𝗕𝗟𝗨𝗘 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗟𝗗 , the walking dead

[24] the lighter

THE LIGHTER
one week later
———

RICK MADE DARYL AND MAEVE GO ON A RUN, it was originally suppose to be him and Daryl but last minute switched with Maeve. The reasons were unknown. The two were both clearly uninterested in going with each other. But they did as they were told just and got in the car.

Now, Maeve was sitting in the passenger seat of the car, the sun was just rising and Maeve felt as if she hadn't gotten a good enough sleep after getting woken up by Rick. So, Maeve was resting her head on the side of the car, letting the wind from the open window blow in her face. It was oddly satisfying to have her hair played with by the wind, she couldn't help but closer her eyes. Trying her hardest to stay awake, but the soft wind mixed with the heavy silence was the perfect combination for a peaceful sleep.

Daryl drove beside her, one hand on the wheel and the other resting out the window. He tried his hardest to stay focused on the road, but every so often Daryl would give in and look over at Maeve to see if she was asleep. It got to the point where he couldn't tell, it first started with her resting her head against the head rest but now she was curled into a ball with her head against the door and her legs pulled up to her chest. Her eyes closed and her arms wrapped around herself to keep warm from the chill wind.

She looks so innocent, Daryl though to himself, but innocent didn't feel like the right word. Harmless, she looks harmless. She doesn't look like she wants to cut his throat out for just breathing in her direction or yell at him whenever he got to close to her and 'invaded her personal space with his dirty stench' as she would say.

Daryl didn't like it, it felt abnormal. As if she was a different person. Truthfully Daryl was worried she had died and some angel had taken over her body, because there was no way that the girl laying asleep in the passenger seat was the same girl who told him to choke on a dick just yesterday. Only because he took Carol's last chocolate chip cookie that was reserved for her. Her anger was justified, Daryl had done it on purpose.

Although now that Daryl wasn't arguing with her or trying to piss her off, he was able to look at her. Properly look at her. Between her and the road, she had Daryl's attention more. He was able to finally appreciate her looks, and how attractive she actually was. It came to a shock to Daryl, the thoughts started to just come out of no where.

With the way her arms were wrapped around herself made her muscles flex, showing them off subtly. She had a nice tan to her skin, you'd think from how much time she spends outside she's have more of a tan because there was still this pale glow to her. It complimented her features, like her hair and her eyes. Her hair fell over her shoulders, the wind pushing it back a bit but still rested casually around her. Her hair was long, longer than most. It was a curly mess but still held an elegance to it. Even her pants and long-sleeve shirt suited her, they were ripped in the odd place but they looked loved and cherished. The hat she wore covered most of her face from the rising sun, it was fighting for it's life to stay on from the wind trying to take it.

Even in a place like Alexandria where they have clean clothes, everyone looks showered and clean, Maeve looked different from like the others. She looked similar to when Daryl found her in the woods, only difference was that she looked more full of life this time and not so much physical dirt on her.

Oddly enough, Daryl liked that she had a bit of dirt to her. Made her look real, not like some dream that feels real but crumbles the second reality strikes. Daryl liked that when he looked at her, he didn't feel like he was in a dream. Daryl is starting to like looking at her.

"Quit it." Maeve spoke up, using her hand to tilt her hat up.

Daryl's head turned away, embarrassed with a slight redness to his cheeks. Thankfully she didn't notice it, she would have made fun of him for it. He felt he had been caught doing something he shouldn't have. There was no good excuse he could use, the truth was that he was letting his thoughts consume him. Just to pass by the time.