Breathe Princess (Daryl Dixon Love Story)

Chapter Nineteen

"Andrea!" I called out, making her stop and I saw her shoulders slouch as she caught wind of my voice.

"What Annora?" She asked, annoyance seeping through her words.

"I wanted to talk to you about something." I shrugged my shoulders and wrapped my arms around myself, suddenly wondering what in the world possessed me to come over and talk to her about all of this.

"Well?" She questioned, raising an eyebrow at me at the silence that I hadn't even realised I was creating.

"Since I arrived, you've hated me and I really just wanted to know why." I shrugged and looked up at her as she sighed.

"I just think you rely too much on other people," She had a smile on her face but I knew she wasn't being kind, I could tell this was going to be fun for her and it was probably going to be entertainment she was going to be re-running in her head. "The way you rely on Daryl is sickening and to be honest, you would die out there if it wasn't for him. It's pathetic. 

What person doesn't even know how to handle a gun?" She laughed in my face and I dropped my hands, clenching my fists and trying to keep my breathing steady; the last thing I wanted to do was lose it in front of her.

"Need I remind you, you couldn't shoot anything either." I spoke timidly, but I knew the force and meaning was behind the words; even if it did seem like I wanted to run and hide from her.

"Difference is I can actually take care of myself, even without a gun. Like I said, it's pathetic." She laughed and went to walk away but I reached out and grabbed her arm, dragging her back to me, suddenly finding some confidence.

"Listen Andrea, everyone has lost someone," I was referring mainly to Amy. "That doesn't excuse you from being a bitch." She looked incredibly angry but it didn't look like she was going to be doing anything about it any time soon. "But, for the sake of the group, can we at least pretend to be civil? You don't like me and to be honest, you're not my favourite person in the world, but it would make it a lot easier on everyone if we actually worked together." It took her a few moments of seething before she actually managed to get a sentence out.

"Fine. Civil." She nodded and walked into the SUV whilst I turned back around and made my way back to the tent.

I was glad that even though it wasn't much, I'd managed to get through to her even just a little bit.

*

A few mornings later, Daryl was up and around again, despite the fact that Herschel had told him to take it easy.

"What groups are we going out in today?" I asked, eating the eggs for our breakfast. We were still going to be heading out in groups to try and find Sophia, I just really hoped Daryl was well enough to come with us, although I didn't mind being around Carol.

"Daryl's not up to it," Daryl didn't look too convinced with what Rick was saying. "We go in the same groups as last time." I nodded and forked the last couple of stray eggs off my plate.

"Guys," Everyone looked over at Glenn as he spoke up, people even stopping eating as they looked. He looked nervous, kind of like he did yesterday when we spoke. He'd been off the past couple of days and it was really starting to worry me. He took the hat off of his head, ran his hand through his greasy hair and placed it back. "So the barn's full of walkers." I choked on my last mouthful of eggs before recomposing myself - after a couple of helpful pats on the back from Daryl - and stared up at him.

"You want to repeat that Glenn? I don't think we heard you correctly." I managed to stammer out. Over the past couple of days, my confidence with the group has begin to grow and become more confident.

Shane stopped what he was doing and stormed over to the barn with everyone following.

"You can't tell me you're alrigh' with this?" Shane pushed his question to Rick who was stood by Daryl and I with Lori and Carl.

"No I'm not, but this isn't our land-"

"Come on man, this is our lives!" Shane yelled, throwing his arms up in frustration.

I walked forwards, Daryl not seeing me, and peeked through the gap in one of the pannels, jumping back as a walked shoved itself against the door. The smell of rotting flesh and the sound of snarls hit me.

"Annora." Daryl warned, grabbing my arm and pulled me back to where we used to be stood.

"Lower your voice." Glenn hissed at him, sneaking a glance over to the farm house.

"What if they got out whilst people were sleepin'? One person on watch wouldn't be enough." Shane pointed out, actually taking Glenn's advice and lowered his voice.

"We can't just sweep this under the rug." Andrea spoke up, her hands on her hips.

"We've gotta go in there, we've gotta make this right or we just gotta go. We've been talking about Fort Benning for-"

"We can't go!" Rick interrupted Shane, his voice rising slightly.

"Why, Rick?"

"Because we still have to look for Sophia." I stepped back around Daryl and confronted the two bickering men, Carol sending me a thankful smile and although I was liking this new side of confidence, the look they were giving me was almost enough to cower back.

"Okay, I think it's time we start to consider the other possibility," I was getting sick of Shane's attitude and I think everyone else was as well.
"We ain't leaving her behind." I snapped before anyone else could, Shane looked slightly scared at the look I was giving him but quickly covered it up. I wasn't expecting anyone to look afraid of me; I don't exactly scream 'terror'.

"I'm close to findin' this girl, I just found her damn doll a few days ago!" Daryl stepped forward to stand by me, scowling as Shane chuckled and shook his head.

"You found a doll Daryl, that's what you found." Daryl's face contorted into even more rage that scared me a little but it didn't stop me from trying to get him to calm down.

"You don't know what the hell you're talkin' 'bout." Daryl barked and I grabbed hold of his arm lightly, trying to pull him back as Rick pushed a hand out trying to put some distance between the two of them.

"I'm just sayin' what needs to be said," Shane barked back, ignoring Rick as he tried to cam him down "And I'll tell you summin' else, if she was alive and saw you comin' with them ears 'round your neck, she'd run the other direction." Shane spat at Daryl, Daryl's hand closing around mine like he was hoping I was going to be enough to calm him.

"Shut up!" Daryl released my hand too quick for me to grab it back and lunged for Shane, Rick stepping in between the two of them and pushed Daryl back, although they didn't cease.

"Guys stop!" I called, fear now taking me back to my usual persona. I knew far too well that even though Daryl wasn't 100%, he could still seriously injure Shane but I didn't know how hurt he would get in the process.

People were yelling trying to get them to back away from each other but it wasn't working. I managed to grab hold of Daryl, forcing them to stop getting in each others faces to actually stop the argument.