Haunted | Daryl Dixon

12. Party

*Four months later*

Music blared from speakers somewhere within the vast- yet crowded- room, feeling as though it were shaking the walls.

Well, it was either the music shaking the walls, or the many people that were jumping up and down to the beat of it.

As for one girl, she swayed back and forth in the center of the room, clearly enjoying every second of the music, no matter how loud it was.

She wasn't holding hands with other people as she danced to the music. Nor did she have someone who would clearly be her partner watching over the obviously wasted girl.

Perhaps that's what had pulled him to her in the first place. The complete and utter loneliness of the girl, who, though surrounded by herds of people in the middle of the party, had no one.

Nobody had come to this party alone- certainly nobody was leaving alone- so perhaps it was pity that stung the boy's heart. Or perhaps it was the foolish hope that if someone were to ever find him in that predicament, they wouldn't leave him to his misery.

So, he surged through the sea of sweaty people, offhandedly telling his friends that he would catch up with them later.

Sure enough, he wasn't the only one that had noticed the drunk girl all alone. A guy, standing a few feet away, was eyeing her up and down in a way that made the man's lip curl in disgust.

She was clearly oblivious to the guys perverted stares, as she continued to dance as if she were the only one in the room, only coming to a halt when the man put a gentle hand on her arm.

Turning around at the touch, she wore a wide grin, only for it to quickly fade when her eyes landed upon him. Clearly, she had been expecting someone else.

Blinking once in surprise, she looked up at him with wide eyes, as if she had forgotten where she was for a moment.

"Hi," She breathed out, out of breath from all the dancing she had done.

"Hi," The boy greeted back, unsure if the girl was either trying to convince herself that she did or didn't know him, in her currently drunken state.

His eyes quickly flicked up at the guy who had been eyeing her, a warning on his face, letting him know to back off.

The guy was quick to turn his head with a scowl, sulking off into the crowd again.

"Do I- do I know you?" She slurred, swaying in his hold as she tried to focus her eyes on him.

"No, but we need to get you out of here, you're wasted." He sighed, gently beginning to tug her arm to lead her out.

The last thing he wanted was for her to throw up, or pass out on the floor and wake up humiliated, or both.

He had done both of those things when he was a freshmen- which he figured she was by the looks of her- and he wouldn't wish that fate upon anybody.

"W-wait," She slurred, trying to dig her heels into the ground to stop him, "Y-you're a stranger. And- and strangers are a d-danger."

His eyebrows flicked up for a moment at her version of 'stranger danger' in her current state of mind.

A sigh escaped his lips, he didn't blame her for trying to fight him, "Listen, kid, I promise, I'm only trying to help."

The girl narrowed her eyes on him- something that was entirely unthreatening, maybe even cute, currently- and wagged a finger in his face, "If-if you're lyin', ju-just know that I know how to knock ya out in one punch."

He nodded, slight amusement flaring up in his eyes for a second, "Noted."

With that, there were no more arguments as he gently led her out of the senior house that was hosting the party, a hand ghosting her lower back.

As soon as the two stepped into the fresh air, the college freshman girl groaned, as if ridding herself of the atmosphere was all it took for the effects of the alcohol to finally hit her in full swing- and not in a good way anymore.

Slowly, he sat her down on a bench near the edge of the yard.

"So, what's your name?" He asked casually, trying to distract her as he watched her grow increasingly paler.

She only groaned again, resting her head against the back of the bench.

"Who did you think I was when we were in there?" He was curious about that one. The way her eyes were quick to light up and dim at his appearance hadn't escaped his notice.

To his surprise, she actually answered this question, "I-I thought you were..." She groaned a little again, gripping her stomach, "I thought you were Daryl."

His head tilted in curiosity, "Who's Daryl? Why were you waiting for him?"

Perhaps it wasn't his business. Actually, it was definitely none of his business, but he couldn't stop himself from asking. It also did seem to be distracting her a little bit.

"I thought he finally loved me," Her voice came out as a whine and, as if losing all control over her body, she sagged against his own body, her face squished against his shoulder.

"I'm sure Daryl loves you," He told her comfortingly, rubbing her shoulder.

She had probably gotten into an argument with her boyfriend before the party.

"Uh-uh," She whined again before letting out a little whimper, "He said he didn't love me- that he could never love me."

He felt his heartbreak slightly at the pure sadness that lay behind this complete stranger's tone. That she clearly was so broken up over that she had to go out to get blackout drunk to try to forget about it.

Clearly his prying at the issue hadn't helped.

"I'm sorry," He told her genuinely, "Daryl must be an idiot not to love you back, though."

Before she could respond, her face twisted up and she quickly doubled over, throwing up all over the ground.

He expertly maneuvered his feet just in time to avoid getting the substances on his shoes, and moved to gently pull the girl's hair out of her face.

As she emptied her stomach two more times, he just sat there, gently rubbing her back and letting her get it all out.

Finally, more sober than before, the girl sat up, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.

She groaned again, "I'm so sorry about that," She finally said, looking up at him with guilt.

He simply waved a hand, "Nothing to be sorry about," He answered.

"Why would you help me?" There was no defensiveness or snappiness about her tone, just genuine curiosity.

The man leaned back, running a hand through his hair, "I'd be lying if I said that I hadn't been in your predicament more than a couple times. No one helped me out any of those times. I wasn't about to let someone else go through that alone."

Relief and gratitude was clear on her features, "Well, thank you. Thank you so much."

He smiled down at her again, "Don't mention it..." He trailed off.

"Evelyn. Evelyn Wright." She introduced herself, reaching her hand out.

"Negan. Negan Smith." He copied her, shaking her hand in formal greeting.

A/N: Thanks for reading :)