

"I hear that big city callin' your name, sugar tits. You better git on home. Ain't you afraid of bein' out in the dark?"

I snorted, rolling my eyes. "The dark never scared me anymore than you did, Merle." I took a few steps back. "I guess I'll get going, though. See you around."

"Our paths are gonna cross again, sweetheart, don't you worry!" He called after my retreating back. I looked over my shoulder at him, but didn't say anything. Seeing Merle had awakened in my just how much I missed his brother. While I wasn't sure if the older Dixon was right, if our paths would cross again, I was almost certain mine wouldn't be crossing with Daryl's anytime soon.

Minutes later, I was back in my truck and speeding down the dirt road. Every mile I went pushed my old home and my old life further and further behind me. This time, though, I was determined to leave it all behind, Daryl included.

Author's Note

Hello my lovely reader! Sorry to interrupt your reading, but I just wanted to take the time to thank you all for giving my little Daryl Dixon story a chance. I can't believe I'm already up to 50 followers! That's more than I ever expected and I can't even begin to explain how happy I am to see that. Plus, all the reviews have been so nice! I am extremely dedicated to this story and have some great plans for it. Thank you all for keeping me motivated helping me to become the best writer I can be! You all are incredibly wonderful.

One last thing! Don't forget you can message me with any comments, questions, concerns...or even just to say hi! I'd love to hear from you.

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