We rose early the next morning, both of us ready to go outside and not be at the mercy of Hershel and his rules. My bandage had been removed and he the old man laid a list of stuff on my head I had to do to keep myself healthy.
The others were in the process of getting up as we walked up to the camp. Daryl was given menial chores to around the grounds, like laundry while I was made to hang out in my tent, by order of the sheriff.
"So I go from bed rest in the house, to bed rest in my tent." I groaned, laying back on my cot. Daryl chuckled, changing his shirt. "It's bullshit."
"Yeah, well I get to do laundry with the women folk." Daryl chuckled buttoning up his plaid shirt. I narrowed my eyes at him and he smirked at me, kissing the top of my head before walking out of the tent.
"I'll trade you!" I called as I heard him crunching through the grass.
"No thank ya. Enjoy the cot!" He paused as another set of footsteps approached. There was a hushed, intense exchange before Daryl began to walk off again. I watched the door to my tent cautiously as a shadow approached. Andrea stepped up to the tent, waving timidly.
"Hey." She said softly, stepping inside. I watched her quietly and she sat down beside me, handing me a book." It's not great, but at least it's something." I studied the novel, opening it quietly, smirking.
"What, no pictures?" I joked, lightening the air. Andrea laughed, clasping her hands in her lap. She grew quiet, sighing, and spoke again.
"I'm so sorry, I feel like shit." Andrea shook her head as she spoke, her face flushing. She looked at the ground ashamed.
"yeah, you and me both." I muttered, putting the book down on my chest.
"Look, I don't expect you to forgive me, but if there's anything I can do…" Her confidence was leaving her and she trailed off her eyes growing wet. I sighed, sitting up and taking her hand.
"You were trying to protect the group…" I gave her hand a light squeeze and smiled at her, one that she returned cautiously. "There's nothing to forgive." Andrea sniffed, wiping a stray tear from her face.
"But hey, shoot me again, you better pray I'm dead." She laughed at my taunt and I joined her. Our tent grew quiet again. "Would you like to stay? I know Daryl has some cards in his bag…"
Andrea left a while later, after beating me multiple times at various games. I told her I let her win, but truth be told she's a card shark. I was a ways into the book she brought me when Daryl returned to the tent.
"ah, a visitor." I said with a smile, dog earring my page and setting the book down. Daryl smiled at me, a genuine smile, brandishing a plate of sandwiches.
"How you feeling?" Daryl asked me with a smile, setting the plate down in the middle of the tent.
"Bored as hell." I said matter of factly. I grabbed up the sandwich he didn't take and took a bite of it. "Mmm, peanut butter." I muttered, groaning in pleasure. Peanut butter was one of the fineries I've had to live without lately.
"Hungry?" Daryl chuckled. He nearly inhaled his sandwich and I glared at him. After he finished chewing he spoke again. "A few of the others have left for a subdivision down tha road. They think maybe Sophia could be there."
I nodded, raising my eyebrow at him taking another bite. Daryl eyed me carefully for a few moments watching me eat. I blushed, feel self-conscious.
"What?" I asked, wiping at my face. Daryl smirked at me, looking away. he leaned over, reaching outside of the tent. He turned to me with a triumphant grin, holding the guitar Dale found in his hand. I stared up at him in disbelief.
Daryl handed the guitar over to me. I took it slowly, watching him carefully.
"The chinaman wanted ya to have it." I glared up at Daryl and he shifted awkwardly under my intense gaze. He cleared his throat. "Glenn wanted ya to have it." he corrected himself. I took the guitar into my lap finding the fret board and giving the strings a single, confident strum.
"I haven't played since high school." I said sheepishly, looking at him. Daryl shrugged, taking the guitar from me. He began to play and I raised my eyebrows at him as I heard the familiar tune to Carry On My Wayward Son. I smirked at him, crossing his arms. "Well if you're so good, why didn't you say anything at dinner?"
"Didn't think I had ta." He smiled at me, moving his fingers up the fret board. As he played I listened. He began to hum along to the song he was playing and I grinned at him. Something excited me about seeing a side of Daryl Dixon the others hadn't before. It was a nice break from his tough exterior.
