The Journey Ahead | Daryl Dixon

The Journey Ahead (5)

I found myself tossing and turning constantly. My mind was ripped out of its sleep as I peered around the room. It wasn't the room I fell asleep in at the piano, it was more of a guest room, sort of like an office. I felt the springy mattress beneath me as I scoot off of the small twin sized bed that sat in the corner of the room. I don't remember coming here, did I sleep walk? Then I realized that Daryl probably put me here. I also noticed my boots tucked together in the corner near the door with the handle of my pocket knife sticking out of the top. I rubbed my eyes trying to wake up and get with it, but a second wave of exhaustion hit me like a brick wall. I fell back in the bed and gently closed my eyes. This was the all too familiar sensation of having to get up, and do things. I was never a morning person, so when my schedule got tossed around this 'adjustment' didn't go well.

I lied there, my gaze towards the ceiling covered with popcorn. I remember how when I was little, I would try and make pictures out of the scattered fixture. Not having anyone to talk to made it especially fun to come up with weird games by myself. The ceiling in my room was filled with sketches from constantly trying to 'connect the dots.' Everything told a story, everything had a purpose. I was weird like that.

My little 'game' was interrupted by a knock at the door. I quickly jerked up from my rested state, automatically feeling lightheaded from sitting up so fast. "Come in" my tired, groggy voice uttered. Daryl slowly opened the door and had his crossbow slung over his shoulder. Constantly trying to comfortably position it on his back. His gaze met mine as he stated to walk over. He dropped his crossbow beside the small creaky bed and plopped down on the mattress, causing it to bounce a bit. He lied down, stretching out his back and let out a growl. Like he had been shoved in a box for several hours and his muscles were sore.

"What's up with you?" I asked.

"Those coffins aren't as cozy as they look, botched up my back pretty good." He said reaching to soothe his aching shoulders.

"Funny, thought it was the coziest bed you'd had in months" I said, replaying the words he so proudly said last night.

"Try sleepin in it for a whole night, then see who's laughing." A small smile played across his lips as he kept moving around trying to get comfortable.

"Stop, stop just- here, scoot over." I said ushering for him to move closer. He gave me a questioning look and I just rolled my eyes.

"Will you just come here? I don't bite." With that, he sat up and turned his back towards me. I went to try and work out the kinks in his back but as soon as my hand touched his back he immedietally tensed up and got uncomfortable.

"You okay?" I asked with curiosity and concern evident in my voice. He just nodded and mumbled something I couldn't hear.

"What?"

"Just hurry up and do what you're gonna to alright?" He said, annoyance spiked up his tone and took me by surprise.

That casket really did mess his back up, it took me a while just to get the kinks out. Once I finished he turned around and rolled his shoulders, adjusting to the new feeling.

"Better?"

"By a bunch, thanks." He said and lied back down next to me. We found ourselves both staring up at the ceiling.

"That looks like a fish." I said pointing to a croup of the clustered popcorn huddled in one part of the room. He looked over to me with a questioning gaze and wanted me to elaborate.

I let out a sigh and started to tell my story.

"When I was little, I never really got that much attention, being the middle child and all. I would try to hang out with Maggie's fiends, but they brushed me off and Beth's friends were a little too young. So, I often found myself lost in my own little world. I would lie down on my bed and stare up at the ceiling plastered with popcorn, like now. I would always try to make pictures out of the scattered dots and I would take a pencil and connect them together." The entire time I was talking, Daryl kept his gaze fixed on the ceiling, occasionally nodding as I continued to tell my story. Mid-way through I let out a small laugh, he noticed and his eyes, we're now on me.

"What's so funny?"

"Nothin, I was just rememberin something from my past." I said waving it off with my hand.

"Care to explain?"

I took a deep breath and continued. "When Maggie was off to college, beth and I grew close, really close. We would tell each other secrets constantly. But of course being the little brat she was at the time, if I did somethin that would make my momma mad she would tell her within seconds.
Anyways, when maggie finally came home from college, she put all her bags in our room. She walked out to go and greet the rest of the family, but Beth and I were still inside. We're were mischievous, so, we emptied her bags and went through her stuff."

As I said this Daryl scoffed and let out a small chuckle. "Little bit nosy no?"

"Hey, that's want sisters are for." I said smiling back.

"Beth pulled out random things like pencils, books, and clothes. But my eyes were fixed on this little plastic container filled with these little pills." Daryl's eyes grew wide as he knew what I was talking about. "Beth started yelling and saying 'ooh candy! I want some gimme!'" But before she could get he hands on them I ran out of the house past the barn and emptied the case in the duck pond. Maggie came over screaming at me. 'What the hell Y/N?!' She yelled. This went on for a couple minutes before my daddy came out yellin, 'what the hecks goin on here?' Maggie took it upon herself to push me in the duck pond and looked back up to him with a little innocent grin on her face. 'We were just swimmin daddy!' She said."

Daryl put his hand over his face and began to laugh, I joined in with him. I never heard his laugh before, it was gruff and fun to listen to. Our laughing soon faded when our eyes fixed on each other. His eyes were so blue it was almost impossible to look away. I started to get a burning sensation in my cheeks and felt fear consume me, Daryl the same. We sat there like that for what seemed like forever until I switched my gaze back to the ceiling. I sat up and went over to put my boots on. Leaving him lying on the bed facing the ceiling.

"I'm gonna go scan the house for more goods, okay?" I asked. He let out a small scoff telling me that it was good. I slipped out of the room and felt the burning in my cheeks subside. I can't be, I can't be falling for him. We hardly ever talked. This wasn't happening. I constantly tried to shake the feeling off, but every time I tried it just came back stronger than before. My mind was going crazy and I didn't know how to make it stop. It all became clear when I accepted it.

I was falling head over heels for Daryl Dixon.