Drowned Words

8

Daryls POV:
I brought the bottle to my lips, unable to stop a laugh from leaving me. In the world we live in now, wine, food, and hot showers were a luxury. Her voice rung in my head as I thought about it, the way she closed her eyes and hissed out the word, "hot" in the truck earlier.

The thoughts about (Y/n) were starting to make me uncomfortable and frustrated. Who was she to bitch at me then joke the next minute?
Then again, who was I to bitch at her than help the next?

The alcohol slightly tingled in the back of my throat but I ignored it, attempting to let loose.
Women..
I watched as she took a long sip from her wine glass, laughing across the table at something Glenn said.

Glenn.

Y/ns POV:
"You totally did!" I laughed and grabbed Rick's arm while pointing at Glenn, "Listen. As a newcomer you dont know about the time Glenn peed himself."
"(Y/N)!" he hid his face in embarrassment.
Rick laughed with me as I continued to explain the story, it wasnt all that funny but everyone being a little drunk made it 10× better.

The laughs shared around was a little heartwarming, as if we all forgot about what was happening outside.

Carl cringed as he took a sip of the wine, Lori smiling and pouring it into hers, "More for me then!" I caught small pieces of conversation, listening contently. Daryls voice rose over the rest, "Keep drinkin'! I wanna see how red your face can get." The small chinese joke caused Glenn to giggle, covering his lips. No one took those type of jokes seriously, because we all knew it didnt harm anyone and it was a measly joke. I stood up and held my glass, "I dont think we've thanked our host properly!" My cheeks burnt as the alcohol rushed up my face. "He is more than just a host!" I hollered. Others cheering, "Here here!" While some, boo-yahed

Throughout it all and the Doctors smile, him thanking us, we could hear a dark solemn voice. "When are you going to tell us what happened here doc?" The laughs died away in an instant, myself sitting back down. Worries from the outside world rushed in with and attacked the unexpecting people around the table.
"Christ Shane," I mumbled after a long sip of my wine. Rick grabbed the nearest bottle and refilled the glass for me, knowing we needed the cushion. We all already had a feeling of what happened but none of us wanted to ask... at least not yet so we could selfishly enjoy the night worry free.

Shane continued, "All the other doctors... they were supposed to be figuring out what was happening."
"Where are they?" Carl asked, his small voice caused my eyes to shoot away.
"We're celebrating Shane," Andrea said warningly.
Rick sighed, "We dont need to do this now."
"Whoa, wait a second. This is why we're here, right?" Shane spit, "This was your move... Supposed to find all the answers. Instead we..." he looked towards Dr. Jenner, "We found him. Found one man. Why?"
"Well..." Jenner spoke up and told his story.
..
..
..
I wandered the hall, glass in hand. This was an attempt to wind down and forget the haunting tale Jenner broke for us. All the doctors leaving, running away and others commit suicide in this very building. My free hand reached out and the tips if my fingers drifted across the wall, unable to think about anything but the victims. This virus caused a panic in the CDC, these people were supposed to save us but instead saved themselves. That thought was enough to tell me that the cure didnt exist or at least couldnt. "Shouldn't you be in bed?"

I turned and saw Daryl standing at the doorway I just passed, "Could say the same as you."
He crossed his arms and leaned against the frame, "Or are you looking for that man to cuddle with?" he chuckled a bit, obviously drunk as well.
"Daryl," I smirked and lazily held up my glass, "at least take me on a date first." He rolled his eyes, "Not me, stupid." Sticking my tongue out, "You wish it was you." my speech slurred a bit and I turned to keep walking but ran face first into the wall. Somehow I didnt realize that the hallway turned, "Ah-" I rubbed my nose as Daryl howled, "I'd rate that a 9/10."
"Fuck off," I glared back at him with a small smile, "you're just mad I was wrong. No man for me means no woman for you."