"You should teach me." I said quietly once he'd done playing. Again he smirked at me, handing over the guitar. I took it graciously, plucking out a few notes. They weren't bad, but it was nothing like what Daryl had just played. He chuckled at me, reaching over to adjust my fingers on the frets.
"You gotta play like ya mean it. None of that pussy, half assed fingering." I raised my brow at him, strumming the guitar harder this time. Daryl chuckled at me, sitting back. "Better."
Daryl watched me play for a few minutes, which didn't help to ease my nerves. I had learned the bar chords to a few songs, mostly AC/DC and I played them accordingly. Daryl shook his head at me as I finished the last one.
"You weren't kiddin when ya said bar chords." I frowned at him, going to put the guitar down. Daryl shook his head, pushing it back into my lap. "Put your pointer finger here'n the next two here." He grabbed my fingers gently, moving them to the strings he wanted. Once he removed his fingers I strummed. "That's G, C." again he brought his fingers to mine, moving them again. "F, A" and again. "And D, E."
"My fingers don't move like that." I laughed at myself, my hand dropping to my side. Daryl frowned at me, placing my hand back on the neck of the guitar.
"It takes practice, but you'll get it. I'll show ya." He signaled for me to run through the chords again and I did, strumming each out in turn. I recognized a pattern as I was strumming, a melody that he had just played, and Daryl began to sing along. "Carry On My Wayward Son, they'll be peace when you are done."
"Lay your weary head to rest. Don't you cry no more." I finished, feeling rather proud of myself. Daryl smiled at me, gesturing to the guitar.
"See, easy." The tent grew quiet and I cleared my throat going back to my guitar. Daryl leaned forward, taking the guitar from my lap. He placed a gentle hand behind my ear, crashing his lips on to mine.
I was taken by surprise, but it only took a few seconds for it to set in. His lips were soft and I melted into them, returning his kiss passionately. I reached up for his shirt, taking it in fistfuls as I pulled him closer. The guitar somehow made its way to the floor, either by Daryl's hand or it falling from my lap.
He laid me back onto the tent floor and I felt my heart begin to pound. I was afraid, not sure if I wanted this, but still I kept our lips locked, unwilling to forfeit the kiss. Daryl could sense my hesitation and he grew less hungry in his advances. He pulled away, only slightly, meeting my eyes. He kneeled over me, his hand still behind my head, the other had made its way to my abdomen, where he traced gentle circles over my shirt.
My face was flushed, I could literally feel the heat in my cheeks and I looked away, unable to hold his intense stare anymore. My bullet wound throbbed with the sudden rush of blood. Daryl's hand moved from my hip to my chin, turning my face to look at him.
No words were said, but we both understood now that this was something more than we had once admitted to ourselves. I swallowed, wishing he'd kiss me again, and I didn't have to wait long.
Again his lips found mine, this time more gentle than the last. Our breathing came in ragged breaths and I pulled him closer, needing him something fierce. He groaned at my sudden display of force, taking me tightly into his arms.
"Beau, Daryl!" Dale called from nearby. Footsteps could be heard outside of the tent and we froze. Quickly we parted, trying desperately to catch our breath as the footsteps grew closer. "The others have returned from the subdivision…" Dale had wandered over to our tent, peaking inside. He stopped abruptly, looking between the both of us, until finally his eyes settled on the guitar. "Hope I wasn't interrupting." He said knowingly. Daryl growled under his breath and I looked at him. His eyes met mine and he smiled at me before turning to Dale.
"Need something?" Daryl asked, trying to be rude as possible. Dale chuckled, shifting from one hip to the other.
"The rest of the group is back. Rick and Shane are taking some of them out into the field for target practice. They said you are more than welcome to join them."
"Don't needa gun when I got a bow." Daryl said smugly.
"Okay then, just thought we'd ask." Dale turned to walk away before he stopped, looking at us both thoughtfully. "Be safe out here." He chuckled, walking away again.
I'M ON SEASON THREE RIGHT NOW GUYS. SUCH EXCITE. MUCH WOW.
Reviews are always appreciated!
Stay Beautiful.