Hush Baby Im here

Chapter 16

Having not slept at all the two nights in a row, I was extremely grumpy.

Someone would mutter something and I'd grow irritated,and if no one would talk, I hated them all. I felt like a teenage girl on her period, my hormones raging, but that wasn't it.

I was so tired of walking my feet dragged on the ground, and I seriously considered sitting down in the middle of the road and not moving for another day. But I knew that couldn't happen, I'd be teared to shreds. I was just so damn tired.

I hadn't even spoken to Daryl, or Maggie, or anyone about anything for a whole day. I just stared straight ahead as anger fumed off my body.

No water was found, meaning we were practically out. Making my sleepy, thirsty, and hungry. It's odd but I was actually complaining in an apocalypse, as I would have in the real world.

Judith started to cry, her screams, even though fairly quiet, ripped through my head causing an enormous head ache.

I started towards the trees, I couldn't stay here, I heard Maggie call after me but I bolted, sprinting in the direction we were heading anyways. I just I felt more free, when I was walking on my own, from sympathetic stares and crying children.

I came to a stop beside a thick tree trunk, heaving in breaths, exhausted. My heart beats in my ear, thudding inside my head. I heard the snap of a twig and I pulled my knife out, spinning toward the sound. Admits the light green trees a dark figure emerged. Daryl held his cross bow towards me, ready for any sudden attacks. 

I met the point of the arrow with my eyes, almost welcoming and challenging him, but he lowered it immediately when he saw my staring.

"You alright?" He asked gruffly, making his way toward me.

I nodded, and sat down at the base of the tree, placing my head on my knees. I didn't hear Daryl move any closer, not knowing what to do I guessed. 

"Beth?" He asked.

"Hm." I said, my voice muffled by my legs.

"Want to shoot some more?"

My head shot up in surprise and I gave him a critical expression, raisin my eyebrow as the scar creased above it.

"Do you want to shoot my bow some more?" He repeated. My face relaxed even though I was unsure of what was going on.

He walked closer towards me and crouched to my height, making us face to face. He slung his cross bow off his shoulder. Holding it in front of me. His other arm leaned on the tree behind me for support, I was caged by his body.

"C'mon Greene can't stay mopey forever." he teases. 

I glare and snatch the weapon from his hands, a playful grin spread across his lips. I stood up, and started to head east, not caring if he followed or not.

For a while nothing happened, until I heard the raspy breathing of a walker. It was quite a distance, but I raised the bow to eye level. 

"Its too far, don't want to loose any arrows." Daryl remarked, fueling my anger, making me want to shoot it even more now.

I didn't lower the weapon or move, but waited and at the exact moment its head bobbled into view, I let it fly. Of course you couldn't see the arrow, only the effect, which was the walker sprawling to the ground. 

I turned to him and smiled, I wanted to yell "ha!" But I kept it contained.

When we got the the body Daryl observed the arrow lodged in his skull.

"Damn Greene, don't need much training." He muttered pulling out the arrow.

"Why are we doing this?" I asked. Other then the fact that you have to protect me and had to make an excuse to stay with me.

"I figured it'd been awhile." He refastened the bow to his shoulder.

I felt really satisfied with myself, I felt satisfied with his answer too.

"Daryl," I said  grabbing hold of his arms, my long, pale, bony fingers clung to his muscular tan arms. "Thank you."

He nodded at me, then suddenly turned back around and caught me in a hug.

When he turned to go I couldn't stop myself from pulling myself up on my tiptoes and giving him a kiss on the cheek.

He froze and my facial expression fell.

"What?" I said worried.

" Nothing. " he snapped back, pulling his arm away and heading back to the road.