Hush Baby Im here

Chapter 22

It was that night we decided to go to this Alexandria safe zone that Aaron had been telling us about. Glenn, Maggie and the others returned with the news that Aaron was in fact telling the truth about the vehicles. We all had a long conversation and eventually agreed on tonight. 

"If we just take the sixteen route we'll come right up to the gates." Aaron motioned pointing toward the red line on the map. Alex was skittish, more than normal, probably freaking about having to fight walkers at night. For some reason I didn't get the nervous feeling in the pit of my stomach like I always did.

I just felt calm.

"Rick." I whispered, striding up to him. Daryl glanced at me, and I swear I saw his eyes narrow a bit.

Rick raised his eyebrows, but said nothing.

"I think I should own a gun, one that's mine and that I'll always have on me." I stated blankly. He looked at me for a bit, Rick didn't talk much, I noticed it now more than ever, he usually conversed in stares. He turned around and took a small hand gun off the table, then handed it to me. I ran my hands along the smooth handle, my fingers tracing the words "dessert eagle, 9 mm."

"You know how to work the safety?" He asked with a hint of sarcasm in his voice. I wanted to roll my eyes but I smiled instead, laughing.

"Yeah," I replied, "I watched Dawn's gun carefully before I was shot in the head." His smile faltered and I felt an odd satisfaction.

"Sorry." I blurted, he shrugged, shook his head and walked away. I crossed the barn to Daryl, who was tightening something on his bow.

"What do you think?" I asked shifting my head slightly.

He looked up from his bow and stared for a second, his mouth parting slightly and the creases on his forehead showing confusion, "You look good." He replied slowly, bewildered.

"No!" I practically shouted, "what do you think about the safe zone." I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks, creeping up my neck, flushing everything bright red.
Did he just say I looked good?

I stared at my feet.

"I think Carl, lil' ass kicker, the rest of us, all need a place right now. And you deserve a place like that." I looked up at the phrase, a grin lay foolishly on his lips.
Was he flirting with me?

God, I was such a giddy girl.

"You do too." I replied sweetly. He shrugged and went back to his bow. I didn't want the conversation to end there, I felt like we could be great friends, at least, if nothing else.

"Daryl do you have a favorite color?"

"Nah."

"Favorite place?"

"I don't know," he grumbled obviously not knowing what to make of my sudden interest, "the forest." I didn't know what to ask him, so I stood above his chair and watched him restring his bow.

"Daryl?" I asked.

"Hm?" he didn't look up again, focusing on the bow. 

"What else can you do?" I probed. 

"What?" He asked confused.

"With weapons, you can work a bow, and a gun. Anything else?"

He thought for a bit, and I giggled under my breath as his facial expressions changed.

"What?" He repeated.

"Nothing." I said, straightening up my back and showing no expression on my face. 

"I can throw knives." He stated almost brightly.

"You should teach me one day."

"Yeah maybe." he pauses, "but should I let you play with knives?" He asked with a devilish grin. I'm not sure if he's joking or wanting to insult me, "That would make me a bad chaperone."

I smiled and blushed in recognition, a laugh passing through my lips.

"Yes that's true, but from what I've head Mr. Dixon, you've never been a really good one anyways." I chant, spinning on my heel and waltzing away to the sound of his chuckling.