Haunted | Daryl Dixon

37. Gravitational Pull

"You sure about this?" Evelyn had her arms crossed tightly over her chest, as if to shield herself from the reality of the situation.

Her eyes were trained down on where she was scuffing the bottom of her boot against the pavement, looking more like a nervous teenager asking her crush out on a date than a grown woman voicing her concern.

Daryl's eyes shot up to her, blue orbs studying her for a minute, before he lifted a single shoulder and let it drop, "'S Rick's plan, 'm just goin' along with it." He paused before adding softly, "I'll be fine."

That did nothing to ease the unsteady feeling bubbling up in the woman's chest, but she nodded confidently anyway, "I know you will be, but that doesn't mean I have to like it."

The corners of the man's mouth twitched upward for a second, "Nah, it doesn't." He turned back to his motorcycle in front of him that he was making sure was all set to go.

It was then Wright's turn to study the man from where he was, crouched down beside the vehicle, opting to stay in silence for another moment rather than speaking any of the thousands of thoughts that were bouncing around in her head.

His leather jacket that he planned on wearing was slung over his seat, leaving him in his cutoff tank top, his large biceps on full display as he worked to screw something in under the motorcycle that the woman couldn't see.

Just as Daryl went to stand, Evelyn quickly tilted her head away, pretending to squint against the bright sun as she stared off towards the looming gates. That hadn't stopped the man from seeing her eyes flick away from him, though.

Realizing this, she cleared her throat, hoping that the warmth that spread on her cheeks wouldn't become noticeable to him, "Sure you don't want me to come with? I can hop on the back of your motorcycle. Just like old times."

Just like old times.

This time, Daryl let the smile grow on his face, a soft- remembering- sort of smile as he shook his head lightly, "Nah. We need someone we can trust to stay back and look after the place. Wouldn't exactly leave it up to that asshole, Spencer."

The woman hummed, opening her mouth to say something more- a teasing remark sitting on the tip of her tongue- but was cut off by a sharp beeping of a horn.

From a few feet away, Abraham stuck his head out of the driver's seat window, "Wrap it up, love birds! We've got to get this shit show on the road!" He bellowed, only for Sasha to reach across from the passenger side and swiftly slap him upside the head. He whipped around to face her, eyes wide, "What?" He looked genuinely confused.

Sasha rolled her eyes at the man, before shooting a knowing look over his shoulder to where Evelyn and Daryl were standing, smirking slightly at something unknown to both of the people, as she reached across to Abraham's side and rolled up the window.

She proceeded to say things to him that the other two couldn't hear. But whatever it was, it made Abrahams eyes widen before he whipped around to face them for a moment and then look back at the woman next to him, complete bewilderment upon his features.

Just as he went to look back at them once more, Sasha rolled her eyes and grabbed him by the ear, turning his head away to give the two some privacy.

Amusement had made its way onto Evelyn's features as she turned once more to look at Daryl, only to find his eyes already trained on her.

Her smile faltered for a second before it gradually fell all together.

"Be careful, all right, Dare?" Though it sounded like a question, it came across as a soft demand.