Daryl's Girl

Chapter 72

The first thing we did after clearing the field was move our bags from the main gate and over to the centre of the field. It was mainly so we could keep track of them and have them close for if we needed to get out. I just hoped it didn't have to come to that any time soon. We deserved this.

"What do we do with the bodies?" My dad asked as we all gathered, looking around the field.

The bodies were scattered across the whole field. Some in clumps over by the fence and others scattered through the field where they'd been killed by our bullets. Above it all I still couldn't believe that we had enough ammo to take them all down. We were low then and even lower now but that didn't matter because we were together, secured inside the fences. Safe for now.

"Lets move these bodies over there." Rick pointed to the corner of the field taking my attention from the walkers that were stacked up against the gate I'd just locked. "We'll figure out what to do with them soon." No one argued as we all agreed. Moving the bodies wasn't much but it was a start so I made my way over to the far side of the field with Tdog to get the ones furthest away.

I've definitely grown a lot closer to Tdog than I was before. He was there for me when I was going through a rough time and he helped me see what was right in front of me. It's like I'd said before, he's like the brother I never had and I'm grateful for that.

"You decided to stay then." He joked with a large smile printed on his face.

"I'm still here, arent I?" I smiled back, sarcastically. "Anyway, how could I leave and miss this." I joked and sent us both into a fit of giggles as we carried the first walker across the field.

Once over, we then placed it down on top of another on the pile and walked back over to collect the next one. Tdog grabbing its ankles and me grabbing it just under the shoulders. They were mostly prisoners with their reddish orange jumpsuits but there were also a couple of what looked like cops or wardens. We didn't let that faze us as we took the next walker over to the pile and continued to dispose of the walkers. It was time consuming but it had to be done if we wanted this place for ourselves.

After what seemed like hours, we were finally down to the last one and just as Tdog and I were about to be rid of it, Daryl came over to us. He didn't say anything. He just looked at Tdog and Tdog nodded in return. "I'll leave you to it." He joked, turning round to smirk at me before heading back over to the others. He knew that what ever conversation Daryl and I were going to have was going to be rather awkward but I think that's also the reason he left us, going by the smirk on his face.

This just left Daryl and I staring at one another. A dead walker being the only thing seperating us. It was in that moment I really wished that Tdog hadn't left me alone with Daryl. It wasn't like I had anything to say to him anyway. We just had to move the walker and be done with it.

I reached down to pick up the rotting corpse and waited for Daryl to grab the other side. He just stood there. "Are you gonna help or what?" I snapped, glancing up at him. He still didn't move and I knew he wasn't going to unless he said what he had to. "What do you want, Daryl?" I sighed and stood back up, dropping the walker at my feet. I really didn't want to talk to him.

The pair of us haven't talked for a long time without having it be an argument. I have to say, I do miss him, but I just need to focus on surviving and not let myself slip back to where I was. Again. I don't want to go back to how I was. I've only just been able to live with myself after knowing who I've become, getting over what I did.

His crossbow was over his shoulder and he was stood quietly looking at me. I think he was just trying to find the right words and trying not to make things any worse between us. "I wanted to...apologise...for what I said. The...way I acted...over the past couple of months." He gulped. That was all I wanted to hear. An apology. I just think he left it a bit to late.

"Sorry for what? Not trusting me? Not talking to me? Calling me what you did? Not being there when I needed you?" I snapped. I could feel myself becoming all the more pissed as I spoke. I just had to try and control it and not let him see what he was doing to me.

Daryl just rubbed the back of his neck and looked down at the walker that lay between us. "Yeah...I didn't mean to act the way I did." He frowned.

"Yeah, well you did." I sighed, fighting back the tears. "It was like you stopped talking after what happened with my dad. As soon as you told me your story, you shut yourself off from me. I just wanted to talk things through because I just didn't understand why...I apologised to my dad because I was wrong. It was a misunderstanding and the person who caused that is dead. I would've thought you'd understand."

Daryl stood silently for a moment and crossd his arms. I couldn't do this anymore so I walked around the walker to go back over to the others. I could get Briana or Tdog to come move the walker with Daryl.

"Wait!" Daryl called and placed his hand on my shoulder. I froze at his touch. His touch was so comforting yet it hurt. "I really am sorry for everything." He pleaded. The tone of his voice sounded as if he was truly meant everything that came from his mouth. I just feel he's left it too late for us to get back to how we were.

I'd done my hardest to not cry in front of him but, as his hand stayed resting on my shoulder, I felt my strength slipping away as a tear rolled down my cheek. I didn't turn around. I couldn't. I just moved his hand from my shoulder trying to stop the tears.

I finally plucked up to courage to face him and I watched the colour drain from his face as he saw the tear roll down my cheek. He then quickly wiped it away with his thumb and pulled me into a hug. "I'm sorry. I'm not asking you to forgive me, but at least talk to me."

I didn't hug him back. I just pulled myself away and looked up at him. "That's all I wanted to do. Talk. In the early winter months after the farm...you didn't. Do you known how that made me feel? I just needed someone..." I stopped and glanced over to the group who I spotted were all watching the pair of us. They then turned away as I glanced over. "What happened to us?" I sighed as I turned back round to face him. "For the sake of the group, I'll forgive you. We can't live under the same roof hating each other forever." I sobbed. From the look on Daryl's face I think he understood and togeher we finally picked up the walker and took it over to the corner with the others.

It's going to take a while to get back to the way we used to be but at least we were talking again. It was a start at least. "We should be burning them." I stated as we threw the walker onto the pile. Still over come with emotions.

"Rick knows what he's doing." Daryl replied but the expression on his face told me he agreed.

I nodded and we started to make our way over to the others. All of them looking pleased with themselves as Daryl and I approached. Glenn and Maggie also coming over with wood in their hands. I also noticed Briana looking over at me and smiling a toothy smile.

I knew what she was thinking straight away so I made my way over to her, leaving Daryl to join the others. "Have you two talked thinngs out between you then?" She giggled. I kinda had a feeling she had something to do with Daryl coming over.

"It's gonna take some time. You know he hurt me but I can't hold it against him forever. I mean, look what I've done...We're trying to be civil. For the sake of the group." I turned to look at over at Daryl who was preparing the squirrels we'd caught. He looked up and gave me a half smile when he caught me looking. I couldn't help but smile back at him.

I can't hide the fact I still have feelings for him, especially from Briana. It's like I said, he hurt me. He made me happy in times where we were supposed to have nothing. Where we were supposed to grieve for those who we've lost, but that changed the day we ended things.

Talking to Daryl again made me see how much I've missed him and I couldn't let that cloud my judgement. I just need to keep my head down and focus on the group. Focus on the people who mean the world to me.