This time when he rolled his eyes, it was as if I could hear them. "They're gonna get stuck if you keep doing that."
"Yoou'rre-" he froze and looked away as the words came out extra slurred.
I couldnt stop my smile, cheeks stinging, "HA! ARE YOU ACTUALLY DRUNK!" My finger shot out and pointed, it felt like a childish gesture but the ah-ha! moment was too perfect. That's when I noticed the pink that sat over his cheeks and ears, my analysis was right. Sticking my nose up, I walked over, "Wouldnt think youd let loose so..." My hand pressed against the wall as I leaned against it, "...eaaasilyyyy."

Looking back on it, I sounded completely ridiculous but at the time I knew what I was talking about.

"Oh yea," he waved me away, "big shocker."
I drug my finger down the door frame, "Be careful... might get yourself too attatched." This time the words in my mouth felt bitter as I used Daryls words. He looked down and I instantly felt bad, "Ignore me. iiiii-" for some reason I reached out and he slightly flinched away, my hand missing his shoulder and falling to the side,"-...... dont. Know what I'm talking about.." Daryl kept his eyes to the ground and I took it as a sign and turned, "Don't hit the wall on your way out."
I figured to keep my mouth shut, somehow I'd probably just ruin it more than I already did.

Why was I always saying something wrong? It was as if I was self-sabotaging any chance of actually being friends with him. Anytime my eyes met his, when he saved me from falling, patching me up, offering me a ride... my heart would slightly pick up and I had the sudden urge to leave, say something stupid and mean. Why am I trying to defend him? He threatened T-Dog, almost killed me and Rick, and tried to kill Jim.

Well he threatened him because of his brother... kind of understandable.

He didnt mean or intend to push me and Rick off the roof... he even tried to right it, apologized too and that's not something you get from the Dixons often.

Then part of me just felt he was scared, didnt want Jim to turn and hurt someone.

"Jesus," the alcohol must've started getting to my head so much. Since when did I care about Daryl? Walking down the hall I heard my name get called, "(Y/n)."
I stopped in an open doorway, a sort of livingroom, turning I saw Daryl. Part of me was excited while the other side told me to toughen up. I may have been a little drunk and my glass half empty, but I was conscious enough to just stay quiet. He stood infront of me, "Listen I don't get-"

"Get your hands off me!"
My attention immediately snapped inside the room, Shane and Lori by one of the small tables. His hands down her thighs as she tried to push him away, "NO, STOP!"
"Hey!" I ran in the room, Shane's head snapping in my direction, "Get away from her!" I set the glass down on the coffee table, Shane backing away from Lori who was bawling her eyes out. I stepped up and pushed him farther away, him not backing up enough on his own. "This isnt your business (Y/n)."
"It became my business when I found you," I pushed him toward the door behind, "borderline raping Lori!"
"Cut it out," he smacked my hands away, "you don't know what you saw." With those words he turned and left.

I stood in shock, turning to her, "You okay?"
She nodded, hand over her mouth. I put my hand on her shoulder, "hey... come on tell me." She only shook her head and stood up, rushing away from me and past Daryl who still stood in the doorway. I sighed, rubbing  handed over my face. "You shouldnt have meddled in that."
I scoffed, "Seriously?"
He stepped through the door as I continued, "You shouldve helped! He was trying to rape her!"
"We dont know that," he said.
"What-" my jaw dropped, "So what did we just walk in on?"
"We wont know and it wasnt any of our business. Especially not yours!" His voice began to raise so I followed suit.
"So you would just stand by if some FREAK tried to feel me up?"
Daryls eyes widened as I continued, "as they grope me, force me down and try to rape me?! You're saying you'd stand by!?"
He growled, "I'm not saying that! It just wasnt our business and it's not mine," he pointed to himself, "to worry about someone groping you!"

So he would do nothing?

Tears stung my eyes as he yelled those words at me, my mouth screwing together while anger pumped through me. "Great," I turned to walk out, grabbing my wine glass hard enough to almost crack it.
"Wait-" his hand grabbed onto mine, stopping me from getting any further. Turning swiftly I threw the drink in his face, wine splashing down him. His hold dropped as I spit, "Then it's not my business to care either."

With that I set my glass down, turning on my bare heels and leaving. Not turning back to look at Daryl, too worried to show him how much his words hurt. The hot tears that began to run down my face wouldve given everything away.